The cold wind howled through the cracks in the wall, carrying with it the scent of decay and despair. It was the kind of night where every breath felt like a desperate plea for mercy. The world outside, or what was left of it, was nothing like the world they once knew.
 Lena gripped the baby tightly, her heart racing in her chest as the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the abandoned streets. Zombies, once slow and uncoordinated, had become faster, more determined, and relentless. The once familiar, quiet village of Sitio De Villasarza had turned into a hunting ground.
 It had been months since the outbreak began, and everything they had worked for seemed to be crumbling. The survivors—what was left of them—had long since stopped pretending that they could rebuild what they had lost. They were just trying to stay alive.
 “Stay close, Lena,” Rafael said, his voice low but firm, as he led the group toward the last barrier between them and safety—the iron fence that marked the edge of the village. The fence had been their only hope for a while, a symbol of their last chance to escape the madness that had taken over their lives.
 But now, it was just another obstacle in their fight for survival.
 “Please, just let us get out of here,” Adrian muttered, his voice strained with exhaustion. His eyes were wide with fear, and his face was pale under the dim light. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep running.”
 Kai glanced back, her eyes scanning the dark streets, alert for any sign of movement. “We have to keep going,” she said, her voice steady but laced with urgency. “We can’t stop now. They’re closing in.”
 The night felt endless. The city was no longer the place they once called home, a haven of laughter and dreams. It was a place of death, a place where the infected had taken control. It was a world where every moment of calm was followed by an even greater storm.
 But tonight, they had made a choice—to survive.
 The sounds of the zombies were growing louder, their guttural growls echoing through the night, as if they were mocking the very idea of escape. Zebby, the baby in Lena’s arms, squirmed restlessly. Every second felt like a countdown to something inevitable, something they couldn’t outrun.
 They finally reached the fence, only to be confronted by a familiar sight: the electrified wires that had been their greatest hope—and now their greatest challenge. The group halted, staring at the barrier. It was a cruel irony—this thing that had once been a symbol of safety now stood as a reminder of the harsh truth they had been avoiding for too long: the world they had known was gone, and it wasn’t coming back.
 “Okay, here’s the plan,” Rafael said, his eyes scanning the fence. “We need to climb over. Fast. Lena, pass me the baby. I’ll get you all over.”
 But before anyone could move, the unmistakable sound of a zombie’s screech rang out. It was followed by the heavy thud of footsteps, and the group froze.
 “We don’t have much time,” Kai whispered, her eyes flicking nervously between the group and the growing horde of zombies behind them.
 They had no choice. They had to go.
 Lena handed the baby to Rafael, her heart pounding in her chest. It felt like time had slowed, as if the world was holding its breath.
 “On three,” Rafael said, his voice determined. “One… two…”
 Before he could finish, Zebby’s cries pierced the air, the loud giggles echoing across the night. It was enough to draw the attention of the zombies.
 “Run!” Rafael shouted, shoving the baby into Lena’s arms. “Climb! Now!”
 The group scrambled toward the fence, the electrified wires crackling with the promise of pain. Adrian went first, his hands trembling as he grabbed the top of the fence and pulled himself over. Kai was next, her arms straining as she struggled to get to the top.
 Behind them, the zombies were closing in, their distorted forms growing ever more terrifying in the darkness. Lena felt a cold sweat running down her back as she looked around for a way to climb. Rafael was already at the top, reaching down to help her up.
 But just as she made her move, a sharp pain shot through her leg. A zombie had grabbed her ankle, its teeth sinking into her flesh.
 “No!” Lena screamed, struggling to free herself.
 Before the creature could drag her down, Kai reached down, grabbing her hand and pulling her up. Together, they managed to get over the fence, leaving the rest of the group behind. They were safe—at least for now.
 “Come on, come on,” Rafael urged, his voice tinged with panic. He was already helping Adrian over, pulling him to safety.
 But there was no time to rest. The moment the last person climbed over, the group sprinted toward the road, the only path leading out of the village.
 As they ran, they could hear the familiar growls of the zombies behind them, closing in, relentless in their pursuit.
 In the distance, they could make out the faint glow of the horizon. A new world, one they didn’t know, but one they had to face. A world that had been shattered, but still offered a sliver of hope.
 And as they ran toward it, they knew that the fight wasn’t over yet. There was still a chance.