When we finally reached home, something immediately felt wrong as I surveyed the area. The neighborhood was eerily quiet--too quiet.
We lived a bit outside the central city, so things were usually calmer around here. But this silence? It wasn't normal. Not even birds were chirping. Just... nothing.
My eyes drifted across the street, scanning the windows of the neighboring houses. That's when I caught a glimpse of movement--just for a second. A boy, was peeking through a curtain. The moment our eyes met, he ducked down.
I shook my head and let out a sigh. Whatever was going on with them, we had our own problems to deal with.
Looking at my house, a sinking feeling settled in my chest. These thin walls, these glass windows... they weren't going to hold off anything.
If those things ever came here, if they made it this far--we were screwed. So far, the monsters hadn't reached our neighborhood. At least, that's what I hoped. But after everything we'd seen in the city, I wasn't about to trust hope.
I pulled the car into the garage. The door closed behind us, sealing us inside. I told the girls to stand in the corner while I made sure everything was locked up properly.
From the backseat, the dented metal bat I'd been carrying. I grabbed it before stepping toward the house's interior door.
I opened the door slowly.
The house was dark. No lights on, no movement. Just the hum of the fridge.
I turned around to check on the girls--my daughter Stacy and her friend, Sofia. Sofia was limping, favoring one leg. A nasty bruise had formed on her thigh, and she looked like she was struggling with every step. Stacy had her arm around her, helping her walk.
We moved carefully toward the basement stairs. I told them to stay behind me.
As we turned the corner near the basement, someone suddenly stepped into view. My grip tightened on the bat, but I stopped myself just in time.
"Mom?"
It was my mother. She almost swung a broom at me, probably thinking I was a hobo or some crazed stranger. Her eyes were wide with fear, hand frozen mid-air.
"What are you doing, Mom?" I asked, trying to keep my voice low. "I told you to stay in the basement."
"I-I heard a noise... I just came to check. But you scared me! Look at you, what happened?"
She took a better look at me then. My shirt and arms were stained in dark, dried blood--too much of it.
Her face shifted from confusion to panic. Her hands started patting me down, checking for injuries with frantic fingers. "Wh-what happened, son? Are you hurt?"
"I'll explain everything, Mom. Just... not here. Let's go to the basement first."
Her gaze flicked over my shoulder, and she gasped softly.
"Oh, thank God," she said, rushing past me.
She wrapped Stacy in a tight hug, clutching her. "You're safe, Stacy... thank God," she said. Then, seeing Sofia, she pulled her in too. "You too, Sofia."
We didn't have time to stand around. I led them toward the basement door, opened it, and let the girls go down first. My mother followed close behind.
As we stepped into the dim basement light, several heads turned.
My wife, stood up instantly, eyes wide. Beside her were my two sisters--Sarah Jensen, the older one, always calm and sharp, and Claire Jensen.
The moment they saw us, everyone jumped up from their seats and rushed toward us.
My wife didn't hesitate for even a second. She came straight to me, threw her arms around my neck, and pulled me into a kiss.
She wrapped her arms tightly around me, burying her face into my chest. Her voice trembled as she spoke.
"I saw the news... It's horrible out there. I was worried to death. I thought--" She stopped herself, voice cracking.
I placed both my hands gently on her face, lifting it so our eyes could meet. I could see the fear in her.
A sudden cough broke the moment.
We both turned to see Stacy standing behind us with her arms crossed and a raised eyebrow. "I'm also fine, Mom," she said, deadpan.
My wife's face turned a shade of red just like her hair. She laughed awkwardly, pulling away from me.
"Oh, come here, you smart-mouthed little troublemaker," she said, sweeping Stacy into her arms.
Stacy let out a surprised squeak as her mom hugged her tight.
***
As we sat down in the dimly lit basement, my gaze fell upon the familiar faces that had gathered around.
Sitting on the couch in front of was my mother, Mei Jensen. She stood tall at 5'8", and had a youthful look, black bangs framing her face making her look even younger that always stood out. Her ample bosom, let's just say around K-Cup-sized and voluptuous curves were hard to miss, but what stood out most was her bright smile and lively energy.
She had a presence that was hard to ignore, and she brought a lot of energy and happiness into our lives.
My sisters, Sarah and Claire, sat on either side of her.
