《Walking Toward Tomorrow》


 Chapter 1 – The Newcomers

    I don¡¯t think about much these days. Surviving is all that matters.


    Drifting from place to place, I never stay anywhere too long. Settling down is pointless, dangerous. Right now, I was holed up in a motel room¡ªone of the few that hadn¡¯t been completely wrecked when I found it. No bloodstains, no lingering stench of decay. That was a plus. I had cleared out the two adjacent rooms, not because I needed the space, but because I didn''t want to hear anything banging on the walls in the middle of the night.


    I laced up my worn boots and pulled on the oversized black jacket I had found in the last house I stayed in. It was too big for me, but it was warm¡ªcomfort wasn''t something I could afford to let go of. Moving toward the bathroom mirror, I crinkled my nose at my reflection. My hair was a tangled mess, its natural blonde now dulled to a murky brown from weeks of dirt and sweat. I sighed, running a hand through it, knowing there was little I could do.


    My backpack was already packed and ready. I slung it over my shoulder, then grabbed my gun from the vanity. It was an old friend, one I had come to trust more than any living thing in this world. Stepping to the window, I peered outside. Just one lone zombie shuffled across the parking lot, no more than a yard away from my motorcycle.


    Without hesitation, I flung the door open and moved quickly. My gun was raised in an instant, the shot precise. The zombie crumpled like a sack of potatoes, unmoving.


    The motorcycle roared to life beneath me as I sped away from the motel, the empty highway stretching out before me. It was rare to find roads so clear, but I was grateful¡ªI had no patience for weaving through abandoned cars today.


    After riding for a while, my stomach clenched painfully. I needed food. Taking the next exit, I found myself in a small town. It was in complete ruin¡ªbodies rotting on the sidewalks, vehicles rusting in the middle of the road. I killed the engine and wheeled my bike beside me. No way I was getting through all this wreckage on two wheels.


    Something felt off.


    With all this carnage, there should have been zombies everywhere. But since entering town, I hadn¡¯t seen a single one.


    I stepped cautiously into a small grocery store on the corner. Gun raised, I whistled, the sharp sound echoing through the empty aisles. If there were any undead inside, they would have come shambling toward me by now. But nothing stirred.


    Still, I kept my guard up as I rummaged through the remnants of the store. A smashed box of cereal. A lone can of beans. Everything else had been looted long ago.


    Sighing, I sat on an overturned crate at the back of the store, pulling out the last bottle of water in my pack. It was already half-empty. I tilted it back, drinking the rest in one go, then tossed it aside. One small silver lining of the apocalypse? No one cared about cleaning up anymore.


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    I picked at the stale cereal, forcing myself to chew. What I really craved was a burger, but wishful thinking wouldn¡¯t fill my stomach.


    With my meager supplies packed, I stepped back outside. A neighborhood would be my next stop. When the world fell apart, people had hoarded supplies in their homes¡ªthat¡¯s why grocery stores were picked clean, but some houses were treasure troves. Just a few days ago, I had hit the jackpot: an entire basement stocked with canned goods. Those had been a rare treat.


    A few streets down, I found exactly what I was looking for¡ªa massive neighborhood filled with houses bigger than anything I had ever lived in. Smirking to myself, I knew today might just be a lucky day.


    I knocked on the first door. If anything was inside, it would come to me. But there was no response. Carefully, I turned the handle. The door swung open with ease.


    Inside, everything was pristine. The kitchen was my first stop, but the fridge was empty save for a half-drunk bottle of water. I took it without hesitation¡ªgerms were the least of my worries. The pantry, however, was completely bare.


    I moved through the house, checking each room. The first was a child¡¯s bedroom. I closed the door quickly, a tight feeling in my chest. The second was the master bedroom. In the bathroom, I grabbed a bottle of shampoo. If I found a lake, I could finally wash this filth off me.


    The last bedroom belonged to a teenager. Band posters lined the walls¡ªher music taste was actually pretty good. Clothes were strewn across the floor, and I picked through them, swapping out my own dirty rags for a clean black t-shirt and a pair of skinny jeans. My boots and jacket, though? Those were staying.


    Then, I found it.


    The basement.


    Jackpot.


    Shelves lined with food and water, untouched, waiting for someone like me. I wasted no time, grabbing armfuls of supplies. Staying in one place was too risky¡ªsooner or later, something would find you. Usually a horde. But this food would keep me going.


    I needed something bigger than my motorcycle to carry it all.


    Upstairs, I found exactly what I needed¡ªa red truck parked in the driveway. It was in great shape, half a tank of gas still left. The keys were on the floorboard, probably dropped in a panic. I climbed inside, started the engine, and felt a rare smile tug at my lips.


    After loading everything in, I popped open a can of corn and ate right there in the driver¡¯s seat. It wasn¡¯t a burger, but it was better than stale cereal.


    As I ate, unease settled over me.


    No zombies. Not a single one since I arrived in this town. There were plenty of bodies. But no movement. No groaning. No dead eyes staring through shattered windows.


    Something was wrong.


    I drove aimlessly through the town, trying to shake the feeling. And then, I saw it.


    A church.


    A massive one, looming at the edge of the street. But that wasn¡¯t what caught my attention.


    The lights were on.


    My breath hitched. Electricity didn¡¯t work anymore.


