The front door connects directly to the living room with the fireplace he saw outside. On the far side of the cabin, the living room opens up to a kitchen and dining area. The bathroom is on the left side of the house, directly before the kitchen. The remaining two rooms are a bedroom and another room used for storage. Oliver angrily threw his smartwatch away as he saw the large trash can in the kitchen. When he was about to throw out his phone, he took a deep breath and released his anger.
I'm not ready to throw out my phone. I might be able to fix it and save my pictures and videos.
Oliver immediately went to the kitchen and opened some water bottles for them.
We should only stay a day or two. Tomorrow, I'll search every nook and cranny of this place.
"Here's some water," Oliver gave her a bottle of water, which she took quietly but drank greedily. Oliver looked down and saw the scrape on her knee.
"You scraped your knee. Let me take a look." Oliver said and took a knee to look at her scrape, and Amelia just sat quietly.
"It doesn't look that bad. Hopefully, I can find a medkit or something to clean it."
Oliver looked for the bathroom, where he would keep medical supplies. Oliver found a simple medkit under the bathroom sink.
"I found a first aid kit. This might sting a little," Oliver said before gently cleaning it with water from his water bottle and disinfecting her scrape. Amelia only responded with a slight flinch.
"You did great."
After Amelia's scrape was bandaged, she sat quietly on the couch, staring at the dead fireplace. She hadn't talked in a long time and seemed lost in her thoughts.
I think her mind is processing everything. I hope she's not traumatized.
The lights didn't work; however, a couple of used candles and a kerosene lamp worked. The inside of the refrigerator was getting warmer, but the gas stove still worked. Searching the cabinets, Oliver finds crackers, biscuits, and other dry foods. Checking the fridge more closely, he saw a pot of stew, some cooked bacon, grapes, oranges, and many other items that didn't catch his eye. Oliver warmed up the stew on the old stove and set the table for two. He prepared a glass of still-cold milk for the both of them to drink before it spoiled and saved their water. Oliver would have used the tap water if it hadn't had a strange tint and odor, likely from the corrosion of old pipes.
This cabin is so far away that it may have its water tank. It would be great if the plumbing worked, too.
"Amelia, come eat dinner."
They sat across from each other at the small kitchen table and devoured their stew before finishing all the grapes and half the oranges.
The sun had set completely, and their only light was the fog. Oliver used the wood and lighter fluid to start a fire in the fireplace.
I'll save the candles later in case I need them.
Once the fire became more significant and stable, Oliver sat back and watched the flames dance as they devoured the wood. Feeling the need to use the bathroom, Oliver got up and went to the restroom. The bathtub, toilet, and sink looked like they hadn't been thoroughly cleaned in a long time, but it will have to do. Oliver flushed the bathroom and made sure it worked before finishing his business. Oliver returns to the fireplace and finds that Amelia is still staring at the fireplace.
"The bathroom still works whenever you need it. I'm going to take a look around."
As she nods in acknowledgment, Oliver leaves to search the bedroom. Even with the small bed, the room wasn't that large. The room had a rugged but minimalistic feel, as it belonged to an older man who was either poor or liked a minimalist lifestyle. There were no signs of technology or other entertainment in the cabin.
This room has a funny smell.
Disappointed with his findings, Oliver proceeds to the room that looks like a storage room, hoping for anything useful. There were several large boxes in the storage room that Oliver looked through using his lamp. To Oliver's satisfaction, he found several blankets, old pillows, camping gear, backpacks, flashlights, extra clothes a couple sizes too large, a medium box full of random toiletries, a duffel bag, towels, and a small and large pocket knife. Oliver also found a small but unused journal, and after a moment of hesitation, he put it in his large pocket on the side of his leg.
I don't think these batteries work anymore, making these flashlights useless. There's a backpack for each of us, and I can use the duffel bag, but I won't be able to carry Amelia anymore. We'll prioritize water, food, and weapons in that order. Camping gear sounds helpful, but that would mean spending the night outside.
Towels, blankets, and toiletries sound nice, but they are the easiest things to find in every household.
Oliver grabbed the extra pillows and blankets to the living room and left all the supplies in the storage room to pack in the morning.
"The bedroom smells weird so you can sleep on the couch, and I'll sleep on the floor."
