William and Samantha moved quietly down the residential street; their footsteps muffled by the layers of fallen leaves that carpeted the ground. 'Is it fall already, where had the summer gone?' Samantha thought as they walked along. The once cheerful neighborhood now lay deserted, its rows of quaint little houses standing silent and empty, each one a stark reminder of the world that had been lost to the relentless march of the undead.
As they made their way from house to house, their eyes scanned the dilapidated buildings for any signs of life. But all they found were abandoned toys strewn across overgrown lawns, their bright colors faded and forgotten.
"This used to be someone's home," Samantha murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. All of these buildings were homes. "those toys on the lawn, kids used to play with them." As they looked around they could see the bikes and trucks left where they had last been used. Empty playhouses and swings sitting idle waiting for anyone to play with them again. "What do you think happened to the kids? I guess they're all dead now."
William nodded, his gaze lingering on the empty windows and boarded-up doors. "It's hard to imagine what it must have been like before," he said, his voice tinged with sadness. "Families living their lives, playing, watching TV, seeing their kids growing up, growing old together, all in these little houses."
They continued their search, their footsteps echoing in the eerie silence of the deserted street. With each passing house, they found more evidence of the lives that had once thrived here: family photos left behind, children's drawings taped to refrigerator doors, remnants of a world that had been torn apart by chaos and despair.
"This is like the one I wanted," Samantha said, "come see the big bedroom, and look at the walk-in closet. Imagine the clothes we could own. And shoes, my god, I could have 100 pairs in this closet."
William laughed knowing she would never want 100 pairs of shoes. "How would you ever decide which pair to wear. You would end up going barefoot because it would be easier than making a decision."
But amidst the ruins, they also found signs of hope. Cans of food tucked away in forgotten cupboards, a new rifle and packages of ammo hidden beneath a pile of old blankets. Though they rarely used guns, knowing that the noise could draw unwanted attention, they couldn't deny the value of such a find in this harsh and unforgiving world.
"We should head back," William said, his voice breaking the silence. "This is a good haul." They were careful not to stay out too long, if they got delayed returning to the base it could mean they were stuck someplace over night. The risks were too high so they were always cautious and watched their time. Zombies were dangerous in the daytime, at night their heightened senses made things that much harder.
Samantha nodded in agreement, "We've done well today, but no cookies for Dusty, I guess he will have to go without again." she chuckles. Her thoughts drifting to the safety of their base and the comforting presence of her companions.
As they walked, they fell into an easy rhythm, their conversation flowing effortlessly as they shared memories of the world that had been lost to them.
"I used to dream of having a little house like this," Samantha said, her voice wistful. "With a garden out back, and maybe a dog running around."
William smiled, the memory of their shared dreams bringing a flicker of warmth to his heart. "Yeah," he said, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "We used to talk about it all the time. But now... now all we can do is focus on surviving."
They walked in silence for a moment, the weight of their shared past hanging heavy in the air. They had dated before all of this, but that seems so long ago. But despite the hardships they faced, there was a sense of camaraderie between them, a bond that had only grown stronger in the face of adversity, it wasn't like it was before but it brought them both strength.
William glanced over at Samantha, his gaze softening as he took in the determined set of her jaw and the fierce determination in her eyes. She had grown stronger as a result of everything they had gone through. She may not be beautiful in the traditional sense, but to him, she was the epitome of strength and resilience. Her long red hair and dark eyes gave her a look that said, I have everything under control. He could see again why he had fallen in love with her way back then.
"We'll make it through this," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "Together."
Samantha smiled, a sense of gratitude washing over her. In this world of uncertainty and fear, William was her anchor, her steadfast companion in the storm. He would do anything for her, and she would for him. William was tall and strong, he played defensive tackle on his football team in high school and university and had the build for it. He solid muscles and 6'3 height make him an intimidating person to meet. His square jaw covered by his beard that was in desperate need of a trim gave him a rugged mountain man appearance.
As they rounded the final corner, their basecamp came into view, the familiar sight of the boarded-up jewelry store filling them with a sense of relief. With one last glance at each other, they quickened their pace, their footsteps echoing in the empty streets as they approached the safety of their makeshift home.
As they pushed open the heavy door and stepped inside, Dusty was already there, he looked up from where he sat by the fire, a sense of relief washing over him at the sight of his friends returning safely.
"Welcome back," he said, his voice filled with warmth.
William and Samantha exchanged a tired smile, their shoulders sagging with exhaustion as they sank down onto the battered couches that lined the back wall.
"We found some supplies," William said, his voice tinged with weariness. "It wasn't much, but it'll help." Showing Dusty the cans of food and the rifle they had brought back. "Sorry, no cookies?"
Dusty nodded in appreciation, his gaze flickering between his two friends. Despite the challenges they faced, he knew that as long as they had each other, they would find a way to endure.
They were going to settle in for the night, the warmth of the fire casting long shadows across the room, Dusty couldn't help but wonder how his friends were going to react to his news. In this world of darkness and despair, their friendship was a beacon of light, guiding them through the darkest of nights, will that all fall apart? "So I found something today as well..."