The morning sun broke through the trees, casting dappled light over the ranger station as Kelly, Sam, Eliza, Ryan, and Liam gathered to discuss their plan. Kelly felt a mix of excitement and apprehension coursing through her. They were finally taking steps toward something that felt hopeful.
“Okay, everyone,” Sam said, standing in front of the makeshift map they had drawn on a piece of cardboard. “We have a rough idea of where the community might be. It’s about twenty miles east of here, but we need to avoid any major roads. The last thing we need is to run into a horde.”
Liam squinted at the map, his brow furrowing. “What if we encounter zombies along the way? We should have a backup plan.”
“Agreed,” Ryan replied, leaning closer to the map. “We can stick to the tree line as much as possible. If we stay quiet and keep moving, we should be able to avoid them.”
Kelly looked around at her new companions. “What if we split into smaller groups? That way, if one group encounters trouble, the others can keep going. We can use walkie-talkies to stay in touch.”
“Good idea,” Eliza said, her eyes brightening. “We can travel faster that way and keep our numbers spread out. If we all stick together, we’ll be a bigger target.”
Sam nodded, impressed. “Let’s do it. But we need to make sure everyone knows their role. We can’t afford to lose anyone out there.”
“Right,” Kelly said, feeling a surge of confidence. “I can go with Eliza. We’ll take the lead and scout ahead. Liam and Ryan can stay behind and keep watch.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Liam said, tightening his grip on the flashlight he had found. “But let’s make sure to set clear communication signals. If we hear anything unusual, we retreat.”
“Exactly,” Sam added. “We’ll keep it simple. Two short whistles mean to retreat. One long whistle means danger. Understood?”
The group nodded in agreement, their expressions serious but determined. 
“Let’s gather supplies,” Eliza said, looking at the bags they had prepared. “We should take whatever we can carry, especially food and water. We won’t know when we’ll get another chance.”
As they gathered their gear, Kelly couldn’t help but feel a sense of unity forming between them. She had never expected to find companionship in a zombie apocalypse, but here they were—ready to face the unknown together.
Once they had collected enough supplies, they stepped outside, the cool morning air hitting their faces. Kelly took a deep breath, the smell of pine mingling with the fresh scent of dew.
“Ready?” Sam asked, her eyes scanning the surroundings.
“Ready!” the group chimed in.
With a final glance back at the ranger station, they began their trek into the forest, moving cautiously but with purpose. Kelly walked beside Eliza, chatting quietly as they navigated the underbrush.
“So, what was life like before all this?” Eliza asked, a hint of nostalgia in her voice. “Were you working too?”
Kelly chuckled softly. “You could say that. I was an office worker, living the grind. Work, eat, sleep, repeat. It felt so monotonous. Now, I guess I’ve traded one kind of survival for another.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean,” Eliza replied. “I was studying to become a nurse. Now, I’m just trying to keep myself and others alive. It’s funny how life changes.”
“Funny in a sad way,” Kelly said, shaking her head. “But I guess it makes you appreciate the small things more.”
They continued walking in comfortable silence for a few moments until Ryan called from behind. “Hey, keep your voices down! We don’t want to attract any attention.”
“Right, sorry!” Kelly whispered, feeling a bit sheepish.
As they walked deeper into the woods, the sounds of nature surrounded them—the rustling of leaves, the distant chirping of birds, and the occasional snap of a twig. For the first time in a long while, Kelly felt a sense of freedom, far away from the oppressive walls of her old office.
Suddenly, Sam raised her hand, signaling for everyone to stop. “Wait,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“What is it?” Liam asked, looking around.
“Listen,” Sam urged, her eyes narrowed. 
Kelly strained her ears and heard it—a low, guttural moan in the distance, unmistakably a zombie. She felt a chill run down her spine.
“Do you think it’s close?” Eliza whispered, her eyes wide with fear.
“Maybe, but it sounds like it’s moving away,” Sam said, her brows furrowing. “Let’s wait here for a moment. We can’t risk being seen.”
They all crouched behind a cluster of bushes, hearts racing. After what felt like an eternity, the moaning faded into the background, and they finally let out a collective breath.
“That was too close,” Ryan muttered, wiping sweat from his forehead. “We need to be more careful.”
“Let’s keep moving,” Sam said, her tone resolute. “We’re not far from the next ridge. We should reach it before noon.”
As they resumed their trek, Kelly couldn’t shake the unease that had settled in her stomach. The reality of the world they were in felt too surreal, too dangerous. But as they walked, the camaraderie and support of her companions bolstered her spirits.
They reached the ridge after a couple of hours, taking a moment to rest and assess their surroundings. The view was breathtaking—a vast expanse of trees stretching endlessly, a stark contrast to the chaos of the city they had left behind.
