The snarls outside grew louder, the pounding against the metal door becoming more forceful.
"They're breaking through," Adrian muttered, his eyes locked on the warping steel.
The man checked his shotgun, loading a fresh shell with a sharp click. His expression remained cold and focused, showing no signs of panic.
"Follow me," he said curtly, turning toward the back of the store.
Adrian followed without hesitation, weaving past empty shelves until they reached a closed wooden door. The man pulled it open, revealing a narrow staircase leading down.
"Get in."
Adrian didn't argue. He descended quickly, finding himself in a dimly lit basement. The air was damp and musty, but the sight before him was surprising—stacks of supplies, ammunition, bottled water, and even a few bulletproof vests.
"You stay here," the man said. "I'll deal with them."
"Alone?" Adrian frowned.
The man smirked, patting his shotgun. "They're not enough to kill me."
Before Adrian could respond, a deafening crash echoed from above. The metal door finally gave way.
A horde of infected poured into the store, their guttural shrieks filling the space.
Without hesitation, the man stormed forward, unleashing a blast from his shotgun. The lead infected's chest exploded in a spray of gore, sending it crashing backward. But the others kept coming, undeterred.
Adrian's grip tightened around his knife. His pulse pounded in his ears. If the man couldn't hold them off, the basement would be their tomb.
Taking a steadying breath, he scanned the basement for anything useful. His gaze landed on an old rifle propped against the wall. Rust lined its surface, but it looked functional.
Grabbing the rifle, he checked the magazine—still loaded.
"Guess I'm in," he muttered.
Adrian sprinted up the stairs. By the time he reached the top, the last infected was collapsing under the man's shotgun butt. Blood pooled across the floor, the air thick with the metallic scent of death.
The man turned, eyeing the rifle in Adrian's hands. He raised an eyebrow.
"You know how to use that?"
Adrian nodded. "Better than a knife."
The man studied him for a moment before letting out a dry chuckle. He extended his hand. "Rex."
Adrian hesitated, then shook it. "Adrian."
Rex gave a nod, lowering his shotgun. "Guess you're not completely useless."
Adrian smirked. "I'd like to think so."
Their gazes shifted toward the blood-stained store. Silence hung between them before Rex finally spoke.
"This place is compromised. We need to move."
Adrian exhaled, chambering a round into his rifle.
"Then let's go."