The woods were a blur of motion, every rustling leaf or snapping twig sending a wave of panic through the group. Lena felt her chest tighten as they continued their flight, the only sounds being their hurried footsteps and the faint cries of distant zombies. The further they went, the more it felt as though the woods themselves were alive, trying to swallow them whole.
 “Keep moving!” Rafael shouted, his voice cutting through the oppressive silence. “We’re almost there!”
 Glenn, always at the rear, glanced behind them. His brow furrowed in concentration as he scanned the area. “I don’t like this,” he muttered under his breath. “Something’s not right.”
 Lena tried to ignore the nagging unease crawling up her spine. Rafael was right—they couldn’t stop now. The facility, the rumored safe zone, was their only chance. The air felt thick with dread, but they had to hold on to something, anything, that could offer them a sliver of hope.
 As they neared the edge of the woods, Kai looked ahead, eyes wide with anticipation. “Do you see it?” she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
 The trees began to thin, and before them, the outline of a large building appeared, shrouded in mist and overgrown with vines. Lena squinted at the structure, trying to make out the details. It was a warehouse or an industrial complex of some kind, its once-grand walls now worn and scarred by time.
 But there was something ominous about it. The structure seemed abandoned, silent, and yet, there was a strange energy in the air.
 “That’s it,” Rafael said, his voice filled with a mixture of exhaustion and determination. “That’s our next stop.”
 The group quickened their pace, their hearts pounding as they approached the building. The closer they got, the more the weight of the moment settled on Lena’s shoulders. If they were lucky, they would find safety inside. If they weren’t... well, they’d have to fight.
 Glenn was the first to reach the entrance, testing the door. His hand froze mid-turn, and he quickly pulled back, signaling for the group to stop. “It’s locked,” he said, his voice low.
 Rafael stepped forward, his eyes narrowed. “We’ll find another way in. Stay alert.”
 They circled the building, looking for an entrance, but it was a dead end. The windows were boarded up, and the only visible way inside was a small side door, half hidden by the overgrown shrubs.
 “Here,” Glenn said, pointing to the door. “It’s our best bet.”
 Rafael motioned for everyone to follow, and they crept towards the door. Lena’s breath came in shallow bursts, her hand tightly gripping the crowbar she had been carrying since their escape. She glanced at the others, their faces tense, but determined. If this was their only chance, they had to take it.
 Rafael reached the door first, checking for any signs of danger before forcing it open. The door creaked loudly as it gave way, revealing a narrow hallway that led deeper into the building.
 The air inside was stale, thick with the smell of mildew and decay. Lena’s stomach churned, but she fought back the wave of nausea. They couldn’t afford to waste time.
 “We move quickly,” Rafael instructed, his voice steady but urgent. “This place is too quiet. Stay close.”
 They ventured deeper into the building, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the walls. The floor was covered in dust, and the overhead lights flickered intermittently, casting eerie shadows across the room.
 Lena couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. Her eyes darted from corner to corner, searching for any signs of movement, but all she saw were the remnants of a forgotten world. Rusted machinery, abandoned boxes, and the occasional graffiti scrawled on the walls. It looked like a place that had been untouched for years.
 “Stay alert,” Glenn said, his voice low. “We don’t know if anyone’s still here.”
 They moved cautiously, the silence pressing down on them like a physical weight. Every step felt like it could be their last, but they had no choice but to push forward.
 Then, a sound broke through the silence—a faint, muffled scream.
 Everyone froze.
 Lena’s heart skipped a beat. The scream had come from deeper within the building, echoing through the empty halls.
 “What was that?” Kai whispered, her voice trembling.
 “I don’t know,” Rafael said, his eyes narrowing. “But it’s not good. We need to find out.”
 They followed the sound of the scream, their pace quickening with each step. Lena could feel her pulse pounding in her ears as they rounded a corner, coming face-to-face with a door at the end of the hallway. It was slightly ajar, and a faint light flickered from within.
 Rafael motioned for them to be quiet and approached the door. He gently pushed it open, peeking inside.
 What they saw made their blood run cold.
 Inside the room, a group of people—survivors, it seemed—were huddled together, their eyes wide with fear. In the center of the room, a woman was tied to a chair, her face pale with exhaustion. Blood stained her clothes, and she was crying out in pain, begging for help.
 But what sent a chill down Lena’s spine was the figure standing above her—the man who was holding a knife, his eyes wild with madness. He was shouting something unintelligible, his voice a mix of rage and desperation.
 “Stop!” Rafael shouted, rushing forward without hesitation.
 But it was too late.
 The man turned, his eyes locking onto Rafael. His expression twisted into a snarl as he lunged at the group, the knife raised high. In an instant, the room erupted into chaos.
 Lena watched in horror as the man advanced, but before she could react, Glenn was already moving, tackling the man to the ground. There was a struggle, loud grunts, and the sound of fists hitting flesh. Rafael rushed to the woman, cutting her free with a swift motion of his knife.
 “Get her out of here!” Rafael ordered, but Lena couldn’t move. She was frozen, her gaze locked on the violent scene unfolding before her.
 Before anyone could react, the door burst open, and a flood of infected poured into the room. The survivors were no longer their main concern. The zombies had found them.
 The group scattered, weapons drawn, adrenaline surging through their veins as they fought to survive. The room was now a battlefield, a desperate fight for their lives.
 And somewhere in the back of Lena’s mind, a single thought echoed. How much longer could they keep running?