chapter four

The sleepover wasn’t planned. It just… happened.

Janet called later that evening, voice tight and rushed, saying there was an “unexpected work thing” and asking if Jacxs could stay the night. Dad hesitated for exactly half a second before agreeing, because apparently adults share some secret hive mind where inconvenience is politely ignored.

By the time it was dark, the garage smelled like instant noodles and metal strings, and we were sprawled on the floor surrounded by snack wrappers and cables like we’d been living there for years.

Julia had fallen asleep on the couch clutching her teddy, the TV humming quietly in the background. Dad had gone out “real quick” to grab batteries and milk—two things that apparently could not wait until morning.

That was an hour ago.

I checked my phone for the fifth time. No texts. No missed calls.

“Your dad usually take this long?” Jacxs asked, lying on his back, staring at the ceiling like it might answer him.

“No,” I said. My voice came out sharper than I meant it to. “He hates night driving.”

As if summoned by bad timing itself, the TV volume suddenly spiked.

Not louder—different.

The screen cut to black.

Then white text.

EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM

A long, low tone filled the room, the kind that crawls up your spine instead of into your ears. Julia stirred, mumbling something incoherent, hugging her teddy tighter.

I sat up straight. So did Jacxs.

A man appeared on the screen, face pale, eyes darting like he was reading something he didn’t want to believe.

“This is not a test,” he said.

My stomach dropped.

He spoke fast, clipped, like every second was being stolen from him. There were reports of violent incidents across the city. Hospitals overwhelmed. Law enforcement unable to respond to all calls. Citizens advised to remain indoors and secure all entry points.

Then he said the word.

Zombies.

Not joking. Not metaphorical. Not “infected individuals behaving aggressively.”

Zombies.

Julia sat bolt upright. “Sissy?”

I crossed the room in two steps and pulled her into my lap. My hands were shaking now. I didn’t bother hiding it.

Jacxs stood slowly, eyes glued to the screen as footage flashed behind the anchor—blurry street cams, people running, headlights abandoned at odd angles.

“Okay,” he said quietly, like saying it louder might make it more real. “Okay. We’re not panicking.”

“I am absolutely panicking,” I replied.

The broadcast cut again, replaced by a looping message: STAY INSIDE. DO NOT ENGAGE. AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.

My phone buzzed.

Unknown numbers. Missed calls. Messages stacking on top of each other.

I called Dad.

Straight to voicemail.

The house felt too big all of a sudden. Too hollow.

Jacxs looked at me, really looked at me this time—not band practice, not jokes, not music. Just raw reality. “Your dad went out,” he said carefully. “What car?”

“The blue one,” I whispered.

Outside, somewhere far off, a siren wailed—and didn’t stop.

I tightened my grip around Julia and stood. “We’re locking everything. Windows, doors, garage. Now.”

He nodded instantly. No arguing. No pretending this was fake.

As we moved, the power flickered once.

Then again.

And in the distance—faint, wrong, unmistakably human but not right—something screamed.

The night had officially stopped being normal.

And whatever had taken my father hadn’t asked permission.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***