Chapter 7: Commemoration
ELENA
I woke with a sudden chill crawling through my bones. For a moment, I didn't know where I was. My eyes opened slowly. The room was dim, illuminated only by the pale light filtering through the windows. I frowned. Something felt different. The air itself seemed colder. Much colder. Pushing myself upright, I glanced toward the window. Then froze. Snow. White flakes drifted from the sky in thick sheets. My eyes widened. I immediately climbed out of bed and hurried toward the glass. It wasn't just snowing. It was a full blown snowstorm. The wind howled outside, carrying waves of snow across the settlement. I stared in disbelief. July. It was the middle of July. A few years ago, I would have called it impossible. Now? Nothing was impossible anymore. The atmosphere had changed. The environment had changed. The entire world had changed.
Rain fell during winter. Snow arrived during summer. Some winters felt hotter than spring. Nature itself no longer follows any rules. Or perhaps the rules had changed, and humanity simply hadn't caught up yet.
I rested my hand against the cold glass.
The sight was beautiful. And terrifying.
Just like everything else nowadays. Eventually I pulled myself away from the window and walked toward the wardrobe.
The cold was beginning to bite. Opening the cupboard, I searched for something warm. Instead, I found row after row of identical suits. The same one Ian had given me yesterday. Neatly folded. Organized.
Every shelf seemed filled with different copies of the same design. I blinked.
Apparently this was the official uniform here. I didn't have many alternatives, so I grabbed one and changed. To my surprise, the suit immediately felt comfortable. Very comfortable. Yesterday it felt cool and breathable. Today, somehow, it felt warm and insulated. As if the fabric had been designed specifically to adapt to changing temperatures. I flexed my fingers and adjusted the sleeves. Honestly, whoever designed these things was a genius.
Finally, I headed downstairs. The memorial was supposed to happen today. And despite everything, I wanted to attend. The moment I reached the front door, I realized how much snow had fallen. The door barely moved. I pushed harder. Nothing.
Then harder still. Eventually the accumulated snow gave way and the door opened with a heavy groan. A freezing gust immediately hit my face. I squinted.
The storm had transformed the entire settlement. Roofs were covered in white.
Roads had disappeared beneath layers of snow. People moved through the settlement carrying shovels and clearing paths. Despite the weather, everyone was working. Everyone was helping. Nobody was standing around waiting for someone else to fix the problem. For some reason, that touched me. Back at the Reestablishment, people only worked when ordered. Here... People simply cared.
I pulled my coat tighter and made my way toward the memorial grounds. I spotted Caine almost immediately. He stood near the center of the preparations, speaking with several volunteers. Even from a distance, he looked calm. Steady.
The kind of person who made others feel safe simply by being present. As I approached, he noticed me. "Ms. Elena."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"I hope you slept well." I returned the smile.
"I did." And surprisingly, it was true. The first truly peaceful sleep I'd had in years.
Caine nodded. Then glanced toward the storm. "As you can see, it's snowing." A slight chuckle escaped him. "We considered postponing the memorial."
His eyes moved toward the workers. "But none of us could bear the thought."
I followed his gaze. People were carrying flowers. Clearing snow. Arranging decorations. Working together despite the weather. My chest tightened. The amount of effort they were putting into honoring the dead was remarkable. Caine smiled softly. "The shelter team made sure everything could still happen." For a moment he remained silent. Then added,
"We're waiting for the boys." Immediately I understood who he meant. Ian. Thomas.
Daemon. Rhys , Hog and the others. The team that had gone to the coast. "The moment they arrive, we'll begin." There was confidence in his voice. Yet something else too. Worry. After a deep breath, he added quietly, "I believe they'll come." A sad smile touched his face. Then he pointed toward a nearby station. "Why don't you take some flowers?" I nodded. "Thank you." The flower station was simple. Wooden tables covered with freshly gathered flowers. I selected a small bundle and held them carefully. Then I continued walking. Near the main gate, a crowd had begun gathering. Many faces turned toward me.
And to my surprise, most of them smiled.
Several people greeted me. Some waved.
Others nodded politely. It still felt strange.
Being welcomed. Being seen as a person rather than a number. A massive shadow suddenly stepped into my path. I looked up. And up . And up. The man was enormous. If I had to guess, he was at least six foot seven. Almost as tall as Hog. He smiled warmly. "Hello there, mate." His voice was deep but friendly. "I'm Brian."
He extended a hand. "I handle most of the supplies around here." I shook his hand.
The size difference was almost comical.
"I suppose you're the girl who arrived yesterday?" He smiled. "You look much better." I found myself smiling back. "Yes."
I glanced around. "I'm feeling much better actually." Then I added honestly, "You've all been incredibly welcoming." Brian's smile widened. "Yeah." He folded his arms. "I only arrived about a year and a half ago." His eyes softened. "But they're family now."
Something about the way he said it felt genuine. Not forced. Not rehearsed.
Family. I was beginning to understand why everyone used that word. Brian pointed toward several crates nearby. Weapons.
Medical supplies. Rations. Far more than I'd expected. "Finding these supplies was huge for us." He sighed. "We suffered a lot of injuries during our last operation." His expression darkened. "And we nearly ran out of medicine." I glanced toward the crates. In today's world, supplies meant survival. Brian continued. "You'd think things would calm down eventually." He laughed humorlessly. "But the world's still changing." His gaze drifted toward the storm. "The infected are becoming more restless." A chill ran through me. "They're growing in numbers too." His voice lowered. "Everything points toward another crisis." I thought about his words. Then spoke quietly. "We need to stay united."
Brian looked at me. "If we want to protect ourselves..." I tightened my grip on the flowers. "And if we want people to have a chance at living normal lives again." For a moment he simply stared. Then nodded.
A warm smile returned to his face. "Couldn't have said it better myself." With that, he returned to his work. I continued walking until another familiar face caught my attention. Caty. I believe that's her name She stood slightly apart from the crowd. Observing. Watching. The same way she had yesterday. I remembered her from the meeting. Quiet. Reserved. The kind of person who spoke only when necessary. I approached. She noticed immediately. Before I could introduce myself, she spoke first. "Hello." Her posture remained perfectly straight. "I'm Caty."
She extended a hand. "Former training instructor for refugees and women entering the shelter." She paused.
"Currently in charge of shelter defense and tactical operations." I blinked. That sounded like a tremendous amount of responsibility. "Nice to meet you." Her handshake was firm. "Likewise." Then she tilted her head slightly. "Since you were armed when you arrived..." My stomach sank slightly. "I assume you know how to use firearms?" Embarrassment immediately crept into my face. I managed to keep my expression mostly neutral. "Honestly?"
I rubbed the back of my neck. "I'm not very good with guns." Caty raised an eyebrow.
"It was mostly for protection." As I said "Armed" I laughed awkwardly. "And considering what happened..." I gestured vaguely. "It clearly didn't work very well."
To my surprise, Caty smiled. Not mockingly.
Genuinely. "That's fine." She folded her arms. "We can teach you." The confidence in her voice was reassuring. "You'll adapt."
She glanced toward the settlement. "First, get used to your environment." "The rest can be figured out later." Then she pointed toward Brian's supply station. "You should also collect ammunition and medical supplies." "He handles all of that." I nodded.
"We actually just met." Caty nodded in return. Then suddenly, Voices erupted across the settlement. People began shouting. Not in panic. In excitement.
I turned instinctively toward the main gates. The enormous shelter doors were beginning to open. And every person gathered there seemed to be holding their
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3pV0JGgCV
breath. Waiting to see who was coming home.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfuvy369vc
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWg1UWYKwA
and then Add to home screen.