**Chapter 6 - Searching for Sanctuary**

Chapter 6 - Searching for Sanctuary

Ethan reached the top of the stairwell, breathing heavily. His muscles burned from the sprint, but his mind was sharper than ever. The department store's upper floors stretched out before him—quiet, empty, but filled with the potential for danger. He needed a secure place to rest, at least for a few hours, before continuing his journey.

Ash pulsed softly in his arms, the little tree seemingly drained from its first real battle. Ethan couldn't blame it. The way it had fought, the precision of its strikes—it was more than just a plant. It was evolving, learning, and that fact alone made Ethan more determined to keep it alive.

Moving cautiously, Ethan stepped into what appeared to be a clothing section. Racks of dusty garments stood untouched, mannequins frozen in eerie poses. The dim emergency lighting cast long shadows, making every corner seem like a hiding place for something waiting to pounce.

He scanned for signs of movement. Nothing.

His fingers tightened around his knife as he advanced. If this floor had any supplies, he needed to find them before other survivors—or worse, more undead—showed up. His first stop was the employee lounge, a small area walled off by glass panels. He peered inside and saw an overturned couch, a broken vending machine, and a few scattered cans of food.

Jackpot.

Ethan slipped inside and immediately went to work. He picked up a can of beans and focused. The tingling sensation in his hands signaled the duplication process, and within moments, an identical can rested beside it. He repeated the process, filling his bag with enough food to last him a week if he rationed carefully.

With supplies secured, he turned his attention to finding a defensible position. A nearby storage closet caught his eye. It was small but had a lockable door—good enough for a few hours of rest.

Before he could reach it, a sound stopped him cold.

A low, guttural growl.

Ethan froze, his heart hammering against his ribs. Slowly, he turned toward the source of the noise. Near the escalator, a hunched figure shambled forward. Its skin was stretched tight over jagged bones, its mouth twisted into an unnatural grin. But what stood out the most were its glowing eyes—intelligent, aware.

This was no ordinary zombie.

Ethan instinctively stepped back, gripping his knife. He had dealt with hordes, but this… this was different. The creature didn't lunge immediately. It studied him, as if calculating its next move.

Ash rustled in his arms, sensing the danger. Its roots twitched, preparing for another fight.

The creature hissed, then bolted.

Ethan barely had time to react. He threw himself to the side as the thing lunged, its claws swiping inches from his face. He hit the floor hard, rolling to absorb the impact before scrambling to his feet. The zombie twisted unnaturally, recovering faster than anything he had ever seen.

No choice.

He hurled a knife at its head. The blade sank deep, but instead of collapsing, the creature shrieked and kept coming.

Ethan cursed, duplicating another knife and slashing wildly as the undead closed the distance. Ash's roots lashed out, striking the zombie's legs and throwing it off balance. Taking advantage of the opening, Ethan drove his blade into the creature's temple, twisting sharply.

The zombie stiffened—then fell.

Ethan staggered back, panting. Whatever that thing was, it wasn't like the others. It was faster, stronger… and worse, it could think.

That meant things were about to get a hell of a lot more complicated.

He looked down at Ash, its small branches trembling from the effort of the fight. He knelt beside it, brushing a hand over its leaves. "You did good, buddy. But we need to get stronger."

Ash pulsed in response, as if agreeing.

Ethan stood, turning his gaze toward the city skyline visible through a shattered window. Somewhere out there was a safe place—somewhere he could build, defend, and survive.

He just had to find it first.