Nearly two months had passed since the world outside collapsed into chaos. Inside the bunker, however, life continued in a strange mixture of routine and caution.
Tonight was different.
For the first time in weeks, both families gathered simply to relax.
Mia's section of the bunker had a comfortable living room designed for moments like this, soft couches arranged around a large screen, warm lighting, and shelves filled with stored movies and series downloaded long before the internet became unreliable.
Olivia had insisted earlier in the afternoon.
"We should watch something together tonight," she said. "Just one night where we forget about everything outside."
Helen immediately agreed.
"A comedy," she said firmly. "Something funny."
And so, at exactly six in the evening, everyone gathered in the living room.
Luis carried a large bowl of popcorn.
Michael brought canned drinks.
Frederick arrived with bags of snacks that Olivia had carefully rationed for special occasions.
Soon the room was filled with the smell of popcorn and the soft glow of the television.
They chose a Korean comedy series.
At first the room was quiet as the first episode began.
Then the jokes started.
Olivia laughed first.
Soon Helen followed.
By the third episode, even Michael and Frederick were laughing at the ridiculous situations on screen.
The show was lighthearted and absurd—misunderstandings, awkward romance, dramatic reactions.
For a few hours, the bunker didn't feel like a shelter from the end of the world.
It felt like a normal family evening.
Sometimes they laughed.
Sometimes Helen and Olivia sighed dramatically during romantic scenes.
And occasionally, someone even wiped a tear away during emotional moments.
Mia leaned back on the couch beside Luis.
She realized she hadn't laughed like this in a very long time.
Time passed quickly.
Six o'clock became eight.
Eight became ten.
By midnight, several episodes had played, but the series still wasn't finished.
Frederick yawned loudly.
"I'm too old for midnight television."
Michael chuckled.
"You said that two hours ago."
Helen stretched her arms.
"But it's getting good!"
Olivia nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes! The story is just starting to get romantic."
Frederick immediately frowned.
"Romantic?"
Olivia smirked.
"The male lead is very handsome."
Helen giggled.
"And his skin is perfect."
Frederick looked offended.
"What about my skin?"
Olivia laughed.
"Dear, you're sixty."
Michael chuckled beside him.
Frederick crossed his arms like a sulking child.
The room erupted with laughter.
"Fine," Frederick muttered. "Watch your handsome actor."
Helen wiped tears of laughter from her eyes.
"Let's finish the rest tomorrow."
Olivia nodded.
"Yes, tomorrow night."
Helen sighed dramatically.
"I want to see the ending."
"You'll survive waiting one day," Michael said with a grin.
Eventually everyone stood up, stretching and gathering empty snack bowls.
"Goodnight," Olivia said warmly.
"Goodnight," Helen replied.
One by one the parents left the living room and returned to their own rooms.
Soon the room was quiet again.
Only Mia and Luis remained.
Luis stretched his arms and glanced at the screen.
"That actor is overrated."
Mia raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
Luis smirked confidently.
"I'm more handsome than him."
Mia turned toward him slowly.
"Oh?"
Luis leaned back casually.
"If I became an actor, millions of people would watch."
Mia pretended to think about it.
Then she nodded thoughtfully.
"I think the male lead is still more handsome."
Luis blinked.
"Wait—"
But Mia was already standing.
"Goodnight, Luis."
She hurried toward the hallway leading to her room.
"Hey!"
Luis tried to protest.
But Mia had already disappeared around the corner.
Luis pouted slightly.
"She ran away."
He sat there for a moment before chuckling to himself.
Maybe next time he would ask her on a real date.
---
A few minutes later, Luis walked toward the monitoring station inside the bunker.
Before going to sleep, he always checked the surveillance cameras around the property.
The bunker had been designed carefully.
The hidden cameras outside were disguised so that anyone passing by wouldn't recognize them as security devices.
To outsiders, they looked like ordinary environmental sensors placed around the forest.
Luis activated the night vision feed.
The screen glowed green.
Rain fell steadily outside, the forest dark and quiet.
Then he noticed movement.
A figure.
Someone walking slowly along the muddy path several hundred meters away.
Luis leaned closer to the screen.
The person moved slowly.
Almost aimlessly.
It's raining and it didn't seem to care.
Luis narrowed his eyes.
It was difficult to tell whether the figure was human or infected.
The movement looked sluggish.
But not quite like the aggressive infected he had seen before in tv and social media posts.
Luis didn't dare activate any lights or defensive systems.
If the person noticed unusual activity, they might start searching the area.
And the bunker's greatest advantage was secrecy.
He simply watched.
The figure continued walking slowly through the rain.
Luis frowned.
There were no towns or houses anywhere near their location.
No reason for someone to wander this deep into the wilderness.
Something about it felt wrong.
So he kept observing.
---
Meanwhile, inside the darkened headquarters of Alps Builders, Kevin and Chelsea found their own way to forget the chaos outside.
The building was quiet.
Only the dim emergency lights illuminated the executive office.
Kevin pulled Chelsea close, his hands roaming over her body.
The stress of the collapsing world outside had built a strange tension inside him.
Chelsea wrapped her arms around his neck, responding eagerly.
Their kisses grew deeper.
More urgent.
Chelsea gasped softly as Kevin's lips traced down her neck.
She arched against him, enjoying every second of his attention.
Kevin smirked slightly.
Chelsea was completely different from Mia.
More daring.
More playful.
She never held back.
Her soft moans echoed quietly through the empty office as Kevin teased her, exploring every reaction she gave him.
Chelsea clung to him, her breath growing uneven.
"Kevin…"
Her voice trembled as she pulled him closer.
He could feel the heat between them rising.
The outside world didn't exist in that moment.
Only the two of them.
Chelsea pressed her lips against his ear, whispering his name again.
Kevin exhaled sharply as their movements grew more intense.
Chelsea's fingers tightened around his shoulders.
"Kevin…"
Her voice rose again.
He laughed softly, pulling her closer.
Moments later, both of them collapsed together onto the couch, breathing heavily.
Chelsea rested her head against his chest, smiling lazily.
Kevin ran a hand through his hair.
Sex had become their escape.
In a world falling apart, physical pleasure was one of the few distractions left.
They had done it almost every day.
Sometimes in the office.
Sometimes in the conference room.
Sometimes in the elevator.
Anywhere the mood struck.
Chelsea never refused him.
And Kevin enjoyed that.
He liked control.
He liked knowing she would always say yes.
Outside the large office window, however, something far more disturbing was happening.
The streets of Viremont City were filling with infected.
More than before.
Dozens of figures wandered through the dark streets below.
When a distant noise echoed, several suddenly sprinted toward it with terrifying speed.
Kevin stood up and walked to the window.
Chelsea followed, wrapping a blanket around herself.
"More of them," she whispered.
Kevin stared down at the growing crowd.
It was unsettling.
Each week their numbers increased.
The city had become a feeding ground.
And outside the secure walls of the building…
The infected were multiplying.