27 Reason

"Let's go check on the trapped people here, son," Malachi stated to his son as he positioned the flashlight in his hands, shining it in front to see clearly.

The brightness of the flashlight wasn't set to its highest level.

Though they were inside the store and there didn't seem to be any monsters around since he last checked, Malachi didn't want to risk attracting something dangerous with his flashlight being too bright.

The store had several glass windows, allowing a bit of moonlight to filter inside. This was no problem, but if there were a very bright source of light in the store, it might reflect outside, making it stand out in the darkness. Malachi did not think this was necessarily a good thing.

"Okay, Dad," David replied to his father.

With a new source of light in their hands, both father and son started making their way around the store.

I wonder why they still haven't come outside yet even with all the zombies gone Malachi thought.

Malachi and David had already done their best to eliminate the zombies that were likely the reason the people in the store barricaded themselves. However, now that it was safe, why were they still reluctant to leave?

Hmmm.

They probably don't even know that there's no zombie in the store again, which is understandable since they can't see what is happening outside Malachi reasoned.

This was most likely the case.

When Malachi thought more about it, he could see why the people in the store didn't dare to come out even if there were no zombies.

For one, they were unaware of this fact.

Malachi also didn't think the quiet state of the store could serve as a clue for the people inside to know that they were free to come outside now, as it was similarly quiet when the zombies were present.

The noise the zombies made with the sounds of their rush out of the store, along with the ones Malachi killed, could also make the trapped individuals believe that there was something even more dangerous than the zombies inside.

For the people in the store, attempting to come outside to check their safety was very risky.

Looks like they need to be informed that they're safe to come outside now.

In actuality, the people in the store were the main reason Malachi had taken risks against the zombies, so he wasn't about to let them continue to barricade themselves for no reason.

As they manoeuvred around store shelves and collapsed items, Malachi contemplated which of the two groups he should approach first.

The only reason he was heading to the groups was to convey that it was safe to come outside, and whether or not they believed him was up to them. After ensuring that he informed both groups, whatever they chose to do was not his concern. He and David would start packing the supplies they needed for their family.

"Let's go… there!" Malachi said to his son as he pointed in a certain direction.

With little time for contemplation, Malachi decided to inform the group upstairs first that they were safe to come outside. There was no specific reason for choosing this group first; it was a quick, instinctive decision.

As Malachi and David ascended to the second floor, Malachi activated his ability again to check on the status of the group consisting of two humans and one mutated child.

Malachi had decided to call any human like him and David mutated humans. From what he figured, Malavhi knew that the only difference he and David had from zombies was that they mutated differently.

With the ability to do things that humans shouldn't be able to, Malachi began to wonder if he and David could still be regarded as one.

Since Malachi didn't believe that only he and David could now use supernatural powers in this world, he knew there should be others like them out there. The mutated child in the group was his first encounter with someone sharing their abilities.

However, uncertain about how others would react to humans suddenly having supernatural powers, Malachi wanted to refrain from using his abilities in public unless necessary. He wanted to gauge how the world would perceive people like him before openly displaying such abilities.

While the apocalypse had descended, Malachi considered the possibility that in the future, who knows, maybe tomorrow even, the government might restore peace and order. Although he wasn't overly optimistic, he kept the thought in the back of his mind.

After his vision shifted to the unique black and white view he was getting comfortable with, Malachi saw the status of the group on the second floor.

They were still huddled together, with the child resembling him and David positioned between the two adults, discernible by their male and female outlines.

Malachi also glanced at the group in the basement and noticed they maintained their position.

Approaching the door of the room where the group of three on the second floor had locked themselves in, Malachi turned to look at David and found him scanning the surroundings.

"What's wrong, son? Is something the matter?" Malachi asked David as they continued to make their way forward.

"Nothing, Dad. I'm just observing our surroundings so nothing catches us off guard unexpectedly," David replied.

Hearing his son's words, Malachi nodded with a smile.

"Good thinking, but you don't need to worry too much. This floor is clear of anything dangerous, so relax a little and don't be overly on guard. It might be exhausting." Malachi said.

He was proud of his son's thought process, but there was nothing on the second floor that appeared to pose a threat, aside from the trapped humans. Malachi had used his ability on the store several times already, and the only moving things were them and the trapped people.

While he appreciated his son's caution, he didn't want him to be overly vigilant and waste energy.

"I hear you, Dad," David replied as his shoulders dropped a little. He remained alert but had lessened his guard.

David then remembered that his Dad's ability allowed him to see through walls, meaning there likely weren't many things that could escape his sight. As this realization dawned on him, David visibly relaxed further.

With this in mind, they reached the front of the door where the people on the second floor were.

Staring at the humans on the other side of the door with his ability, Malachi knocked on the door.