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MidReal 故事
Reunited in Ruins
设定:You have a gf but she got turned into a zombie at the end of the world you tried to save her but tou failed she new you tried then she slowly turned in your arms but seems she still has some memories of you even as a zombie and after 3 years one day you wake up and your dead gf sitting on your lap it's odd
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Sarah Jennings
fellow survivor and friend to Ethan, no direct relationship with Mia, athletic build with short hair, pragmatic and loyal
Mia Thompson
girlfriend turned zombie, loved Ethan deeply, pale with sunken eyes and decayed features, hauntingly beautiful yet tragic
Ethan Clarke
survivor, in a relationship with Mia, rugged appearance with scars, determined and resourceful
I had lost everything.
Mia was gone.
The world was dead.
And I was alone.
The city was a wasteland, the buildings crumbling and the streets littered with debris.
The sky was dark, clouds covering the sun, and the air was thick with dust and smoke.
I walked through the ruins, my boots crunching on broken glass and fallen concrete.
I had been wandering for days, searching for food, water, anything to keep me alive.
But there was nothing left.
Everything had been destroyed in the chaos that followed the outbreak.
I had heard stories of other survivors, groups of people who had banded together to try and rebuild their lives.
But I had yet to find any of them.
And even if I did, I wasn’t sure I wanted to join them.
What was the point?
The world was over.
I woke up in my makeshift shelter, a dilapidated office building that had somehow withstood the initial chaos.
The morning light filtered through the broken windows, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
I rubbed my eyes, feeling the grit of dust and exhaustion.
As I sat up, an odd sensation crept over my lap.
I looked down and froze.
Mia was there, her decayed features hauntingly familiar.
Her once vibrant blue eyes were now sunken and clouded, but they seemed to recognize me.
My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of fear and hope battling for dominance.
"Mia?" I whispered, my voice trembling.
She responded with a faint, almost human-like groan.
I reached out, my hand shaking as I gently touched her face.
Her skin was cold and clammy, but she leaned into my touch, a flicker of something almost alive in her eyes.
Tears welled up in my eyes as conflicted emotions flooded me—grief, love, confusion.
How was this possible?
Three years ago, I had watched Mia turn into one of them, her humanity slipping away as the virus took hold.
And yet here she was, sitting on my lap like nothing had changed.
"Mia," I repeated, louder this time.
She blinked slowly, her gaze never leaving mine.
I didn't know what to do.
Should I be afraid?
Should I be happy?
The world had taken so much from me; could it really be giving something back?
I heard a noise outside—a rustling sound that snapped me back to reality.
Survival instincts kicked in.
I carefully shifted Mia off my lap and grabbed my knife from the floor beside me.
"Stay here," I said softly, though I wasn't sure if she understood.
I crept towards the shattered window, peering out into the desolate street below.
A figure moved among the debris, scavenging through the remnants of a once-bustling city.
It was another survivor.
He looked rough—dirty clothes, unkempt hair—but he was human.
For a moment, I considered calling out to him.
Maybe he had information about other survivors or supplies.
But then I remembered Mia.
What would he do if he saw her?
I couldn't risk it.
Not yet.
I backed away from the window and returned to Mia's side.
She was still there, watching me with those haunting eyes.
"Okay," I said more to myself than to her. "We need to figure this out."
I rummaged through my backpack for anything useful—a can of beans, a half-empty water bottle, some bandages.
Not much to work with.
"Mia," I said again, trying to get her attention. "Can you understand me?"
She tilted her head slightly but didn't respond otherwise.
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.
This was insane.
But what choice did I have?
"We need to move," I decided aloud. "It's not safe here."
I helped Mia to her feet; she was unsteady but managed to stand with my support.
We made our way down the crumbling staircase of the building, each step echoing in the silence.
As we reached the ground floor, I heard voices—more survivors approaching from the street outside.
Panic surged through me.
If they found us...
"Quick," I whispered urgently to Mia. "This way."
We ducked into a narrow alleyway just as the voices grew louder.
