Day 61: New Horizons
The next morning, the mood inside the museum was somber. The group had gathered in the main hall, their expressions grim as they faced the reality of their dwindling resources. The previous day's encounter with the mysterious figure—who they all suspected was Eli—still weighed heavily on their minds, but there were more immediate concerns to address.
Luke stood at the center of the group, his broad shoulders hunched as he looked around at his weary companions. Cass, her dark eyes focused and determined, stood beside him, a silent pillar of strength. Dom, his muscular frame tense, leaned against the wall, his gaze fixed on the floor. Sarah and Sara sat nearby, their faces etched with worry, while Jay, Mae, Raya, and Ben huddled together, the tension palpable in the air.
"We need to talk," Luke began, his voice heavy with the weight of their situation. "The scavenging runs we've been doing—they're not enough anymore. Every time we go out, it gets more dangerous, and we're coming back with less and less. We can't keep taking these risks for so little reward."
Cass nodded, her expression thoughtful. "We've picked this area clean. Anything of real value is either gone or too well-hidden for us to find. And with the Black Fangs demanding their cut, we're not going to last much longer at this rate."
"We need to go farther out," Dom said, his deep voice cutting through the silence. "We've been sticking close to the museum because it's familiar and relatively safe, but if we want to find anything worthwhile, we're going to have to take bigger risks."
Sara, her green eyes sharp with determination, added, "Dom's right. We can't keep doing what we've been doing. We need to find a place that has guaranteed resources—somewhere we can rely on, instead of constantly scraping by."
Mae, her petite frame huddled close to Jay, spoke up, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. "But where? Everything nearby has been looted or destroyed. We'd have to go far to find anything untouched… and who knows what we'll run into out there?"
"We don't have a choice," Luke said, his tone resolute. "We need to think long-term. This museum isn't going to sustain us forever, and the risks we're taking for these small scavenging runs aren't worth it anymore. We need to find a new place—somewhere we can set up a steady supply line, or better yet, a place where we can produce what we need."
Cass crossed her arms, considering the options. "We could look for an old military base or a warehouse that hasn't been completely ransacked. Those places might still have supplies—ammunition, rations, medical kits… things that could last us a while."
Jay, always practical, nodded in agreement. "Or a farm, if we could find one that's still intact. It's risky, but if we could get our hands on seeds or tools, we could try to start growing our own food."
"But to do that, we'd need to find a water source," Sarah pointed out. Her auburn hair framed a face tight with concern. "And we'd need to be able to defend it. We can't afford to set up somewhere only to be overrun by another group or worse, by monsters."
Raya, her tall, athletic frame tense with anxiety, glanced at Ben, who was listening intently. "If we go farther out, we need to make sure it's worth it. We can't afford to lose more people… not after Blake."
The mention of Blake's name brought a heavy silence over the group, each of them mourning in their own way. But the reality of their situation pressed in on them, demanding action.
Luke broke the silence, his voice firm. "We're all in agreement, then. We need to go farther out and find a place where we can set up something more sustainable. It's going to be dangerous, but staying here and doing nothing is just as dangerous in the long run."
Cass nodded, her expression resolute. "We'll need to be smart about this. We should start by scouting the surrounding areas, looking for potential locations that meet our needs—resources, defensibility, and access to water. Once we have a few options, we can decide on the best course of action."
Dom pushed off the wall, his posture straightening. "We'll have to move in smaller groups—too many of us together will attract attention, and we can't afford to be seen by the wrong people."
"I'll go with the first scouting group," Luke volunteered. "We'll take a day or two to explore some of the areas farther out. The rest of you can stay here and keep things secure. We'll report back with what we find."
Sara exchanged a glance with Sarah before speaking. "I'll go with you, Luke. We'll need to cover as much ground as possible."
"And I'll stay behind with the others," Cass said, her tone brooking no argument. "We'll hold down the fort and keep things running while you're gone."
Jay nodded, his expression determined. "I'll stay too. If we're going to be moving somewhere new, we'll need to gather what supplies we can before we leave."
Mae, her warm brown eyes filled with worry but also resolve, added, "We'll be ready when you get back."
With the plan set, the group began to prepare for the days ahead. There was a sense of urgency now, a recognition that their time in the museum was running out. The world outside was dangerous, but staying put and slowly starving was even more so.
As Luke and Sara readied themselves for the scouting mission, the others busied themselves with reinforcing the museum's defenses and gathering what supplies they had left. It was a somber but determined atmosphere—each of them knew that the next steps they took would determine their survival.
Before they left, Luke took one last look around the museum, the place that had been their refuge for so long. "We'll find something," he promised, though he wasn't sure if he was saying it more for the others or for himself. "We have to."
Cass met his gaze, her expression steady. "We will. Just come back safely."
With that, Luke, Sara, and Dom set out, leaving the museum behind as they ventured into the unknown. They had no choice but to push forward, to find a new place where they could rebuild and start anew. The risks were high, but so were the stakes. And as they moved farther into the desolate landscape, they knew there was no turning back.