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Chapter 12: 8 Years Ago (Part 1)

  The compound was still finding its shape, its bones of steel and concrete barely holding against the chaos pressing in from beyond the walls. The second barrier was under construction, piece by piece the rebars were installed to defend what little remained of civilization. The rhythmic pounding of hammers and the hum of welding torches filled the air, a constant heartbeat in this new world. Beyond the walls, war raged—a distant, unrelenting symphony of gunfire and explosions.

  Yet, within the classroom, there was a fragile pocket of normalcy. Lilith moved between wooden desks, arranging papers and brushing dust from the old books stacked haphazardly on the shelves. The scent of chalk mingled with the faint mustiness of worn pages. Somewhere outside, children's laughter cut through the grim, gray air, a sound so rare it almost felt out of place.

  She had just finished writing the day's lesson on the board when the door burst open.

  Carlos's voice was breathless, panicked. He nearly stumbled as he dragged Edwin in behind him. "Edwin's hurt again!”

  Lilith turned, her stomach twisting at the sight of the boy. Edwin stood in the doorway, his small frame tense, his hazel eyes wide and brimming with unshed tears. His face was streaked with dirt, his skin pale beneath the smudges. Blood trickled from scratches on his arm and knee, crimson lines stark against his skin.

  Carlos's voice was breathless, panicked. He nearly stumbled as he dragged Edwin in behind him. "Edwin's hurt again!"

  Carlos hovered nearby, his eyes wide with concern. "Is he gonna be okay?"

  Lilith turned, her stomach twisting at the sight of the boy. Edwin stood in the doorway, his small frame tense, his hazel eyes wide and brimming with unshed tears. His face was streaked with dirt, his skin pale beneath the smudges. Blood trickled from scratches on his arm and knee, crimson lines stark against his skin.

  "Oh, sweetheart, what happened?" Lilith asked, already moving toward him. Her voice was gentle, but concern tightened her chest.

  Carlos, still gripping Edwin's wrist, barely took a breath before answering. "We were playing hide-and-seek, and he fell out of a tree!"

  Lilith exhaled, equal parts relief and

  exasperation. Of course, it was a tree. "Come sit down," she said, guiding Edwin to a chair near her desk. Her fingers worked automatically, reaching for antiseptic and bandages from the nearby cabinet. "You're always getting into trouble, aren't you?" she teased lightly, though her hands were careful as she began cleaning the wounds. "At this rate, you're going to give me gray hairs before I turn thirty."

  Edwin sniffled, his small shoulders trembling. "It wasn't that high," he mumbled, but the quiver in his voice betrayed him.

  Carlos hovered nearby, bouncing on his heels.

  "Is he gonna be okay?"

  Lilith offered a small smile. "He'll be fine." She smoothed a bandage over the worst scrape and reached for the mini-fridge under her desk.

  "Here," she said, handing Edwin a juice box.

  "This might help with the nerves."

  The boy took it with both hands, fingers curled tight around the carton as if it were a lifeline.

  "But all the good hiding spots are in the trees," Edwin grumbled, sticking the straw into the juice and taking a long sip.

  Carlos huffed, crossing his arms. "It's because you keep getting hurt! Try hiding somewhere safer."

  "But that's too easy! How can I be the best at hide-and-seek if all the best spots are off-limits?" Edwin whined.

  Lilith chuckled, ruffling his tangled hair. "You'll find other places. Just... no more injuries, alright? I don't want to have to explain this to your father again."

  At the mention of Albert, something flickered in Edwin's expression. He lowered his gaze, suddenly engrossed in the juice box solemnly.

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  Lilith watched him for a moment before glancing out the small, reinforced window. The city beyond was wrapped in perpetual gray, the sky thick with the residue of war. A breeze carried the scent of upturned earth and concrete dust from the construction site. The clang of hammers and the occasional shout of workers served as a reminder that safety here was fragile

  -constantly being built, constantly at risk of being lost.

  Her gaze shifted to the far wall where a large, faded map of the Fallen City hung, dotted with red markings-fortified zones, breached areas, places where defenses had failed. Next to it, a set of blueprints showed the future of the compound: three concentric walls, layered like armor, the final barrier between survival and extinction.

  Lilith had just turned back to the boys when a knock at the door made her pause. It wasn't hurried or frantic. It was measured. Controlled.

  She already knew who it was before the door swung open.

  Albert stepped inside, and for a moment, the room seemed smaller.

  Even in casual attire- a crisp button-up, black slacks, polished boots-he carried himself with the weight of authority. His dark hair was tied back neatly, though a few stray strands had slipped loose. A well-trimmed beard framed his sharp features, but there was no mistaking the quiet intensity in his gaze.

  His eyes swept the room before settling on Lilith.

