Zombie apocalypse:whispers from the dark

Stranger in the woods

A month had passed since the group left Zach behind, and the world hadn’t gotten any easier. Every day was a struggle for survival, and the loss of Zach weighed heavily on their hearts—especially Anastasia’s. She still found herself waking up in the middle of the night, expecting to see his familiar face, only to be met with the cold reality of his absence.

The group had managed to move far from the city, trekking through the overgrown forests and abandoned highways. Supplies were scarce, and every day felt like a fight just to keep going. But they were still together. Anastasia, Mei, Yeong Do, and Aradhya had become a family of sorts, bound by the shared pain and determination to keep moving forward.

One evening, as the sun began to set and the forest around them grew darker, the group found themselves exhausted and in need of shelter.

“We need to stop for the night,” Mei said, glancing around the dense trees.

“Agreed,” Aradhya added. “I can’t remember the last time I got more than two hours of sleep.”

Yeong Do kept his eyes on the treeline, his hand resting on the hilt of his machete. “We’re too exposed out here. We need to find somewhere safe before it gets completely dark.”

Just as they were about to continue searching, a rustle in the bushes made everyone freeze. Anastasia raised her weapon instinctively, her heart racing.

“Who’s there?” she called out, her voice steady but tense.

From the shadows, a figure emerged—a man in his mid-twenties with sharp features, black hair, and dark, intense eyes. He wore a worn leather jacket and carried a crossbow slung over his shoulder. His presence was calm but dangerous, and he raised his hands slowly to show he wasn’t a threat.

“Easy,” the stranger said, his voice smooth but serious. “I’m not here to hurt you.”

The group remained on edge, not trusting anyone easily after what they’d been through. Mei stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. “Who are you?”

The man lowered his hands and gave a small smile. “Name’s Jungkook. I’ve been following your group for a while now, just making sure you’re not like the rest.”

“Like the rest?” Yeong Do asked, suspicion lacing his tone.

Jungkook shrugged, his gaze drifting to the trees. “Raiders, bandits, people who’d kill you for a can of beans. But you’re different. You’re... decent.”

Aradhya crossed her arms, still skeptical. “And what do you want?”

“I’m offering you a place to stay,” Jungkook said simply. “There’s a treehouse not far from here. It’s hidden, safe, and stocked with supplies. You can rest there for a while.”

The group exchanged glances, unsure of whether to trust him. But they were exhausted, and the promise of a safe place—however temporary—was too tempting to pass up.

Anastasia stepped forward, her green eyes locking onto Jungkook’s. “Why help us?”

Jungkook met her gaze, his expression softening slightly. “Because I’ve been out here alone for too long. And if we don’t help each other, none of us will survive.”

There was a long pause before Anastasia nodded. “Lead the way.”

The journey to the treehouse wasn’t long, but the dense forest made it feel like they were walking through a maze. Jungkook moved swiftly, his steps confident as he led them deeper into the woods. The sky had darkened, but the eerie glow of the moonlight filtered through the canopy above.

When they finally arrived, the group was met with an unexpected sight: a well-constructed treehouse nestled high among the branches of a massive oak tree. A rope ladder hung down, and the structure looked sturdy, as if it had been maintained for years.

Jungkook gestured up at it. “Welcome to your new temporary home.”

Yeong Do inspected the base of the tree, impressed. “This is... impressive.”

Mei smiled for the first time in days. “I can’t believe this is real. A treehouse? Out here?”

Jungkook nodded. “It’s kept me safe for the past few months. You’ll be fine here.”

They climbed the ladder, one by one, until they were all inside the treehouse. It was surprisingly spacious, with enough room for the group to sleep and even a small stash of canned goods and water bottles. There were makeshift curtains over the windows, giving the place a sense of warmth and protection from the outside world.

Once inside, the group began to settle down. Mei and Aradhya checked the supplies, while Yeong Do sat by the window, keeping watch. Anastasia found herself sitting by Jungkook, who leaned against the wall with his crossbow resting beside him.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, her voice sincere. “For helping us.”

Jungkook glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “Like I said, we have to look out for each other.”

There was a pause before Anastasia spoke again. “You said you’ve been alone for a while. What happened to your group?”

Jungkook’s eyes darkened for a moment, a flicker of pain crossing his face before he quickly hid it. “They’re gone. I’m the only one left.”

Anastasia didn’t press him further, sensing the weight of his loss. She knew all too well what it was like to lose someone you cared about.

As the night wore on, the group slowly drifted off to sleep, one by one, except for Anastasia. She sat by the window, her thoughts once again drifting to Zach. She still didn’t know what had happened to him. Every night, she wondered if he had turned, or if he was somehow still out there, fighting to survive.

Jungkook, noticing her troubled expression, sat beside her. “You’re thinking about someone.”

Anastasia nodded, not looking at him. “Someone I lost. His name was Zach.”

Jungkook didn’t say anything for a moment, then spoke softly. “It never gets easier, does it?”

“No,” Anastasia whispered. “It doesn’t.”

Jungkook stayed quiet, offering her a silent companionship that felt oddly comforting. Despite the mystery surrounding him, there was something about Jungkook that made Anastasia feel like they could trust him—at least for now.

As the fire crackled softly in the corner, Anastasia found herself closing her eyes, letting the weariness of the day finally take over. But even as she drifted into sleep, the image of Zach’s piercing blue eyes stayed with her, a reminder of the love she’d lost but refused to forget.

And now, with Jungkook in their group, their journey had taken a new turn—one filled with both hope and uncertainty. What lay ahead was anyone’s guess, but for the first time in a while, they had a place to rest. And in this world, that was a luxury they couldn’t take for granted.