chapter 10: A New Dawn and The First Mission

James strode along the walls of Haven, looking out towards the horizon as the dawn crept across the landscape. Silence now reigned, but behind them was the aftermath of the battle: charred-out cars, dead strewn everywhere, and the lingering stench of death.

Years of surviving had been their priority. But today? Today they had taken a battle.

Maria climbed up beside him, slinging her rifle over her shoulder. "You ever think we'd make it this far?"

James let out a short laugh. "Honestly? No."

She smirked, nudging him with her elbow. "Me neither."

Below them, Haven slept. People passed through the streets, removing rubble, propping up walls, and building new ones. Survivors had arrived in the past few days, single and in groups, drawn by the rumor of Haven's survival.

But James knew they couldn't sit behind these walls idle.

This can't be the end of the road," he said, watching as Carter and a handful of others reinforced the northern gate. "We fought back, but we have to do better. We can't wait for people to come to us—we need to go out there and find them."

Maria nodded. "You're talking expansion.".

"Yeah," James said. "If we can clear out this area, we can rebuild it. And if we can rebuild it, maybe we can start fighting back—really fighting back—against the dead."

Maria exhaled, following his gaze over to the opposite treeline. "Then we've got some work ahead of us."

James smiled. "Yeah. But for the first time… we actually have a future." The First Mission

A week later, James, Maria, and specially chosen group of survivors stood before the gates of Haven, ready for their first official mission—not just a resupply mission, but a mission to expand their territory.

The eight survivors were all prepared and geared up for the journey. Maria was by James's side, shotgun slung over her shoulder. Carter was checking their truck, making sure it was ready to roll. Two scouts, Logan and Riley, were sharpening their knives, and Evelyn, the Haven leader, stood with her arms crossed.

"You sure about this?" she asked James.

James nodded. "We can't just stay stranded in Haven for the rest of our lives. We have to drive out, clear the sector, and get more people."

Evelyn breathed deeply, then pushed a map into his hand. "There's a town about some twenty miles west. It was a supply depot before the plague. If there's anything left at all, it could be useful. Scout reports say that there are survivors there, too."

Maria grinned. "Good. Let's go pick them up."

Evelyn glared at James. "Just… be cautious. We have no idea what's out there."

James nodded, his eyes on his crew. "We've got this."

And they went across to the other side of the gates. On the Road

The truck rumbled down the broken highway, over the wrecks of cars and fallen buildings. Nature had already begun reclaiming the world—vines climbing over the remnants of civilization, trees growing up through concrete.

Maria was in the passenger seat, reloading shells into her shotgun. "So what's the plan? We drive into town, say hello, and hope they don't shoot us?"

James smiled, eyes never leaving the road. "Something like that."

Carter, in the backseat with Logan and Riley, leaned forward. "If these people are still alive, then they've been fighting zombies and raiders. They're not going to trust strangers."

James nodded. "That's why we enter so carefully. We offer them a choice—return with us to Haven, or stay and fight on their terms."

"And if they don't want to go?" Logan asked.

Maria slings her shotgun. "Then we handle it.".

The truck bounced over a pothole and rolled over it, jolting all of them. As they neared the edge of town, James slowed the truck, driving behind a wrecked semi-truck. The team got out, guns drawn.

The town was still to an eerie extent.

The buildings stood like abandoned corpses, windows shattered, doors open. Crookedly hung ancient signs—a worn diner, a gas station, a general store. The leftovers of life prior to the plague.

James raised a fist, signaling the group to move in pairs.

Maria and Carter took the right side of the street, sweeping through abandoned buildings. Logan and Riley took the left, moving cautiously.

James and another survivor, Sam, crept forward down the main road.

Then, a sound broke the silence.

A gunshot.

James spun toward the source—the general store.

Maria's voice came through his radio. "Shots fired! We've got movement inside!"

James did not wait. He signaled the others to follow, and then sprinted for the store, rifle raised above his head.

Arriving at the doors, they burst open—and a bleeding man staggered out, a revolver shaking in his hand.

"Help…," the man gasped.

James caught him as he collapsed, lowering him to the floor. The man was older, bearded and with sunken eyes.

Maria ran with James, gun sweeping the area. "What the hell occurred here?"

The man coughed, grasping James's arm. "They came… they took them…"

James's heart pounded. "Who?"

The man's eyes flickered. "Raiders… they took our people…"

James shot Maria a glance.

This mission had just shifted.

They weren't here for supplies.

They were here for a rescue.