Part 3: A Young Girl

As Sarah stepped out of the doorway, her voice rang out in a startled cry, drawing doctor and me to her side in a frantic rush. There, blocking her path, stood a young girl, her presence both eerie and unnerving. Sarah's attempts to communicate with her were met with a chilling silence, the girl's gaze piercing and intense.

I studied the girl, noting the state of her attire—tattered and stained, reminiscent of a soldier's uniform. But any thoughts of her being a lost soldier were quickly dispelled as Sarah's sharp intake of breath drew my attention to the crimson trail trickling down the girl's arm.

"Are you alright?" Sarah's concern was palpable as she cautiously approached the girl, only to recoil in horror as the seemingly innocent facade shattered, revealing a feral, animalistic aggression. In a blur of motion, the girl lunged at Sarah, her attack swift and savage.

Instinct kicked in as Sarah fought for her life, her movements fueled by adrenaline and fear. I rushed forward, my own senses heightened as I watched the struggle unfold before me. With a sickening crack, Sarah managed to subdue her attacker, the finality of the sound echoing through the air like a death knell.

As the girl's lifeless body crumpled to the ground, a cacophony of guttural growls and moans filled the air, drawing our attention to the figures emerging from the shadows. Men and women, their faces twisted in grotesque caricatures of humanity, advanced towards us with single-minded determination.

With no time to spare, I and Doctor Will sprang into action, their movements fluid and precise as they dispatched the advancing horde with practiced efficiency. But the odds were overwhelming, and for every zombie we managed to fell, it seemed two more took its place.

With a sense of urgency born of desperation, we made a hasty retreat from the cottage, leaving the carnage behind us as we raced into the safety of the surrounding jungle. Behind us, the groans of the undead faded into the distance, but the memory of their haunting presence lingered like a specter in the shadows.

As we regrouped, catching our breath amidst the dense foliage, a sense of grim determination settled over us. We may have escaped with our lives intact, but the horrors we had witnessed served as a stark reminder of the dangers that lurked within the depths of the unknown. And as we pressed on into the unknown, one thing remained certain—we would need to stay vigilant, for in this unforgiving wilderness, survival was anything but guaranteed.