After making the couch for Amelia, Oliver laid some blankets on the floor for himself. Returning to the toiletries box, he took what he needed for Amelia to freshen up.
I don't know how safe the water is, but showering should be fine. It's too bad there's only cold water.
After locking the door, Oliver took a swift shower since the water was freezing. After drying himself off, he took the spare clothes he found and dressed as he shivered. He continued to shiver as he brushed his teeth and rushed to the fireplace.
"The shower is freezing, but you can take a shower if you want. I left a new toothbrush in the bathroom for you."
Amelia left for the bathroom as the fire warmed up Oliver.
A few minutes later, Amelia was still in the restroom, and Oliver grew drowsy. Oliver lay in his makeshift bed after attending to the fire one last time.
Oliver was walking through a park trail, enjoying a nice summer day. The trail wrapped around a small lake, where people would come to feed ducks.
"Are you hungry?" The voice of a young girl called out from behind him
Turning around, he saw a young girl wearing a white sun dress. The girl looked around the same age as Amelia.
"What?" he replied in surprise. "Are you here by yourself?" He looked around in confusion. She was alone, and the old couple sitting at the pavilion had disappeared, along with the young couple he had just passed. The park suddenly became ominous as there was no sign of any people or animals.
"Are you hungry?" She asked again. Oliver looked at the girl strangely.
"Uh, no, I'm fine?" I replied.
"Really?" she asked doubtfully.
"Uh, yeah?" Oliver replied. Oliver felt something strange, something just felt wrong about the little girl. He tried to step away, and while he did, he failed to make any distance from the girl, even though she hadn't moved an inch.
"Well, I'm hungry!" She screeched and pounced toward Oliver as her eyes became a vivid red with an elongated pupil, her ears became more prolonged and pointy, and her jaw became wider and protruded from her face like a short muzzle. Her pretty white sun dress was suddenly covered in blood and small chunks of flesh. Her sharp and jagged teeth filled my view as she clamped her teeth over his face. He tried to move, he tried to scream, but it felt like his body failed him, and he felt helpless. Oliver woke up with a fearful gasp, labored breaths, and flailed in panic.
"Wh- where?" Oliver asked himself, looking at an unfamiliar place.
After a few seconds, he starts to recall the events from yesterday. Oliver takes a few slow, deep breaths to calm down, coming to terms with his new reality. Now covered in a cold sweat, He laid back on the ground and spent several minutes staring at the ceiling as he took long deep breaths. Oliver only got up when his aching body begged to be released from the hard bed and the cold that started to creep on them after the fire died out. He groggily started the fire and prepared food for them in the kitchen when her sudden screams made Oliver jump in fear.
"Khaaaa!" she cried. "Nooo! Mom! Dad!"
Rapidly turning towards her, he could see her flailing her legs and arms on the couch.
"Amelia! It's just a nightmare! Amelia. Wake up! It's just a nightmare!" He grabs her arms and calls her name.
She wakes from her nightmare, and her eyes reflect fear and confusion before recognition. She calms down as she realizes it was just a nightmare and covers her eyes as she cries.
"Stay here. I'll get us some food," Oliver said gently.
"Ok," she replied with a small voice, runny nose, and red-puffy eyes.
He returned to the kitchen a few feet away to make breakfast or gathered things to make breakfast together. Seeing movement in the corner of his eye, he saw something he almost couldn't believe. The kitchen has a window with a clear view of an open area followed by some woods, and in that clearing is a squirrel the size of a bulldog with a black horn. It looked around for a few seconds before running back toward the woods. Before it went too far, a second giant squirrel appeared beside it without a horn, and they ran off into the woods together. Excluding its horn and physical size, it seemed like you would expect from a squirrel.
The world is entirely different now. As far as I know, the monster's squirrels' behavior patterns and anatomy could have completely changed.
Pushing the thought out of his mind, he focused on bringing the food to the living room so they could eat more comfortably. Amelia sat silently on the couch again and quietly accepted the food that Oliver gave her. He put his plate on the coffee table beside hers and attended the fire before eating breakfast.
"Thank you," Amelia whispered gratefully.
"You're welcome," Oliver replied warmly.
