Ryder Cole arrived in the gray dawn, his silhouette visible against the muted horizon as he approached the improvised camp. He carried the aroma of dust and oil, and the scars of recent conflicts were imprinted into his weathered face. Clutched in his fingers, a rolled-up map with tattered edges but a well-kept blueprint for survival.
"Morning," he said, his voice calm yet tinged with the tiredness of countless kilometers traversed.
Caleb nodded in return, his eyes filled with both interest and warning. Mara observed from a distance, noting the rigidity in Caleb's stance and the small tightening of his jaw.
Ryder cleared his throat and unrolled the map on a flat rock. "I have created plans to help the college periphery. If we execute it correctly, we will undoubtedly have a safe haven right here."
The group gathered around, reviewing sketches of dividers, barricades, and traps. The school, with its decaying façade and damaged windows, would require more than just a fresh coat of paint to become the sanctuary they envisioned. However, Ryder's design presented a risk of transforming the once-abandoned structure into a bastion against the dangers lurking outside.
Leo whispered, fingers crossed and dubious, "You genuinely assume walls will keep them out?"
Ryder did not recoil. "They've kept me alive until this point. And if we are to hold firm, we will need something strong among us, as well as the night."
Caleb's eyes narrowed. "Why assist us?"
Ryder met his look, a hint of something darker glinting at the back of his eyes. "Every wall I build," he said solemnly, "is a promise to those I couldn't keep previously."
The air became thick with his remarks, and a quiet fell over the institution as they realized the gravity of his admission. Mara felt an upward thrust in her chest as she pictured the people Ryder had misplaced, the spirits that followed him, and the memories he wore like invisible armor.
As they began to build the defenses, Leo and Caleb worked together, despite their mutual anxiety. Leo's displeasure became evident, with each swing of his hammer interrupted by low mumbling. Finally, he spoke up, his voice cutting through the surrounding hubbub.
"Caleb, you accept things too quickly. Letting in every stranger who wanders by is going to get us killed."
Caleb's eyes sparked with inflammation, but he kept his tone calm. "Ryder's skills are beneficial. This is not about believing; it is about surviving.
Leo scoffed and shook his head. "That's exactly what a person who's gotten secure could say."
Caleb's jaw tensed, but Mara came forward, suggesting that communication could improve. "Leo, let's focus on completing this before nightfall. We will not be able to pay for any delays."
Leo mumbled something under his breath but eventually surrendered and returned to his task. Mara should feel Caleb's eyes linger on her, thankfulness mixed with something unsaid.
As nightfall approached, the major component of the barricade became nearly complete. Ryder strolled among the staff, his directions clear and green, and his every move logical. Despite his rough look, he has always been careful, with a precision that indicates someone who understands the value of mistakes.
He lingered beside Mara, his attention fixed on the journal she was clutching, an obsession she had not realized was so obvious.
"That ebook," he told me, "seems as vital as any weapon you deliver."
Mara paused, grasping the journal tightly. "I have some items to consider. Warnings."
Ryder nodded, a shadow crossing his features. "Now and again, it's the issues we focus on within that build the toughest walls. Or those that entice us.
Her mind drifted back to a statement she had read in her magazine the night before: pay attention to the walls that trap rather than guard. She looked up at Ryder, his eyes distant as if he, too, had studied the sentences or had somehow lived them.
Later, when they gathered around a tiny hearth, Ryder recounted a piece of his background that he had not previously disclosed. His voice became constant, yet each phrase appeared to peel back a layer, revealing more than he probably intended.
"There was a time when constructing partitions became less complicated," he said, focusing on the flames. "I had a group of relatives once. A wife and a son. We lived some distance away from here, in what we thought was a safe place."
The wavering light cast shadows across his face, emphasizing the lines carved with pain and remorse.
"They didn't make it," he insisted. "While the outbreak approached us, I attempted to protect them. Built partitions and reinforced everything I needed to think about. But it wasn't enough.
A heavy stillness fell over the facility, Ryder's agony strong and palpable in the air. Caleb's expression softened, and knowledge flickered in his eyes.
"Every wall I build," Ryder said softly, "is a promise to those I couldn't keep previously."
Caleb leaned forward, his gaze unflinching. "Every so often, the most powerful walls are those we build around ourselves," he said quietly. The two men exchanged a look of mutual appreciation, a fleeting acknowledgement of the battles they had both fought and lost.
Ryder rose up, clearing his throat, as the hearth died down. "Allow us to relax. The following day, we finish what we started."
Mara went to a quiet nook, her mind still reeling with Ryder's story, the weight of his words pressing down on her. She picked out her journal and turned to the current entry:
Keep an eye out for partitions that trap in the position of guard.
A shiver raced down her spine as she examined the phrases once more, the ink smeared as if hastily penned. It felt like a warning not only for her, but for all of them.
The next morning, they returned to work, the barricades taking shape. The college's once-open grounds have been transformed into something walled, like a castle rising from the debris. However, Mara was unable to shake the discomfort that had crept in her chest. She wondered if Ryder, who was once again crouched over the stone and wood, felt the invisible weight of those walls.
Leo approached Caleb in the afternoon, his eyes flashing with frustration. "I'm still assuming that's an error. Allowing humans like Ryder in and trusting them is most likely going to backfire."
Caleb developed a gruff demeanor. "You don't have to love it, Leo." However, you must accept delivery of it."
Leo scoffed and shook his head. "I will not apprehend you, Caleb. "Usually so quick to play the hero."
The words hit Caleb harder than intended, and his jaw stiffened. Mara felt the tension rise, her instincts prompting her to intervene, but Caleb raised his hand.
"Enough, Leo. We're doing this for everybody. You shouldn't agree. Just be prepared to protect what we're building right now."
Leo gave a brief nod, his countenance impassive, and walked away. Mara watched him walk, a strange sense of foreboding gathering in her gut.
As night fell, Ryder collected the gang one more time, standing before the barricade they had created together. "It's the beginning," he said, his voice steady. "however a wall is handiest as strong because the humans in the back of it."
His words hung in the air, thick with meaning, and Mara vowed to clutch her magazine closer. The access to the walls rang in her thoughts, and he or she felt an unexplainable tug, as if something was coming, but they couldn't see it.
They nestled up for the night, but Mara's mind refused to relax. As the shadows lengthened and the stadium around them went silent, she caught a glimpse of movement, a discern hiding just outside the barricade, peering at them from the darkness.
Her heart raced, and a cold sweat broke out over her skin. She strained her eyes, attempting to make sense of the shadow, but it vanished as quickly as it had been, engulfed by the night.
Ryder's voice interrupted the silence. "some thing wrong?"
Mara approached to him, her heart still hammering. "I… idea I noticed some thing."
He nodded, his gaze shifting to the barricade. "We're no longer alone out here. However, if someone is observing, they will need to go via us first.
A chill rushed down her spine, but she pushed herself to nod, knowing she needed to be strong. They weren't just fighting the undead anymore; something else was lurking beyond the partitions, and it didn't intend to stay hidden for long.
As the night fell, Mara couldn't avoid the feeling that their new fort had become more than a barrier, but a lure.