The house was safe for now, but survival meant more than hiding behind locked doors. With Asharab injured and his family watching him with both pride and fear, a decision was made — they would no longer live in fear. Together, they stepped into the haunting silence of the colony, their hearts heavy with grief but fueled by love and hope. Each step past the bloodstained walls reminded them of what they'd lost — and what they still had to fight for. In search of food and safety, they weren't just facing the dead… they were reclaiming their home.
After a harrowing journey through blood-soaked halls and zombie-infested streets, Asharab and Habiba made it back home—wounded, exhausted, but alive. From risking their lives in the school to escaping a deadly explosion and facing a horde of zombies together, they grew closer, bound by survival and newly awakened feelings. With Asharab's injured leg and Habiba's silent love blooming, the family welcomed them with open arms. But though one battle ended, their war for survival had only just begun .then his best friends
They lived and rested for a few days, letting their wounds heal and minds settle. But peace doesn't last forever. Soon, the biggest problem appeared—there was no food left. And with Asharab's leg still recovering, no one dared to step outside. They survived on what little remained, stretching each meal thinner and thinner, until even that ran out.
Thankfully, with the care of his family, his best friend, and Habiba, Asharab's leg finally healed. Just as hope returned, his best friend started scratching his neck. When Asharab checked the wound, his heart nearly sank. It looked like a zombie's scratch. Panic took hold. They quickly poured spirit on it and examined the wound closely. Relief came only when they realized it was just a surface scratch—the first layer of skin. Still, they kept him under close watch, not taking any risks.
Days passed, and hunger clawed at them more fiercely. They had to act. A plan was made—Asharab would go alone to the nearest guard check post, grab weapons, and clear the path for food. But the moment he shared the plan, everyone stood against him.
"You won't go," Habiba said firmly. His parents and best friend agreed. But Asharab shook his head.
"I'm not scared of dying," he said softly, "but I can't let anyone from my family die. That includes you," he looked at Habiba and his friend. "I'll go."
He sat down to wear his boots when Habiba walked in and sat beside him.
"Why are you always putting yourself in danger?" she asked quietly, her voice trembling.
Asharab looked down. "Because I care," he replied.
She reached for his hand but stopped midway. "You don't have to do this alone."
He gave her a gentle smile, the kind that hides all the pain inside. "I do… because I can't lose you."
And with that, the silence between them said all that words couldn't.
Asharab (gently, trying to hold her hand):"Habiba, please... just stay inside. I'll go find food. I'll search the rest of the colony. You don't need to step into that danger again."
Habiba (pulling her hand away sharply):"No, Asharab! Why do you always think you need to protect me? I can handle myself."
Asharab (voice cracking):"It's not just that. I care about you. I can't see you hurt again. Every time you're in danger, it feels like—"
Habiba (cutting him off, her tone suddenly cold):"Stop it. Don't say it. Don't make this harder than it already is."
Asharab (quietly):"But… I need to tell you. I—"
Habiba (turning her back to him):"No. You don't need to say anything. Listen, Asharab… I never loved you. I thought of you as a friend. That's all I ever did."
Asharab froze. Her words were like knives pressed into his chest.
Asharab (almost whispering, eyes wide):"…But you stayed. You saved me. You cared."
Habiba (harshly):"I didn't ask you to save me like this. You put your life on the line because you chose to. Don't expect anything in return."
He tried to speak again—tried to tell her that all this time, every beat of his heart had been for her. But no sound left his lips. Only silence… and the quiet sound of a heart breaking.
A tear escaped his eye, falling silently to the dusty floor.
Without another word, Asharab turned and left.
He walked slowly down the hallway, through the ruined door, and out into the cold.The world outside felt just as shattered as he was.
His legs moved on their own, but inside, he was hollow. The tears wouldn't stop. They blurred his vision. His chest felt tight, like the pain had physically settled in his ribs.
Every step he took from that house felt heavier than the last.
He remembered how she'd once stood in front of him to protect him. How she had smiled, even in fear.How she once whispered, "You're important to me."
Now all of that felt like a lie.Or maybe… she was just trying to survive.
He fell to his knees near the abandoned street, covered his face, and whispered to the sky,
"Maybe I shouldn't have made it back."
His cries echoed in the silence.
And in that moment, the boy who had fought an army of the dead…broke in front of the one person he couldn't protect.
From the second-floor window, Habiba's gaze froze as she spotted Asharab lying unconscious just in front of the building—his body still, his face pale, and his breathing barely visible. A chill ran down her spine. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest. "Asharab!" she gasped under her breath, her voice trembling with fear and guilt. No zombies had noticed him yet—he lay there alone in the open, vulnerable, but unseen. Without wasting a second, she turned and shouted to the family, "He's outside—right in front of the building! He's not moving!" Panic spread through the room, and the family quickly gathered. Working together and moving quietly, they rushed down, opened the door cautiously, and hurried to Asharab's side. Gently, they lifted him, shielding him as best they could, and brought him back inside. They laid him down with care, their faces filled with worry, hoping he would wake up—praying they hadn't found him too late.
Asharab walked away with a heavy heart, each step burdened with the weight of unspoken love and unshared pain. Habiba's words echoed in his mind like a storm — sharp, cold, unforgettable. He wanted to be strong, to act like her rejection didn't shatter him, but the truth clung to his chest like chains.
As he reached the front of the building, the pain in his leg merged with the ache in his heart. His vision blurred, breath shallow. Everything inside him—every memory, every moment—felt too heavy to carry anymore.
And then, without a sound, he collapsed to the ground, unconscious… but unnoticed.
4o