The quiet hum of the building’s old ventilation system was the only sound as Denisse sat on the edge of a cracked windowsill, staring out at the ruined cityscape. It had been days since they last ventured outside. The silence was almost suffocating, but it gave them time to reflect and plan their next move.
Denisse felt the weight of the group’s fractured spirit, and the tension was thick between them. The decision to stay in the abandoned building hadn’t been easy, but it was their safest option for now. They were running low on supplies, but everyone was still trying to hold on to a flicker of hope.
“Hey, Denisse,” came a familiar voice, soft and gentle. She turned to see Jasemaine approaching. “You okay?”
Denisse forced a small smile, but inside, she felt anything but okay. "Just... thinking."
“I get that,” Jasemaine said, sitting next to her. “I’ve been doing the same. It’s hard not to when everything’s falling apart.”
“I know,” Denisse replied, her voice quiet. “I keep thinking, what if we never find a way out? What if...”
“Stop,” Jasemaine interrupted softly. “You can’t keep thinking like that. We’ve made it this far, haven’t we?”
Denisse nodded, her eyes scanning the room. Most of the group was resting or cleaning their weapons. The atmosphere felt like it could shatter at any moment. Everyone was on edge.
“We have,” Denisse agreed, her voice gaining strength. “But I don’t know how much longer we can keep going like this. We need to find a better way.”
Jasemaine didn’t respond immediately, but Denisse could feel the understanding in her gaze. They both knew the stakes. Every day was a battle for survival, and yet, even more so, they were all battling the weight of their past choices and regrets.
“So, what’s the plan now?” Jasemaine asked after a beat.
Denisse thought for a moment, glancing over at the others. “We need to start searching for a new place. A real place to hold up. We’ve been bouncing from one building to the next, and we’re running out of options.”
Jasemaine nodded. “Yeah, we’re starting to attract too much attention. We can’t afford to be reckless.”
As Denisse stood up, her eyes met Mary’s, who was standing across the room, sharpening her knife with a focused expression. The two shared a brief look, and Denisse felt a cold chill run down her spine. She had been avoiding Mary’s gaze for the past few days, not knowing how to address the growing tension between them.
Mary had been different lately—colder, more distant. Denisse couldn't help but wonder if it was because of the group’s strained trust or the fact that Mary had become more attuned to her own dark instincts, the ones she had kept hidden when they first started this journey.
“Mary, can we talk?” Denisse’s voice was softer than she intended, but it reached Mary’s ears, pulling her attention away from her knife.
Mary's eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded. “Sure.”
Denisse led her away from the others and into a quieter corner of the building. “What’s going on, Mary?” she asked. “You’ve been... different. I can feel it.”
Mary’s eyes were unreadable as she looked at Denisse. “What do you mean, ‘different’?”
“You’ve been keeping to yourself,” Denisse pressed. “And you’ve barely spoken to anyone. Not even me. What’s going on?”
Mary sighed, looking away for a moment, her fingers gripping the hilt of her knife tightly. “I’m fine,” she said, her voice betraying none of the usual warmth Denisse had once known. “I’m just... thinking, alright?”
Denisse studied her for a long moment. The tension between them was almost palpable. “Are you sure? You know you can talk to me. I get it. We’re all under pressure, but—”
“I don’t want to talk about it, Denisse,” Mary snapped suddenly, her expression hardening. “I’m not the one who’s struggling here. Everyone’s got their own baggage, but I’m keeping mine under control.”
Denisse took a step back, feeling the weight of Mary’s words. She knew Mary was strong, but Denisse couldn’t help but feel the distance growing between them. The truth was, she wasn’t the only one struggling. But how could she help if Mary wasn’t willing to open up?
“Alright,” Denisse said quietly, her voice tinged with disappointment. “If you ever want to talk, I’m here.”
Mary didn’t respond, her gaze hardening even further as she turned away, clearly not interested in continuing the conversation. Denisse felt a pang in her chest but didn’t let it show. She couldn’t afford to be distracted. They needed to focus on the next step.
As Denisse returned to the others, the rest of the group was gearing up. Weapons were being checked, bags were packed, and everyone was bracing themselves for what came next. They had agreed it was time to move again—find a new shelter, gather more supplies, and hopefully find some form of permanent safety.
Jasemaine, who had been listening in on the conversation, approached Denisse as she rejoined the group. “You okay?”
Denisse nodded slowly, her eyes scanning the group. “Yeah. Just... trying to figure things out.”
“I know,” Jasemaine replied, giving Denisse a reassuring smile. “But we’ll get through this, alright? We always do.”
Denisse met her gaze, trying to take comfort in her words. The group was beginning to move toward the exit, weapons in hand, prepared for whatever dangers awaited them outside. She could hear the sound of their footsteps echoing through the hollow building, each one signaling another step toward the unknown.
“I hope so,” Denisse whispered to herself.
With a deep breath, she followed the others, ready to face the challenges ahead, but deep down, she knew they were running out of time. The world outside was growing darker with each passing day, and no matter how hard they tried to survive, there was a growing fear that their survival might not last much longer.
YOU ARE READING
Outbreak: The Silence Before
Teen FictionThe story begins in a seemingly typical day at a school campus, filled with the usual hustle and bustle of students attending their classes, talking with friends, and preparing for the end of the school day. The characters, a diverse group of friend...
