Shadows of the undead

The repair shop loomed ahead, a dark, hulking silhouette against the orange hues of the setting sun. Kate and Eric approached cautiously, the weight of the silence pressing on their shoulders. The scent of rust and motor oil hung thick in the air as they pushed open the creaking metal door. Inside, the faint metallic echo of their footsteps was the only sound.

Eric scanned the room, his spear raised, while Kate swept her flashlight across the walls and machinery. The cluttered space was filled with rusting tools, discarded tires, and a few overturned workbenches.

"Seems clear," Eric muttered, though his voice held a note of doubt.

Kate's grip on her crowbar tightened as she examined the shadows. "Never assume that. Check the corners. I'll cover you."

The two moved methodically, opening every cabinet, peering behind every stack of tires. It wasn't until they reached the far end of the garage that Eric pulled back a dusty tarp, revealing a beat-up old truck. Its faded green paint was chipped and peeling, and the tires sagged under its weight, but it was otherwise intact.

Eric let out a low whistle. "Now that's a find."

Kate raised an eyebrow. "You think it's salvageable?"

He crouched, running his hands over the hood before popping it open. "its need some works but I've worked with worse. If we can scrounge up some spare parts, I can probably get her running in a day or two."

Kate glanced toward the garage doors. They were sturdy, the locks still intact. "Good. This place will do for now. You work on the truck. I'll see what I can scavenge nearby."

Eric stood and gave her a quick salute, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Yes, ma'am. Don't go getting into too much trouble out there."

Kate smirked. "Trouble finds me, not the other way around."

Kate ventured out, her backpack slung over her shoulder and her crowbar in hand. The streets were unnervingly quiet, the faint moans of distant infected carried on the wind. Her first stop was a small convenience store a few blocks away. The shelves were mostly bare, stripped clean by scavengers, but she managed to find a few cans of beans and a dusty bottle of water.

Her next stop was a row of houses. Many had been ransacked, their windows shattered and doors ajar. She entered one cautiously, her flashlight cutting through the dimness. In the living room, a family photo lay smashed on the floor, the faces smiling up at her from a world that no longer existed. She stepped over it and made her way to the kitchen.

The pantry was almost empty, save for a half-empty bag of rice and a few jars of preserved fruit. As she packed them away, she spotted a small garden through the back window. Curiosity piqued, she stepped outside to find a few overgrown rows of vegetables and, to her surprise, a stack of seed packets tucked into a plastic bin.

She crouched down, carefully picking through the packets. Tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs—these weren't just food; they were a chance at sustainability. A flicker of hope stirred in her chest as she tucked them into her bag. "These could mean a lot more than a meal," she murmured.

she keep looking for supply and return to the repair shop to unload the supply at the same time checking eric in case he need something several times until By the end of the second day, Kate returned to the repair shop to find Eric grinning from ear to ear, grease streaked across his face. The truck sat proudly in the center of the garage, its engine rumbling steadily.

"She's not much to look at, but she'll get us from point A to point B," Eric announced, wiping his hands on a rag.

Kate leaned against the truck, a rare smile breaking through her usual stoic demeanor. "Good work. Let's just hope point B still has people waiting for us."

Eric's smile faltered slightly. "You think Emma and the others are okay?"

Kate's gaze dropped, her fingers tightening around her crowbar. "I don't know. But we're not leaving without them."

The truck growled as it rolled down the cracked asphalt, its headlights slicing through the encroaching darkness. When they reached the convenience store, it was eerily quiet. The boarded-up windows and fortified doors were untouched, but something was wrong. Only two figures emerged as they parked: Harper and Sophia.

Eric killed the engine, and the two jumped out, rushing to meet them. "Where is everyone?" Kate demanded, her voice sharp.

Harper stood with her arms crossed, her face pale. "They're not back," she snapped. "Emma, Ben, Grace, Izzy—they went to the grocery store after you left. They said they'd be back before dark, but that was over a day ago."

Sophia stepped forward, wringing her hands. "We waited, but... we didn't know what to do. We didn't hear anything—no screams, no signs of trouble. It's like they just disappeared."

Kate's stomach tightened. She glanced at Eric, who was already pulling the map from his pack. "They couldn't have gone far," she said. "The grocery store is just a few blocks away. If they're not there, we'll check the surrounding area."

Harper's eyes flashed with frustration. "They're all we've got left," she said, her voice cracking. "If you don't find them..."

Kate stepped forward, placing a steadying hand on Harper's shoulder. "We'll find them. But you and Sophia need to stay here. Keep the doors locked and don't let anyone in unless it's us. If we're not back by sunrise, fortify this place and stay safe,and maybe try to start packing in case we need to hurry"

Harper hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. "Just... don't take too long."

Back in the truck, Kate gripped her crowbar tightly, her knuckles white. "We've got to find them," she said, her voice low but resolute.

Eric nodded, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "We will."

As they neared the grocery store, the tension in the truck was palpable. The streets grew darker, the shadows longer. The infected were out there, lurking just beyond the edges of the headlights' beam. Both Kate and Eric knew time was running out—not just for Emma and the others, but for themselves.