Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 20: Hope.

Chapter 20: Hope.

The baby, still clutched to Scarlett’s chest, began to wail, but the oxygen mask helped soothe her cries. Scarlett’s gaze softened, and for a fleeting moment, the horrors outside faded from her mind.

"We’ll get through this," she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath, directed at the tiny life she was holding close.

From beyond their fragile shelter, the loud growls of monstrous creatures echoed, shaking walls and instilling a chilling fear into everyone’s hearts. Despite this, the group worked together as best they could, cleaning the blood off the floor with disinfectant and disposing of the remains of Matthew’s shredded arm through a narrow opening. All the while, Scarlett and Louise were engrossed in Matthew’s treatment, their attention locked on saving him.

Once the grim tasks were done, the group gathered on the tilted floor nearby, their eyes heavy with worry as they sat together. Rose and Matthew were given a bit of space, the others having completed all they could for the moment.

Garvin, his voice low and burdened, finally spoke, breaking what felt like a long silence. "His survival depends on him now." He looked down, his hands clenched, remembering how diligently he had followed Scarlett and Louise’s instructions during the treatment. His heart ached as he considered the agony Matthew must be enduring.

"If he dies, he’ll... he’ll turn into one of them. A monster," Mrs. Anderson added, her tone sorrowful, her face etched with worry. She took a deep breath, letting out a sigh that conveyed her own exhaustion.

Garvin’s expression darkened. "This mall isn’t safe, after all. There are monsters lurking around every corner." He shook his head. "But going outside... that’s even more dangerous." His voice trailed off, and he cast a glance around the group, his sadness mirrored in each face.

Mary, finally spoke up, her voice trembling. "I just want to go back to my world." Tears began to well up, spilling down her cheeks. "I’m sick and tired of everything that’s happening. I don’t even know if my parents are still alive. They’re an elderly couple... how could they survive this world?"

Louise looked at her with gentle eyes, his gaze full of empathy. "I’m sure your parents are thinking of you too, Mary. That’s all the more reason for you to survive. You have to stay alive so you can be with them again." His tone was earnest, almost pleading. "Survive, no matter what."

Mary’s face twisted in despair. "It really seems like this is the end of the world," she whispered. "What if... what if our planet Earth is gone? What if this apocalypse is meant to wipe out everyone? Can you still say I’ll see my parents then?" Her shoulders shook as she tried to hold back the wave of emotions, but her tears continued to flow. "Or is this apocalypse... just a dream? Just some nightmare we’re all trapped in?"

Scarlett felt her own heart tighten as she looked at Mary, understanding her pain all too well. "Maybe it is a dream," she thought to herself, her mind clouded by sadness. "But if it is, it’s a dream where every pain is real. Every choice has consequences. If we die here... we die in the real world too." Her gaze drifted to Matthew, lying unconscious, his face pale. He had already lost his arm. If he didn’t make it through, he’d be gone for good.

Louise’s voice broke into her thoughts. "I don’t know if it’s a dream," he murmured, "but whatever it is, I need to survive. I need to see my parents again, to make things right. I’ve made so many mistakes. I want them to be proud of me... I want to make up for everything I put them through. I was always a burden... always bringing them sadness."

The words were barely out of Louise’s mouth when Garvin’s deep voice joined in, heavy with his own remorse. "If this is a dream... then I want to save someone, someone I failed in the real world." His eyes stared into the distance, memories flickering in his mind. "She was someone I loved, but I let my anger and pride get in the way. I ignored her when she needed help, watched her fall into a violent marriage, and I turned a blind eye. And then... she was gone. I wasn’t there for her."

Garvin’s voice grew quieter, almost as if he were confessing to himself. "But here... here I have another chance. I won’t let her suffer again, and I won’t let her die." He lifted his gaze and met Scarlett’s eyes for a long moment, his expression intense. Scarlett’s breath caught as she searched his face, wondering if he was talking about her. But he looked away, and she, feeling self-conscious, broke eye contact, uncertain of what to think.

Mrs. Anderson, who had been listening silently, finally spoke, her voice laden with years of unspoken sorrow. "All of us... we all have regrets. I do, too." She let out a shaky breath. "If only I had paid more attention to my own daughter... if I hadn’t spent so much time helping other people’s families..." Her voice cracked, and tears slipped down her wrinkled cheeks. "Maybe... maybe she’d still be alive."

Garvin, visibly surprised, looked at her. "I thought... I thought you didn’t have any children."

Mrs. Anderson gave a sad, faint smile. "We did. A daughter we had in our old age. But instead of nurturing her, instead of guiding her, we spent our time being counselors to other couples. We were always advising other parents... other children. But we neglected her, and in the end, we lost her."

Mr. Anderson, his own eyes brimming with tears, nodded and turned to Scarlett. "We were hard on you, dear," he said softly. "We thought that if we could keep you at a distance, maybe we could protect ourselves from another heartbreak. But that was wrong of us. Garvin, Louise, Mary... they’ve been with us even before this nightmare began. We’ve come to see them as our own...."

Scarlett’s vision blurred with her own tears as she nodded. She wanted to speak, to tell them she understood, but the words stuck in her throat. Instead, she simply reached out and took Mrs. Anderson’s hand, squeezing it in silent forgiveness.

The group sat together in the quiet that followed, each of them lost in their own sorrow, the weight of their regrets and hopes pressing down on them. Tears slipped down faces, unashamed, shared in mutual pain.

After a while, Mrs. Anderson spoke up, breaking the silence. "What’s the baby’s name, Scarlett?" she asked gently, prompting everyone to raise their heads in mild surprise. It seemed strange to ask such a question amidst so much grief.

Scarlett wiped her eyes, feeling the rawness of her emotions. "She doesn’t have one yet," she replied softly. The pain and sorrow were still evident in her voice, but she looked down at the baby, who had finally drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Mrs. Anderson’s eyes softened. "Then... why don’t you give her one now?"

Scarlett hesitated, glancing around the room at the tired, tear-streaked faces that were now watching her. She looked down at the baby, the tiny figure nestled against her chest. She thought of everything this child had already endured, of the fragile hope she represented amidst their despair.

With a tender smile, Scarlett whispered, "Hope. Her name is Hope."