Day 38: Growing Trust
The sky was still a dull, bleeding red as the group moved cautiously through the ruins, the oppressive silence of the world around them making every footstep feel heavier. The stranger kept her head down, trying to blend into their movements, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she was out of place. Every step she took in the middle of their formation felt like walking a tightrope—one wrong move, one wrong word, and she would lose what little ground she had gained.
She wasn't part of their routine. She wasn't like them. Eli, Luke, and Cass moved with an understanding between them, each of their steps in sync as if they had been doing this forever. The stranger had seen enough to know that they trusted each other on a level she hadn't experienced since the world fell apart. That kind of trust didn't come easily anymore.
But now, here she was, in the middle of their group, a stranger trying to prove she could survive.
Cass was at the front, her eyes sharp as they scanned the horizon. She hadn't spoken much since that morning, her orders quick and clipped, but her movements told the stranger everything she needed to know: today, they were fighting again. And the stranger had asked—no, demanded—to be a part of it.
"I want to fight," she had told them earlier that morning, her voice low but insistent. She hadn't expected the words to come out so forcefully, but once they did, she couldn't take them back.
Cass had looked at her, cold and calculating as always, and after a long, tense silence, she had simply said, "Fine."
Now, as they moved through the shattered remains of the city, the stranger's nerves buzzed with the reality of what she had asked for. She had been on her own for so long, relying on her speed and instincts to survive. She hadn't fought like this—not with others, not with people watching. But if she was going to be part of their group, she had to prove she could pull her weight. She had to show them she wasn't weak.
"We'll find something up ahead," Cass said, her voice cutting through the silence. "Stay close, and be ready."
Eli and Luke both nodded, their faces grim. The stranger kept quiet, but her heart raced with anticipation. She had no idea what kind of creature Cass had in mind for them to fight, but whatever it was, she would have to be fast—faster than she had ever been before.
They approached the ruins of a large, crumbling building, its walls sagging inward, the roof long gone. Inside, the air was thick with dust, and the light filtering in through the cracks in the walls cast everything in a dim, unsettling glow. The stranger could feel the tension in the air, like the world itself was holding its breath.
Cass motioned for them to spread out, her knife in hand. "There's something in here," she said quietly. "Stay alert."
The stranger's heart pounded in her chest as she followed the group inside. She had fought before—surviving alone had taught her how to be quick, how to stay one step ahead of the creatures that roamed the ruins. But this was different. She wasn't fighting for herself anymore. She was fighting to prove something.
The silence in the building was suffocating, the only sound the soft crunch of rubble beneath their feet. Eli moved ahead with careful precision, his eyes darting around the room. Luke stayed close, his bow drawn, ready to strike at the first sign of movement.
And then it came—a low growl, deep and guttural, echoing through the room.
The stranger's breath caught in her throat as her eyes flicked to the far side of the building, where a massive shape was stirring in the shadows. It was huge, its thick, leathery skin glinting faintly in the dim light. Its glowing eyes locked onto them, and for a moment, the room seemed to tremble with the weight of its presence.
"There," Cass said, her voice low but steady. "It's big, but slow. Use that."
The creature growled again, its claws scraping against the concrete as it shifted its weight. Eli and Luke moved into position, their faces tense but focused. They had fought creatures like this before—there was no hesitation in their movements.
But the stranger felt her body tense. This was it. This was her chance to show them she could keep up. She wasn't like them—she wasn't strong or heavily armed—but she was fast. And in this world, speed was everything.
Without waiting for anyone to make the first move, the stranger darted forward, faster than even she had expected. Her body moved on instinct, her feet light as she dodged between the piles of rubble, circling the creature with sharp, precise steps. She kept her eyes locked on it, watching its every movement, anticipating its next strike.
The creature roared, lunging toward her with surprising speed for something so massive, but she was quicker. She ducked under its swing, her body twisting out of the way just in time. She could feel the rush of air as its claws swiped past her, but she didn't slow down.
Eli blinked, clearly surprised by her speed, but he quickly adjusted, moving to flank the creature. Luke kept his bow aimed, waiting for the right moment to strike, but the stranger was already ahead of them, her movements fluid and unpredictable.
Cass watched with narrowed eyes, her expression unreadable. The stranger could feel her gaze, feel the weight of her judgment. But she didn't care. She was here to fight.
The creature lunged again, this time with more force, but the stranger dodged to the side, delivering a swift kick to its side. The impact wasn't enough to cause real damage, but it was enough to throw the creature off balance. It snarled in frustration, turning to face her again, but she was already moving, darting out of its reach before it could strike.
Luke loosed an arrow, and it struck the creature in the shoulder, drawing a howl of pain. But the stranger wasn't done. She saw her opening and took it. With a quick, decisive motion, she darted in close, driving her knife into the creature's side with all the force she could muster.
The creature roared again, staggering backward, its movements slower now, more desperate. The stranger jumped back, keeping her distance as the creature thrashed in pain.
Eli, seeing his chance, moved in swiftly, delivering the final blow with his knife. The creature let out one last, gurgling breath before collapsing to the ground in a heap, its body twitching as the life drained from it.
The room fell silent, the tension slowly dissipating as they all caught their breath. The stranger stood still, her chest heaving from the effort, her knife slick with the creature's blood. She had done it—she had fought alongside them. And she had survived.
Cass stepped forward, her gaze hard but approving. "You're fast," she said simply, her voice devoid of praise but not without acknowledgment. "But speed alone won't keep you alive. You need to learn more."
The stranger nodded, her jaw set with determination. "I'll learn."
Eli and Luke exchanged glances, the tension between them and the stranger easing slightly. She had proven herself, at least for now. But trust was still a long way off.
"We'll keep training," Cass said, her voice cold once again. "There's no time to waste."
As they prepared to leave, the stranger couldn't help but feel a small flicker of pride. She had proven she could fight. She had shown them she wasn't weak. But the questions still lingered—about her, about them, about the storm that was coming.
Whatever Cass was preparing them for, it was coming fast.
And the stranger knew she had to be ready.