Thankfully, there is plenty of firewood left over from the house's previous owner, whatever happened to him.
Oliver and Amelia finished their meal quickly and sat next to each other in complete silence.
It's probably too soon for her to converse, and I don't know what to say.
Oliver collected their dishes and left them in the sink, not bothering to wash them. Oliver returned to the storage room and packed the backpacks with some dry foods, toiletries, and whatever wouldn't fit inside the duffel bag.
"Amelia, I want you to take this," Oliver said as he handed her the small pocket knife he found.
He used the larger pocket knife to show her how to use it, and she took it reluctantly.
"This is also for you. It has some food, water, and toiletries."
"Are you ready?"
She nodded reluctantly and grabbed Oliver's hand. As he walked out the front door with Amelia, he noticed the old pickup truck in the driveway and decided to look.
A truck this old might be unaffected by an EMP if this is an EMP.
As he walked around the truck, he saw the empty truck bed. He let go of Amelia's hand and opened the driver-side door as it squeaked. He sat in the driver's seat, noticing a dusty smell. He lowered the visor, and a pair of keys fell into his lap.
"It has keys!" he exclaimed excitedly. However, his excitement quickly died when he tried to start the old truck several times without a response.
Vehicles must be another modern convenience that was too good for us lowly mortals.
"Haaaaa," he released another sigh and realized it would become a habit in this new world if he continued to survive.
In frustration, Oliver took the keys and threw them as far in the distance as he could. Before calming down, he paced next to the truck and looked under the front hood, hoping it could be a disconnected battery. After using the extent of his limited knowledge and showing no results, he shuts the hood in frustration. Oliver calms down when Amelia grabs his hand, and they leave the old cabin behind.
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After walking for roughly two hours, they froze when they heard a distant roar, followed by a quieter scream of what sounded like the dying cries of an animal. The sound sent goosebumps throughout his body, giving him flashbacks of the train.
What the hell was that? A demon?
"Let's keep moving," he said as much to himself as he did Amelia, and they continued traveling nervously. They walked for a couple more hours until they reached a large opening between the trees. They sat down and took off their bags, and Oliver took out some crackers and the leftover oranges. They quickly ate in fear of being discovered. Oliver realized they had been followed only when it was too late, just not in the way he had predicted. As soon as they continued the journey, an arrow suddenly pierced the ground nearby.
"Don't move, or you're next," a ragged voice shouted.
He immediately dropped his bag and threw his hands up in surrender. Looking towards the source, a middle-aged man was holding a composite hunting bow just past the tree line. He exited the tree line and walked into the open area.
"Slowly take off your bag and walk backward," he demanded sternly.
Oliver and Amelia complied with his instructions, stopping 10 feet away. The only difference between them is that Amelia was still wearing her backpack.
"We can talk about this," Oliver said firmly, hiding the nervousness in his voice.
"Hmph, just get on the ground," He responded with a grunt of disdain.
"We can work together. It would be better to be in a group," Oliver complied and tried to reason.
"With just you and a little girl? Just stay back, and I won't hurt you," he mocked.
The robber released the tension while he held the arrow in place with the same hand that held the bow. He picked up the backpack and duffel bag and checked its weight while slinging it over his shoulder. He retrieved the arrow he used as a warning shot and continued walking backward, watching Oliver, until he disappeared into the woods.
"Hahhhh," Oliver sighed, "Well, at least we're not hurt, and he left us your backpack,'" he told Amelia.
I would carry the bag if I didn't want her to have it in case we get separated.
Having no choice, they continued walking down the broad road, with only the occasional house to keep them company. They walked for several more stressful hours and passed several branching streets. Not knowing where they were, they continued on the main street. Soon, houses appeared more frequently, including cars that have crashed or died on the road. Most cars were empty, but a few had the remains of their previous owners left inside or clear signs where something clawed its way out. Occasionally, there would be streaks of blood, if not entire corpses or body parts lying in the street or nearby. As they continued walking again, they found a demon corpse on the side of the road. The corpse lay on its back in a small pool of blood and had multiple bloody holes in its torso, the only part of its body still wearing any clothing.
It doesn't look like some other monster killed it, as the body remains intact. Instead, it seems like a knife or some weapon attacked it. Were its pants and underwear taken, or did it take them off? Well, it's a male.
