Day 1

The first rays of sunlight crept over the horizon, casting a pale golden light over the wreckage of the town. It was eerily quiet. The streets, once filled with the sounds of life, now echoed only with the occasional shuffle of the undead.

Noah and Olivia crouched low at the edge of the estate, their hearts pounding in unison. Olivia’s wedding dress, once pristine and white, was now a patchwork of dirt, blood, and tattered lace. She had torn slits at the thighs so that it was more flexible, her legs now barely covered by the fabric. She scanned the road ahead, every crackling branch or gust of wind making her flinch.

Noah was beside her, his jaw clenched in concentration as he adjusted the makeshift pack he’d thrown over his back—his suit jacket, the sleeves tied up together, though he wasn’t sure how long it would last.

"We can do this," he murmured, more to reassure himself than Olivia. His military training was already working through the logistics—where to find more food, where they could go to keep hidden. Still, it didn’t feel real, feeling like they were in a dream, walking through a nightmare.

Olivia didn’t speak, but she nodded. They’d come this far, and she wasn’t going to break now. She only glanced at him, the subtle nod saying everything she couldn’t voice.

They moved into the desolate town carefully, stepping over debris, peering around corners. It was devastated, windows shattered, doors ajar, overturned cars strewn across the streets. In the distance, the low growl of zombies echoed, but the town was eerily devoid of life. They were out there somewhere, but the immediate threat was not as close as they feared.

"Let’s head for the market," Noah suggested, scanning the area. "We’ll find food and anything else we can use. Maybe even something to fortify the house more."

Olivia nodded again and they crept into the heart of the town, sticking to the alleyways, staying out of sight. Her bare feet were sore from the miles they had walked, the dirt and grime of the road seeping into her skin. She winced at the feeling, but she knew she couldn’t stop now.

They passed the remnants of stores, many of which had been looted, their windows broken, shelves emptied. A few homes were still intact, but the air was heavy with the scent of decay and rot. The stench of **** had started to cling to the town, like a fog.

Noah motioned for Olivia to follow him as they ducked into a small grocery store. The sign above the door read "Sullivan’s Market," its paint peeling from years of neglect, but the door was still intact. Noah cautiously twisted the knob and pushed it open, peering inside.

The place was dark, save for the light streaming through the gaps in the boarded-up windows. The smell of mildew mixed with the faint, metallic tang of blood. The shelves were half-empty, cans of beans, soup, and dry pasta strewn about haphazardly. Noah stepped inside, and Olivia followed, her footsteps muffled by the creaky floorboards.

“Let’s grab what we can,” Noah said, his voice low. He didn’t want to take any chances—he knew how quickly things could go wrong. Olivia moved silently beside him, her eyes darting nervously at the empty aisles.

They gathered what they could: canned food, bottles of water, a few packets of dried fruit. Noah grabbed a flashlight from a shelf, inspecting it before clicking it on.

"It works," he said, his voice sounding almost surprised. “We’ll need it for when night falls.”

They made their way to the back of the store, where there was a small break room. A flickering light caught Noah’s attention. There, mounted on the wall, was an old television, somehow still powered. A faint voice filled the silence of the room.

“Do you hear that?” Olivia whispered, her head tilting toward the screen.

Noah stopped, narrowing his eyes as he saw the message on the screen. It was grainy and distorted, but the words were clear enough.

"EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM. ALL CITIZENS ARE ADVISED TO STAY INDOORS AND AWAIT MILITARY ASSISTANCE. DO NOT ENGAGE WITH THE INFECTED. REMAIN CALM."

The message looped, repeating over and over. Static crackled in between, but the voice was the same: authoritative, calm, almost robotic.

"Then where the fuck are they," Noah muttered under his breath, frustration clear in his voice. "Probably waiting for some suits in Washington to get their heads out of their ass."

"We best make camp in the house. It's safe for now, and we can work on making it more secure." He looked at Olivia, her face set with determination, her hands clenched into fists. "It’s the best plan we have right now. We’ve got to hold on."

She nodded, understanding the gravity of their situation. "Okay," she said, her voice barely audible.

They scavenged for much of the day, picking up some of ill-fitting clothes, a few medical supplies, and a couple of hunting knives, which Noah tied to their waists with some string.

By the time the sky had begun to darken, they returned to their estate. It was still there, intact and untouched. They made their way to the house, stepping over the threshold once again, their breaths coming in tired pants. Noah closed the door behind them and they stood there for a moment, trying to catch their breath, trying to shake off the weight of the outside world.

They had survived their first expedition into the town, but they knew it would be the first of many before they can expect rescue.

[+3 Food, +3 Meds]