Three days Later

Ray, a cautious and nervous 19-year-old girl who's been struggling to survive with her father since the world fell apart. A small, abandoned grocery store in a deserted town. The shelves are mostly empty, and the flickering emergency lights cast eerie shadows across the aisles. For the past three days, Ray and her dad have been scavenging for food and supplies, moving quietly from place to place. They stick to isolated areas, avoiding roads and any signs of other survivors. Every sound makes Ray jump, but her father, a former police officer, keeps her calm, reminding her to stay silent and stay close. While Ray and her dad are in the store, searching for anything left to eat, they hear the faint sound of shuffling footsteps in the distance. Ray freezes, her heart pounding, as her dad signals for her to be silent. They quickly find a hiding spot behind a tall stack of crates. As they wait, Ray notices her father seems tense, more than usual. He's clutching his arm tightly, his face pale and sweaty. Ray realizes with horror that her dad has been bitten, something he hadn't told her. He whispers that he was bitten while protecting her yesterday but he didn't want her to worry. Ray's mind races she's terrified of being alone, but she knows what happens to people who've been bitten. Her father tells her to take whatever supplies she can find and leave him behind, but Ray can't imagine life without him. Ray feels torn between staying with her dad and running away, but she knows deep down he won't be her dad much longer. With a heart-wrenching resolve, she takes a deep breath and promises him she'll survive. She takes his gun, a single flashlight, and the small pack of supplies they've managed to gather. As Ray slips out of the store, she hears her dad's voice call out one last time, reminding her to be strong. She forces herself not to look back, feeling the first tear fall as she steps into the unknown. Just as Ray reaches the edge of the town, she's ambushed by a group of survivors who try to steal her supplies. In the struggle, she fires her father's gun, but the sound draws the attention of nearby zombies, who quickly overwhelm the group. Ray barely escapes with her life, running into the night with only the clothes on her back and the memory of her father's last words. Ray stumbled through the dimly lit forest, her father's gun cold in her hand. She was exhausted, her legs trembling with each step, but she pushed on. After the attack back in town, she knew she couldn't stay put. Every shadow felt like a threat, and every noise sent her heart racing. Suddenly, a voice echoed through the silence, clear and slightly cocky.

"Well, well, look who we've got here. A lone survivor?"

Ray froze, instinctively raising her gun. She spotted two figures emerging from the trees. The one who'd spoken was a tall, scruffy-looking guy with messy dark hair and a smirk plastered across his face. He looked like he hadn't had a serious thought in days.

"Easy, easy," he said, lifting his hands as if she'd really take a shot. "Name's Mark. And you?"

Ray kept the gun up, eyeing the second figure—a silent, watchful guy about twenty with a calm, unreadable expression. He didn't say a word, but he gave her a nod, acknowledging her presence.

"Ray," she replied flatly, not lowering her weapon.

"Ray, huh?" Mark leaned against a tree, crossing his arms. "Cute name. I'll admit, I've got a weakness for tough girls."

Ray rolled her eyes and turned to go, not in the mood for his antics.

"Aw, come on, don't be like that!" Mark called after her, his grin widening as he followed, clearly not discouraged by her cold shoulder. "I could be your knight in shining armor, you know."

The silent guy gave a soft chuckle, just loud enough for Ray to hear. She glanced back, noticing how he seemed amused by Mark's failed attempts. His gaze was steady, like he was studying her reactions.

"You can be my knight in shining armor by staying quiet and out of my way," Ray shot back, keeping her face blank.

Mark gave an exaggerated, wounded sigh. "Cold as ice, this one. But I can work with that." He turned to his friend. "Hey, Nate, think I've got a chance here?"

Nate, who Ray assumed was the quiet guy, just gave a faint smirk and shook his head. "Not likely," he muttered, clearly amused.

They walked together in silence for a while, with Mark occasionally cracking jokes or making random comments. Ray found herself starting to relax, though she never let her guard down completely. Despite his ridiculousness, Mark wasn't entirely useless—he seemed to know the area well, guiding them around any obvious threats.

As they reached an old gas station on the edge of the woods, Ray felt her stomach twist. It was too quiet, and quiet usually meant danger. Nate seemed to sense it too. He shot her a look that she instantly understood—stay alert.

But Mark, oblivious, strode forward. "Ah, see, Ray? I'm not just handsome; I can find safe spots too." He winked.

Ray rolled her eyes, about to shoot back another sarcastic remark, when she saw it—a shadow slipping between the cars, moving unnaturally fast. Her heart stopped.

"Mark, get down!" she hissed.

He didn't hesitate, dropping to the ground as a lone zombie lunged out from behind an old pickup. Nate was already moving, slashing at it with a worn machete, quick and precise. The creature collapsed, and an eerie silence settled once more.

Mark glanced up at her from his spot on the ground, eyes wide. "Guess you saved my life, Ray," he said, the usual cockiness gone from his voice. "I owe you one."

She extended a hand to pull him up, giving him a smirk. "That's right, you do. And maybe next time, take things a little more seriously."

Nate, watching the exchange, just chuckled again. Ray glanced at him, a hint of a smile creeping onto her face. In that moment, she realized that maybe, just maybe, she didn't have to go through this alone. 

                                                                           TO BE COUNTENUD