After eating, Natasha sent the drone out as planned. It rose into the air, and everyone gathered around the phone, watching the live feed in silence.
"Oh, there’s a convenience store nearby," Burgors said, pointing at the screen.
The others turned to him. "What? We should stock up on food too, right?"
"You’re right," Jaxon said after a brief thought. "We’ll check it and refill our supplies."
The drone moved forward, giving them a clear view of the area. The streets were narrow, packed tightly with shops and houses pressed close together. Broken cars littered the road, so piled on top of each other, almost sealing the path completely. It was exactly as Natasha and Isabel had warned. This place was cramped, with barely any space to move.
Minutes passed as the drone kept flying.
Slowly, a strange feeling crept into the room.
Cindy frowned at the screen and spoke what everyone was thinking. "Why haven’t we seen any infected? Shouldn’t there be more of them here?"
"Maybe they moved sowhere else," Burgors said, forcing a grin. "That’s good for us, right? We can go out without trouble."
Natasha shook her head, her eyes fixed on the screen. "This city doesn’t make sense. There are too many things we don’t understand." She paused, then added, "I think we should go around it."
Jaxon thought for a mont, then made his decision. "Alright. We’ll go around it. Can you find us a new route?"
"Leave it to ," Natasha replied. "But surveying with the drone will take so ti."
"We’ll stay nearby until then," Jaxon said. "First, we restock our food. Who’s coming with ?"
To his surprise, every hand went up.
"There’s no need for all of us to go."
"It’s scary staying here," Hiromi whispered. "I don’t feel comfortable."
"I feel the sa," Cindy added. "This place feels weird. I don’t want to be left behind either."
Jaxon nodded. "Alright. Pack your things. We’ll find another temporary shelter along the way."
Everyone quickly prepared, stuffing what they could into backpacks before moving out together.
Jaxon led in front with Elena and Natasha. Cindy and Isabel guarded the sides, keeping their eyes on every alley and window. Hannah stayed in the middle with the twins, while Burgors and Haris watched the rear.
They moved slowly, careful with every step. Elena signaled when to stop and when to move, guiding them through cover. The streets were filled with broken windows, smashed doors, overturned cars, and dark, dried blood sared across the ground. Yet the buildings still stood.
The city was so quiet, it felt as if they were the only ones left alive.
Jaxon scanned the empty streets with furrowed brows. ’I don’t like this. It feels like we’re prey, walking in the open.’
He turned back to the group and lowered his voice. "We won’t move any farther. Natasha, co with . We’ll secure that building."
Natasha nodded. The two of them moved slowly toward the nearby apartnt, leaving the others behind.
Then...
Bang.
A loud gunshot tore through the silence, followed by Haris’s painful groan.
"Get down," Elena said sharply.
Jaxon and Natasha reacted at once, diving behind a wrecked car for cover. The rest of the group dropped to the ground at once.
Cindy and Isabel stayed low, their eyes darting around in panic.
"Haris, Haris..." Burgors clutched his friend, his hands shaking as blood poured from Haris’s upper chest, soaking his clothes. "What do we do... he’s bleeding so much."
Jaxon leaned out slightly, his eyes locked on the building where the shot had co from. "Who’s there?" he shouted.
No answer ca.
Instead, footsteps echoed from inside the building. Glass crunched under slow, steady steps as the sound drew closer.
Then the shooter stepped into the light.
It was a man in a police uniform, a pistol raised and pointed straight at them. But sothing was wrong. His eyes were completely black, and a sick smile stretched across his face.
An arrow suddenly flew out and pierced straight through the man’s mouth.
"You piece of shit! Why are you shooting at us?" Elena shouted.
The man’s head snapped back from the impact. But a second later, he slowly lifted his head again. The arrow was still lodged in his mouth, black blood dripping down, yet his pistol remained aid at them.
"Elena, get down!" Jaxon yelled.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
The shots rang out wildly. Jaxon seized the opening. He raised his rifle and pulled the trigger.
The gunfire stopped. The man’s head burst apart, and the body dropped to the ground with a dull thud.
"Natasha, watch if there are more," Jaxon said, already rushing up back to the others.
"Haris... Haris..." Hannah knelt beside her brother, crying as he writhed in pain.
Nearby, Elena had taken cover just in ti, untouched by the shots. The others were frozen in shock, fear written on their faces.
"Burgors, help carry him. We need to move, now," Jaxon said as he lifted Haris. "Hold on. Stay awake."
Before they could take more than a step, deep roars echoed from inside the surrounding buildings.
Jaxon’s fear ca true. "Move!"
He and Burgors hauled Haris up. Elena grabbed Haris’s bag and rifle, then took Hannah’s hand and pulled her along. Cindy and Isabel stayed close, shielding the twins as they moved. Behind them, Natasha snatched the fallen man’s pistol from the ground and hurried to catch up.
From the nearby buildings, glass shattered and shutters rattled as two infected erged. Their heads were completely bald, and their faces were almost horrifyingly alike.
The two locked onto the group, letting out inhuman roars as they sprinted forward.
’Where do we go? Where do we go?’ Jaxon’s mind raced as he scanned the surroundings, his eyes darting in every direction. The sound of footsteps and snarls growing louder.
"Brother, there!" Cindy shouted, pointing to a small, open store up ahead.
Jaxon glanced at it and frowned. The little structure wouldn’t offer much protection. But there was no ti to hesitate.
"Go, go!" he urged, and the group surged toward it.
As they reached the doorway, Jaxon carefully lowered Haris to the ground and turned to the others.
"Elena, Natasha, make sure everyone stays completely silent and hidden." He said sharply, tossing his bag inside.
"Jaxon, what are you..." Isabel began.
"I’ll be back soon," he said, cutting her off as he pulled the roller shutter door down with all his strength.
"Brother! Nooo!" Cindy cried, reaching out, but it was too late.
The door slamd shut just as the two bald-headed infected drew closer, running with terrifying speed. Behind them, glass and shutters rattled violently as more of the sa bald-head creatures erged from the surrounding buildings.
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