Life during the apocalypse

3

During the night I heard a noise, as I stirred from sleep, my senses heightened by the faint sound of something amiss, I reached for the pistol I always kept close at hand. "Thorn?" I whispered, scanning the dimly lit room.

Opening my eyes, I saw my brother, asleep yet vigilant, seated on the floor. He had taken the watch while I slept, a routine we had adopted to ensure our safety in the uncertain darkness of the night.

I approached him quietly, shaking him gently. "Thorn?" I whispered again, urgency ringing in my voice. "I heard something. It came from outside."

Thorn's swift response to my whispered warning filled me with a sense of urgency. Without hesitation, we moved silently around the room, gathering the essentials, prepared to defend ourselves if necessary.

As we slipped into a different road, the air was thick with tension, and a faint creaking sound echoed through the stillness. A chill ran down my spine, and I exchanged a worried glance with Thorn. In this world where danger lurked around every corner, even the slightest noise could spell disaster. We braced ourselves, ready to confront whatever threat lurked beyond the door.

As the groans and shuffling noises of the approaching zombies grew louder, Thorn and I exchanged a tense glance, silently reaffirming our shared understanding of the danger we faced. We knew all too well that loud noises were like a beacon to the undead, drawing them in with frightening speed. "How did zombies get here? I thought this place was abandoned." I whispered.

We huddled together in the darkness, our breaths shallow and controlled, every instinct screaming at us to remain as silent as possible. The realization that there were at least two zombies inside with us sent a shiver down my spine, the oppressive weight of their presence bearing down on us like a suffocating blanket.

In the deafening silence that followed, we prepared ourselves for the inevitable confrontation, knowing that our survival depended on our ability to stay calm, stay quiet, and outsmart the relentless hunger of the undead.

The sudden loud bang from outside jolted us into action, our hearts racing as we scrambled to find a way out of the room. Just as I cautiously peered outside the window, my heart sank at the sight before me - zombies, drawn by some unseen force, converging on a gas station ablaze in flames.

"Thorn," I whispered urgently, gesturing for him to look. "Something's drawing them away."

He joined me at the window, his expression grim as he took in the chaotic scene unfolding before us. "We have to go," he declared, his voice edged with urgency. "The fire is headed this way."

With no time to spare, we abandoned our hiding spot, steeling ourselves for the perilous journey ahead. As we made our escape, the distant roar of the flames served as a haunting reminder of the ever-present danger that lurked in the shadows of this merciless world.

As we sprinted through the chaos, the crack of gunfire punctuating the air as I dispatched the zombies in our path, a sudden wall of flames erupted between Thorn and me, separating us in an instant. Panic seized my heart as I watched him on the other side, his figure obscured by the billowing smoke and fire.

"DIA!" his voice pierced through the roar of the flames, his words echoing with a desperate determination. "I'll be alright. Find a safe place to hide, and I'll find you."

But I couldn't bear the thought of being separated from him, of losing the only family I had left. "NO!" I screamed back, my voice raw with fear and anguish. "I can't lose you. You're all I have left."

Tears blurred my vision as I watched him disappear into the smoke, his words haunting me as I fled, desperate to find safety in a world engulfed by chaos and despair.

"DIA, I will find you I promise. Just go," his voice echoed in my ears, urging me to flee from the encroaching danger. With a heavy heart, I turned away, tears streaming down my cheeks as I ran, my legs pumping desperately beneath me, fueled by fear and determination.

I pushed myself beyond the limits of exhaustion, every step a painful reminder of the bond I shared with Thorn, of the promise he had made to come find me. But as the flames receded into the distance, and the chaos of the night enveloped me, I collapsed to the ground, my body trembling with grief and uncertainty.

Alone in the darkness, I cried out into the void, my prayers mingling with the smoke and ashes that surrounded me. All I could do was cling to the fragile hope that Thorn would keep his promise, that somehow, against all odds, we would be reunited once more.

As I sat up, my eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings, I heard a soft snap, instantly jolting me into a state of alertness. Instinctively, I reached for my gun, but fatigue weighed heavily on my limbs, rendering me unable to act.