Bloodlines of Survival

Chapter 16: People

The SUV rumbled down the narrow, winding dirt road, the dense forest closing in around them. Gwen kept her hands steady on the wheel, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger. Every shadow seemed to move, every rustle of leaves put her on edge. The jerky she'd eaten had quieted the hunger for now, but she knew it wouldn't last. The urge to give in, to let the darkness take over, was always there, lurking just beneath the surface.

Kohl and Samantha were silent in the backseat, their small bodies huddled together under a blanket. They'd been through so much already, and Gwen couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt as she thought about what might come next. She had to protect them—no matter what.

After what felt like hours of driving through the winding forest, the dirt road finally gave way to pavement again. It wasn't much, just a narrow two-lane road that wound through the woods, but it was a sign that they were moving back toward civilization—or what was left of it.

As they continued along the road, Gwen noticed a faint glow up ahead, filtering through the trees. It wasn't the eerie, unnatural glow of the infected—it was something else. Something... human.

She slowed the SUV, inching closer to the source of the light. As they rounded a bend, the trees parted, revealing a small clearing. In the middle of it stood a handful of vehicles, parked in a loose circle, their headlights illuminating the area. Around the cars were several figures, some standing guard with weapons in hand, others huddled near a small fire.

Gwen's heart raced as she took in the scene. It was the first sign of other survivors she'd seen in days. But with that hope came fear—she had no idea who these people were, or what they might do if they saw her and the kids. Were they friendly, or would they see them as a threat?

She came to a stop at the edge of the clearing, her hands trembling on the wheel. She had to make a decision, and quickly. Running wasn't an option—they were low on supplies, and the SUV was nearly out of gas again. But approaching strangers in a world like this was dangerous.

Kohl leaned forward from the backseat, his voice a soft whisper. "Mom, who are they?"

"I don't know, sweetheart," Gwen replied, her voice tight with tension. "But we're about to find out."

She took a deep breath and put the SUV in park. "Stay here. Keep the doors locked, and don't come out unless I say so. Understand?"

Both kids nodded, their eyes wide with fear and uncertainty.

Gwen forced a reassuring smile before stepping out of the vehicle. The moment she did, she felt the tension in the clearing shift—some of the figures by the fire turned to look at her, and the ones standing guard raised their weapons slightly, ready for anything.

Gwen raised her hands, showing she was unarmed. "I'm not here to cause trouble," she called out, trying to keep her voice calm and steady. "I'm just looking for a safe place for my kids."

One of the figures, a tall man with a rifle slung over his shoulder, stepped forward. His face was weathered, with a thick beard and sharp eyes that didn't miss a thing. He looked Gwen up and down, sizing her up, before his gaze shifted to the SUV and the two small faces peeking out from the backseat.

"You alone?" he asked, his voice rough but not unfriendly.

Gwen nodded. "It's just me and my kids. We're... we're trying to get somewhere safe."

The man exchanged a glance with one of the others by the fire, a woman with dark hair tied back in a braid. After a moment, he lowered his rifle slightly and took a step closer.

"We're not looking for trouble either," he said. "Name's Tom. This here's our camp, at least for tonight. We're moving out at first light. You're welcome to stay, but we keep things tight around here. You and your kids cause any trouble, you're out. Understand?"