The growls outside grew louder, the infected drawing nearer to the cabin. Jacob's heart raced as he tightened his grip on the axe, the cold metal reassuring in his hands. "Everyone, grab your weapons and stay close!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. The adrenaline coursed through him, sharpening his focus as the group sprang into action.
They quickly formed a line in front of the door, weapons raised and hearts pounding. Jacob could feel the fear radiating from the others, but he also sensed their resolve. They had faced danger before, and they had come out alive. "Remember, stay calm," Jacob urged, trying to keep his voice steady. "We can handle this."
"Jacob," Gina said, her voice trembling as she peered through a crack in the door, "there are too many of them."
He turned to her, determination etched across his face. "We'll hold them off. Just keep your eyes peeled for any gaps." The group positioned themselves defensively, ready to act as soon as the infected breached the barricade.
The first crash came as the infected slammed against the door, their weight pressing against the fragile wood. Jacob felt the impact reverberate through the cabin, rattling the walls. He exchanged glances with Marcus and Sam, their expressions mirroring his own—a mixture of fear and fierce determination.
"On my count," Jacob said, "we push back together. Ready?"
The infected banged against the door again, the sound sending shivers down Jacob's spine. "One… two… three!"
With all their strength, they pushed against the door as the infected tried to force their way inside. Jacob could hear the splintering wood as the infected clawed at the entrance, their grotesque faces looming ever closer.
"Keep pushing!" Jacob shouted, gritting his teeth as he felt the strain in his muscles. "We can't let them in!"
The door buckled under the weight of the infected, and Jacob felt panic rise within him. "We need to find another way out!" he yelled, desperation creeping into his voice. "The back window!"
"No time!" Marcus replied, fighting against the door as it shook with each impact. "If we leave now, we'll be exposed!"
The door creaked ominously, and Jacob knew they couldn't hold it for long. "We need to create a distraction! Something to lure them away!"
"Like what?" Lila shouted, her voice rising above the chaos.
Jacob's mind raced. "The kitchen! If we can make some noise—"
"On it!" Sam called, breaking away from the door. He sprinted toward the kitchen, grabbing a few pots and pans and dragging them across the floor to create a raucous clang.
The infected outside were momentarily distracted, their growls shifting toward the noise. Jacob seized the opportunity. "Everyone, push!" he shouted, channeling all his strength into the door as it creaked under the pressure. The infected were thrashing against it, but the sound of clattering metal seemed to draw them away, giving Jacob and his friends a brief reprieve.
With a united effort, they shoved against the door, managing to keep it closed for just a moment longer. "This isn't going to hold!" Gina cried, panic creeping into her voice as she strained against the door.
"Sam, keep making noise!" Jacob yelled, hoping to keep the infected occupied just a little longer. "We'll buy ourselves time to regroup!"
The kitchen rattled with the sound of metal clanging against the floor as Sam desperately tried to draw the infected's attention. Jacob felt the door shudder violently as the infected slammed against it, the force making his hands ache.
"Gina, Lila, we need to block the door with whatever we can find!" Jacob commanded, urgency fueling his words. "Find anything heavy!"
The two girls dashed away from the door, frantically searching the small cabin for anything that could help. Jacob turned back to Marcus and Sam, both of them gritting their teeth as they braced against the door.
"I can hear them coming!" Marcus shouted, his voice strained.
Just then, Jacob spotted a stack of firewood near the fireplace. "Over here!" he called, running toward it. "Help me with this!"
He and Marcus quickly began piling the wood against the door, hoping to create a barrier strong enough to withstand the onslaught. The infected continued to batter against the door, their growls rising in intensity.
"We need more!" Jacob urged, his heart pounding as he pushed more logs into place.
As the girls returned with a couple of heavy crates, they joined in the effort, blocking the door with everything they could find. The infected pressed against the barricade, their grotesque hands clawing at the wood as Jacob and the others fought to keep them out.
"Is it enough?" Gina asked, panic creeping into her voice as she strained to hold the door closed.
Jacob glanced over his shoulder, his heart sinking as he saw the door creaking dangerously. "We need to get to the back window now!" he shouted. "If this fails, we're out of options!"
"Let's go!" Marcus urged, urging everyone toward the back room.
They moved quickly, adrenaline surging as they rushed toward the back of the cabin. Jacob could hear the wood splintering behind them, the infected growing more agitated as they sensed the impending breach.
"Quickly!" Jacob yelled as they reached the back room. He threw open the window, the old wood creaking in protest as he looked outside. "It's clear!"
"Come on, come on!" Lila shouted, climbing through first. The others quickly followed, squeezing through the narrow opening as the sounds of chaos grew louder behind them.
Jacob was the last to climb through, glancing back at the cabin one last time before he made his escape. Just as he turned to jump out, the door burst open behind him, splintering into pieces as the infected poured into the room.
With a final push, Jacob leaped out of the window, hitting the ground with a thud. He quickly scrambled to his feet, heart racing as he scanned the area. "Run!" he shouted, leading the group into the woods.
The sounds of the infected echoed behind them, their growls mingling with the chaos they had left behind. As they sprinted into the darkness, Jacob could feel the weight of their narrow escape heavy on his shoulders. They had survived once more, but at what cost?
The forest swallowed them whole, the trees whispering secrets as they plunged deeper into the night. Together, they would face whatever came next, but for now, they had escaped.