Sarah, the eldest, stood out with her towering height and striking features. Five years older than me. My younger sister Claire, on the other hand, was petite. Always pushing fashion trends, never afraid to try new things.
Next to me sat my daughter, Stacy, looking more grown up than ever in her bright smile and sparkling eyes. Her E-cup breasts seemed to be pushing against the fabric of her t-shirt, making her look even more mature.
Sitting next to my daughter was Sofia, whom everyone seems to know -- another reason for my absence from home.
And then, there was my wife Ruby - the love of my life. She had fiery red hair and curves that I couldn't get enough of. I wasn't exactly in peak shape, far from it, but she never looked at me with anything less than admiration. To her, I was enough just as I was.
She, my mother, and my older sister were like best friends--always laughing, teasing, and turning even the dullest afternoons into something worth remembering.
But today was different. My mother and sister were smiling--or at least doing their best to. My wife, though, looked worried, almost fragile.
Sitting at my left side, she squeezed my hand tighter.
'It might be because of our daughter,' I thought.
The silence stretched until I finally broke it.
"Has there been any news? Any directions from the government?"
My wife shook her head slowly. "No... just the same repeated message--to stay somewhere safe and wait for further instructions."
"Is it really that bad? Surely the government will send help, right?"
I didn't answer right away.
My silence said everything.
"I don't think they can send help," I said. "Not if what's happening in the city is happening all over the country. We're too far from the capital. There's no military base nearby, no quick-response team. We're on our own."
A heavy stillness followed. Then Stacy, my daughter, spoke up.
"I don't want to scare you," she began quietly, her voice barely above a whisper, "but I think you only have a small idea of how bad things really are."
She hugged her arms around herself, her eyes distant as if replaying the horrors in her mind. "It's literally the apocalypse out there..."
Sofia, her friend, was sitting beside her, hands clenched tight on her lap. Her voice trembled when she finally spoke.
"I don't even know if my mom is okay..."
Just saying it seemed to break something in her. Her shoulders began to shake, and tears streamed down her cheeks as sobs took over.
Stacy wrapped her arms around her friend and held her close, crying with her.
"She's okay, Sofia. Aunt Ana is okay. I know she is," Stacy whispered, voice cracking but trying to stay strong.
We all sat there in silence after that. Each of us lost in our own thoughts, our own fears. The only sounds were the quiet sobs.
After a while, Sofia's sobs began to quiet. Stacy, trying to lighten the mood, sat up straight and grinned.
"But seriously, you should've seen Dad. He took care of those monsters like they were flies."
The room went still.
All the women turned to look at me.
My wife's eyes narrowed, and she spoke in a dangerous tone. "Honey... would you like to explain what exactly she means by that?"
I blinked.
But before I could open my mouth to explain, Stacy jumped, putting oil on the fire, completely missing the sharp edge in her mother's tone.
"Oh, come on, Mom! You should've seen him! He was like--bam!--smashed that first one right in the head, and then--whack!--he ... all by himself, like a total action hero. Saved us!"
I groaned internally, giving her a flat look. "Stacy..."
She was smiling, proud, animated--completely unaware that she was making it sound like I'd taken on a movie scene, not a life-or-death struggle.
I glanced nervously at my wife, bracing for anger. But she was not angry.
She was looking at me, trying to hold herself together. Before she could do or say anything, my mother beat her to it--quite literally.
"My baby!" she cried as she launched herself at me, arms wide.
I barely had time to react before she crashed into me.
"Son, what you did was... it was admirable," she said between sobs, "but if anything had happened to you...if I lost you..."
Her voice cracked. I felt her body shake as she held me tighter.
My wife stood beside us now, gently placing her hand on Mom's shoulder, and my sisters came close too.
My wife looked at me seriously. "From what Stacy just told us... it sounded very dangerous. I won't stop you from doing what you need to do--but don't take it all on yourself. You're not alone, okay?"
I nodded. My mother was still draped over me like I was her little boy again, refusing to let go.
Looking at all of them--my wife, my daughter, my mother, my sisters, even Sofia--I felt the weight of responsibility deep in my chest.
I made the decision then and there.
I would protect them. No matter what. I would survive. We would survive.
Just as that resolve settled in, Mom leaned back, sniffled, and gave me a look.
"But son... you stink. Seriously, you need to take a bath."
She looked down at herself, realizing she was now partially covered in the same smell, and sighed.
"~Sigh~... Guess I do too."