They find little, but Greg delivers...

Noah and Eunhwa trekked through the remnants of Lakewood, stepping over broken glass and weaving between the abandoned cars that choked the main road. The morning sun was weak, casting long shadows that made every corner feel like a threat. Noah clutched his rifle tightly, scanning the area for movement, while Eunhwa trailed just behind him, her bat resting on her shoulder.

“You don’t have to act so serious, you know,” she said, her voice breaking the silence. “A smile wouldn’t kill you.”

Noah glanced at her, frowning. “Not exactly the time for smiles, Eunhwa.”

She sighed dramatically, brushing a curl of silver hair out of her face. “Oh, lighten up, Noah. You’ve got a cute girl at your side, and you’re out in the apocalypse—what’s more romantic than this?”

Noah stopped and turned to her, his expression unreadable. “Is that what this is? Romantic?” His tone was dry, but the question hung heavy in the air.

Eunhwa smirked, taking a step closer. “Depends on how you look at it.”

“Look, Eunhwa…” He hesitated, gripping the rifle harder. “I’m married. Olivia is waiting for me. I don’t think you get that.”

Her smirk faltered, but she quickly recovered, laughing softly. “Relax, big guy. I’m just messing with you.” She brushed past him, moving toward a nearby convenience store. “Let’s see if this place has anything worth taking.”

But as she walked ahead, Noah caught the flicker of something unspoken in her eyes, a vulnerability she quickly masked. He shook his head, dismissing the thought, and followed her into the store.

The store was dimly lit, and the stench of decay hung heavily in the air. The shelves were mostly empty, and the floor was strewn with debris. Eunhwa moved confidently through the aisles, her bat swinging loosely in her hand, while Noah kept an eye on the door, his rifle at the ready.

Suddenly, the sound of shuffling feet and guttural groans came from the back of the store. “Zombies,” Noah whispered sharply, raising his weapon. Eunhwa turned, her gaze locking onto the figures emerging from the shadows.

Without hesitation, she charged toward them, her bat in a firm grip. Noah watched as she swung at the closest one, the impact sending it stumbling backward. She moved swiftly, her athletic build and years of baseball training giving her agility and strength that were lethal in this world. Eunhwa dispatched two more zombies with a series of well-placed blows, her face focused and determined.

Noah felt a sense of admiration as he watched her, but he pushed the feeling away. He quickly checked the remaining corners of the store, finding none left. “Clear,” he called out.

Eunhwa leaned on her bat, catching her breath. “Piece of cake,” she said, grinning at him.

“Nice job,” Noah acknowledged, a hint of a smile on his face. “Let’s get what we can and get out of here.”

They searched the store, gathering a few cans of food and a bottle of water, before heading back to the street.

That afternoon, as the two made their way back home, the sun began to set, casting a crimson glow across the streets.

Noah's shoulders were drawn tight with tension. "Not enough," he muttered, more to himself than to Eunhwa. "This isn't going to last."

Eunhwa looked at him, her usually playful expression turning serious. "I know, but we've got to try, right? It's all we can do," she said, trying to lighten the mood. But her words fell flat, and the reality of their situation hung heavily in the air.

His poor mood was compounded when they entered the house, finding Olivia sitting on the sofa with Greg. They were a distance apart, but the fact that she was even near him still bothered Noah.

"You're home!" Olivia called, getting up to embrace her husband. "Greg just came back too, and you should see what he brought in. A baby deer! We're looking forward to some good food for the next couple days!"

"Great," Noah nodded, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Hey, lovebirds," Eunhwa said behind them. "Don't forget about me."

"Eunhwa!" Olivia said, breaking away from Noah to embrace the petite girl. "I'm so happy you're back! How was it? Did you find anything?"

"Not alot," Noah answered. "Canned goods, and water bottles."

"Oh that's fine, we can have meat today!" Olivia beamed, pulling him towards the kitchen, where a stew was bubbling on the stove.

Noah frowned. Didn't she say Greg just returned? Where did he find the time to prepare the carcass, or for her to get the stew cooking?

He looked back at Greg, still lounging on the sofa, a smirk on his face. His gaze returned to Olivia's smile, and he let it go. They were alive for another day, and the delicious smell of the stew was clouding his starving mind.

[Food +8, Olivia -10]