Chapter 39: The World With More At Risk
Snow crunched softly beneath Zara’s boots as she followed Mia and Kit through the winding back alleys of City B.
The frigid air stung her cheeks, and her breath misted with each exhale. She kept one arm around Leo, who was bundled tightly in an oversized jacket, his face half-buried against her chest. Kit darted ahead, his small frame moving easily through the narrow paths, while Mia led with a confident stride, her slingshot held loosely in one hand.
"We’re almost there," Mia said, her voice low and steady. Her eyes scanned their surroundings, flicking to every shadow and abandoned doorway as though she expected something to lunge out at any moment.
Zara glanced around. City B had been one of the largest in the country, taking days to travel through even with a car. These parts were places she had only ever been to once or twice before the apocalypse.
The city’s decay was obvious in the fading daylight. Snow blanketed rusting cars and piles of rubble, no less softening the edges of destruction. Windows were shattered, doors left ajar, and the occasional graffiti scrawled on walls bore warnings: STAY OUT or THE DEAD WALK HERE and a sour, metallic scent lingered in the air.
Leo stirred in her arms, his small face peeking out from beneath the patched scarf wrapped snugly around him. He squirmed with childlike curiosity, his wide eyes darting to the figures in front of them.
"Slow down," Mia snapped, her voice low but firm. She cast a sharp glance over her shoulder at her younger brother. Kit immediately slowed his steps, his head ducking sheepishly.
At last, they stopped at an inconspicuous apartment complex. Its facade was battered, but not enough to collapse—a rare sight in this part of the city. Zara shifted Leo’s weight in her arms as Mia led them not to the front entrance but to a narrow alcove on the building’s side.
Kit slipped in first, and Mia followed, gesturing silently for Zara to come. She hesitated only a moment before ducking inside.
The space was cramped but surprisingly secure. Stacks of debris and wooden boards had been arranged to form a crude barricade, and a faint smell of charred wood lingered in the air. The remnants of a small fire pit sat in one corner, and a couple of blankets were folded neatly against the wall. It wasn’t much, but it was functional. A place to breathe.
Kit grinned as he flopped onto a pile of blankets. "Told you it’s nice in here! We’ve been using this place for weeks."