As the group began to disperse, sorting through the weapons and supplies, a sense of muted camaraderie replaced the earlier tension.
Jake, his bat still clutched in his hands, watched as Mike demonstrated how to use the crossbow. The janitor-turned-mechanic grinned as he pulled the string back with practiced ease.
"Think you could handle one of these?" Mike asked, glancing at the boy.
Jake hesitated, his wide eyes darting to Lisa. She gave him a faint nod, her lips tight. "I think I can," Jake said softly, stepping closer.
Nearby, Claire knelt beside Tom, changing his bandages. The architect winced as she tightened the wraps, but his grin didn't falter. "You know," he said lightly, "if we ever make it through this, I'm building you the best damn clinic you've ever seen."
Claire snorted, but there was warmth in her eyes. "I'll hold you to that."
At the far end of the gym, Eric sat cross-legged with Sarah, watching the scene unfold. The college student leaned back against the wall, his notebook balanced on his knee.
"They actually look… hopeful," he said quietly.
Sarah smiled faintly. "Hope's dangerous," she murmured. "But it's all we've got."
As night fell, the gym settled into a hushed calm. People drifted into small clusters, whispering quietly or resting on their makeshift beds. Kate found herself back at the window, her crowbar resting against the wall beside her. She stared out at the city, now cloaked in darkness, the distant fires casting faint orange glows against the sky.
Evan approached, a can of soup in one hand and a spoon in the other. "You should eat," he said, handing it to her.
Kate accepted it with a tired nod. "Thanks."
He leaned against the wall beside her, crossing his arms. "You did good today."
She huffed a soft laugh. "We're alive. That's about all I can claim credit for."
"Sometimes that's enough," Evan said simply.
Kate glanced at him, her expression softening. "It doesn't feel like it. Every day we survive feels like one day closer to losing everything. This… what we're doing… it feels like a slow death."
Evan was quiet for a moment. "Maybe it is," he admitted. "But it's our death to fight against. As long as we're here, we keep pushing. That's all we can do."
Kate didn't reply, but the weight in her chest felt slightly lighter. She took a spoonful of soup, the warmth spreading through her, and allowed herself a moment of quiet.
Tomorrow would come with new challenges, new dangers. But for now, she let herself believe they had a chance. Even if it was just for tonight.
The morning light was pale and gray, filtering through the gymnasium's grimy windows as the group gathered near the exit to finalize the plan. The tension in the air was palpable; every scavenging mission carried risk, but the need for supplies and resources outweighed their fear. Kate stood at the center, her crowbar in hand, going over the details.
"All right," Kate began, her voice firm and steady, though the nervous energy in her eyes betrayed her. "We'll hit the convenience store two blocks south first, see if anything's left. Then we'll swing by the hardware store next door. If things go smoothly, we'll check out that car dealership on Fifth. A vehicle will give us more mobility."
Evan and David nodded, their expressions grim but resolute. Sam checked the shotgun slung over his shoulder, his grizzled features hardened with determination. "I'll stay behind with Claire and Mike to keep the fort secure," Sam said. "You three be smart out there."
Jake tugged on Lisa's sleeve, his young face pinched with worry. "You're not going too, right, Mom?"
Lisa crouched to meet his gaze. "No, sweetheart, I'm staying here with you. But Kate and the others know what they're doing. They'll be fine."
Kate exchanged a quick glance with Lisa, both women silently acknowledging the uncertainty of that statement. With supplies dwindling and the group growing restless, they had no choice but to take these risks.
The streets were eerily quiet as the group made their way toward the first destination. Abandoned cars clogged the roads, some with doors still open, their interiors looted long ago. The occasional distant groan of the infected echoed through the desolation, keeping everyone on edge.
"This area looks like it's been hit a dozen times already," David muttered as they approached the convenience store. The windows were smashed, and the shelves inside looked barren, but Kate gestured for them to move in anyway. "There's always a chance someone overlooked something."
Inside, the smell of spoiled food and mildew was overpowering. Kate's flashlight cut through the dim interior as she moved methodically through the aisles. She crouched to check under a shelf and pulled out a dusty can of beans. "Better than nothing," she muttered, tossing it into her bag.
Evan found a stash of bottled water behind the counter, and David pocketed a few protein bars left in a display rack. The haul wasn't much, but it was a start.
"Let's check the backroom," Kate said, motioning for Evan to cover her. The door was slightly ajar, and the sight of smeared blood on the floor made her pause. She tightened her grip on her crowbar, her heart pounding as she nudged the door open.
Inside, they found a man huddled in the corner, his face pale and his hands trembling. He looked like he hadn't eaten in days.
"Whoa, whoa!" the man stammered, raising his hands in surrender. "Don't shoot! I'm not infected!"
Kate exchanged a glance with Evan before lowering her crowbar. "What's your name?" she asked cautiously.
"Turner," he said, swallowing hard. "I— I've been hiding here for days. I thought I was going to starve to death."
"You're lucky we showed up," Evan said, handing him a water bottle. Turner drank greedily, his relief palpable.
"Can you walk?" Kate asked. When Turner nodded, she added, "Then stick close. We'll get you out of here."
The walk from the convenience store to the hardware store was tense, with the quiet streets amplifying every creak of their boots and every distant sound of groaning. Turner, the recently rescued office worker, kept glancing nervously over his shoulder, his breathing erratic.
"Relax," Evan said without looking back, his voice calm but firm. "Panicking will get you killed faster than they will."
Turner swallowed hard and nodded, gripping the rusty wrench Kate had handed him back at the store. "I'm not built for this," he muttered under his breath.
"None of us are," Kate replied curtly, her eyes scanning the ruined storefronts for movement. "But you're alive, and that's what matters. Now focus."
The hardware store loomed ahead, its signage barely legible through layers of grime. The doors were locked, but David crouched and examined them, his brow furrowed.
"Think you can get it open?" Kate asked.
David grinned faintly, holding up his crowbar. "I can get anything open with this thing."
As David worked on the door, Evan kept watch, his makeshift spear at the ready. Turner fidgeted beside Kate, his knuckles white as he gripped his wrench.
Kate glanced at him, her expression softening slightly. "Just stick close, and we'll get through this."
The lock gave a sharp pop, and David pushed the door open with a triumphant smirk. "After you," he said, stepping aside.
The air inside was stale, thick with the smell of dust and mildew. The shelves were in disarray, some toppled over entirely, while others held only scraps of what they once offered. Kate took the lead, her crowbar at the ready, as the group fanned out to search.
"Focus on anything useful," she said. "Tools, nails, batteries—anything we can use to fortify the school."
Turner stuck close to Kate, occasionally picking up an item and looking at it blankly before putting it back. "What about... duct tape?" he asked, holding up a dusty roll.
Kate gave him a small nod. "Never underestimate duct tape."
David and Evan worked their way toward the rear of the store, rummaging through toolboxes and crates. "This place is picked pretty clean," David muttered, tossing aside a broken hammer. "Figures."
"Still better than nothing," Evan replied, holding up a box of nails. "We'll take what we can get."
Kate crouched near a toppled shelf, her flashlight casting long shadows across the floor. She found a toolbox with a few intact wrenches and screwdrivers and added them to her bag. Nearby, Turner shuffled nervously, his eyes darting to every dark corner of the store.
"You're doing fine," Kate said, sensing his unease. "Keep looking."
Turner gave her a shaky smile. "I never thought I'd miss sitting at a desk."
Kate chuckled softly. "Trust me, we all miss something."