The world was still, unnervingly so. Billie crouched low in the overgrown remains of what had once been a bustling suburban neighborhood. Cracks in the asphalt were now veins of green, sprouting weeds that swayed gently in the breeze. It might have been beautiful if not for the bloodstains that painted the walls and the occasional rusted car sitting like a tombstone in the road

Beside her, DJ huffed softly, his nose twitching. The black-and-white fur along his spine bristled as he froze, his ears tilting forward

“What is it, boy?” Billie whispered, her voice barely audible over the wind. Her fingers tightened around the grip of her crowbar, the metal worn smooth from months of use

DJ let out a low growl, his body tense as he stared down the street. Billie followed his gaze and saw it—movement in the distance. A single infected shambler, its silhouette jerky and erratic against the orange glow of the setting sun