CHAPTER 50: 50:

The morning sun broke over the barren horizon, painting long shadows across the frost-bitten ground. Leo, strapped snugly to her chest, seemed to pick up on Kit’s unease. His tiny hand swatted aimlessly at the empty air before landing on Kit’s head. The boy had drifted close again, his small frame almost brushing against Zara’s leg as he clung to her side.

"Pat," Leo mumbled, his chubby fingers ruffling Kit’s hair clumsily. The toddler let out a delighted giggle, kicking his feet in excitement.

Kit beamed up at him, his face lighting up as though Leo’s clumsy affection had chased away all the shadows clinging to him since last night. "Hey, buddy," Kit said, his voice soft and full of warmth. "You like my hair, huh?"

Zara glanced down at him, her heart tightening. He had been more clingy since the incident. Not that she blamed him; she hadn’t been able to sleep properly either. After everything, who wouldn’t feel shaken? Still, her chest ached at the sight of his wide, earnest eyes and the way his hand clutched the edge of her coat like a lifeline.

Even now, his little fingers wrapped tightly around the edge of her jacket, his head barely reaching her elbow.

His small hand reached for hers at every opportunity, his voice peppering their quiet walks with questions or requests for reassurance. Zara never pushed him away; in fact, she squeezed his hand back each time, her heart aching with the knowledge that he needed her as much as she needed to protect him.

"You’re doing great," she said, resting a hand on Kit’s shoulder as they walked. "You’re looking out for everyone, just like a real protector."

Kit’s face lit up with pride. "I’m going to protect us, just like you do, Zara. I’ll keep Mia and Leo safe. I promise."

The sincerity in his voice nearly broke her. "You’re already doing that, Kit," she replied, her voice soft but firm. "And you’re going to keep getting better. You’re smart, and quick on your feet. You’ve got this."

He flushed with pride, his chest puffing out slightly. The sight made her smile despite the lingering tension in the air.

Zara turned her head slightly, catching the teenager’s shadowed expression. Mia’s eyes were on Kit, her jaw tight, but she said nothing. That tension had been lingering for days now. Zara had tried to include Mia more in their plans, their talks, even their quiet moments, but the girl always seemed to retreat into her shell just when Zara thought she was making progress.

"Alright," Zara said, stopping near the edge of a crumbled building. She bent down and unstrapped Leo, settling him on her hip. "We’re going to set some traps here. Kit, come help me."

Kit immediately perked up, his small chest puffing with pride. "Really? You’re gonna teach me?"

Zara smiled, ruffling his messy hair. "Of course. You’re smart, Kit. I think you’ll be great at this."

Mia stopped walking, staring out across the street. Her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she watched. She had been on edge lately, no doubt because of the amount of shootouts they had had to escape since crossing into that man’s "territory." Zara caught her gaze briefly, offering an encouraging nod, but Mia quickly looked away.

Zara took the opportunity to show Kit how to set traps. "Here," she said, crouching low to the ground, her hands steady as she looped the twine. "You want to make sure it’s taut, like this. If it’s too loose, it won’t work. Got it?"

Kit nodded eagerly, his hands working to mimic hers. He stumbled at first, his fingers fumbling with the knot, but Zara guided him patiently, her hands steady over his. "That’s it," she said. "You’re a natural."

He looked up at her with wide, eager eyes. "Really?"

"Really," Zara said. "You’ve got the instincts. Now you just need practice."

Mia stood a little way off, watching the exchange with an unreadable expression. She leaned against a crumbling wall, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her sharp gaze flicked between Zara and Kit, lingering on Kit’s beaming face before quickly looking away. She shifted her weight, her body language tense and closed off.

"Mia," Zara called out, her voice light, inviting. "Want to help us test this trap?"

Mia’s eyes darted to Zara, then to Kit, who was looking up at her expectantly. For a moment, it seemed like she might say yes. Her fingers twitched at her sides, and she took half a step forward. But then she froze, shaking her head quickly.

"I’ll just keep watch," Mia muttered, turning away.

*****

Over the next few days, the pattern repeated. Zara would involve Kit in small tasks—helping prepare their meagre meals, checking for dangers in their path, or learning basic survival skills. Each time, Mia hung back, her face a mask of indifference that occasionally cracked into something more conflicted. Zara caught her watching them once, her expression a mix of longing and resentment, but the moment passed as quickly as it had come.

Zara decided to let it go for now. She knew Mia was holding something inside, and it wasn’t her place to force it out. Not yet. She felt like Mia would talk to her once she was ready.

*****

The night that came, the fire crackled softly, its light casting flickering shadows against the crumbling walls of the abandoned building they’d found shelter in. Kit had fallen asleep with his head on Zara’s lap, and Leo dozed in his makeshift sling. Zara leaned back against the wall, letting the momentary peace wash over her.

Mia sat a few feet away, knees pulled to her chest, her face illuminated by the faint glow of the fire. There was something different about her tonight—a heaviness in her posture.

"Mia," Zara said softly, breaking the silence.

Mia didn’t look up, but she didn’t leave either. Instead, she drew her knees to her chest, resting her chin on them. For a long moment, she said nothing. Zara waited patiently, staring expectantly at her. She could tell Mia wanted to get something off her chest.

Mia hesitated, her fingers digging into the fabric of her pants. She stared into the flames as if searching for courage there. "Do you... ever think about what you’ve lost? Before all this, I mean."

