They had just started to regroup near the center of the store when Evan froze, his head tilting slightly. "You hear that?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kate stopped rummaging, her grip tightening on her crowbar. A faint shuffling noise echoed from the back of the store, growing louder with each passing second. She turned her flashlight toward the sound, the beam catching glimpses of movement.
"Company," Evan said sharply, his spear coming up.
Their movements were erratic, their limbs jerking unnaturally as they stumbled forward. Kate's stomach churned at the sight of their bloodied mouths and torn clothes.
"Back to the front!" she barked, motioning for Turner to stay close.
They moved quickly, but as they neared the entrance, more infected poured in through the shattered front windows. The group skidded to a halt, trapped between the two groups of undead.
"Damn it!" David growled, spinning to face the nearest infected. He lunged forward, driving his makeshift spear through its neck with a sickening crunch. "We're not getting out this way!"
Kate's mind raced as she scanned the store. Her eyes landed on an emergency exit sign at the side. "This way!" she yelled, grabbing Turner's arm and pulling him along.
Evan and David moved to cover her, swinging their weapons with brutal efficiency. Evan's spear impaled one infected through the eye, while David swung his crowbar in a wide arc, shattering another's jaw.
"Go, go!" David shouted, falling back toward the exit as the infected swarmed closer.
The group burst through the emergency exit and into a narrow alley, the icy air hitting their faces like a slap. Kate stumbled slightly but recovered, her lungs burning as she gulped in the cold air. They didn't have time to stop. The infected were relentless, their growls and shuffling feet growing louder behind them.
"Keep moving!" Kate shouted, her voice sharp with urgency.
But just as they rounded a corner in the alley, their path was cut off. A new wave of infected surged toward them, grotesque figures silhouetted against the dim light. Their jerky movements and guttural snarls sent a fresh wave of dread through the group.
"Shit!" Evan hissed, stepping in front of Kate and raising his spear.
Kate tightened her grip on her crowbar, her heartbeat thundering in her ears. She glanced back, realizing they were trapped between the two groups of infected. Her mind raced, searching desperately for a way out, but there was no time.
Kate was ready to make her stand, the crowbar trembling in her hands, when a voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding.
"Get down!"
The voice was so forceful, so certain, that Kate obeyed on instinct, dropping to the ground and yanking Turner down with her. A split second later, the sharp crack of a baseball bat echoed through the alley, followed by the sickening thud of metal meeting bone.
Kate turned her head just in time to see a young man charging into the fray, his athletic build moving with precision and speed. His bat connected with the skull of the nearest infected, caving it in with a brutal swing. The creature crumpled to the ground in a heap.
the man yelled "Van at the end of the alley—take it and go!", not breaking stride as he swung again, taking down another infected with ease. His movements were fluid, almost practiced, like he'd spent a lifetime honing his swing.
Kate scrambled to her feet, adrenaline coursing through her veins. "You heard him!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the noise. "Move!"
The group surged forward, fighting tooth and nail to reach the van. Evan led the way, using his spear to keep the infected at bay. David swung his crowbar in wide arcs, clearing a path for Turner, who clutched his wrench like a lifeline.
Kate fought her way forward, her crowbar connecting with the temple of an infected, the force of the blow making her hands ache. She risked a glance over her shoulder to see Evan struggling to keep an infected from grabbing him. Its skeletal hands clawed at his shirt, pulling him backward.
"Evan!" Kate screamed, her voice laced with panic.
Evan twisted violently, plunging the blade of his spear into the infected' s chest, but it didn't stop. Its snapping jaws came dangerously close to his neck as it pulled him down.
hearing the commotion, spun around. "I've got him!" baseball man yelled, charging toward Evan. His bat came down with a brutal swing, smashing into the infected' s skull and sending blood splattering across the alley wall.
Evan gasped for air, stumbling back as baseball man grabbed his arm and yanked him upright. "You good?" he asked, his voice steady but his eyes scanning for more threats.
"Yeah... I'm good," Evan panted, gripping his spear with shaking hands. "Thanks."
