The station's central meeting room was quiet, save for the steady drip of water leaking from a cracked pipe in the corner. The oil lantern in the middle of the table cast flickering shadows on the faces of Marcus's team. He stood at the head of the table, his imposing frame silhouetted against the dull glow. Around him, the group sat in tense silence: Kate, Chris, Amelia, Victor, and several others who had gathered for the discussion.
"We've got intel on the mall," Marcus began, his deep, gravelly voice commanding the room's attention. "Thanks to Kate and Chris, we know there are still supplies inside. But we also know there's more at play. Chains on walkers. Signs of people staying there. And Carl claims he saw survivors. That could mean trouble."
He let the words hang, scanning the room for reactions. Faces were grim. Everyone understood the risks.
"The question," Marcus continued, "is whether we leave it alone or take the risk of going back. Opinions?"
Morrison leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. His tone was casual, but his eyes burned with determination. "We're running out of options, Marcus. Supplies are thin, and the mall could have everything we need: food, medicine, ammo. We can't afford to ignore it just because it might be dangerous."
"Or it might be a trap," Amelia interjected, her voice sharp. She leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "Let's not forget the chains. Someone set those walkers up. And if those 'survivors' Carl saw are hostile, we'll be walking right into their hands."
Victor nodded in agreement, his calm tone cutting through the tension. "Amelia's got a point. If there are people there, we can't count on them being friendly. Especially after what happened with the scavengers at the river."
A murmur of agreement swept the room as the group recalled the brutal ambush at the river weeks ago, where they'd barely escaped with their lives.
Kate broke the silence, her voice steady but firm. "We don't have to rush in blind. What if we watch the mall first? Set up surveillance. Keep our distance and observe for a few days. If it's empty, we move in. If it's a trap, we'll see it coming."
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "You suggesting we set up surveillance?"
Kate nodded. "Exactly. We find a place around the mall that is high and secure. We take shifts watching the mall day and night. That way, we'll know what we're dealing with before we risk anything."
Chris leaned back in his chair, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "That's actually not a bad idea."
Amelia frowned, skeptical. "And where do you suggest we do this, Kate? Every building near that mall is crawling with walkers."
Henry reached over to the map spread out on the table, his finger tracing a line toward a marked building. "What about this office building? It's tall enough to give us a clear view of the mall, and it's close enough for surveillance without being spotted."
Daniels scoffed. "The office building? The one that's probably packed to the brim with walkers?"
Kate shrugged, "Then we clear it. We start from the bottom and work our way up. The top floor becomes our camp. It's high ground, defensible, and gives us the sightlines we need. We take binoculars, scopes—anything we've got to give us an edge."
Marcus's expression was unreadable, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the edge of the table. The room fell silent again, everyone waiting for his decision.
"It's risky," Marcus said finally, his tone heavy. "Clearing a building that size will take time and energy we might not have. And it puts a lot on the line if things go south."
"But it's safer than charging into the mall blind," Chris countered, his voice steady but persuasive. "If we're going to risk our lives, we need to know what we're walking into."
After a long pause, Marcus exhaled sharply and nodded. "Alright. We'll do it. Kate's plan makes sense.But we do this quietly. No gunfire unless it's absolutely necessary. The last thing we need is a horde on our backs while we're inside."
Kate and Chris exchanged a quick glance of relief.
Marcus turned his sharp gaze toward Kate, Chris, Victor, and Amelia. "You four are on this. First light, you head to the office building and clear it. Floor by floor, no risks. Once it's secure, we set up camp, start surveillance and keep it quiet. I mean it. If you screw this up, we'll all pay the price."
The sky was streaked with pale orange and purple as the four of them prepared to leave the station. The morning air was cold, biting against their exposed skin. Kate adjusted her pack, double-checking her machete and sidearm.
Amelia checked her crossbow, her expression grim. "This is going to be a nightmare. You realize that, right?"
Victor adjusted the straps on his pack, his tone calm as always. "Clearing buildings is never easy, but we've handled worse.
"You know," Chris said, swinging his bat over his shoulder, "we're not getting paid enough for this."
Amelia shot him a withering look. "We're not getting paid at all."
Victor chuckled softly, checking the edge of his crowbar. "Which is probably why the benefits suck."
Kate ignored the banter, pulling out the map. "Alright, listen up. The south side of the building is the best approach. Less open ground, fewer walkers. Once we're inside, we move together—room by room, floor by floor. we stay together and move slow. Quiet is the priority. If you can't kill it silently, don't engage."
