Three months had passed since the infection first spread across the world. The air outside had begun to change. Autumn was slowly arriving. Leaves around the forest surrounding the bunker were beginning to turn shades of amber and dull red, falling quietly to the damp ground.
But the infected outside didn't care about the changing season. Luis stared at the surveillance monitor again. The same infected man was still there.
For weeks now, the figure had wandered around the same stretch of trees several hundred meters away from the bunker. Sometimes it walked slowly. Sometimes it simply stood there but it never left.
The camera showed the details clearly now.
The man's body was decaying. Rotten patches of skin hung from his face. Dark veins spread across his neck where the bite wound had once been fresh.
Luis leaned closer to the screen. "You're still here…"
Three months and the infected didn't die. They didn't weaken. Cold rain, wind, or time seemed to have no effect on them. The man just continued moving slowly through the trees. Luis sighed quietly. "Who were you before this?"
He looked young. Too young to die like that.
---
Inside the bunker's hydroponics room, Mia stood beside her mother. Helen was checking the plants again, but Mia could tell her thoughts were elsewhere. Her mother looked distracted.
"Mom?"
Helen forced a small smile. "I'm fine."
But Mia knew she wasn't. Helen placed the watering device down slowly. "I haven't heard from your uncle in over a month."
Mia understood immediately, her uncle Daniel. Helen's brother in Australia. The last time they spoke, Daniel had said the government was organizing evacuation shelters for survivors. They planned to travel to one of them. Since then… Silence.
Helen looked down at the strawberries growing in the tray. "The last thing he told me was that they were leaving for the shelter."
Her voice softened. "I just hope they arrived safely."
Mia gently placed a hand on her mother's shoulder. "Uncle Daniel is strong."
Helen nodded slowly. "He always was."
Mia smiled reassuringly. "He'll protect his family."
Even though Mia herself knew something painful. Many evacuation shelters didn't last long. But she couldn't tell her mother that. So she simply said quietly, "They'll survive."
Helen nodded again, holding onto that hope.
---
Suddenly Luis's voice echoed through the bunker's hallway. "Mia!"
She turned. Luis was rushing toward her holding a phone. "It's Pablo."
Mia's expression sharpened immediately. Luis answered the call again and put it on speaker. Pablo's voice sounded desperate.
"Luis… I need help."
Luis straightened.
"What happened?"
Pablo took a shaky breath.
"My daughter is sick."
Luis frowned.
"What kind of sickness?"
"Severe bacterial pneumonia."
The words came out quickly.
"She's been coughing for days… high fever… breathing is getting worse."
Mia felt her chest tighten.
Pneumonia in a five-year-old child could turn deadly without treatment.
"We need antibiotics," Pablo said desperately.
"I searched every pharmacy in the nearby town."
"Nothing."
His voice broke slightly. "I can't find any medicine."
Luis immediately answered. "I have antibiotics here."
There was silence on the line. Pablo spoke again quietly. "You do?"
"Yes." Luis already knew the bunker's medical storage was well-stocked.
Pablo hesitated. "I… I can't ask you to bring it."
Luis didn't hesitate. "I'll bring it."
"Luis—"
"I'm serious."
Pablo's breathing became uneven.
"You'd risk your life for this?"
Luis answered simply.
"She's your daughter."
Silence again.
Then Pablo spoke.
"She's only five."
Luis closed his eyes briefly.
"I know."
Pablo exhaled slowly.
"Alright."
They quickly discussed the location. Pablo's parents' farm was about an hour away from the bunker by car. But the roads weren't safe anymore.
Instead, they agreed to meet at an abandoned fuel station on a rural road halfway between the two locations.
The building had an open area where they could see danger coming from far away.
"I'll wait there," Pablo said.
Luis nodded.
"I'll come."
The call ended.
---
Minutes later both families gathered in the bunker's main living room. Luis stood in front of them. "Pablo's daughter has pneumonia."
Helen gasped softly.
"Oh no…"
Luis continued.
"She needs antibiotics."
Michael asked immediately.
"You have them here?"
Luis nodded.
"Yes."
Frederick looked serious.
"So you're planning to go out."
Luis didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Olivia looked worried.
"That's dangerous."
Luis met her eyes.
"I know."
Michael leaned forward.
"How far?"
"About an hour away."
Frederick stood up immediately.
"Then I'll go with you."
Luis shook his head firmly.
"No."
Frederick frowned.
"Luis.."
"You need to stay here."
Luis looked at both of his parents.
"You have to protect Mom."
He gestured toward the bunker.
"And protect this place."
Frederick hesitated.
Luis spoke more gently.
"I can do this alone."
Before anyone could respond,
"I'm going too."
Everyone turned.
Mia stood near the doorway.
Luis blinked.
"Mia?"
She stepped forward calmly.
"You shouldn't go alone."
Luis frowned.
"It's too dangerous."
Mia met his gaze steadily.
"I've survived outside before."
Luis understood what she meant.
Her memories of the future.
She knew how to move around infected.
How to avoid danger.
Helen immediately stood up.
"Mia, no."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"That's too risky."
Mia walked toward her mother.
"We won't go far."
Helen shook her head.
"The world outside is different now."
"I know."
Mia gently held her mother's hands.
"But we can't stay hidden forever."
Michael finally spoke.
He had been quiet until now.
"She's right."
Helen looked at him.
Michael continued calmly.
"We've been inside this bunker for three months."
"We barely know what's happening outside anymore."
He looked at Luis.
"And if we're going to survive long-term… we need to understand the situation beyond these walls."
Helen still looked worried.
"But.."
Mia hugged her gently.
"We'll be careful."
"Very careful."
She whispered softly,
"I promise we'll come back."
Helen closed her eyes for a moment before nodding slowly.
Frederick crossed his arms.
"Then we prepare properly."
Luis nodded.
"Yes."
Michael added,
"We plan everything first."
Routes, weapons, and escape options. Nothing would be left to chance. Luis looked at Mia.
"You're sure about this?"
She smiled slightly.
"I am."
Outside the bunker, the world had become a nightmare but sooner or later. They would have to face it. And that moment had finally come.