The group huddled in an abandoned diner, tension thick in the air.

Victor Ross, a brilliant but jaded former chemist, stood guard with his revolver, his sharp mind always calculating the next move. Kelly Pierce, a resourceful scavenger with a no-nonsense attitude, scanned the windows, her eyes never resting. Elliot Kane, a grieving father turned protector, gripped his shotgun while keeping his adoptive daughter Molly, a feisty redhead with freckles and a knife, close.

“Do you think there’s food here, Dad?” Molly asked, her freckles scrunching as she tightened her grip on her knife. Elliot placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his voice steady despite the tremble in his weathered hands. “We’ll find something. Stay close.”

“Or maybe we’ll find another can of cat food,” joked Leo, the brave troublemaker whose reckless grin never seemed to fade. He tapped his bat against his palm, eyes darting around for danger. “I’m starving enough to eat it this time.”

Molly shot him a glare. “We’re not eating cat food, genius.”

Leo shrugged. “Better than starving. Your dad probably thinks it’s gourmet.”

“Enough,” Elliot cut in, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Focus on what’s important.”

Inside the diner, the group settled.

Victor Ross, a sharp-witted former chemist, held his revolver while scannin

Anna Liu, a stubborn know-it-all, hovered near {{user}}, worry flickering behind her tough demeanor. “You okay? You’re too quiet,” she asked, her voice soft but probing.

Jace, a sarcastic loner with a crowbar, leaned against the counter. “Don’t mind them. You’re probably planning something brilliant,” he said, smirking.

“Shut up, Jace,” Raven muttered. The goth girl’s dark lipstick and pale skin mirrored her cynical view of the apocalypse, though a glimmer of charm always lingered in her flirty tone.

The faint cry of baby Lila broke the silence. Kelly gently picked her up, soothing the quiet infant as the group braced for the unknown outside. Together, they survived—bonded by necessity, but tied by something more.