Apocalypse Days: I Rule with Foresight and a Powerful Son
Chapter 73: This World Of Ours

Chapter 73: 73: This World Of Ours

The sun was high when Winter woke, and he groggily realised that his head rested against Zara.

When did that happen? He thought with a frown

"Sleep well?" she asked, her voice gentle.

Winter nodded, his gaze locked on her. "Yeah. Thanks."

Zara smiled, a soft, knowing look in her eyes. "Leo’s fine. No issues while you were out."

Were her eyes always so bright or was he just noticing because of how close their faces were?

"We’ve spent too long, let’s get going," he said looking down and realising that Zara had already taken Leo out of his arms.

Since when? Was he that deep asleep?

Zara shook her head, amusement in her eyes as she turned and gently strapped Leo to her chest as she had done before. "You don’t have to act all tough, you slept well and enjoyed it. Now let’s keep going."

She stood up and stretched, looking around. Luckily, there hadn’t been any zombies or travellers that came up on them while winter was out. She had also taken the liberty to wipe Leo down and change his clothes. If only she could do the same for herself.

She wanted a bath so bad!

As they prepared to move, Zara walked to the side, her foot catching on a crack, her balance faltering. Without thinking, Winter’s hand shot out, grasping her waist gently to steady her.

The world seemed to pause as they found themselves inches apart, Zara’s breath hitching slightly as she met Winter’s gaze. His fingers lingered on her waist, the warmth of her body radiating through the thin fabric.

A soft murmur from Leo broke the spell, the child shifting slightly between them. Both Zara and Winter took a step back. Zara cleared her throat, adjusting Leo’s position as if nothing had happened. "We should keep moving."

"Yeah," Winter agreed, his voice low. He turned away, focusing on the path ahead, though his thoughts lingered on the brief interaction.

What the hell was that about?

They walked in silence for a while, taking in the scenery that had begun to change from car scraps and broken houses to long stretches of field and some with flowers.

Weird.

"Who would have thought flowers would still grow?" Zara blinked in surprise as they walked past.

"They might look like ordinary flowers but they aren’t. we can’t let our guard down for anything," Winter called from ahead.

"I know that!

"You ever thought about what it might be like when we get to City H?" Zara asked.

Winter tilted his head slightly, his expression calm as always, but there was a slight crease between his brows. "I’ve thought about it," he replied, "I dream of it more times than I can count."

Zara felt the tension between his words and understood it too. The hope of City H, the promise it held, felt like a dream they weren’t sure they deserved to chase. Yet, it was the one thing that kept them moving forward. What would they do if it wasn’t as they had hoped?

She exhaled, letting the thought linger before adding, "I wonder if we will escape this nightmare?"

Winter looked at her with an arched eyebrow.

"I mean, in the movies there’s usually a cure or a solution right?" She had never been interested in those kinds of movies because she thought them weird but Damon had been a fan of them and she had no choice but to accompany him during movie nights and listen to his conspiracy theories while they watched.

Winter’s eyes flicked toward her, his lips pressing into a thin line, but she noticed the faintest smile. "I never pegged you for a movie fan."

"Not those types," Zara shook her head.

Zara glanced down at Leo, who was still dozing in her arms, his face was less flushed. His delicate features were relaxed now, a welcomed sight. He looked like a child again, as he should be, innocent and relaxed. Zara’s heart ached with the thought of how little innocence remained in this world, how every day felt like a struggle to protect what little joy they had left.

"My baby," Zara cooed, stopping on the side. "How are you feeling?"

Leo yawned, his tiny hands rubbing at his eyes. "Better... Hungry."

Zara’s heart swelled with relief. if he was hungry, he was definitely getting better.

Winter popped up beside them, retrieving a small portion of their dwindling supplies. "Let’s take care of that."

As Zara carefully fed Leo, they continued their walk down the highway.

*****

Their steps brought them to a clearing, where an old, rusted bicycle lay abandoned by the roadside. Winter approached it, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Think it still works?" he mused, giving it a light nudge with his boot.