    I parked the truck as far back as possible, turning off the engine. My fingers tightened around my gun as I crept toward the church. For the first time in months, I felt panic creeping in. I hadn¡¯t seen another person in two months. Not a single soul.


    I reached the back door, hesitating. I could just leave. Pretend I never saw it. But my curiosity got the better of me. I knocked.


    For a moment, silence. Then¡ª


    Laughter.


    Deep, booming laughter erupted from inside.


    Every instinct screamed at me to run.


    I turned, but it was too late.


    The door burst open, and a man lunged at me.


    I barely made it to the alley before he tackled me, slamming me hard against the pavement. My leg twisted painfully beneath me, and my cheek scraped across the rough ground. I felt the warm trickle of blood sliding down my face.


    I struggled. Landed a punch. He barely flinched.


    His grip tightened, and a moment later, he had me hoisted over his shoulder, carrying me back to the church.


    Inside, six more men waited, their eyes glinting in the dim candlelight.


    They laughed, whooped, and hollered as he set me down in the corner, tying my hands and legs together.


    My vision blurred, pain throbbing in my head.


    I had just walked into hell.

 Chapter 2 – A Whisper of a Cure

    A sharp tap on my shoulder jolted me awake. My vision was hazy, my mind clouded by exhaustion and pain. As I groggily turned, my eyes met a young man¡ªperhaps eighteen or so¡ªhis face partially obscured by the dim light.


    "Come on, we need to move," he said, urgency lacing his tone. Before I could process his words, he grabbed my arm and pulled me upright. A searing pain shot through my leg, forcing a sharp hiss from my lips.


    He glanced down, his brows furrowing at the sight of my injury. "On a scale of one to ten, how bad is it?"


    "Ten," I managed to grit out, barely holding back a whimper.


    He exhaled, nodding. Without hesitation, he lifted me onto his shoulder, his grip firm yet careful. Each step he took sent jolts of agony through my leg, and I found myself biting my lip to keep from crying out.


    "Shh, keep quiet," he muttered as he navigated through the abandoned church.


    I clenched my fists, enduring the pain as best as I could. The cold night air hit my face as we stepped outside. He scanned the surroundings, then turned to me.


    "Where''s your car?"


    "Five buildings down... a truck," I murmured.


    He didn''t waste a second. After checking both directions, he broke into a sprint. The motion sent another wave of pain through my leg, and I had to stifle a cry. By the time we reached the truck, my breath was ragged, and my body trembled from the effort of holding it in.


    He set me down in the passenger seat, and the impact sent fresh pain shooting up my leg. I gritted my teeth, cursing under my breath. Without missing a beat, he started the engine. The headlights flickered to life, illuminating the church behind us¡ªan eerie, desolate structure.


    I hated that place.


    Trying to shake off the memories, I turned my gaze to the man who had saved me. His scruffy facial hair and tattered clothes hinted at weeks¡ªperhaps months¡ªof survival in this hellscape.


    "Who... are you?" I croaked, my throat dry.


    His expression remained unreadable. "Name''s Tucker."


    I hesitated before responding, unsure if I should trust him. But after what he''d done for me, I at least owed him my name.


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    "Ellie."


    Tucker nodded, eyes fixed on the road. After a few moments of silence, I finally spoke again.


    "What did they want back there?"


    His lips curled into a humorless chuckle. "Some crazy idea about repopulating. They had cleared out the town, set up shop in that church, and were planning on building a so-called ¡®new society.¡¯"


    A shudder ran down my spine. "That¡¯s insane."


    "Yeah. That¡¯s why I was already planning to leave tonight. But I had to save the damsel in distress first."


    I bristled. "I am not a damsel in distress!" I shot back, punching his arm.


    He raised an eyebrow before glancing at my injured leg. "You can¡¯t even walk."


    I crossed my arms, muttering a defeated, "Whatever."


    Tucker sighed. "We need to patch that up. Got any medical supplies?"


    "No. I don¡¯t usually get hurt."


    "Well, that¡¯s about to change. We¡¯ll stop in the morning. For now, we rest."


    I nodded. He pulled the truck over on the side of the road. As he stretched across the driver¡¯s seat, I crawled into the back, wrapping my arms around myself for warmth.


    For the first time in what felt like forever, I closed my eyes, feeling¡ªif only slightly¡ªsafe.


    ---


    Flashback ¨C The Night It All Changed


    "Dad¡­ what¡¯s going on?"


    There was panic in his eyes as he tossed cans of food into a bag. "No time to explain, Ellie. Just grab your things and get in the car!"


    His urgency sent a wave of fear through me. My breath hitched, but I obeyed. I ran upstairs, grabbed my backpack, stuffed it with clothes and a few family photos, then rushed back down.


    My father was already in the car. My brother, Jacob, sat beside me, his hands gripping the seat tightly.


    "I¡¯m scared," I whispered.


    Jacob hugged me, his voice barely above a breath. "Me too."


    My mother and father jumped into the car. "We have to get the Andersons," my mom insisted.


    "No, Sarah, we don¡¯t have time," my dad argued.


    My mom shot him a glare before bolting out of the car, running to the neighbors¡¯ house. My father cursed before following her.


    Minutes later, they returned, helping the elderly couple into the car.


    "What¡¯s happening, David?" Mr. Anderson asked my dad.


