Chapter 9: Shifting Tides

Morning light slipped through the cracks in the boarded-up windows. The apartment was quiet except for the soft breathing of the sleeping group. Aiden was already awake. He had been up since before dawn, checking the supplies and counting the weapons. He stood near the table, looking over the food they had left. Not much.

Jake woke up and sat beside him. "We're getting low on supplies again, huh?"

Aiden nodded. "Yeah. A few more days, maybe less if everyone keeps training this hard. We'll need to run another supply trip."

Jake scratched the back of his head. "We could try the pharmacy near the hospital. It looked untouched last time I passed it. Might still have some good stuff."

Aiden considered that. "It could work, but that's a long route. It's more exposed. We'll need to be smart."

He turned and looked at the rest of the group, still asleep or slowly waking. They were tired, but stronger and more focused than before.

Later that morning, Aiden gathered them in the living room.

"We're going on another supply run," he said. "It's going to be a longer one, so everyone needs to stay sharp. This time, we're going to the pharmacy by the hospital. Jake knows the way."

Emily raised her hand. "Will there be more zombies?"

"Probably," Aiden answered. "But we don't run unless we have to. We stay quiet, move together, and act fast."

He handed out weapons again. Bats, knives, and a crowbar for Jake.

The group left the apartment and moved through alleyways and side streets. Aiden led, Jake followed, and the others stayed close. The hospital was ten blocks away, past a burned-down school and a broken overpass.

Along the way, they passed a wrecked city bus. Aiden stopped the group and motioned for them to stay silent. Inside the bus, two zombies were slumped in the seats.

"Tim," Aiden whispered. "Your turn. Quietly."

Tim nodded, his hands shaking slightly. He moved into the bus and raised his bat. One hit. Then another. The zombies dropped without a sound.

Tim returned, breathing hard but smiling.

"Nice work," Jake said, clapping him on the back.

They continued on until they reached the edge of the hospital block. The pharmacy was across the street, its front doors partly open.

Aiden motioned for them to crouch. "Listen. I want Jake, Emily, and Tim to come inside with me. The rest of you stay out here and watch our backs. If anything happens, yell once. No more."

They nodded, spreading out and keeping their eyes on the surrounding streets.

Inside the pharmacy, the shelves were mostly intact. There are medicines, bandages, and painkillers. Aiden moved fast, stuffing supplies into his bag.

Jake checked the cold storage, grabbing antibiotics and small bottles. Emily searched behind the counter while Tim kept an eye on the door.

Everything was going smoothly.

Until they heard a crash.

"Outside," Aiden snapped. They rushed out to find two zombies closing in on the other group. One of the younger kids had tripped and fallen.

Before anyone could act, Jake was already moving. He swung his crowbar hard, knocking one zombie down. The other lunged toward the fallen kid.

Aiden moved fast and finished it with one clean slice.

He looked around. No one else was hurt. No bites.

"That's why we stay alert," he said. "One mistake, and it's over."

They got back to the apartment just before sunset. Everyone was tired, but no one complained.

That night, they sat quietly, eating simple meals. The mood was heavier than before.

Jake sat beside Aiden. "They did alright. Even Tim."

Aiden nodded. "They're improving. But we're not done. This world doesn't care how far you've come. Only if you're strong enough to keep going."

Jake leaned back. "Well, with you here, I think we've got a shot."

Aiden didn't answer. He just watched the window as the dark slowly took over the sky.

Tomorrow will be another test. But for now, they had made it back.

And in this world, that counted as a win.