Oliver got as close as he could bear and carefully examined its features. Its skin had a noticeable but slightly brown and greenish tint to it. It had short brown hair and a large nose. It had long and pointy ears that protruded slightly outward from its head. Its abnormally large and disturbing jaw was out of proportion with the rest of its face. Its mouth was half open, revealing its teeth still containing bits of bloody flesh between them. Even in death, its face is still contorted in aggression and pain. Its feet were bare, and its toes ended with inch-long, black claws like its hands. Oliver lifted its shirt, revealing the bloody wounds that lay beneath it. The scars were around 2 inches across and were round.
It doesn't look like claws. It seems like it was stabbed or shot with something.
Oliver turned back to Amelia, who stared at him in discomfort and confusion.
It's normal for her to be scared of a dead body, even though I'm very uncomfortable. She may be confused about what I'm doing. Not to mention that it's mostly naked.
"To survive, we must learn more about our enemies. How to hurt them, how they behave, and how they can hurt us. Look here. You can see it probably died of blood loss from these wounds. Its anatomy is likely the same as ours, excluding the noticeable physical changes. Its weapons include its teeth and the claws on its hands and feet. Since it took off most of its clothing, it likely doesn't have a sense of modesty or the intelligence to wear clothing or protection."
Amelia nodded in understanding but didn't move any closer to the corpse. Oliver and Amelia left the corpse behind and kept walking. When it started to get later in the afternoon, Oliver carefully looked at the houses as they passed them, looking for a safe place well before dark. It wasn't too long until Oliver could see a home without any clear sign of damage or blood.
"Amelia, I'll look inside. Can you hide for me?" Oliver said after taking a quick look.
It was a very ordinary two-story house that seemed to be left entirely intact. Oliver had no trouble approaching the house and listening for something next to the front door. When he didn't hear anything, he knocked on the door in case someone was home or to have an enemy reveal their presence while the door separated them. With no response, Oliver tried to open the door, only to find it locked. Oliver didn't give up and walked around the house, looking for a way inside. When he reached the back, he saw the backdoor wide open.
It looks like someone left in such a rush that they didn't or couldn't shut the backdoor. Were they being chased? Something else could have gotten inside.
Oliver hesitated, as one or multiple monsters or demons could be inside. However, Oliver knew how vital it was that they found a place to rest for the night, and the sooner, the better. He slowly walked in through the back door leading to the kitchen. Oliver left the back door open in case he needed to escape quickly. A few dirty dishes were in the sink, but nothing seemed out of place. Oliver grabbed a kitchen knife and walked around the house, listening and looking for anything unusual. Most of the doors were shut, and he slowly peeked inside before fully opening them. The home was free of monsters, demons, and blood, but the living room was a complete mess. Reassured, Oliver locked the back door and retrieved Amelia from her hiding space.
Knowing they were both safe, Oliver immediately moved on to his next priority: food and water. The kitchen had several days' worth of food but only a few water bottles. However, there were refillable bottles, and the tap water appeared safe enough.
The tap water runs for now, but it's only a matter of time before the water tower runs out.
"Amelia, make sure to drink enough water, and if you're hungry, you can have some of these snacks before dinner. Ensure not to leave the water running. There is only a limited supply."
Oliver grabbed a snack and some water, and after fixing the furniture in the living room, he sat on the couch. After finishing his snack and drinking water, he felt much more relaxed, and after walking all day, he fell asleep. Oliver had no idea how much time had passed when he woke up with a sore neck and the sun was rising or setting. Oliver moved to a more comfortable position and rubbed his aching neck.
It's slowly getting darker. I must have fallen asleep for a couple of hours. Where is Amelia?
"Amelia? Where are you?" Oliver asked.
Amelia didn't answer, and Oliver couldn't find her on the first floor. He went up the stairs and started checking them one at a time. Oliver knocked on the first door and opened it when no one answered. He found an empty bathroom and shut the door. Knocking on the next door, he heard a response.
"Hello?" she said.
"Can I come in?" Oliver inquired.
Amelia opened the door, and it looked like a young boy's bedroom.
"Are you okay?" Oliver asked. "I'll make us some dinner soon."
