Two days had passed since they had constructed their makeshift wooden box, and the jungle had turned from a mysterious refuge into a relentless prison. The air was thick and humid, and every sound felt amplified in the suffocating silence surrounding them. The shadows cast by the towering trees seemed to grow longer and darker, enveloping them in an atmosphere of despair.
Azad leaned against one of the rough wooden walls, feeling the pangs of hunger gnawing at his stomach. His cheeks were hollow, and his eyes looked sunken. "I can't believe it's only been two days," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Two days without food feels like an eternity," Ellie replied, her tone equally despondent. She sat cross-legged on the damp ground, her arms wrapped around her knees. "We've searched everywhere, and still, nothing. I thought jungles were supposed to be full of life."
Azad sighed, glancing at the thick underbrush just outside their shelter. "Yeah, full of life… just not the edible kind. What are we supposed to do? Our supplies are running out."
Suddenly, Ellie's frustration boiled over. "Ahhhh! I'm done! Even though I saved this as a last resort, I guess we'll have to do the worst!"
Azad's heart raced at her sudden outburst. "Damn, Ellie, don't think about eating me! Remember, I'm not exactly edible!" His eyes widened comically, and he crossed his arms defensively.
Ellie rolled her eyes, exasperated. "I'm not talking about you, idiot! I'm talking about zombies. Let's eat their rotten flesh!"
Azad's face contorted in horror. "I ain't eating that! That's disgusting!"
"You will, Azad. We have no other choice!" Her voice was firm, determination seeping through her desperation.
He grimaced, feeling bile rise in his throat. "Why do I always get dragged into these terrible ideas? There has to be something else."
"Look around you!" Ellie snapped, waving her arms at the dense jungle. "We're surrounded by darkness, and we're starving! We need to venture out and hunt some zombies. It's either that or we die of starvation."
Azad rubbed the back of his neck, his resolve weakening. "Fine. But if I get turned into a zombie, I'm haunting you for eternity."
"Deal," Ellie said with a smirk. "Now let's go before I change my mind."
As they ventured out of their wooden box, the heat of the day bore down on them like a heavy blanket. The jungle was alive with sounds—the rustle of leaves, the distant calls of creatures, and the echoing growls of mobs hidden in the shadows. The sun filtered through the leaves, casting eerie patterns on the forest floor.
Ellie led the way, her expression grim as she gripped her pickaxe tightly. "Stay close. We need to find a few zombies, and fast."
They moved cautiously, every crunch of twigs underfoot sending adrenaline coursing through their veins. After a few moments of tense searching, they stumbled upon a small clearing where several zombies lurked, shambling aimlessly with arms outstretched.
"There!" Ellie whispered, pointing. "We need to get their attention."
Azad swallowed hard. "You're sure about this?"
"Unless you have a better plan, yes!" She nodded, steeling herself. With a sudden yell, she charged into the clearing, swinging her pickaxe wildly.
The zombies turned, their groans filling the air as they stumbled toward her. Azad hesitated for a moment, then followed, adrenaline pushing him forward. They fought off the undead, the sounds of grunts and growls mingling with their shouts and gasps.
"Got one!" Azad shouted, feeling a surge of triumph as he landed a solid hit on a zombie. They quickly gathered the rotten flesh from the fallen mobs, feeling a mix of victory and disgust.
After the hunt, they returned to their shelter, each holding a few pieces of the dreaded food. Ellie looked at the pile of grotesque flesh, her stomach twisting in revulsion. "Well, here we are," she said, trying to sound upbeat. "The feast of champions."
Azad held a piece of the rotten flesh up, scrutinizing it as if it were a toxic substance. "I can't believe we're about to eat this. What happened to my dignity?"
"It's either this or die. We'll survive this, I promise!" She grabbed a piece, and after a moment's hesitation, she took a bite. Her face contorted in disgust, but she swallowed. "Ugh! This tastes like... death."
Azad stared at her, wide-eyed. "You actually ate it? You're braver than I am. I can't do it."
Ellie chewed, grimacing. "Just close your eyes and think of something else!"
"Like what? A beautiful banquet filled with roast chicken and fresh fruit? Because that's not going to help!"
"Just eat it, Azad!" she urged, her voice rising in frustration.
With a reluctant groan, he brought the rotten flesh to his lips, taking a small bite. His stomach churned violently, and he nearly gagged. "I'm never eating this shit again," he said, the taste lingering on his tongue.
Ellie nodded fervently, still chewing as she agreed. "Me too! This is officially the worst meal ever."
Despite their misery, they found a moment of shared laughter, the tension easing slightly as they endured the same wretched meal. The jungle around them remained dark and foreboding, but briefly, they found solace in their camaraderie.
As they finished, Azad sighed. "Well, at least we have food for now. What's next? Finding a way out of this jungle?"
Ellie leaned back against the wooden wall, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Yeah. We need to come up with a better plan. We can't live like this forever…"