Draws up plan (End Prep)

The four of them sat around the dining table, the dim light of the lantern casting long shadows across their faces. Outside, the wind whispered through the trees, but inside, the air was thick with tension. Noah spread the hand-drawn map across the table, smoothing out its creases with steady hands. Every mark on the paper—the raider camp, the trees, the escape routes—felt like a potential life-or-**** decision.

“This is how we’re going to do it,” Noah began, his voice firm but quiet. “Greg and I will handle the ****. We have guns to take out anyone who gets in our way. It’s not going to be pretty, but we need to move fast and hit hard before they are ready.”

Greg leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “And what about their sentries? If they see us coming, we’re toast.”

“That’s where Eunhwa comes in.” Noah looked at her. “You’re fast and quiet. You’ll stay on the outskirts, keep a lookout, and let us know if anyone’s moving toward us. You see trouble, you signal—three quick taps on something loud. Understood?”

Eunhwa nodded, her silver curls bobbing. “Got it. I can handle that.” Her voice was steady, but her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her sleeve.

“And Olivia,” Noah continued, turning to his wife. “You’re staying here.”

Her brows furrowed, and she opened her mouth to protest, but he raised a hand to stop her. “You are our only medic. If this goes wrong—and it might—we’ll need you safe, ready to patch us up. That’s non-negotiable.”

Olivia’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded reluctantly. “Just... be careful. All of you.”

“We will,” Noah promised, though he wasn’t sure if he believed it himself.

He pointed to the map again, tracing the route they’d take. “The raider camp is here, about two miles northwest of town. We will approach at night, when most of them are sleeping."

“What if they are not?” Greg asked, leaning forward. His tone was sharp, his eyes narrowed. “You think the two of us can take out all of them?”

"If they are up, or sees us coming, we turn back. We don’t have the numbers or the firepower for a full ****.”

Greg grunted, clearly not thrilled, but he didn’t argue. “Fine. But if this goes south, it’s on you.”

Noah ignored the jab and continued. “Once we’re in, we’ll prioritize food, medical supplies, and ammo. We grab what we can carry and get out fast, before the zombies come. No heroics, no second trips.”

“And if something happens to you or Greg?” Eunhwa asked, her voice quieter now.

Noah met her gaze. “If something happens to us, you run. Don’t try to save us. Don’t wait. You get back here and keep Olivia safe.”

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of the plan settling over them like a heavy blanket. Each of them knew the risks. They’d seen what the raiders were capable of, what could happen if things went wrong.

“We leave at dawn,” Noah said, folding the map and tucking it into his jacket. “Get some rest. Tomorrow’s going to be rough.”

As the group dispersed, Noah lingered at the table, staring at the map as if it held answers he hadn’t yet found. Olivia came up behind him, resting a hand on his shoulder. “You don’t have to do this,” she said softly.

“Yes, I do,” he replied, his voice firm but tired. “If we don’t, we won’t last another week.” She squeezed his shoulder, then left him alone with his thoughts. Noah leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes for a moment. The plan was as good as it was going to get, but the doubts still gnawed at him. Tomorrow, everything could fall apart. But if they wanted to survive, they had no other choice.

[Camp Morale -10]