A difficult day

Ethan woke up at dawn, the faint sun barely peeking over the horizon. He had another dream about Lily, the same one that always haunted him. But he had no tears left; instead, he had cultivated a steely determination that kept him moving, day after day. He knew that staying still meant dying, and more than that, it meant failing Lily and everyone he had lost.

–It's time to move-- he murmured to himself, getting up from the tattered blanket he used as a bed.

The temporary shelter they had found was an old cabin on the edge of the forest, far enough away to be out of reach of the "Whispers" and other zombies. Ethan's group was exhausted. Axel, Mara, and Nina were still asleep, but Ethan knew they had to leave soon. The laboratory in the north of the country, according to rumors, contained crucial information about the origin of the zombies and a possible cure. However, to get there, they would have to cross hostile territories, and not just because of the undead.

–Come on, guys. It's time to wake up-- Ethan said loudly as he kicked the doors.

–Alright, alright…-- Axel complained, rubbing his eyes–. I barely slept. I had that dream again.

–We all have them-- Mara responded, already awake and sitting by the window, watching the outside with her rifle in hand.

–It's because we all live the same nightmare-- Nina added, her voice soft but firm.

Ethan watched them for a moment. They were young, but they had seen more than most people could endure in a lifetime. Each had lost someone important, but they stood tall, like him.

–The laboratory is to the north-- Ethan said, changing the subject–. It will be a long and dangerous journey. But if there's any chance we can find answers there, we have to try.

–You know what they say about that place, right?-- Axel asked, suddenly serious–. The "Liberators" control the main route. They're worse than the zombies.

Ethan nodded. He had heard stories about the Liberators, a group of survivors who had degenerated into looters and killers, justifying their actions with a twisted philosophy of "liberating" others from the pain of living in a destroyed world.

–We have no choice. We'll avoid them if we can, but if not, we'll have to face them. We can't let them stop us.

They walked in silence, their steps muffled by the tall grass growing on the sides of the secondary road. The day was cloudy, and the light barely filtered through the branches of the trees, casting shadows that played tricks on the minds of the weary survivors. Every sound—the crack of a branch, the flutter of a bird—made them tense. The forest was dense and deceptive, an ideal place for an ambush.

Ethan led the way, his rifle held firmly. Axel followed behind, eyes wide open. Mara and Nina covered the flanks, always alert.

–Something's not right…-- Mara whispered, stopping suddenly.

Ethan looked around. The forest was too quiet, as if everything had stopped breathing. Then he heard it: the soft crunch of leaves under human feet. There was no doubt.

–Take cover!-- Ethan shouted.

A group of men and women emerged from the thickness of the trees, dressed in tattered clothes but armed to the teeth. The "Liberators". Ethan felt his heart race. The Liberators were not only ruthless, but they were known for hunting other survivors like animals.

–Well, well…-- said the leader of the Liberators, a man with a thick beard and eyes cold as steel–. Look what we have here. A bunch of poor idiots trying to get to the north.

Ethan remained calm, though he could feel the tension in his companions. He knew the Liberators wouldn't let them go easily.

–We don't want any trouble –We just want to pass.

The man laughed, and the rest of his group followed.

–Pass?-- he repeated mockingly. --No one passes here without paying. And you know, we accept payments in many forms…–

The "Liberators" moved closer, slowly encircling Ethan and his group. They could smell the sweat and fear. Ethan knew it; it was an intimidation tactic.

–Ethan!-- Axel whispered. --There are too many. We can't win.–

Ethan knew he was right. He counted at least eight men, all armed, and there was no way to get out unscathed in an open confrontation. They needed a distraction, something to turn the tables.

–Listen…-- Ethan said quietly. --When I give the signal, run towards the river. See it? Just beyond those trees. We can lose them there.–

–And you?-- Mara asked, frowning.

–Don't worry about me. Just do as I say,-- Ethan replied with a firmness that brooked no argument.

–I don't like this plan…-- Nina murmured, but she knew there was no other option.

The leader of the "Liberators" seemed to lose patience. He pointed his gun at Ethan.

–What's your decision, friend? Are you coming peacefully, or do you want us to "liberate" you by force?–

Ethan smiled, a smile full of defiance.

–I decide you can go to hell.–

Before the leader could react, Ethan fired a burst of bullets at the feet of the "Liberators," kicking up dirt and leaves and creating chaos.

