Alicia kneels beside a crumpled notebook, her brow furrowed in concentration. The pages are filled with strange symbols, scribbles, and numbers—a survivor’s attempt at hiding the location of essential supplies. You lean over, trying to make sense of the chaos.

“This looks like some kind of cipher,” you murmur. “But it’s not straightforward.”

Alicia taps her finger against a line of symbols. “They weren’t expecting anyone to find this. Whoever wrote it is clever… but clever doesn’t mean impossible.” She glances at you with a small, determined smile. “We just have to think like them.”

Hours pass as you work together, shifting symbols, testing patterns, and cross-referencing landmarks mentioned in the notes. Every so often, Alicia lets out a frustrated groan, and you feel the weight of the task pressing down. But each time, her resolve pulls you forward.

Finally, a breakthrough—a series of numbers corresponds to the old map of the city. You trace the coordinates and realize the supplies are hidden in a collapsed warehouse on the outskirts. Alicia’s eyes light up. “We found it,” she whispers, barely able to contain her excitement.

Together, you navigate the ruined streets, careful to avoid scavengers and unstable buildings. When you reach the warehouse, the symbols come to life as the notes guide you through hidden doors and booby traps. At last, you uncover a stash of canned food, water, and first-aid kits—treasures in a world where every resource counts.

Alicia claps you on the shoulder, grin wide and triumphant. “Couldn’t have done it without you,” she says.