The next morning, we hit the road again, leaving the woods behind as we drove back into the heart of the chaos. The sky was a dull gray, clouds hanging low like they were ready to burst. None of us said much; the weight of the night before still clung to us like a shadow. I just focused on the road ahead, trying to push the nightmare out of my mind.
After a few hours, I spotted a road sign up ahead, weathered and slightly tilted, but still legible.
"Gas station, 10 kilometers," I muttered under my breath, glancing at Ethan and Yabe. "We need to stop. We're running low."
Ethan nodded, his eyes heavy with exhaustion. "Yeah, let's hope it's not completely picked clean."
Yabe looked up from the backseat, her face pale but determined. "Do you think it's safe, Senpai?"
I shrugged. "Only one way to find out."
We drove the rest of the way in silence, my nerves on edge as we approached the station. It was a small, run-down place, the kind of gas station you'd only find in the middle of nowhere. The pumps looked old, the sign half-faded, but there was no movement. No zombies, no looters. It looked… empty.
"Looks clear," Ethan said, though his voice was tense.
I pulled the car to a stop near the pumps, keeping the engine running for a moment longer as I scanned the area. Nothing. Just silence. I killed the engine, and we got out, all of us gripping our katanas tightly.
"Let's make this quick," I said, my voice low. "Grab what we can and get the hell out."
The inside of the gas station store was a mess. Shelves were knocked over, glass shards from broken windows littered the floor, and there were clear signs that the place had been looted at least once. But surprisingly, most of the items were still intact. Cans of food, bottled water, some basic supplies.
"This place hasn't been completely ransacked," Yabe whispered, looking around. "We might be in luck."
"Yeah, but let's not stick around too long," Ethan muttered, bending down to grab a few bottles of water. "Feels too good to be true."
I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, but we needed the supplies. I grabbed a duffel bag from behind the counter and started tossing cans of food into it. Yabe grabbed some snacks and energy drinks from one of the aisles, her movements quick but cautious.
"Let's get some gas while we're at it," I said, heading toward the pumps. Just as I reached the door, I heard a click.
I froze, my heart skipping a beat. The unmistakable sound of a gun being cocked.
"Not so fast," a gruff voice said from behind the counter.
I turned slowly, my eyes locking onto a man standing there, half-hidden behind the counter. He was tall, muscular, and covered in tattoos, wearing a dirty leather vest with the emblem of a skull on the back. In his hand was a gun, aimed directly at us.
"Shit," Ethan muttered under his breath, raising his hands slightly. "This can't be good."
The guy grinned, his teeth yellowed and crooked. "You thought you were just gonna waltz in here and take whatever you wanted, huh? Well, this place belongs to me and my boys."
Just as he finished speaking, I heard the roar of engines outside. I whipped my head around to see several men on motorcycles pulling up to the gas station, their tires kicking up dust as they circled around us like predators.
The door to the store swung open, and more bikers came in, all of them armed with guns, knives, and whatever else they could find. We were surrounded.
"Fk," I whispered, gripping my katana tightly.
One of the bikers, a tall guy with a thick beard and a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward, laughing as he looked us over. "Well, well, what do we have here? Some fresh meat?"
"Look, we're not looking for trouble," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "We just need some supplies, and we'll be out of your hair."
The guy behind the counter snorted. "Supplies? You think this is a fking charity? You don't take anything from us unless we say so."
"Relax, man," Ethan said, holding his hands up. "We didn't know this was your territory."
"Oh, you know now," the guy with the scar said, grinning. He leaned in closer, his breath smelling like tobacco and cheap beer. "So, here's what's gonna happen. You're gonna hand over whatever you grabbed, and maybe we'll let you walk out of here alive."
I clenched my jaw, my mind racing. We were outnumbered, outgunned, and surrounded. There was no way we could fight our way out of this. I glanced at Yabe, who was standing frozen, her eyes wide with fear. I had to think fast.
"We don't want any trouble," I said, taking a step forward. "We'll give you what we've got, and we'll leave. No need for anyone to get hurt."
The guy behind the counter raised his gun slightly, a cold smirk spreading across his face. "Oh, I don't think you understand, kid. See, we don't just want your supplies. We want everything. That includes your car, your weapons, and… well, we'll figure out what to do with the girl later."
My blood ran cold at his words, and I could see the panic in Yabe's eyes as she gripped the straps of her backpack tighter.
Ethan took a step forward, his voice shaking with anger. "You're not touching her, asshole."
The guy with the scar barked out a laugh. "Is that so? You're in no position to make demands, boy."
Before I could say anything else, one of the bikers lunged forward and grabbed Yabe's arm, yanking her toward him. She let out a startled cry, struggling to pull free.
"Let go of her!" I shouted, stepping forward with my katana raised.
The guy behind the counter laughed again, his gun still trained on me. "What are you gonna do, hero? You really think you can take us all on with that little sword of yours?"
I knew I was out of options. My heart pounded in my chest, and every muscle in my body screamed at me to do something, but we were completely outmatched.
The man with the gun grinned. "Drop the sword, kid. Or I'll drop you."
I hesitated, my grip tightening on the handle of my katana. I couldn't let them take Yabe. I couldn't just stand here and do nothing. But as I looked around at the bikers, all of them ready to kill us at a moment's notice, I realized we were trapped.
We had walked right into their trap, and now, there was no way out.
Q: What would you do in this situation?