𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐔𝐒 | 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙐𝙨 𝙄𝙄.

𝐈𝐈𝐈.

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𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐖 𝐃𝐎𝐄𝐒𝐍'𝐓 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖 how long he and Abby have been following the horse tracks in the snow, but all he knows for certain is that they've been at it for a while. Not only that, but given how the weather is, he guesses that they were in the eye of some storm, as if they didn't any plenty of other problems to worry about. But their pursuit was abruptly interrupted when they stumbled upon a horde of runners.

Curses escaped their lips as they raced through the snow-filled landscape, the biting wind howling in their ears as they dodged and weaved through the throng of infected. With every step, the realization dawned upon them—there were simply too many to fight off alone. "There's too many of them! Let's just head back!" Matthew's voice rang out over the roaring snowstorm, desperation lacing his words as he glanced over his shoulder at the encroaching horde. But Abby hated that idea more than anything.

Then, her eyes caught sight of something—a semi-truck, mostly buried beneath a thick blanket of snow. Without hesitation, they clamored over the snow-covered vehicle, their hearts pounding in their chests as they searched for refuge among the few enclosed trailers scattered on the ground. "Damn it!" Abby screamed in frustration as she surveyed their options, her heart sinking at the sight of the approaching infected. Matthew's stomach churned with dread as he glanced over his shoulder, his worst fears realized as he counted at least twenty or so runners on their asses.

"Matthew!" The muscular girl suddenly called out to the blond, breaking him out of his daze as he turned his attention back on her. "Up here!" He watched as Abby vaulted over a nearby fence and thus, did the same which caused them to plunge into the outpost's backyard. Pushing through the fenced-off area, they pressed on, her heart pounding with every step as she raced around the outpost's exterior, exposed.

With the infected hot on their heels, they continued on their way, pushing whatever they could find in their path in hopes of giving them some more time. They soon reached a flight of stairs which they scrambled upwards, their legs burning with exertion as they reached the top.

On the other side awaited a narrow passageway, flanked by the imposing walls of the building on one side and a gated fence on the other. "Aw, fuck..." Matthew muttered, his voice cracking. Despite the unease gnawing at their insides, they had no choice but to press on, the sound of the infected hot on their heels.

As they began to shimmy across the narrow passage, a sudden impact rocked the fence, sending tremors of fear coursing through their bodies. A large group of runners had slammed into the barrier, their sheer weight gradually pushing it down upon Abby and Matthew. Panic surged within them as they were forced to crawl, the fence threatening to crush them beneath its weight.

One of the reanimated corpse's grubby hands reached through a crack between the makings of the fence and ripped Abby's beanie off of her. Meanwhile, Matthew pressed his body aggressively against the wall behind him, his heart heavy as he was scared the creatures might grab onto his longer hair. But the runners were relentless, their relentless push against the fence inching them closer to their prey.

Just as Abby reached the end of it, she was tackled to the ground by a runner who managed to break through, climbing atop her. Matthew quickly wormed his way out of the tight space and pulled out his gun, pointing at it but the two were so fidgety that he had to constantly move his pistol, making him hesitate. "I can't get a clear shot!" He eventually shouted in frustration.

With a groan, he reluctantly holstered his gun, his hands reaching out to rip the reanimated corpse off of Abby before it could do any more harm.