    Dad clenched the steering wheel. "I don¡¯t know¡­ just that the government is setting up ¡®safe zones¡¯¡ªsome kind of disease is spreading."


    A heavy silence settled over us as the car sped into the unknown.


    ---


    A rough shake brought me back to the present.


    "Wake up. It¡¯s morning," Tucker¡¯s voice pulled me from the haze of my memories.


    "Let me sleep," I groaned, turning away.


    "I made breakfast."


    I cracked open an eye. "What?"


    He held up a bowl. "Canned beans."


    The scent hit me, and suddenly, I realized just how hungry I was.


    As I ate, Tucker carefully wrapped my injured leg and handed me a water bottle along with some Advil.


    "Where¡¯d you get this stuff?" I asked between bites.


    "Went on a supply run while you were asleep."


    I paused. "I need to find a gun. They must¡¯ve taken mine."


    He smirked and reached under the driver¡¯s seat, pulling out a familiar handgun.


    "I grabbed yours before leaving," he said, handing it to me.


    I snatched it from his hands, checking the magazine. "And why didn¡¯t you give it to me sooner?"


    "I didn¡¯t know if I could trust you."


    I scoffed. "I was the one tied up and nearly assaulted by your group."


    "Yeah, and I was the one who saved you," he shot back.


    "Tch. Touch¨¦," I muttered. "But never take my gun from me again."


    "Agreed."


    After finishing my meal, I tossed the empty can aside but tucked the spoon into my bag. Finding food was hard enough¡ªhaving utensils wasn¡¯t exactly a necessity.


    "Where are you heading?" I asked.


    "I heard about a safe zone in Texas."


    I frowned. "I went to a safe zone when this all started. It got overrun in days."


    "Still worth checking out," he said. "I¡¯m going, whether you come or not."


    I sighed. "Fine. We¡¯ll find you a car, scavenge for supplies, and then we part ways."


    "Deal."


    Yet, despite my words, a strange feeling gnawed at my chest.


    I had only known Tucker for a day, yet the thought of separating left an uncomfortable weight in my heart.


    No one ever truly gets used to being alone.


    But I wasn¡¯t about to risk another safe zone.


    Not after what happened last time.

 Chapter 3 – Rallying the Town

    The town ahead was a graveyard of movement¡ªhundreds of zombies aimlessly shuffling through the streets, their decayed bodies twitching at the slightest sound. The sight sent a chill down my spine.


    ¡°There isn¡¯t a road going around it. We have to go straight through,¡± Ellie said, gripping the steering wheel tighter. Her knuckles turned white, but her voice remained steady.


    I exhaled sharply. ¡°That¡¯s a death trap.¡±


    ¡°Then give me a better idea,¡± she shot back.


    I scanned the area. Abandoned cars cluttered the streets, creating a maze of obstacles. Some were still intact, while others were burned-out husks. The buildings lining the road were eerily silent¡ªwindows shattered, doors left hanging open. I could already imagine the horrors lurking inside.


    ¡°We floor it,¡± I finally said. ¡°Fast, no stopping. Hit anything in the way, but don¡¯t slow down.¡±


    Ellie nodded. ¡°Good. Because I wasn¡¯t planning on stopping.¡±


    She shifted into gear and pressed down on the gas. The truck roared forward, kicking up dust as it sped toward the horde.


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    The first zombie barely had time to turn before we slammed into it, sending it flying over the hood. The next few crumpled under the tires with sickening thuds. The windshield cracked as a rotting corpse tumbled across it, leaving behind a smear of blood.


    ¡°Shit¡ªhold on!¡± Ellie swerved around a wrecked sedan, narrowly avoiding a pile-up of abandoned vehicles. I gripped the dashboard as the truck tilted dangerously to one side before crashing back down onto all four wheels.


    A loud bang echoed through the truck.


    ¡°What was that?!¡± I shouted.


    Ellie gritted her teeth. ¡°Tire¡¯s blown.¡±


    ¡°Keep going!¡±


    ¡°I am!¡±


    The truck lurched forward, dragging itself across the pavement. But the loss of speed was a problem. The zombies were catching on¡ªsome sprinting, others clawing at the sides. One of them managed to grab onto the side mirror, its grotesque face pressing against my window.


    Without thinking, I grabbed my gun and fired. The glass shattered, and the zombie¡¯s head snapped back as blood sprayed across the road.


    ¡°Less shooting, more surviving!¡± Ellie yelled.


    The truck jerked as she slammed into another car, scraping against it to dislodge the creatures clinging to us. The smell of burning rubber filled the air.


    Then I saw it.


    An overturned semi blocked most of the road ahead, with only a narrow gap left to squeeze through.


    ¡°Ellie¡ª¡±


    ¡°I see it!¡±


    She clenched her jaw and aimed straight for the opening. The truck barreled forward, metal screeching as we barely scraped past. A few zombies weren¡¯t so lucky¡ªtheir bodies crushed between the truck and the wreckage.


    And then¡ª


    Silence.


    Ellie didn¡¯t slow down until we were miles away from the town. The only sound was the heavy breathing between us.


    Then she started laughing. A dry, exhausted laugh.


