Chapter 97: Returning home

Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Returning home

The motor hummed quietly as the elevator continued upward.

13...14...15.

Another soft chime.

The doors opened once more.

William released a slow breath.

"My wife has probably worn a path into the floor by now," William said with a nervous laugh.

Kai couldn’t help smiling.

"Then don’t keep her waiting."

A few tired smiles appeared around the elevator.

William adjusted the backpack filled with supplies.

Before stepping out, he looked toward Killian.

"...Thank you."

Killian shook his head.

"You made it back."

William smiled faintly.

"Not without all of you."

Penelope stepped forward.

"If either of you need anything..."

"...come to the twenty-first floor."

William nodded.

"I’ll remember."

Erik gave him a firm nod.

"Get some rest."

William looked around the elevator one final time.

"Stay safe."

"You too," Kai replied.

With that, William stepped into the hallway and made his way toward Apartment 1502, where his wife had been waiting throughout the night.

The elevator doors closed once again.

The silence inside somehow felt even quieter.

The digital display continued climbing.

16...17...18...19.

The final stop before home.

The doors slid open.

Jason remained standing for a moment.

His backpack looked almost oversized against his thin frame.

Kai glanced toward him.

"You gonna be alright tonight?" Kai asked.

Jason lowered his eyes.

"...Yeah."

His answer came slowly.

"My parents are still on their business trip."

He paused.

"I’m going to wait for them."

Nobody answered immediately.

Nobody wanted to be the one to shatter that hope.

Finally, Killian spoke.

"If they make it back..."

"...they’ll know where to find you."

Jason nodded.

"They will."

Penelope smiled softly.

"If you need anything..."

"...or if you just don’t want to be alone..."

"...come upstairs."

"We’ll be on the twenty-first floor."

Ben smiled.

"You’re part of the neighborhood now."

Jason looked at each of them.

For the first time since they had met him...

He smiled without forcing it.

"...Thank you."

He stepped out of the elevator.

Before the doors closed, he turned back.

"Goodnight, everyone." ℴ

"Goodnight, Jason," Penelope replied.

The doors slid shut. Kai tapped the special access keycard against the scanner. One of the perks of living in the luxury penthouse levels was the added privacy. Without an authorized keycard, the elevator couldn’t access the twenty-first floor or any of the floors above it.

The elevator resumed its climb one final time.

20...21...22...23...24...25

A soft chime echoed through the elevator.

Home.

The doors opened onto the familiar hallway.

No one moved immediately.

Everyone was tired.

The night’s supply run had lasted nearly eight hours.

Their clothes were stained with sweat and dried blood.

Their arms ached from carrying supplies.

Their minds replayed every zombie they had killed.

Every close call.

Every survivor they had met.

Kai finally let out a long breath.

"I don’t know about the rest of you..." Kai muttered.

"...but I never want to look at another zombie again."

A small laugh escaped Ben.

Even Erik’s lips twitched.

The tension eased, if only for a moment.

Killian stepped out first.

"We should get some sleep," Killian said.

His emerald eyes drifted toward the narrow hallway window.

Beyond the glass...

The eastern horizon had begun to change.

The sky was no longer black.

A faint gray glow stretched across the distance.

Dawn.

It was coming.

"Everyone inside," Killian said quietly.

"We don’t have much time."

Without another word, everyone aside from Killian headed toward Penelope’s penthouse.

After an entire night spent fighting for their lives...

There was only one place they wanted to be.

Home.

Outside...

The city still belonged to the dead.

But above the silent skyline...

Morning was beginning to rise.

And for those who knew the truth...

The coming sunrise was every bit as terrifying as the monsters that roamed the streets.

The elevator came to a stop on the twenty-fifth floor.

The doors slid open.

No one spoke.

They simply stepped into the familiar hallway.

Killian walked ahead of them, his steady footsteps echoing softly through the quiet corridor.

As always...

He walked alone.

Penelope’s gaze instinctively followed him.

The dim hallway lights cast long shadows across the marble floor, making his tall figure appear even more solitary than usual.

He reached the door to his penthouse without once looking back.

For some reason...

Watching his lonely silhouette disappear down the hallway made her chest tighten.

It was an unfamiliar feeling.

A dull ache settled over her heart.

Why?

She couldn’t understand it.

Killian wasn’t alone anymore.

He had them.

Didn’t he?

"...Penny."

Erik’s voice pulled her back to reality.

She blinked before turning toward him.

"You coming?" Erik asked.

The moment Penelope pushed open the apartment door, the familiar scent of warm food greeted them.

The lights were still on.

Aunt Mary and Aunt Lucy immediately stood from the dining table the moment they saw everyone step inside.

Relief washed over both women’s faces.

"Thank goodness..." Aunt Mary breathed.

"You all made it home safely."

"We were starting to worry," Aunt Lucy admitted, her tired eyes carefully looking over each of them for injuries.

Only after confirming everyone was standing did the tension finally leave her shoulders.

Aurora had been sleeping peacefully in Aunt Lucy’s arms.

Perhaps sensing the familiar voices, the newborn stirred softly before opening her tiny eyes.

Penelope’s exhausted expression immediately softened.

"Come here."

Aunt Lucy smiled as she carefully placed Aurora into Penelope’s waiting arms.

The tiny baby instinctively curled against Penelope’s chest.

Her little fingers wrapped around Penelope’s shirt.

Penelope couldn’t help smiling.

"Did you behave for Aunt Lucy?"

Aurora answered with a tiny yawn before settling comfortably against her shoulder.

Kai laughed quietly.

"I think that’s her way of saying yes."

Everyone chuckled.

The heaviness weighing on their hearts eased just a little.

Aunt Mary clapped her hands together.

"Enough standing around."

She pointed toward the dining table.

"I made breakfast."

Kai stared at the food in surprise.

"I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy to see eggs."

Aunt Mary snorted.

"You’ve been gone all night. Of course it’s breakfast."

"Eat while it’s still warm."

"After that..."

She looked at every one of them with a tone that left no room for argument.

"...everyone is going to bed."

Not a single person objected.

After spending the entire night fighting zombies and hauling supplies across the city...

A hot meal and several hours of sleep sounded like paradise.