Echoes of the Empty

Dane moved into the kitchen, his eyes darting across the empty shelves and countertops. Cabinets lay open, stripped bare, as if someone had scoured the place before him. He clenched his jaw, wondering who else could have come through in the midst of this chaos. The eerie silence pressed around him, but he forced himself to stay focused, pushing the unsettling thought from his mind.

He crept into the next room, gun raised, his finger resting just above the trigger. Every shadow seemed to shift, and the disorder around him painted a grim picture. Tables overturned, scattered papers, drawers flung open—it looked like someone had been searching desperately for something. The thought tightened his grip on his weapon, and a sense of dread crept into his chest as he moved forward.

Dane's gaze shot to the staircase leading up to the second floor. He took a steadying breath, gripping the axe strapped to his belt, his fingers white-knuckled with tension. Under his breath, he whispered, almost like a mantra, "Focus. You can do this… Dead or alive, you've got this."

With slow, measured steps, he ascended the creaking stairs, each groan of the wood beneath his boots echoing like a warning. He reached the top, moving through the dim hallway, glancing cautiously into each room he passed. Finally, he approached a closed door at the end of the hall. The air felt heavy, as though the walls themselves held secrets.

Inside, the room was cluttered, every corner littered with remnants of hurried searches. Dane's eyes swept over it all, heart pounding as he neared a small, closed cabinet in the far corner. His instincts screamed at him, but he couldn't turn back now. Swallowing, he carefully set his axe down and picked up a heavy flashlight, gripping it tightly in his free hand.

"God… if you're listening," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Just… just keep me safe."

Dane reached for the cabinet door, his breath caught in his throat as he slowly swung it open. His stomach dropped. Inside, a girl huddled, eyes wide and wild with fear. She looked up at him, her face pale, lips parted in a silent scream. Suddenly, her voice broke through the silence with a piercing shriek.

Startled, Dane's hand swung instinctively, the flashlight connecting with her head in a swift, desperate motion. She slumped forward, collapsing at his feet. A wave of horror washed over him as he realized what he'd done. He dropped to his knees, gently lifting her head, searching her face for any signs of infection, but her skin was clear, unmarred.

"Oh, God… no… please wake up. I didn't mean to hurt you. Come on… please…" His voice broke, heavy with guilt and desperation as he cradled her head gently. "I'm so sorry. I just… I thought you were one of them."

He kept his hands steady, searching her face for any flicker of consciousness, praying he hadn't made another horrible mistake.

After a moment, the girl's eyes fluttered open, wincing as a dull pain throbbed in her forehead where the flashlight had struck. She squinted, feeling a tug on her wrists and realizing they were bound, tied just tightly enough to prevent her from moving freely. Blinking against the dim light, her gaze fell on the two figures in front of her—Dane and Kade—both looking at her with expressions that held a mix of caution and wariness.

She tried jerking her arms, glaring at them. "What the hell…? Why am I tied up, you idiots?" Her voice was edged with anger, frustration sparking in her eyes.

Dane took a step forward, swallowing nervously as he tapped Kade's shoulder. "She's awake," he muttered, his tone wavering with a mix of fear and uncertainty. He cleared his throat, then spoke with forced authority, "Who… who are you? And what were you doing here, hiding in that cabinet?"

The girl scoffed, her brows furrowing as she looked from one to the other. "What's wrong with you two morons? You tie me up for no reason?" She struggled against the ropes again, fire blazing in her gaze. "And where did you learn to tie knots, anyway? I've seen kindergartners do better."

Dane's cheeks flushed, and he looked away, but Kade wasn't amused. He leaned forward, grimacing as he pushed himself up with clear difficulty, his voice sharp with pain and frustration. "Listen, girl, we're not here to play games. We've been through hell, and if you know something about this place, you're going to tell us. Now, why were you hiding? And where are the people who live here?"

The girl hesitated, studying their worn, battered faces. Finally, she rolled her eyes with an exasperated sigh. "I'll tell you this much: you two look like a pair of half-dead scarecrows. What are you even trying to do out there? Survive? Good luck with that, you're not exactly built for it."

Kade's eyes narrowed, but before he could retort, Dane reached over and carefully untied her hands, his hands shaking slightly. The moment her wrists were free, she stood up and, without a word, spun on her heel, kicking Dane squarely in the chest. He stumbled back, nearly toppling over.

"That's for knocking me out with a flashlight," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Kade raised an eyebrow, watching her with a mixture of annoyance and admiration as she knelt beside him, rummaging through a small bag slung over her shoulder. She pulled out a bottle of madicine, holding it out to him with an arched brow. "Here, take these. You look like you've been through a meat grinder."

Kade's jaw clenched as he looked down at the medicine, suspicion flickering in his eyes. "Why should we trust you? We don't even know your name, and you've been hiding in a cabinet like some kind of thief."

The girl chuckled darkly, meeting his gaze with a smirk that held both mockery and a hint of challenge. "Trust me?" she scoffed. "Oh, please. You're lucky I haven't left you and your friend to rot. His condition is so bad that if he doesn't get his medicine soon, he's as good as dead."

She leaned in, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "Maybe if you're smart enough to stay alive long enough to find what you need, he'll make it. But don't expect my help, kid. I'm not here to save anyone."

Dane stepped between them, holding out a hand. "Hold on, Girl. Why should we believe you? We don't even know what you were doing here."

Her smirk widened, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "You can trust me… or you can leave and fend for yourselves. Honestly, it doesn't matter to me."