Chapter 33 : A Warning

Kate and Chris entered the common room, the weariness of the day etched into their features. The sound of their boots on the worn wooden floor drew Marcus's attention. He sat at the head of the table, poring over a map of the surrounding area, his brow furrowed in thought.

"That was fast," Marcus said, his voice calm but edged with worry. "What happened out there?

Kate set her pack on the table and glanced at Chris. He nodded, giving her the go-ahead to start. "We found the car rental place," Kate began, her voice low. "But we weren't alone."

Marcus's expression hardened. "What do you mean?"

Chris pulled up a chair and sat down, his movements deliberate. "We spotted a group of survivors. Seven of them, armed, moving in and out of the rental building. I'm afraid they up to no good, they look like a gang of ruffian."

Marcus leaned forward, his hands gripping the edges of the table. "You're sure?"

Kate nodded. "The leader's is a tall guy with a scar running down his cheek. He was giving orders, and the others followed like soldiers."

The tension in the room thickened as Marcus swore under his breath. "It's them," he muttered, standing abruptly and pacing the length of the room. "We ran into that group a few weeks ago. Barely got away without a fight."

"What happened?" Kate asked, watching him carefully.

"They tried to strong-arm us into handing over supplies," Marcus said, his voice heavy with frustration. "We didn't engage. Got out of there as fast as we could. But it was clear they weren't the type to forget a grudge."

Chris leaned forward, his elbows on the table. "If they're nearby, they could already know about the station."

Marcus stopped pacing and turned to face them. "Exactly. They're organized, armed, and they're not scavengers—they're predators. If they're in the area, they'll come for us."

Kate's hand drifted to the machete at her side. "So what's the plan?"

Marcus's gaze moved between the two of them. "First, your trip's postponed. I need everyone here in case things go south. We're locking down the station and preparing for the worst."

Chris frowned. "You really think they'll attack?"

Marcus didn't hesitate. "Yes. They will."

When Kate and Chris stepped out of Marcus's office,a familiar figure caught their eye. Lucas was sitting on a crate near the wall, his small legs swinging idly, his face a mix of hope and nervousness. When he saw Kate, his expression brightened, and he quickly hopped down, heading toward her.

"Lucas," Kate said softly, a smile breaking through her hardened features. She glanced at Chris, who gave her a subtle nod before walking ahead to give them space.

Lucas stopped in front of her, clutching the straps of his oversized backpack. "I was waiting for you," he said, his voice quiet but steady. "I… I wanted to see if you found anything."

Kate crouched slightly to meet his gaze, her lips twitching into a smile as she unzipped the side pocket of her pack. "Actually, I did." She pulled out a small, slightly worn notebook and give it to him.

Lucas's eyes widened, and his hands trembled slightly as he took the notebook. "Is this…?"

Kate nodded. "It's not much, but I thought it might do for now. You said Mia likes to draw, right?"

Lucas flipped through the blank pages, his face lighting up with joy. "This is perfect! Thank you, Kate!" He looked up at her, his eyes glistening with gratitude. "Mia's gonna love it. I'll tell her it's from both of us."

Kate chuckled softly, ruffling his hair. "You don't have to do that, kiddo. Just make sure she knows how much you care about her, alright? That's what matters."

Lucas nodded vigorously, hugging the notebook to his chest. "I will. I promise."

As he turned to leave, Kate called out to him. "Hey, Lucas."

He stopped and looked back at her, his curious eyes meeting hers.

Kate hesitated for a moment, then said, "Stay close to Mia today, alright? Just… don't wander too far."

Lucas tilted his head, confused but obedient. "Okay. I'll stay with her."

Kate watched him disappear down the hall, her heart heavy. Moments like this reminded her of the fragile innocence still clinging to the younger ones—a precious thing in a world that seemed determined to snuff it out. She straightened and walked toward Chris, who was leaning against the wall, waiting for her.

"Nice move," Chris said quietly as she approached. "The kid needs something to hold on to."

Kate nodded, her expression pensive. "We all do."

Chris studied her for a moment, then gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Come on. We've got work to do."

Two days later, Marcus's prediction came true.

It was early afternoon, and the sun hung high in a cloudless sky. Kate and Chris were returning from a supply run, their backpacks full of canned goods and medical supplies. The walk back to the station had been uneventful—until they saw the smoke.

Kate froze mid-step, her heart skipping a beat as she pointed to the thick black column rising in the distance. "That's coming from the station."

Chris's face darkened, and he tightened his grip on his rifle. "We need to move."

They quickened their pace, cutting through side streets and back alleys. The acrid scent of burning wood and plastic filled the air as they drew closer. By the time they were within sight of the station, they could hear the shouting.

Kate and Chris crouched behind the rusted remains of a car, peering over the hood to assess the situation. A group of armed men surrounded the station, their leader—a tall man with a scar—standing at the forefront. His voice boomed, carrying across the street.

"Surrender your supplies and this building," the scarred man demanded, "or we'll take them by force!"

Marcus stood at the entrance.His shotgun was slung over his shoulder, and his stance was defiant. "This is our home," Marcus called back. "We're not giving it up."

The scarred man laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You're making a mistake. We'll give you until sundown to reconsider. After that, there's no mercy."

Kate's fists clenched as she watched the gang retreat to set up a perimeter. Chris nudged her shoulder. "We need to get inside."

Kate shook her head. "No. If they spot us, it'll make things worse. We can't risk leading them to think reinforcements are coming."

Chris exhaled sharply, his frustration evident. "Then what? We can't just sit here."

Kate's mind raced. "The office building. Morrison and Daniels still there. we need to regroup there, and figure out our next move."