The heavy doors of Haven slid shut, sealing out the dangers of the outside world. Corey, D’Souza, Chantell, Ricardo, and Ornelas stood just inside the entrance, their bodies weary from the supply run but their spirits lifted by their success. They had returned with much-needed food, tools, and medical supplies.
Ntlentle and Palesa rushed over as soon as they saw the group enter, their faces filled with a mix of relief and concern.
“You’re back,” Ntlentle said, her eyes quickly scanning Corey for injuries. “Are you okay?”
Corey smiled faintly, holding up his bandaged arm. “I’ll live. We ran into some trouble, but we got what we needed.”
Chantell nodded. “We found enough food and medical supplies to last for a while. Haven’s stocked for now.”
“Let’s get those supplies sorted,” Palesa said, stepping forward to help them unload their packs. “We’ll need to organise everything, see what we’ve got and what we still need.”
As they worked, the tension from the supply run slowly eased. The relief of being back in Haven, surrounded by its cold safety, allowed them a moment to breathe. Corey watched as everyone moved around the common room, unpacking cans of food, bandages, and tools they had scavenged. But even in this brief respite, he knew the peace wouldn’t last long.
“We need to talk about what comes next,” Corey said, his voice cutting through the room as he glanced at the others. “The supply run was a success, but we can’t rely on scavenging forever.”
D’Souza, leaning against the wall, crossed his arms. “You’re right. This run gave us what we needed for now, but it’s not sustainable. Eventually, we’ll run out of places to scavenge.”
“And we’ll have to leave Haven more often,” Palesa added, her brow furrowing. “Each time we go out there, we’re risking exposure to the creatures. It’s only a matter of time before we’re unable to return.”
“We’ve made this place strong,” Corey said, looking around at his team. “But it’s not enough. We need to start thinking about long-term solutions—growing food, making Haven more self-sufficient.”
Ntlentle stepped forward, her face thoughtful. “I’ve been thinking about that. We have space on the lower levels, areas that aren’t being used. If we can find seeds and the right equipment, we could set up an indoor farm.”
“That’s a good start,” Dr. Moloi agreed, joining the conversation. “But we’ll also need to secure alternative energy sources. The generators are running fine for now, but if we’re serious about surviving long-term, we can’t rely on them forever.”
Hamida, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. “We could scavenge more solar panels. There were a few houses we passed on the way here that had them. If we can rig them up, we could power the lights and refrigeration systems without burning through fuel.”
Chantell nodded in agreement. “I’ve seen setups like that before. It could work.”
Corey listened carefully, impressed by how quickly everyone was adapting. Haven was turning into more than just a shelter—it was becoming a base, a place where they could not only survive but start to build something sustainable.
“We’ll need to start planning more targeted runs,” Corey said, looking at D’Souza. “Not just for food and medical supplies, but for materials—solar panels, seeds, anything we can use to make Haven more self-reliant.”
“We can have separate teams going after different targets,” D’Souza suggested. “Keep the groups small, but focused. We don’t want to draw attention by staying out too long.”
As the conversation continued, Corey felt a growing sense of momentum. They had faced unimaginable horrors, but they were starting to push back. Each step they took, each decision they made, brought them closer to a future where they could reclaim some control over their lives.
***
The group of survivors were all gathered for a meeting in the common room to outline their next steps.
“Alright, we’ve got too much going on to handle this as one big group,” Corey said, addressing the survivors as they sat around the large table. “We need to split up and focus on our priorities. We can’t waste any more time.”
He turned to Ntlentle, Robyn, and Nicole. “You three are on the farming project. Start figuring out how to make use of the lower levels. We need a sustainable food source. The sooner we have that, the better.”
Ntlentle, always practical and forward-thinking, nodded. “We’ll make it work. There’s space in the unused storage rooms, and we’ll need to set up grow lights and find viable seeds.”
Nicole, who had been quietly assessing the situation since her arrival, added, “We’ll need soil too. There might be some left in the nearby towns.”
Robyn, a quiet but observant figure, gave a determined nod. “We’ll handle it. With the refrigeration keeping the virus at bay, the environment should be stable enough for indoor farming.”
Corey shifted his attention to Hamida, Palesa, and Dr. Moloi, the tech experts of the group. “You three are on the energy problem. We’ve scavenged a few solar panels, but we need to figure out how many more we’ll need and how to set them up without draining power from the refrigerators and our defences.”
Dr. Moloi leaned forward, his brow furrowed. “The challenge will be balancing the energy flow. The refrigerators and the stabilising agent systems need constant power. If we don’t set the solar grid up correctly, we could overload the system and leave Haven vulnerable.”
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Palesa, who had a knack for engineering solutions, nodded in agreement. “We’ll have to design a backup system to make sure the panels don’t interfere with critical operations. If we can do that, we might even be able to expand our energy storage.”
Hamida, already deep in thought, added, “We’ll map out the facility’s energy requirements and work from there. It’s going to take some time, but we’ll figure it out.”
Corey then addressed his own team: Chantell, Ricardo, Marco, and Ashlynn. “We’ll be retrieving the solar panels. There’s a housing development a few miles west that had several panels still intact when we passed by. It’s going to be risky, but we need those panels if we’re going to keep Haven running.”
Chantell, always calm under pressure, gave a firm nod. “We’re ready. The quicker we get those panels, the quicker we can get back to making Haven self-sufficient.”
Ricardo grinned, a spark of excitement in his eyes. “I’ve been itching to get back out there. We’ll get those panels.”
Ashlynn, more serious than Ricardo, crossed her arms and said, “We’ll need to stay sharp and be ready for anything.”
