Chapter 32 : Side mission

The first rays of sunlight crept into the the cracked windows of the station, bathing the room in a soft golden hue. Kate sat on a crate in the storage area,her machete balanced on her knee as she sharpened it with slow, deliberate strokes, the rhythmic scrape of metal against stone filling the otherwise quiet space. Next to her lay her backpack, already half-packed with essentials for the journey ahead.

Chris leaned casually against the doorframe, his rifle slung across his back. He held a folded map in one hand, scanning it while stealing glances at Kate. "You always look so serious when you're working on that blade," he said with a half-smile.

Kate glanced up, giving him a small smile. "A dull blade is a useless blade. have to double-check the weapons. You know how it is—one misstep out there, and it's game over."

Chris nodded. "Fair point. But you're starting to make me feel lazy standing here." He stepped into the room and spread the map out on a nearby crate. "I've been thinking. If we stick to this route here—" he pointed to a winding path marked in pencil—"we'll avoid the open streets. Less chance of running into walkers or trouble."

Kate studied the map, nodding in agreement. "Smart. Stick to the alleys and back roads. The fewer eyes on us, the better."

Chris folded the map back up and slipped it into his pocket. "And if we don't find a working vehicle at the rental place?"

Kate gave him a pointed look. "Then we keep moving on foot. Same as always."

Before Chris could reply, a soft rustling sound came from behind them. Kate turned sharply, her hand instinctively reaching for her machete. From around the corner, Lucas peeked into the room, his unruly hair sticking up in all directions. He hesitated when he saw their weapons, but Kate immediately relaxed, her hand falling back to her side.

"Hey, Lucas," Kate said, softening her tone. "What's up?"

Lucas glanced at Chris, then back at Kate. "Can I talk to you? Alone?"

Chris raised an eyebrow but shrugged. "I'll give you two a minute." He grabbed his bag and walked out, leaving Kate and Lucas alone.

Kate set down her machete and crouched slightly to meet Lucas's eye level. "What's on your mind?"

Lucas fidgeted with the hem of his shirt, his face serious. "Next week is Mia's birthday," he said quietly. "She's turning sixteen. I don't think anyone remembers except me."

Kate's expression softened. "Sixteen, huh? That's a big one."

Lucas nodded, his voice trembling slightly. "I—I wanted to get her something, but I can't go out there. It's too dangerous. I was hoping… maybe you could look for something when you're out there?"

Kate placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You did the right thing staying here, Lucas. What were you thinking of getting her?"

"A drawing kit," he said quickly, his eyes lighting up. "Mia loves drawing. She used to have this sketchbook and pencils, but they got ruined when we had to leave our last place."

Kate smiled gently. "I'll see what I can do. No promises, but I'll keep an eye out."

Lucas's face lit up with hope. "You mean it? You'll try?"

"I promise," Kate said, giving him a small smile. "If there's anything left out there, I'll find it for her."

Lucas threw his arms around her in a sudden hug. "Thank you, Kate. You're the best."

Kate ruffled his hair playfully. "Don't go telling everyone that. I've got a reputation to uphold."

Lucas giggled before stepping back. "I won't, I should go. Mia's waiting for me in the kitchen."

"Alright, kiddo. Stay safe," Kate said as Lucas scampered off. She watched him disappear around the corner, her smile fading into a thoughtful expression.

Kate and Chris set out from the station just as the sun began to rise higher into the sky. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of decay that seemed to linger everywhere these days. Each carried a loaded backpack and a weapon, Kate with her machete strapped to her hip, and Chris with his rifle slung over his shoulder.

"You've got to admire Lucas," Chris said after a while, breaking the silence. "Kid's got guts, asking you for a favor like that."

Kate glanced at him, then nodded. "Yeah. He wants me to find a drawing kit for Mia's birthday."

Chris chuckled softly. "A drawing kit, huh? Kids really know how to aim high."

Kate smirked. "Can't blame him. It's sweet, actually. He just wants to make her happy."

Chris's tone grew more serious. "It's nice to see that kind of hope in someone. Feels like the rest of us lost it a long time ago."

Kate smiled faintly. "Yeah, he's a good kid. Reminds me of my brother when he was that age—always looking out for everyone else."

Chris glanced at her, his curiosity piqued. "You don't talk about your family much."

Kate shrugged, keeping her eyes on the road ahead. "Not much to say. My parents… they were gone early on. And my brother…" She paused, her voice growing quieter. "I lost track of him a long time ago. Let's just say I don't know if he made it or not. But I keep hoping…"

Chris glanced at her, his expression softening. "Hoping for what?"

Kate hesitated, her grip tightening on the strap of her pack. "That he's still alive. Somewhere out there. Maybe he found a group. Maybe he's safe." Her voice carried a tinge of pain mixed with determination. "I know it's stupid to think that way in this world, but I can't help it. If I give up hope, then what's the point?"

Chris gave a small nod, his tone understanding. "It's not stupid. It's human. I think we all need something to hope for, even if it's just a slim chance."

Kate managed a faint smile but didn't look at him. "Yeah. A slim chance is better than nothing."

As they neared the car rental lot, Kate held up a hand, signaling Chris to stop. The pair crouched behind an overturned truck, peering around the edge cautiously.

"See that?" Kate whispered, pointing ahead.

Chris squinted. In the distance, a group of survivors moved through the lot, their voices low but audible. There were about seven of them, armed and moving with purpose. Chris's breath hitched as he recognized a few familiar faces.

"Damn," he muttered. "That's them."

Kate glanced at him sharply. "Who?"

"The ruffians," Chris hissed. "Sam told you about the gang right?. That's definitely them."

Kate's grip tightened on her machete. "What are they doing here?"

Chris shook his head. "No idea. But whatever it is, it's not good."

The pair watched as the group stopped near the entrance of the car rental building. Two of them stayed outside as lookouts while the others disappeared inside. Kate's mind raced.

"We need to find out what they're up to," she whispered.

Chris frowned. "And how do you propose we do that? Walk up and ask them nicely?"

Kate shot him a look. "We'll wait. See what they're doing. If they leave, we'll check the building."

Chris grumbled under his breath but didn't argue. The two settled into their hiding spot, watching as the ruffians moved through the lot like predators on the hunt. Every now and then, a walker would stumble into view, only to be swiftly taken down with brutal efficiency.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours as Kate and Chris observed in tense silence. Finally, the ruffians reemerged from the building, carrying boxes and bags that looked heavy with supplies. One of them, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek, barked orders to the others.

"Load it up. We're not sticking around."

The group moved quickly, loading their haul into a beat-up van parked nearby. As the vehicle roared to life and drove off, Kate and Chris exchanged a glance.

"Well," Chris said, his voice low, "that was interesting."

Kate nodded, her expression grim. "We need to tell Marcus about this. If they're raiding places nearby, they're going to be a problem."

Chris slung his rifle over his shoulder. "Let's check the rental place first. Make sure they didn't leave anything behind."

Kate smirked. "Always the optimist."

They crept toward the rental office, every nerve on edge. The building was eerily quiet now, the only sounds coming from the creak of broken glass beneath their boots. Inside, they found scattered debris—empty shelves, overturned chairs, and a few broken-down vehicles in the back.

"They cleaned it out," Chris muttered, kicking at an empty box.

Kate knelt beside a pile of discarded items, her fingers brushing against a small, battered notebook. She opened it, only to find it filled with childish doodles.

"Not everything," she murmured, tucking the notebook into her pack.

Chris sighed. "Well, this trip just got harder. what should we do now?"

Kate stood, her expression resolute." Lets go back and tell Marcus about them first and then we continue our plan ."