The Last Stand (5)

The remaining civilians quickly divided the supplies, avoiding Eric's corpse as much as possible.

With hurried thanks, they disappeared into the shadows of the city, their footsteps fading into the distance.

Aurielle raised an eyebrow at Linsley as they resumed their trek. "Think they'll make it?"

"Maybe," Linsley said, his tone even, his gaze fixed ahead. "But they'll have to figure it out on their own. We've got our own mission to focus on."

…

The industrial district loomed ahead, its tall factories and warehouses towering like silent sentinels over the crumbling streets.

The shadows here seemed darker, thicker, as if the decay of the world had seeped into the very air. The acrid stench of rust and mildew clung to everything, mixing with the faint coppery tang of dried blood.

Zombies shuffled aimlessly through the open spaces, their groans echoing faintly in the stillness, a constant reminder of the dangers that lurked.