A Dangerous Lead

Chapter 74: A Dangerous Lead

Kael adjusted the straps of his backpack as he crouched near the boarded-up window of the auto shop. Inside, the others slept, their exhaustion palpable after the harrowing escape. Luka stood by the makeshift barricade, his silhouette barely visible in the dim light of the room. Kael's gaze flickered to Mira, who was watching the street outside, her sharp eyes scanning for any signs of movement.

"We need to go ahead," Mira said, her voice a quiet whisper that cut through the silence. "We can't wait any longer. If Cal's right, those infected are regrouping, and we can't afford to sit around here while they get stronger."

Kael frowned, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. "Luka won't like it. He's already not happy with us splitting off from the group last time."

Mira shrugged, unbothered by the potential consequences. "If we wait for Luka's permission, we'll just be another group of survivors waiting to be hunted. We can scout ahead, find a safer route, and get some supplies while we're at it. It's our best shot."

Kael hesitated. They were in uncharted territory now. Every day seemed to blur into the next, and trust—especially in the middle of the chaos—was a rare commodity. Still, Mira had a point. The threat of the infected evolving, of becoming more coordinated, made every delay riskier.

"You're right," Kael said finally, slinging his machete over his shoulder. "But if we do this, we do it smart. We move quickly, we stay low, and we don't get caught."

Mira nodded. "Agreed. Let's go."

The two of them slipped out of the auto shop through a side exit, moving with practiced stealth. The night air bit at their skin as they made their way into the street, the glow of the moon casting eerie shadows over the ruins of Astraea. The city was a graveyard now—broken glass, overturned vehicles, and decaying remnants of what had once been a thriving metropolis.

They kept their pace slow, staying low, using the wreckage of abandoned cars and collapsed buildings as cover. Every step was calculated, every sound weighed. Kael kept his hand on the hilt of his machete, his senses sharp. The streets were eerily quiet, save for the occasional groan of the infected somewhere in the distance.

"Where are we headed?" Kael asked, keeping his voice to a bare whisper as they navigated the ruins.

"The train yard," Mira replied, glancing back at him. "Cal said that's where they're regrouping. If he's telling the truth, that's the most dangerous place for us to be. But it's also the closest to where we might find something useful—supplies, food, water, maybe even weapons."

Kael nodded, his mind working through the possibilities. The train yard was a logical target for the infected—it was large, open, and filled with derelict trains and cargo containers. A perfect place to hide, if you knew how to navigate the maze of rusted metal and debris. But it was also a death trap for anyone unprepared.

"Any idea what we'll find when we get there?" Kael asked, eyes flicking toward the distant silhouette of the train yard on the horizon.

"Hopefully something useful," Mira said, her voice tinged with caution. "But we'll have to be ready for anything. The infected won't just be wandering around anymore—they'll be looking for food, for shelter, for anything to give them an edge."

They moved in silence for a while, the distant sounds of the infected growing louder, though still far enough to keep their position safe—for now. Kael kept his eyes on the street ahead, his mind racing. Mira had a point: waiting around was not an option. The group had to stay one step ahead of the growing threat, or they'd become prey just like the others.

After what felt like an eternity of careful steps, the train yard loomed closer. The air felt heavier now, as if the weight of their decision had settled around them. The crumbling structures, abandoned railway tracks, and rusted cargo containers stretched out before them. It was eerily silent—too quiet, almost as if the city itself was holding its breath.

"We should circle around," Mira suggested, her voice sharp as she crouched behind a broken wall. "I don't trust how open this place is."

Kael nodded in agreement, following her lead. They veered left, moving through a narrow gap between two collapsed buildings. The shadows seemed to close in around them, and every step felt like an echo in the stillness. The further they moved, the more tense the air became, charged with the anticipation of something—or someone—waiting for them in the dark.

"Stay close," Kael muttered, his hand tightening on his machete as they pressed forward.

Mira's expression was focused, her bow ready in her hands. "This doesn't feel right."

Kael didn't argue. It was the same uneasy feeling he'd had in the diner, that gut instinct that something wasn't quite right. The infected weren't the only thing they had to worry about anymore. People—other survivors—could be just as dangerous.

The train yard stretched out before them, a labyrinth of rusted trains and twisted metal. They moved quickly, staying low, and using the shadows to hide their presence. But as they rounded a corner, a soft rustling sound reached their ears—too controlled to be the shuffling of the infected.

"Get down," Mira hissed, dropping to one knee.

Kael didn't hesitate. He crouched low, his heart pounding in his chest. The sound grew louder, closer. Two figures appeared from behind a train car, moving with purpose, their weapons drawn.

"Scavengers," Kael muttered, recognizing the gleam of knives and crowbars in the dim light.

Mira nodded, her eyes narrowing. "Stay quiet. Let's see what they do."