    I let out a breathless chuckle. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡±


    She glanced at me, eyes still wild with adrenaline. ¡°We just drove through hell¡ªand survived.¡±


    I leaned back against the seat, wiping sweat from my forehead. ¡°Yeah. But we need a new plan. Because next time, we might not be so lucky.¡±


    She nodded, her smile fading. ¡°Agreed. We find a place to rest, patch up the truck, and stock up.¡±


    I looked ahead at the empty road stretching before us. The world was still falling apart, but for now, we had made it through.


    And that was enough.

 Chapter 4 – The Journey to New Braunfels

    Tucker peered over the dashboard and groaned. "Can''t we catch a break?"


    "Guess not," I muttered, gripping the wheel tighter.


    He shot me a tired look from beneath his thick eyelashes. "That was rhetorical."


    I shrugged. Tucker didn¡¯t look too good¡ªhis face was pale, his eyes heavy with exhaustion, and sweat clung to his skin. He was still breathing hard, probably from a nightmare. He kept his gaze on the road ahead, scanning the ruined town, but I found myself watching him instead.


    Before I even realized what I was doing, I reached forward and brushed a stray piece of hair from his forehead. His eyes flicked to me, and for a moment, he leaned in slightly. My heart stuttered¡ª


    BANG!


    A rotting hand slammed against the hood of the truck.


    Both of us jolted back, and I fumbled with the keys, shoving them into the ignition. The engine sputtered before roaring to life.


    ¡°What the hell do we do?!¡± I screeched as the first wave of zombies lurched toward us, drawn by the noise.


    Tucker moved fast¡ªgrabbing me by the waist and lifting me over him as he slid into the driver¡¯s seat.


    ¡°We go through them!" he yelled, punching the gas.


    The truck shot forward, crushing bodies under the wheels with sickening crunches. For the first couple hundred feet, we made good progress, plowing through the horde like a battering ram. But more zombies spilled out of buildings, drawn by the commotion.


    Tucker gritted his teeth and slammed the gas pedal harder.


    Instead of surging forward, the truck jerked and stalled.


    ¡°We¡¯re stuck,¡± he said flatly.


    Panic surged in my chest, but when I looked over, Tucker was just sitting back in his seat, almost¡­ calm. Somehow, that steadiness bled into me. If we were about to die, at least we wouldn¡¯t go out screaming.


    Glass shattered.


    A bloodied hand punched through the windshield, followed by a gnashing face. The zombie lunged at me¡ª


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    BANG!


    Blood splattered across my face. The body slumped forward, a mess of flesh and bone. I was frozen. Somewhere outside, more gunshots rang out, cutting through the chaos.


    ¡°HEY! WHAT THE HELL DO Y¡¯ALL THINK YOU¡¯RE DOING?!¡±


    A man¡¯s voice bellowed from a nearby storefront. I turned toward the sound and saw a bearded man pressed against a glass window, frantically waving us over.


    Tucker didn¡¯t hesitate. He swung the door open and grabbed my hand. We bolted, dodging grabbing hands and snapping jaws. Every zombie that got too close was taken down by unseen shooters.


    We barely made it inside before the doors slammed shut behind us.


    Breathing hard, I was instantly bombarded with questions.


    ¡°Who the hell are y¡¯all?¡±


    ¡°What were you thinking?¡±


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Are y¡¯all stupid?¡±


    Three more people descended from the rooftop, guns still in hand, staring at us like we were the dumbest people alive.


    I forced myself to breathe. ¡°I¡¯m Ellie. This is Tucker.¡± I gestured toward him. ¡°We¡¯re heading to Texas. This was the way the map said to go.¡±


    I didn¡¯t bother answering the last question. It was obvious¡ªwe were stupid.


    The man who had let us in scoffed. "Y''all are crazy sons of bitches. I''m Harley." He extended a hand.


    Tucker and I shook it.


    Harley gestured toward the others. ¡°This is my wife, Deb. My cousin Olivia. And John¡ªwe met him on the road.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for saving our lives,¡± I said sincerely. ¡°We owe you.¡±


    Harley scratched his beard absentmindedly. "It¡¯s what any good man would do."


    Tucker nodded. ¡°Where were y¡¯all headed?¡±


    ¡°Texas, too,¡± Harley answered. ¡°Me, Deb, and Olivia are from there. We were vacationing in Washington when all this started. Been making our way back since.¡±


    Tucker perked up at that. ¡°I heard there¡¯s a safe zone in Wimberley. Any of you know about that?¡±


    Deb stepped forward. ¡°Haven¡¯t heard about a safe zone, but we¡¯re headed to New Braunfels¡ªthat¡¯s only about thirty minutes from Wimberley. If y¡¯all come with us first, we¡¯ll go to Wimberley together.¡±


    Harley shot his wife a sharp look, clearly not agreeing with the offer. Deb glared right back. He sighed in defeat. ¡°Yeah, sure. We¡¯d be happy to have you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯d be great,¡± Tucker and I said at the same time.


    A tense silence followed. Then Olivia broke it.


    ¡°Uh¡­ what do we do about that?¡± She pointed toward the storefront.


    We all turned.


    Zombies were pressed against the glass, smearing blood and grime against it as they clawed for us.


    "That ain''t gonna hold long," John muttered. "We need to go. Now."


    ¡°Our van¡¯s out back,¡± Harley said. ¡°We were using the alleyways to avoid the horde. The only reason we stopped here was to scavenge. Good thing we did, or y¡¯all would be dead.¡±


    Tucker and I exchanged looks. He nodded.


