CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THROUGH THE DARKNESS

A Path to Hope

The tracks stretched endlessly, cutting through the wilderness like a scar.

Kayode walked in silence, his boots crunching against gravel. He was taller now, leaner, hardened by the months of surviving. His sister, Rebecca, walked close beside him, gripping the strap of her backpack. Taiwo, Jake, and Sam followed behind, their expressions tight with exhaustion and determination.

They had heard about the train terminal.

It was a whisper of hope, a possible haven.

And after so much loss, they needed to believe in something.

"We get there," Jake said, breaking the silence, "then what?"

"We see if it's safe," Kayode replied. "If there are people, we'll know if we can trust them."

"And if we can't?" Taiwo asked.

Kayode exhaled. "Then we move again."

No one argued.

Because that was the world now.

The rail line curved, leading them straight to a gaping black tunnel.

A monstrous hole in the earth.

The wind howled as they approached, carrying the stench of rotting flesh. The sound of the undead - low moans and the wet squelching of movement - echoed from inside.

Rebecca's voice was tight. "We're not going through that, right?"

Kayode stared into the darkness. "We don't have a choice."

Jake swore under his breath. "We could go around."

Taiwo shook his head. "That could take hours. Maybe days."

Kayode took a deep breath.

"We use the trick."

They had learned a way.

A disgusting, sickening way to move among the dead.

They kneeled, grabbing at half-rotted corpses along the tracks. With steady hands, they smeared putrid flesh and coagulated blood onto their clothes, arms, and faces.

The smell was unbearable.

Rebecca gagged. "God, I hate this."

"Just don't get it in your eyes or mouth," Kayode reminded her. "One mistake, and you could get infected."

Once they were coated, they rose and stepped forward.

Into the tunnel.

Inside, it was pure darkness.

The air was thick and humid. Dozens of undead shuffled aimlessly, their decaying bodies pressing against one another.

Kayode gritted his teeth and led the way, gripping Rebecca's hand.

Step by step.

The others followed, moving slowly, silently.

The moans surrounded them, grotesque and hungry.

They kept their heads down. Their breathing is controlled. Every movement had to be perfect.

Then-Sam faltered.

His shirt snagged on a car door.

A rusted, half-open sedan sat abandoned in the tunnel, and inside, a trapped walker suddenly lunged, snapping its teeth inches from Sam's face.

Sam yanked at his shirt, panicking.

Kayode's eyes widened. No. No, no, no -

Then, it happened.

The walker inside the car thrashed violently, slamming against the door. The sound echoed through the tunnel.

The horde froze.

Then they turned toward Sam.

Their rotting faces lifted, dead eyes locking onto him.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then they attacked.

The first walker lunged, teeth sinking into Sam's shoulder.

He screamed.

Blood splattered.

More swarmed him, pulling him down.

Ripping. Tearing. Devouring.

His screams turned to gurgles.

Kayode's heart hammered.

"RUN!" Sam's voice was barely human now. "GO! JUST GO!"

There was nothing they could do.

Kayode grabbed Rebecca and ran.

Taiwo and Jake bolted after them, their only focus on escaping.

Behind them, Sam's dying screams faded.

Until there was only the sound of flesh being eaten.

They burst from the tunnel's exit, gasping for breath, their bodies still slick with blood.

No one spoke.

They couldn't. 

The air was thick with silence, the reality of what had just happened pressing down on them.

Rebecca wiped at her eyes, smearing blood across her face.

Taiwo clenched his fists. "We shouldn't have left him."

Jake's voice was hollow. "He left himself."

Kayode inhaled sharply, pushing his grief aside. They had to keep moving.

Up ahead, the tracks stretched toward a distant silhouette.

A station.

The train terminal.

Their only hope.

Kayode's jaw tightened.

"We keep going."

No one argued.

Because they had nothing left.