"Save the thank-you for later," he said, nodding toward the van. "Move!"
Kate reached the van first, yanking the driver's door open with trembling hands. "Get in!" she shouted, her voice hoarse.
Turner climbed into the back, his face pale and drenched in sweat. David and Evan followed, slamming the doors shut behind them as baseball man took the last swing at an infected before leaping into the passenger seat.
The infected swarmed the vehicle, clawing at the sides and windows, their faces pressed against the glass. Kate's hands shook as she jammed the keys into the ignition and turned them. The engine roared to life, and without hesitation, she floored the gas pedal.
The van lurched forward, plowing through the crowd of undead with a sickening crunch. The infected clung to the sides, their bloodied hands scraping against the windows, but the group inside fought them off with whatever they had.
Evan, still catching his breath, jabbed his spear through an open window, impaling one of the infected clinging to the door. "Keep driving!" he shouted, his voice raw.
Kate gritted her teeth, her knuckles white on the steering wheel as she maneuvered the van through the ruined streets. The sound of the undead gradually faded as they put distance between themselves and the alley.
When the high school finally came into view, Kate eased up on the gas, her arms shaking as the adrenaline began to wear off. She pulled into the parking lot, killing the engine as the group sat in stunned silence for a moment.
baseball man broke the quiet with a chuckle, his bat resting on his lap. "Hell of a first meeting, huh? I'm Chris by the way"
Kate turned to him, her face streaked with blood and grime. "You saved our asses back there."
Chris shrugged, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "What can I say? I'm good with a bat."
Evan, still catching his breath, gave Chris a nod of gratitude. "Good timing. I owe you one."
"No debts," Chris replied, his grin fading slightly as he looked around at the battered group. "Just stick together, yeah?"
Kate nodded, her eyes scanning the faces around her. They had survived—barely. But as the group unloaded the supplies and helped each other into the safety of the gym, she couldn't shake the lingering feeling that they had come dangerously close to losing more than they'd gained.
As the van screeched to a halt in front of the gym, its battered frame groaning under the weight of its journey, the group inside rushed to meet them. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the empty halls, and the gym doors swung open as Claire appeared, her eyes scanning the scene anxiously. Relief flooded her face the moment she saw Kate at the wheel, Evan and David climbing out of the back.
"You're back," Claire said, her voice tight with a mixture of relief and exasperation. Her gaze shifted to the two unfamiliar faces. "And... who are they?"
Kate stepped forward, swiping a hand across her face to clear away a streak of grime. "This is Turner," she said, motioning to the slightly disheveled man clutching a wrench, "and Chris," she added, nodding to the younger man, his bloodied baseball bat resting casually on his shoulder. "They're with us now."
Chris offered a wry grin, his exhaustion hidden behind a layer of charm. "Hope you've got room for one more. I'm decent with a bat and even better at not sitting still."
Turner, less comfortable under the scrutiny of so many eyes, nodded awkwardly, gripping his wrench so tightly his knuckles turned white. "I'll... do what I can to help," he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.
Claire's eyes softened as she took in their state—bruised, bloodied, but alive. "Welcome," she said simply, her tone genuine. "We'll figure it out together."
As the group began unloading the van, the gym erupted into quiet but palpable activity. Bags of supplies were passed hand to hand, the vehicle slowly emptied of its precious cargo: cans of food, tools, a handful of medical supplies, and the most valuable prize—a van that could serve as both transportation and a lifeline.
Evan dropped a heavy box of canned goods onto the floor, wiping his brow. "We nearly didn't make it," he said, his voice still edged with tension. He glanced at Chris and nodded. "If it weren't for him, we'd probably still be in that alley—or worse."
David, still catching his breath, muttered, "Hell of a way to meet someone."
Chris chuckled, his grin widening. "What can I say? The apocalypse isn't exactly full of friendly introductions. You meet someone, bash a few zombies together, and suddenly you're family."
A faint laugh rippled through the group, easing some of the tension. Even Claire's lips quirked upward in a rare smile.