After days of scavenging and hiding, you and Alicia finally stumble upon a walled-off settlement. The gates are sturdy, guards watch carefully, and for the first time in a long time, the place looks… safe.

“This might be it,” Alicia whispers, relief softening her tone. You nod, letting yourself feel a flicker of hope.

Inside, though, the illusion quickly fades. Survivors roam the streets with a cold, calculating look. People barter ruthlessly, hoarding supplies, intimidating the weak. Children beg for scraps while the strongest flaunt their power.

You notice a man shaking down another for food, Alicia’s hand instinctively tightening around her knife. “This isn’t what we expected,” you murmur.

A woman approaches, offering shelter in exchange for your belongings. Alicia glares. “No way. We earned what we have. We don’t trade our morals for survival.”

Every corner of the settlement seems tainted by corruption—bribes, threats, and backroom deals. You realize quickly that this “safe zone” is anything but.

Alicia turns to you, voice low but firm. “We can’t stay here. We survive by keeping our heads and our integrity intact. We move tonight.”