"What's going on?"

"Who brought those trucks?"

"Where did they come from?"

I grin as I carefully navigate the large truck through the gate. The other three trucks and trailers follow, lining up in front of the loading bay. Stepping down onto the concrete, I dust off my hands and grin, waving at Mr. Jones who looks utterly astonished.

"Where and how?" he asks, his eyes taking in the sight of the four trucks, three with additional trailers hitched.

I blink, shit I forgot a cover story. Keeping a neutral expression, I search my mind for something Jordan might say. "I got lucky; I spotted one of them at the end of the road. We had a chat, and they agreed to come join us here." That has to be the weakest lie I've ever concocted—I can almost feel Jordan's slap coming.

Mr. Jones nearly jumps out of his skin at the sound of a trailer rattling. The trailer carrying cows is hidden behind other trucks, his mind too preoccupied to register the strong smell of cattle. As he walks around the trucks, he stops short, catching sight of the large trailer filled with cattle. "Ah, that's right, they also run a cattle farm," I explain. "Most of their neighbors are farmers, so there are plenty of cattle, other animals, grains, and produce around there."

Shocked at the sight, my feeble excuse for how I found them goes unnoticed as the new additions finally register in his head. "Clear a spot for the cattle, fence off an area of grass, and set up a water trough. Newcomers, assist with the cattle since you're more knowledgeable. If there's no room for them to sleep, extend one of the rooms. Everyone else, quickly unload the trucks; the sun is setting." Following his commands, people shuffle out of the building, forming a human chain to pass supplies inside.

The new family starts to unload the cows, directing those around them to steer the animals into the newly constructed pen. I assist by moving the trucks, now slowly emptying, to a more distant part of the lot for the next day.

After the sun has set and everything is neatly stored away, Mora leads the family to their beds while the rest of us retire to our rooms. With the lights off and dimmed, I lie in bed, and one by one, the others join, settling in after the exhausting day.

Silence envelops the room, the four of us quiet... until Jen breaks it. "Kain, how far did you go? There's no farmland for miles, and we're more in the center of town."

With a sigh, I roll to the side of my bed and gaze at the four pairs of eyes gleaming back at me. "After checking the perimeter as instructed, I found a bike and went out farther to see what I could find. I didn't realize how far I went till I saw Jerid on the road." Now, this lie is more convincing. I do feel a bit guilty for not being truthful, but with Sam present, it's not possible to reveal the truth.

"Okay," Jen says, lying back down in her bed. The others follow suit, Sam a bit more hesitantly than the rest.

As I lie back down, I wave my hand, and the last of the light in the room fades out.

"Hey, Kain, can you head out again today? We're running low on grain for the cows, horses, and sheep, and seed for the chickens. We left some at the farms; could you bring some back, please?" Dia asks, tying her hair back to keep cool in the August heat.

"Sure thing, I should be back before dark. Is a pack of each enough?"

She nods. "That should hold us over until the next raid in a few days. You're a lifesaver, Kain." I chuckle as she reaches out to hug me, but I sidestep and pat her back instead.

With a wave, I head out, grabbing the bike from the rack beside the door, the small trailer hitched behind. Pedaling through the gate, I give a wave to the gatekeeper as I disappear from sight.

The late August breeze sweeps past as I pedal, houses blurring into a tapestry of colors long lost to the wind. Bright red X's adorn the doors of buildings, moans echoing in a somber hum behind them, while yellow C's signify those devoid of food, people, and supplies.

Completing my perimeter check, a task assigned to all scouts, takes mere minutes. I push the pedals to the earth as I head out to inspect the barrier I erected over a month ago, further ahead. An invisible shimmer, visible only to those with hawk-like vision, encircles the area in a vast dome of glistening web. Touching the barrier, I reinforce any sections that have weakened since my last inspection.

With a nod, I turn and pedal leisurely back to the farmhouses. The sun has just passed the center of the sky when I arrive. I hastily load the trailer to capacity with heavy packs of wheat, seeds, and feed. Satisfied with the haul, I rest the bike against a tree, propping it up securely.

As I brush my hand against the tree's bark, a stream of invisible energy flows from my arm into the tree, infusing life into its branches. Guided by my touch, they sprout to form a hammock. With a smile, I settle into the hammock and sigh contentedly. Eyes closed, I inhale deeply, the clear air filling my lungs, and as I exhale, my body unwinds, the air swirling momentarily before returning to its natural flow.

The sun casts a bubbly haze over the dusty gravel, its heat scorching my lifeless skin, unable to breach my leathery exterior. Birds sing in the distance, their melodies creating an orchestra that harmonizes with the rustling leaves. Surrounded by life's echo, I lie with my eyes shut, arms cushioning my head in the hammock—a gift from Mother.