My heart raced as we pressed against the cold brick wall, hoping they wouldn't find us.
But then Mia let out a low groan—a sound that could easily give us away.
The footsteps stopped abruptly.
"Did you hear that?" one of them said.
My heart pounded as the footsteps approached.
The alleyway was narrow and dark, shadows playing tricks on my eyes.
I held my breath, praying they would pass by.
A figure emerged from the shadows, and my heart sank.
It was Sarah, her eyes widening at the sight of Mia.
"Ethan, what the hell?" she whispered harshly.
I motioned for silence, my eyes pleading with her to understand.
Sarah's gaze flickered between me and Mia, confusion and shock evident on her face.
She nodded slowly, realizing the gravity of the situation.
Together, we moved swiftly through the maze of alleyways, avoiding detection.
Mia's occasional groans made it difficult to stay hidden, but we managed to find a temporary hideout—a small, abandoned shop with boarded-up windows.
Once inside, I gently lowered Mia onto a dusty old couch.
Sarah turned to me, her face a mix of anger and concern.
"We can't keep her with us," she said firmly, crossing her arms.
My jaw tightened as I looked at Mia.
"She's still Mia," I replied, my voice cracking.
"She's not like the others."
Sarah shook her head.
"Ethan, she's dangerous. What if she turns on us?"
I clenched my fists, struggling to keep my emotions in check.
"I won't let that happen. I'll protect her."
Sarah sighed deeply, running a hand through her tangled hair.
"This is insane. We need to think about our survival."
I glanced at Mia, who was watching us with those haunting eyes.
"She's part of our survival," I insisted.
Sarah opened her mouth to argue but then closed it again.
She knew me well enough to understand that I wouldn't back down.
"Fine," she said finally. "But if she shows any signs of aggression..."
"I know," I interrupted. "I'll handle it."
We sat in tense silence for a moment before Sarah spoke again.
"We need supplies. This place won't keep us safe for long."
I nodded in agreement.
"I'll go out and look for food and water. You stay here with Mia."
Sarah hesitated but then agreed reluctantly.
"Be careful," she warned.
I gave her a reassuring nod before heading towards the door.
The streets were eerily quiet as I stepped outside, the air thick with tension.
As I navigated through the ruins of the city, I couldn't shake the image of Mia from my mind.
How had she survived?
What had brought her back to me?
I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand.
Finding supplies was crucial if we were going to make it through another day.
After what felt like hours of searching, I stumbled upon an old convenience store that hadn't been completely ransacked.
I carefully picked through the remaining items—canned goods, bottled water, some medical supplies.
As I filled my backpack, I heard a noise behind me.
Spinning around, I saw another survivor entering the store.
He looked rough—dirty clothes and unkempt hair—but he seemed harmless enough.
"Hey," he said cautiously. "I'm just looking for supplies too."
I nodded slowly. "Same here."
We exchanged a few more words before deciding to share what we found.
It wasn't much, but every little bit helped.
With my backpack now heavier but my spirits slightly lifted, I made my way back to our hideout.
As I approached the shop, I heard raised voices coming from inside.
Panic surged through me as I rushed in to find Sarah arguing with another group of survivors who had found our hideout.
They were demanding we leave or share our supplies.
"What's going on?" I demanded.
One of them turned to me with a sneer. "This is our territory now."
Before I could respond, Mia let out a loud groan from behind me.
The room fell silent as everyone turned their attention to her.
In that moment of distraction, Sarah lunged forward and tackled one of them to the ground.
I grabbed the two men closest to me, my knife flashing in the dim light.
The blade found its mark, and blood splattered across the room.
The men crumpled to the ground, their eyes wide with shock and pain.
The tension in the air was palpable, a heavy weight pressing down on us all.
Mia, driven by her zombie instincts, crawled over to one of the bodies.
She began to eat, her movements slow and deliberate.
Sarah and I exchanged uneasy glances but chose to leave her alone.
We didn't know how to react, and there was no time to figure it out.
