Kate's eyes flicked to the far end of the aisle, where the faint shuffle had come from. Chris raised his weapon, his knuckles white against the grip, as they both moved silently toward the noise. The tension was palpable, each step cautious, their senses on high alert.
Another sound—a dull thud—echoed through the cavernous market, followed by a muttered curse. It wasn't a growl or the low moan of a walker. It was human. Kate and Chris exchanged a quick glance, a mix of relief and renewed wariness. Humans could be just as dangerous as the undead.
"Show yourself," Kate commanded, her voice low but firm, the sharp edge of authority unmistakable.
From behind a pile of toppled cardboard boxes, a figure hesitated before stepping into view. "Kate?" a familiar voice called, tentative but hopeful.
Kate's grip on her weapon slackened slightly. "Evan?" she asked, disbelief coloring her tone.
A second figure emerged, slightly smaller and more sheepish. Turner, his face red with embarrassment, rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh... sorry about the noise. Tripped over these damn boxes," he muttered.
Kate exhaled, lowering her gun as Chris followed suit. "What the hell are you two doing here?" she demanded, a mixture of relief and exasperation evident in her voice.
Evan held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "We were scavenging. Same as you, I guess. Supplies at the school are running low, so we decided to hit this place and see what we could find."
Chris snorted, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "You scared the hell out of us."
"Right back at you," Evan said, managing a wry smile. "Thought you were some raiders or worse."
Kate stepped forward, crossing her arms. "Well, you found us instead. You're lucky we didn't shoot first."
Turner shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting between Kate and the pile of boxes. "Yeah, uh, sorry about that. Next time, I'll watch where I'm going."
Kate gave him a pointed look but let it slide. Her attention turned back to Evan. "Listen, while we're here, I need to tell you something important."
Evan's expression grew serious. "What's going on?"
Kate hesitated, glancing at Chris before continuing. "We're dealing with some... complicated issues where we are. But the good news is, we're planning to bring the others back to the school."
Evan blinked, surprised. "You're coming back? All of you?"
Kate nodded. "Yeah. We'll bring everyone who's willing. It's safer at the school, and we need a place where we can rebuild. But it's not going to happen right away. We've got a lot to sort out first."
Evan considered this for a moment, then asked, "How long do you think it'll take?"
Kate frowned slightly, doing the math in her head. "Give us a week. We need to break the news, handle logistics, and make sure it's safe for the journey. You head back to the school and let the others know we're coming. Get ready to welcome new members."
"How many?" Turner asked, looking confused.
Kate's expression softened slightly. "well 16 including me and Chris. We've picked up a few survivors along the way. They'll be joining us, but like everyone else, they'll need to prove themselves."
Evan nodded slowly, his face thoughtful. "Alright. I'll head back and let them know.Sam will be thrill hearing this, he keep saying we need more people. Anything you want me to take with me?. "
Kate gestured to the pile of gardening supplies they'd just gathered. "Take these. Lisa's been working on a garden. She'll know what to do with them."
Evan gave her a grateful smile. "She'll be thrilled. Thanks, Kate."
"Just be careful on your way back," Kate said. "The roads aren't safe."
Evan nodded. "Same goes for you. See you in a week." He glanced at Turner. "Come on, let's load this up."
As the two headed off with the supplies, Kate and Chris watched them go for a moment before turning back to their task. The encounter had been a welcome, if brief, reprieve from the tension of their current situation. But there was still work to do.
The truck rumbled steadily along the cracked and overgrown roads, its worn tires crunching over loose gravel. The fading sunlight cast long shadows across the landscape, creating a patchwork of light and dark that flickered through the truck's cab. Chris kept his eyes on the road, his hands gripping the wheel, while Kate sat silently in the passenger seat, her elbow resting on the window frame and her fingers absently tracing patterns on the glass.
Her mind was far away, tangled in thoughts of the future and the past. The encounter with Evan and Turner replayed in her head, a vivid reminder of what they were working toward: a haven, a community, a semblance of normalcy. But alongside that vision was a gnawing ache of doubt. Could they truly rebuild? Could they protect everyone this time? Or would they lose more people along the way?
