Zombie apocalypse:whispers from the dark

exploring outside

The morning came with a tense stillness. Zach’s mind was racing, his piercing blue eyes scanning the school grounds through a small window. The plan to scout was set, but the weight of responsibility was heavy on his shoulders. The world outside was no longer the one they knew. It was hostile, unpredictable, and deadly.

As the group gathered in the janitor’s closet, their faces reflected the uncertainty of what lay ahead. Zach, Anastasia, Yeong Do, Mei, and Aradhya stood in a small circle, discussing the plan. Today wasn’t about surviving—they’d been doing that. Today was about finding a future, a way forward, a place where they could last longer than just a few days.

“We’ll split into pairs,” Zach said, his voice steady. “Anastasia and I will take the east side. Yeong Do, you take Mei and check the west. Aradhya, stay here and keep an eye on things in case something goes wrong.”

Aradhya nodded, her brown eyes filled with concern but understanding. “Be careful out there. We don’t know what’s waiting.”

Zach’s gaze shifted to Anastasia, who stood tall and confident despite the lingering fatigue in her green eyes. She gave him a small nod, ready to face whatever was out there. Zach felt the tug in his chest again, that unspoken bond growing stronger by the day.

They gathered their gear—baseball bats, the bow and arrows, and a few makeshift weapons. As Zach stood by the door, ready to leave, Anastasia caught his arm.

“Zach,” she said softly, her voice barely a whisper. He turned to her, his blue eyes locking with hers. “If something happens out there, promise me you’ll look after Mei. I can’t lose her.”

The intensity in her gaze made his heart ache. He knew how much Mei meant to her—how much family meant in a world that had taken so much from them.

“I promise,” Zach replied, his voice low but filled with sincerity. “But nothing’s going to happen to you.”

For a moment, the world outside didn’t exist. There was just the two of them, standing in the middle of the apocalypse, bound by something more than just survival. Zach knew, deep down, that he’d do anything to keep her safe.

Anastasia smiled faintly, a glimmer of hope in her green eyes, before turning toward the door. “Let’s go.”

The school’s exterior was eerily quiet, the remnants of the once-bustling campus now a haunting reminder of what had been lost. The sky was overcast, a dull grey that mirrored the somber mood hanging over the world. Zach and Anastasia moved cautiously along the perimeter, their eyes scanning every shadow, every corner, for signs of movement.

The east side of the school bordered a residential area—houses that had been abandoned in the rush of the outbreak. Broken windows, overturned cars, and scattered belongings littered the streets, evidence of the panic that had gripped the city. But what struck Zach the most was the silence. The absence of life.

“Do you think there’s anyone left?” Anastasia asked quietly, breaking the silence between them.

Zach glanced at her, the sadness in her voice echoing his own thoughts. “There’s got to be. We can’t be the only ones who made it.”

Anastasia nodded, though she didn’t look convinced. The world had changed so quickly, and they had no way of knowing who else had survived the chaos.

As they rounded a corner, Zach’s eyes caught movement in the distance. He froze, holding out an arm to stop Anastasia. “Wait,” he whispered, pointing toward the street ahead.

There, stumbling out from behind a car, were two zombies. Their decayed faces were twisted in grotesque expressions, their movements slow and jerky. But even at a distance, Zach knew they couldn’t risk drawing attention to themselves.