Transported into a Zombie Apocalypse, Now I have a Family!?

Chapter 3

Risa led them to the worn-out couch near the fireplace, brushing off the dust before motioning for them to sit. "Rest for now," she told the woman. "I'll check for anything useful."

The woman didn't argue. She carefully set the kids down, pulling them close as they curled up beside her. Their tiny bodies trembled, exhaustion and fear still clinging to them. The woman pulled a thin, ragged blanket over them, her blue eyes clouded with uncertainty as she watched Risa move.

Only once they were settled and safe did Risa start her search.

She moved through the cabin quickly but cautiously, checking every cabinet, drawer, and storage box. If the two infected campers had lived here before turning, there had to be something useful left behind.

In the bedroom, she opened the rickety dresser and found a pile of clothes, likely belonging to the two campers. Most were dusty but still usable.

She pulled out a flannel shirt, a dark gray hoodie, a pair of cargo pants, and a thick jacket—these likely belonged to the male camper. The clothes were slightly big, but they'd fit her well enough.

For the white-haired woman, she found a long-sleeve thermal shirt, a faded green sweater, and a pair of worn jeans. It wasn't much, but they were clean compared to what she had on.

Risa also searched for something small enough for the kids. The campers must not have had children, but she found a sweatshirt and a few smaller shirts that could be adjusted to fit the girls for now. She also found a wool scarf and a pair of thick socks, which could help keep them warm.

Satisfied, she stacked the clothes neatly on the bed before continuing her search.

In the kitchen area, she opened the dusty wooden cabinets and found a few cans of food—beans, soup, and something unlabeled, along with a can opener. Further digging revealed a small bag of rice, a nearly empty bottle of cooking oil, and a metal pot. It wasn't much, but it would keep them from starving for a little while.

Near the fireplace, she found a pile of firewood, perfect for keeping warm. Next to it, an old hunting knife. She took it, testing the blade. It was dull, but still sharp enough to do some damage if needed.

In the backpack tossed in the corner, she found a flashlight (weak battery), a multi-tool, a small camping stove with low fuel, and a nearly full bottle of painkillers. There was also a map of the area, slightly crumpled, with handwritten notes marking potential trails and water sources.

A notebook was tucked in the side pocket. She flipped through it briefly—lists of supplies, notes on scavenging, and then abrupt, frantic entries near the end. The handwriting became messy, almost unreadable. Whatever happened to the campers, they had known something was wrong before they turned.

Lastly, she found a coil of rope, a set of spare batteries, and a compass in the bottom of a drawer.

Before returning to the others, Risa decided to check the bathroom. If they were staying here for the night, they needed to know what worked—and more importantly, if there was any water supply left.

She stepped inside, wrinkling her nose at the stale, damp air. The bathroom was small, with an old porcelain sink, a wood-framed mirror, and a clawfoot tub tucked against the back wall. A curtain rod hung loosely above it, but the curtain itself was missing.

Against one side was a wooden cabinet, its doors slightly ajar, revealing half-used toiletries, a rusted razor, and a small first aid kit. Risa grabbed the kit and quickly checked inside—some bandages, alcohol wipes, and a roll of gauze. Not much, but better than nothing.

She turned to the sink, gripping the faucet and twisting it. The pipes groaned in protest, and for a second, nothing happened—then, a few drops of murky water dripped from the spout before cutting off completely.

No running water.

Frowning, she moved to the bathtub and tried the knobs there. Same result—just a hollow, gurgling sound deep in the pipes.

She exhaled through her nose. If they wanted water, they'd have to find another source.

Before leaving the bathroom, Risa's gaze flickered to the wood-framed mirror hanging above the sink. She hesitated for a moment, then stepped closer.

Her reflection stared back—wild, unkempt, and exhausted. Strands of dark hair stuck to her forehead, tangled and matted with dirt and sweat. A faint smear of dried blood trailed down the side of her face, though she wasn't sure if it was hers or someone else's.

But none of that was what made her breath catch in her throat.

It was her eyes.

They weren't the deep blacks she had known her whole life. Instead, a vivid, unnatural red stared back at her.

Her stomach twisted. That's not right.

She leaned in, gripping the edges of the cracked porcelain sink, her pulse pounding in her ears. Was it the lighting? A trick of exhaustion? She blinked rapidly, rubbed at her eyes, even turned her head slightly—but no.

They were still red.

Her face was the same. Her features are unchanged. But this was wrong.

Her mind raced, scrambling for an explanation. Had this happened after she woke up in the barn? Had her eyes been like this the entire time, and she just hadn't noticed?

