Today, the families gathered together.
Olivia Ray had insisted.
"You should all come eat here this morning," she said earlier over the internal intercom. "It's too quiet eating alone."
Now the large dining table in the Ray family section was filled.
Luis sat beside his father, Frederick.
Across from them were Mia and her parents, Helen and Michael.
The smell of fresh breakfast filled the room. Olivia had always enjoyed cooking, and even in the bunker she tried to keep a sense of normal life.
But the conversation quickly returned to the only topic anyone could think about.
The news.
Luis turned the television volume down slightly after the morning broadcast ended.
"The numbers increased again overnight."
Mia nodded slowly.
"I expected that."
The reporter had shown several new containment zones across Viremont City. Police had blocked entire blocks after violent incidents involving infected individuals.
Helen folded her hands together on the table.
"It's happening so fast."
Michael exhaled slowly.
"The government underestimated it."
Frederick leaned back in his chair, studying Mia for a moment before speaking.
"I'm glad we listened to you."
The room grew quiet.
Mia looked slightly embarrassed by the attention.
Frederick continued with a small smile.
"If we had waited even one more week to prepare this bunker…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.
Everyone already understood.
Luis glanced at Mia.
His expression softened slightly.
She only smiled quietly.
Helen reached over and squeezed her daughter's hand.
Michael nodded proudly.
"You trusted your instincts."
Mia shrugged gently.
"I just didn't want to regret doing nothing."
Olivia placed a plate of food in front of her.
"Well, because of that, we're safe."
For now.
Outside the bunker, the world was already beginning to collapse.
---
Across the city, the headquarters of Alps Builders stood silent under the pale morning sky.
Chelsea sat inside the executive office, staring blankly at the floor.
She hadn't slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw it again.
The woman.
The red eyes.
The saliva dripping from her mouth.
The way she ran.
Chelsea wrapped her arms around herself.
Her hands were still shaking slightly.
The office door opened.
Kevin walked in casually, holding a cup of coffee he had just made in the pantry.
"You look terrible."
Chelsea immediately stood up.
"You wouldn't be saying that if you saw what I saw."
Kevin sighed as he placed the coffee on the desk.
"You already told me."
Chelsea shook her head.
"No. You didn't understand."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"That woman was not normal."
Kevin leaned against the desk.
"People are acting crazy because of the virus."
Chelsea stared at him.
"I hit her with the car, Kevin."
He raised an eyebrow.
"So?"
"She got up!"
Kevin rolled his eyes.
"You probably didn't hit her that hard."
Chelsea ran a hand through her hair.
"You weren't there!"
Her breathing became uneven.
"What if she died later?"
Kevin shrugged.
"Then she died."
Chelsea stared at him in disbelief.
"That's not the point!"
Her voice lowered into a whisper.
"What if the police come looking for me?"
Kevin crossed his arms.
"They won't."
"There are cameras in the condo parking lot."
Kevin waved dismissively.
"Relax."
Chelsea shook her head again.
"They'll see the car. They'll see me."
Kevin took a slow sip of his coffee.
"Even if they did, do you really think the police are worried about that right now?"
Chelsea hesitated.
Kevin gestured toward the television.
"Did you watch the news last night?"
Of course she had.
The chaos.
The attacks.
The city slowly losing control.
Kevin smirked slightly.
"They have bigger problems."
Chelsea sat down heavily on the couch.
Her mind was still racing.
Kevin walked to the window overlooking Viremont City.
Something about the empty streets bothered him.
This situation wasn't ending anytime soon.
He turned toward Chelsea.
"I'm locking the parking lot."
Chelsea blinked.
"What?"
Kevin grabbed the building security keys the guard had given him the night before.
"If things outside get worse, people might try to get inside."
Chelsea frowned.
"You think infected people could get here?"
Kevin shrugged.
"I don't know."
But he wasn't taking chances.
This building was their shelter now.
He walked toward the hallway.
"I'm going to shut the parking entrance and secure the building."
Chelsea watched him leave.
Her unease only deepened.
---
Back inside the bunker, Mia stood in the training room.
A metal table held several weapons.
Knives.
Emergency gear.
Protective equipment.
Luis stood a few meters away watching her.
Mia moved quickly.
Her knife flashed through the air as she practiced precise strikes against a training dummy.
One motion.
Then another.
Controlled.
Efficient.
Luis folded his arms.
"You're improving fast."
Mia didn't stop.
"If those things get inside our bunker…"
Her blade struck the target again.
"We'll have to fight."
Luis studied her quietly.
Most people would have broken down by now.
Panicked.
Afraid.
But Mia kept moving forward.
She refused to freeze.
There was something admirable about that.
Luis walked closer.
"You're stronger than you think."
Mia paused and wiped sweat from her forehead.
"I'm not strong."
Luis shook his head.
"Yes, you are."
His voice was quiet but sincere.
"You prepared for this when no one else did."
Mia looked at him for a moment.
Then she gave a small tired smile.
"Maybe I was just paranoid."
Luis smiled faintly.
"Maybe."
But deep down, he knew the truth.
Without Mia's warning, none of them would be here now.
And whatever happened next.
He silently promised himself one thing.
He would protect her.
No matter what.
Above them, far beyond the bunker walls, the city continued to fall deeper into fear.
And the infected were only beginning to spread.