Age of zombies

[31] Kennewick

The sky was a deep shade of purple as the sun finally dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the remote stretch of forest we'd found. It was quiet out here, too quiet, with nothing but the distant rustle of trees and the occasional chirp of crickets to break the silence. We'd driven as far off the main road as we could, finding a secluded spot tucked away from any potential dangers.

The truck engine hummed softly as Daisy parked it behind a thick cluster of trees, giving us some cover from the road. We all climbed out, stretching our legs after the long drive, but the tension in the air hadn't lifted.

"This should do for the night," Daisy muttered, glancing around. "We'll keep the truck close and take shifts. No fire, no lights. We don't want to draw any attention."

Ethan groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Another night of sleeping in the truck. My back's gonna hate me."

"Your back will hate you more if a horde finds us," Daisy shot back, her tone sharp. "Quit bitching and get ready for your shift."

Yabe stayed close to me, her eyes scanning the darkening forest with a worried look. "Senpai... do you think we'll be safe here?"

I sighed, rubbing my temples. I didn't know how to answer that, not with everything we'd been through. "As safe as we can be, Kohai. We'll keep watch, take shifts like Daisy said. Just get some rest when you can."

We all loaded back into the truck, the air inside feeling cramped and heavy with exhaustion. I could hear Ethan muttering to himself as he shifted around in the backseat, trying to find a comfortable position.

"Alright," Daisy said from the driver's seat, leaning back. "I'll take the first watch. Jake, you're up next. Then Ethan. Yabe, you rest for now."

Yabe nodded, curling up in the backseat, her head resting against her backpack. She looked so tired, the weight of everything pressing down on her small frame. But even with all the chaos, she still managed a soft smile as she glanced at me.

"Wake me if you need anything, Senpai," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"I will," I said quietly, giving her a small nod. "Just sleep."

Daisy kept her eyes on the forest, her rifle resting across her lap as she stared out into the darkness. I leaned back in the passenger seat, closing my eyes but not really expecting to fall asleep. The inside of the truck felt too small, the air too thick with the weight of everything we'd been through.

"Get some rest," Daisy muttered without looking at me. "You'll need it when your shift comes."

I nodded, the exhaustion finally winning out as my eyes drifted shut. But even as I slept, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was lurking out there in the dark, just beyond the trees.

***

Kennewick was eerily quiet. The kind of quiet that made your skin crawl, like the world had just... stopped. The streets were empty, no cars, no people, just abandoned buildings and the occasional rustle of debris blowing across the cracked pavement. It was a ghost town, and not in a good way. The three of us—me, Daisy, and Yabe—stepped out of the truck, our eyes scanning the desolate surroundings.

"This place gives me the creeps," Yabe whispered, sticking close to me.

Daisy, ever the pragmatist, just grunted. "We're not here for sightseeing. Let's grab what we can and get the hell out."

Ethan stayed behind to guard the truck, his face twisted in mild frustration. "Why do I always get left behind?" he muttered under his breath.

"Because you'd probably break your neck climbing over rubble," Daisy shot back with a smirk. "Keep an eye on things. Yell if you see anything."