"Grab what you can," I said urgently to Sarah.
"We need to move."
She nodded, her face set in grim determination.
We moved quickly, our hands shaking as we gathered our supplies.
My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of horror and pity churning inside me as I watched Mia.
Sarah's eyes were hard as she stuffed cans and bottles into her backpack.
"We can't stay here," she said through gritted teeth.
"I know," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
We finished packing and turned towards the door.
Mia looked up from her gruesome meal, her eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before returning to the body.
It was a sight that would haunt me forever.
"Let's go," I said, my voice breaking the silence.
Sarah and I stepped out into the unknown streets, leaving Mia behind for now.
The city was eerily quiet, the only sounds our footsteps echoing off the crumbling buildings.
We moved quickly, our eyes scanning for any signs of danger.
Every shadow seemed to hide a threat, every noise a potential enemy.
But we couldn't afford to stop; safety was our only goal.
As we navigated through the ruins, I couldn't help but glance back at the shop where we had left Mia.
A part of me wanted to go back for her, but I knew it wasn't possible.
Survival meant making hard choices.
Sarah's face was set in determination as we pressed forward.
Her resolve gave me strength, even as my mind raced with thoughts of Mia and what she had become.
We turned a corner and found ourselves in an open square, the remnants of a once-bustling marketplace scattered around us.
Broken stalls and abandoned carts littered the area, a stark reminder of what we had lost.
"We need to find another place to hide," Sarah said, her voice steady despite the chaos around us.
I nodded in agreement. "Somewhere secure."
We moved cautiously through the square, our senses on high alert.
Every step felt like a gamble, every decision a matter of life and death.
Suddenly, a noise caught our attention—a rustling sound coming from one of the nearby buildings.
We froze, our eyes locked on the source of the sound.
"Stay close," I whispered to Sarah as we approached the building.
The door was ajar, creaking slightly in the wind.
I pushed it open slowly, revealing a dark interior filled with shadows and debris.
We stepped inside, our breaths held as we scanned the room for any signs of danger.
The building appeared empty, but we knew better than to let our guard down.
We moved deeper inside, searching for a secure spot to rest.
In one corner of the room, we found an old storage closet with a sturdy door.
"This will do," Sarah said quietly as she began clearing out space for us.
I helped her move some boxes and debris aside before we settled in.
The closet was cramped but offered some semblance of safety—at least for now.
As we sat in silence, catching our breath and gathering our thoughts, I couldn't shake the image of Mia from my mind.
What had happened back there? What would become of her?
But there was no time for reflection or answers.
The small space was filled with the scent of mildew and dust, but it was better than being out in the open.
I leaned against the wall, my eyes heavy with fatigue.
Sarah curled up on the floor, using her backpack as a makeshift pillow.
"Ethan," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Do you think we'll ever find a safe place?"
I sighed, not wanting to give false hope. "I don't know, Sarah. But we have to keep trying."
She nodded, her eyes closing as exhaustion took over.
I watched her for a moment before my own eyes began to droop.
As I drifted off, my mind raced with thoughts of Mia.
How had she found us again?
What did it mean?
Sleep finally claimed me, pulling me into a restless slumber filled with fragmented dreams and haunting memories.
In the early morning, I woke up to an unexpected weight on my lap.
My eyes snapped open, and I found myself staring into Mia's decayed face.
Her head rested on my chest, her cold skin sending shivers down my spine.
Somehow, she had found us again.
"Mia," I whispered, my voice trembling with a mix of relief and confusion.
She let out a faint groan, her eyes fluttering open to meet mine.
Sarah stirred awake beside me and gasped at the sight.
"Ethan! How did she—?" she started but then fell silent, her eyes wide with shock.
"I don't know," I replied softly, gently stroking Mia's hair. "But she's here now."
Mia's skin was icy under my fingers, a stark reminder of what she had become.
Yet there was something almost comforting about her presence.
Sarah watched warily from her spot on the floor, unsure of what to do next.
