CHAPTER 59: 59: THE WORLD WITH FAMILY

Zara crouched low, the wet asphalt of the highway dampening her knees through her jeans. Patches of snow clung stubbornly to the edges of the road, glistening in the afternoon sun.

She stood with a sigh, rolling her shoulder. Who would have thought having enough supplies would be an issue?

"Mommy, my boots are squishy," Leo announced, his small voice breaking the eerie silence. He bounced a little, emphasizing the slosh of melted snow soaking into his worn boots.

Zara forced a tight smile and glanced down at him. "I know, baby. We’ll find somewhere dry soon."

Leo nodded, his curly hair bobbing. "Okay." His tone was cheerful, but he stuck closer to her side, his little hand clutching hers like a lifeline.

It has been a few days since their little episode in the rain and things were slowly calming down. Leo had finally asked to walk on his own though he still stuck to her side, which was good for Zara’s weak heart. She wasn’t really ready to let him out of her arms but didn’t want to smother him either.

She scanned the stretch ahead, her breath curling into faint clouds as she exhaled. No movement. That was good. But it was too quiet, the kind of quiet that made her stomach coil tight.

It usually meant something had gone down recently or was about to.

Either scenario weren’t good for her. Especially since her foresight hasn’t been useful recently.

"Some gift you are," she muttered under her breath.

"Mommy," Leo whispered, tugging gently at the hem of her jacket. His small mittened hand trembled. "Are we stopping now?"

"Not yet, baby," Zara murmured, her voice softer than usual, not wanting to risk drawing attention to them in the eerie silence. "Just stay close to me, alright?"

Leo nodded, clutching his stuffed dinosaur tighter to his chest. The toy’s colour remained vibrant from staying in his space most of the time. This gave her the idea that whatever stayed in the space seemed sort of frozen in time of sorts.

Zara straightened, her fingers brushing against the top of the pipe strapped to her backpack. They moved cautiously, sticking to the sides of the highway where the skeletal remains of abandoned cars offered some semblance of cover. Her head throbbed with every step, the dull ache of a migraine had returned and was threatening to split her skull.

She paused, pressing the heel of her hand to her temple. Urgh, why now?

"Mommy, are you okay?"

Leo’s voice was small, his wide, brown eyes searching hers. Zara forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

"Just tired, sweetheart." Her voice wavered, betraying the lie. "Keep walking. We’ll find a place to rest soon."

But the pain continued to build behind her eyes, and every step felt heavier, her vision blurring at the edges.

*****

By the time they reached the overpass, Zara’s legs were shaking. She stumbled to a stop beside an overturned sedan, dropping into a crouch. The cold metal of the car’s undercarriage pressed against her back as she leaned into it, desperate for the support.

"Leo," she rasped, her voice tight with pain. "Come here."

He was by her side in an instant, his small hands reaching up to pat her face. "You’re sick," he declared solemnly. "You need melocin."

Zara chuckled weakly, despite the pain. "I’ll be fine. Just... give me a minute."

Leo pouted, clearly unconvinced. He dug into his jacket pocket and pulled out a crumpled packet of crackers she had given him to snack on. "Here. Eat. That’s what you tell me when I’m not feeling good."

Her heart squeezed painfully in her chest—not from the migraine, but from the sheer cuteness in his seriousness.

Zara pulled him into a hug, ignoring his squeal of surprise. How lucky was she to have such a cute, sensible and considerate baby?

She took the crackers with trembling hands, nibbling at the corner of one to placate him.

"Thanks, buddy," she murmured, ruffling his dark curls.

As she rested, Leo wandered a few feet away, his curiosity outweighing his fear. He crouched near the snow-dappled asphalt, poking at something with his mitten.

"What are you doing?" Zara called, her voice still hoarse.

"Playing," Leo replied simply. He picked up a small, rusted bolt and stared at it intently. Before Zara could tell him to drop it, the bolt vanished.

Her heart stuttered. "Leo."

He turned to her, oblivious to her alarm. "I made it go in the space, Mommy! Look!" He held out his hands, palms up, as if expecting her to applaud.

Zara’s eyes darted around the open highway, her pulse spiking. If someone saw him using his space out in the open... "Leo, don’t—"

But before she could finish, Leo closed his eyes and concentrated. A moment later, the bolt reappeared, clattering to the ground at his feet.

