The time for grim work now: the night had grown dark and deserted, and the few remaining humans in the once teeming arena found themselves bathed in a sickening purple light. Through the low, occasional grunts of stray zombies, the ghostly stillness outside was best broken. My house was an ex-friend's then, made over into a shed of sorts and my only shelter amongst the storm. The fact that they had existed as walkers showed the danger left outside these walls.At home, I had turned the inner space into a system of fortifications: one could notice cans filled with stones and scraps of metal disposed around the perimeter, placed in such a way that upon disturbance, they would make noise. Almost carelessly placed, those cans seemingly had been posed so that when anything moved, the rattling would be heard. An intruder would be caught. Next to the cans was an old-time radio, which, at one time, brought news and music. It was now wired to a speaker with the system altered so that if jostle

The pale light of dawn graying the world awoke me from my restless sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, Sara would appear. Her face haunted me, her image dissolving into the darkness of my mind, ever ghostly, beyond my grasp. That fragile night's peace had only served to remind me of my solitude, and the heavy silence was broken by the moaning of the undead—an uncomfortably familiar lullaby.I knew today was the day I needed to leave the safety of this temporary refuge. The small fortified house had served its purpose, but staying here any longer was a death sentence. Somewhere in this growing wasteland that used to be our world lay the base where Sara had been taken. I was determined to find it. I stuffed my pack full, my mind a jumble of strategy and gnawing anxiety regarding treading into unknown territory. The streets outside were a minefield: ruined homes, burned-out cars, and crumbling roads filled with both dead and living who, in their desperation, had turned monstrous. I knew

"Lead the way," I said. We rode off into darkness, leaving the bodies of the bandits to whatever would eventually find them. Elena led the way through the barren landscape, and the ghostly shadows of the moon cast upon the ruins of the world. The roads were hazardous, and every rustle the wind carried seemed to hold more danger. The deeper we walked, the more I realized Elena navigated the path through the field. Her strides were calculated and purposeful, her turns cautious, as if she knew every evil threat hiding in the dark.Behind me, Amara sat silent, the dagger clutched tightly in her hand. I could feel the fear in her and attempted a reassuring smile. My face must have reflected more exhaustion than confidence, though. Scarcely had we fled the bandits, the unyielding pursuit putting all three of us on edge. Most of the time, Lucas had remained silent, and yet his mind was a thousand miles away. The artificial joviality of this man now changed into a resolute grimness. From the

The flickering oil lamps cast shadows like phantoms on the shelter walls as Rex lay on the cot, his brain in a turmoil. He felt hardly heavy with his bone-wearying sleep for the chaos of the day kept him awake. Adrenaline that rushed through him while he fought off the bandits ebbed and receded into some vague unease.Just as he suddenly sat upright, a terrific crash shook the exterior. With a start, Rex had his heart racing. Next to him, Amara stirred slightly, furrowing her brow in worry."What just happened?" she whispered, gazing up at him with wide, frightened eyes."I do not know," Rex shot back quietly but urgently as he flung aside the tattered thin blanket covering him, swinging his legs off the bed. "I will look.".As he stood, Lucas leapt from his makeshift bed, his face a mix of fear and resolve. "I'll go with you," he said, grabbing a rusty baseball bat that had become their weapon of choice. "We can't take any chances.""No," Rex insisted, his gaze hardening. "You stay h