Half an hour had passed without any sign of movement from the other side, and he began to second-guess himself.
Was he truly in danger, or was he merely imagining shadows in the darkness?
The lack of immediate threat made him feel unsure; it was unnerving to be on edge when the enemy remained unseen.
He took a deep breath, grounding himself in the present.
Doubt was a dangerous companion in times like this.
Instead of succumbing to it, he reminded himself of the facts: they had encountered too many organized attacks lately to ignore the possibility of an evolved zombie lurking nearby.
Duke forced his focus back to his team, watching their faces as they remained vigilant, ready for any sign of danger.
Their trust in him gave him strength. They needed a plan, and he was determined to formulate one that would keep them alive, whether that meant confronting the threat head-on or finding a way to slip past it unnoticed.
