Day 59: The Price of Survival
The sun had barely moved in the sky when the scavenging group returned to the museum. The air was thick with tension as those who had stayed behind anxiously waited for any sign of their return. The heavy footsteps of the WrathKin from earlier still echoed in their minds, making the wait even more unbearable.
Luke paced near the entrance, his broad frame casting long shadows across the floor. His eyes, normally sharp and focused, were clouded with worry. Beside him, Cass leaned against the wall, her slender form steady, though a quiet intensity burned behind her dark eyes. She had seen horrors beyond what most could imagine, and while the tension of the moment was undeniable, she hid her fear well. Ben clung to Raya, his small body pressed against her tall, protective frame.
Dom, ever the silent sentinel, stood near the barricades, his muscular arms crossed over his chest. His eyes, dark and brooding, were fixed on the entrance, waiting for any sign of movement. Sarah and Sara, each distinct in appearance but united in their worry, kept watch from the windows, their gazes scanning the horizon for their returning friends.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they heard the familiar sound of footsteps approaching. But something was wrong—there were fewer footsteps than there should have been.
The door creaked open, and Derek stepped inside, his lean frame hunched with exhaustion. His brown hair was disheveled, and his clothes were torn and dirty. His face, usually composed, was pale and strained, his eyes hollow with grief.
Jay followed behind him, his short, wiry frame trembling as he leaned heavily on the doorframe for support. His hands, once steady and skilled, now shook uncontrollably. His rough, calloused fingers were stained with dirt and blood.
But there was one person missing.
Luke's heart sank as he realized who it was. "Where's Blake?" he asked, his voice trembling with the question he dreaded to hear answered.
Derek looked at him, his eyes filling with unshed tears. He swallowed hard, his throat constricting around the words. "He's… he's gone."
A shocked silence fell over the room, the weight of the loss settling heavily on everyone's shoulders. Cass, composed as ever, remained still, her face impassive, though her eyes darkened slightly with the acknowledgment of yet another loss. Raya, her usually calm demeanor shattered, held Ben closer, her own grief mirrored in his wide, frightened eyes.
"What happened?" Luke demanded, his voice thick with emotion. He needed to know, even if the truth was too painful to bear.
Derek took a shaky breath, trying to steady himself. "We were searching an old grocery store… trying to find anything useful. We didn't even hear it coming. One minute, everything was quiet… and then the ground started to shake. We looked outside, and there it was—a giant creature, bigger than anything we've ever seen."
He paused, his voice catching in his throat. "It saw us… and it came straight for us. We tried to run, but it was too fast. Blake… he was trying to grab some food we'd found. He didn't have time to get out of the way."
Jay, his hands still shaking, added, "It hit him… just once, and he was… gone. We tried to fight it off, but it was too strong. We barely managed to get out of there alive."
Luke's hands clenched into fists at his sides, the grief and anger warring within him. "This wasn't your fault," he said, though his voice shook. "None of us could've predicted this."
Dom, his usually stoic expression now filled with sorrow, spoke up. "We knew the risks when we sent them out there. But that doesn't make it any easier."
Sarah, her freckled face pale with shock, whispered, "Blake… he was always so careful. He didn't deserve this."
"No one does," Cass murmured, her voice steady and composed. "But this is the world we live in now." Her tone carried the weight of experience, a reminder to everyone that survival came with harsh realities.
Ben, sensing the somber mood, looked up at Raya with tears in his eyes. "Is Blake really gone?"
Raya nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, Ben. He's gone."
The group stood in heavy silence, the weight of their loss hanging in the air like a shroud. Blake had been more than just a member of their group—he had been a source of sharp intellect and a watchful eye, someone who had always known how to make the best of a bad situation. His absence left a void that couldn't be filled.
Finally, Luke cleared his throat, trying to push past the lump that had formed there. "We can't dwell on this… not right now. We need to patch up those of you who are hurt and figure out what we're going to do next."
Cass, ever practical, gave a slight nod and turned toward the supply area. "I'll get the first aid kit. We need to clean those wounds before they get worse."
Sarah and Sara exchanged a glance before moving to help Jay and Derek to a sitting position. "We need to clean that wound," Sara said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.
As the group began to tend to their injuries and prepare for the next steps, the loss of Blake hung over them like a dark cloud. The reality of their situation had never been more stark—the world they lived in was merciless, and every day was a fight for survival. They had paid a heavy price today, and the weight of that loss would stay with them for a long time.
But they couldn't afford to let their grief consume them. The threats around them were constant, and they had to be ready for whatever came next. With heavy hearts, they steeled themselves for the days ahead, knowing that each one would be harder than the last.