A Follow-up Meeting

The four survivors trudged through the snow-covered streets of the abandoned city, their breath visible in the cold air. They made their way back to the gas station, where they were scheduled to meet up with the Resistance people. As they approached the building, they could see figures huddled around a makeshift table inside, illuminated by the dim light of a lantern.

As they entered the gas station, they were greeted by the two doctors, Dr. Andrew Mullins and Dr. Patricia Merchant along with Alex, who was seated at the head of the table. Sarah wasted no time in getting to the point. "How are the tests going?" she asked, her voice tinged with a sense of urgency.

The older doctor, Dr. Mullins, cleared his throat before responding. "It's still early days, but the initial results are promising," he said. "We've seen some positive responses to the treatments we've been testing. However, there's still a lot of work to be done, and we've sent some of the samples south for further analysis." Thank you again for being willing to share your blood with us. I know we are closer than we've ever been because of you.

Sarah nodded, her mind racing with the implications of their progress. "If you need anything else, please let me know." she added.

"And what about the four of you? How are we doing?" Alex asked, turning to Dusty.

Dusty took a deep breath before responding. "We're holding up okay," he said. "We've managed to avoid any major confrontations with other groups so far, but we did run into some trouble with the group of armed men you guys had mentioned. It does look like they are searching for Sarah, we assume they are from BioTech and knew that she had escaped from the lab."

Alex frowned at the mention of the armed men. "That's concerning," Alex said. "We'll need to keep an eye on them," she continued, "they have far more firepower and seem to be willing to kill anyone that happens to get into their way.

Dusty nodded in agreement. "Agreed," he said. "But for now, our main concern is getting through the winter. I think we are well stocked and have a good supply of wood but its still going to be a long few months."

Alex nodded thoughtfully. "I understand, we feel the same with our people as well." she said. "And that's why we've been working on arranging for a group of us to move south to a larger city that's been cleared of zombies. People are living there as a community, and they have access to resources that we don't."

The four survivors exchanged hopeful glances at the mention of a safe community. "That sounds promising," Samantha said, a note of optimism in her voice.

Alex smiled at her. "It is," she said. "And we'd like to extend an invitation to all of you to join us."

The group looked at each other, weighing their options. "We'd like to go," William said, speaking for the group. "But Sarah be able to come with us? Some may not be able to accept what she is."

"Yes," Patricia said, "I would need to get approval first."

Alex nodded in understanding. "Of course," she said. "We'll need to consult with the doctors and get their input. It may take some time, but we'll let you know as soon as we have an answer." I think in light of what she is doing to help us we can get it approved.

Sarah looked at the others, "Perhaps you guys will have to go on without me." she said in a sad tone.

Dusty looked at her, "That isn't going to happen, we will not leave without you.

Samantha put her arms around Sarah and whispered in her ear, "Remember, we're family now." 

Sarah smiled at them appreciating their commitment to her and to each other.

Before they left Dusty explained to them where their safehouse was located and offered that, should they need to come into that part of the city for any reason they are always welcome to take shelter with them. Alex thanked him and said that perhaps on one of their searches they would make a point of visiting them. With that, the group thanked Alex and the doctors and began making their way back to their safehouse. 

Along they way, the snow fell heavily around them, creating a serene yet eerie atmosphere as the four survivors trudged through the white-covered streets. Suddenly, their peaceful journey was interrupted by the guttural moans of the undead. They turned to see a horde of zombies emerging from the swirling snow, their decaying bodies moving clumsily but with purpose.

Without hesitation, Dusty drew his sword, its blade glinting in the pale light, while William and Samantha readied their knives. Sarah, stood poised to strike, her eyes locked on the approaching threat.

The first zombie lunged forward, its rotted arms outstretched, but Dusty met it with a swift strike, slicing through its neck with practiced ease. A second swing and then a third brought the zombie to the ground. William and Samantha fought back-to-back, their movements coordinated and precise as they dispatched the oncoming horde.

Sarah, with her enhanced strength and agility, moved like a blur, her blows landing with deadly accuracy as she danced between the zombies, her movements almost graceful against the backdrop of the falling snow.

Despite their skill and determination, the battle was fierce. The zombies seemed relentless, their numbers overwhelming at times as they closed in on the group. But Dusty, William, Samantha, and Sarah fought with unwavering resolve, each strike fueled by the desire to survive and protect one another.

As the last of the zombies fell to the ground, the survivors stood amidst the snowy battlefield, their breath visible in the cold air, their bodies weary but triumphant. They shared a brief moment of relief before continuing on their journey, their resolve strengthened by their victory against the relentless undead horde.

As they continued on their journey, they came across a fallen tree that had been felled by the weight of the snow. Dusty and William quickly set to work chopping it into manageable pieces, while Samantha and Sarah gathered the wood and loaded it onto their makeshift sled.

By the time they arrived back at their safehouse, they were tired but satisfied with their haul. They stacked the firewood neatly against the wall, adding to their already significant stash, knowing that it would provide them with much-needed warmth in the days to come.

As they settled down by the fire, the conversation turned to their future prospects. "I hope we get the chance to go south," Samantha said, her eyes reflecting the flickering light of the fire. "It would be nice to be part of a community again."

The others nodded in agreement, their thoughts filled with visions of safety and security in a world that had become increasingly dangerous. Before bed, once again, as he did every night, Dusty made his rounds inspecting the doors and windows to make sure they would be safe for the night. And as they drifted off to sleep, they allowed themselves to dream of a future where the horrors of the past were nothing but distant memories.