Asharab tightened his grip on the worn strap of his backpack, his eyes scanning the cracked horizon. Beside him, his big brother moved with steady purpose, muscles tense but ready. Habiba's small hand slipped into Asharab's — her face a fragile mask of hope and fear. "They're out there," she whispered, voice trembling, "my parents... we have to find them." The world behind them was chaos, but ahead—maybe, just maybe—was a chance to reunite what the apocalypse had torn apart.
t
The next morning arrived, veiled in the cold silence that only a post-apocalyptic world could bring. The sun rose like a quiet witness, casting long shadows over the ruined colony. Asharab, his elder brother, and Habiba packed their bags with quiet efficiency. Each movement was heavy with purpose. They grabbed just two pistols—there wasn't much ammunition left—and stepped out into the stillness.
The garage near the colony's gate stood waiting like a threshold to the unknown. Inside were two cars—one old SUV and a small, rugged sedan. After a short exchange of looks, they each chose their vehicle. The engines rumbled to life with a reluctant groan.
They were ready. At least, they thought they were.
But the world outside their safe haven had changed. The zombie apocalypse wasn't static—it had evolved, become faster, crueler, smarter.
As they prepared to leave, their family gathered to see them off. Asharab's best friend tried to be strong but failed; tears streamed down his cheeks.
"I'm not going forever, you sobby girl," Asharab teased with a soft grin, ruffling his friend's hair. "Don't cry. I'll be back to you."
The joke fell flat in the weight of the moment, but it was enough to earn a watery laugh.
Yet no one had asked their mother how she felt. How she saw her sons—her heart—walk into the mouth of death. She'd stayed silent the whole time, watching, swallowing her emotions.
Then she broke.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and her voice cracked as she cried out, "Swear to me… swear you'll come back."
Asharab and his brother both walked toward her, wrapped her in a warm embrace, and kissed her forehead with trembling lips.
Habiba stepped forward without hesitation and hugged her as well, pressing her cheek against the woman's shoulder. "Mother," she whispered—for the first time. The word brought fresh tears.
Then a girl who had always followed Asharab around stepped up timidly. "Can I go with you?" she asked.
Asharab stared at her, his expression firm. "No," he said, almost too harshly. "Stay with my family. Keep them safe. If we don't return…" He paused, struggling. "You have my katana. So be it."
She nodded solemnly.
They climbed into the car, Asharab's brother taking the wheel. The gates creaked open, revealing a world crawling with death. Zombies roamed freely now, a grotesque sea of moans and movement. As they drove, the city looked almost peaceful in its desolation. Buildings stood like gravestones, streets cracked and lifeless. For the first time, the city felt truly alone.
After hours of careful driving, detours, and near encounters, they reached the neighborhood where Habiba had once lived. Her home stood eerily still, the door slightly ajar.
"This is it," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Asharab gently wiped them away with the back of his hand. He tugged at her cheek, trying to make her smile. "Please don't cry. Sometimes life isn't fair, and it's not always what we want. But everything happens, not by our will, but by what is written. Still… if you want to look inside, we'll do it together."
Habiba nodded. "I have to know."
The house looked as if it had been abandoned for years. Dust clung to every surface. Furniture was toppled, shattered glass littered the floor, and the air reeked of rot.
They entered cautiously, making no noise. But something else moved in the darkness—something faster than the slow, stumbling undead they were used to.
Suddenly, a zombie sprinted from the hallway, its speed shocking. It charged toward Asharab.
Asharab shouted and caught it mid-lunge, grappling with all his strength to hold it back. His boots skidded on the floor.
"Habiba!" he yelled, tossing her the pistol. "Shoot it!"
She stood frozen, her hands trembling, her heart pounding.
"I can't hold it much longer!" he screamed again, his voice cracking with strain.
Tears flooded her eyes. Her hand slowly raised the gun. Her fingers curled around the trigger.
She fired.
The zombie fell.
She dropped the gun and collapsed to her knees. Then she saw the face.
It was her father.
