A glimmer in a world of zombies [act 1][earth chapter]

Chapter 2: Plans and Preparations

Starlight busied herself in the small kitchen, using what she could find to prepare a simple breakfast. She wasn't exactly a chef, but she managed to put together some canned beans, toast from stored bread, and some powdered eggs reconstituted with water. It wasn’t much, but in a world like this, any meal that wasn’t scavenged off the street was a luxury.

As she set the plates on the table, she heard movement from down the hall. Heavy footsteps approached, and moments later, Sam emerged from his room, stretching his arms as he yawned. His upper body was still bare, but he didn't seem to notice—or care.

"Mmm… something smells good," he muttered, rubbing the sleep from his eyes before looking at her. "You cook?"

Starlight smirked. "Well, I can assemble food. Cooking is a strong word."

Sam chuckled and sat down at the table. "Hey, considering most people are eating expired protein bars or whatever they can loot, this is five-star dining." He grabbed a fork and dug in.

Starlight sat across from him, eating her share while observing him. Now that she had a better look at him in proper lighting, she noticed just how exhausted he seemed. Even after a full night’s sleep, there were still dark circles under his eyes.

"So, what's the plan for today?" she asked between bites.

Sam took a sip from a bottle of water before answering. "Two things. First, we're getting out of here—at least for a while."

Starlight blinked. "What? Why?"

"Don’t get me wrong, the bunker’s safe, but it's not practical for long-term survival without a backup plan," Sam explained. "We need something mobile. An RV, specifically. There’s a dealership a few miles from here, and if we can get a good one with a Minx camping trailer attached, we’ll have more space to sleep, store supplies, and move around if we need to."

Starlight nodded slowly, seeing the logic in his plan. "Alright… but why the black trash bags and duct tape?"

Sam smirked. "Old trick. Blackout curtains are too flimsy, and some RVs have way too many windows. Trash bags and duct tape? Perfect for blocking light at night so we don’t attract unwanted attention."

Starlight shivered slightly at the thought. "Right… that makes sense. And after that?"

Sam hesitated for a moment before sighing. "After that… we check on my dad."

Something about the way he said it made Starlight pause. "Your dad? He’s still alive?"

"As far as I know," Sam replied, his voice quieter now. "I haven’t been able to check on him in weeks. Before everything went to hell, he was living alone outside the city. Stubborn old man refused to move when the outbreak started."

Starlight could see the concern in his eyes. "You sound worried."

"Yeah," Sam admitted. "Not just because of the zombies. My dad—he likes to be called 'Pops' and nothing else—used to be a Marine Gunnery Sergeant. Tough as nails, fought in wars before I was even born. But…" He hesitated. "He’s got a heart condition. If something happened to his meds or if he ran out…"

He didn’t finish the sentence, but he didn’t need to. Starlight understood.

She placed a hoof on his arm reassuringly. "Then let’s go find him. If he’s anything like you, I’m sure he’s still kicking."

Sam chuckled, shaking his head. "You don’t even know me that well yet."

Starlight grinned. "I know enough."

With that, Sam stood up, stretching one last time before grabbing his tactical vest and pulling his shirt over his head. Once fully dressed again, he secured his weapons and gear.

"Alright, let’s move. The sooner we get that RV, the sooner we check on Pops."

Starlight nodded, her resolve firm.

This world was dangerous, but at least she wasn’t facing it alone.

To Be Continued in next chapter