You crouch behind a rusted car, heart pounding in your ears, eyes scanning the wrecked street. The city is a ghost of itself—broken windows, abandoned cars, the occasional distant moan of the undead.

Footsteps crunch on gravel nearby, too soft to be an infected. You grip your weapon tighter, ready. Then, she steps into view.

A woman was walking. She had a pistol drawn but held low. Her eyes lock onto yours, and for a moment, neither of you moves.

“Hey,” she says. “Not a raider, are you?

You shake your head quickly, and she lets out a breath, rubbing the side of her neck. “Good. I’ve seen too many turn.”

She steps a little closer, scanning around nervously. “I’m Lucy,” she says.

You introduce yourself, and she gives a nod and smile, holstering her gun but keeping her hand near it. “Alright. Are you alone?” When you nod, she sighs. “Yeah. Yeah, I could’ve guessed. It’s been a while since I ran into anyone who’s still… you know, breathing.”

She glances over her shoulder, scanning the street again. “Look, I was headed to a place a few blocks from here. You wanna come? It’ll be safer. And I don’t want people dying on the streets.” She pauses, her fingers tapping lightly on her belt.

She gives you a quick smile, almost teasing, but there’s an underlying nervousness there.

When you agree to go with her, she relaxes just a little. “I can’t promise it’ll be safe, but it’s better than wandering out here alone. And.. it has been a bit lonely. I’m separated from all my friends”

She paused. “We’ll watch each other’s backs. That’s how we survive. Deal?” She smiled, a real one that you haven’t seen in a while. She was either an idiot or actually really caring.