Beneath the Starlit Sky

Chapter 71: Beneath the Starlit Sky

The night was still, the faint rustle of leaves and distant creak of shifting metal the only sounds accompanying their footsteps. The diner faded into the shadows behind them, but the memories of their battle remained vivid, etched into their minds. Blood still stained their clothes and weapons, a grim reminder of how close they had come to losing everything.

Luka took point, his gaze sharp as he surveyed their surroundings. Dante followed, shotgun slung over his shoulder, his posture deceptively relaxed. Hana lingered behind, her movements tentative, as if she were afraid the ground might crumble beneath her feet.

Lily brought up the rear, her senses still on edge. The weight of her weapon in her hands was reassuring, but exhaustion tugged at her limbs. Despite the lingering fear, the cool night air and the vast expanse of stars overhead brought a small sense of calm.

They walked in silence for a while, the unspoken understanding between them forming a fragile bond. Survival required quiet—both to avoid attracting attention and to process the turmoil swirling within each of them.

As they turned down a deserted alley, Luka raised a hand, signaling for them to stop. He crouched, studying the street ahead. Broken glass glinted in the moonlight, and an overturned car lay on its side, its metal rusting and sharp edges gleaming like teeth.

"We'll cut through the park," Luka said, keeping his voice low. "It's riskier, but it'll save us time."

Dante shrugged. "Riskier seems to be our specialty tonight."

Lily shot him a look but said nothing. Her focus was on Hana, who was shivering despite the lack of wind. Lily approached her, her voice soft.

"You holding up?"

Hana nodded, though her movements were stiff. "I… I'm fine. Just trying to wrap my head around all of this."

"It doesn't get easier," Lily admitted, her tone somber. "But you learn to keep moving. That's all we can do."

Hana's lips parted as if to speak, but she simply nodded again, her gaze dropping to the ground.

They moved toward the park, the path littered with debris and abandoned belongings. A child's toy truck lay on its side, its bright red paint dulled by grime. Lily felt a pang in her chest, but she quickly shoved the emotion aside.

The entrance to the park was overgrown, vines curling around the rusted gate. Luka pushed it open slowly, wincing at the faint squeal of metal. Beyond the gate, the park stretched out like a forgotten oasis, the trees casting long shadows under the pale light of the moon.

"This way," Luka whispered, gesturing for them to follow.

They entered single file, their footsteps muffled by the soft earth. The air here was cooler, carrying the faint scent of damp leaves and earth. Lily's grip tightened on her weapon as they navigated the winding paths.

Hana stumbled, catching herself on a tree. Dante turned, offering her a hand. "You gotta watch your step. Wouldn't want to wake anything up out here."

Hana flinched at his words, but she accepted his help, her grip on his hand tentative.

The group pressed on, the tension thickening with every step. The stillness of the park felt unnatural, as though it were holding its breath. Lily's ears strained for any sound, her muscles coiled like a spring.

Then, a faint rustling came from ahead. Luka stopped abruptly, raising his hand again. The group froze, their eyes darting toward the noise.

"What is it?" Hana whispered, her voice trembling.

"Quiet," Luka hissed, his eyes scanning the dense foliage.

The rustling grew louder, accompanied by a low growl. Lily's heart pounded as she raised her weapon, her eyes locked on the darkness ahead.

A pair of glowing eyes appeared, followed by another. And another.

"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me," Dante muttered, raising his shotgun.

The creatures stepped into the moonlight, their matted fur and skeletal frames giving them an almost ghostly appearance. Wolves—or what was left of them. Their eyes glinted with a predatory hunger, their movements unnaturally jerky, as if something else was pulling the strings.

"Luka…" Lily said, her voice tight.

"Don't run," Luka ordered, his voice calm despite the danger. "Stay close and back away slowly."

The group moved as one, their steps careful and deliberate. The wolves prowled closer, their growls reverberating through the air.

One of the wolves lunged, and Luka reacted instantly, his knife flashing as he drove it into the creature's throat. It fell with a choked snarl, but the others were undeterred, their growls turning into snarls as they closed in.

Dante fired, the blast echoing through the park as another wolf crumpled to the ground. Lily swung her weapon at one that got too close, the impact sending it sprawling.

"Keep moving!" Luka shouted, his knife flashing again.

The group fought their way through the pack, their movements coordinated yet frantic. Hana screamed as one of the wolves lunged at her, but Lily was there in an instant, striking it down before it could reach her.

"Stay close to me!" Lily snapped, her voice sharp.

Hana nodded, tears streaming down her face as she clung to Lily's side.

The pack began to retreat, their snarls fading into the distance. The group stood in the clearing, panting and bloodied, their weapons dripping with dark fluid.

"Everyone okay?" Luka asked, his gaze sweeping over them.

"I'll live," Dante said, wiping his brow. "That was fun."

Lily glared at him but didn't waste her energy on a retort. Instead, she turned to Hana, who was trembling.

"You did good," Lily said, her tone gentler now.

Hana shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. "I froze. I couldn't do anything."

"But you survived," Lily said firmly. "That's what matters."

Luka gestured for them to move, his expression grim. "We need to keep going. The gunshot will have drawn attention."

They pressed on, their pace quicker now, the tension between them palpable. The park gave way to an open field, the tall grass swaying gently in the breeze. Beyond it, the faint outline of their camp came into view, its flickering lights a beacon in the darkness.

Relief washed over Lily as they approached the camp, but it was tempered by the knowledge that their safety was always fleeting. They entered through the gate, the familiar faces of their group greeting them with weary smiles.

Hana was immediately taken to a corner of the camp, where she was offered food and water. Lily watched her from a distance, her mind churning. She had seen many survivors come and go, and she knew that Hana's journey was just beginning.

As the group gathered around the fire, Luka's gaze met Lily's. "You did good out there."

"So did you," Lily replied, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

Dante chuckled, leaning back against a crate. "We make a good team, don't we?"

Lily rolled her eyes but didn't disagree. Despite everything, they had survived another night. And in this world, that was a victory worth savoring.

Above them, the stars shone brightly, a stark contrast to the darkness that surrounded them. Lily let out a breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly.

For now, they were safe. But the fight was far from over.