How have I, an entity meant to be monstrous, arrived here? Yet, I am that monster, whispering sweet, irresistible nothings into my ear. A feral grin spreads across my face, my fangs catching the sunlight. "A monster born from death, yet a harbinger of life—oh, the irony."

"Yes, it is, huh? I wonder what was going through that great old Mother's mind when she gave you those... what would you call them, gifts? Powers? Magical prowess?" I hurl a ball of boiling water at the fool behind me who thought it wise to sneak up on me. "Hey, that was unfair," he yells, wincing as the hot water drenches the tree behind him.

His lovely wife dispels the magic that kept them hidden, revealing the eight people. As I roll out of the hammock, it disappears back into the tree, and I stand to greet the newcomers. My eyes widen—eight people, only eight. Shouldn't there be more? Eight, eight, eight...where are the other four?

I slowly raise my gaze to the eight figures before me. Duffle bags and backpacks, dirty clothes, scratches, and...I take a deep breath...the dry scent of blood, the stench of death. "What happened?" I growl, my teeth gritted.

The triplets rush over, tears streaming down their faces. As they cling to my legs, I place a hand on their backs. I raise an eyebrow at the adults in front of me, waiting for an explanation.

"It was an attack," Jordan says, his arm wrapped around Bella, who leans against him wearily.

I clench my teeth. "By whom?"

He exhales heavily. "We don't know, but they breached our defenses and... targeted the others first."

I punch the tree beside me snarling, the splintered wood imbeds into my knuckles as the tree shatters. The triplets flinch but maintain their grip on my legs. As I pant, my nails dig into my palms, black liquid oozing through my fingers.

My parents approach, placing a comforting hand on my back, while my sister stands by Bella, holding her hand tenderly. My shaking muscles seize as I lean into my parents' soothing touch. After taking a few deep breaths, I face Jordan again. "How did this happen?"

"They had a powerful witch, one that by Bella's calculations could break through your barrier and hers. It happened so suddenly; before Bella could detect the breach, they had already entered the house," he says, sighing and closing his eyes, yet his composure remains unshaken. "There were many of them, both demons and vampires, while the witches stayed hidden. They targeted the triplets first. Your friends' parents attempted to intervene, but they only ended up serving themselves as a feast for the vampires..."

My mind freezes, going blank. I had promised Jen and Kaitlyn they would be safe. Clutching at my chest, I promised them. The cheerful faces of Jen and Kaitlyn's parents flash through my mind, their grateful expressions as they greeted me, their relieved stares upon seeing their daughters safe, their hollow eyes as they lay covered in their own blood. My muscles tense, eyes flickering, blood roaring in my ears, kill them, hunt them down for what they did, rip them to shreds and feast on their blood. No, I won't. I can't. I glance at my parents, their faces marred with scratches from the arduous journey, eyes brimming with sadness. My ears start to ring and my vision turns red as I look at them, smelling their dried blood and gazing into their saddened eyes. I take a deep breath calming my racing thoughts. I can't do that to them, not again.

Jordan continues, "They held them off long enough for me to get the triplets to safety while Bella rescued your family. By the time we could reach them, they were already gone. We hurried out as quickly as possible, found a car, and followed Bella's spell here. I'm—"

I hold up my hand, shaking my head "No, Jordan, it's okay, I would have done the same, I know you tried, that's all that matters."

He sighs, rubbing a hand over his face, non-visible bags under his eyes deepening. I pat the triplets' backs and lean down to meet their gaze.

"Pretty," Jaylin says, placing her hand near my accursed crimson eyes.

Taking a deep breath, my eyes soften and return to their normal colour as I muster a smile. Gently holding her hand, the weight of the loss bears down on me. "Yes, Jaylin, pretty. You must be tired from being in the car for so long and walking such a distance."

"Hey!" Jordan yells, kicking grass at me as I tease him.

"You don't become invisible and get this dirty just from driving, buddy," I dismiss his rude mutterings, turning my attention back to the children. "So, who wants to sleep in a nice big bed and have some warm food?"

They jump up and down, shouting. "Can we have cake?" Josh asks, his eyes sparkling.

I pat his head. "Sorry, little bud, but I don't think we have any cake. But, I'll see what I can do, okay?"

"Yes, yes," he replies, running back to my bike by the tree.

With a grin, I place a hand on Bella's shoulder as I walk by. "You did well." She nods, offering me a weary smile.

Jordan lifts her, allowing her head to rest on his shoulder. "Sleep now, Bell; you need rest."

"Hmm," she murmurs, closing her eyes and surrendering to his embrace. Her usually vibrant self is nearly as pale as mine, drained from overusing her magic.

I smile, approaching the bike. Clapping my hands, I address the children fiddling with the packs in the trailer. "This won't carry all of us to our base, so..." With a snap of my fingers, a new wagon crafted from wood and moss materializes before us, summoned by none other than myself. "Who's up for a ride?"

