They eat and compare notes

After I insisted that my guests sit down, I brought them some of my favorite canned food from my personal stash: a large portion of baked potato soups with cheddar and bacon for each of them. Their faces broke into delighted grins when they saw that and I wondered how much they have eaten this past week.

"Please understand that, while we won't starve here, the bulk of the food I have stored is not as delicious and full of ingredients as this one," I clarified. "I decided I wanted to save treats like that one for more special occasions. But I suppose your first day here qualifies," I said shrugging. "So, for now, eat to your heart's content. We will worry about rations later."

"Ohhh, thank you so much!" Kate said with a brilliant smile. "We have barely managed to eat just enough to get by since this nightmare began."

The others nodded and said their heartfelt thanks as well.

"I figured. Say, I'll go get you some water but when I returned, I would like to hear what you have been up to since this crisis began if you don't mind."

"Not at all, thanks again," Said Carmen this time.

And so I went, sighing a little before returning with the serum laced water that would change their lives forever. I winced internally when they drank from their glasses of water with a refreshed smile, not suspecting a thing but then I remembered that this was still the best and safest option I had.

Almost imperceptively, I activated my cellphone's chronometer to keep track of the hours before their transition. In the meantime, I had to keep them busy.

"So, what were you even doing close by?" I asked.

They looked at each other for a while and then Ava started speaking for the group. "A couple of days before news of this plague reached California, I was hired as the hunting guide for this amateur group of hunters that wanted to track down a big bear. Originally, I wasn't going to take this job because my best friends," She said gesturing at the other young women around the table, "and I were taking some time off to celebrate the first year anniversary since we graduated from the University of San Francisco but the clients were in a hurry and said they wouldn't mind my friends tagging along. At the time, it seemed as good a plan as any to do something cool so we agreed."

The blonde Alaskan woman grimaced at that point. "But by the time we finally tracked down the bear, the zombie hordes had already started to overrun San Francisco. When we realized what was happening, the hunters I was escorting were being eaten and we barely managed to make it to their Van, which we used to get here."

They had a somber moment of silence at that, no doubt reliving the horrors of the past week in their minds. I waited patiently for them to compose themselves and after a sigh, Ava continued. "We kept trying to find a safe shelter but the towns on the way north were either deserted of the living or on fire, probably after fighting and riots broke out. We were lucky enough to refuel the car 3 days ago though, or I doubt we would have made it here."

I nodded. "And that's when you saw one of my drones?

"Yeah," Luciana replied. "At first we wonder who it was, of course, since it kept staring at us with its camera lens but once it moved slowly, clearly wanting us to follow we realized we didn't have any better ideas, so we did followed its trail, until you lead us to that abandoned store that used to sell two-way radios and waited for your call."

"Yeah," I said sheepishly, scratching my neck. "Sorry for not guiding you to the vault with my drone straight away but I wanted to verify it was really you. Wouldn't have been the first time I have confused beautiful women, I am afraid."

They smirked, taking the compliment in stride and without apparent suspicion. I mentally wondered if that was because the serum was working faster than I thought or because they genuinely felt safe around me.

"No problem, it all worked out in the end," Kate said as she looked around, pausing. "How big is this place anyway?"

Now it was my turn to smirk. "About 80 m x 65 m...for each of the first 4 floors," I said, feeling proud of myself. "The 5th floor at the bottom is a bit larger though, as it's the place where I store my vehicles and connect it with a tunnel for another entrance to the outside."

Their jaws dropped to the floor at that. "That must have been expensive as hell!" Carmen responded, shocked.

"Indeed, especially if you want to design something like this in a hurry as I did but without compromising the structural integrity," I remarked. "Thankfully, it was money very well spent, considering recent events."

The group of young women didn't seem to disagree. They finished the rest of their soup in silence but looked quite pleased in the end. After all, I suppose after barely getting anything to eat for a week, those favorite soups of mine would taste even more delicious.

"So...what now?" Ava asked tentatively.

I took a moment to collect my thoughts before responding. "Well, that's up to you. If you just want to eat and recover here for a few days before heading back out again to look for anyone you care about, I won't stop you. I will even give you some supplies for the way, a few weapons to defend yourselves, and become your eyes on the sky to guide you through the safest route out of here until my best drone runs out of range. But...if I am being honest with myself, I don't really want you to leave any time soon," I admitted. "I didn't make this shelter just for myself but the few people I sent invitations to and know how to find this bunker hadn't arrived yet. So if they don't make it here before the end of the month, I am going to have to assume the worst. And then I am back to being safe but lonely and bored while the world burns around me."

I sighed, and the four ladies started looking at me with growing pity. Which is what I wanted, true, but I wasn't actually lying. I won't be able to find the will to last anywhere near as long as my supplies will if I don't get some enjoyable company...Plan B notwithstanding.

"We can decide later," Carmen said after a while. "For now, why don't you give us a tour?"

I chuckled, unable to contain my grin at the fond feelings that single word brought me. "It would be my specialized pleasure."