    ¡°Will your van hold all six of us?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s got extra room,¡± Deb answered.


    "Then let''s move," Harley commanded.


    We hurried to the back door.


    John and Harley had their guns raised, while Deb and Olivia gripped their knives. Tucker and I hadn''t grabbed anything¡ªwe had left our weapons in the truck.


    Still, we slipped out into the alley and ran for the van.


    We piled in¡ªHarley driving, Deb beside him. John and Olivia took the second row, leaving Tucker and me crammed in the back.


    We had only been with this group for an hour, but it was already clear¡ªHarley was in charge. I liked him well enough, but I had always had a problem with authority figures. Give someone a little power, and suddenly they thought they were the best thing since sliced bread.


    "You know, we never did get the supplies we came for," Olivia piped up.


    ¡°Holy shit, I didn¡¯t even think about that,¡± Harley groaned. "Next store we see, we''re stopping. We need food."


    At the mention of food, my stomach growled.


    "Agreed," I said.


    We drove for what felt like hours. I must¡¯ve dozed off at some point because I woke to the sound of someone calling my name.


    ¡°Ellie.¡±


    My head snapped up¡ªfrom Tucker¡¯s chest.


    Oh god.


    There was a small wet spot on his shirt.


    I slobbered on Tucker''s chest.


    "What the hell," I whispered. What was I even doing sleeping on him in the first place?!


    Tucker blinked at me, concerned. ¡°You okay? You look like you¡¯re about to have a panic attack.¡±


    I forced a small smile. "I¡¯m fine. What did you need?"


    "Harley said there should be a grocery store up ahead. You up for a run?"


    I nodded quickly, trying to ignore the heat rising to my face.


    As we sat in silence, waiting for the van to stop, I made a mental note:


    Never sleep near Tucker again.

 Chapter 5 – Searching for Hope

    The grocery store, Haat, was part of a small shopping plaza. Next to it was a GNC¡ªa store that once sold vitamins and weight-loss supplements. Before the apocalypse, it had been filled with overweight people looking for a quick fix, spending a fortune on things they thought they needed, only to see no real results.


    "We should check that out after," Tucker nodded toward the GNC. "We could use some vitamins. God knows we''re not getting everything we need from canned food."


    "Okay, here¡¯s the plan," Harley said, already formulating a strategy. "John and I will go in first since we''re the only ones with guns. We''ll clear it out quickly and call you guys in to scavenge. After that, we''ll do the same with the GNC. Got it?"


    Everyone nodded in agreement. A silent look passed between John and Harley¡ªa kind of unspoken readiness¡ªbefore they stepped out of the car and disappeared into the store.


    We held our breath, waiting.


    Gunshots rang out¡ªsix in total. A minute later, John and Harley reappeared, waving us in.


    The four of us jumped out of the car and jogged to the entrance. The store was a mess, but none of us had expected anything different.


    "Split up into groups of two, just in case," Harley ordered, taking Deb with him.


    John and Olivia headed in the opposite direction, leaving Tucker and me alone.


    "Want to check the knife section?" Tucker asked.


    I nodded. Walking around without a weapon was about the dumbest thing you could do.


    We found what we were looking for at the back of an aisle¡ªhunting knives.


    Tucker tossed me a clip that I secured to my belt, then handed me a knife that I slid into its pouch. He clipped one onto his belt as well.


    "All set. Now let''s grab supplies for the group. What do we need?"


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    "Toilet paper," I said without thinking.


    Tucker laughed at my outburst, and I laughed at his laughter.


    "You''re cute," he said suddenly.


    The amusement vanished from my face. My stomach twisted into nervous knots as he stepped closer.


    His lips met mine¡ªslow at first, hesitant, like even he wasn¡¯t sure what he was doing. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing myself closer. His grip tightened, his kiss turning urgent as he lifted me off the ground. I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist¡ª


    "HELP!"


    The scream snapped us both out of it.


    Tucker dropped me, and I hit the floor hard. Pain shot through my knees, but I scrambled up as we sprinted toward the sound.


    We found Harley and Deb just as John and Olivia emerged from another aisle. Olivia¡¯s shirt was stained with black, rotted blood.


    "What happened?" I demanded, scanning them for injuries.


    "A zombie jumped out at me. It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m fine," Olivia said quickly.


    "You didn¡¯t get bitten, did you?" Harley asked, his voice sharp.


    "I said I¡¯m fine!" she snapped.


    Harley didn¡¯t push it further. "Everyone, grab what you can. We¡¯re leaving."


    Bags were slung over their shoulders, packed with food.


    Harley glanced at me and Tucker. "Why don¡¯t y¡¯all have anything?"


    I felt my face heat up.


    "Uh¡­ we couldn¡¯t find bags," Tucker said, covering for me.


    Deb rolled her eyes and tossed us two backpacks from her stash. "Here."


    The others shot us doubtful looks but didn¡¯t question it further.


    "Let¡¯s get cleaned up first," Olivia muttered, eyeing her bloodstained shirt.


    We headed to the clothing section.


    Deb¡¯s bag was a treasure trove¡ªshe had toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, hairbrushes, and everything else we needed.


    Everyone grabbed a fresh pair of clothes. I finally ditched my worn-out black jacket in favor of gray sweatpants and a green shirt.


