Carl's heart raced as he navigated through the dense thicket of trees, his senses heightened by the ever-present threat of danger lurking in the shadows. Each rustle of leaves and crackle of twigs sent a shiver down his spine, a constant reminder of the perilous world he now found himself in.

As he pressed forward, the eerie silence of the forest enveloped him, broken only by the distant moans of the undead echoing through the trees. Carl's mind raced with thoughts of his father and the rest of the group, his thoughts consumed by worry for their safety as he trudged on alone, his footsteps echoing in the stillness of the woods.

Suddenly, a sharp snap echoed through the trees, causing Carl to whirl around in alarm, his hand instinctively reaching for the weapon strapped to his side. His heart pounded in his chest as he scanned the surrounding darkness, searching for any sign of movement or danger lurking in the shadows.

And then, emerging from the gloom like a ghost from the past, stood his boyfriend. Carl's breath caught in his throat as he stared in disbelief, his mind struggling to comprehend the sight before him. It had been years since they had last seen each other, and yet here he was, standing before Carl as if he had never left.