The Butcher of the Gas Station

The group talked and laughed along the road, and the mood truly lifted.Sometimes, just having a conversation — even about silly things — could make you feel happy again, pushing all the chaos and fear out of your mind.

Crunch...

Suddenly, the RV in the middle of the convoy jerked and stopped.Seeing the situation through the rearview mirror, Jason immediately pulled over and jumped out of the car.

Dale had already popped the hood.A thick cloud of white smoke billowed out, making him cough and wave his hand furiously to clear the air.After a quick look, he shook his head helplessly."The hose broke," he said. "And I don't have a spare."

No one could have predicted something like this.

But they were stranded in the middle of nowhere — no village ahead, no shops behind.Sitting still on a deserted highway was practically an invitation for danger.

Holding the map, Andrea stepped forward and pointed to a spot."There's a small town up ahead. If we can get there, we might be able to find some parts."

"Alright, let's not waste time."

Jason grabbed a sturdy rope and tied the RV to the police car.The police SUV had enough horsepower to tow the RV, though it would be slower.

With Andrea acting as their living GPS, Jason carefully pulled the RV toward the town.But when they arrived at the edge, he didn't rush in.He didn't know what waited inside — and assuming it was safe could cost them their lives.

"There's a gas station over there," Jason said, squinting ahead. "We'll need gas too. But first, we check the area."

He left Moore and T-z guarding the back with rifles, telling them to report immediately if anything looked suspicious.The others rested for a moment, conserving energy.

Rick and Sean quietly slipped into the town first, scouting the area.The town was definitely occupied by zombies, but there were fewer than expected.The gas station was close — just across the street.

After securing a nearby building as a temporary safe house, Rick called Jason over the radio.Then they searched surrounding houses, locking doors to keep any lurking zombies trapped inside.

When Jason and the others entered the town, they moved cautiously, making as little noise as possible.The streets were a disaster — newspapers, trash, and worse... rotting piles of something that made the air gaggingly thick.

Dale and T went to check out the gas station, hoping to find parts.Gas stations usually stocked some basic supplies for travelers.

Crash!

The sound of glass shattering rang out sharply.Before anyone could react, T — the heavyset man weighing over 200 pounds — came flying out of the gas station, landing hard on his back with a painful thud.

Jason immediately frowned and barked, "Stay put. I'll go check."

He hurried over, helping T-z up.

"What happened? Where's Dale?"

T grimaced in pain, his face drenched in sweat."There's someone inside," he gasped. "Really strong... damn strong."

Jason was caught off guard.Someone was living inside the gas station — and judging by T's battered state, it wasn't a friendly someone.

"Let me go!"

Suddenly, Dale's voice rang out — followed by a staggering sight.

A giant of a man, nearly two meters tall, emerged from the gas station, gripping Dale like a rag doll.The man was built like a butcher — thick muscles, heavy shoulders, and a cold, dead look in his eyes.

No wonder T had been tossed around like a toy.

Jason's eyes narrowed dangerously.He couldn't just stand by and watch Dale get hurt.

"Who are you?" Jason called out, stepping forward without fear."Why are you attacking my people? Put him down! We can talk this out. No need for blood."

The towering man didn't flinch.His voice was low and rumbling, like a distant thunderstorm."This is my place. You're not allowed here."