Day 12 of the Apocalypse"Sometimes, safety is not found in light — but in the way we carry each other through the dark."
INT. THREE-STORY BASE – MORNING
The sound of soft rain taps gently on the cracked windows. The house is dimly lit, wrapped in the quiet chill of dawn. Most are asleep, still cocooned in their makeshift bedding.
AYUSH sits cross-legged on the roof, hoodie up, staring out into the grey city. A steel baton rests beside him.
Footsteps.
KARTIK :walks over with two tin cups.
KARTIK(handing one):No sugar. But it's hot.
AYUSH:Cheers to the apocalypse.
They clink cups quietly. A beat of silence.
KARTIK:Sanaa spoke last night. First time since...
Ayush turns slightly, surprised.
AYUSH:She okay?
KARTIK:No. But she's trying. That's enough for now.
AYUSH(grateful):You've been good for her.
KARTIK:You've been good for everyone.
They sit, side by side, watching the horizon.
INT. SECOND FLOOR – COMMON SPACE – LATE MORNING
ANANYA sorts dried food, measuring rations precisely.
SANAA walks in. She's still quiet, but less pale today. She sits beside Ananya, helping her without a word.
A moment passes.
SANAA(softly):You didn't give up on me.
ANANYA(doesn't look up):We don't leave our own behind. Ever.
Sanaa nods, her throat tightening.
SANAA:I'm scared he'd be disappointed in me.
ANANYA:He'd be proud. You didn't break. That's strength.
They glance at each other—tears not falling, but present in their eyes.
INT. BASEMENT – AFTERNOON
SHIVAM, BHARGAV, and TANYA lift old crates into storage. The lightbulb above them flickers.
TANYA:Found anything usable?
BHARGAV:Axe handle. No blade.
SHIVAM:And a gas lighter. Low flame, but still works.
TANYA:Great. Let's build an empire.
Bhargav chuckles dryly.
Suddenly — a thump echoes against the basement wall.
All freeze.
SHIVAM:That came from outside.
BHARGAV:Grab your gear. We check it.
Tanya tightens her grip on a crowbar. No fear now. Just readiness.
EXT. OUTER ALLEY – 3PM
Ayush, Kartik, Bhargav, and Shivam carefully exit the rear gate.
5 Walkers shuffle along the alley.
Ayush signals.
AYUSH:Take them without noise. Don't let them alert any runners.
Everyone splits.
Kartik ducks under a lunge, grabs the zombie's arm, and elbows its neck clean through.
Ayush moves like water — sidestep, leg sweep, knee to skull — clean takedown.
Shivam uses momentum — bashes with a pipe, dodges, dislocates a shoulder to twist out of grip, finishes with a stab.
Bhargav roars, grapples one and snaps the neck with a brutal twist.
They breathe heavily. No wounds.
KARTIK:Five down. No runners.
AYUSH:Good. Let's move back.
But Ayush notices something.
A crack in the side building's wall.
INT. NEIGHBORING SHED – MOMENTS LATER
The group forces open a half-collapsed door.
Inside: dust, dead leaves... and a strangely intact cot and old lantern.
SHIVAM:Someone lived here...
On the wall: scratches.
BHARGAV:They were hiding.
They find an old diary. Torn, pages soaked in blood — but readable.
Ayush flips through.
AYUSH(reads softly)"They're changing. The fast ones come after dusk. Don't follow sound. They follow heat... like they sense it through walls..."
Kartik stiffens.
KARTIK:That's not walkers.
AYUSHRunners.
They exchange looks. This changes everything.
INT. THREE-STORY BUILDING – EVENING
The group regroups. Everyone's a bit more tense.
ANANYA:So we're not alone. People lived here... and died here.
AYUSH:And if they were tracking heat... we've been too loud, too lit up.
KARTIK:Starting tonight, full blackout after 7PM.
TANYA:Windows too?
AYUSH:Covered. Anything reflective gets blocked.
The group nods grimly.
INT. THIRD FLOOR – NIGHTFALL
Dim candlelight. Ayush sits with Ananya. She's sewing a torn blanket.
AYUSH:You okay?
ANANYA:Honestly? No. But... being with you, even in this hell, makes it less unbearable.
Ayush doesn't respond right away.
AYUSH:You keep me steady. Even when I don't show it.
She stops sewing. Looks at him. Almost says something—but doesn't.
Instead, she rests her head on his shoulder.
They sit there.
Silent. Close. Breathing.
EXT. ROOFTOP – NIGHT
Kartik and Sanaa sit on the edge. Looking at stars that barely peek through clouds.
SANAA:Do you think it'll ever go back? The world?
KARTIKI don't know. But if it doesn't... I'm glad you're here in it.
She turns, quietly moved.
SANAAI didn't think I'd smile again.
He shrugs.
KARTIK:Didn't think I'd be the reason someone did.
Their hands brush. They both notice. But say nothing.
INT. ROOFTOP GUARD POST – LATE NIGHT
Shivam watches the streets through binoculars.
He suddenly squints.
Far in the distance: A flicker of firelight.
Controlled. Not random.
He calls into his walkie.
SHIVAM
"Ayush… there's smoke. North side. Someone's alive out there."
Cut to Ayush's face downstairs.
Eyes wide.
INT. COMMON AREA – NIGHT – FINAL SCENE
The group stands around as Ayush marks the map.
AYUSH
Tomorrow, we send a recon team.
KARTIK
Who?
AYUSH
Me, you… Bhargav and Tanya. We scout only.
ANANYA
Be careful.
Ayush looks at her, holds her gaze a second longer than usual.
AYUSH
Always.
The candle flickers.
The shadows deepen.
But within those shadows — there is warmth.
There is home.
There is hope.