Chris glanced at her, his gaze flicking between the road and her profile. "You've been awfully quiet," he said, breaking the silence.
Kate didn't look at him. "Just thinking."
"About Evan? Or about Marcus?" His tone was casual, but there was an undertone of curiosity, maybe even concern.
She hesitated, her fingers stilling against the glass. Her eyes flicked to him briefly, but she didn't answer. Instead, she turned her gaze back to the road ahead. "We'll talk about it later."
Chris sighed, the sound heavy with familiarity. He'd learned by now that Kate would only open up on her own terms. Pushing her before she was ready would only make her withdraw further. "Alright," he said, his tone resigned but understanding.
The rest of the drive passed in silence, broken only by the low hum of the engine and the occasional rustle of leaves brushing against the truck. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, but neither seemed willing to break the fragile peace.
The truck idled just outside the office building, the engine grumbling softly before Chris reached over and turned it off. The abrupt silence that followed was deafening. Kate sat motionless in the passenger seat, her hands resting lightly in her lap. She stared straight ahead, her expression unreadable, but Chris could feel the weight of her thoughts pressing down on both of them.
"Kate," Chris said softly, his voice breaking the quiet. "Talk to me. What's going on in that head of yours?"
She didn't respond immediately, her gaze fixed on the cracked windshield. The light from the fading afternoon sun filtered through, highlighting the tension in her face. Finally, she let out a long breath and turned to look at him.
"I'm planning to tell Marcus and the others everything," she admitted, her voice quiet but firm. "The lies. The school. This trip. All of it."
Chris's eyebrows shot up, but he stayed quiet, waiting for her to elaborate.
"I can't keep doing this," she continued, her hands gripping her knees. "The weight of it... It's too much. Every time I see Marcus, or Daniels, or anyone else, it feels like I'm suffocating under this web of half-truths. They deserve to know."
Chris leaned back against the seat, his arms crossed. "And you're scared how they'll take it."
Kate nodded, her jaw tightening. "After Morrison... Everyone's on edge. He betrayed us, Chris. He lied, manipulated, and nearly got us all killed. What if they see me as another version of him?"
"You're not Morrison," Chris said firmly, his voice cutting through her doubt. "You've been out there, risking your life to keep this group alive. To build something better. No one's going to compare you to him."
Kate gave a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "You think Marcus will see it that way? Or Daniels? They've been through too much, Chris. Trust isn't something they hand out anymore."
Chris reached over, placing a hand on her arm. The gesture was simple, but it carried a warmth and reassurance that made her pause. "You're not doing this for you, Kate. You're doing it for all of us. That's what they'll see."
For a moment, they just sat there, the quiet enveloping them like a fragile cocoon. Then Kate let out a shaky breath and leaned back against the seat, her shoulders slumping.
"I don't even know where to start," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Chris smirked slightly. "Start with the truth. It's messy, sure, but it's a hell of a lot better than letting it fester."
Kate turned to him, her lips curving into a faint smile despite the weight on her shoulders. "You make it sound so easy."
"It's not," Chris admitted, his hand still resting on her arm. "But you've got me, okay? We'll get through this together."
There was a moment of silence, their eyes meeting. The intensity of the moment hung between them, unspoken but undeniable. Slowly, almost hesitantly, Chris leaned closer, his gaze flickering to her lips. Kate's breath hitched, her hand clenched slightly on her side.
"Chris…" she murmured, her voice low and almost uncertain.
But he didn't stop. His lips brushed against her, soft and tentative, as if testing the waters. Kate didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned into him, the kiss deepening. It wasn't frantic or desperate—it was slow, deliberate, and full of unspoken promises.
When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested together, both of them breathing a little harder. Kate's cheeks were flushed, her eyes still closed.
"That was unexpected," Chris said, a small, grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Kate chuckled softly, pulling back slightly to look at him. "Yeah, well, I've been thinking maybe we can work this out."
Chris's grin widened, but then his expression grew serious. "You sure you're ready for this? For everything?"
She nodded, her resolve hardening. "I have to be. We've all been through too much to keep living with secrets."
Chris squeezed her arm gently before pulling back and opening his door. "Alright then. Let's face the music."