Chapter 31 : Lies

The first rays of dawn broke through cracked windows of the top floor of the office building. The air was still and quiet,The city below remained still, the faint groans of the dead below is only movement in the streets. Kate stretched out her arms, groaning softly as her muscles protested the movement. She had slept in fits, her back pressed against a wall. she stood up and went near the window, her machete strapped securely to her side.

Not far from her,Victor stood by the window, already scanning the mall with his binoculars. Amelia sat cross-legged near him, meticulously cleaning her Crossbow. Chris lay sprawled out on his back, still snoring softly, until a sharp cough from Amelia startled him awake.

"Rise and shine, hero," Amelia said dryly, not looking up from her rifle. "We're not paying you to sleep on the job."

Chris groaned, rubbing his eyes. "You're not paying me at all."

Kate smirked as she pulled on her jacket. "You're lucky we haven't thrown you to the walkers yet."

Victor lowered his binoculars and turned to the group. "Nothing unusual at the mall. No movement inside or outside, except for the occasional walker. Same as yesterday."

"That's good," Kate replied. "The quieter, the better."

Amelia slung her rifle over her shoulder and gave Kate a pointed look. "You two better move out soon. The walk back isn't exactly a stroll in the park."

Kate nodded. "We'll leave in a few minutes. You sure you'll be okay up here?" Kate asked, her voice hushed to avoid carrying into the halls.

Amelia, sipping from a battered canteen, waved her off. "We'll be fine. Just make sure you don't trip over a walker on the way back."

Chris stood, stretching dramatically. "Always the optimist, Amelia."

"Always the smart one," she shot back.

Victor chuckled softly, checking the scope on his rifle. "We've got a clear view of the mall from here. If anything moves, we'll see it."

Chris yawned loudly from the other side of the room, earning a sharp glare from Amelia. "Relax," he said with a smirk. "You're in good hands. Victor's got his eagle eyes, and Amelia… well, she's mean enough to keep the walkers in line."

Amelia snorted, shaking her head as she adjusted her rifle. "Funny. Now get moving before I decide to test my aim on your backside."

Kate smirked as she grabbed her pack, giving Victor a brief nod. "Stay safe."

Victor returned the gesture, his expression calm but serious. "You too. And let Marcus know what we've seen so far.And tell him to send us more coffee if he finds any"

Kate chuckled as she tightened the straps on her pack. "Will do."

With that, Kate and Chris began their descent through the office building. The stairs were eerily quiet, each creak of the steps magnified in the stillness. When they reached the ground floor, Kate paused at the entrance, peering out at the street.

"Clear enough," she muttered. "Let's go."

The streets were quieter than usual, though the occasional walker shuffled aimlessly in the distance. Kate and Chris stuck to the shadows, moving quickly and silently through the abandoned city. The weight of the previous day's events hung heavily in the air, but neither of them spoke until they were a safe distance from the office building.

Chris finally broke the silence. "You're thinking about home, aren't you?"

Kate glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "Of course I am. We've been here for a week now, and they have no idea what's going on. What if something's happened to them?"

Chris adjusted the bat slung over his shoulder, his pace steady. "Look, I get it. But how do you plan when we get back? Just tell Marcus we want to go home for a bit?"

Kate sighed, frustration creeping into her voice. "I don't know, Chris. That's the problem. Marcus trusts us, but if we give him any reason to doubt us, that trust could vanish. We need a legitimate reason to leave."

Chris scratched his head, his brow furrowed in thought. "Alright, then. What if we frame it as a supply run? Something that benefits everyone."

Kate folded her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Like what?"

Chris grinned, the kind of mischievous look that always made her wary. "We tell him we need to look for a vehicle and supplies. Something further out. Make it sound like it's a long run, a few days at least. That way, we've got a legitimate excuse to go back home and check in."

Kate tilted her head, considering the idea. "And you think he'd go for it?"

Chris shrugged. "Why not? We've already proven ourselves with the mall. Marcus knows we can handle ourselves. Besides, we'll come back with something to show for it. He's practical—he'll see the value."

Kate's lips pressed into a thin line as she mulled it over. Finally, she nodded. "It's risky, but it might work. Let's try it."

The station was bustling when they arrived, survivors moving about with purpose as they prepared for the day. The sight was both comforting and sobering; every person here depended on the decisions made by Marcus and his team.

Kate and Chris headed straight for Marcus's office, weaving through the narrow halls. When they reached the door, Kate knocked firmly.

"Come in," Marcus called.

Inside, Marcus sat at his desk, his posture as straight and commanding as ever. Maps and notes were spread out before him, and he looked up as they entered, his sharp gaze immediately assessing them.

"You're back," he said, gesturing for them to sit. "What's the situation at the office building?"

Kate sat down, setting her pack on the floor. "Amelia and Victor are holding the watch. The building's clear, and we've got a good view of the mall. No movement so far, just a few walkers outside."

Marcus nodded, his fingers tapping lightly on the edge of the desk. "Good. We'll stay patient and see what comes up. Anything else ?"

Chris straightened, his tone shifting to one of casual confidence. "Actually, there's something we wanted to propose."

Marcus raised an eyebrow, motioning for him to continue.

Chris glanced at Kate briefly before speaking. "We've been thinking. If we're going to hit the mall, we'll need more than what we have now. Vehicles, fuel, extra supplies—it's not just about getting in, but getting out in one piece."

Marcus's eyes narrowed slightly, his focus sharpening. "Go on."

Chris continued, his voice steady. "We're proposing a run to a farther area. Somewhere we haven't hit yet. We'll look for vehicles, fuel, and anything else we can scavenge. It'll take a few days, but it could give us the edge we need."

Kate chimed in, backing him up. "It's not just about the mall. If something goes wrong, having another vehicle and extra supplies could mean the difference between getting out alive or not."

Marcus leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. The silence stretched as he weighed their words, his gaze shifting between them.

"Alright," he said finally. "You've proven yourselves, so I'm willing to trust you on this. Take what you need and head out in the morning. We'll keep watching the mall and wait for your return."

Relief washed over Kate, but she kept her expression neutral. "Thank you, Marcus. We won't let you down."

Marcus nodded, his tone firm. "i know you won't. And be careful out there. If you run into trouble, don't be heroes. get back here in one piece."

Chris grinned, standing up and slinging his bat over his shoulder. "We'll bring back a treasure trove. Just you wait."

As they left the office, Kate felt a flicker of hope amid the tension. They had their excuse, and now they had a chance to get back home. But the road ahead was long, and in this world, nothing was ever guaranteed.