We had stayed too long. That was the first mistake.
The second mistake was letting our guard down.
It was quiet when we left the convenience store, too quiet. A thick, eerie silence that felt unnatural, like the world itself was holding its breath. Sarah carried her son, who had finally woken up and was quietly sucking his thumb, too tired or scared to make a sound.
I didn't hear them at first. Not until it was too late.
We turned a corner, and there they were.
A pack of zombies, maybe a dozen or more, their rotting faces jerking toward us as if they could smell the fear rolling off our bodies. Their groans filled the air, low and guttural, sending chills down my spine.
"Run!" I screamed, grabbing Sarah's arm and yanking her back the way we came.
But we didn't get far.