–Now!-- Ethan shouted.

Axel, Mara, and Nina ran towards the forest like lightning, while Ethan continued firing to keep them at bay. Bullets flew back and forth, the deafening sound of gunfire filling the air.

–Catch them!-- the leader shouted, furious. --Don't let them escape!—

A couple of the "Liberators" chased after Axel and Nina, but Mara, from an elevated position, shot one of them down. The others scattered, losing visibility in the dense forest. Ethan kept firing, but he knew it wouldn't last long.

–Come on, damn it!-- one of the "Liberators" shouted, lunging at Ethan with a knife. Ethan blocked the attack, struggling with him in a brutal hand-to-hand fight. He felt the knife's edge cutting through his jacket sleeve, barely grazing his skin. He couldn't fail now.

Ethan took advantage of the other man's distraction to turn and stab him in the neck with his own knife. The man let out a strangled cry and collapsed.

–Run, Ethan!-- Mara shouted from the trees.

Ethan got up, covered in dirt and blood, and ran in the direction his companions had disappeared. He could hear the shouts and curses of the "Liberators" behind him, but he kept running, his lungs burning and his heart pounding in his chest.

The forest became a labyrinth of shadows and low branches. Ethan heard the gunshots getting closer, the sound of boots crushing the underbrush. He was losing ground. Then he saw it: the glint of water between the trees.

–To the river!-- he shouted, more to himself than to anyone else.

He jumped down an embankment and rolled onto the muddy shore. When he looked up, he saw Axel, Mara, and Nina on the other side of the river, waiting for him.

–Come on!-- Axel shouted.

Ethan plunged into the icy water, feeling the current drag him. He swam with all his might, noticing the bullets hitting the water around him. One of the "Liberators" appeared on the opposite shore, raising his rifle. Mara, from her position, shot him down before he could pull the trigger.

Ethan emerged from the river, gasping, his muscles burning from the effort. Mara and Axel helped him up.

–Are you okay?-- Nina asked.

–Yes… but we can't stay here. More will come,-- Ethan said, catching his breath.

The group kept running through the forest, moving away from the river and the "Liberators." There was no time to rest or lament. They knew this was just the beginning of an even more dangerous path.

—This is madness —said Axel, panting—. But I prefer this madness to letting those bastards catch us.

—We still have a long way to go —replied Ethan—. And I'm not going to let anything stop us.

Ethan looked at the horizon. The lab was still far away, but he knew they had to get there, no matter what. Because in a world like this, the dead weren't the only danger. The living could be worse.

The group kept moving through the forest, each of them fighting against fatigue and fear. The confrontation with the "Liberators" had cost them dearly; they were exhausted, wet, and had no time to think about what had just happened. The cold was beginning to seep into their bones, especially after crossing the river, but they knew they couldn't stop.

—We need to find a place to rest —said Mara, panting—. We can't keep going like this all night.

Ethan nodded, but he knew stopping was also risky. They faced a dilemma: continue until exhaustion and risk being ambushed by the "Liberators" who might be following them, or stop and be found while they slept.

—Let's go a bit further —Ethan replied—. We need to get away from the river. They can follow us, and the water gives them clues about where we've been.

—How about one of those hunter cabins? —suggested Axel, squinting around—. I remember seeing one when we were in this area last year.

Ethan nodded again, remembering. It was a small wooden shelter that hunters used in times before the apocalypse. It didn't offer much, but it could be enough for a night. If it was the same place Axel mentioned, they would be less than an hour away.

—Alright. Let's head there, but quickly and quietly —ordered Ethan.

The forest darkened as night settled in. The sound of their steps on the leaf litter was the only one heard. Branches sometimes creaked, like whispers of something else watching from the shadows.

—I don't like this —said Nina in a low voice—. I feel like we're being watched.

Ethan noticed the change in her tone. She was the youngest in the group, but her instincts had saved their lives more than once.

—Stay focused —said Ethan—. Stay alert. Any sign of trouble, we turn back.

The silence grew heavier. Mara suddenly stopped, raising her hand as a signal to the others.

—What's wrong? —whispered Axel.

—Listen —said Mara.

At first, Ethan heard nothing, just the wind rustling the leaves. But then, a sound broke the stillness: the slow, metallic scrape of a fence being dragged. It wasn't the sound of an animal. It was someone moving carefully, trying not to be heard.

—It's them —murmured Ethan—. The "Liberators" are following us.

