Chapter Four
Warm water dripped from the cloth in her hands, sliding down the girls' arms as she gently wiped away layers of dirt and dried sweat. She worked slowly and carefully, cleaning the two girls.
She began by wiping them down with a damp cloth and soap, scrubbing away the grime that clung stubbornly to their skin. Then, she lathered shampoo into their hair, working her fingers through the tangles and rinsing away weeks of buildup. The water in the basin darkened with each rinse, but she continued, determined to help them feel clean.
Once they were washed, she gently lifted them into the tub and let them settle into the warm water. Their giggles bubbling up as they began to play.
She took a moment to wash herself next, scrubbing away the grime and exhaustion that clung to her skin. When she finished, she slipped into the tub with the children, her body easing into the soothing warmth.
The girls were already playing, their earlier fear seemingly forgotten as they splashed at each other, giggling. Watching their bright smiles, a small, unguarded smile tugged at her own lips. For the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to enjoy this brief, fragile moment of peace.
Her gaze flicked toward the door.
'Risa.'
Her thoughts drifted back to the moments before they reached the abandoned barn.
She and Risa were trapped in a loveless marriage. There was no warmth, no emotional connection, just two strangers sharing a roof. Their union had been forced upon them by circumstances neither had anticipated.
It happened one night. Her heat came early, and she had forgotten her suppressants. Risa happened to catch her scent, and both of them lost control.
After that, everything changed.
They were both considered at fault: Risa for being unable to restrain herself, and Amelia for forgetting her cycle and her suppressants. Upon discovering that Amelia was pregnant, both families agreed to have them married.
Risa's parents insisted she take responsibility, while Amelia's parents wanted to save face, unwilling to have their daughter bear a child out of wedlock.
She hated her married life. She and Risa barely acknowledged each other, and during their marriage, she discovered that Risa was still in a relationship with someone else.
She found out that Risa's affair partner was her girlfriend from high school. The two of them had never broken up, even after Risa married her.
Amelia had to admit that it hurt, being treated the way she was in this marriage. But she was strong. She had known from the beginning that this would be a loveless marriage. The only ones she truly cared about in this relationship were her two angels.
She had loved the twins from the very beginning. Even though Risa never acted motherly toward them and barely acknowledged their presence, Amelia worked hard to show them love and care.
She and Risa had come to an agreement: when the children were old enough, they would get a divorce.
"Don't worry. I'll still take care of you and the twins when we separate. There will be compensation for you as well," Risa said, her tone cold and detached.
The way Risa spoke angered her, but she agreed nonetheless. She and Risa weren't even living like a real married couple. This marriage had been forced on them from the start.
That had been the plan before the world ended and zombie-like creatures began roaming the land.
Months after everything fell apart, they ended up at Douglas's base while trying to reach a military shelter in another city. From the beginning, it was clear he had no good intentions toward them. She could see it in the way he looked at her. It made her skin crawl.
Amelia discovered the truth by accident. She had overheard Douglas's men talking, hidden just out of sight. They hadn't noticed her, too busy running their mouths to care.
"Damn. Boss is really making that Risa chick join up... just to get the wife?" one of them muttered, a twisted grin in his voice.
"Yeah," the other scoffed. "Boss is going soft. Could've just taken the wife by force."
"Nah. He likes the game. Wants her to think she has a choice. You know how he is. Loves watching them break."
They both laughed, low and cruel, the sound echoing like rot in the dark.
Amelia knew for a fact that Risa would make the exchange if it meant a chance to live with proper meals in these current circumstances. Risa had been born into a well-off family, not insanely rich, but comfortable enough that she had never struggled a day in her life. Experiencing this apocalypse must have been absolute hell for her.
All Amelia could feel was fear, fear for herself and for her children. She was certain that if something happened to her, Risa wouldn't take care of the twins. With no other choice, she did the only thing she could. She ran, taking the twins and fleeing into the night.
She hadn't expected Risa to follow them, much less join them in their escape. They found temporary refuge in a barn, exhaustion giving them no choice but to stop and rest.
Amelia assumed Risa had chosen not to turn them in to Douglas and had decided to escape with them. So she asked, panic lacing her voice, what they should do next.
But the confusion written all over Risa's face made Amelia's brows furrow.
"Okay, ma'am, calm down. Can you tell me who's following us?" was Risa's response.
