Through The Ashes

43

The Rot was everywhere, and every step had to be taken with care. Mara moved closely behind Jorn, matching her pace, her grip on her gun tight.

"Stay close to me please," Jorn murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. The Rot could be anywhere—around the next corner, behind the wreckage of a car, hidden in the skeleton of a nearby shop.

"I'm right here," Mara replied. "Promise."

They moved swiftly, cutting through the city's wreckage, ducking into alleys when necessary to avoid the clusters of Rot that roamed the streets. They were getting closer to the center of the city, where the risks would only grow.

They neared an intersection and Jorn halted abruptly, her hand shooting up to stop Mara. They crouched low behind an overturned bus, and Jorn peeked around the edge.

Across the street, a small pack of Rotted stumbled through the debris, their twisted bodies moving in jerky, unnatural motions. Their growls were low, rough—hungry. Jorn's heart thudded in her chest, and she felt the familiar swell of stress that came with facing them.

She turned to Mara, nodding toward a narrow alley that cut through the block. "We'll go through there," Jorn whispered. "Quickly."

Mara nodded, her eyes sharp with understanding. Jorn moved first, keeping low as she darted across the street, slipping into the shadows of the alley. Mara followed, both of them moving with silent precision.

They were almost past the pack of Rot when a flare shot up into the sky, its red light illuminating the ruined city like a beacon. It arced through the air, glowing brightly before it began to descend, casting a haunting red glow on the buildings around them.

Jorn froze, her eyes locked on the flare. "Becca and Brady," she breathed, her heart quickening.

Mara's eyes widened. "They're okay."

The flare had done more than signal them—it had also drawn the attention of the Rot. The creatures let out high-pitched growls, their heads snapping toward the sky as they spotted the flare. In an instant, they began shambling in the direction of the light, their growls growing louder as they moved faster, more frantic.

Jorn and Mara stayed pressed against the wall, watching the pack rush by. "We have to get to them," Mara whispered, her voice laced with urgency.

Jorn nodded. "Let's move."

They waited for the last of the Rot to pass before slipping out of the alley and into the open streets. Jorn led the way, her feet light and quick as she weaved through the wreckage, her eyes scanning the direction of the flare. They needed to stay ahead of the pack.

The flare had been shot from a few blocks away, but Millbrook's twisted landscape made it difficult to navigate. They cut through narrow alleys, clambered over debris, and ducked into ruined buildings to avoid being spotted by wandering Rot.

As they crossed another intersection, Jorn caught sight of something in the distance—a flash of movement on the rooftop of a building a few streets ahead. She squinted, her breath catching.

"They're on the roof!"

Mara followed her gaze, spotting the figures on the rooftop. "We're close. Let's go!"

The two of them picked up their pace, their footsteps barely making a sound as they sprinted through the streets. The building where the flare had come from loomed ahead, and as they neared it, the growls of the approaching Rot grew louder behind them.

Jorn's heart pounded in her ears. They didn't have much time.

"Get to the fire escape," she ordered Mara, pointing to the side of the building. "I'll cover you."