Zara raised an eyebrow, a rare glint of amusement in her eyes. "Doubtful. The tyres are flat."

"Huh," Winter chuckled, "I bet you couldn’t ride it though,"

"Oh, really?" Zara shot back, lips twitching. "You’d fall on your face before you got a foot."

"Challenge accepted," Winter grinned, mockingly balancing on the deflated tyres.

Zara laughed—a sound so rare it caught her off guard. "Stop before you break something, say your pride."

Leo shuffled against her, peering ts the bicycle with curiosity. "I want to ride one too," he whined softly.

Zara and Winter paused, looking down at him. "I’m sure you do baby, we can get one once we find somewhere safe for you to ride it," Zara smiled gently.

*****

Leo nodded, his gaze curious as he surveyed the changing scenery. "Are we close to City H?"

"Not yet," Winter said, crouching to meet Leo’s eyes. "But we’re getting there."

As they walked, Zara focused on caring for Leo, feeding him small bites from their meager rations and ensuring he drank enough water. Winter took it upon himself to distract the boy, weaving tales of their journey with exaggerated gestures and a warm, playful tone. His usual hard edges softened, and he even managed to coax a few giggles from Leo, despite the boy’s lingering weariness.

Zara watched them with a quiet smile, her heart swelling with a mixture of gratitude and hope. The simple joy of seeing Leo laugh, even in such dire circumstances, reminded her of why they kept pushing forward. She felt a surge of warmth watching Winter’s gentler side emerge, a side he rarely showed.

*****

The sun dipped below the horizon as the day wore on, casting long shadows across the path. The air grew colder, and the first droplets of rain began to fall. They quickened their pace, searching for shelter. The rain intensified, soaking through their clothes and chilling them to the bone.

"There," Winter pointed ahead to an old barn, its wooden structure weathered but intact.

They rushed inside, shaking off the rain as best they could. The interior was musty but dry, filled with bales of hay and the faint scent of aged wood. Zara and Winter worked quickly, arranging the hay into a makeshift bed for Leo.

Zara quickly took off his wet clothes and dried him off.

As the temperature dropped, Zara shivered, pulling her damp cloak tighter. Winter noticed, his brow furrowing. Without a word, he moved closer, draping his dry cloak over her shoulders. Zara could feel Winter’s body heat through the layers of their clothes, each brush of his arm sending a ripple of awareness through her.

"Thank you," Zara whispered, her voice barely audible over the rain.

Winter simply nodded, their shared warmth a strange feeling in the dimly lit barn. They sat side by side, Leo nestled in Zara’s lap, his small body finally relaxing into sleep. Zara’s eyes grew heavy, her head resting against Winter’s shoulder. She fought to stay awake, but the exhaustion of the day’s journey pulled heavily on her. Despite her best efforts, sleep overtook her, the sound of rain lulling her into a rare state of peace.

Winter remained awake, his gaze shifting between the sleeping forms of Zara and Leo. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—of the uncertainty ahead, of the fragile hope they clung to, and of the deepening feelings he could no longer deny. In that quiet moment, he resolved to protect them, no matter the cost.

Winter sat silently, his eyes scanning the darkened barn. The storm raged outside, but inside, the steady rise and fall of Leo’s breathing and Zara’s peaceful expression filled him with a sense of purpose. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—worries about their uncertain future and a newfound resolve to protect the fragile peace they had found.

As the rain continued to fall, Winter’s thoughts lingered on the woman beside him. Zara’s strength and determination had always been evident, but tonight, watching her sleep, he saw a different side of her. The vulnerability she rarely showed stirred something deep within him, a protective instinct that was becoming harder to ignore.

In that quiet moment, amidst the storm’s fury, they found a fragile and fleeting peace. The world outside was harsh and unforgiving, but here, in the sanctuary of the old barn, there was a glimmer of hope—a reminder of what they were fighting for.