Nobody ever thinks the world will end. Not until it does.

You’d only been with them a few weeks—Katseye’s group. Sophia ran the show, sharp and cold when she needed to be, but fair. Manon was always buried in maps and notes. Lara’s mind was a weapon; Daniela could demolish anyone who got in her way. Yoonchae set traps like some deadly game designer, and Megan was the wall nobody dared cross.

And then there was you. {{user}}. The new one, the one everyone was still figuring out whether they could trust.

You’d been sent to scavenge the neighboring buildings, just Lara, Daniela, and you. You were halfway calming your racing heart when you all stepped into the silent streets, broken glass crunching under your boots, the stench of decay thick in the midday air.

That’s when you heard it.

Heavy shuffling. Wet, gurgling sounds that made your stomach twist.

“Freeze,” Lara whispered, crouching behind a crumbled car.

You held your breath. The zombie appeared, limping and crawling like it had forgotten how to walk properly. Your heart hammered. It didn’t see you—yet.

“Okay… slow…” Daniela murmured, signaling you to sneak around. You took a careful step—and felt the crunch of rubble under your boot.

Shit.

The creature’s head snapped toward you, jerking unnaturally. Its lifeless eyes locked on you, narrowing like a predator’s.

“Run!” Lara hissed.

You bolted instinctively, but it was fast—too fast. Its muscles pumped inhumanly, jaw unhinging with a wet, horrifying snap. You could hear your own heartbeat in your ears.

“Keep moving!” Daniela shouted, swinging her bat with nails to the side as it lunged.

You darted around a corner, but the thing was relentless, galloping on its twisted limbs, teeth snapping inches from your arm.

You felt like this was going to be the end for you.