Good Night: An Apocalypse Story

As the sun climbed higher into the sky, Stephanie and Harley finally allowed themselves to rest, though it had taken them until dawn to lower their guard. The night before had been tense—Stephanie had interrogated Harley at gunpoint, suspicious of her intentions despite Harley’s calm, confident demeanor. Throughout the night, Harley had answered each of Stephanie's questions with the same composure, never breaking a sweat.

From what Stephanie learned, Harley was 24 years old, the daughter of a soldier who had died some years ago. Like Stephanie’s own father, Harley's father had told her to come to Cluj, though he hadn’t provided her with a map or clear instructions—only a vague direction. Unfortunately, Harley had forgotten most of what he said, remembering only that Cluj was where she needed to be. She had arrived a year ago and had been surviving as a pilgrim, doing tasks for the city’s factions—Matei and Stella—while also trying to uncover the reason her father had sent her here.

Stephanie’s wariness gradually faded as Harley continued to talk, her calm presence reassuring. Harley wasn’t a raider. More importantly, there was something about Harley that drew Stephanie in, something biological. It was like two animals sensing an unspoken bond, a desire—almost primal—that left her with a strange feeling. The attraction wasn’t just mental; it was physical, and Stephanie felt a warmth bloom in her body, a subtle ache. Her mind wandered, thoughts she hadn’t entertained in a long time surfacing as she realized she was getting wet thinking about Harley. It was as if her body wanted Harley to breed her, like to really put a bun in her oven—a feeling that left her both confused and excited.

It didn’t take long for her to realize that Harley was feeling the same way. The way Harley looked at her, the occasional glances, the tension that buzzed between them—it was undeniable. But they both remained quiet about it, at least for now. The night had been about survival, but there was something else building beneath the surface.

When they woke later that day, the sunlight filtering through the trees, Harley stretched lazily, her muscles tensing before she rolled over to face Stephanie. There was a brief silence before Harley finally spoke, her voice low and thoughtful.

“So... are you also going through some kind of transformation?” Harley asked, her tone curious but direct.

Stephanie sat up, her curiosity piqued. “What do you mean?”

Harley met her gaze, her expression serious. “You know... fast healing, stronger body, and that... stomach acid thing.”

Stephanie’s eyes widened slightly. “How did you know?” she asked, though she already suspected the answer.

Harley leaned back against the cabin wall, crossing her arms. “Because I’m going through the same thing.”

Stephanie’s heart raced at the revelation, a mixture of excitement and confusion flooding her. “When did it start for you?” she asked, her voice edged with anticipation.

“A few months ago,” Harley replied, her eyes narrowing slightly as she thought back. “Not long after I arrived in Cluj. At first, I didn’t notice. Then... things started to change. I heal faster, my body feels stronger, and my stomach... well, let’s just say I don’t need to worry about food poisoning.” She gave a wry smile, but the intensity in her eyes remained.

Stephanie felt a surge of connection, knowing she wasn’t alone in this. “Mine started a few weeks ago.” She hesitated, then leaned in closer, her voice lowering in excitement. “What have you learned about it? Anything useful?”

Harley sighed, her expression growing more serious. “Not much, to be honest. I’ve been trying to figure it out, but there’s no clear pattern. I just know that we’re... more powerful than normal humans. Stronger, faster, better resistance, and... that stomach acid. It’s like our bodies are evolving into something else.”

Stephanie nodded, absorbing Harley’s words. “Do you think there are others like us?”

“I don’t know,” Harley admitted. “But I wouldn’t be surprised. Whatever’s happening to us... it’s not random. Something triggered this.”

The two women sat in silence for a moment, their shared experience deepening their connection. Stephanie’s mind raced with possibilities—about their transformation, about Cluj, about why both of them had been sent here by their fathers. The more she learned, the more questions piled up.

As Stephanie and Harley stepped out of the cabin, Harley glanced back at her damaged bike, still sitting a bit away from where the Nightbrute had swiped at it the night before. She turned to Stephanie and asked, “Wanna come with me to Matei’s camp? I’ve got to drop off some flowers that I nearly got myself killed for last night.”

Stephanie thought for a moment, then nodded. “Sure.”

A smile spread across Harley’s face, clearly pleased with the answer. “Good, because... my bike’s a bit busted up,” she said, pointing toward the wrecked motorcycle with a hint of sarcasm. The front was heavily dented, the wheel barely hanging on after the Nightbrute's attack.

Stephanie raised an eyebrow and walked over to inspect the damage. “Maybe I can fix it,” she said, crouching beside the bike. She studied the broken parts, then stood up, feeling confident she could repair it later. But for now, they had a mission.

After securing what they needed, the two of them mounted Stephanie’s bike and headed toward the city’s outskirts. As they rode through the dense trees, weaving between overgrown roots and old roads, Stephanie glanced over her shoulder, curious about Harley’s mission.

“So, what’s with the flowers?” Stephanie asked, her voice rising over the sound of the bike’s engine.

“These flowers are a key ingredient for a poison that works against all kinds of Freaks,” Harley explained. “They only bloom at night, which makes them a pain in the ass to gather. But they’re highly valuable. You can get good credits from the camp if you bring them back. Worth the risk, if you ask me.”