    As I brushed my hair, I caught myself watching Tucker change. I quickly looked away, distracting myself by brushing my teeth with a water bottle John had. I ran deodorant over my skin, noting that I needed to shave. A quick spritz of perfume, and that was as clean as I¡¯d get until we found a river to wash in.


    We went aisle by aisle, gathering more supplies¡ªmedical kits, bandages, antibiotics.


    "Let¡¯s find a place to sleep after we load up the car," Olivia whined. "I¡¯m exhausted."


    "Fine," Harley sighed, tossing the last bag into the trunk. We piled into the car, the same seating arrangement as before.


    Tucker sat next to me, but I made sure to keep as much distance as possible. We couldn¡¯t afford another moment like the one in the store. I couldn¡¯t have feelings for someone in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.


    Tucker reached for my hand, trying to hold it, but I pulled away. He frowned but didn¡¯t say anything in front of everyone.


    I leaned my head against the window, watching the world blur past. "Hey, look over there," I pointed to an old farmhouse in the distance. It was big and roomy¡ªhopefully, not full of too much carnage.


    "It¡¯ll do," Olivia said, pursing her lips.


    Harley pulled the car into the driveway. "Ellie, Tucker, grab some food from the trunk. John and I will clear the house."


    We nodded and opened the trunk.


    As I reached into the bags, pulling out cans of corn and green beans, Tucker studied me.


    "What¡¯s wrong with you?" he asked.


    "Nothing," I said, a little too fast.


    He put his hands up in surrender. "Fine. Guess I¡¯ll just leave you alone then," he said coldly.


    I sighed and walked inside, where everyone was waiting for me to pass out the water. They handed me an open can of green beans and a fork.


    We ate in silence. There wasn¡¯t much to say. Every few minutes, I caught Tucker glancing at me sideways before shaking his head.


    Harley cleared his throat. "Tucker, Ellie¡­" He hesitated for a moment before sighing. "I don¡¯t think this is working. I think y¡¯all need to go your own way.

 Chapter 6 – The Road Back

    Tucker¡¯s POV


    Everything was going fine¡ªuntil Ellie decided she didn¡¯t like me, and Harley decided we weren¡¯t good enough for his group.


    ¡°What do you mean you want us to go?¡± I asked Harley, disbelief in my voice. ¡°We haven¡¯t done anything wrong.¡±


    ¡°I just¡­ I mean, we just think you¡¯re more of a burden than a help,¡± Harley said, crossing his arms. ¡°Olivia and John could¡¯ve been in serious trouble. You two were the closest to them, yet somehow the last ones to get there. And on top of that, you came back with no supplies.¡±


    Great. So this was about what happened when Ellie and I were¡­ busy.


    I glanced at Ellie, trying to get a read on her emotions, but her face remained impassive. She stared straight ahead, her expression cold and unreadable.


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy,¡± I said, standing up. ¡°I don¡¯t even want to be in a group that would kick me out at a moment¡¯s notice. Ellie, come on.¡±


    She didn¡¯t move. Didn¡¯t even look at me.


    Frustrated, I turned to see what had caught her attention.


    Then I saw it.


    Olivia.


    She was sweaty, red-faced, and sick-looking. She had been like this since the store, but now¡­ it was worse.


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    Much worse.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us?!¡± Ellie screamed.


    She lunged, tackling Olivia to the ground. Straddling her, she pressed a knife to her neck.


    ¡°You¡¯re infected, aren¡¯t you?¡± Ellie hissed.


    Tears streamed down Olivia¡¯s face. ¡°I¡­ I was scared. Please don¡¯t kill me.¡±


    Ellie¡¯s face didn¡¯t soften. She shook her head. ¡°Honey, you¡¯re already dead.¡±


    And then she drove the knife into the side of Olivia¡¯s head.


    She yanked it out with a sharp, guttural yell, then stood up, breathing heavily.


    ¡°You knew she was infected, didn¡¯t you?¡± Ellie snapped, pointing the bloodied knife at Harley. ¡°You wanted us gone so you could what? Try to save her?¡±


    Harley¡¯s face twisted with rage.


    ¡°You monster!¡± he roared, pulling out his gun and pointing it at Ellie. ¡°For your information, bitch¡ªI worked for the CDC before all this.¡± He sneered, voice dripping with malice. ¡°There¡¯s a cure. And I was going to get it for her.¡±


    Ellie¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°There¡¯s no cure,¡± she said flatly. ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± he laughed¡ªmanically. ¡°I was the lead scientist on the operation to create a cure. And I succeeded. But look around¡ªno government. No one left to enforce rules. We¡¯re free to do whatever we want. And this¡ª¡± he gestured around, at the lawless world they now lived in¡ª¡°this was what I wanted.


    ¡°So I told the people above me that a cure couldn¡¯t be made. Kept the research at my house. That¡¯s why we need to get home. I was gonna cure Olivia. Keep a little extra¡ªjust in case.¡±


    He smirked. ¡°But I don¡¯t need either of you getting in my way. That¡¯s why I want you gone.¡±


    I saw it¡ªthe slow movement of his finger toward the trigger.


    And finally, I snapped out of my trance.


    I lunged.


    A shot rang out.


    I didn¡¯t stop to see where it went.


    I plunged my knife into Harley¡¯s chest, straight through his heart.


    He gasped, his body jerking violently before he collapsed to the floor, lifeless.


