Nick carefully placed the corpse core near the zombie tree. Its glow intensified immediately, the leaves pulsing with a strange, almost electric energy. He felt the familiar surge in his body—his powers were growing stronger.
Miya and Riya watched, fascinated. "It's… beautiful," Miya murmured. "Like it's alive."
"It's more than alive," Nick said with a small smile. "This tree will help us survive. Maybe even give us an edge against bigger hordes."
Riya shivered slightly, both from excitement and the lingering tension of being trapped in the building. She avoided Nick's gaze but couldn't hide the rapid beat of her heart. The room felt warmer, more intimate, but danger still lingered outside.
Suddenly, a distant thud echoed from above—the fifth floor. Nick stiffened. "That's new. We're not alone up there."
Miya grabbed a nearby metal pipe, her jaw tight with determination. "Then we go up. Together."
The trio ascended cautiously, every step measured. The building seemed to groan around them, as if warning intruders of its secrets. When they reached the fifth floor, a group of five zombies stumbled toward them, attracted by some distant noise.
Nick whispered, "Stay close. We move fast, strike fast."
They worked in perfect coordination. Nick led, using a makeshift spear to dispatch the first zombie with a single thrust. Miya and Riya followed, each swing calculated, precise, and efficient. The room filled with the sound of breaking bones and guttural groans. Within moments, the threat was neutralized.
Breathing heavily, they stepped back. Miya wiped sweat from her forehead. "That… was too close."
Riya, still trembling, felt Nick's hand brush hers as he handed her a water bottle. This time, their eyes met—longer than necessary—and a flicker of mutual understanding passed between them. "Thanks," she whispered.
Nick's smile was faint but warm. "We'll get through this. Together."
They explored the room and found scattered supplies—canned food, bottles of water, and a medical kit. Nick carefully secured everything, knowing how vital it would be. Then, he glanced at the window. Outside, the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows over the city, painting the world in eerie shades of orange and gray.
"We should head back before more zombies notice us," Nick said. "It's getting dangerous to stay up here after dark."
As they descended, Miya accidentally brushed against Nick's arm. Neither of them pulled away immediately. There was a tension in the air—charged, noticeable—but silent. Riya, walking slightly behind, felt a flutter of something she didn't fully understand, her heartbeat quickening.
Back on the first floor, the zombie tree shimmered faintly in the dim light. Nick knelt beside it, inspecting the leaves. "It's fully matured. We'll need to use its power carefully, but it could save our lives."
Miya rested her hand on Nick's shoulder, her fingers warm. "I trust you," she said softly.
Nick nodded, looking down at her. "I won't let anything happen to either of you."
Riya leaned against the wall, her face flushed—not from fear, but from the closeness, the unspoken feelings simmering between them all. In a world overrun by death, moments like this—trust, warmth, and even attraction—were rare treasures.
The three of them sat in the quiet for a moment, catching their breath, before Nick stood. "Tomorrow, we clear the rooftop. If we can secure that area, we'll have a safe vantage point. But for now… let's rest. We earned it."
Miya and Riya exchanged a glance, both silently acknowledging the unspoken bond forming between them. In the middle of chaos, they had found trust, camaraderie, and perhaps something more.
The sun finally disappeared beyond the horizon, leaving the room bathed in twilight. Outside, the groans of zombies continued, a reminder that danger was never far away—but inside, for this moment, they were safe.
The night was quiet—too quiet. The only sound was the faint hum of the fully matured zombie tree in the corner, its leaves glowing softly like embers. Nick knelt beside it, feeling the energy pulse through him.
"This… this is incredible," he murmured. "With this power, we could clear the rest of the building in half the time—and survive much longer out there."
Miya, leaning against the wall nearby, watched him carefully. "You're sure you can control it?" she asked. Her tone was calm, but her hand fiddled nervously with the edge of her shirt.
Nick looked up, smiling faintly. "I've trained for moments like this. But… I'll need your help too. Riya, can you stand behind me?"
Riya nodded, moving close to him, her eyes wide but determined. "I'm ready."
Nick placed his palms near the tree's base. The leaves shimmered violently, then shot a faint, greenish glow toward him, surrounding him in a protective aura. He could feel the energy coursing through every muscle, heightening his senses, strengthening his reflexes.
"Stay close," Nick instructed. "This will only last a few minutes, and I don't want anyone to get hurt."
Almost as if responding to his thoughts, the building groaned. From the staircase, the faint shuffle of dozens of zombies echoed upward. The horde had been attracted by their earlier movements—and now it was almost on them.
Nick exhaled, steadying himself. "Alright… here we go."
He extended his arms, and the greenish energy flared outward in a shockwave. Zombies that had been staggering up the stairs froze, some pushed back violently, others disintegrating under the sudden burst of energy.
Miya gasped, her hand brushing against Nick's arm. "It's… amazing!"
Nick's gaze met hers for a moment, and a subtle tension passed between them. She was close enough to feel the warmth radiating from him, the pulsing energy from the zombie tree surrounding both of them. Riya, standing just behind him, placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, grounding him.
"Keep your focus," Nick murmured. "I need the energy to flow through me completely."
Another wave of zombies charged from the hallway, but Nick leapt forward with superhuman speed, his fists glowing with the same green energy. Each strike sent zombies flying, dismembered or knocked unconscious. Miya and Riya helped by barricading doors and throwing heavy objects, their teamwork flawless.
After a tense few minutes, the hallway fell silent. The trio breathed heavily, adrenaline still coursing through their veins. Nick's aura faded, and he sank to one knee, exhausted but exhilarated.
Miya stepped forward, brushing sweat from her forehead, her fingers accidentally brushing Nick's. "That… was incredible," she said, her voice soft but full of admiration.
Nick looked at her, and this time the connection lingered a moment longer. "Couldn't have done it without you two," he said. His eyes then shifted toward Riya, whose cheeks were flushed, her hand still resting on his shoulder. "We make a good team."
Riya smiled faintly, her pulse quickening. "Yeah… we do."
The three of them shared a quiet moment, the danger still outside, but the closeness between them undeniable. In the midst of the apocalypse, they had found strength—not just in their powers, but in their trust, their teamwork, and perhaps the first stirrings of something deeper.
Nick finally straightened, looking at the fully cleared floor. "Tomorrow, we take the rooftop. But tonight… we rest. And we remember that together, we can handle anything."
Miya leaned slightly against him, while Riya stayed close behind. The zombie tree's glow bathed the room in soft light, a reminder that even in a world of chaos, there was a place of safety—and warmth—if they stuck together.