Chapter 7

Rachel's heart still raced as she peeked around the dusty crate, her grip tightening around the gun.

The sudden noise had sent her scrambling for cover, her mind screaming for her to be prepared for the worst.

Instead of the grotesque faces of monsters, she was met with the unfamiliar features of humans - a man clad in Army fatigues, a woman with a similar uniform, both frozen in surprise at the sight of her emerging from hiding.

Rachel let out a shaky breath, her initial fear rapidly giving way to relief. She raised her hands slowly, palms out in a gesture of non-aggression, and took a cautious step forward.

Her voice was barely above a whisper as she spoke."I'm not one of them. I'm Rachel Nightshade. Please, you have to believe me."The man's eyes narrowed, his hand hovering near his gun, while the woman studied Rachel intently, her expression unreadable.

Rachel knew she looked a mess - dirty, disheveled, and exhausted from her ordeal.

But she also sensed the desperation in their eyes, borne from the unrelenting fight against the creatures that now threatened their world.

With halting steps, Rachel approached the pair, the heavy gun still clutched in her hand. The man's gaze never wavered from her, his hand remaining poised over his own firearm, while the woman's eyes remained trained on Rachel's face intently.

"I'm not here to harm you," Rachel said, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to convey her sincerity. "I was simply searching for my younger brother, Max. I arrived at the mill and... found this."

She gestured loosely to the grisly scene behind her, the weight of the words settling heavily between them. The man's expression softened slightly at the mention of a brother, his hand lowering from his gun.

"We're searching for survivors as well," the woman said, stepping forward cautiously. "Have you seen anyone else?"Rachel shook her head, her eyes welling up with unshed tears.

"Only... bodies. But Max might be with others. He wrote a note pointing to a safe zone in Willowbrook. Did you hear anything about that?"The man exchanged a brief glance with the woman before nodding.

"We radioed ahead. Willowbrook's military unit is setting up a temporary base to evacuate civilians."

Rachel's heart leapt with renewed hope. "Willowbrook could be our only chance," she said, her voice strengthening with determination.

"Can you take me there? We need to find Max before it's too late."The woman considered her for a moment before nodding. "We're heading out soon. Come with us, but stay close and quiet. We don't know what other creatures might be lurking around."

Rachel nodded vigorously, relief and gratitude washing over her. "Thank you. I won't let you down."With a sense of trepidation and hope, Rachel followed the soldiers out of the abandoned mill, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

The journey to Willowbrook would be perilous, but for now, she had a glimmer of light in the darkness, and she clung to it like a lifeline.

As they emerged from the crumbling mill, Rachel's gaze darted nervously around the desolate landscape.

The soldiers flanked her, their weapons at the ready as they scanned the perimeter for any signs of the grotesque creatures.

Rachel's car sat idle in the parking lot, a stark contrast to the ruins of the interior she had left behind.

She approached it cautiously, her footsteps echoing in the eerie silence."Let's get moving," the woman soldier said, gesturing for Rachel to take the passenger seat.

Rachel nodded, her hands slightly shaking as she opened the door. She slid into the seat, taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart.

The soldiers climbed into the driver's side and hopped into the backseat, their presence a reassuring bulk of human presence amidst the terror that had consumed the world.

Rachel closed the door and settled into her seat, belting herself in with a sense of determination.As the soldiers settled in, they radioed ahead to coordinate with the Willowbrook unit, their voices a terse but reassuring murmur in the confined space of the car.

Rachel leaned back, her eyes never leaving the rearview mirror, scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.