    For a moment, there was silence.


    Then Ellie gasped.


    I followed her gaze¡ª


    Deb.


    She was leaning against the wall, blood pouring from a gaping wound in her side.


    That¡¯s where the bullet had gone.


    ¡°Did you know about this?¡± I asked her, my voice barely above a whisper.


    She shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. ¡°No¡­ I¡ªI would¡¯ve wanted the cure to be distributed¡­¡± Her voice cracked. ¡°But I still loved that man¡­ and I want to die with him.¡±


    None of us moved. John was still kneeling beside Olivia¡¯s corpse, sobbing.


    ¡°GO!¡± Deb suddenly screamed.


    I hesitated¡ªthen bent down, grabbed Harley¡¯s car keys, and turned toward the door.


    Ellie was already following.


    We climbed into the car.


    I shoved the key into the ignition, started it, and drove.


    For a long time, neither of us spoke.


    Then Ellie finally broke the silence.


    ¡°¡­What the hell just happened?¡±


    I exhaled sharply. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    But then I glanced at her, a thought solidifying in my mind.


    ¡°You do know what we have to do now, don¡¯t you?¡±


    She turned to me. And then, for the first time since this nightmare began, she smiled.


    ¡°Find the cure.¡±

 Chapter 7 – A Scientist’s Secret

    Ellie¡¯s POV


    Tucker and I had been through hell and back, but if it meant finding the cure, it was worth it. We didn¡¯t know if Harley had been telling the truth about it being at his house, or if it had already been looted. But we had to take the chance.


    We had been driving nonstop for two days, fueled by sheer determination. Now, we were less than an hour away from our destination.


    ¡°I know it¡¯s a long shot, but if that safe zone is still standing, we should get their help searching for the cure,¡± Tucker suggested, gripping the wheel tightly.


    I smirked at him. ¡°Agreed.¡±


    He glanced at me, eyebrows raised. ¡°Wait¡­ did you just admit the safe zone might be real?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get used to it.¡± I rolled my eyes, but I could tell my answer surprised him. For the first time, I was willing to believe in the possibility of safety.


    We hadn¡¯t talked about what happened between us back at the store. No kissing, no mentions of it. But every time I looked at him, I had this ridiculous urge to¡­ well, jump on him. But emotions were dangerous, and I wasn¡¯t ready for that.


    Tucker¡¯s voice pulled me from my thoughts. ¡°We need to stop soon¡ªrunning low on gas. I don¡¯t feel like getting stranded out here.¡±


    A parking lot filled with abandoned cars came into view. I pointed at it. ¡°That¡¯ll do.¡±


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    Tucker swung the car into a spot and tossed me a gas can. ¡°We¡¯ll start with that one,¡± he said, grabbing some plastic tubing.


    I groaned. ¡°You¡¯re doing it, right? Last time I did it, I had that taste in my mouth for days.¡± I gave him my best innocent smile.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± he muttered, rolling his eyes. But I caught the hint of a smirk.


    I turned my back to keep watch as he worked, stifling a laugh when he started coughing from the fumes.


    ¡°This car¡¯s already empty,¡± he grumbled, shaking the gas can. Barely a drop sloshed around inside. ¡°I¡¯ll check the next one. Keep watching.¡±


    I nodded and scanned the lot. Then, something moved in the distance. A blur¡ªfast. Too fast.


    What the hell?


    I froze, trying to make sense of what I saw. Maybe I was hallucinating from exhaustion. Zombies didn¡¯t move like that¡­ unless¡ªno. No way.


    There it was again, darting behind a car on the far side of the lot.


    ¡°Tucker,¡± I whisper-shouted.


    ¡°What?¡± he called back¡ªway too loud. Idiot.


    I pointed toward the movement, keeping my eyes locked on the spot where I last saw it.


    Tucker must have caught on because he rushed to finish siphoning the gas. My pulse pounded in my ears as I scanned the lot, waiting for whatever it was to come back.


    Then, suddenly, it bolted toward us.


    I squeezed my eyes shut and braced myself¡ª


    And then Tucker laughed.


    I peeked one eye open to see him standing there, grinning. ¡°That¡¯s what you were afraid of?¡±


    A dog.


    A scrappy little mutt with a blood-caked ear wagged its tail at me, tongue hanging out the side of its mouth.


    ¡°Oh my god!¡± I gasped, dropping to my knees. ¡°Can we keep him?!¡±


    Tucker still looked amused, but he shrugged. ¡°Sure.¡±


    I scooped the puppy into my arms and carried him to the car, giddy like a five-year-old. He was just a pup, and somehow, he had survived in this world.


    Climbing into the backseat, I pulled out a can of beans and a water bottle. The puppy devoured the food and lapped up the water like he hadn¡¯t eaten in days.


    Tucker slid into the driver¡¯s seat, shaking his head. ¡°Looks like he likes you. What¡¯s his name?¡±


    I thought for a moment, scratching the pup behind his ears. ¡°Hmm¡­ what do you think?¡±


    ¡°He looks like a Leo.¡±


    I smiled. ¡°Leo it is.¡±


    I lifted the puppy and rubbed my nose against his. He yawned, then curled up in my lap and closed his eyes.


    ¡°How much longer until we hit Mimberly?¡± I asked.


