𝕯𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖘𝖍𝖔𝖙

Progress

The third-floor meeting room was dimly lit, the blinds drawn to keep out the eerie red glow of the blood moon that hung over the city like an ominous omen.

Nathan sat at the long wooden table, his eyes distant as they fixed on nothing in particular. Around him—Lorenzo & Julian sat quietly, the atmosphere thick with tension.

"So... what's the plan?" Nathan asked, his voice quiet but urgent. He glanced over at Lorenzo, then to Julian, who had his arms crossed, lost in thought.

Julian looked up, his expression hardened from everything they'd been through. "I don't know, Nathan. We have supplies, but it's only a matter of time before we run out," he said, rubbing his forehead.

Nathan shifted in his seat, tapping his finger against the table. "Well... what if we send people out to gather more resources?"

Julian raised an eyebrow, a look of frustration crossing his face. "You serious? You know how dangerous it is out there right now? It's a death sentence."

Nathan shook his head, his eyes locked on Julian. "Think about it. We can be smart about this. We send the right people to the right places."

Julian leaned forward, narrowing his eyes. "And who would you suggest, huh?"

Nathan sighed. "We send people based on the area. Like... for example, Emma can drive, right? We could send her with Gian and Kaylee to loot the Target near here."

Julian rolled his eyes. "Oh, sure. And let's just send all the girls while we're at it, right?"

"That's not what I meant, Julian!" Nathan snapped. "You're missing the point. It's about skill sets, not just sending people out randomly. We need Emma because she drives. Gian's fast, and Kaylee's good under pressure. It makes sense."

Lorenzo nodded, speaking up for the first time. "Nathan's right. We've got to be strategic. If we send anyone to a place like Walmart in Bergenfield, which is pretty big, we send people who know the layout. If I go, I know how to get around that store without wasting time."

"Fine, whatever," Julian muttered. "Just don't get yourselves killed."

Nathan stood up from his chair. "Good." Nathan ran, bursting into Gian's room. "Get ready. We're going to loot the grocery store near here. We need food more than anything right now."

"Wait, we're doing this now?" Gian asked, surprised as he sat up straight.

"Yes, now!" Nathan snapped. "Hurry up!"

Gian stood up, shrugging. "Alright, alright, chill." He zipped up his jacket and followed Nathan out of the meeting room. Kaylee, who had been scrolling on her phone, glanced up in confusion as Nathan stormed into her room.

"Put on your jacket and get off TikTok, we're going," Nathan said hurriedly.

"Where are we going?" Kaylee asked, eyes wide.

"To the grocery store. We need to stock up before things get worse," Nathan replied, already halfway down the stairs.

Kaylee sighed and zipped up her jacket, pocketing her phone. "Okay, okay, I'm coming."

A few minutes later, they arrived at the grocery store, its sliding doors stuck half-open, as if welcoming them into its eerie, empty aisles.

The overhead lights flickered intermittently, casting shadows that danced on the shelves. Dust hung in the air, and the once-bustling store now felt like a tomb, its silence oppressive.

Nathan kicked the door open, pushing a shopping cart in front of him. "Let's move fast. Grab what we can and get out."

Gian sprinted down the aisles, grabbing armfuls of chips and snacks, throwing them haphazardly into the cart. His movements were quick, efficient, almost like muscle memory from better times.