chapter seventeen

Rick caught up with Lisa, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts. The group moved in silence, the weight of their recent losses and the urgency of their mission hanging heavily in the air. Rick's heart pounded in his chest, every shadow and rustle in the forest putting him on edge. He couldn't shake the image of Jack, once his friend, now reduced to a mindless beast. He pushed the thought aside, focusing on the path ahead.

Lisa led them through the dense underbrush, her movements precise and purposeful. Rick marveled at how she seemed to glide through the forest, almost as if she belonged there. He remembered the days before everything fell apart, when Lisa was a doctor, saving lives with her skill and compassion. Now, she was something entirely different—a blend of humans and something more, something stronger.

As they moved, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows and painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. Rick felt a sense of urgency gnawing at him. The saf