The escape

The metallic smell of blood and smoke filled the air inside the crumpled van. Sam's head throbbed as he blinked his eyes open, the coarse rope biting into his wrists. Chloe's panicked breaths beside him snapped him fully awake.

"Sam, I can't… I can't move my hands!" she whispered, her voice shaking.

"Stay calm," Sam urged, though his own voice was anything but steady. His mind raced, recalling the explosion, Carter's menacing grin, and their mother's screams. He squeezed his eyes shut, the image of her lifeless body burned into his memory.

"Mom told us to survive," Chloe whispered, tears streaming down her face. "We have to do this for her."

Sam swallowed hard, nodding. "We will. Just stay with me."

Through the broken windows of the van, they could see flames licking the sky on the other side of the bridge. The muffled groans of zombies grew louder, drawn by the chaos.

The van, partially crushed by debris, was tilted at an angle. Sam squirmed, trying to loosen the ropes around his wrists, but it was no use.

"Chloe, can you move your legs?" he asked.

"Kind of," she replied, wiggling her feet.

"Good. There's a shard of glass near your right foot. See if you can grab it."

Chloe stretched as far as she could, the jagged edges of the glass scraping her shoe. After a few tries, she managed to hook it with her toe, flipping it closer to Sam.

"Got it!" Sam wriggled until he could grab the shard, his hands trembling as he worked to cut the ropes. Minutes felt like hours, but eventually, he freed himself and quickly untied Chloe.

"Let's get out of here," Sam said, pulling her toward the back of the van.

The doors were jammed, but the explosion had bent one of them enough to leave a small gap. Together, they pushed with all their strength, the metal groaning in protest until it finally gave way.

The sight outside made their blood run cold. Zombies, dozens of them, shuffled toward the wreckage, their decayed faces illuminated by the firelight.

"Run!" Sam grabbed Chloe's hand, and they bolted toward the tunnel Alex had used before.

The tunnel was dark and damp, the air thick with the smell of mold. Chloe clung to Sam's arm as they walked, their footsteps echoing in the silence.

"Do you think Alex is okay?" Chloe asked softly.

Sam didn't answer immediately. The image of Alex fighting Carter replayed in his mind, the explosion cutting the scene short.

"He's tough," Sam said finally. "He'll be fine."

Chloe nodded, but her eyes betrayed her doubt.

As they ventured deeper into the tunnel, the sound of shuffling footsteps made them freeze.

"Zombies?" Chloe whispered.

Sam shook his head, holding a finger to his lips. He peeked around the corner to see a lone zombie, its body pinned under rubble.

"It's trapped," Sam said. "We can go around it."

Chloe nodded, her grip tightening on the small screwdriver she'd found in the van. They crept past the creature, their breaths shallow.

That night, they found a small alcove and barricaded themselves inside. Sam stayed awake, listening for any signs of danger while Chloe slept fitfully.

Morning came slowly, the faint light barely reaching the tunnel.

"We need to find food," Chloe said, clutching her stomach.

Sam nodded. "Let's see where this tunnel leads."

After hours of walking, they emerged into a dilapidated part of the city. The streets were eerily quiet, the buildings overgrown with vines.

"Do you think anyone's still alive here?" Chloe asked.

"Maybe," Sam said. "But we can't trust anyone."

They scavenged through abandoned stores, finding a few cans of food and a bottle of water. Chloe laughed when she discovered a half-eaten bag of chips.

"Dinner is served," she said with a mock bow.

Sam smiled, but the weight of their situation was ever-present.

As they moved through the city, the distant groans of a horde reached their ears.

"Not again," Chloe muttered.

Sam scanned their surroundings, spotting a narrow alleyway. "This way!"

They sprinted through the alley, climbing over debris and ducking under fallen beams. At one point, Chloe tripped, scraping her knee.

"Leave me!" she said dramatically, lying flat on the ground.

"Get up!" Sam hissed, pulling her to her feet.

"You're no fun," she grumbled, limping along.

They found refuge in an old bookstore, blocking the entrance with shelves. Inside, Chloe's mood lifted as she browsed the dusty titles.

"Look! Survival for Dummies!" she said, holding up a book.

Sam rolled his eyes. "Great. Too bad we didn't have that before this mess."

As Chloe flipped through the pages, Sam's attention turned to the window. Shadows danced outside, and his heart sank as he realized the horde was moving closer.

"We can't stay here," he said.

Chloe frowned, setting the book down. "Where do we go?"

"Away from them," Sam said, grabbing her hand. "Come on."

They slipped out the back door, sticking to the shadows. Sam led them to an old playground, its rusted swings swaying in the wind.

"Hide here," he said, helping Chloe climb into the hollow tube of a slide. He crouched beside her, his heart pounding as the groans grew louder.

For hours, they stayed silent, their breaths shallow as the horde passed by. When the last zombie disappeared into the distance, Sam finally exhaled.

"That was close," Chloe whispered.

"Too close," Sam agreed.

The next day, they stumbled upon a gas station. Sam's eyes lit up when he spotted a vending machine inside. Using a crowbar they'd found, he pried it open, spilling bags of chips and candy onto the floor.

"Jackpot!" Chloe cheered, grabbing a chocolate bar.

For a moment, they allowed themselves to laugh, the sugary treats lifting their spirits.

But the moment was short-lived. The sound of footsteps outside made them freeze.

Sam peered through the cracked window to see a man and woman, both armed, scanning the area.

"Think they're friendly?" Chloe asked.

Sam shook his head. "We can't take that chance. Let's go."

They slipped out the back door, their stolen snacks tucked into their backpacks. As they ran, Sam couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.

By the third day, exhaustion was taking its toll. Chloe's limp had worsened, and Sam's determination was beginning to waver.

"We need to find somewhere safe," Chloe said, her voice weak.

Sam nodded, scanning the horizon. His eyes landed on a crumbling church in the distance.

"There," he said, pointing.

The church was empty, its pews covered in dust. Sam barricaded the doors while Chloe collapsed onto a bench.

"Think we'll be okay here?" she asked.

Sam sat beside her, his hand resting on her shoulder. "We'll make it work."