Among the dead

The city was in ruins, a skeletal landscape of shattered buildings and abandoned vehicles stretching as far as the eye could see. No sign of life anywhere—except for the undead that lurked in the shadows. Zaria moved with practiced silence through the debris-strewn streets, her worn backpack secured tightly against her shoulders and the machete clutched in her sweaty palm. Three months since the outbreak, and she was still alone, still clinging to the desperate hope that somewhere beyond the decay, another survivor breathed.

She navigated around overturned cars and military vehicles, their rusted hoods serving as makeshift tombstones. The temptation to hotwire a car gnawed at her—how much easier it would be to travel, to escape—but she knew better. The engine noise would bring them out in droves, the living dead drawn to the sound like moths to flame. She'd seen it happen before, watched as others made that fatal mistake and were torn apart within minutes.

Her stomach growled, a painful reminder of her dwindling supplies. When she spotted the supermarket—its automatic doors hanging crookedly but still intact—relief washed over her. She circled the building first, checking for signs of recent activity, then slipped inside through a shattered side window.

The air inside was stale with the smell of rot and decay, but the shelves still held treasures. She moved methodically, scanning aisles, checking corners, her machete always ready. First, she gathered non-perishables—canned goods, protein bars, anything that would last. Then she turned to personal items, grabbing soap, and hygiene products. Small comforts in a world devoid of comfort.

That's when she heard it—the soft whoosh of the automatic doors opening, followed by a low, guttural growl that made her blood run cold. A Z. Without thinking, she dropped behind a cereal display, her heart hammering against her ribs.

Two more Zs shuffled in behind the first, their movements jerky and unnatural. She held her breath, praying they'd pass, but one of them turned its head slowly, milky eyes fixing on her hiding spot. A raspy moan escaped its lips as it raised a skeletal hand to point.

Zaria screamed and bolted, knocking over displays as she scrambled away. She ran blindly, turning down an aisle only to collide with another Z that had been wandering nearby. The impact sent her flying backward, her head cracking against the linoleum floor. Stars danced behind her eyes as the creature loomed over her, its jaw hanging open, ready to tear into her flesh.

Just as its fingers brushed her throat, the top part of its head exploded in a spray of blood and brain matter. Zaria flinched, bracing for the end, but the weight never came. When she dared to open her eyes, a tall figure stood over her, smoking pistol in hand.

"Ken Jones," he said, extending a hand. "You okay?"

She nodded mutely as he helped her up, then gently wiped the gore from her face with a clean cloth from his pocket.

"Thank you," she finally managed, her voice trembling. In the distance, more groans echoed through the store. Ken's eyes met hers, a silent understanding passing between them. They weren't alone anymore—for better or worse.