Shadows of the undead

The group gathered in a tight circle, listening intently as Kate laid out the plan. Eric would sneak to a car parked a few storefronts away and trigger its alarm to draw the infected away. Kate would clear out any stragglers near the entrance, giving the group time to dismantle the barricade and grab as much as they could carry. Timing was critical.

"You sure about this?" Emma asked, glancing between Kate and Eric. Her voice carried a thread of doubt, but her grip on the pipe tightened.

Kate's eyes met hers, unflinching. "If we wait any longer, they'll break through, or more will come. This is the only way."

Eric adjusted his grip on the spear, giving Kate a quick nod. "I'll handle the alarm."

Kate's gaze swept over the group. "Everyone stays together. If something goes wrong, adapt and move. No one gets left behind. Got it?"

The nods she received were hesitant but resolute. Harper squeezed Sophia's hand briefly before gripping her bat with renewed determination. Izzy muttered a quiet prayer under her breath, clutching her crowbar like a lifeline. Even Ben, pale and shaking, gave a small nod, his knife held firmly in his hand.

Kate took a deep breath, the weight of their lives pressing heavily on her shoulders. "Let's move."

Eric slipped out first, moving quickly but silently toward the car. The group waited in tense silence, the air thick with anticipation. Every creak and groan of the building felt like thunder in their ears.

Then, the car alarm blared—a shrill, piercing noise that shattered the quiet. The infected reacted immediately, their guttural snarls echoing through the streets as they turned toward the source of the sound. The swarm at the entrance began to thin, shambling toward the noise like moths to a flame.

"Now!" Kate hissed, gripping her crowbar as she moved toward the entrance.

The first infected lunged at her, its rotting hands grasping the air. Kate swung her weapon with brutal precision, the crack of bone echoing in the narrow space. Another stumbled forward, but she was quicker, slamming the blunt end into its skull. She barely registered the gore splattering her boots as she fought, her focus entirely on clearing a path.

"Move!" Kate shouted over her shoulder, signaling the group.

The group sprang into action, dismantling the barricade as quickly as they could. Grace grabbed a cart and began loading it with canned goods and water bottles, while Emma and Izzy worked to clear debris blocking the exit. Ben, despite his injury, stood guard , his knife ready in case any infected managed to slip past Kate.

But the alarm didn't last long. The sudden silence was deafening, and Kate's heart sank as she heard the familiar growls growing louder again. The infected, no longer distracted, began to shamble back toward the store, drawn by the commotion.

"Faster!" Kate barked, swinging her crowbar to take down another infected that had made its way inside.

Eric reappeared just in time, shoving an infected out of the way with his spear. "Let's go!" he yelled, grabbing one side of the cart as they made their way to the truck.

By the time they reached the truck, everyone was breathless and bloodied, their faces streaked with sweat and grime. Supplies clinked and clattered as they were hastily thrown into the bed. Kate climbed into the passenger seat, her chest heaving as Eric started the engine.

The truck roared to life, and the group piled in, clutching the sides as it sped away. The infected swarmed the spot they had just vacated, their growls fading into the distance.

Inside the cab, Kate leaned her head back, her grip on her crowbar never loosening. Eric glanced at her, his face pale but calm.

"We made it," he said quietly.

Kate nodded, her eyes flicking to the rearview mirror, where Emma and the others sat huddled together. "For now."

Back at the convenience store, Harper and Sophia were waiting anxiously outside. The truck screeched to a halt, and the group worked quickly to load the supplies into the vehicle. Despite their exhaustion, they moved with urgency, their shared relief palpable.

As the truck rumbled down the road, the city fading into the distance, silence settled over the group. Kate sat in the passenger seat, her eyes scanning the horizon, her thoughts heavy. Emma sat beside her in the cab, staring out the window, her expression unreadable.

"time to go home," Eric said softly, breaking the silence.

Kate glanced at him, then at Emma, who finally turned to meet her gaze. "Thank you," Emma said, her voice quiet but sincere.

Kate nodded, her expression softening for a moment. "We'll see this through. Together."

As the truck continued down the desolate road, the group huddled together, their exhaustion overshadowed by a flicker of hope. But in the back of Kate's mind, the weight of their next steps loomed heavy. Trusting these people with their sanctuary was a risk—a gamble that could either save them all or shatter everything they had fought to protect. For now, they had no choice but to move forward. Together.