The sun had begun to set, casting long shadows across the barren landscape as the group continued down the empty road. They had left the abandoned town behind them, and though they were farther away from the danger they had faced in the convenience store, Lena couldn’t shake the lingering feeling of dread that had settled in her chest.
 It was the quiet that unnerved her most—the eerie silence that followed them wherever they went. The world seemed like it had been hollowed out, a shell of its former self, with only the groans of the undead filling the void.
 “Do you think it’s safe to stop here for the night?” Adrian asked, his voice low as he scanned the horizon.
 Rafael didn’t answer immediately, his eyes focused on the road ahead. They had been walking for hours, and they were all exhausted. Their bodies ached from the constant movement, and they had long since run out of water.
 “There’s no sign of zombies,” Rafael said finally. “But we need to be careful. We can’t afford to let our guard down.”
 They found an old farmhouse just off the road, its walls weathered and cracked from years of neglect. It seemed abandoned, with no sign of life, but they knew better than to assume it was completely safe.
 They entered cautiously, checking the windows and doors for signs of trouble. Kai went to the back of the house to look for any supplies, while Rafael and Lena checked the front. Adrian kept watch, his eyes scanning the road for any sign of movement.
 When they were satisfied that the house was secure, they collapsed on the floor, grateful for the chance to rest.
 “I’m starving,” Adrian muttered, rummaging through his pack for whatever food they had left.
 “I don’t know if I can eat anymore,” Kai said, her voice distant as she stared out the window. “Everything just feels... wrong.”
 “We’ve been through a lot,” Lena said, sitting beside her. “But we’re still here. That means something.”
 She didn’t know if she believed her own words, but she wanted to. They had lost so much already—friends, family, their old lives—and yet they had kept moving, kept fighting. For what? For survival? For a future they couldn’t even imagine?
 The answer felt elusive, just out of reach.
 Rafael returned with a few cans of food he had found in the pantry. It wasn’t much, but it would keep them going for another day. They ate in silence, the only sound the crunching of cans and the occasional distant growl of a zombie.
 After the meal, they gathered together in the main room. The fire from the stove crackled softly in the corner, casting an orange glow on their tired faces.
 “We need a plan,” Rafael said, his voice steady. “We can’t just keep running forever. We need to find a real place of refuge.”
 “We could head to the coast,” Kai suggested. “I heard there were some military survivors in the south, near the shore. Maybe we’ll find something there.”
 “Maybe,” Lena said, her voice uncertain. “But we can’t just follow rumors. We need to know for sure.”
 “We’ll keep our eyes open,” Rafael said. “But first, we need to gather more supplies. Water, food, medicine... we can’t keep going without them.”
 Lena felt the weight of his words. They had been lucky so far, but luck wouldn’t last forever. The longer they stayed in one place, the more dangerous it would become. They needed to keep moving, always moving, never stopping for too long.
 The sound of footsteps outside made them all freeze. Lena’s heart began to race as she instinctively reached for the knife at her side.
 “Get down!” Rafael hissed, his voice urgent.
 They all crouched low, trying to stay out of sight. Lena’s breath was shallow, every muscle in her body tense with anticipation. The footsteps grew louder, drawing closer to the house.
 And then, the door to the farmhouse creaked open.
 Lena held her breath. She didn’t know what to expect. Were these survivors? Or had they stumbled into a trap?
 But to her surprise, a familiar voice echoed from the doorway.
 “It’s just me. Relax.”
 It was Glenn.
 The others let out a collective sigh of relief as he stepped inside, his face covered in dirt and sweat. He looked worn, tired, but alive.
 “Glenn,” Rafael said, standing up. “What are you doing here? We thought you were back in the town.”
 “I was,” Glenn said, wiping his brow. “But I ran into some trouble. Had to get out before things got worse.”
 “Any sign of the zombies?” Adrian asked, his eyes narrowing.
 “Plenty,” Glenn replied, his voice grim. “There’s a whole swarm just outside the town now. I barely made it out alive.”
 They all exchanged uneasy glances. The threat of zombies was never far behind, and they couldn’t afford to take unnecessary risks.
 “We’ll have to leave tomorrow,” Rafael said, his expression hardening. “But for tonight, you can stay with us.”
 They spent the rest of the evening preparing for the journey ahead. Glenn joined them by the fire, sharing what little information he had about the areas he had explored. There were rumors of a safe zone to the north, but it was still unclear whether it was real or just another myth. They had no choice but to keep moving, to follow the whispers of survival until they could confirm something for themselves.
 As night settled in, Lena lay awake, staring at the ceiling. The weight of their situation pressed down on her, suffocating her with its uncertainty. They had come so far, but they were still so far from anything resembling safety.
 Was there a safe place left in the world? A place where they could stop running, where they could finally live again?
 She didn’t know.
 But she was determined to find out.