Chapter 12

The forest swallowed their footsteps as Alex led the group deeper into the wilderness. The tension from the previous night still clung to them, heavy like the mist that hung low over the trees. Sarah, the newest addition, walked at the rear with her rifle slung over her shoulder. She moved quietly, her eyes constantly scanning the surroundings, while Daz led from the front, guiding them through a web of narrow paths he claimed to remember. Frank stuck close to Alex, his machete gripped tightly in his hand, always within reach.

The early morning sun bled through the dense canopy above, casting fractured beams of light onto the forest floor. It was cold—the kind of cold that cut deep—but none of them dared to complain. Alex's senses were on high alert. Every snap of a branch, every rustle of leaves felt like a threat, a warning of something lurking just out of sight. He glanced back at Sarah now and then. Her calmness unnerved him. She had secrets—of that, he was certain.

The group had been walking in silence since dawn, and the quiet was beginning to feel oppressive. Each step toward the mountains, jagged and distant, felt like they were moving closer to something inevitable.

"You sure we're headed the right way?" Frank broke the silence, his voice low but sharp. Suspicion laced his words, not just about the path ahead, but about Sarah's presence.

Daz spoke without turning, his voice a dry rasp. "We're close. The terrain's familiar, but the forest plays tricks. We'll make it by nightfall."

"If nothing else gets in the way," Frank muttered, just loud enough for Alex to hear.

Alex kept his eyes ahead, ignoring Frank's remark. The trail beneath their feet was uneven, the roots and rocks threatening to trip them up if they didn't pay attention. Every part of him ached, but stopping wasn't an option. The soldiers Sarah had mentioned were a shadow over their heads, and staying in one place meant certain death.

Sarah's voice, quiet yet firm, broke through the tense atmosphere. "We should be cautious. The soldiers I saw yesterday weren't far. They might still be nearby."

"Or ahead of us," Frank added, his scowl deepening. "Not exactly comforting."

Sarah's face remained calm, but there was a guarded edge in her tone. "I'm just giving you information. What you do with it is up to you."

Frank opened his mouth, likely to fire back, but Alex silenced him with a hard look. "Enough. We don't have time to argue." He turned his gaze to Sarah. "You're sure they didn't see you?"

"They didn't." Her voice was steady, though her eyes flicked briefly to the tree line as if searching for something hidden. "I'm careful. But they were heading north. Toward the mountains."

"Same place we're going," Alex muttered. The news wasn't unexpected, but it still sent a chill through him. If the soldiers were moving toward defensible ground, it meant trouble.

As the trees thinned and the path began to climb, Alex felt the unease settle into his bones. The higher they went, the more exposed they'd be. The wind picked up, carrying with it the faint scent of damp earth and pine. It also carried the unsettling feeling of being watched.

After another hour of climbing, they reached a small clearing. The forest stretched below them, a sea of green, and the mountains towered ahead, their rocky peaks jutting into the sky. Daz paused, wiping the sweat from his brow, and the group took a moment to rest.

"How much further?" Alex asked, kneeling to drink from his canteen. His eyes never stopped scanning the horizon.

Daz leaned on a nearby rock, catching his breath. "We'll hit the base of the mountains by mid-afternoon. From there, it gets rough. But once we're high enough, it's safer."

Frank groaned, shifting his pack. "How rough?"

Daz shrugged. "Steep. Rocky. But worth it. High ground means we'll see anyone coming before they see us."

Alex nodded. His instincts told him the same—keep moving, stay unpredictable. The soldiers weren't the only threat; humans were proving to be more dangerous than the undead these days. And up here, the undead would be fewer, but no less deadly.

As they rested, Alex noticed Sarah standing at the edge of the clearing, her eyes distant. Something about her still didn't sit right. He moved toward her, speaking quietly. "You alright?"

Sarah didn't look at him at first. Her gaze was fixed on the horizon, her posture stiff, as if bracing for something. "I've been alone for a long time," she said finally, her voice barely a whisper. "It's strange being with a group again."

Alex studied her face, searching for a crack in the mask she wore. Calm, composed, but there was something deeper, something unresolved. He kept his voice low. "You're not telling me everything."

Sarah finally met his eyes, a hard glint flashing in them. "No one ever does. But I'm not here to hurt you."

"Then why are you here?"

She hesitated, glancing briefly at the others, ensuring no one was listening. "Because those soldiers you're running from? I used to be with them."

Alex felt his stomach tighten. His hand instinctively brushed the handle of his knife. "That's a pretty big detail to leave out."

"I didn't think you'd take it well." Her voice was steady, but there was a flicker of vulnerability now. "I left them weeks ago. Couldn't stand what they were doing."

"And now they're hunting you."

"Maybe. Or maybe they don't care. Either way, I'd rather be with you than them."

Alex weighed her words. There was truth in her eyes, but also something she wasn't saying. He couldn't shake the feeling that she was a danger to them—whether she meant to be or not.

"You've got a lot of secrets, Sarah," Alex said, his voice low. "I don't have the luxury of trusting people anymore."

"I'm not asking for trust," she replied quietly. "Just a chance."

Before Alex could respond, Daz called out, waving them over. "We need to keep moving. We're too exposed here."

Alex gave Sarah one last look before rejoining the others. Frank shot him a questioning glance, but Alex shook his head. Sarah's secrets would have to wait.

---

By the time they reached the base of the mountains, the sun had climbed higher, casting long shadows over the rough terrain ahead. The climb looked brutal, but it was their only option.

Daz pointed to a narrow pass that cut through the mountains. "That's our way through. It'll be hard, but once we're up there, we'll have the advantage."

"And what if someone's already up there?" Frank asked, his voice carrying the weariness of their long march.

"Then we deal with it," Alex replied, his voice firm. He wasn't turning back—not now.

With a nod, they began the ascent. Every step was grueling, the weight of their gear pulling them down, but they pressed on. The path wound steeply, and Alex could feel the sense of danger rising with the altitude. His mind raced with thoughts of the soldiers, of Sarah, and the fight that would inevitably come.

They weren't safe. They never would be. But as long as he was breathing, he'd fight to keep them alive. Even if that meant trusting someone like Sarah.

Because in this world, trust wasn't given. It was earned. And Alex had a feeling Sarah's chance was running out.