Chapter 59: Shadows of the Past

The group trudged through the eerily silent streets, the weight of their chosen path settling over them. Mallory clutched the straps of her backpack, glancing at the familiar faces around her. Altair led the way with his usual efficiency, the map clutched tightly in his hand. Greg walked beside Vanessa, cracking jokes that earned him a mixture of groans and genuine laughs. Alex remained close to Mallory, a quiet presence she had grown to appreciate.

As they moved deeper into the city, the memories of their time together resurfaced. Mallory couldn't help but think back to the early days of the apocalypse when the apartment had been her sole refuge. Back then, the idea of venturing out had seemed impossible. Now, here she was, part of a mismatched team navigating a world gone mad.

It was a stark reminder of how much things had changed—and how much they had stayed the same.