    Tucker checked the map. ¡°Should be about five mi¡ª¡±


    His voice trailed off. His grip on the wheel tightened as he stared straight ahead.


    ¡°What?¡± I turned to follow his gaze¡ªand my breath caught.


    A massive fence loomed ahead, stretching high into the sky, its rusted metal surface hidden until now behind a hill.


    I swallowed hard.


    ¡°I guess we found it.

 Chapter 8 – The Test Subject

    Ellie¡¯s POV


    "GET OUT OF THE CAR, HANDS UP!"


    Two guards stood just outside the towering fence, gripping rifles that looked way too big for comfort. Their eyes were sharp, scanning us for any sudden movements.


    Tucker and I exchanged a glance before cautiously stepping out of the car, keeping our hands where they could see them. My pulse pounded in my ears, but when I looked over at Tucker, he had the biggest grin on his face.


    Of course, he did.


    He had been right all along. There was a safe zone, and this was it.


    "State your name," one of the guards ordered, nodding at Tucker first.


    "Tucker Harding," he said, that stupid grin still plastered on his face.


    The guard turned to me. "And you?"


    "Eleanor Martin," I replied.


    At that, the guards finally cracked a smile. "Well, Tucker and Eleanor¡ª"


    "Ellie," I corrected quickly.


    The guard chuckled. "Ellie, then. Welcome to Wimberly."


    As if on cue, the heavy gate behind them creaked open. They must have pressed some kind of button when I wasn¡¯t looking. Great. I was already letting my guard down.


    "Someone will meet you inside," the guard added.


    The second we stepped through the gate, a short, perky blonde practically bounced toward us. Before I could react, she threw her arms around me in an excited hug.


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    "I''m Beth!" she announced, thrusting out her hand toward Tucker, who shook it, still amused.


    We introduced ourselves again, but this time, at least, it wasn¡¯t at gunpoint.


    Beth¡¯s energy was something else. She was talking a mile a minute as she led us deeper into the safe zone. "This was one of the original safe zones set up at the start of the outbreak. As far as we know, it''s the only one still standing. We''ve got about 200 people here, and everyone has a job to keep things running. If you want to be part of it, you¡¯ll have to work for it."


    Her expression turned serious for a moment¡ªthen just as quickly, she was all smiles again.


    "You two have been out there a while, huh?"


    Tucker and I nodded.


    "Perfect!" Beth beamed. "You''ll probably be sent on scavenging missions, then. Oh, and are you okay with living together? Because I have the cutest little house for you!"


    She didn¡¯t even wait for an answer before practically skipping toward a small house. "Here it is!" She swung her arms dramatically like a game show host.


    I could already tell she was the hyper type.


    Tucker walked straight in and flopped onto the couch. "It¡¯s perfect," he said with a sigh.


    "Okay, so¡ªworking showers! But showers are limited to three minutes per person, so be quick. After you freshen up, head to the center of town. We¡¯ll get you settled in properly."


    With that, Beth disappeared, leaving Tucker and me alone in what was now our house.


    We exchanged smiles.


    A real house. A real shower.


    I didn¡¯t care how the plumbing worked¡ªI just wanted the months of grime off of me.


    Tucker and I took turns showering, and I¡¯ll admit, we both took longer than three minutes. I even gave Leo a bath, scrubbing the dried blood from his fur. He looked even cuter clean and had thoroughly enjoyed the warm water.


    By the time we were dressed in fresh clothes¡ªmine a little too baggy, Tucker¡¯s shirt a little too tight¡ªwe were ready to see what this place was really about.


    The center of Wimberly was bustling.


    People gathered around tables piled high with food, while others stood in front of an infirmary stocked with medical supplies. Behind the food stations, people with clipboards rationed out supplies, checking names off a list.


    It was so strange, seeing civilization again.


    Tucker and I spotted Beth near the food tables and made our way over.


    "So," I asked, "who''s in charge here?"


    "Oh, that¡¯d be David," Beth said, pointing toward a small house nearby. "He''s super great!"


    I nodded. "We¡¯ll be right back."


    Tucker and I crossed the street and knocked gently on the door.


    "Anyone home?" Tucker called, peering through a side window.


    A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing an older man with white hair and thin, wire-rimmed glasses. He adjusted them as he studied us.


    "What do you kids need?" he asked, his voice steady but kind.


    Tucker glanced at me, then back at David. "We need to tell you something. It''s important."


    David must have sensed the urgency because he stepped aside, motioning for us to enter.


    "Come in."


    We sat on the couch as he took a seat across from us, eyes sharp behind his glasses.


    "Alright," he said. "Tell me what¡¯s going on."


    So, we did.


    We told him everything. About Harley, the cure, the chance¡ªhowever slim¡ªthat it still existed.


    David listened without interrupting, and when we finished, his eyes were wide.


    Then, to my surprise, they filled with tears.


    "We need to start searching immediately," he said, voice shaking with emotion. "Do you know where he lived?"


    I shook my head. "No idea. We thought we could send out search teams, go house by house until we find it. I know it¡¯s a long shot."


    David nodded firmly. "No, it¡¯s a good idea. It¡¯s our only idea. I¡¯m going to make an announcement tonight. We¡¯ll start first thing tomorrow."


    Tomorrow.


    So close, yet so far away.


    For the first time in a long time, hope didn¡¯t feel impossible.