"I was just playing."
Playing, huh, that's a good sign. Are those Legos?
"Okay. I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything."
After Oliver and Amelia ate, they went to their separate rooms for the night. It wasn't long before exhaustion took over, and Oliver fell back asleep.
"Ooooooooooooo!"
"H-huh? What? Is that a wolf howling?"
Oliver woke up in alert and confusion. His heart beat furiously, pumping adrenaline through his veins, quickly waking him up.
"God damn it. What is it now!"
Oliver jumped out of bed and got dressed before grabbing the knife he had left by his bed. We quickly walked to Amelia's room and gently knocked on her door. When she didn't answer, he opened the door ajar and noticed she was still safe asleep. He quietly double-checked to ensure her windows were locked and left after closing her door. While Oliver checked all the windows and doors in the house, in the living room window facing the street, he saw something he couldn't understand.
On the street, or somewhat above it, it looked like something was moving erratically through the mist, seemingly defying gravity. However, it was tough to see; if not for its movement, Oliver might have missed it entirely. Oliver thought his mind might be playing tricks on him, so he blinked several times. The erratic floating shape was still present, and during one of its erratic movements, it came close enough for Oliver to make out a spherical shape. It was hard for Oliver to see initially because it was a partly transparent orb, and its slight glow contrasted against the mist just enough for Oliver to track it with his improved vision. Oliver watched this glowing and floating orb for several minutes before it went far enough into the mist that it could no longer be seen after waiting a few minutes. Oliver was surprisingly calm and laid back down after locking his bedroom door.
Should we sleep in the same room and barricade them next time?
The morning still came, and Oliver woke up to the rising sun. After making breakfast, he woke Amelia, and they ate breakfast together.
"Amelia." Oliver said, "We can stay here for a few days. I can try to find more food and water in the surrounding houses, but I'll need you to stay here by yourself."
Amelia turned pale and looked down in devastation, on the verge of tears.
"Are you okay, Amelia?"
Amelia rushed into Oliver, hugging him around the waist. She was shaking. "Ple-ase do-don't leave," she stuttered into his stomach. "I'm scared."
"I don't have a choice. I'll be quick and come back safe and sound." Oliver promised, putting his arms around her back and giving her a comforting squeeze.
She stepped back with wide and moist eyes, "Pinky promise?" She held out her tiny hand with an extended pinky.
Oliver smiled gently, wrapping a pinky around hers. "Alright, I promise."
Oliver grabbed a backpack and a meat cleaver he found in a kitchen drawer. He turned back to Amelia with a severe expression. "I couldn't find a house key, so I'll leave the front door unlocked, and I want you to lock yourself in one of the rooms."
"Ok." Amelia looked at the ground and nodded.
Oliver gripped the meat cleaver firmly and left the house. He went right to the next house over. Oliver found the front and back doors locked, so he tried the windows, to no avail. He went to the next furthest house, which was also locked. However, Oliver found a fake rock with a key near the front door and used it to unlock it.
"Who was that?! Get out of my house before I kill you!" a man yelled.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know anyone was here!" Oliver said and ran outside after shutting the door.
Every house is like a fucking mystery box! How do I approach this? There could be a survivor, nothing, or a demon or monster inside a home. A survivor shouldn't respond too aggressively to knocking. However, a demon would. It would still give me time to run away, so knocking doesn't sound like that bad idea.'
Oliver went to the house across from him and knocked on the front door a couple of times, but he received no reply. He tried to open the front door, but it was also locked.
Another locked door. It makes sense for people to lock their doors, but it's inconvenient. I guess we got lucky before.
Oliver found the back door was locked, but a window was left slightly open. Oliver pushed the window open and crawled into their living room.
It smells like blood.
With Oliver's improved sense of smell, the faint fragrance of stale blood was easy to discover. As Oliver walked to the kitchen, he could see traces of dried blood smears against the wall and floors among the bloody footprints similar to humans. Oliver couldn't find any water bottles, but he did find several cans of food and snacks. He put his cleaver and bag on the counter, filling his backpack with supplies.
"Raaaa!" A demon screeched.