Stephanie gave a thoughtful nod. The idea of a poison that could be used against Freaks intrigued her. It was rare to find effective weapons or defenses that could take down Nightbrute without heavy firepower. But a flower-based poison? That was something she hadn’t come across before.

After a while, they reached the edge of the city, stopping just outside to hide Stephanie’s bike in a safe spot. The journey into Matei’s camp would be dangerous, so traversing by rooftops was the safest route. With their bikes hidden, Stephanie and Harley began making their way through the city’s ruined outskirts, jumping across the crumbling rooftops with agility and precision.

The city itself was as haunting up close as it had been from a distance. Vegetation had overtaken many of the old buildings, while the streets below were eerily silent, save for the occasional shuffling of distant Freaks hiding in the shadows.

As they approached Matei’s camp, the structure of the university came into view, looming like a fortress in the heart of the city. Tall metal bar walls surrounded the perimeter, windmills spinning high above, their blades slicing through the wind. The camp was a rare blend of old-world technology and modern survival, adapted to fend off the relentless threats of the apocalypse.

Stephanie, ever observant, couldn’t help but admire the ingenuity of the place as they reached the entrance.

Harley, sensing Stephanie’s curiosity, leaned in with a smirk and pointed toward the metal bar walls. “Do you see those? They’re electrified. The windmills power them, and anytime a Freak tries to climb or jump the wall, they get electrocuted. The UV lights handle the rest, burning them if they get too close. It’s one of the safest places in Cluj.”

Stephanie’s eyes lingered on the walls for a moment, appreciating the mix of strategy and technology. “Impressive,” she muttered, her respect for the camp's setup growing.

As they passed through the gates and entered the camp, Stephanie took in the sight of the windmills turning slowly in the breeze, and the organized layout of the university’s inner courtyard.

“This place is well-guarded,” Stephanie said, her voice carrying a hint of approval.

Harley nodded. “Yeah, Matei runs a tight ship. Not as chaotic as Ivan’s raider gang or as secretive as Stella’s underground faction. They’re always looking for ways to get the upper hand.”

Stephanie nodded in agreement, but her mind was still on the facility her father had mapped out. As impressive as Matei’s camp was, her end goal was clear: get to the facility and uncover the secrets it held.

As the two women walked further into the camp, Harley gestured for Stephanie to follow. “Come on, let’s drop these flowers off.”

As Stephanie and Harley walked through Matei’s camp, Stephanie’s eyes wandered, taking in the organized structure of the place. As they walked side by side, her gaze briefly flicked to Harley’s pants, noticing a bulge there. For a moment, her mind questioned it, but she quickly attributed it to the material of Harley’s clothing—probably some kind of gear hidden beneath. She shook off the thought and kept moving.

When they reached the office, Harley dropped the flowers she’d risked her life to gather onto a worn desk. A woman, looking unimpressed but busy, barely glanced at them before nodding and handing over credits. It was business as usual in the camp, and Harley pocketed the credits with a smirk, turning back to Stephanie as they left the office.

Their next stop was one that caught Stephanie off guard—a vendor selling beauty products. Stephanie couldn’t hide her surprise, her eyebrows raised as she scanned the vendor’s booth, which was stocked with lipsticks, lotions, and even nail polish.

“Beauty products? In the apocalypse?” Stephanie asked, her tone incredulous.

Harley, with an amused smile, shrugged. “It’s easier than you’d think. You just need oils, wax, and some pigments. A lot of it’s made by hand.”

As if to prove her point, Harley picked up a tube of green lipstick, inspecting it before handing over some credits. “Gotta keep my look, you know?” she said with a wink.

Stephanie couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it, but in a world filled with chaos, maybe it wasn’t so strange to cling to small luxuries. As they moved away from the beauty vendor, something else caught Stephanie’s eye—a grappling hook on display at another stall.

Curious, she turned to Harley. “Can you get that for me?” she asked, gesturing toward the grappling hook.

Harley glanced over and nodded. “Sure. Actually, I’ll grab two. I was going to get one anyway, but I nearly forgot.” She quickly bought the hooks, one for herself and one for Stephanie. As she handed the grappling hook to Stephanie, she added, “Consider it a gift for saving me.”

Stephanie took the hook, running her fingers over its metal frame. “Thanks,” she said, appreciating both the gift and the practicality it would bring to their future ventures.

After a bit more browsing, they made their way out of Matei’s camp, heading back toward the outskirts. As they traversed the rooftops Stephanie turned to Harley, her curiosity getting the better of her.

“Where do you usually stay?” she asked, her voice casual but interested.

Harley shrugged, her tall frame towering beside Stephanie. “Most of the time, I crash at the camps. Whatever’s safe for the night.” She paused, her green eyes gleaming mischievously. “But, how about I stay at your place? You’ve got a pretty sweet setup at that cabin.”

Stephanie felt a flicker of excitement at the idea. There was something about Harley that drew her in—whether it was her confidence, her looks, or something more primal. The idea of them staying together stirred something inside her.

“Sure, why not,” Stephanie said with a small smile, her guard lowering just a little bit more. There was a tension between them, an attraction that simmered beneath the surface.