With grins, they all clamber in as I attach it to the bike. "Hold on," I shout, then start pedaling. The trees become a blur as we pass, the setting sun painting the sky in rich hues of orange and pink. As the vibrant colours stretch across the horizon, they reflect off the clouds, creating a stunning palette of warmth. The triplets shout joyfully, hands raised high. I glance back, smiling at their delight. I ease the air barrier slightly, letting the wind rush through, tousling their hair, making the ride so smooth it feels like flying.

Slowing down we come to a halt just out of the gatekeepers' view, and I pull up behind a building, well within their blind spot. As they dismount, the wagon disintegrates, wilting like a dying flower. "Do you have your cover story?" I inquire.

"Sure, we're your friends, and obviously, they're your family. We came this way after seeing a message you left, found you by chance, and you're leading us back here," Jordan replies with a grin.

I shake my head. "We can fabricate any lie except a solid cover story."

My dad chuckles. "That's what you pick up from being around him too much."

"Seriously, I might consider changing that bad habit," I respond, half-joking.

"Hey, that's rude. Now look what you've done, Brain. Who will I bring along for break-ins?" Jordan exclaims.

My dad raises his hands, keeping his lips sealed—a wise move, Dad. Without waiting for their signal, I begin pedaling slowly towards the large building as they walk beside me. The fence has been replaced by a more solid wall made of wood and cars, its cage-like appearance concealed by wooden panels covering the chain-link fence. Small barn-like structures are tucked behind the wall, leading to a fenced-off grassy area for the animals.

Tall structures stand sentinel at each corner and gate, vigilant for any approaching people or the undead. As we draw nearer, the gates swing open and people emerge to greet the newcomers.

Dia rushes over, likely having been informed of my return. She exclaims with joy upon seeing the trailer of feed. "Thanks, Kain, as always," she says, acknowledging the new arrivals as she and some helpers pull the trailer towards the rear where the animals are kept.

The gates close behind us with a hard click as we slowly walk closer to the building. Mora comes running Mr. Jones is most likely busy with other work. "And who might we have here?" she asks.

Jordan reaches forward shaking her hand gently "I'm Jordan a close friend of Kaindra's, this is my wife Bella and our kids Everly, Josh, and Jaylin."

My dad walks forward to shake Mora's hand "I'm Kaindra's father Brian, my wife Stella, and my eldest daughter Kaylee, pleased to meet you..."

Mora smiles, "I'm Mora, one of the people in charge of our safe zone. It's a pleasure to meet you." My father steps back beside my mother, allowing Jordan to take the lead. "Kaindra, could you show these three little ones around while I talk with your parents and friends here?"

I nod, beckoning the triplets over. "Come on, guys, let's go raid the kitchen." The three children rush to my side, grabbing my hands and dragging me toward the building's front doors. Glancing back, I nod towards the building; Kaylee waves to our parents and jogs to my side.

Lifting Jaylin, Kaylee pinches her nose. "What food do you think we'll find in the kitchen?" she asks, settling Jaylin on her hip as they walk.

Jaylin squeals, clapping her hands excitedly. "Lots and lots of food! The building is huge, so the kitchen must be really big, even bigger than the one at home."

We enter with laughter, swinging Everly and Josh by their hands as we navigate the halls. Onlookers take note, the four newcomers quickly becoming the subject of whispers. Though lunchtime has passed, the counters still offer light snacks for those arriving late from work.

"We've arrived," I announce. Kaylee sets Jaylin down while I release Everly and Josh. The two eldest scamper to the counter, tiptoeing to survey the modest spread of food. "Let's grab a bite, Jaylin," I coax, and she nods, trailing behind her siblings.

Beside me, Kaylee observes the children with a smile, watching them ponder their choices. "How bad was it?" I inquire.

She exhales deeply, her smile unwavering despite the sadness in her eyes. "It was bad," she says, her voice tinged with sorrow.

Sighing, I pinch the bridge of my nose. "Is there anything I could have done?"

She shakes her head. "Nothing."

My hand clenches. "I'm sorry," I whisper, my voice cracking.

A hand rests on my shoulder. "It's okay," she whispers back. "I know."

Her hand slides off my shoulder as she walks forward to join the children at the counter. I grasp her hand; her skin is warm and glowing against my own ice-cold touch. I squeeze her hand, soaking in the warmth she provides. "I'm glad you're safe," I say, my eyes on the ground.

She squeezes my hand in return. "I know." Letting go, my eyes follow her figure as she moves towards the children, a bright smile on her face. The light from the windows wraps them in a golden halo, casting a tender glow over their forms while I watch from the shadows. The warmth of the sun glazing over me, never quite reaching me as it once did.

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