"We can't stay here," she said finally, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. "We need to plan our next move carefully."
I nodded in agreement. "You're right. We can't risk being found again."
We spent the next few minutes gathering our supplies and discussing our options.
Mia remained on my lap, occasionally letting out soft groans that sent chills down my spine.
It was clear that we couldn't leave her behind—not again.
"Okay," Sarah said after a moment of silence. "We need to find somewhere more secure. Somewhere we can regroup and figure out what's going on with Mia."
I agreed, feeling a renewed sense of determination. "Let's get moving then."
With Mia in tow, we cautiously made our way out of the storage closet and into the dimly lit building.
The early morning light filtered through broken windows, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
Every step felt like a gamble, every noise a potential threat.
As we navigated through the ruins, I couldn't help but glance down at Mia.
Her once vibrant blue eyes were now sunken and clouded, but they seemed to recognize me.
A flicker of something almost alive lingered in their depths.
We moved quickly and quietly, avoiding any open areas where we might be spotted.
Our goal was simple: find a new hideout where we could regroup and plan our next steps.
The city was a labyrinth of destruction and decay, but we pressed on with determination.
After what felt like hours of searching, we stumbled upon an old apartment building that appeared relatively intact.
The entrance was blocked by debris, but we managed to clear a path inside.
The interior was dark and musty, but it offered some semblance of safety.
"This will do for now," Sarah said as she began checking the rooms for any signs of danger.
I helped her secure the area before setting Mia down on an old mattress we found in one of the bedrooms.
As I looked at Mia's decayed face resting peacefully on the mattress, I felt a mix of emotions—relief that she was with us again and confusion about what it all meant.
But there was no time for reflection or answers.
"We need to rest," Sarah said quietly as she settled down beside me. "We'll figure things out tomorrow."
I nodded in agreement, feeling exhaustion wash over me once more.
The only sounds were the occasional groans from Mia and the distant hum of the city outside.
Sarah and I lay on one bed, while Mia was on another across the room.
I could feel Sarah's steady breathing beside me, a small comfort in our chaotic world.
Suddenly, a scraping sound jolted me awake.
I blinked in the darkness, trying to make sense of what I was hearing.
Mia's groans had grown louder and more frequent.
I turned my head and saw her silhouette moving around the room, her decayed limbs dragging across the floor.
My heart raced as I watched her shuffle towards the window.
"Mia," I whispered, but she didn't respond.
She stood by the window, staring out into the dark city, her posture eerily still.
I sat up slowly, careful not to wake Sarah.
But she stirred anyway, her eyes opening to see what was happening.
"Ethan?" she whispered, her voice filled with concern.
"It's Mia," I replied softly. "She's... moving."
Sarah sat up, her eyes fixed on Mia's figure by the window.
"Be careful," she warned, ready to act if needed.
I got out of bed and approached Mia cautiously, my heart heavy with a mix of fear and longing.
"Mia," I said gently as I reached out to touch her shoulder.
She turned slowly to face me, her clouded eyes meeting mine.
For a moment, it felt like she recognized me, but then her gaze drifted back to the window.
"Mia, come back to bed," I urged softly.
She let out a low groan but didn't resist as I guided her away from the window.
Her skin was cold under my touch, a stark reminder of what she had become.
Sarah watched silently from the bed, her body tense and ready for any sudden movements from Mia.
I led Mia back to her bed and helped her lie down.
She settled onto the mattress with another groan, her eyes closing as if in exhaustion.
I returned to my own bed, feeling the weight of our grim reality pressing down on me.
Sarah reached out and squeezed my hand briefly before lying back down.
"We'll figure this out," she said quietly.
I nodded, though uncertainty gnawed at me.
The room fell silent once more except for Mia's occasional groans and the distant sounds of the city outside.
As I lay there in the darkness, my mind raced with thoughts of what we would do next.
But for now, all we could do was rest and hope that tomorrow would bring some answers.
I sat up, feeling the stiffness in my muscles from the restless night.
