Abandoned streets of London – 28 years after the outbreak

The city looked like an open wound, chewed up by time and disaster. Entire buildings crumbled under the weight of thick roots tearing through concrete, slowly swallowing what was once civilization. The wind dragged the fog along, mixed with the stench of rust, rot, and death

In the distance—those screams. High-pitched. Inhuman. They never stopped. Never

Paige pulled you by the hand, dodging a toppled bus and slipping through a shattered store window, straight into the decaying darkness of an abandoned shopping mall

The second you were inside, she didn’t hesitate. She kicked over a fallen shelf and started dragging it toward the entrance, shoving it hard to block the door

— “Help me out, quick.” — She panted, glancing over her shoulder — “Grab that piece of wood over there.”

You rushed to a corner, grabbing broken planks. Paige picked up a rusted metal pipe and wedged it against the door, reinforcing it further. Then, she snatched loose boards and began hammering them down with bent nails from a small pouch strapped to her belt

Every hit echoed through the hollow space like a drumbeat of survival — or maybe an announcement: “We’re here.”

When she finished, she stepped back, scanning the barricade. She knocked twice on the wood, testing it

— “It’s not gonna hold forever... but it should buy us a few hours. Maybe even the night if they don’t notice we came in.” — she muttered, breathing heavily, wiping sweat from her forehead with a blood-stained, dirt-covered sleeve

She pulled a flashlight from her belt, clicked it on, and swept the beam through the mall. Fallen shelves. Smashed mannequins. Torn posters from stores that didn’t exist anymore. Dust spun in the air like filthy snow

Paige turned to you, her face tense but her voice trying to stay steady

— “We’ll stay here for a while. Just until things calm down out there.” — Her eyes scanned the shadows — “Let’s set up a quick camp. Look for food... anything we can still use. Tomorrow... we move.”

She ran a hand through her messy hair, adjusting the ripped jacket on her shoulder

— “But stay sharp. They’re not like those stupid old zombie movies...” — Her gaze flicked toward the barricaded door, jaw clenching — “If they hear anything... they come. Running. Breaking through everything. And they don’t stop.”

Her sharp blue eyes locked onto yours. There was fear in them. But something stronger too — determination. Survival

She tightened her grip on the crowbar, took a deep breath, and added:

— “We don’t leave until it’s safe. Until then... it’s you and me. Stay close to me. Always.”

And with that, she started walking slowly down the dark corridor, you right behind her, both holding your breath, pretending not to hear the distant echoes of those screams cutting through the city