Marco, usually light-hearted, nodded gravely. “I’ll keep watch for movement. No surprises this time.”
Corey appreciated their readiness. They knew the risks, but they also knew the stakes.
Finally, Corey turned to Ornelas, who had been quietly waiting. “You, Melisha, Codie, and Kesh are going on a hunting mission. While Ntlentle’s group works on the farming project, we need fresh meat to keep everyone going.”
Ornelas, ever eager to prove himself, smiled. “I’ve already mapped out the best routes. We’ll track down some game and bring back as much as we can.”
Melisha, always practical, chimed in. “We’ll need to stay close to Haven’s cold perimeter, but we know the forest well enough by now. We’ll keep it quick and quiet.”
Codie, who had shown himself to be a reliable member of the group, gave a nod. “I’ll set up traps where we can. It’ll help if we don’t have to rely on shooting everything we catch.”
Kesh, the resourceful survivor, seemed determined. “I’ll help carry what we find. We’ll need everything we can get.”
Corey surveyed the room, feeling a sense of cautious optimism. Each group had their mission, and everyone knew what was at stake. Haven was their stronghold, but they were still vulnerable. Every task completed would bring them one step closer to survival.
“All right,” Corey said, his voice steady. “Let’s get to it. Everyone knows what they need to do. Stay sharp, and if anything feels wrong, get back to Haven immediately. We’ve come too far to lose anyone now.”
The teams dispersed, heading off to their respective tasks. The common room emptied out, leaving only a few behind to monitor the radio and the perimeter. Corey watched them go, his mind already focused on the upcoming solar panel retrieval.
This was it. They had the people and the skills, but now they had to prove they could make it work.
***
In the lower levels of Haven, Ntlentle, Robyn, and Nicole got to work on the farming project. The storage rooms were dark and cold, but with the right setup, they could turn the space into an indoor farm.
“We’ll need more lights,” Robyn said, examining the overhead fixtures. “These won’t cut it for growing plants.”
Ntlentle nodded. “We’ll have to scavenge more when the next team goes out. But for now, let’s focus on the layout. We can use these shelves for vertical farming if we reinforce them.”
Nicole, ever practical, added, “We’ll need to test the water supply too. If there’s contamination, we’re going to need a purification system.”
They began sketching out a plan, mapping out the space and taking stock of what they had and what they would need. It would take time, but they were confident they could make it work.
Meanwhile, Hamida, Palesa, and Dr. Moloi gathered in the tech room, surrounded by cables, blueprints, and the scattered remains of old machines.
“We’ll need to reroute the energy from the solar panels directly into the grid without overloading the refrigerators,” Hamida said, studying the facility’s power schematic.
Palesa frowned, tapping her fingers on the table. “That’s the tricky part. If we miscalculate, we could fry the whole system.”
Dr. Moloi, always calm under pressure, leaned over the blueprint. “We’ll need to install regulators to control the energy flow. It’s not impossible, but it will take precision. We’ll also need to store any excess energy for future use. If we can find working batteries or create a makeshift storage unit, that will give us a buffer.”
The three of them worked together, bouncing ideas off each other as they pieced together a plan. The solar panels were just the start—they would need a comprehensive energy strategy to keep Haven running long-term.
***
Outside the gates of Haven, Corey, Chantell, Ricardo, Marco, and Ashlynn moved quietly through the forest. The air was cold, the trees casting long shadows as they made their way toward the housing development where the solar panels were located.
As they approached the edge of the forest, Corey signalled for the group to stop. The housing development lay just ahead, a cluster of abandoned homes, many of which still had solar panels intact on their rooftops.
“There it is,” Corey whispered. “We move in, grab the panels, and get out. No unnecessary risks.”
They moved cautiously through the development, keeping their eyes peeled for any signs of movement. The creatures hadn’t been seen in this area for a while, but Corey knew better than to let his guard down.
Ricardo and Marco climbed onto one of the rooftops, carefully detaching the panels and handing them down to Chantell and Ashlynn. Everything was going smoothly—too smoothly.
Suddenly, a rustle from the nearby trees caught Corey’s attention. His hand went instinctively to his machete as he scanned the area.
“Something’s out there,” Corey whispered, his heart pounding.
Before anyone could react, one of the creatures emerged from the shadows, its glowing eyes fixed on the group. It moved quickly, its skeletal form cutting through the cold air like a predator stalking its prey.
“We need to move!” Corey shouted, swinging his machete as the creature lunged at him.
The group scattered, grabbing the solar panels and retreating toward the forest. Corey slashed at the creature, but it was fast—too fast. Chantell fired a shot, hitting it in the shoulder, but it barely slowed.
“We’ve got to get out of here!” Ricardo yelled, hoisting one of the solar panels over his shoulder.
The creature lunged again, but Ashlynn threw a knife, embedding it in its chest. It howled in pain, giving them the opening they needed to escape.
“Let’s go!” Corey shouted, leading the group back into the safety of the trees.
They ran, the weight of the solar panels slowing them down, but they didn’t stop. The creature’s howls echoed behind them, but it didn’t give chase. By the time they reached Haven, the adrenaline was still pumping through their veins.
As they slid the doors shut behind them, Corey let out a breath of relief.
“Everyone okay?” he asked, his voice strained from the exertion.
Chantell nodded, still catching her breath. “Yeah... but that was close.”
“We got what we came for,” Ricardo said, setting the panels down. “But these things are getting smarter. They knew we were out there.”
Corey nodded grimly. “We’ll need to be more careful. But for now, let’s focus on getting these panels set up. Haven’s counting on us.”
As the group gathered in the common room to regroup, Corey couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed. The creatures were learning, evolving—and soon, they would be back.