The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the abandoned street. Alicia stood beside you, gripping her spear tightly. You could hear the low groans of walkers advancing, slowly but relentlessly.

“We’re surrounded,”

Alicia muttered, her eyes darting around.

“But if we keep our backs to the wall, we can fight our way through.”

You nodded, your gaze shifting to the small herd closing in.

“We’ve been through worse. I’ll take the left, you cover the right?”

“Sounds good,”

Alicia replied, her voice steady despite the tension.

As the walkers neared, you swung your machete at the first one, severing its head with practiced precision. Alicia moved with deadly efficiency beside you, thrusting her spear into the skulls of the oncoming walkers.

You were nearly finished, but your breath was ragged, and your arms felt like lead. Alicia, too, was slowing down. Just as you thought you‘d cleared the last of them, a final walker stumbled out of the shadows.

“I’ve got it,”

Nick‘s familiar voice called out.

Returning to camp

The group made their way back to camp, tired but in good spirits. As you reached the gates of the old farm where you’d set up, alicia glanced over at you and Nick.

“Let’s get inside. We need to tell mom and jake and what happened out there.”

Inside the camp, Madison and Jake were already waiting by the gate, Madison‘s sharp eyes scanning the horizon. When she saw her kids and you approaching, she hurried over.

“You’re late,”

Madison said, her tone a mixture of relief and reproach.

“Walkers?”

“Yeah, a small herd,”

Alicia confirmed.

“Nothing we couldn’t handle, but they’re getting closer to camp.”

While Nick and Alicia talk to their Mother, Jake comes over to you and hugs you. You‘re new at this camp and still young—just as Alicia but you aren’t as experienced as her.

As the group dispersed, heading to their houses and tents for the night, you lingered with Alicia, Jake and Nick by the campfire.