John knocked on the door. There was no answer from inside. He frowned and peered through the dusty window."I only see his sister playing," he said quietly. "Maybe he's in the bathroom."
Then I remembered what Rohan had told me earlier. "Dad, I don't think he's in there. A few minutes ago, he went downstairs to look for the walkie-talkie his sister lost."
John nodded, and the three of us started downstairs. Before I followed, I glanced again through the window. Anika sat in the corner clutching her doll. Her face was pale and frightened — and she was staring straight at me.
That look sent a chill down my spine. I stepped back and followed my father and uncle down the hall.
We searched the lower floors, calling his name a few times, before finally spotting him by the algae-covered pool. Rohan crouched beside it, pulling a heavy tarp over the murky green water. As we approached, the smell hit us — foul and sickly — but we kept going.
My father took the lead — he knew those siblings better than anyone."Hey, Rohan," he called gently, not wanting to startle him. "Can we have a word?"
Rohan froze. The tarp slipped from his hands and slapped the ground. His eyes darted between the three of us."Is… is there a problem, John?"
My father shook his head. "No problem. We just want to ask you a few questions — if that's all right."
Rohan hesitated, then nodded slowly. "O-okay… what questions?"
John and Matthew exchanged a quick look before John turned back to him."First: how does this motel still have electricity and running water?"
Rohan's gaze flicked to the building, then back to us. Reluctant but unable to resist my father's steady stare, he answered, "We have solar panels and a backup generator. For water, there's a well pump nearby. My parents installed it years ago — this place is remote, so connecting to city lines wasn't possible."
My father exhaled and nodded, looking at Matthew and me as if to say, See? Nothing strange.
Matthew wasn't convinced. He folded his arms. "Then why do you have so much food? Enough to hand out like it's nothing?"
Rohan froze again. His eyes pinged from the pool to the motel and then to the ground. He was far too nervous.
"Rohan," my father said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder, "you don't have to answer if it makes you uncomfortable. Everyone has their secrets. You've already helped us by sharing food." He looked at Matthew. "We shouldn't be ungrateful."
Matthew stared for a long moment, then sighed. Before anyone could speak again, a sudden splash erupted from the pool.
Dozens of rotting, pale hands burst from the murky water, clawing at the pool's edge. In an instant, three latched onto my father's legs. Another snagged Rohan by the ankle and began dragging him toward the water.
"Dad!" I screamed, lunging forward.
We reacted instinctively. I grabbed my father's arm and pulled with everything I had. The undead tried to drag him in, but I refused to let go. Uncle Matthew rushed to Rohan, yanking him back just as his foot slipped beneath the surface.
The hands thrashed and clawed — it was as if the water itself had come alive.
"Hold on!" I shouted, heaving.
With a violent jerk, my father's leg came free. We stumbled backward, crashing onto the cracked concrete. Rohan was still half-submerged, screaming, "Aaaah! Help!" Matthew scrambled to his feet and grabbed Rohan's hand. My father and I joined him, and together we hauled Rohan out of the pool.
The rotten hands waved, searched for something else to grab, and then — finding nothing — sank back beneath the dark green water as quickly as they had appeared.
Silence fell over the courtyard, broken only by our ragged breathing.
John and Matthew panted heavily. I felt strangely calm, even as my heart hammered. Luckily, none of us were bitten.
Matthew's fury snapped. He drew his pistol and aimed it at Rohan's head. "What the hell was that, boy?!"
Rohan froze, trembling. His lips quivered and his eyes were wide with panic. "Please," he stammered, "don't shoot. I'll tell you everything — please don't!"
"Speak!" Matthew barked, finger tight on the trigger.
"Matthew, stop!" my father shouted, stepping between them. "Can't you see he's terrified? Lower the gun. Let him talk."
After a tense pause, Matthew lowered the weapon but kept glaring.
John turned back to Rohan. "All right. Tell us — why are there undead in that pool?"
Rohan swallowed hard. Tears streamed down his cheeks. "When we heard about the outbreak, my parents stocked up — boxes and boxes of canned food. We never thought it would spread this far, this fast. When it did… my parents died protecting us. I hid with my sister in the basement for weeks."
He sniffed and wiped his face with his sleeve. "I—I didn't know what else to do. They surrounded us. I lured them in, one by one — just to keep my sister safe. I was trying to cover it so you wouldn't—" He broke off, sobbing.
Matthew's expression softened; the anger in his eyes gave way to pity. Guilt twisted in my chest.
My father placed a steady hand on Rohan's shoulder. "It's all right, son. Don't cry. We're sorry for doubting you. Fear makes people suspicious. But next time, don't hide something like that. We all could've gotten hurt."
Rohan nodded weakly, his face streaked with tears.
I hesitated, then asked quietly, "Rohan… why do you have a walkie-talkie?"
He looked up, confused for a moment, then answered softly, "My sister gets scared when I leave her alone. I use it to comfort her — to talk when I'm not in the room. She lost hers yesterday."
That eased the last of my doubts. He wasn't hiding anything sinister; he was protecting his sister.
John exhaled. "All right. Matthew, Max — help him look for that walkie-talkie. I'll finish covering the pool so no one else gets hurt."
Uncle Matthew stayed below; I headed upstairs.
I checked every room — even the ones with broken doors: drawers, under beds, inside closets — anywhere a radio might hide. When I reached our room, I expected to find Ava in the bathroom, but she wasn't there. Panic tightened my chest.
"Mom! Where are you?" I called, my voice trembling. No answer. My fear climbed with every passing second.
I ran from the room and searched the first floor, calling her name. I peered over the railing to the courtyard below — and froze. Rohan sat on the concrete near the motel office, close to the pool, hunched and trembling.
For a moment, my mind filled with the worst possibility. Rohan and his sister were the only ones I still didn't fully trust. Had he done something to Ava?
Anger flared.
Rage blurred my vision. I vaulted the railing and hit the ground running toward him. "Where is my mother?!" I barked. I grabbed him by the throat and slammed him against the wall. He started coughing from the force. I forced my face close to his.
"You'd better fucking speak, or I'll rip your throat out," I hissed, my grip tightening.At that moment, I meant every word.