The gas station, though small and poorly lit, offered them the briefest sense of security. Rafael took the lead, checking the windows and the door, ensuring they weren’t being followed. Lena sat on the dusty floor, trying to catch her breath, her mind racing with everything that had just happened.
 “I thought we weren’t going to make it,” Adrian said, wiping the sweat off his brow as he leaned against the counter. His voice had a tremor in it, a sign of how shaken he was from their near-death experience.
 “We’re not safe yet,” Rafael replied, his voice stern, though there was a quiet relief in his eyes. “We can’t let our guard down. The minute we do, that’s when things go wrong.”
 Lena nodded in agreement, though part of her couldn’t shake the exhaustion that weighed heavily on her. Every time they thought they were safe, the world seemed to remind them that safety was an illusion.
 She glanced at Glenn, who was still standing by the door, his eyes scanning the outside world. There was a weariness in him too, an edge that wasn’t there when he first arrived. The ordeal had taken its toll on everyone, but it was clear that Glenn, like the rest of them, was carrying his own burden. The world had changed them all, turned them into something different—survivors, yes, but also shadows of their former selves.
 “I’m going to check the back,” Glenn said, breaking the silence. “Make sure there’s no other way in.”
 He didn’t wait for a response before slipping into the back room, leaving the others in quiet contemplation.
 “How long do you think we’ll have here?” Kai asked softly, her eyes downcast. She was sitting next to Lena, her voice barely above a whisper.
 “I don’t know,” Lena said, though the uncertainty in her words only echoed the uncertainty that had taken over her life. They were all wondering the same thing: How long could they keep running? How long could they keep surviving without losing themselves entirely?
 Rafael returned from the windows and walked over to where they were sitting, his eyes dark with concern. “We’ve got to make a decision. We can’t stay here much longer. The gas station isn’t fortified enough, and if the zombies are as close as we think, they’ll find us.”
 “Where do we go next?” Adrian asked, looking to Rafael for answers. The group had become accustomed to following his lead, even though none of them really had the answers.
 “Outskirts of the city,” Rafael said with a firm nod. “There’s a large facility there. I’ve heard rumors that it’s been turned into a safe zone.”
 Lena frowned. “We’ve heard rumors before. What makes this one different?”
 “There’s more to it this time,” Rafael said, his voice quieter. “I’ve got a contact. Someone inside. If it’s still there, we’ll have a chance.”
 Glenn came back into the room, his face grim. “I hate to interrupt, but we’ve got company.”
 The group immediately went on high alert, the familiar tension flooding their bodies once again. Rafael was already moving toward the back door, signaling for everyone to stay quiet.
 “Glenn,” Rafael whispered, his hand gripping the hilt of his knife. “How many?”
 “Too many,” Glenn replied, his voice tense. “They’re swarming outside, coming from all directions.”
 The room fell silent as the group absorbed the news. There was no more time to waste. They had to move now, or risk getting trapped.
 “We can’t go out the front,” Rafael said, his mind working quickly. “We’ll have to use the back door and head towards the woods. It’s risky, but it’s our best shot.”
 Kai looked towards the door, her face pale. “And if we get surrounded?”
 “We fight,” Rafael said firmly. “We fight, or we die.”
 The gravity of his words settled over them like a heavy blanket. There was no running anymore. There was only survival.
 With a deep breath, the group made their way toward the back of the gas station, careful not to make any noise. Rafael took the lead again, his steps sure and steady despite the tension in the air. Lena could feel her heart beating faster, the adrenaline beginning to surge through her veins. They were running again, but this time, they had no choice.
 As they slipped through the back door, they were met with the sight of the woods ahead—a dense thicket that seemed to stretch on forever. It was their only option. They couldn’t afford to wait around any longer, not with the threat of zombies on their heels.
 They ran through the woods, the sound of cracking branches beneath their feet drowning out all other noises. Lena’s breath was coming in sharp gasps, her body burning with exhaustion, but she pushed forward, not daring to stop. The woods were dense, and the trees offered some cover, but it was no guarantee of safety. Zombies were drawn to sound, and every step they took could give them away.
 After what felt like hours of running, they reached a small clearing. They paused briefly, catching their breath, and Rafael looked around, his eyes scanning the trees for any signs of movement.
 “We need to keep going,” Rafael said after a moment. “We can’t stop here.”
 “Where are we headed?” Kai asked, still breathing heavily.
 “We keep moving until we reach the outskirts,” Rafael said. “It’s not far now.”
 Glenn turned to look at the group. “We’re getting close to the facility. But it’s not going to be easy. There’s no guarantee it’s still standing.”
 The words hung in the air, unspoken fears creeping into each of their minds. What if it wasn’t still standing? What if the rumors were just that—rumors?
 But they had no choice. They couldn’t turn back now.
 Lena felt a pang of uncertainty, but she swallowed it down. They had come this far. There was no going back.
 And for the first time in days, she dared to let herself hope.