Day 54: Supply Run
The morning air was thick with tension as the scavenging team prepared to leave the museum. Luke, Cass, and Derek stood by the entrance, bags slung over their shoulders, ready for whatever awaited them outside. The plan was straightforward—hit the pharmacy, grab what they could from the grocery store, and then search for a vehicle to make future runs easier. But in this world, nothing was ever as simple as it seemed.
The rest of the group—Raya, Sarah, Dom, Mae, Sara, and Jay—watched them with a mix of concern and determination. The museum had become their haven, but it was also a trap if they couldn't keep it supplied. Everyone knew the importance of this run, and the risks it entailed.
Cass gave a final nod to those staying behind. "We'll be back by sundown," she reminded them. "Stay vigilant. Anything unusual, and you know what to do."
Dom, who had taken on the role of coordinating the museum's defenses, nodded back. "We've got it covered here. Just make sure you come back safely."
Raya, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, added, "Don't take any unnecessary risks. If something feels off, get out of there."
Sarah, standing next to her, gave them a small, encouraging smile. "Good luck. We'll be here when you get back."
With that, Luke, Cass, and Derek set out, moving swiftly but cautiously through the desolate streets. The city was eerily quiet, the only sounds coming from the distant rumble of thunder in the blood-red sky or the occasional rustle of debris in the wind. The green lightning cracked silently above, casting an eerie light over the ruined landscape.
The pharmacy was their first stop. The door hung loosely on its hinges, and the inside had been ransacked, but they managed to find some overlooked supplies—painkillers, bandages, a few bottles of water. Cass even found an old first aid kit tucked away in a cabinet.
"It's not much, but it's better than nothing," Luke said as they finished their search. "Let's move on to the grocery store."
The store wasn't far, and like the pharmacy, it had been picked clean by previous scavengers. Still, they managed to gather some cans of food, a bag of rice, and a few other essentials. As they exited, Derek's eyes caught something that made his heart skip—a car, a beat-up old sedan parked just down the street. It looked like it hadn't been touched since the world went to hell, but it might just be their ticket to easier supply runs.
"There's our ride," Derek said, nodding toward the car. "If we can get it started, it'll save us a lot of trouble."
Luke approached the car, cautiously optimistic. The keys were still in the ignition. "This might actually work," he said, sliding into the driver's seat. He turned the key, and after a few sputters, the engine roared to life.
Cass's eyes widened in alarm, and she quickly stepped forward. "Wait! The car makes too much noise! I forgot—more creatures will come after us."
The realization hit Luke like a brick. The engine's rumble echoed through the empty streets, far louder than they had anticipated. They all froze, the implications sinking in.
"We need to move, now," Cass urged, her voice tense. "If we're going to use this, we need to be fast and get out of here before anything shows up."
Derek scanned the area, his expression grim. "She's right. We're a sitting duck out here with this noise. We need to decide—do we take the car or leave it?"
Luke's mind raced. The car could be a game-changer, but the noise was drawing attention. They didn't have time to debate; they had to act quickly. "We'll take it," he decided, his voice firm. "But we don't use it here. We push it as far as we can without starting it again. Once we're clear, we drive back to the museum."
Cass and Derek nodded, understanding the urgency. They moved quickly, pushing the car down the street as quietly as they could. The engine, now silent, was no longer a beacon, but they all knew they couldn't afford to stay out in the open for long.
After several tense minutes of pushing the car away from the area, they stopped to catch their breath. The silence was deafening, every small sound making them jump.
"I think we're far enough," Derek said, wiping the sweat from his brow. "But we need to keep an eye out. If anything heard us, it'll be coming."
Luke nodded, glancing around. "We'll start it up again, but be ready to move. If anything comes after us, we need to outrun it."
With one last check of their surroundings, Luke slid back into the driver's seat and turned the key. The car sputtered to life, and for a moment, all was still. Then, in the distance, a low growl echoed through the streets.
"Go!" Cass shouted, and Luke didn't hesitate. He slammed his foot on the gas, the car lurching forward as they sped away.
The streets blurred past them as Luke pushed the car to its limits, every instinct telling him to get back to the museum as quickly as possible. Behind them, the growls grew louder, closer, but they didn't dare look back.
Cass kept her eyes on the road ahead, her knuckles white as she gripped the edge of her seat. "Just keep going, Luke. We're almost there."
The museum came into view, and Luke's heart pounded in his chest. They'd made it, but there was no time to celebrate. He skidded the car to a stop outside the entrance, and they all piled out, grabbing their supplies and rushing inside.
The moment the doors were closed and barricaded behind them, they collapsed against the walls, breathing hard. The sound of the engine had drawn attention, but they'd made it back in one piece.
Dom, who had been standing guard, rushed over. "What happened? We heard something out there—was that the car?"
Luke nodded, still catching his breath. "Yeah. We found one, but it made more noise than we expected. We need to be careful using it, but it'll help us in the long run."
Raya, who had been watching the door with Sarah, chimed in, her tone sharp. "That was a huge risk. Next time, we need to plan better. The noise could have drawn everything in the area."
Derek, leaning against the wall, nodded in agreement. "We'll push it further before starting it up again. Or only use it when absolutely necessary."
Sarah crossed her arms, her face serious. "It's good that you got the car, but we can't afford to make noise like that. Not out there. We need to be stealthy."
Cass leaned back against the wall, her eyes closed as she steadied her breathing. "We got what we needed, and we made it back. But from now on, we need to plan for this. The noise is going to be a problem, and we can't risk drawing more attention."
The group gathered around, going over what had happened and how they could improve their strategy. They had survived this run, but the dangers were clear. Every decision had to be weighed carefully, every move planned with precision.
Luke listened to their input, his mind already working on how to adapt their plans. They had a car now, but they couldn't rely on it too much. It was a tool, a resource, but it came with its own set of risks.
As the group settled back into their routine, Luke felt a mix of relief and lingering tension. They had made it back, but the world outside was a constant threat. He knew they would have to keep pushing forward, keep adapting if they were going to survive.
And with that thought, he turned his attention to the next task—planning for the days ahead, for the challenges that would inevitably come. They had each other, and for now, that was enough. But they all knew that in this world, they couldn't afford to let their guard down, not even for a moment.