  And though his presence commanded attention, there was something in his expression— something quieter, something human-that made her heartbeat steady, even as the weight of his gaze settled on her.

  "I'm sorry for coming unannounced," Albert said, his voice measured and calm. "I'm just here to pick Edwin up early today."

  Lilith offered a small smile, though concern tinged the edges of it. "Early again? Edwin's been leaving class early every day this week. Is everything alright? He's a growing boy, and there's so much he could be learning—"

  She hesitated, realizing too late that she might have overstepped. A flash of regret crossed her face as she lowered her gaze. "I apologize, Councilor. I didn't mean to question your authority."

  Albert waved a hand dismissively, his usual commanding presence softened in this moment.

  "Please, Lilith, there's no need for that. Right now, I'm not the councilor of the Fallen City-I'm just Edwin's father."

  That distinction, spoken with such deliberate warmth, eased some of her tension. Lilith exhaled, nodding. "Of course. I just worry that with all these early departures, Edwin will fall behind his classmates. He's very bright, but he's still just a child..."

  Albert's gaze drifted toward his son, who was still by the window, laughing with Carlos. "I understand your concern," he said after a pause.

  "But Edwin is learning much by my side as well.

  The world we live in requires more than what books can teach. He'll need to understand the responsibilities that come with leadership— something I'm still adjusting to myself."

  Lilith had heard the rumors, of course.

  Albert's ascension to councilor had not been a smooth one. He had inherited a crumbling world, forced to hold it together with both diplomacy and iron will. Managing the city, mediating between the factions, spearheading research for a cure-it was more than any man should bear.

  Yet here he stood, carrying it all with a kind of quiet resilience.

  Lilith clasped her hands in front of her, carefully choosing her words. "If such a case arises, I'll let you know. Thank you, Lilith. You've been a blessing in both our lives. I know Edwin cares for you a lot, and thanks to you, l've been able to handle things with the wall, the other council leaders, and my research."

  She hesitated before speaking. "He's lucky to have you," she said softly. Then, gathering her courage, she added, "And... I wanted to mention, I'd like to do more. To help. I know I'm just his caregiver, but I studied medicine before the Collapse, and if there's ever a need for more hands in the compound, I could be of use."

  Albert studied her carefully, his sharp gaze betraying the weight of his thoughts. The silence stretched between them, thick with something unspoken. Then, finally, he nodded.

  "I'll keep that in mind," he said, his tone thoughtful. "Your dedication hasn't gone unnoticed, Lilith. You've become more than just a teacher or a caregiver-you've become a part of our family. Edwin cares for you deeply, and I..." He trailed off, as if catching himself before stepping too far over a fragile line. Instead, he cleared his throat and finished with, "I appreciate everything you've done for him. For us."

  Outside, the wind picked up, rattling the window frames. A low, distant boom echoed from beyond the walls-the unmistakable percussion of an explosion. The battle at the outer perimeter raged on. The safety of this classroom, this moment, was an illusion, a fragile bubble that could burst at any second.

  Albert's expression darkened as he glanced toward the window, his mind already retreating to war councils and supply lines. "I have to get back soon," he said, his voice shifting-no longer just a father, but a leader once more. "But thank you, Lilith. You've been a blessing to us both."

  Before he could say more, Edwin turned, noticing his father’s presence. A brilliant grin split his face as he abandoned his game and sprinted toward him. "Dad! You're here!"

  Albert's expression softened once more as he knelt down— crouched, catching his son in a firm but gentle embrace. "Yes, I'm here. Are you ready to

  go?"

  "Yeah! Lilith said I shouldn't hide in trees anymore," Edwin said, pouting slightly.

  Albert chuckled, ruffling his son's dark hair.

  "She's right. You need to be more careful. There will always be other places to hide, but there's only one you."

  Edwin's pout lingered for a second before he brightened, absorbing the wisdom in his own way. Lilith watched their interaction with a quiet sort of reverence, something both warm and deeply, achingly bittersweet.

  This was the Albert she remembered-the man who, despite everything, still found time for his son. The man who, for all the burdens placed upon him, still managed to be kind. She had no way of knowing, in this moment, how fleeting that warmth would become.

  As they left, the door closing softly behind them, Lilith remained standing in the quiet, her gaze drifting back to the large map on the wall. Red markers dotted the city's outer zones, marking breaches and compromised sectors. Beside it, the blueprints of the Fallen City's future stood in stark contrast-three circular walls, a final line of defense that, if completed, could ensure their survival.

  But survival came at a cost.

  The world outside was still crumbling, the infected still clawing at their borders. But within these walls, for a brief moment, hope flickered— held together by fragile bonds, like the one she had with Albert and Edwin. A bond that, even now, she feared was already beginning to fray.

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