'Ma'am?' Amelia repeated the word in her head. And Risa had asked who was following them?
Was Risa messing with her? Was she stalling so Douglas's men could catch up?
"What do you mean, who? Douglas and his men," Amelia said, staring back at the confused Risa.
Before Risa could respond, they heard footsteps crunching on dried leaves nearby.
She had expected Risa to turn them in, but instead, she protected her and the kids. Risa stepped in front of them, placing herself between Douglas's men and Amelia with the twins, standing guard like a shield.
Amelia hugged the children tightly, shielding them from any possible danger. The twins covered their ears and buried their faces in their mother's chest, trembling. Amelia watched Risa and the two men with bated breath.
What happened next shocked her.
It was over in seconds. Risa dealt with them swiftly, dropping three men with precise shots from a gun.
A gun? How did Risa even get one?
Firearms were nearly impossible to come by. Even before the apocalypse, there had been a lengthy and strict process to legally acquire one, and civilians rarely owned guns. In fact, Amelia didn't personally know anyone who ever had.
They were only lucky because they were quiet and sneaky enough not to be noticed by the zombies. Sometimes, they had to stay hidden in one place for days, waiting until the undead lost interest and wandered away. Only then could they slip out and escape to safety. Risa had even used other survivors as bait just so they could survive. At least she hadn't gone so far as to use the kids, but she had threatened to. Amelia still remembered the cold look in her eyes when she said it, as if survival justified anything.
Her thoughts drifted back to how Risa had acted toward the kids. She had been gentle with them, protective, even carrying them all the way to this cabin. Amelia was disturbed by how suddenly Risa had changed. Was she planning something?
After finishing the bath, she realized they had forgotten to bring a change of clothes. With a quiet sigh, she grabbed a towel and gently dried herself and the children, wrapping them snugly to keep them warm. She secured her own towel around her body, ensuring the kids were properly covered.
Stepping out of the bathroom, she headed toward the bedroom with the kids to get some clothes. On the way her eyes landed on Risa, who was sleeping on the couch. Amelia studied her quietly. Something about Risa seemed different, but she couldn't quite tell what it was.
Risa stirred, slowly opening her eyes and sitting up on the couch. As if she could feel the weight of the stare, she turned her head toward the white-haired woman. Their eyes met for a brief moment before Risa quickly looked away. Her posture grew tense when she realized the woman was dressed in nothing but a towel.
"I see you're done," Risa said as she stood. "I'll wash up next."
Amelia had so many questions for Risa, especially what her plan was and why she was suddenly behaving this way toward the children.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt a gentle tug at her hand. She looked down to see Rika looking up at her.
"Mommy?" Airi's small voice followed.
"Oh, right. Let's get some clothes," Amelia said, smiling at the two of them as she led them into the bedroom.
She searched for clothes that the kids could wear. They didn't fit well, but they would work for now. It was far better than the clothes they had been wearing earlier. After dressing the kids, she put on some clothes herself.
Once she was done, the kids were sitting on the bed, enjoying the softness of the mattress. It had been a while since they'd had proper bedding, but the bed looked dirty and dusty. Deciding to change the sheets, she prepared a fresh set so they could sleep more comfortably later.
After changing the bedsheets, the three of them sat together. She brushed the kids' hair and played with them for nearly an hour, savoring the peace and quiet of the place they had found.
When they stepped out of the bedroom, Risa was still in the bathroom.
The kids settled near the couch and entertained themselves. Their small voices filled the otherwise silent cabin. Seeing them like this, clean, warm, and safe, even if just for a moment, made something in her chest loosen.
There was still one more thing to take care of.
They hadn't eaten in days, and back at Douglas' base, the only food they received were stale biscuits, barely enough to keep them going. Having a proper meal had been a rare luxury.
She looked over the supplies Risa had mentioned and decided to make a simple meal.
It wasn't much, but it would be warm and filling.
She brought a pot of water to a boil, then added the instant ramen. While the noodles cooked, she sliced the luncheon meat and pan-fried it using a bit of the remaining cooking oil. The savory smell quickly filled the small cabin, making her stomach growl in anticipation.
Once the noodles were ready, she divided them into bowls and topped each with a few slices of crispy luncheon meat. It wasn't a feast, but after everything they had been through, it felt like one.
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Author's Note:
Hello! This is the updated version of the story. Thanks for your patience!