“Wow,” Kelly breathed, gazing at the scenery. “It’s beautiful.”
“Yeah, it is,” Eliza replied, a small smile on her face. “Sometimes it’s easy to forget there’s still beauty left in the world.”
“Let’s make sure we preserve that beauty,” Sam said, her gaze steady. “We need to make it to that community and find a way to rebuild.”
“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Liam said, a mix of disbelief and excitement in his voice. “It feels like we’re in a movie or something.”
“Yeah, except we don’t get a script,” Ryan added with a chuckle. “Just winging it.”
“Let’s get back to it,” Sam said, shaking her head with a smile. “The sooner we move, the sooner we can find safety.”
As they descended the ridge, the atmosphere shifted. The sound of rustling leaves became more pronounced, and the distant moans of zombies echoed through the trees. The group quickened their pace, tension rising with every step.
“Stay close together,” Sam instructed, her voice firm. “And remember the signals.”
They moved in silence, alert to their surroundings. Suddenly, from the corner of her eye, Kelly spotted movement—shadows darting between the trees. 
“Sam!” she hissed, pointing ahead.
“Stay still!” Sam commanded, holding her hand up.
As they all froze, the shadows emerged, revealing a small group of zombies stumbling toward them, their eyes glazed and vacant. Kelly’s heart raced, her instincts screaming at her to run.
“Retreat!” Sam shouted, raising her weapon as the zombies drew closer. “Back to the ridge!”
Panic surged through Kelly as they turned and ran, adrenaline fueling their escape. They could hear the groans behind them, closing in.
“Faster!” Ryan urged, glancing over his shoulder. “They’re right on our tail!”
Kelly sprinted, her lungs burning, but a sense of determination pushed her forward. They reached the ridge, scrambling up the slope, but the zombies were relentless, their moans echoing in the air.
“Get to the top!” Sam shouted, urging everyone to keep moving. “We’ll hold them off!”
When they reached the top, Sam and Ryan turned to face the horde, weapons drawn. 
“We can’t let them reach us!” Sam yelled, gripping her branch tightly. “Get ready!”
Kelly and Eliza positioned themselves behind their companions, hearts pounding in fear. The zombies clawed their way up the ridge, and Kelly felt her panic rise.
“Now!” Sam shouted as the first zombies reached the top. The group swung their weapons, fighting back with everything they had.
“Watch your back!” Eliza shouted, swinging her weapon wildly.
“Keep moving!” Liam called out, dodging a zombie’s grasp.
The battle was chaotic, the sounds of grunts and shouts mixing with the eerie moans of the undead. Kelly swung her flashlight, connecting with a zombie’s head, sending it tumbling backward. 
“Take that!” she yelled, adrenaline surging.
But for every zombie they knocked down, two more seemed to take its place. Kelly’s heart raced as she realized they couldn’t hold them off much longer.
“We need to get out of here!” Ryan shouted, his voice strained. “We can’t stay here!”
“Down the other side!” Sam instructed, pointing to a steep slope. “We’ll lose them in the trees!”
With no time to waste, they turned and ran down the other side of the ridge, fear driving them forward. 
They plunged into the forest, zigzagging through the trees, desperate to escape the relentless horde. As they ran, the sound of their pursuers faded, but the tension remained thick in the air.
“Are we safe?” Kelly gasped, leaning against a tree to catch her breath.
“For now,” Sam replied, scanning their surroundings. “But we can’t stop. We need to keep moving.”
“Did we lose them?” Liam
 asked, his face pale.
“I think so,” Eliza said, breathing heavily. “But we can’t take any chances.”
They pressed on, the urgency of their situation propelling them forward. 
After what felt like hours of running, they finally slowed down, finding a small clearing in the woods. 
“Let’s take a break,” Sam said, lowering her weapon. “We need to regroup.”
They all sank to the ground, exhausted and shaken. 
“What now?” Ryan asked, wiping sweat from his forehead. 
“Now we figure out our next steps,” Sam said, looking around. “We can’t give up. We still have a chance to find that community.”
Kelly looked at her companions, their faces worn but resolute. “We have to stick together. No matter what happens, we can’t let fear dictate our choices.”
“Agreed,” Liam said, nodding. “We fight together or we don’t fight at all.”
With renewed determination, the group sat in a circle, planning their next move. They knew the road ahead would be fraught with danger, but for the first time in a long time, Kelly felt a glimmer of hope. They were in this together, and they would fight for their survival. 
“Let’s get ready,” Sam said, standing up. “We have a community to find.” 
As they gathered their gear and prepared to continue their journey, the weight of the world felt a little lighter, and Kelly knew they were stronger together.