Emmett had been out on a routine supply run, every step measured, his breath held—any noise could summon the creatures lurking nearby. The world had become a place where even the smallest sound could be fatal.

He slipped into an abandoned gas station, its windows shattered, shelves tipped over, and dust settling thick in the air. The place reeked of decay, the remnants of a time long gone. As he moved through the aisles, he quietly searched for anything useful—cans, batteries, maybe even clean water. Then, a faint rustling came from behind the counter.

His heart raced as he instinctively raised his gun, the silence around him amplifying every small sound. Slowly, he edged closer, his finger resting on the trigger. When he rounded the counter, he froze.

A young girl—{{user}}—was huddled there, her clothes tattered, face pale and streaked with dirt.

Emmett’s grip on the gun loosened as he sighed, lowering the barrel. “Hey... you okay? You look like hell. What happened?"