The cacophony of growls and snarls erupted in the kitchen as Jacob and his friends pushed their way through the barricade. Adrenaline surged through his veins as they moved in unison, each of them motivated by the desperate need to survive. They had one chance to escape, and failure was not an option.
"Go, go, go!" Jacob shouted, his voice rising above the chaos as he led the charge toward the rear exit. Behind them, the infected surged through the wreckage of the barricade, their decaying forms spilling into the room.
Jacob swung his axe with determination, feeling the impact resonate through his arms as it connected with the skull of an approaching infected. It staggered back, but he had no time to celebrate the small victory; more were on their heels.
"Marcus, take point!" he commanded, pushing the next infected out of his path. Marcus nodded, positioning himself at the front as they barreled toward the back door.
"Watch the sides!" Gina yelled, her voice tight with urgency as she swung her candlestick at a creature trying to flank them.
Jacob's heart pounded in his chest as he caught a glimpse of the doorway ahead, the dim light from outside offering a glimmer of hope. "Almost there!" he urged, sensing the pressure mounting behind them.
Just as they reached the door, Jacob felt a hand grab his shoulder—a familiar grip. He turned, meeting Eric's wide-eyed stare. "I can't! I can't do this!" Eric's voice quivered, panic etched on his face.
"Eric, you have to!" Jacob urged, fighting against the rising tide of fear. "We're getting out of here together! Trust us!"
With one last look of uncertainty, Eric nodded, steeling himself for the fight. Jacob turned back to the door, forcing it open with all his strength, the hinges protesting against the violence of their escape.
"Now!" Jacob shouted as they surged through the doorway and into the cool night air. The scent of damp earth and pine filled his lungs, a stark contrast to the stench of decay inside the lodge. They were outside, but they were far from safe.
As they hit the ground, Jacob's gaze swept across the clearing, searching for a route into the trees. Shadows flickered just beyond the edge, but he couldn't afford to hesitate. "Into the woods!" he yelled, leading the way as they sprinted toward the tree line.
Branches snapped beneath their feet, the sound barely registering as Jacob focused on the rustling behind them. The infected were spilling out of the lodge, their growls echoing through the night like a chorus of impending doom.
"Keep moving!" Jacob urged, glancing back to see Marcus struggling to keep up. "Don't look back! Just keep running!"
They dashed into the dense underbrush, the trees swallowing them whole as the darkness closed in around them. The moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting ghostly shadows that danced in the night.
"Where do we go?" Eric panted, his voice breaking as they pushed deeper into the woods.
"We need to find higher ground!" Jacob replied, scanning their surroundings. "If we can get somewhere we can see, we can plan our next move."
They stumbled through the thick foliage, branches clawing at their clothes as they pressed on. Jacob's mind raced, weighing their options. They had no supplies, no weapons except the few makeshift tools they carried, and the infected were still pursuing them.
"Stop!" Gina called, her breath coming in short gasps. They slowed, panting, hearts racing, the adrenaline starting to fade. "We need to rest, even just for a moment."
Jacob hesitated, glancing back toward the darkness they had escaped. "Just a minute. We can't stop for long."
They found a small clearing, partially hidden by trees and brush. Jacob motioned for them to huddle close as they caught their breath. He scanned the treetops, listening for any signs of their pursuers.
"Do you think we lost them?" Gina asked, her voice shaky.
"Maybe for now," Jacob replied, though he wasn't sure. The silence of the woods felt eerie, a haunting stillness that made him uneasy.
Marcus leaned against a tree, his face pale and drawn. "What's the plan now?" he asked, trying to catch his breath. "We can't just keep running."
Jacob took a deep breath, steeling himself. "We need to find a safer place—something we can defend. And we need supplies. We can't keep going without food or water."
"But where?" Eric asked, his eyes wide with fear. "They'll be looking for us!"
"We can head toward the river," Jacob suggested, recalling a map he had seen weeks ago. "It's about a mile from here. If we can reach it, we can find some old cabins that might still be intact. We can regroup and plan our next move."
Gina nodded, her expression firming. "Then let's go before they catch up to us."
Jacob glanced around, feeling the urgency settle deep in his bones. "Alright. We move now. Stick together and keep quiet."
As they set off again, Jacob led the way, his heart pounding not just from the physical exertion but from the weight of their situation. Every snap of a twig made his skin crawl, and he felt the shadows pressing in, threatening to swallow them whole.
The moonlight guided their path, but the darkness of the woods felt alive, filled with unknown dangers lurking just out of sight. The infected could be anywhere, their growls echoing in Jacob's mind as he pushed forward.
"Just a little further," Jacob urged as they pressed through the underbrush, the trees towering above them like silent sentinels. The sound of rushing water grew louder, a promise of safety and refuge, but they had to reach it first.
"Are we close?" Marcus panted, struggling to keep pace.
"Just beyond these trees," Jacob assured, his determination unwavering. He could see the outline of the river in the distance, the water glistening under the moonlight.
"Let's hurry!" Gina urged, her voice tinged with urgency.
With renewed resolve, they surged forward, desperation fueling their every step. The riverbank loomed closer, and Jacob could feel a flicker of hope igniting within him. If they could just reach the water, they could regroup and find a way to survive this nightmarish ordeal.
But as they neared the river, Jacob's heart sank at the sight before them. The bank was littered with debris—fallen trees, wreckage from abandoned cabins, and scattered remnants of what had once been a peaceful refuge.
"Where do we go?" Eric gasped, looking around in disbelief. "There's nothing here!"
"There has to be something!" Jacob insisted, scanning the area frantically. "We can't give up now!"
As they moved closer to the water, the familiar sounds of growling echoed through the trees behind them. Jacob felt a chill run down his spine. The infected were coming.
"Run!" he shouted, adrenaline pumping as they dashed toward the river, desperate to find cover before it was too late.
In that moment, hope hung by a thread, but Jacob refused to surrender. They would find a way to survive, even if it meant facing the abyss that loomed before them.