The decision to let Alice come along had weighed heavily on my mind, but there was no turning back now. We moved cautiously through the streets, keeping low and sticking to the shadows. The night provided cover, but it also held countless dangers.
Each step was deliberate, every sound a potential threat. Alice clung close to me, her breathing shallow but steady.
Suddenly, the sharp crack of a gunshot rang out, cutting through the silence like a knife. Alice froze, her wide eyes meeting mine.
"Shh, hide," I whispered, pulling her behind a large, crumbling rock.
From my backpack, I retrieved a pair of binoculars. Peering through them, I spotted the source of the noise: a man and a woman, armed but not heavily. They were scanning the area, clearly on edge.
They were heading toward the same supermarket we had targeted.
"Smart," I muttered, lowering the binoculars. "In times like these, supplies are everything."
I rose from cover, motioning for Alice to follow. She stayed close, her small hand gripping the edge of my jacket. My pistol was in my hand, both for protection and reassurance.
We moved slowly, but a bone-chilling scream pierced the air, freezing us in place.
"What was that?" Alice whispered, her voice trembling.
"I don't know," I replied, tightening my grip on the pistol. "Stay with me."
We quickened our pace, the supermarket now in sight. The shattered windows and dimly lit interior made it look like a trap, but hunger and desperation outweighed caution.
The first thing I noticed upon entering was the bodies. The man and woman we had seen earlier were sprawled on the floor, their lifeless eyes staring at nothing.
But it wasn't bites or claw marks that killed them. It was something far worse.
"SHIT! RUN!" I grabbed Alice's arm, pulling her toward the exit.
Behind us, the shadows shifted. A massive figure emerged, its grotesque form illuminated by the flickering light.
The Wing of Death.
This wasn't an ordinary zombie. Its massive, armored wings folded around its body like a shield, its movements slow but deliberate. The creature's sheer size and weight—at least 1000 kilograms—made it a nightmare to face.
It turned its eyeless head toward us, sensing our fear.
"Alice, RUN!" I shouted, my voice cracking with panic.
But the monster was faster than I expected. It lunged forward, its massive hand snatching Alice before I could react. She screamed, her small frame dwarfed by the creature's enormous claws.
"NO!" I fired my pistol, but the bullets bounced harmlessly off its armored wings. It retreated into a storage room, slamming an iron door shut behind it.
"FUCK!" I screamed, pounding on the door. My fists and bullets were useless against the thick metal. Alice's terrified cries echoed from within, each one slicing through me like a blade.
Desperation clawed at me as I scanned the area for a solution. My eyes landed on a ventilation shaft near the ceiling.
Grabbing a nearby table, I dragged it beneath the vent. Climbing onto it, I leaped and pulled myself into the narrow space. The sharp edges of the metal scraped against my skin, but I didn't care.
Crawling through the vent, I followed the muffled sounds of Alice's struggles. When I reached the storage room, I kicked at the vent cover, but it barely budged.
"Hold on, Alice!" I shouted, drawing my pistol. I fired several shots at the screws holding the cover in place. Finally, it gave way, clattering to the floor.
The scene before me was pure chaos. Alice was cornered, clutching a metal pipe as the monster advanced on her.
"HEY!" I screamed, drawing its attention.
Raising my AR-15, I unleashed a barrage of bullets, aiming for the small gaps in its armor. The creature screeched, momentarily distracted.
"ALICE, RUN!"
She bolted past me as I opened the door. I kept firing, each shot buying us precious seconds.
We sprinted through the supermarket, the creature's roars shaking the walls. Reaching the exit, I pulled a grenade from my vest, yanked the pin, and hurled it into the building.
BOOM!
The explosion rocked the ground beneath us, shattering windows and collapsing shelves. We dove behind an abandoned car, my arm shielding Alice as debris rained down.
"Shh," I whispered, holding her close. The monster's guttural screeches echoed in the distance as it searched for us.
For several agonizing minutes, we stayed silent, barely daring to breathe. Eventually, the sounds faded.
"You see?! This is why you were supposed to stay at home!" I hissed, my voice low but filled with frustration.
Alice's eyes filled with tears, her small hands trembling. "I-I'm sorry..."
Her apology hit me harder than I expected. I sighed, pulling her into a hug.
"It's okay," I said softly. "I'm just glad you're safe."
Deciding it wasn't worth risking another encounter, we made our way back home. The tight, narrow path we had taken earlier was our only hope of avoiding detection.
But as we approached the apartment, a blinding beam of light swept over us.
A helicopter.
Its blades roared above us, and it slowly descended to the ground.
"We're saved!" Alice exclaimed, her voice filled with hope.
The military helicopter landed, and several armed soldiers stepped out. Their expressions were grim but determined.
"We didn't expect to find any survivors here," one of them said. "You're lucky."
For the first time in weeks, relief flooded through me. I nodded, helping Alice climb into the helicopter.
"We'll take you to the survivor camp," the soldier continued. "The world's gone to hell. Nowhere's safe anymore, but this camp is your best shot."
As the helicopter lifted off, I held Alice close, watching the ruined city fade into the distance.
For now, we were safe.
For now.