Chapter 3: into the unknown

The alley was narrow and dark, and garbage covered the sidewalk. James could hear his own ragged breathing as he struggled ahead, barely keeping his heart from bursting out of his chest. Emily led the way, moving in quick, quiet strides, her eyes scanning every shadow for threat.

They did not speak. They did not need to. The silence of what they had witnessed, the man—monster—in the street, and the blood, hung thick in the air. There was only the sound of their footsteps and the distant hum of chaos, a reminder that the world they knew had ended.

"We can't stay here," Emily muttered under her breath, her gaze darting towards a doorway not far away. "We need to find shelter. Somewhere safe."

James nodded, his mind racing. Safe? Where was safe anymore? Every area of the city seemed to be infested with infected, and they were growing bolder. His gaze snapped to the mouth of the alley, where he caught a flicker of movement in the corner of his eye. His hand went instinctively to the knife he had picked up from a nearby convenience store.

"They're coming," he whispered, trying to keep his cool.

Emily's expression turned stony, her jaw set in determination. "We're not going to outrun them, James. We need to outsmart them."

James looked at her, startled by the coldness of her voice. She was right, of course. The infected were faster, stronger—they didn't get tired. They didn't stop.

"Do you have any idea where we're going?" he asked, his voice quiet.

She nodded, her face growing tense as if she had already accepted the harsh reality of what was happening. "There's an old church somewhere in the area. It might have a basement or something we can hide in."

It was not much, but it was better than what they had. They had no choice but to take their chances.

They moved swiftly, stealthy, staying in the shadows and using the protection of abandoned cars to make their way down the streets. The silence was surreal, broken only by distant crashes, screams, and the occasional snarls of the infected.

As they neared the church, James caught a sight of the large wooden doors, tall and menacing in front of the dark sky. It should have been a relief, but the closer they got, the more anxious James felt. He could not shake off the feeling that they were walking right into a trap.

The doors were ajar, just wide enough to squeeze through. Emily pushed them open, and they slipped in, the heavy scent of dust and decay filling the air. The church was empty, but it wasn't quiet. The low groan of something scraping along the floor echoed through the high, vaulted ceilings.

"What was that?" James whispered, his voice tense.

"Shh," Emily whispered, holding up a hand to stop him. "It could be one of them."

They crept along, their footsteps silent on the thick carpet of the church aisle. The sound came again, closer this time. It was a faint scratching noise, similar to fingernails on wood. Emily motioned for James to follow her, and they inched to the side, staying close to the walls.

James darted a look around a pillar and froze.

On the other side of the church, a figure was hunched over, dragging its limbs as though it was still trying to walk, though its body wasn't quite functioning right. It was an infected, but it didn't seem to have noticed them yet.

"Don't move," Emily whispered, her voice barely audible.

James nodded, barely breathing, his eyes never leaving the creature. It seemed to be sniffing the air, its head jerking back and forth, trying to pick up a scent, but it wasn't coming any nearer.

"How do we get out of here?" he whispered.

Emily glanced around the room, her eyes flying to the windows, then to the back door. "We need to get to the back door," she whispered. "It's our only hope for escape."

The infected animal let out a low snarl, its head jerking in their direction. James's heart skipped a beat as he was sure it had seen them. His heart rate increased, adrenaline pumping through his system. The creature didn't attack, however—it just lurched a little closer, its movements stiff and spasmodic.

Emily didn't wait. She grabbed James's arm and pulled him towards the side exit, attempting not to make a sound. They were at the door when the scraping sound intensified, and they stopped.

Too late.

They were not able to react before the creature lunged at them, its mouth wide open, teeth covered in blood. James barely had time to pull out his knife as the infected grabbed his arm, pulling him toward its biting teeth.

He struck back, stabbing the blade into its side, but the creature didn't relent. Its grip was like iron, its strength far more than he'd bargained for. Panic took over, and he drove the knife in deeper, twisting it until the creature's grip loosened, and it crashed to the floor with a sickening thud.

Panting, James turned to Emily, already midway to the door. She shot him a look. "Move, now!"

They did not hesitate. James followed her through the door and out into the street, where the world was even crazier than it was inside. The night air rang with the noise of chaos—smashing cars, the thunder of toppling buildings, and the endless screams of the infected.

They could no longer stay in the church. They had no time.

"We must keep moving," Emily said, urgency in her voice. "We can't stop."

James nodded his head in affirmation, yet as they prepared to escape, he could not shake the feeling that they were being watched. The city throbbed with danger, and they were two more people trying to survive in a world that had no more interest in surviving.