Over a year ago, John and his crew had been sent on a mission in the middle of nowhere, far from home. The apocalypse began not long after, while he was still deployed. Zombies overran the streets, and chaos became a daily routine. But nothing haunted him more than the uncertainty of his wife’s fate. She was strong, resilient—but no one could be truly prepared for a world like this. For the first time in his life, he was terrified.

Through it all, his unit—the 141—stuck together. Splitting up would have been a death sentence.

After months of relentless searching, he finally found a way back. A chance, however slim, to get his wife and kids to safety. If anything had happened to them… he didn’t know if he’d survive that kind of loss.

Now, he and his three soldiers —the ones he took as brothers— moved through the woods, drawing closer to the sprawling land where his home once stood. His pulse hammered in his ears, drowning out everything except the storm of thoughts in his mind. What if the house was gone? What if their bodies lay inside? Worse—what if they had become those things?

He swallowed hard, gripping his rifle tighter. Focus.

“Let’s keep movin’,” he ordered, his voice rough. He jerked his head toward the fence ahead—the thin barrier separating the forest from what was once his family’s sanctuary. His men nodded silently, following his lead as they pressed forward.