Chris gave a mock salute. "Yes, ma'am.Silence is my middle name."
Amelia rolled her eyes. "Funny. I thought it was 'reckless'."
Victor chuckle and said "Let's just focus. Clearing a building this size is going to take time."
Kate nodded. "Exactly. No heroics. We do this right, or we don't do it at all."
The office building loomed ahead of them, its once-pristine glass façade now shattered and streaked with dirt. As they approached, Kate raised a hand, signaling the group to stop.
"Two walkers, down the hall," she whispered.
Chris stepped forward, gripping his bat. He moved silently, the heavy steel connecting with the first walker's skull in a single, precise swing. The second walker turned, only to meet the sharp end of Victor's crowbar.
Kate nodded in approval. "Good. Keep it like that."
The south entrance was partially blocked by debris, forcing them to climb through a shattered window. Inside, the air was heavy with the stench of rot. Papers, broken furniture, and scattered supplies littered the ground.
"Stay quiet," Kate whispered, gripping her machete tightly. "We don't want to draw more of them."
At the first floor Kate heard the groans of walkers, she paused looking into the dimly lit corridor and whispering, "Five of them. We can take them, but keep it quiet."
Victor nodded. "I'll take point."
He moved first, his crowbar sinking into the skull of the nearest walker with a muted crunch. Kate followed, her machete slicing through the neck of another. Chris swung his bat with precision, while Amelia shot her crossbow to the head of a straggler.
By the time the floor was clear, they were all sweating, their breaths coming in quiet gasps.
"Still with me?" Kate asked, glancing at the group.
Chris grinned. "Barely. But yeah."
As they reached the second floor, the tension thickened. The groans of walkers echoed faintly through the building, growing louder as they ascended.
"They're up there," Amelia muttered, her knuckles white as she gripped her crossbow.
"We stick to the plan," Kate said firmly. "Keep it quiet unless we have no other choice."
The group rounded a corner and froze. A cluster of walkers, about ten in total, milled around the far end of the hallway.
"Plan?" Chris whispered.
Kate scanned the area, her mind racing. "Victor and I will draw them to the left. Amelia, Chris—you come up behind and take them out. Quietly."
Victor nodded. "Let's do it."
Kate and Victor stepped into the open, making just enough noise to catch the walkers' attention. The undead turned, their groans rising as they stumbled toward them. they keep a save distance and continue attract the zombie.
as the walkers chasing Kate and victor ,Amelia raised her crossbow, picking off the stragglers with precise headshots. Chris darted in, his bat connecting with a sickening thud as he brought down two walkers in quick succession.
"Nice work," Kate said, wiping sweat from her brow.
The third floor was a nightmare. Walkers were clustered in what appeared to be a break room, their decaying bodies pressed against the glass wall that separated the space from the hallway. Kate motioned for the group to stop, her eyes scanning the area.
Chris whispered, "We could try to sneak past."
"No," Kate replied. "We can't leave them behind us. If they hear us later, we'll be trapped."
Victor nodded. "We take them out. Quick and clean."
Kate glanced at Amelia. "You're on point. Take the first shot. Victor and I will back you up, while Criss retrieve your the arrow."
Amelia hesitated, then raised her crossbow, her hands steady despite the tension. She fired, the arrow piercing the skull of the closest walker. Kate and victor stay close to kill the stragglers
Victor swung his crowbar, smashing another walker's skull, while Kate plunged her machete into the temple of a third. Chris used his bat to take down a straggler and retrieve Amelia's arrow
By the time the room was clear, they were all breathing heavily.
Amelia wiped her forehead, muttering, "I hate this."
"You and me both," Chris said, offering a weak smile.
They continued upward, clearing each floor with the same methodical precision. By the time they reached the top floor, the sun was high in the sky, and they were exhausted.
The view from the top floor was worth it. Through the shattered windows, they could see the mall in the distance, its parking lot littered with abandoned cars and the occasional shuffling walker.
Kate pulled out the binoculars, scanning the area. "This'll work. We've got a clear view of the entire mall."
Victor set down his pack, nodding. "We'll set up camp here and go back to station tomorrow morning"
Amelia sat down heavily, her crossbow resting across her lap. "Let's hope this is worth it."
Kate glanced out the window, her jaw tightening. "It will be. We'll figure out what's going on at that mall—and if it's a trap, we'll be ready."