Chapter 8 - Ahead

The storm hadn't let up, and if anything, it was growing worse. The wind howled louder, whipping the snow into frenzied spirals, reducing everything to a blur of white. They could barely see a few feet ahead of them, but they kept moving. The weight of the decision was heavy on their backs, but there was no turning back now. They had to get to the airport.

Elliot's breath came out in ragged clouds, freezing almost instantly as soon as it hit the air. His legs ached from the cold, from the endless trudging through the thick snow. He had no idea how long they had been walking. Time felt like it had stopped. His mind was numb, but the one thing that kept him going was the thought of the airport. It was the only hope left.

His father led the way, the sharp outline of his figure cutting through the snowstorm. His movements were steady, practiced. Elliot had always admired that about him—how calm he seemed in the face of everything falling apart. But now, as they walked, he could see the tension in his father's shoulders, the tightness in his jaw. They had all been through so much, and the journey ahead was only going to get harder.

Ben was ahead of them, leading the way with a quiet intensity. His steps were quick and sure, but there was something distant about him, like his mind was elsewhere. He hadn't spoken much since they'd made the decision to head for the airport, and Elliot couldn't help but wonder what was going on inside his head.

The world around them was eerily silent, save for the wind. It felt like they were the last people alive, like the storm had swallowed up everything else. Every now and then, Elliot would glance over at Max, the dog trotting alongside them, his eyes scanning the horizon, alert to every sound. It was comforting, in a way. Max had been his constant companion since everything had started. The dog seemed to understand the stakes, his presence a reminder that they weren't entirely alone.

They didn't stop. There was no time to waste. But the further they walked, the more exhausted Elliot felt. The snow had already built up around their boots, making each step heavier than the last. The wind bit through his jacket, seeping into his bones, and his fingers were stiff, barely able to hold onto the strap of his pack.

"How much farther?" Elliot asked, his voice hoarse. His father didn't turn around immediately, but after a moment, he slowed his pace slightly, just enough to answer.

"Not much," he said, though his tone didn't sound as certain as usual. "We'll reach the edge of the city soon. We just need to stay on track."

Ben turned his head at the mention of the city, his expression unreadable. "We'll need to be careful. The closer we get, the more dangerous it'll be."

Elliot nodded, even though his stomach was a mess of nerves. He didn't need Ben to remind him. He knew the city would be crawling with the infected. They had heard rumors, seen the smoke rising in the distance, but they had no idea what they would be walking into.

They passed through the outskirts of the city, the buildings rising up like silent sentinels in the storm. Everything was coated in snow, the once-familiar structures now hauntingly still. The streets were empty, save for the occasional sign of destruction—a broken window, a toppled car, the remnants of something that had once been a life.

They moved quickly, sticking to the shadows, staying out of sight as best they could. Every sound, every creak of the wind against the buildings, made Elliot's heart race. His hand instinctively went to the knife at his belt, his fingers gripping the handle. He knew they couldn't afford to let their guard down, not even for a second.

The storm was relentless, the wind whipping snow into their faces, making it hard to see anything. Elliot's eyes stung from the cold, his cheeks numb from the wind. They kept moving, step by step, toward the airport, though Elliot couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled, and he felt the familiar surge of adrenaline as the city seemed to close in around them.

Finally, after what felt like hours, they reached the edge of the airport. The looming gates stood before them, tall and imposing, like a final barrier between them and whatever lay beyond. But the sight of the airport didn't bring relief—it brought more uncertainty. The area around the gates was eerily quiet, no sign of movement except for the howling wind.

Elliot's father paused, his hand on the rifle, his eyes scanning the area. "Stay close," he said quietly. "We're not out of the woods yet."

Ben moved forward cautiously, his body tense, every step deliberate. They all followed, staying in the shadows, trying to stay as low as possible. The air was thick with tension, and Elliot's heart was pounding in his chest. Every step felt like it could be their last. The infected could be anywhere, and they didn't have the luxury of taking their time.

As they approached the gates, Elliot could see the wreckage of abandoned cars and overturned baggage carts. The once-bustling airport had become a ghost town, a graveyard of the world that had been. There were no signs of life—no guards, no soldiers, no planes. Just the silent remnants of what had been.

Elliot swallowed hard. He had hoped for something more, something that might offer a glimpse of safety, but it seemed like the world had left this place behind, just like everything else.

"We need to get inside," his father muttered, scanning the area one last time before moving toward the gates. The cold was starting to seep deeper into Elliot's bones, and he felt his legs grow heavy, but he pushed forward.

They reached the gates, and his father carefully tested the lock. After a moment, it clicked open, and they slipped inside, moving as quietly as possible. The inside of the airport was just as empty, just as silent. The long hallways stretched out before them, the fluorescent lights flickering weakly above.

Elliot felt a knot tighten in his stomach. There were no planes, no hope of escape. Just a cold, empty terminal. The world outside was gone, and all they had now was each other.