Axel gritted his teeth, cursing under his breath.

—We can't go to the cabin —Ethan continued—. They'd trap us in a closed space.

—So what do we do then? —asked Nina—. We need to rest.

Ethan looked around, thinking quickly.

—Let's change direction. Head further north and find a rocky formation or a cave. If we find one, we can cover ourselves better and ambush them if they follow us.

Without further discussion, the group moved north, towards a steep slope covered in underbrush and fallen trees. It was difficult terrain, but it offered better chances to lose their pursuers or face them with an advantage

The ascent was slow and exhausting. The ground was full of roots and loose rocks, and each step required extreme effort. Ethan noticed that Mara was limping slightly, but she didn't complain. She knew that stopping was a luxury they couldn't afford.

—Stop! —whispered Ethan suddenly.

Axel, who was ahead, almost bumped into him.

—What now? —he asked.

Ethan pointed to an area ahead. A small ravine opened before them, with a narrow ridge surrounding it. It was perfect for an ambush.

—We can use this —said Ethan—. Nina, Axel, you take that position behind those trees. Mara and I will cover this side. If the "Liberators" follow us here, we'll trap them in the middle.

Everyone nodded. Time stretched as they took their positions, each second felt eternal. Ethan's heart pounded as he waited. He knew it was a risky bet, but they had no other choice. If they wanted to survive, they needed to fight smart.

Minutes passed that felt like hours. Ethan felt his breathing quicken and sweat running down his back. He was about to say something when a noise in the distance made him stop. Branches were breaking, and leaves were crunching. The "Liberators" were approaching, and there were quite a few of them.

—Three… four… no, five —whispered Axel from his position, counting the figures moving among the shadows—. But there could be more.

—Let's wait until they're in the trap —murmured Ethan—. Don't move until my signal.

The group of "Liberators" advanced cautiously, their silhouettes visible under the faint moonlight that managed to pierce through the foliage. One of them moved ahead, the same leader from before, with his thick beard and fierce gaze.

—They can't have gone far —he said, scanning the area—. These bastards cost us time, and I'm not going to let them escape so easily.

Ethan gripped his rifle tightly, waiting for the right moment. The "Liberators" moved towards the center of the ravine, their attention fixed on the path the group had taken. Just where they wanted them.

—Now! —shouted Ethan, raising his rifle and opening fire.

The explosion of gunfire filled the air, and chaos erupted. Axel and Nina fired from their position, attacking the "Liberators" from the rear. Mara joined the attack, shooting with precision. The "Liberators" found themselves trapped in the middle, surprised and disoriented.

—Fall back! Regroup! —shouted the leader, but panic had already taken hold of his group.

One of the "Liberators" fell to the ground, screaming as a bullet pierced his leg. Another tried to return fire, but Mara took him down before he could aim properly. Axel jumped from his position, running towards a nearby "Liberator" and attacking him with his knife.

—Come on, come on! Don't let them escape! —shouted Ethan, covering his companions as they continued their assault.

The leader of the "Liberators" turned towards Ethan, his face contorted with rage.

—Damn you! We're going to kill you all!

Before he could shoot, Ethan lunged at him, tackling him. They both fell to the ground, struggling, rolling over dirt and rocks. Ethan took a punch to the face that left him dazed for a second, but he quickly responded with a punch to the man's ribs. They got up and continued fighting, blow after blow.

—Axel, Nina, get out of here! —shouted Mara while reloading—. We'll catch up with you!

Nina hesitated, but seeing the determination in Mara and Ethan, she nodded.

—Let's go! —she pulled Axel, and they both began to retreat north, firing occasionally to cover their retreat.

Ethan continued fighting the leader, feeling his body weaken. But he knew he couldn't let himself be defeated. With a desperate move, he managed to disarm him, taking his gun and shooting at point-blank range.

The leader fell, his eyes still full of hatred.

—This isn't over… —he whispered, with a twisted smile.

—Yes, it is —Ethan responded, panting.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the sounds of combat faded away. Ethan, Mara, Axel, and Nina, now reunited, breathed heavily, covered in sweat and blood. They had survived, but they knew the worst was yet to come. The path to the lab in the north was far from safe.

—We've earned a few hours of rest —said Ethan with a sigh—. But we can't stay here long.

No one argued. They knew Ethan was right. The apocalypse had taken many things from them, but not their will to fight.