Kelly dragged her feet along the deserted street, the soles of her shoes scraping against the cracked asphalt. She had been walking for hours, lost and tired. Her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten since that last can of beans back in her apartment, and her throat was parched. The sun had begun to set, casting long shadows over the decaying city.
“How the hell did I get so lost?” she muttered to herself, kicking a small rock in frustration. She had always been terrible with directions, but now, with her life on the line, it felt particularly infuriating.
Her eyes scanned the area. Buildings stood in ruins, windows shattered, and cars were overturned, their rusting hulks littering the streets like the remnants of a forgotten war. But just ahead, something caught her eye—a small convenience store, its sign barely hanging by a thread.
Kelly’s face lit up. “Yes!” she whispered, quickening her pace toward the store. “Please have something edible in there…”
As she approached the store, she noticed that the front door was slightly ajar. Taking a deep breath, she pushed it open carefully, trying not to make too much noise. The soft creak of the door echoed in the empty space, but nothing stirred inside. She stepped in, her eyes scanning the shelves.
“Jackpot,” she whispered, spotting a few bags of chips, some canned food, and—miraculously—a couple of bottles of water.
Kelly wasted no time. She grabbed a can of soup and a water bottle, sitting down behind the counter where she felt relatively safe. With shaking hands, she twisted the cap off the bottle and gulped down the water, the cool liquid soothing her parched throat.
“Oh god, that’s good,” she mumbled between gulps, leaning her head back against the wall as she enjoyed the brief moment of peace.
Opening the can of soup, she began to eat with her fingers, not caring about the mess she was making. It wasn’t gourmet, but it was the best meal she’d had in days. For the first time in what felt like forever, she relaxed.
“This isn’t so bad,” she murmured, chuckling to herself. “Apocalypse with no deadlines… I could get used to this.”
Unbeknownst to her, a shadow moved behind her. A zombie, its footsteps eerily quiet, slowly made its way through the store. Its eyes were glazed, and its mouth hung open, revealing rows of decayed teeth. It reached out toward Kelly, drawn by the sound of her eating.
Kelly, still oblivious, licked the last bit of soup from her fingers. “Mmm… Not bad for canned stuff. Almost beats the office cafeteria.”
Just as the zombie was about to grab her, a loud *bang* echoed through the store. Kelly jumped, the sound jolting her out of her peaceful moment. She whipped around just in time to see the zombie collapse to the ground, a bullet wound in its skull.
“What the hell?” Kelly gasped, standing up so quickly she knocked over her can. Her eyes darted around the store, heart racing. 
From the shadows stepped a young woman, no older than her mid-twenties. She had short, dark hair and was dressed in practical, tactical gear. A rifle was slung over her shoulder, and her expression was calm but serious. 
“Next time, keep your head on a swivel,” the woman said, lowering her rifle. “That one nearly took a chunk out of you.”
Kelly blinked in shock, still processing what had just happened. “Uh… thanks? I guess?”
The woman walked over, her footsteps light, and inspected the dead zombie with a nod of approval. “You’re lucky I was passing by,” she said. “Though it looks like you’ve been holding your own out here.”
“Yeah, well… I’ve had a few close calls,” Kelly replied, her voice shaky as she gestured to her pipe wrench. “But I didn’t hear that one coming at all.”
The woman shrugged. “They get quiet when they’re not in packs. Easy to miss when you’re distracted.” She glanced at the half-eaten can of soup on the floor. “Though I don’t blame you. Finding food’s a blessing these days.”
Kelly stared at the woman, trying to make sense of everything. She had seen a few survivors since the outbreak, but most people kept to themselves or, worse, turned hostile. This woman seemed… different. She was calm, methodical—like she’d been dealing with this situation for a long time.
“Who… who are you?” Kelly finally asked, still a little wary.
The woman smiled slightly. “Name’s Sam. I’ve been moving through the city for a while now, scavenging supplies, helping out when I can.” She extended a hand. “You?”
Kelly hesitated for a moment before shaking her hand. “Kelly. I was, uh… well, just another office drone before all this.”
Sam raised an eyebrow. “Office drone, huh? You seem pretty capable for someone who spent all day at a desk.”
Kelly let out a dry laugh. “You’d be surprised how fast you adapt when your boss isn’t breathing down your neck anymore.”
Sam chuckled, slinging her rifle back over her shoulder. “Fair enough. You heading somewhere, or are you just wandering like the rest of us?”
Kelly sighed, glancing around the store. “Honestly? I have no idea where I’m going. I got separated from my apartment after… well, let’s just say I ran too far, and now I’m lost.”
Sam’s eyes narrowed as she considered Kelly’s words. “So, no plan, no base?”
“Nope. Just me and this pipe wrench,” Kelly replied, holding it up with a wry smile. “Seems to be working so far.”
Sam crossed her arms, looking Kelly up and down. “Well, you’re lucky you haven’t run into anything worse than that. The city’s crawling with all kinds of nasties—not just the undead.”
Kelly frowned. “Wait, there’s more than just zombies?”
Sam nodded. “You wouldn’t believe half the things I’ve seen since this whole thing started. But yeah… the zombies are just one part of the problem.”
Kelly shuddered at the thought. “Great… like this wasn’t bad enough already.”
Sam offered her a small smile. “Look, I’m heading back to my camp not too far from here. You’re welcome to tag along, if you don’t want to keep wandering.”
Kelly’s first instinct was to decline. She had gotten used to being alone—used to relying on herself. But something about Sam seemed different. She wasn’t just another scared survivor; she was competent, calm, and most importantly, not an enemy.
“Your camp… it’s safe?” Kelly asked, raising an eyebrow.
Sam nodded. “As safe as it can be. We’ve got supplies, walls, and enough people to keep watch. It’s not much, but it’s better than wandering out here alone.”
Kelly bit her lip, thinking it over. Part of her wanted to keep moving, keep surviving on her own terms. But the idea of a safe place—a real safe place—was hard to ignore.
“Alright,” Kelly said, nodding slowly. “I’ll come with you. But if it turns out to be some weird cult or something, I’m out.”
Sam laughed, shaking her head. “No cults. Just people trying to make it through the day.”
“Good,” Kelly muttered, standing up and grabbing her wrench. “Lead the way, then.”
As they stepped out of the store and into the fading light of the evening, Kelly felt a strange sense of relief. For the first time in days, she wasn’t alone. And for now, that was enough.
As they walked side by side, Kelly couldn’t help but glance at Sam’s calm expression. “So, how’d you get so good with that rifle?”
Sam smirked. “Let’s just say I wasn’t an office drone before all this.”
Kelly chuckled. “Figures. Maybe you can teach me a thing or two.”