THE WATCHER 3: APOCALYPSE

Chapter 3: The Portal

Chloe's heart raced as she gazed into the mysterious crack in the floor. The soft glow emanating from within the portal captivated her curiosity. Without a second thought, she crouched down for a closer look. The others, oblivious to Chloe's discovery, continued settling into their chosen rooms.

Chloe whispered to herself, "What is this? It's like nothing I've ever seen before."

"Chloe! Where are you? We've been looking all over for you!" called out Jonathan's voice, echoing through the house.

Startled, Chloe quickly stood up and turned to face her friends. "Guys, you won't believe what I found! There's a portal here! It leads to... I don't even know where!"

Gape's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "A portal? Are you serious, Chloe?"

Kirk, his voice tinged with skepticism, chimed in. "You're not suggesting we go through it, are you?"

Chloe's gaze flickered between her friends, her excitement palpable. She took a deep breath, unable to contain her newfound sense of adventure.

"I know it sounds crazy, but think about it. This place, this house—it's overrun with those infected creatures. We're trapped, with no way out. But this portal... it could be our ticket to freedom. Maybe it leads to a safer place, away from all of this chaos," Chloe explained.

Jane's eyes widened with intrigue as she stepped closer. "You might be onto something, Chloe. If there's a chance this portal leads us to safety, we should at least consider it."

Ruthy, always the optimist, added, "Adventure awaits, right? Who knows what lies on the other side? It could be our only shot at survival."

Jonathan surveyed the group, his expression serious yet contemplative. "I won't lie, it's a risk. But staying here, hiding in this house, isn't a guarantee of safety either. If there's even a glimmer of hope beyond that portal, I think we owe it to ourselves to explore it."

Gape, the pragmatist of the group, crossed his arms and sighed. "Well, if we're doing this, we need to be prepared. We can't just jump blindly into the unknown."

Chloe nodded, determination shining in her eyes. "I agree. Let's gather whatever supplies we can, weapons, food, and be ready for whatever awaits us on the other side."

With a unanimous decision reached, the group sprang into action, scouring the house for essentials and arming themselves for the journey ahead. As they gathered their belongings, a mix of anticipation and trepidation filled the air.

"Says Chloe: 'No matter what lies on the other side, we'll face it together.' Are you all ready?" Chloe asked, her voice resolute.

"Says Jonathan: 'Absolutely. Let's step into the unknown and find our way to safety.'" The others nodded in agreement, their shared resolve forming an unbreakable bond.

With one final glance at the portal's radiant glow, they stepped forward, crossing the threshold into a world brimming with uncertainty and endless possibilities.