Chapter 7: Stranded

After their encounter with Marcus and his group, John and his team were once again on the move, but this time they were low on supplies and in a desperate situation. They had been traveling for days with no food or water, and they were starting to feel the effects of dehydration and starvation.

Their situation only worsened when they stumbled upon a bridge that had been destroyed by the outbreak. They were stranded on one side, with no way to cross to the other.

As they assessed their situation, they realized that they were not alone. A group of infected had spotted them and were slowly making their way towards them.

John and his team quickly took cover, knowing that they were outnumbered and outmatched. They had no weapons except for a few knives and sticks, and they knew that they couldn't fight their way out of this.

They huddled together, waiting for the infected to approach. But as the group got closer, something unexpected happened. A young girl, no more than ten years old, emerged from the group of infected and started walking towards them.

John and his team were taken aback, unsure of what to do. They had encountered children before, but they had always been with their families, and they had never seen a child on their own like this.

As the girl approached, they realized that she was not infected. She was malnourished and alone, but she was still alive. They cautiously approached her and offered her some food and water.

The girl, whose name was Emily, was hesitant at first, but she eventually accepted their offer. As they shared their supplies with her, she told them her story. She had been separated from her family during an attack by the infected, and she had been on her own ever since.

John and his team knew that they couldn't leave her alone, especially in her condition. They decided to take her with them, even though they knew it would mean stretching their already limited resources even further.

With Emily in tow, they set out to find a way across the bridge. After hours of searching, they stumbled upon a small boat that had been abandoned on the riverbank. It was old and rickety, but it was their only chance to cross to the other side.

As they climbed aboard, John and his team felt a sense of hope. They had rescued a young girl and found a way to cross the bridge. They knew that their journey was far from over, but they also knew that they could face whatever challenges lay ahead as long as they had each other.

As they set off across the river, John looked back at Emily, who was huddled under a blanket. He knew that they had just taken on a new responsibility, but he also knew that they couldn't turn their backs on someone who needed their help.

John and his team had faced many challenges since the outbreak, but they were determined to keep moving forward, no matter what lay ahead.