Chapter 3 The Dead Walk

Chapter 3: The Dead Walk

The sun had long disappeared behind the blood-red sky, leaving the wasteland in a perpetual twilight. The ground beneath Kael's boots cracked with every step, a reminder of the world's fragility. The air was thick with dust, clinging to everything like a second skin. His eyes narrowed against the grit, scanning the horizon for any sign of movement.

Rhea walked beside him, her pace steady, as though the chaos they had just survived didn't faze her in the slightest. Kael had seen her in action—heard the rumors, too. Ascendants like her were the elite soldiers of the New Dawn, humanity's last bastion. They were trained to be unshakable, a fact that unsettled Kael more than he cared to admit.

"So, what now?" Kael asked, keeping his voice low. His senses were on high alert, knowing that in this desolate world, danger could spring from any corner.

"We keep moving," Rhea answered without breaking stride. "The horde isn't far behind, and we don't want to be around when they decide to regroup."

Kael nodded, though his mind was elsewhere. He couldn't shake the thought of the Pulse—how it had twisted everything. The Degenerates weren't just the mindless creatures they appeared to be. There was intelligence there, something lurking behind the madness. And he was certain the Ascendants knew more about it than they let on.

"How long until they reach us?" Kael asked, his gaze flicking over his shoulder, half-expecting to see the horde trailing behind them.

"Hours, maybe less," Rhea replied, her tone flat. "Depends on how quickly they move."

Kael's thoughts raced. He couldn't keep running forever. They needed a plan. A safe place. Something to buy them time, even if it was just for a little while.

"There's a settlement up ahead," Rhea continued, as if reading his mind. "A Neutral enclave. We might find some shelter there, but it won't last long."

A settlement. The thought almost sounded too good to be true. In this world, settlements were rare—and dangerous. Most were either overrun by Degenerates or under the control of the Ascendants, both of which made Kael's skin crawl. He didn't trust either side, but if it meant temporary safety, he would have to play along.

"How many people?" Kael asked, his voice cautious.

"Maybe a few dozen. Enough to make it a worthwhile target for the Degenerates," Rhea said. Her voice was tinged with a bitterness Kael didn't fully understand.

Kael's eyes narrowed. "You don't sound like you're too eager to reach them."

Rhea met his gaze for the first time since they'd started walking. Her electric-blue eyes were unreadable, a constant flicker of emotion that seemed to shift just out of reach. "The Neutral settlements aren't all they're cracked up to be. But it's better than dying out here."

Kael didn't ask any more questions. He had learned long ago that people didn't volunteer information unless they had to. And Rhea was no different. He kept his focus on the road ahead, every part of him on edge. He was beginning to realize that the Ascendants weren't just soldiers—they were a power in this world, one that Kael didn't fully understand, but could feel bearing down on him.

The journey to the settlement was a silent one. Neither of them spoke again, and Kael found himself reflecting on the battles they had just fought. He'd killed before, but not like that—not on the scale of what the Pulse had unleashed. The Degenerates weren't the only thing that scared him; it was the thought that maybe, one day, he could become like them. That was the true horror of the Pulse—what it could do to the human mind, to the very essence of humanity itself.

As they reached the edge of the settlement, Kael saw it in the distance. A cluster of makeshift buildings, shrouded in shadows. The faint glow of fires lit the darkness, casting long shadows against the crumbling walls. He could hear the faint murmur of voices on the wind—human voices, but there was a hollow quality to them.

Rhea slowed her pace, her hand instinctively moving toward the plasma rifle slung across her back. "Stay close," she muttered. "This isn't a friendly place."

Kael didn't need to be told twice. The air was thick with tension, and every step they took toward the settlement felt like an invitation to disaster.

As they neared the entrance, a pair of guards stepped out from behind a makeshift barricade, their eyes scanning the newcomers warily. One of them, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek, held up his hand, signaling for them to stop.

"State your business," the guard said gruffly, his eyes narrowing as they took in Rhea's Ascendant armor.

"We're just passing through," Rhea replied coolly, her hand still resting on her rifle. "Looking for shelter."

The guard studied them for a long moment, his gaze flicking from Rhea to Kael. "No one's welcome here unless they've got something to trade. You got anything worth sharing?"

Rhea's expression remained neutral, but Kael could see the tension in her posture. He wasn't sure if it was the situation or something else, but he could feel that Rhea wasn't as eager to get inside as she had made it seem.

"I've got supplies," Kael spoke up, his voice calm. "Ammo, food. I can trade."

The guard raised an eyebrow. "Ammo, huh? That's a rare commodity. Alright, you can come in. But don't start any trouble."

The gates creaked open, and Kael followed Rhea inside. As they stepped into the settlement, Kael was immediately struck by the grim atmosphere. People moved in the shadows, their faces drawn and wary. It wasn't a place of safety; it was a place of survival, and the two of them were just another set of eyes in the crowd.

They were ushered toward a central area where a fire crackled, surrounded by people who looked like they hadn't seen a good meal in days. Kael's stomach growled in response, but he didn't feel hungry. Not here.

Rhea exchanged a few brief words with one of the settlement's leaders, a woman with dark eyes and a hardened face. After a short conversation, she turned back to Kael, her expression unreadable.

"We have a roof over our heads for now," Rhea said. "But I don't think we're staying long."

Kael nodded. He didn't expect to.

The world was too dangerous to settle for long, and it had a way of testing everyone's resolve.

End of Chapter 3