Zara’s migraine was momentarily forgotten as she crouched beside him. She guessed that’s where his dinosaur toy had gone, too.

The little act got her thinking about a few things. If Leo’s space was this versatile, could it keep him safe in emergencies? Could he stay hidden inside while she moved? The idea was both tempting and terrifying. If something went wrong, would he be stuck there?

She shook her head, think positive thoughts, positive thoughts. She reminded herself.

"We need to test something," Zara said, standing and brushing the slush off her knees. "Leo, can you go into your space completely, like you did before?"

"I don’t remember how I did it," he pouted.

"Is that so?" She mumbled , hoping she didn’t look as bummed as she felt. This would have been a good time to check things off their list of possible solutions and escape plans.

Zara’s heart skipped a beat. She glanced around instinctively, as if expecting someone to notice the impossible act. "Leo, can you hear me?" she asked softly.

"Yeah!" His voice was faint, distant, but audible. It felt like it was in her head.

She took a cautious step forward. "I’m walking now. Tell me if you feel anything."

"Nope!" Leo’s voice came cheerfully from nowhere.

Zara took several more steps, her mind racing. If he didn’t feel movement, it meant she could carry him hidden inside his space.

It was a brilliant advantage, but the thought of relying on Leo’s ability filled her with unease. Would it drain him? Could it harm him in ways they didn’t understand yet?

"Okay, come back out," Zara said, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of thoughts.

Leo shimmered back into view, grinning as if he’d just performed a magic trick. Which he technically just did but that was besides the point. "Did I do good, Mommy?"

"You did great," she said, pulling him into another hug. Her voice softened. "You’re amazing, Leo. But remember, this is only for emergencies, okay? It’s a big responsibility."

"I’ll be careful," he promised, his small arms wrapping around her neck.

He hadn’t moved from the spot he had dodsappeared from, which would explain why he had still been in the car the first time it happened.

If they worked hard enough, would she be able to move with him in the space and he’d actually go with her?

******

The afternoon wore on, the light beginning to fade. Zara’s migraine worsened, but she pushed through it, her focus split between Leo and the highway ahead.

The silence around them didn’t last.

A faint, guttural groan echoed through the cluster of cars.

Zara froze, her hand instinctively tightening around Leo’s. The sound came again, louder this time, followed by the unmistakable shuffle of feet.

"Zomies," Leo whispered, his voice trembling.

Zara crouched down, putting a finger to her lips. "Quiet now," she murmured. Her eyes darted around, searching for a place to hide.

The highway offered little cover, but an abandoned RV loomed in the distance, its door hanging open.

She scooped Leo into her arms and ran, ignoring the pounding in her skull. The groans grew louder, accompanied by the rasp of dragging feet.

"Almost there," she whispered to herself, her breath fogging in the cold air.

The RV’s interior reeked of mildew and decay, but Zara shoved the door closed behind them and crouched low. She placed Leo down and pressed a finger to her lips again.

Outside, the shuffling footsteps grew closer. Zara’s heart thundered in her chest as she held her breath, her hand resting on the pipe beside her.

Leo clung to her, his tiny fingers gripping her jacket.

"Mommy..." he whispered.

"Shh," she mouthed, her eyes locked on the door.

The footsteps paused just outside. A shadow passed over the thin window, and Zara tightened her grip on the knife. The groans faded, the shuffling receding into the distance.

Zara let out a shaky breath, her body sagging with relief. She turned to Leo, her voice barely above a whisper. "It’s okay. They’re gone.

Leo nodded, his wide eyes still brimming with fear. "I was scared, I don’t like the zomies," he admitted, his voice trembling.

"I know, I don’t like them too," Zara said, pulling him into her arms. "But we’re safe now."

She waited a while to make sure the creatures were gone before they got out again.

As they walked, she noticed signs of movement in the landscape. Animal tracks in the mud—deer, maybe—marked the edges of the highway, and birds called softly from the trees. The world felt alive again, if cautiously so.

Then she saw it.

Up ahead, a car had slid into the embankment, its door ajar. Supplies were scattered around it—a tattered backpack, some cans of food, and, most alarmingly, a trail of blood leading away from the wreckage and into the woods.

Zara froze, her grip tightening on the straps of her bag. She scanned the area, her senses on high alert. "Stay quiet, Leo," she whispered, her voice low.

What should happen next? Does she investigate the car? Or does she keep moving, only to discover something more dangerous ahead on the road?