Through The Ashes

20

Jorn led the group, her rifle at the ready. Mara walked beside her, quiet but alert. Behind them, Becca and Eli kept close, their steps hesitant but determined, while Yosef glanced back every few moments, making sure nothing crept up behind them.

The sun was rising above the horizon, leaving a dim twilight that barely illuminated the desolate streets. The wind howled softly through the empty buildings, carrying with it a sense of foreboding.

For a while, all was still. The group moved cautiously, their footsteps barely making a sound as they weaved through the ruined streets. Every now and then, a distant creak or the sound of glass shifting in the wind would make Eli jump, but he kept his composure, gripping the bags of rifles tightly.

They continued in silence for another block, tension coiling tighter with every step. The further they moved away from the community, the more vulnerable they got.

Suddenly, a faint noise reached Jorn's ears—a scraping sound, like metal against stone. She froze, and the group halted immediately, their breaths held as they strained to listen.

It came again, louder this time, from somewhere to their left, down an alleyway that led between two decaying buildings.

"Move to the other side of the street, now," Jorn whispered sharply.

The group quickly obeyed, their movements cautious as they slipped across the cracked pavement. Jorn's eyes remained locked on the alleyway, her grip tightening around her rifle. The faint scraping continued, now accompanied by a low, gurgling growl—a sound she had come to know all too well.

Mara, now at her side, glanced toward the alley with narrowed eyes. "How many, do you think?"

"Hard to say," Jorn replied, her voice low. "Could be a few, could be a horde."

Eli's knuckles were white as he gripped the bags of rifles tighter, the weight of them nearly pulling him off balance.

Jorn took a slow breath, her mind calculating. They couldn't afford to engage right here—not in the open, not with the weight of supplies slowing them down. But if The Rot sensed them, running wouldn't be an option either.

She needed to be sure.

"I'll check it out," Jorn said quietly, turning toward Mara. "Stay with them, keep moving toward the next intersection. I'll catch up."

Mara's eyes flickered with worry, but she nodded. "Be careful. Please."

With a swift nod, Jorn slipped down the alley before anyone could protest. Her movements were precise, her feet barely making a sound as she pressed herself against the side of the building. The air was heavy with decay, the scent almost unbearable as she inched closer to the source of the noise.

She rounded the corner carefully, her rifle raised, her finger resting lightly on the trigger. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she spotted them—four Rotted, hunched over and mindlessly scraping at the concrete, their hideous, rotting bodies twitching as they moved. They hadn't noticed her yet.

Jorn's jaw tightened. The noise would only attract more of them, and she was too close to risk firing a shot. She took an even breath, placing her gun down as she reached for the katana strapped to her back, the familiar weight comforting in her hands.

The blade gleamed faintly in the dim light as she unsheathed it with a soft, lethal sound. Her heart pounded in her chest, but her mind was focused, her instincts sharp.

Taking a deep breath, Jorn stepped forward, swift and silent. The first didn't even have time to react before the blade sliced cleanly through its neck, severing its head with a sickening thud. The others turned, their mouths opening in twisted snarls, but Jorn was already moving.