Salvage Station 23

Chapter 1, Part 13

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The flickering flames from the supply room fire cast long, dancing shadows across the train yard as the survivors of Salvage Station 23 spread out in search teams. The acrid smell of smoke hung heavy in the air, a constant reminder of their narrow escape.

Olivia, flanked by Eli and Zoe, led one group along the eastern perimeter. Their flashlights cut through the darkness, illuminating the hastily constructed barriers and makeshift walls that had been their protection for so long.

"Keep your eyes peeled for anything out of place," Olivia instructed, her voice low and tense. "Even the smallest crack could be an entry point for those things."

As they rounded a corner, Olivia's flashlight beam caught something unusual. About ten feet up the wall, barely visible in the dim light, was a series of hairline cracks spreading out like a spider's web.

"Eli, give me a boost," Olivia said, handing her flashlight to Zoe.

With Eli's help, Olivia climbed up to get a closer look at the cracks. As her fingers traced the fissures, she felt a slight give in the wall. Her heart sank.

"It's worse than it looks," she called down to the others. "The wall here is much thinner than it should be. It's like... it's like there's a hollow space behind it."

Just then, David's voice crackled over their walkie-talkies. "Olivia, we've found something on the west side. You need to see this."

As the groups converged, David led them to a section of the wall where a large section of the outer plating had been pried away, revealing the internal structure.

"Look at this," David said, shining his flashlight into the gap. "The interior support beams are completely rotted through. A strong gust of wind could knock this whole section down, let alone a determined Jack."

Mia stepped forward, her limp more pronounced after hours of searching. "And that's not all," she added, pointing to a dark, viscous substance smeared along the edges of the gap. "We found this all along the breach. It's unlike anything we've seen before."

Eli leaned in for a closer look, his brow furrowed. "It's... eating away at the metal. Some kind of corrosive agent?"

"That's what we think," David nodded grimly. "But here's the kicker - we've never seen Jacks do anything like this before."

A heavy silence fell over the group as the implications sank in. Olivia was the first to voice what they were all thinking.

"A new variant," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "First the voice mimicry, now this. They're... evolving."

Zoe shuddered, remembering the eerie chorus of familiar phrases they'd heard that night. "You're right. The Jacks that could mimic our voices - that was new too. We thought it was just a trick, but what if..."

"What if it's more than that?" Eli finished for her. "What if we're dealing with different types of Jacks now? Each with their own... specialties?"

Max ran a hand through his unruly hair, his usual jovial demeanor replaced by deep concern. "Great. So now we've got Mimics and... what, Melters? Any other surprises we should be looking out for?"

As the group began discussing strategies for dealing with these new threats, Eli suddenly stopped, a look of realization crossing his face.

"Wait," he said, loud enough to halt everyone in their tracks. "The fire in the supply room. We lost a lot of our resources, didn't we?"

Zoe quickly pulled out a small notebook from her pocket, flipping through pages of inventory. "It's bad," she confirmed, her voice tight. "We're critically low on medical supplies, tools, and food. Not to mention the materials we'll need to reinforce the walls against these new Jack variants."

"So, what you're saying is... we need to make a supply run," Max said, a hint of excitement in his voice despite the gravity of the situation.

Olivia nodded slowly. "It's risky, but we don't have much choice. We can't defend this place if we're starving and under-equipped."

"I should go," Eli volunteered. "We need specific materials for my inventions, especially now that we're dealing with these new Jack variants. I know exactly what to look for."

David stepped forward. "I'll go too. I've got experience navigating the outside world, and I know how to spot danger before it spots us."

"Count me in," Max added. "I can scout ahead, make sure the path is clear."

Mia spoke up. "Before we joined you, my dad and I passed through a small town about 20 miles east of here. We didn't have time to explore it thoroughly, but it looked relatively untouched. Might be worth checking out."

As they discussed the logistics, David suddenly snapped his fingers. "The bus," he said, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "We still have the bus Mia and I arrived in."

Olivia's eyes widened in recognition. "Of course! That old school bus you reinforced. It got you here safely, didn't it?"

Mia nodded enthusiastically. "Dad spent months modifying it. Reinforced walls, protected windows, even a makeshift battering ram on the front. It's not exactly stealthy, but it's tough."

"And it's got space," Eli added, his mind already racing with possibilities. "We could bring back a lot more supplies with that than we could carrying everything by hand."

Olivia considered for a moment, then nodded decisively. "Alright, the bus it is. David, you're the most familiar with it, so you'll drive. Max, you'll need to scout ahead on foot at times, make sure the road is clear. Eli, you focus on what we need to grab and how to store it safely."

She turned to address the rest of the group. "While they're gone, we'll work on clearing a secure area to unload when they return. We'll need to be quick and quiet about it."

As the group began to disperse, there was a new energy in the air. The bus represented hope - a chance to bring back not just supplies, but a victory against the harsh world they now lived in.

Eli caught Olivia's eye as he was leaving. "Don't worry," he said with a small smile. "With David's battlewagon, my shopping list, and Max's eagle eyes, we'll be back before you know it, loaded down with enough supplies to turn this place into a Jack-proof fortress."

Olivia managed a smile in return, but as she watched the three men walk away, she couldn't shake the feeling that their world was about to change once again. For better or worse remained to be seen.

As the night wore on and preparations continued, the imposing silhouette of the modified school bus loomed in the shadows of Salvage Station 23. It was a reminder of the dangers they'd faced, the miles they'd traveled, and the challenges yet to come. Tomorrow, it would carry their hopes and fears into the unknown, a lifeline to a group of survivors fighting to carve out a future in a world overrun by nightmares.

The night was far from over, and tomorrow would bring new challenges. But for now, they had a plan, a purpose, and a vehicle to carry them forward. It wasn't much, but in this harsh new world, it was everything.

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