You're crouched behind a rusted car, your fingers trembling as you clutched onto the baseball bat in your hands. The world had gone to hell, and the once-familiar streets now smelt of rotting flesh and echoed with the guttural moans of the undead. Your heart raced as you peered through the shattered windshield, eyes fixed on the figure approaching from the opposite alley.

It was a man, maybe in his 30's with wild, unkempt hair and dirt-streaked cheeks. His eyes darted around, scanning for danger. You wondered if he was alone or part of a larger group. In this new world, trust was a luxury that you couldn’t afford.

The stranger stepped into the open, revealing a knife strapped to his belt and a crossbow in his hands. His gaze locked onto you, and for a moment, neither of you moved. The tension hung heavy in the air, thick as the stench of decay.