She thought back, trying to remember the moment she first opened her eyes in this strange, apocalyptic world. The dream of drifting in space, the memory of her last mission before everything went dark. In every single memory, she saw herself with black eyes.

But now…

Risa swallowed hard, forcing herself to take a breath. Now was not the time to panic.

Shoving down the unease creeping up her spine, she straightened and turned away from the mirror. She would deal with this later.

For now, she had a job to do.

Stepping outside the cabin, she scanned the area and quickly spotted an old cast-iron hand pump near the side of the cabin, close to a small, weathered washbasin. The pump was rusted in places but still looked functional.

Risa grasped the cold iron handle, giving it a firm pump. At first, there was only resistance, the pipes groaning as if they hadn't been used in years. But after a few more pumps, she heard the telltale gurgle of water rising—then, with a final push, a stream of cool, clear water splashed into the basin.

She let out a breath. At least they wouldn't go without water.

Risa made her way back inside the cabin, her mind still lingering on the shocking discovery in the mirror. But she pushed it aside.

The white-haired woman sat on the worn-out couch, her arms still wrapped protectively around the two children. They looked exhausted, their small bodies leaning against her, barely keeping their eyes open.

"I checked the cabin," Risa said, her voice steady. "It's clear. I found some supplies—clothes, food, and an old hand pump outside for water."

The woman blinked at her, clearly trying to process the information. "Water?" she echoed, her voice laced with fatigue.

Risa nodded. "Yeah. I figured we should clean up first before anything else. Then we eat and get some rest." She glanced at the children. "They look like they haven't had a proper bath in a long time."

The woman sighed, brushing a hand over the girls' messy hair. "We haven't."

Risa rolled her shoulders, adjusting the weight of exhaustion settling over her. "I'll help bring water inside. There's a fireplace—we can heat it up so we're not bathing in freezing water. But first, let's wash our hands near the pump."

She gestured for the woman and the kids to follow her outside. The girls hesitated, clinging tightly to their mother, but after some gentle coaxing, they stepped outside with her.

At the pump, Risa worked the rusted handle until water gushed out. She cupped her hands beneath the stream, letting the cool water splash against her skin before motioning for the others to do the same.

The children were hesitant, watching the water as if it were something foreign, but after the woman gently guided their hands beneath it, they relaxed slightly.

Risa exhaled. "I'll go back and start hauling water inside. Once we get the fire going, we can warm it up for bathing."

Risa set to work.

She crouched near the fireplace, stacking dry wood and kindling she had gathered from the cabin's small supply. With a few sparks and some careful coaxing, the flames caught, flickering to life and casting a warm glow across the room.

Nearby, an old metal kettle sat beside the hearth, likely left behind by the previous occupants. 'Perfect'.

She stood and made her way outside, finding the hand-pumped water source. A weathered wooden bucket sat beside it, probably used by the campers before. She grabbed it and began filling it, the pump creaking as water splashed into the container.

As she turned back toward the cabin, the white-haired woman stepped outside, hesitating before speaking. "I can help," she offered, her voice quiet but firm.

Risa glanced at her, then at the exhausted children inside. "It's okay," she said. "Besides, you need to stay with the kids."

The woman's lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn't argue. With a small nod, she stepped back inside, leaving Risa to finish hauling the water alone.

Once she had enough, she brought the full bucket inside and poured water into the kettle, setting it over the fire. The metal creaked as it adjusted to the heat, and soon, steam began to curl from the spout.

With the water now heated, Risa carefully carried the kettle to the bathroom, pouring the steaming liquid into the old tub. She made a few more trips, mixing in cooler water from the bucket until the temperature was just right. Running a hand through it to double-check, she nodded in satisfaction before heading back to the main room.

The white-haired woman was still near the fireplace, the two children close, their small bodies curled against her for warmth. She looked up as Risa approached.

"The bath is ready," Risa said. "I also found some clothes in the bedroom. They probably belonged to the campers who were here before… but they're clean and better than nothing." She gestured toward the room. "You can pick something for yourself, and there are toiletries in the bathroom too."

The woman glanced at the children, who were barely keeping their eyes open. She hesitated before nodding.

"I'll stay here," Risa continued. "You and the kids should clean up first. I'll bathe after you three are done."

The woman studied her for a moment, her blue eyes unreadable, before giving a small nod. She nudged the children gently. "Come on, let's get cleaned up," she murmured to them.

The little girls whined sleepily but didn't resist as she led them toward the bathroom.