First Human Contact
The exhaustion weighed heavily on Alex, her limbs aching and her mind clouded with fatigue. After the encounter with the creature and Reed's cold dismissal, she'd spent hours wandering aimlessly through the desolate streets, searching for any sign of shelter or safety. Her stomach growled loudly, a painful reminder that she hadn't eaten in what felt like days. The sun was already beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows that made the world around her even more eerie.
She felt completely alone.
Her frustration with Reed still simmered beneath the surface, but her survival instincts had taken over. She couldn't afford to waste energy being angry—at least, not right now. She had bigger problems. Creatures like the one from earlier could be lurking around any corner, and her lack of survival skills was more apparent than ever.
As she passed through a ruined alleyway, the distant sound of voices caught her attention. Alex froze, her pulse quickening. Was she imagining it? Or were there actually people here? Her heart raced at the thought. Maybe she wasn't the only one who had been thrown into this nightmarish world. Maybe there were others.
She pressed herself against the wall, listening closely. The voices were faint, but they were definitely there. Slowly, she crept closer, her curiosity overcoming her caution. Part of her wanted to run, to avoid the possibility of another confrontation, but the other part—the part that was desperate for any form of human contact—pushed her forward.
The alley opened into a wide, abandoned street. In the distance, she saw a small group of figures, moving in a coordinated fashion. They were survivors, like her. They had to be. But were they friendly? Or dangerous?
Alex debated her options for a moment. She could approach them and risk being rejected—or worse. But staying alone wasn't an option, either. Her odds of survival were slim as it was, and without help, they'd only get worse.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward, her voice shaky as she called out. "Hey! Wait!"
The figures turned toward her, and for a moment, there was nothing but tense silence. Alex felt her throat tighten, her heart hammering in her chest. She half-expected them to pull weapons or run. Instead, one of the figures stepped forward, a tall man with a rifle slung over his shoulder. His dark hair fell into his eyes as he studied her, his expression unreadable.
"You lost?" he asked, his voice calm but wary.
Alex hesitated, trying to gauge his intentions. There was something about the way he carried himself—confident, sure—that made her uneasy. But there was no hint of hostility, at least not yet.
"I'm… looking for help," she admitted, her voice hoarse from thirst. "I've been wandering for hours. I don't know where I am."
The man raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking over her in assessment. "You're in the ruins. Not exactly the safest place to be wandering."
"I figured that out," Alex muttered, glancing around nervously. "I ran into one of those creatures earlier."
The man's expression darkened. "You're lucky to be alive, then."
Before Alex could respond, another voice called out from behind him—a woman's, sharp and accusatory. "Ethan, we can't trust her. She could be working with someone. We don't know where she came from."
The woman who spoke stepped forward, her eyes narrowed suspiciously at Alex. She was tall and athletic, with a hardened look about her, like she'd been through more than her fair share of fights.
"I'm not with anyone," Alex said quickly, raising her hands in a gesture of peace. "I don't know how I got here. One minute, I was… somewhere else, and the next, I woke up in this place."
The woman scoffed, but Ethan held up a hand to stop her. His eyes stayed locked on Alex, studying her closely. "You said you ran into one of the creatures. How did you survive?"
Alex swallowed, feeling a lump in her throat. "Someone… saved me. A guy. I don't know his name. He just showed up, killed the thing, and then left."
Ethan's eyes flickered with something—recognition, maybe? He exchanged a glance with the woman, whose expression tightened further. "Reed," she muttered under her breath.
"Reed?" Alex repeated, her brow furrowing. "You know him?"
Ethan's lips pressed into a thin line. "Everyone in these parts knows Reed. He's not exactly the friendly type."
Alex bit back a bitter laugh. "Yeah, I noticed."
For a moment, Ethan just stared at her, as if weighing his options. Alex could feel the tension between the group members—they were clearly on edge, and she couldn't blame them. In a world like this, trust was a rare commodity.
"Alright," Ethan said finally, breaking the silence. "You can come with us. But if you try anything, you're on your own. Understand?"
Alex nodded quickly, relief flooding through her. "I understand. Thank you."
The woman, however, didn't look convinced. She shot Ethan a glare before turning her cold eyes back on Alex. "This is a mistake."
Ethan ignored her and motioned for Alex to follow. She fell in step behind them, feeling a strange mix of relief and apprehension. It wasn't exactly a warm welcome, but it was better than being alone.
As they walked, Ethan kept his distance from her, leading the group with a calm, calculated demeanor. There was something about him—something guarded and enigmatic, much like Reed, but without the cold hostility. He carried himself like a leader, someone who had seen too much and survived too long in this hellish world.
They moved through the ruins with practiced efficiency, sticking to the shadows and avoiding open spaces. Alex could see the signs of experience in the way they navigated the dangerous streets, their eyes constantly scanning for threats. It made her painfully aware of how out of her depth she was.
Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the alley, sending a chill down Alex's spine. Her heart lurched in her chest as she instinctively reached for a weapon she didn't have. The group immediately tensed, their movements slowing as they scanned their surroundings.
Ethan motioned for them to stop, his hand tightening on the grip of his rifle. "Stay close," he whispered, his eyes darting toward the shadows.
Alex's breath caught in her throat. The sound was getting closer—another creature, no doubt. She felt her pulse quicken, fear clawing at her insides. This wasn't the same mindless panic from before, though. This was sharper, more focused.
The tension was suffocating as they waited, every second dragging on like an eternity. And then it appeared—a monstrous figure emerging from the darkness, its deformed body twisting unnaturally as it stalked toward them.
It was bigger than the last one. Much bigger.
Ethan didn't hesitate. He raised his rifle in one swift motion and fired, the deafening crack of the shot echoing through the alley. The creature let out a horrific screech as the bullet struck it, but it wasn't enough to stop it. It kept coming, faster now, fueled by rage and hunger.
"Get back!" Ethan shouted, his voice tight with urgency.
The group scrambled to retreat, but the creature was too fast. It lunged toward them, its claws outstretched, ready to tear them apart. Alex's breath hitched in her throat as she watched it close in.
I can't die here. Not like this.
But before the creature could reach them, Ethan stepped forward, his movements precise and controlled. He ducked beneath its swipe, driving the butt of his rifle into its side with brutal force. The creature howled in pain, staggering back just enough for Ethan to get a clear shot. He pulled the trigger, and this time, the bullet found its mark, tearing through the creature's skull.
It collapsed to the ground with a sickening thud, its body twitching once before going still.
For a moment, the alley was silent, save for the sound of their heavy breathing. Alex's heart raced as she stared at the fallen creature, the adrenaline still surging through her veins.
"You alright?" Ethan asked, his voice calm despite the tension in the air.
Alex nodded, though her hands were shaking. "Yeah. Thanks."
Ethan gave her a curt nod, then turned to the others. "Let's move. We're not sticking around to see if there are more."
As they continued on, Alex couldn't help but steal a glance at Ethan. He'd saved her life, just like Reed had, but there was something different about him. Something less cold, less detached. He hadn't treated her like a burden—at least, not yet.
But the wariness in his eyes told her one thing clearly: trust was earned, and she hadn't earned his yet.