The scavengers moved with an unsettling confidence, searching through the wreckage as if they had done it a thousand times before. One of them kicked over a rusted barrel, sending it clattering across the ground. The noise echoed, and for a moment, both Kael and Mira held their breath, waiting for any sign that they had been noticed. But the scavengers didn't look in their direction—they were too focused on their search.

"We could take them," Kael said under his breath, his hand instinctively reaching for the machete at his side.

Mira glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "We don't know who they are yet. Wait."

They stayed hidden, watching as the scavengers continued their search. The air felt heavy with tension, as if the world itself was waiting for them to make their next move. The scavengers stopped at a broken-down vehicle, one of them kneeling to sift through its contents.

"Anything?" the first scavenger asked, voice rough and hoarse.

"Not much. Just some canned food and a few scraps," the second one replied, tossing aside a half-rusted crowbar.

"Better than nothing," the first one muttered, securing the food in a tattered pack. "Let's keep moving."

The two figures began to move off, their footsteps receding into the distance. Kael and Mira stayed crouched for a few moments longer, just to be sure they weren't being followed. The quiet returned, only the soft creaking of the wind through the rusted metal filling the silence.

"That was too close," Mira muttered, standing up.

Kael nodded, his pulse still racing. "Yeah. Let's keep moving."

They pressed on, the weight of their decision lingering in the air. Every step forward took them deeper into the unknown, into the heart of the dangers Cal had warned them about. The infected weren't the only threat anymore; the landscape had changed. People—survivors, scavengers, others—were just as much of a danger.

The train yard stretched ahead like an endless maze of metal and rubble. In the distance, Kael could just make out the shape of a large cargo container. It looked abandoned, but it could easily be a trap. Mira's eyes followed his gaze, and they both knew there was no way around it.

"I say we head for that container," Kael said, already moving toward it.

"Agreed," Mira replied, her voice low. "But be careful."

They approached cautiously, keeping low, moving from cover to cover. The air grew colder as they neared the container. The light from the moon glinted off the rusted surfaces, casting strange shadows that danced in the darkness.

When they reached the container, Kael tried the door. It was slightly ajar. His heart raced as he pushed it open just enough to peek inside. Nothing. No movement, no sound.

"Clear," Kael whispered.

They slipped inside, the heavy metal door creaking softly as it closed behind them. Inside, the container was mostly empty, save for a few scattered supplies—some cans, a half-empty water bottle, and what looked like a torn-up map. Kael picked up the map, unfurling it carefully.

"This could help," he said, glancing over it. "It looks like there are some supply caches marked in the city."

Mira peered over his shoulder, studying the map. "This is what we need. It might give us a better chance of staying ahead of the infected."

Kael rolled the map back up carefully, slipping it into his backpack. The thought of having a potential lead on supplies was reassuring, but he knew better than to let his guard down. This city was full of dangers, and a map, no matter how useful, wasn't going to keep them safe.

"We should head back," Mira said quietly, glancing out the small gap in the container. "Before more scavengers or infected show up."

Kael nodded, keeping his senses alert as they moved toward the container's door. They paused for a moment, listening for any sound—footsteps, groaning, or anything that might indicate they weren't alone. The streets outside were still silent, but there was an unsettling quality to the stillness, as if something was waiting.

When they stepped out, the night air felt colder, more oppressive. Kael's heart raced slightly as they retraced their steps, staying low and cautious. They were almost back to the path they had taken when they first entered the train yard when a noise reached their ears—a soft, scraping sound.

Mira's hand went to her bow, her eyes narrowing. "Infected," she whispered.

Kael's grip tightened on his machete as the sound grew closer. Shadows shifted, and before they could react, a pair of infected appeared around the corner of a nearby wrecked train. They moved slowly, their rotting bodies jerking with every step, eyes vacant, hunger evident in their movements.

Kael and Mira froze, watching them. They weren't noticed yet, but the infected were getting closer. If they didn't act quickly, the noise would draw even more.

Mira gestured to Kael, and they silently agreed to take them out before they attracted more attention. Kael moved first, slipping into position behind the closest infected. With a swift motion, he swung his machete, severing the creature's neck with a clean, practiced strike. The body collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Mira quickly followed suit, drawing her bow and silently taking down the second infected with a precise shot to the head. It crumpled instantly.

Kael exhaled, wiping the sweat from his brow. "That was too close."

Mira gave him a sharp nod, already moving toward the exit. "Let's go."

They continued their trek back, every sound amplified in the quiet night. The distant groans of the infected became more distinct, but still far enough away to keep their cover. When they finally reached the edge of the train yard, Kael let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.

"We made it," he said quietly.

Mira didn't say anything, her expression unreadable as she surveyed the area. "For now. But we need to keep moving. The map might give us a better chance, but only if we stay ahead of them."

Kael nodded in agreement, the weight of their situation settling heavily on his shoulders. They had made it through another night, but survival in Astraea was becoming more of a gamble every day.

As they made their way back to the auto shop where the others waited, Kael couldn't shake the feeling that they were on the brink of something far worse. They were pushing their luck—and sooner or later, it would run out.