Rise of The Unseen

The Vipers

The late afternoon sun cast a warm, golden glow over the quiet suburban street as Marta, Lucas, and Benny approached Daniel's house. The neighborhood, once a haven of peaceful family life, now bore the scars of the ongoing apocalypse. Abandoned cars lined the road, their windows shattered, and overgrown gardens hinted at a time when residents had tended to their homes with care.

Daniel led the way, his steps tentative but determined. His house, a two-story colonial with a white picket fence now splintered and worn, stood at the end of the cul-de-sac. The sight of it carried both nostalgia and an air of uncertainty. This place, once familiar and comforting, was now a relic of a bygone era.

The house itself bore the signs of struggle. Its windows were boarded up, a makeshift barricade against the dangers lurking outside. Faded curtains, now tattered and torn, hung in the windows, remnants of a time when someone had tried to maintain a sense of normalcy.

As they approached the front door, Daniel's hands trembled slightly as he produced a set of keys, selecting one with a practiced ease that suggested he had unlocked this door countless times before. The metallic click of the lock echoed through the quiet street, a stark reminder of the isolation that had gripped this once-thriving neighborhood.

The door creaked open, revealing the dimly lit interior of the house. Dust particles danced in the slivers of sunlight that managed to penetrate the boarded windows. The air held a musty, stale scent, a mixture of neglect and abandonment.

Marta, Lucas, and Benny exchanged glances, the gravity of the situation hanging in the air. They had entered another survivor's sanctuary, a place that had likely witnessed its share of hardships. It was a reminder that they were all navigating this new world, each with their own story of survival.

The living room, though cluttered with overturned furniture and worn-out rugs, still retained a faint sense of its former coziness. Family photos adorned the walls, capturing smiles and moments frozen in time. A sense of melancholy filled the room as Marta's eyes traced the photos of the family, remembering her own.

Daniel cleared his throat, breaking the silence that had settled over them. "Sorry about the mess," he mumbled, his voice tired. "It's been a while since I've been back."

Lucas offered a reassuring smile. "No need to apologize. Just sit down so I can patch you up. You got supplies?"

The oldest of the group responded with "I think I might, feel free to look around."

The group began to explore the house, checking for signs of any supplies that might be of use. The kitchen held canned goods, their labels faded but still legible, a small cache of provisions that would sustain them for a time. A few bottles of water were lined up on the countertop, a precious resource in this new world.

In the bedrooms, they found makeshift sleeping arrangements, blankets and pillows haphazardly arranged on the floor. It was a stark contrast to the neatly made beds they had once known, but it offered a semblance of comfort in this uncertain reality.

Benny was browsing throught the bathroom where he found a first-aid kit. "Got it!" He said bringing the supplies to where Lucas was.

"Okay... I can work with this, but I need to you to stand still and take your shirt off while you're at it" Lucas said with certaintly in his tone.

Daniel slightly scoffed and laughed "Trying to get me naked? I don't swing that way Blondie"

Benny suddently felt defensive and imediately shut the man up by saying "Shut up and let him take care of your shit asshole!"

Lucas turned back and sent Benny a small grateful smile before nodding his head towards Marta that was pacing around the kitchen. That got him a smile back and a nod in recognicion.