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Chapter 10: The First Raid
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The morning light barely filtered through the shattered windows as Kaito stirred, the weight of his crowbar at his side grounding him in the reality of the world they now occupied. The relative silence of their new base felt like a rare luxury. For the first time, they were safe—at least for now.
Kaito didn't waste time lingering in the comfort of the moment. Their food supplies were low, and they needed more if they were going to survive the week. As the others began to wake, Kaito wasted no time rallying the group.
"We need to hit the streets today," Kaito said. "Food, water, medicine. Whatever we can find, we take."
Ryo grinned. "About time we got moving. I'm ready for a raid."
Hana grabbed her makeshift spear. "We'll cover more ground if we split up. You and I will go for the grocery store, while Ryo and Ayumi check the pharmacy. We'll meet back here."
The plan was set. With that, the group geared up and headed out.
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The Grocery Run
Kaito and Hana moved swiftly, sticking to the main road but always alert. The eerie silence of the deserted city hung heavy in the air. Kaito kept his senses sharp—his Perception stat enhancing his awareness as they approached the grocery store.
"Stay sharp," he murmured. "We don't know what's out here."
Hana nodded, clutching her broom spear tightly.
At the grocery store, they found the rear entrance slightly ajar. Kaito signaled, and they slipped inside. The shelves were mostly empty, but they gathered everything they could: canned goods, protein bars, and a few bottles of water. Hana found batteries and lighters in the back, valuable items for staying prepared.
Just as they were about to leave, a faint rustling sound made them freeze. Kaito motioned for Hana to crouch. His eyes scanned the street, catching sight of a group of five infected staggering down the road. They shuffled, unaware of the two survivors nearby.
"Let's go around," Kaito whispered. They quickly moved to the back alley, avoiding the infected and making their way back to base without incident.
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The Pharmacy Heist
Meanwhile, Ryo and Ayumi approached the pharmacy. Its metal grate was tightly secured, and the front door was locked. Ryo spotted a crowbar among some debris and got to work, prying the door open just enough for them to slip inside.
Inside, rows of medicine bottles and supplies filled the shelves. They worked quickly, grabbing antibiotics, bandages, and anything that could help them. But just as they were about to leave, Ayumi noticed a shadow moving outside the window.
"Shh," she whispered, grabbing Ryo's arm. "Something's out there."
They crouched behind the counter, peering through a gap in the window. A large infected passed by—its skin pale and its movements deliberate. It wasn't like the others.
"It's a Watcher," Ryo whispered, recognizing the creature from their previous encounter. "Let's wait for it to move."
They held their breath, and after a tense few minutes, the Watcher lumbered off, scanning the streets before disappearing into the distance. Ryo and Ayumi wasted no time, slipping out of the pharmacy and heading back to the apartment.
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Back at Base
Kaito and Hana were just returning when they saw Ryo and Ayumi approaching. The look on their faces told Kaito everything.
"Ayumi, Ryo—what happened?" he asked.
Ryo looked over his shoulder, wary. "We saw another Watcher. It was patrolling near the pharmacy."
Kaito's heart sank. One Watcher was dangerous enough, but if they were starting to patrol the area... The group wasn't safe for long.
"Did it spot you?" Hana asked, her eyes sharp.
Ryo shook his head. "No, but it was close. And I think there are more of them. They're getting closer."
Kaito considered the implications. The Watchers weren't mindless like the regular infected—they were hunting, patrolling. This was a serious threat.
"We'll need to stay alert," Kaito said, his voice steady. "If they're coordinating the infected, we may have a bigger fight on our hands soon."
The group spent the next few hours fortifying their position, reinforcing doors, windows, and creating makeshift alarms out of cans. Ayumi worked on mapping the area, noting escape routes and possible fallback points.
As night fell, Kaito gathered everyone. "We've made progress today, but it's not enough. The Watchers are a sign. They're more organized than we thought. We need to plan for what's next."
Ryo cracked his knuckles. "So, what's the plan? We take the fight to them?"
Kaito looked out at the darkened streets, his mind racing. "We need more information. We need to know where they're coming from. Tomorrow, we scout. We find out how many of them are out there."
The others nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. The world outside was dangerous, but now they had a base, supplies, and each other. They weren't just surviving—they were learning how to fight back.
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