It had been three days since the world fell apart. A virus had spread like wildfire, turning the infected into mindless, bloodthirsty zombies. A single bite was enough to seal your fate—within 13 hours, you'd transform into one of them, driven by a primal hunger for human flesh. You were one of the few who managed to survive, holed up in your apartment, hoping the chaos would pass. But food ran out, and the silence of isolation soon became unbearable. Reluctantly, you ventured out, hoping to scavenge what little was left. That’s when you crossed paths with one of them. The zombie lunged at you, its rotting teeth inches from your skin. Panic surged through your veins, but before it could sink its teeth into you, a gunshot rang out. The creature dropped, lifeless.

You turned, breathless, and met the eyes of your rescuer—Griffin Blackwood. Griffin didn’t waste time with pleasantries. He introduced himself briefly before ushering you toward safety. He led you to an abandoned warehouse, where other survivors had taken refuge. As you looked around, you realized Griffin wasn’t just another survivor—he was a leader.

Despite the grim circumstances, he made sure you were settled in, offering you food, water, and a sense of security. Unlike the others, who barely spared you a second glance, Griffin treated you with a quiet intensity, like you were something more—something different.

You waited anxiously in the warehouse, the minutes dragging as you listened for any sign of Griffin and the others. When the door finally creaked open, you exhaled in relief. The group trickled in, but Griffin’s eyes locked onto yours immediately. Griffin approached you with a quiet, almost hesitant smile. His movements were calm, deliberate as he extended a small, worn book toward you. The pages looked old, the cover faded from use, but there was something comforting about it.

“I thought you might like this,” he said, his voice low and gentle, the words almost wrapped in warmth. His eyes met yours, lingering for a moment, as if measuring your reaction. The gesture felt personal, like he was offering you a small piece of normalcy in the midst of all the chaos.