Mallory woke up to the sound of the apartment's intercom buzzing incessantly. Her first instinct was to roll over and pretend she was still asleep, but the persistent noise made it impossible to ignore.
"Who installed that thing again?" she mumbled groggily.
Altair's voice crackled through the intercom. "Rise and shine, Mallory! Team meeting in five! We've got big news!"
"Can't it wait until… I don't know… never?" Mallory groaned.
"Nope!" Altair replied cheerfully.
Sighing, she dragged herself out of bed and shuffled into the living room, still in her mismatched pajamas. The rest of the crew was already gathered, including their new guests, Vanessa, Marcus, and Jules.
Greg looked pale, even for him, while Zara was pacing back and forth with her bat in hand. Altair stood at the center of the room, grinning like a kid who'd just discovered a new toy.
"What's so urgent that it couldn't wait?" Mallory asked, flopping onto the couch.
Vanessa spoke up, her tone serious. "We've picked up word about a supply cache not too far from here. It's supposedly untouched."
Mallory perked up slightly. "Untouched, you say? That sounds suspicious."
"It is," Zara chimed in. "But it's also a chance to stock up on things we might not find again. Medicine, food, tools. Stuff that could make a huge difference."
Greg fidgeted nervously. "But it's outside… with the zombies."
Altair waved a hand dismissively. "Details, details. We've got Mallory's magical apartment for backup if things go sideways."
"Hold up," Mallory interjected. "When did I agree to this? I'm not exactly the 'adventure' type, remember?"
"You're the lazy type," Jules muttered under her breath, earning a glare from Mallory.
Vanessa stepped forward. "We're not asking you to lead the charge, Mallory. But if we want to survive long-term, we have to take risks. Staying cooped up here forever isn't sustainable."
Mallory sighed, realizing they had a point. The apartment was a haven, but it couldn't solve every problem.
"Fine," she said reluctantly. "But if this turns into a disaster, I'm blaming all of you."
---
The group spent the next hour preparing for the excursion. Mallory donned her most comfortable hoodie and sneakers, while Zara sharpened her bat to a menacing degree. Altair packed a bag full of gadgets, most of which looked more like they'd cause problems than solve them.
Greg clung to a makeshift spear, his face a mix of determination and dread. "I can do this. I think."
"Don't worry, Greg," Mallory said with a smirk. "If things go south, I'll make sure the fridge avenges you."
Vanessa led the group as they stepped outside for the first time in weeks. The air was thick with tension, the distant moans of zombies serving as a grim reminder of the world they'd left behind.
---
The journey to the supply cache was anything but smooth.
Within ten minutes, Jules managed to trip over a pile of debris, sending a cascade of rusty cans clattering to the ground. The noise attracted a small group of zombies, their hollow eyes locking onto the crew.
"Nice going, Jules," Zara muttered, raising her bat.
"Not my fault!" Jules shot back, scrambling to her feet.
Mallory sighed, pulling out a slingshot she'd brought along. "Alright, let's get this over with."
The ensuing scuffle was both chaotic and ridiculous. Greg screamed every time a zombie got too close, swinging his spear wildly. Altair tried to use one of his gadgets—a device that emitted a high-pitched sound—but it ended up startling Zara more than the zombies.
"What the hell, Altair?" she shouted, batting a zombie aside.
"Prototype!" he yelled back.
Mallory, true to form, stayed at the back of the group, casually pelting zombies with rocks. "This is way too much effort," she muttered, landing a shot squarely on a zombie's forehead.
Eventually, the group managed to fend off the small horde, though not without some bumps and bruises.
"Is it too late to go back to the apartment?" Mallory asked, panting.
Vanessa shook her head. "We've come this far. Let's keep moving."
---
They reached the supply cache—a decrepit pharmacy tucked into the corner of a crumbling shopping plaza—just as the sun began to set.
Vanessa motioned for everyone to stay quiet as they approached. The windows were boarded up, and the front door was barricaded with a makeshift barrier of wood and metal.
"Looks untouched to me," Alex said, peeking through a crack in the boards.
"Let's not jinx it," Mallory whispered.
Altair pulled out a small device and began fiddling with the barrier. "Give me a minute, and I'll have this open."
As they waited, Mallory couldn't help but notice the eerie stillness around them. The usual distant groans of zombies were absent, replaced by an oppressive silence.
"Anyone else getting bad vibes?" she asked.
"Always," Greg replied.
Altair finally got the barrier open, and the group slipped inside. The pharmacy was dark and musty, but it was packed with supplies—shelves lined with medicine, canned food, and other essentials.
"Jackpot," Vanessa said, her eyes lighting up.
The group quickly got to work, filling their bags with as much as they could carry. Mallory grabbed a few extra snacks for herself, earning an amused look from Zara.
"Priorities," Zara said with a smirk.
"Always," Mallory replied.
---
Their relief was short-lived.
As they prepared to leave, a loud crash echoed from the back of the pharmacy. The group froze, their eyes darting toward the source of the noise.
"Please tell me that was the wind," Greg whispered.
"It's never the wind," Mallory muttered, gripping her slingshot.
The crashing grew louder, followed by a guttural growl. A massive, mutated zombie burst through the back wall, its grotesque form towering over the group.
"Okay, I'm officially done with today," Mallory said, backing away.
The monster lunged, and chaos erupted.
Zara swung her bat with all her might, managing to knock the creature back momentarily. Vanessa and Marcus fired their makeshift crossbows, but the arrows barely seemed to faze it.
Altair, ever the optimist, activated another gadget—a small grenade that emitted a blinding flash of light.
"Did it work?" he asked hopefully.
The zombie roared, clearly unimpressed.
"Take that as a no," Mallory said, grabbing a bottle of rubbing alcohol from a nearby shelf.
"What are you doing?" Jules asked incredulously.
"Improvising," Mallory replied, tossing the bottle at the zombie's face and lighting it with a match she'd found.
The creature howled, flailing as flames engulfed it. The group used the distraction to make their escape, sprinting out of the pharmacy and into the night.
---
By the time they made it back to the apartment, everyone was exhausted and more than a little traumatized.
"Well," Mallory said, collapsing onto the couch. "That was awful. Let's never do it again."
Vanessa chuckled, though her expression was grim. "We survived, and we've got supplies. That's what matters."
Greg nodded, though his hands were still shaking. "I think I need a vacation. From life."
Altair grinned. "But hey, we learned something valuable today!"
"What's that?" Mallory asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Never underestimate the power of a well-timed match," Altair said with a wink.
Mallory rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smile.