Oliver turned to see a demon charging at him. He left his bag and ran around the island in the kitchen. Oliver swung his cleaver unthinkingly, feeling resistance as the demon crashed into the counter and fell.
"RAAAA," the demon yelled in pain and fury.
Oliver ran to the front door as the demon made it back to its feet. Hearing the demon running towards him, he tried to open the door, but it was still locked. Oliver dove to the ground, almost landing on his cleaver. Oliver jumped just in time as the demon ran into the door and fell. Still on the ground, Oliver crawled away as the demon reached his feet with its claws. Oliver could make distance because the demon was trying to attack him and not close the distance. Oliver returned to his feet first and ran back towards the kitchen before tripping himself over his foot. The demon was back on its feet and merely a few feet away when Oliver turned onto his back. The demon widely opened its mouth and pounced on Oliver. Oliver swung his cleaver as a last-ditch effort. The cleaver hit the demon on its face, and it fell to the ground next to Oliver with a pained cry. Oliver crawled away before the pained flailing of the demon could hurt him. Oliver got back to his feet and watched the demon flail in pain for a moment before repeatedly swinging his cleaver on its back. Oliver didn't stop even after the demon stopped crying in pain and flailing. After several more swings, Oliver stopped and saw the damage he inflicted. The demon's back was a bloody mess, as if a monster had mauled it. The demon's face was on its side, revealing the gouged eye when Oliver hit its face. The demon had a long gash on its arm, and Oliver blindly hit it. As the demon chased Oliver around the house, it left blood smears on the floor and specs of blood everywhere.
Oliver, weak in the knees, made it to the sink. With shaking hands, he washed the blood off the cleaver, arms, and hands. Oliver breathed with shaky, labored breaths.
I killed it. I actually killed it. I- I have to get the blood off. It will scare Amelia.
Oliver scrubbed his arms firmly, watching as the blood mixed with the cold water flowing down the drain. Oliver could feel the nausea rising in his throat and vomited his breakfast in the sink. Oliver wiped his face with his now wet and clean arm. He took off his shirt and cleaned only the bloody spots. He wrung the damp places of excess water and put it back on. Oliver washed his face, feeling the cold water refreshing.
I need to get back soon. She's waiting for me.
He stumbled to his backpack and stuffed it with everything he could in the kitchen. Feeling the reassuring weight of his bag on his back, he unlocked the front door and left. He crossed the street and returned home.
Oliver dropped his bag by the door and locked the front door. He went to the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror.
I look awful. There's still some blood in my hair.
Oliver's noticeably paler complexion contrasted with his bloodshot eyes. He was still shaking from fear, adrenaline, or shock. Oliver washed his hair with the sink and tried to dry it with the hung-up towel. Oliver took several deep breaths, walked up the stairs, and knocked on Amelia's door. He took a deep breath and put on a facade of confidence.
"Amelia, I'm back," Oliver called out.
The door flew open, and a small figure hugged him around the stomach.
"Oof!" Oliver smiled and looked down at his attacker. "See? I promised I would be back soon."
They spent the rest of the day much like the previous day before going to bed.
Laying in the comfort of his bed and staring at the dark ceiling, Oliver couldn't fall asleep. Whenever Oliver closed his eyes for too long, images of his fight with the demon would haunt him. In frustration, Oliver got out of bed and walked around the house, looking at the surroundings through the windows. As Oliver felt his eyes growing heavier, he checked on Amelia and saw that she was still asleep before laying back in bed.
"Oooooooooooo."
As soon as Oliver closed his eyes, he heard a similar howl from the previous night. He checked the windows one last time before drifting off to sleep.
The following morning, Oliver needed an essential conversation with Amelia after breakfast. Oliver spent several minutes explaining why they needed to leave another place that seemed safe, everything except for the real reason. Oliver's thoughts and dreams are haunted by the demon he killed. Oliver couldn't stand to be across the street where the demon he killed was just lying there, slowly rotting. It didn't take him very much to convince Amelia, but he could tell she was scared, and it only grew worse as they prepared to leave. Amelia was so afraid to go back outside that Oliver had to convince her for several minutes that they couldn't stay.
We need to take the initiative and find a better place for us.
Oliver clenched the cleaver and held Amelia's hand in the other. Together, they gave him the courage he needed to leave.