Hometown

The people who made it through gathered around a simple table in a poorly lit apartment. They looked tired, focused, and hopeful. Major Rodriguez opened an old map of the area and spread it out for everyone to look at.

"Alright, listen up, everyone," Major Rodriguez began, his tone authoritative yet tinged with urgency. "Our goal is Oakridge, Hiro's hometown. We need to plan our route carefully to avoid any unnecessary risks. The roads are unpredictable, and we can't afford any surprises."

The group gathered around the map, and Hiro used his finger to follow the different routes to Oakridge. Major Rodriguez, Maya, Casi, Rafael, and the other survivors shared their thoughts, talking about the possible risks and benefits of each path.

Maya pointed at a curvy mountain road. "This path could hide us, but it's narrow and might get blocked easily. On the other hand, the highway is quicker, but it's open, and we might draw unwanted attention."

Casi said, "We gotta think about what we've got. If we're running low on fuel or run into problems, we might have to take a different route. It's smart to check things out ahead of time to avoid any unexpected stuff."

Rafael, studying the map, suggested, "There's an abandoned military outpost not far from here. We could check it for additional supplies and maybe find some intel on the current state of the region."

The major nodded in agreement. "Good idea, Rafael. Supplies are crucial, and information is our best ally. But be cautious. The outpost could be infested, and we don't want to draw too much attention."

While they kept planning, a feeling of teamwork and a common goal took over the room. The survivors, each with their own skills and ideas, worked together to come up with a plan. They talked about possible dangers, like infected groups, other survivor gangs, and the always-present risk of the powerful new infectors.

Once the plan was in place, the survivors began to prepare for the journey. They gathered supplies, checked their weapons, and fortified the apartment as best they could. The atmosphere was tense, yet a thread of determination wove through the group, binding them together.

As the group started their journey, walking away from the safer abandoned apartment, the air outside felt full of unknowns. The uneasy feeling that had been there during their two day trip got stronger, making their path seem darker. The survivors walked carefully, paying attention to every noise and movement.

The trip to Oakridge was tough. The group moved through empty streets, stayed away from places with a lot of infected, and took smart detours to save supplies. On the journey, they found bits of the old world falling-apart buildings, empty cars, and reminders of a time when things were alive.

As the survivors made their way through the chosen route, the atmosphere grew tense with every step. The small mountain road gave them some protection, but it also made it hard to see. The group moved cautiously, their eyes darting to every rustling leaf and snapping twig, alert to any potential threats.

They heard footsteps in the distance, the sound bouncing off the quiet mountainside. Major Rodriguez raised his hand, telling the group to stop. The survivors crouched down behind what was left of an old barrier, looking at each other with understanding. The Major signalled for everyone to stay quiet.

From the thick bushes came a single wandering infector, moving slowly and unpredictably. Its thin body was covered in ragged clothes, and its empty eyes looked around for something to attack. The survivors quietly watched, holding onto their weapons, ready to act if necessary.

Maya, always watchful, quietly told the group, "Keep quiet and don't move. We don't want to get noticed." The survivors held their breath as the wandering infector moved by, seeming not to notice them.

After making sure it was safe, Major Rodriguez signalled for the group to keep going. The tension stayed in the air as they started walking again, each step feeling heavy because of the nearby wandering danger. The meeting was a clear reminder of the risks ahead on their journey.

As the survivors moved ahead, the curvy mountain road was tough, needing careful navigation to avoid running into the wandering infectors that were sometimes around. The group walked quietly, staying alert, and looking around for any signs of movement.

Rafael, always paying attention, suggested a good spot with a view of the road ahead. "Let's go up there. We can see better and notice any dangers before they come too close."

Taking Rafael's idea, the survivors quietly climbed the rocky area to the lookout point. From up there, they could see the road below better, making it more likely for them to notice and stay away from any wandering infectors that might come their way.

The trek through the mountainous land kept going, with these nervy run-ins with the leftover infected. Every time they saw one, it reminded the group of the difficulties they were up against. The uneasy feeling stuck around, getting stronger as they got closer to Oakridge, making them more unsure about what they might find in Hiro's hometown.

Even with the tough times, the survivors kept going, all determined to reach Oakridge. During the trip, Hiro felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. The landscape reminded him of the time before the outbreak, making their two day mission with a total twenty survivors, mix with soldiers and civilians including him feel even more significant .

The streets, once known, now showed the damage from the apocalypse. The survivors looked at each other, their eyes showing both relief and sadness. The trip had been tough, but they made it.

Major Rodriguez surveyed the surroundings. "We're here. Oakridge. Let's proceed with caution. We don't know what awaits us."

As the group went further into the Oakridge, the uneasy feeling stayed, like a ghost hanging around with every step. he survivors kept moving ahead, not sure about what was going on, but their common goal to find out more about Hiro's hometown kept them going into the unknown.