Day 62: Shadow on Their Trail
The group pressed onward, their steps cautious and measured as they made their way toward the warehouse. The encounter with the monstrous creature still weighed heavily on them, but something else now clouded the air. Cass, who had been walking at the back of the group, felt a chill that had nothing to do with the wind. She had been through too much in this broken world to ignore her instincts, and right now, they were screaming that they were not alone.
A sense of being watched gnawed at her, an unnerving presence lurking just out of sight. She couldn't shake the feeling that someone, or something, was trailing them.
"Luke," Cass called out quietly, her voice low enough so only the group leader could hear. "We're being followed."
Luke, leading the group with his usual calm, glanced back at her, his expression instantly hardening. He trusted Cass's instincts. If she felt something, then they needed to be on high alert. He slowed his pace ever so slightly, signaling for the others to keep moving as normal. "How sure are you?" he asked in a whisper.
"I don't know who or what it is," Cass said, her voice sharp but quiet. "But it's deliberate. We're being tracked. This isn't an animal or some random scavenger."
Luke's gaze flicked over the group quickly. Raya and Derek, walking just behind him, seemed on edge. Dom, who had fallen back to guard the rear, was his usual stoic self, but even his movements were a little more tense. Mae, Jay, Sara, and Sarah kept casting nervous glances behind them. Derek, tall and broad-shouldered, kept his posture straight, always ready, while Raya—quiet but watchful—scanned the surrounding buildings.
Luke made his decision quickly. "We keep moving, but everyone stays alert. Weapons ready, but don't make it obvious."
As they continued through the desolate streets, Cass could feel the weight of their silent pursuer. Whoever was trailing them wasn't going to attack outright. They were waiting, watching, learning the group's patterns. It felt deliberate. Controlled.
Her thoughts raced, and then something clicked.
"The Black Fangs," she muttered, her eyes narrowing. "It has to be them."
Luke stiffened at the mention of the notorious gang. "You think they sent someone to follow us?"
Cass nodded, her expression grim. "They know we're moving toward the warehouse. They want to find out where we're going to set up base. If they know our location, they'll use it to control us—or worse."
Derek, walking alongside Luke, overheard and frowned. "We can't let them know where we're heading. They'll use that information against us for sure. We need to lose them before we get too close."
Mae, still shaken from the earlier encounter with the creature, swallowed hard. "We have to do something. We can't just lead them back."
"They could hit us before we even reach the warehouse," Dom said quietly, his voice calm but laced with tension. "We need a plan now."
"They're keeping their distance, watching us," Cass added, her voice tight. "They won't make a move until we lead them to something valuable. We split up and throw them off."
Luke glanced back at the group, calculating. "We can't let them follow us all the way to the warehouse. It's too dangerous to lead them there. Cass, you, Derek, and Dom come with me. We'll split off and create a diversion. The rest of you—Raya, Mae, Jay, Sara, and Sarah—keep heading toward the warehouse. We'll meet you there once we lose them."
Raya hesitated, her sharp, dark eyes scanning the area. "You think we can shake them off in time?"
"We don't have a choice," Cass said, her gaze meeting Luke's. "We can't lead them straight to our new base."
Luke gave a final nod. "If we're not at the warehouse by nightfall, lock it down. Don't wait for us. We'll catch up."
The group quickly split, with Cass, Luke, Derek, and Dom breaking off from the others and heading down a side street. The rest of the group—Raya, Mae, Jay, Sara, and Sarah—continued on the original path toward the warehouse, moving with renewed urgency.
As the smaller group of four ducked into the narrow alleyways, the oppressive feeling of being hunted grew stronger. Cass's senses were on high alert, her instincts telling her they were still being followed. The shadow was closing in.
"They're closer now," Cass whispered, her voice barely audible. "We need to make our move soon."
Luke nodded and gestured for everyone to slow down. The buildings around them loomed high, casting long shadows in the dimming light. The industrial district wasn't far, but leading someone from the Black Fangs to their hideout would be a deadly mistake.
Dom motioned toward a narrow alley between two rusted-out factories. "We can make our stand here. Draw them in."
Cass, her muscles tense, nodded. "Get ready."
They took their positions in the shadows, hiding behind piles of debris and broken walls. The sound of deliberate footsteps echoed from the street—a confident, measured rhythm that sent a chill down Cass's spine. Whoever was following them wasn't trying to hide anymore.
Then he appeared.
A man, tall and broad-shouldered, emerged from the shadows of a nearby building. He wore the unmistakable black leather jacket with the fang insignia of the Black Fangs gang. His dark eyes scanned the street ahead of him, and though he moved slowly, there was no hesitation in his steps. He knew exactly what he was doing.
"You can come out now," the man called out, his voice cold and steady. "No point hiding. I know you're here."
Luke tightened his grip on his weapon, exchanging a quick glance with Cass. The Black Fangs were known for their ruthlessness, and if this man had followed them all this way, he wasn't here for a friendly chat.
"Let's not drag this out," the man continued, his tone smug. "You've led me right where I wanted to go. I just need to know where you plan to set up shop, and then I'll be on my way."
Derek crouched low, his jaw clenched. "He's alone, but not for long. He'll have more of them nearby."
"Wait for my signal," Luke whispered. "We can't let him leave here knowing anything about us."
The Black Fangs member stepped closer, his eyes scanning the surrounding buildings. His smirk widened. "Your little group doesn't stand a chance out here. You're better off paying tribute when the time comes. We'll be waiting."
Cass's fingers twitched around her weapon. He was getting too close. They needed to strike now.
Just as the man took another step forward, Luke gave the signal.
Dom swung out from the shadows, his bat raised high. The man's eyes widened in surprise, but he reacted quickly, drawing a knife and blocking Dom's swing. The clash echoed through the alleyway, and before the man could recover, Cass rushed in from the side, her knife flashing in the dim light.
The man snarled, backing up as he tried to fend off both attackers. "You really think you can take me down? The Fangs will tear you apart."
Derek closed in from the other side, swinging a metal pipe at the man's legs. The Black Fangs thug stumbled, and Cass took her chance, driving her blade into his shoulder. He cried out in pain, dropping his knife as he staggered back, clutching his wound.
"Tell your leaders they'll never control us," Cass hissed, her voice cold.
The man glared at her, blood trickling from his shoulder. "You'll regret this."
Before he could say anything else, Luke slammed the butt of his rifle into the side of the man's head, knocking him out cold.
Panting, Cass wiped the sweat from her brow. "We need to move. Others might not be far."
Derek looked down at the unconscious man, his lips pressed into a thin line. "We should've killed him."
Luke shook his head. "No. We don't need more blood on our hands than necessary. But we can't leave him here."
"Leave him in one of the buildings," Dom said. "By the time he wakes up, we'll be long gone."
With a quick decision, they dragged the man into a nearby building, making sure to tie his hands and gag him before leaving. The Black Fangs would figure out what had happened eventually, but it bought them enough time.
As they rejoined the main road, the warehouse wasn't far. Cass's body still hummed with adrenaline, but the weight of what had just happened settled over her like a heavy cloak.
"We're not safe," she muttered under her breath. "The Black Fangs won't stop."
Luke nodded, his expression grim. "No, they won't. But for now, we've bought ourselves time."
The warehouse loomed in the distance, a symbol of hope and danger all at once. As they hurried toward it, the sun dipping lower behind the horizon, Cass knew one thing for certain: this fight wasn't over.
It had only just begun.