Zombie apocalypse:whispers from the dark

new destination

Inside the gas station, the dim glow of the lantern cast eerie shadows on the walls. Zach took a deep breath, scanning the room and taking stock of their new surroundings. Greg, the man who let them in, sat down at an old table, pulling out a half-empty bottle of water and offering it to Zach.

“Not much, but it’s all we’ve got,” Greg said gruffly, his eyes tired.

“Thanks,” Zach replied, taking a small sip before passing it to Anastasia. As she drank, Zach glanced around at the other survivors. The teenage boy couldn’t have been much older than Mei, maybe sixteen. He stared at them with wide, cautious eyes, while the two women sat huddled together, whispering to one another.

Greg’s voice broke the silence. “So, where are you all headed? You don’t look like you’re from around here.”

Zach shifted uncomfortably, his eyes meeting Anastasia’s for a brief moment. “We were just trying to get out of the city… find somewhere safer.”

“Safer?” Greg let out a bitter laugh. “There’s no such thing anymore. Not since the outbreak.”

“Maybe not,” Anastasia interjected, her green eyes sharp, “but we’re not giving up. There has to be somewhere out there where people are surviving… rebuilding.”

Greg leaned back in his chair, rubbing a hand over his scruffy beard. “You’re young, so I’ll forgive your optimism. But this world doesn’t care about hope. All it cares about is who can fight and who can’t.”

The silence that followed was heavy, the weight of Greg’s words settling over the group. Mei fidgeted nervously, her heterochromatic eyes flicking from Zach to the others. “So what do we do now?” she asked quietly.

Zach turned toward Greg. “We’ll rest for a while, but we can’t stay here forever. The zombies out there are gathering in larger groups, and it’s only a matter of time before this place isn’t safe anymore.”

Greg nodded. “You’re right. I’ve seen it happen before. The dead… they’re getting smarter. And we’re running out of places to hide.”

Aradhya, who had been silent for most of the conversation, spoke up. “Is there any place nearby? Somewhere more secure than this?”

Greg hesitated, then looked down at the table, his fingers tapping anxiously. “There is… an old factory about ten miles from here. It’s isolated, away from the city. We’ve been thinking about moving there, but it’s risky. The roads are dangerous, and we don’t know what’s waiting for us.”

Zach’s mind raced as he considered the possibility. The factory could offer better protection than the gas station, but the journey would be dangerous. “Do you know how to get there?” he asked.

Greg nodded. “Yeah. I’ve scouted the place a few times, but never had the guts to make the move. Too many things could go wrong.”

Zach looked at Anastasia, her eyes reflecting the same thoughts running through his head. They needed a plan—something that would give them a real chance at survival. The factory might just be that place.

“We should go,” Zach finally said, his voice steady. “If we stay here, we’ll be trapped. The factory sounds like a better bet.”

Greg studied him for a long moment, then sighed. “All right. If you’re set on it, I’ll lead the way. But I’m warning you—it’s going to be rough.”

Zach nodded. “We’re ready.”

Anastasia stepped closer to him, her voice low but firm. “We’ve come this far. We’ll make it through.”

They spent the next hour preparing for the journey. Mei checked the backpacks, making sure they had enough supplies for the road, while Aradhya double-checked the weapons—what little they had. Greg’s group didn’t have much to contribute, but every little bit helped. Yeong Do stood guard by the window, keeping an eye out for any signs of danger.

As they were about to head out, Greg paused by the door. “One last thing,” he said, glancing at Zach. “You and your group… you seem capable. I just hope you’re ready for what’s out there. Not just the dead, but the living. People will do anything to survive.”

Zach’s jaw tightened. He knew that better than anyone now. The encounter with Adrian’s group had been a harsh reminder that in this new world, the line between friend and foe was thin.

“We’ll be ready,” Zach said quietly, his eyes hardening.

Greg gave him a short nod, then opened the door. The cool night air hit them as they stepped outside, the distant groans of zombies echoing through the streets.

The road ahead was long and filled with uncertainty. But Zach, Anastasia, and their friends were ready to face whatever came next. Together, they would fight—for their lives and for each other.