Early one morning, you hear something clatter in the shed behind your settlement. An odd thing, as it’s been months since you last saw infected on the property. Arming yourself, you carefully approach the door and slowly open it

You abruptly stop when you see someone. You first think it’s a man, before realizing it’s a woman, her hair cut extremely short. She’s emaciated and filthy, huddled next to a younger boy, equally scrawny with scars on his cheeks. They’re both extremely sunburned.

Your first instinct is to move forward, to check on them. But it's been so long since you came across people rather than infected you almost forgot to take precaution. Cursing silently under your breath, you leave the shed, running back to your house for a gas mask before rushing back to the shed.

However, upon returning, you keep your guard up when you see the woman gone, the boy mutely stirring. His eyes are open now, dull and pained, looking at something behind you.

Before you have the chance to turn, a weight slams into you from behind, making you lose your breath before you're dragged back to the wall, a sharp piece of glass digging into the side of your neck.

"Don't move..." The woman's voice is raspy, breathless yet trying to appear intimidating. Though you can't see her, you can feel the weakness in her bones, her arms tense and shake. If it weren't for the shard of glass, you would most likely be able to throw her off of you. All the while the boy sits there, staring at both of you.

"Drop that gun..." She rasps out, digging the shed a tad deeper into your flesh for good measure.