A Lot

[Thursday] [8:39 AM]

Continuing on foot, the trio cautiously approaches the grocery store. However, their hopes are dashed as they see a massive crowd of infected gathered in front of the entrance. Disappointed, they decide to retreat and search for another store.

After thirty minutes of searching, they hear the sound of a gunshot in the distance. Quickly, Roman ducks down beside a car, urging Alice and Rachel to do the same.

Roman gestures for them to stay down as the infected horde runs past, their moans and growls filling the air. Alice grips her crowbar tightly, her knuckles white with tension. Rachel clutches her knife, her eyes focused on the infected as they disappear into the distance.

Once the horde has passed, Roman signals for them to get up. Cautiously, they rise to their feet, surveying the area for any lingering threats. Seeing none, they resume their search for a different grocery store.

As they walk, Alice asks, "Do you think whoever fired that shot is okay?"

Roman shrugs. "Hard to say. But we can't afford to investigate. Our priority is finding food and supplies."

Rachel nods in agreement. "Let's keep moving. Maybe we'll have better luck at the next store."

They continue their trek, constantly on guard for any sign of danger. Eventually, they come across another grocery store, this one seemingly untouched by the infected. Holding their breath, they approach cautiously.

To their relief, there are no infected in sight. Exchanging relieved glances, they enter the store and begin gathering supplies. They fill their bags with canned goods, bottled water, and other essentials.

Alert and vigilant, Alice, Rachel, and Roman silently crept out of the grocery store, ensuring they weren't followed by any infected. Keeping low to the ground, they hurriedly retraced their steps, zigzagging through alleys and deserted streets to evade detection.

Upon arriving at Roman's home, they cautiously entered, bolting the doors behind them. Each expelled a collective sigh of relief, happy to be safe once more.

As they settled into Roman's home, Alice couldn't help but express her gratitude. "Thank goodness for this place. I don't know if I could handle being out there much longer."

Rachel nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting the exhaustion that Alice felt. "Seriously. Every minute out there feels like an eternity."

Roman placed a hand on Alice's shoulder. "Maybe we should take a break tomorrow. Right now, let's focus on organizing these supplies and resting up."

Nightfall descended upon them, bringing with it an uneasy calm. Hours passed as they busied themselves with sorting and categorizing their newfound provisions, occasionally stealing nervous glances towards the windows.

-OoOoO-

[Friday] [7:41 AM]

Olivia woke up to the sound of her stomach growling loudly. She groggily got out of bed and made her way towards the door, her bare feet padding softly against the carpeted floor. She reached out to grab the doorknob, but stopped short when she remembered that she had locked it the night before.

She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should unlock it and venture out into the house. She didn't know if they were still infected, or if they had turned into full-blown monsters.

Her stomach growled again, more insistently this time. She knew that she needed to eat something, or she would pass out from hunger. Taking a deep breath, she unlocked the door and stepped out into the hallway.

The house was silent, save for the sound of her own breathing. She could hear her father and brother moving around downstairs, their footsteps heavy on the wooden floor. She tensed, expecting them to come up and attack her at any moment.

But they didn't. Instead, they ignored her completely, as if she wasn't even there. Olivia slowly made her way down the stairs, her heart pounding in her chest.

Avoiding the direction where she heard her brother and father's groans, she made her way to the kitchen and rummaged through the cabinets until she found a box of cereal. She poured herself a bowl and ate it slowly, savoring the sweet taste of the milk and the crunch of the cereal.

Olivia finishes her cereal and makes her way back to her room, her stomach still growling. She knows she needs more sustenance to satisfy her hunger, so she searches through her dresser drawers until she finds a stash of granola bars and dried fruit. She greedily stuffs her mouth with the food, but no matter how much she eats, she can't shake the feeling of emptiness in her belly.

As she sits on her bed, she tries to wrap her mind around what has happened. She remembers the events leading up to her current state, including the moment when her father and brother attacked her.

The thought of what they did to her sends a wave of shame and disgust washing over her.

Her thoughts are interrupted by the sound of gunshots ringing out in the distance. She tenses up, wondering who's brave enough to open fire a gun. The gunshots continue for several minutes before abruptly stopping, followed by a loud crash.

Olivia's heart races as she realizes that the noise is coming from inside the house. She quickly moves to hide underneath her bed, her pulse pounding in her ears. She can hear footsteps, someone inside her home is exploring each room. After exploring the first floor, they then continued onwards up the stairs, then going towards her room.

Her door is brutally slammed open, causing the frame to splinter and crack. Olivia curls up into a ball underneath the bed, her breath hitching in her throat as she tries to remain silent. She can hear the footsteps getting closer, the sound of boots scraping against the wooden floor.

-OoOoO-

[Friday] [8:55 AM]

Carlos Olivera, a seasoned sergeant in the US Army, surveyed the scene before him. His team had been deployed to clear out the infected in this section of the residential area. As they made their way up to the second floor, they stumbled upon a locked room. Using sheer ****, Carlos kicked down the door, revealing a dimly lit bedroom.

He paused for a moment, straining his ears to pick up any sounds. At first, he thought the room was empty. But then, he heard it - the sound of shallow breathing. It was coming from underneath the bed.

Carlos approached cautiously, dropping down to his knees to peer underneath the bed. To his surprise, he saw a young woman huddled up in a fetal position, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Carlos' heart went out to the young woman huddled under the bed. He could see the fear etched on her face, and he could hear the tremble in her voice as she pleaded with him not to hurt her.

"Please, don't hurt me," she repeated, her voice barely audible.

"I'm not here to hurt you," Carlos reassured her, keeping his voice gentle and soothing. "I'm here to help you."

But the young woman didn't seem to register his words. She simply closed her eyes and passed out, her body limp and lifeless. Carlos frowned, realizing that she had probably fainted from fear.

He gently picked her up, cradling her in his arms as he carried her out of the house and into one of their military trucks. He laid her down on the back seat, covering her with a blanket to keep her warm.

AN: Please consider liking the chapter if you liked it! Cheers! Have a good day everyone!