Vampire Overlord's Harem In The Apocalypse

Simon pulled the car to a stop, the wheels screeching slightly before coming to a halt.

He sighed softly, a release of tension he hadn't even realized he was holding. They were far away from the zombies now, but the feeling of safety was fleeting.

He needed a plan, something concrete to keep them both alive and, ideally, comfortable for the long haul.

The woman beside him, her face a mix of exhaustion and curiosity, broke the silence first. "Why did we stop?" Her voice had an edge of impatience, but it was clear she was just as on edge as he was.

Simon exhaled deeply, his fingers drumming briefly on the steering wheel. He didn't know how to explain it to her without sounding like he was losing his grip.

"We need to find a safe place. Somewhere to lay low for a while, something... comfortable, if that's even possible anymore."

She gave a quick nod, eyes scanning the empty streets around them.

The once-bustling city of New York was now eerily quiet. The distant moan of a lone zombie echoed through the silence, but there was no sign of the horde.

For now, they were safe.

"How long do you think this is going to last?" she asked, her voice soft but tinged with fear.

Simon didn't know how to answer that. Days? Weeks? Months? Maybe even years? Who knew how long the apocalypse would drag on, or if it would ever truly end.

He let out a sharp breath, his mind racing. "I don't know. But we can't just keep moving aimlessly. We need to find a place to call home... a place to rest, gather our thoughts, and figure out what's next."

It wasn't just about surviving anymore — it was about holding on to something that felt remotely normal. He'd lost everything: his home, his job, his old life.

But he was still alive, and that counted for something.

With a glance at the rearview mirror to check for any sign of movement, Simon flicked the ignition back on, the engine rumbling to life. His eyes darted down the street.

There was a dark alleyway up ahead — narrow, but it could work. The car's sleek black exterior, though battered by the apocalypse, was perfect for blending into the shadows.

The car was still in decent shape, despite the shattered passenger window. No one would notice it here. That was the key.

People were more dangerous than the zombies now. Survivors, desperate and greedy, would do anything to get their hands on resources — or anything else of value. His food, water, and even the car itself were precious.

The last thing he needed was someone else trying to steal what little they had left.

Simon turned the wheel and guided the car into the alley. The tires scraped against the uneven pavement, but it didn't matter.

He parked the car with practiced ease, then cut the engine. The street outside was quiet, the darkness of the alley wrapping around them like a protective cloak.

He glanced at the woman in the passenger seat, whose face was now barely visible in the dim light.

"We'll look for somewhere to stay for the night," Simon said, his voice steady, but there was no hiding the weariness behind it. He didn't know how many nights like this they had left. "We need to find a place to crash, a safe spot, and make a plan for tomorrow."

She nodded, her expression unreadable. "Alright."

They both climbed out of the car, the door closing with a soft thud. Simon adjusted his clothes as he took a deep breath of the cool night air. There was a sense of finality in the moment.

It was like standing on the edge of a cliff, knowing that everything below was chaos, and every step forward would bring more uncertainty.

Simon glanced back at the car, now hidden in the shadows of the alley. It was a perfect spot for the time being.

It was out of sight, tucked away from the prying eyes of survivors or zombies, and no one would find it unless they stumbled across it by accident.

A quiet smirk tugged at his lips. Maybe they weren't completely screwed after all.

They moved quickly, slipping into the empty street, shadows stretching long and thin beneath the broken streetlights. Simon led the way, his boots crunching softly on the debris-covered sidewalk.

The woman followed closely, her own footsteps nearly silent as she kept her distance.

There was no real plan yet — just the drive to survive. They had food, supplies, all they needed was somewhere to sleep. A place to regroup and think.

His enhanced senses, a gift he hadn't asked for but now relied on mostly today, caught a glimpse of something in the distance.

The hairs on the back of his neck prickled as his eyes locked onto it.

A building. A mansion, maybe.

It wasn't too far off. The architecture was grand, once a symbol of wealth and privilege.

Now it was just another place to scavenge. His stomach churned with both anticipation and wariness.

"I see something," Simon murmured to the woman, his voice low. "There's a mansion ahead, not far from here. It looks abandoned. We can check it out, see if it's still in one piece."

She turned her gaze in the direction he was looking, squinting into the distance. "A mansion?" she asked skeptically, but there was a glint of hope in her eyes.

"Could be our next stop. It's big enough that we can take cover and keep a low profile."

She nodded, the tension in her posture easing just slightly. Maybe, just maybe, this could work.

Maybe it could be the place where they could rebuild, or at least find some temporary comfort before the next wave of chaos descended.

They moved toward the mansion, every step bringing them closer to the unknown. But for the first time in what felt like ages, Simon allowed himself to entertain the thought that things might be looking up.

As they reached the edge of the property, Simon's eyes swept over the large gates, rusted and hanging off their hinges.

The mansion loomed before them, its windows dark, the stone walls worn with age and neglect. It was just as abandoned as he'd hoped.

But even in the darkness, he could sense the presence of something more than just a building.

There was the promise of safety, of potential. For the first time in a long while, the weight of survival didn't feel quite as heavy. Maybe this place could be home. At least for now.

The woman gave him a look, almost like she was testing him. "You really think we can stay here?"

Simon gave her a brief smile, his face grim but resolute. "We don't have a choice. But we'll make it work."