They all left the community with those who had arrived, their departure marked by heavy silence. The air seemed to carry the weight of loss, but Michael turned to Jane and said firmly, "We have to leave this community and find somewhere else to go."
The lab coach, lost in thought, suggested, "What if we go back to DC?"
Jane shook her head, her voice trembling. "No! I don't want to go anywhere that will bring back memories of my late husband. Let's look for somewhere else, somewhere far from all of this."
The lab coach hesitated before asking, "Where, then?"
Jane exhaled deeply, her gaze distant. "Let's go back to the East."
The head of the family immediately interjected, his voice sharp. "No. We can't go back to the East. It's more deadly than this virus! Don't you remember? The virus came from the East. If we return, who knows what horrors might be waiting for us there?"
Michael, his expression resolute, spoke up. "Please. Let's go back to the East. It's the only chance we've got."
Despite their doubts, they reluctantly agreed. They packed their belongings, every movement heavy with grief, and left the community behind. Before departing, they buried Fred, saying their final goodbyes.
The once-thriving community was now eerily empty, the echoes of life replaced by silence. They ventured back into the world, hoping for a semblance of normalcy but finding only uncertainty.
While traveling, disaster struck. Their vehicle skidded off the road, crashing violently. The head of the family died instantly, his lifeless form sprawled amidst the wreckage. Jane's screams pierced the air as she broke down, her grief consuming her. Edmond sobbed uncontrollably, his cries growing louder with each passing moment.
Unbeknownst to them, the sound of his cries attracted the zombies. Shadows stirred in the distance, and the unmistakable groans of the undead grew nearer.
"We have to leave now!" Michael shouted.
Reluctantly, they abandoned the head of the family's body. Before leaving, Michael drove his knife into the man's forehead, ensuring he wouldn't turn. They ran as fast as their battered bodies would allow, desperation propelling them forward.
After what felt like hours, they stumbled upon another community. The gate stood ajar, the place eerily quiet. The streets were pristine, the buildings untouched, but there was no sign of life. The silence was deafening.
Cautiously, they entered, and the lab coach shut the gate behind them. Blood still trickled from their wounds, but they ignored the pain, their focus solely on survival.
Michael inspected the area, his instincts on high alert. "Why is this place so empty?" he muttered, unease creeping into his voice.
As they debated their next move, a familiar sound broke the silence. The roar of an engine echoed through the streets, and moments later, the same group of people who had come to their previous community drove into the compound.
One of them stepped out, holding a megaphone. "We know you're here," he called out. "If you want to stay in this property, you must abide by our rules and regulations. Do you agree?"
Michael stepped forward, his jaw tight. "Who are you people?"
The man smirked, his eyes cold. "You're heartless, that's who you are," he spat. "We lived even before the zombies started! When the outbreak began, you had the vaccine, but instead of helping everyone, you selfishly hoarded it. You didn't distribute it to the world. Most of our families died, begging for their lives at your gates, but you refused to open them. And now it's our turn to exact revenge."
Jane's breath hitched as the man continued. "The people you saw stabbed—the ones with the crown symbol—were survivors from your community. We asked them where they came from. The moment they said 'your community,' we knew they didn't deserve to live. They represented your cruelty, your selfishness."
Michael's fists clenched. "You didn't have to kill them! They were innocent. If you wanted revenge, you should have come to us, not taken it out on them."
The man sneered. "Whatever. You had your time. Your world is over. It's our time now. We are the ones with the Crown, and we will rule this new world."
He raised the megaphone again, his voice booming through the empty streets. "Let the Crown decide who rules!"