Zara’s chest tightened. "All the time," she admitted quietly. "It’s impossible not to. Why?"

Mia didn’t answer right away. Her gaze stayed fixed on the fire, and when she finally spoke, her voice was trembling. "I lost my parents in the first wave of this apocalypse," she said. "It was chaos everywhere. We were in the middle of the city when the sky suddenly changed colour. People were running, screaming—nobody knew what was happening."

Zara swallowed as her words brought back thoughts of that horrible day. The noise the chaos, the pain of losing Damon.

Her heart ached at the raw pain in Mia’s voice. She could almost picture the scene: the desperate parents shielding their children, the chaos swallowing them whole.

"They took us through the carnage," Mia continued, her voice cracking. "We were surrounded. The infected were everywhere. They told me to grab Kit and go. I didn’t want to, but they—" Her voice broke completely, and she buried her face in her arms.

Zara moved without thinking, setting Kit down gently before crossing the space between them and pulling Mia into a tight embrace. Mia stiffened at first, then she continued.

"They didn’t even hesitate," Mia choked out. "They just... they just stayed behind. And I left them. I left them to die."

"Dont say that dear." Zara held her tighter, her own tears threatening to spill. "They wanted you to live, Mia. They wanted you and Kit to have a chance."

"They gave their lives so we could run," Mia whispered, tears streaming down her face now. "And I did. I ran."

"You did the right thing, love," Zara whispered, rocking them slowly.

"I hated them," Mia sobbed, "At one point I thought they just wanted to get rid of us...and I hated myself for thinking that."

Zara felt her words hit close to home. These were emotions she had felt in the days following Damon’s death, she cried herself to sleep, wondering why he thought leaving them was the best course of action, hating him for taking that decision then hating herself for thinking that way.

"They gave their lives for you and Kit," Zara whispered. "That’s how much they loved you. And I know, Mia. I know they’d be proud of you."

Mia buried her face in Zara’s shoulder, her tears soaking into the fabric. "Sometimes, I wonder if they’d hate me... for the things I’ve done to keep Kit safe."

Zara’s heart twisted. "No," she said firmly. "They wouldn’t. They’d understand. You’ve done everything you can, Mia. And you’re not alone anymore. You have Kit. And you have me."

For the first time, Mia relaxed in Zara’s arms, her sobs quieting into soft hiccups and when she finally pulled back, her face was streaked with tears, her eyes red and puffy.

"Thanks," Mia muttered, her voice hoarse.

Zara gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Anytime." She said, cleaning her tears gently. "Now go to sleep, I’ll keep watch."

****

The next morning, the group set out again, the air felt light within the group. Mia didn’t disappear ahead as she usually did but instead walked with them. She listened to Kit’s words instead of pushing him away. Zara felt things were changing for the better, but now there was guilt, instead of anger on her face.

They had just escaped being caught in a shootout between factions in the area and had made it to a more quiet spot.

"Scary noise,"Leo mumbled.

"I know baby," Zara hummed, patting his bum. "But we are far from it now, its ok."

"I wonder where they get all that ammo," Mia mumbled under her breath.

"You and me both," zara sighed.

Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced through her skull, and the world tilted. Zara staggered, clutching Leo tightly as the vision overtook her. She was somewhere else—She saw herself diving forward, pulling Mia out of the way of a bullet. They were surrounded by supplies, the air thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder. Kit’s face was nowhere to be seen, but the sound of his voice echoed in her ears, calling her name. Then darkness.

Zara gasped, snapping back to reality. She dropped to her knees, her breath coming in ragged gulps. Leo let out a startled cry, and Kit was at her side in an instant, his eyes wide with fear.

"Zara?" Kit’s voice was high-pitched, scared. He knelt beside her, his small hands gripping her arm. "What’s wrong?"

Mia hovered nearby, her brow furrowed with worry. "You okay?" she asked, her tone cautious but laced with genuine concern.

"I’m fine," Zara managed, her voice shaky. She forced a smile, but the worry in Kit’s eyes didn’t fade. "Just... got a little dizzy. It’s nothing."

Mia hovered nearby, her brow furrowed, her gaze sharp and searching.

"You don’t look fine," Mia said, her tone blunt but tinged with concern.

"I’m okay," Zara insisted, pushing herself to her feet. "Really. Let’s keep moving."

She smiled gently at Leo, patting his back softly. "I’m sorry baby, Mommy didn’t mean to startle you."

Leo pouted but didn’t say anything, instead placing his head on her chest.

But she wasn’t fine. Her mind raced, replaying the vision over and over, trying to make sense of what she had just seen. The supplies. The gunfire. The desperate pull to save Mia. Where was that place? Was it the cache? And if so, who was shooting at them?

Her heart pounded as they continued walking, her thoughts a tangled mess of fear and confusion. She barely registered her surroundings until a voice called out to her.

"Zara?" Kit’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

She turned to see him standing near a partially collapsed building, his face scrunched in concentration. He pointed to the ground.

"I think there’s something down there," he said.

Zara approached, her heart pounding. She crouched beside him and followed his gaze. There, half-hidden beneath debris was a metal grate.

Her breath caught.

"What is it?" Mia asked, stepping closer.

Zara didn’t answer right away. She reached out, her fingers brushing against the cold metal. A shiver ran down her spine as she realized this could be it—the cache they’d been searching for.

But why did it feel like the beginning of something much worse?