Asharab knelt beside her, pulling her into his arms as her body shook. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
A faint cry echoed from behind a door nearby. "Help! Please help!"
They rushed to it and unlocked the door. Inside was a young boy—Habiba's little brother—safe and sound, surrounded by half-eaten bags of chips and snacks. He was pale, thin, but alive.
He blinked at them. "Habiba?"
She ran to him, hugging him tight. "Yes! I'm here."
They hurried out of the house, the joy of the moment quickly drowned out by an awful sound—an approaching horde.
Zombies were chasing them, pouring from nearby buildings like ants from a nest.
Asharab lifted Habiba's brother into his arms and ran faster, shouting, "Start the car!"
His brother didn't hesitate. The car roared to life just in time.
They all jumped in, slammed the doors, and locked the windows as the zombies began slamming against the vehicle from all sides.
The engine stalled.
They held their breath.
Then it coughed, then roared back.
They sped away.
Habiba hugged her brother tightly, tears of joy falling.
"Do you know me?" he asked gently.
The boy nodded. "Yes. You're Asharab."
Asharab raised an eyebrow, surprised. "How do you know me?"
The boy grinned mischievously. "When you two were just friends, I saw you. I've seen the way you looked at her. I should've probably beaten you back then."
Asharab raised his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay. But now she's going to be my wife. So… how about that?"
The boy shrugged. "Fine by me. No issues."
They laughed, for a brief moment feeling like life might just find a way back to normal.
But fate had other plans.
As they drove down a long road back home, something massive and terrifying darted across the road and disappeared. Then, with a thunderous crash, it slammed into the side of their car.
The vehicle rolled.
They tumbled out, bodies flung across the broken ground. Habiba, Asharab's brother, and her little brother landed together, scrambling to safety.
Asharab was still in the wreck, pinned.
The beast—a horrifying, mutated creature—charged toward the group.
Asharab shouted and fired a shot to draw its attention. "Come here, you freak!" he roared.
It worked. The beast turned.
He crawled out of the wreck, bleeding, barely holding his gun. He fired at the monster, but the bullets did nothing.
He closed his eyes.
Then—BANG!
A clean, echoing shot rang out. The beast dropped instantly.
"Kill confirmed," a voice said.
Asharab opened his eyes. A man stood on a nearby rooftop, sniper rifle in hand.
Asharab's family ran to him.
"You're a real hero," the sniper said, climbing down. "You risked your life to save them. Interesting."
He offered his hand.
Asharab took it and stood.
"Will you come with us? Live with us?" Asharab asked.
"Why not?" the man said, shrugging. "I haven't talked to anyone since this all began. Might be time."
"But your leg," Habiba said, kneeling by Asharab. "It's bad…"
"It's nothing," Asharab grunted. "I've had worse."
The sniper glanced at Habiba. "She's your girl, isn't she?"
"Yes. I'm his," Habiba said firmly.
"I'm sorry," she whispered to Asharab.
Asharab kissed her forehead gently. "It's fine. Look at you—you're bleeding too."
They found another car, filled the tank, and made the long journey home.
When they arrived, Asharab's injuries were worse than expected. His mother wept and kissed his and his brothers forehead, hugging them tightly. But she didn't forget Habiba—she kissed her too and held her like a daughter.
Habiba's brother was cleaned up, fed, and bathed. The girl Asharab left behind, the one with Asharab's katana, had married his elder brother. They moved into the home of Asharab's best friend.
Habiba kept her promise.
She married Asharab.
The next day, as they all sat together, Asharab asked, "Was it just your father there? No one else?"
Habiba's brother looked up. "My mom and elder brother… they went to a dairy farm. There's a camp there. Mom called once. She said they're safe."
"Then why didn't they take you?" Asharab asked.
"They were taken by Dad. When Dad came back… he was bitten. He locked me in the room with snacks and food."
Asharab leaned back. "We'll go get them."
"Not now," Habiba said softly. "You need rest."
And for the first time in days…They laughed.
The apocalypse hadn't taken everything. Not yet.
and In this moment they all forgot what was fear