Sarah was already awake, rummaging through our supplies.
"Morning," she said softly, glancing over at me.
"Morning," I replied, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
We sat down to eat, sharing a meager breakfast of canned beans and stale bread.
The silence between us was heavy, each of us lost in our own thoughts.
Out of nowhere, Mia appeared at the doorway, her movements slow and unsteady.
Before I could react, she stumbled forward and collapsed into my lap.
The impact sent a jolt of pain through my legs, but what disturbed me more was her staying there, her cold skin pressing against mine.
I sighed deeply and looked at Sarah, who watched with a mix of concern and confusion.
"I could have saved Mia," I confessed, my voice heavy with regret. "But I failed."
Sarah's eyes softened as she reached out to touch my arm.
"Ethan, you did everything you could," she said gently. "This isn't your fault."
"But she's like this because of me," I insisted, my voice breaking. "I should have done more."
Sarah shook her head, her grip on my arm tightening. "You can't blame yourself for this. We're all just trying to survive."
The weight of my failure hung in the air between us as we finished our meal in silence.
The tension was palpable, each bite feeling like a struggle against the reality we faced.
After we ate, I gently moved Mia to a corner of the room, her body limp and unresponsive.
I felt the burden of our grim reality pressing down on me as I arranged her as comfortably as possible.
"We need to keep moving," Sarah said quietly, her eyes fixed on Mia's still form.
"I know," I replied, standing up and stretching my sore limbs. "But where do we go from here?"
"We'll figure it out," Sarah said with determination. "We always do."
We gathered our supplies and prepared to leave the apartment building.
The early morning light cast long shadows across the room as we stepped out into the hallway.
Every step felt like a gamble as we navigated through the ruins of the city once more.
Our senses were on high alert, every noise a potential threat.
But we pressed on with determination, driven by the need to find safety and answers.
As we moved through the desolate streets, I couldn't shake the image of Mia from my mind.
What had happened to her? What would become of her?
But there was no time for reflection or answers.
Survival meant making hard choices and moving forward despite the uncertainty.
We turned a corner and found ourselves in another open square.
The remnants of a once-bustling marketplace lay scattered around us.
Broken stalls and abandoned carts littered the area, a stark reminder of what we had lost.
"We need to find another place to hide," Sarah said firmly.
I nodded in agreement. "Somewhere secure."
We moved cautiously through the square, our eyes scanning for any signs of danger.
Every step felt like a gamble as we searched for a new hideout.
Finally, we stumbled upon an old warehouse that appeared relatively intact.
The entrance was blocked by debris, but we managed to clear a path inside.
The interior was dark and musty, but it offered some semblance of safety.
"This will do for now," Sarah said as she began checking the rooms for any signs of danger.
I helped her secure the area before setting Mia down on an old mattress we found in one of the rooms.
As I looked at Mia's decayed face resting peacefully on the mattress, I felt a mix of emotions—relief that she was with us again and confusion about what it all meant.
But there was no time for reflection or answers.
"We need to rest," Sarah said quietly as she settled down beside me. "We'll figure things out tomorrow."
I nodded in agreement, feeling exhaustion wash over me once more.
The only sounds were Mia's occasional groans and the distant hum of the city outside.
Sarah and I lay on one bed while Mia was on another across the room.
I could feel Sarah's steady breathing beside me—a small comfort in our chaotic world.
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the warehouse.
My heart raced as I jumped up from the bed.
Sarah grabbed my arm tightly.
The dim light from the hallway cast long shadows, making it hard to see clearly.
I squinted, trying to make out any movement.
A figure stumbled into view, its decayed face illuminated by a flickering light bulb.
I sighed in relief; it was just a zombie.
I closed the door softly and returned to bed.
As I walked past Mia, her cold hand grabbed mine.
It wasn't a tight grip, but it felt like she wanted to be close.
I hesitated, unsure of what to do.
Her touch was a stark reminder of her condition.
I gently squeezed her hand and sat down beside her.
Mia's eyes seemed to search my face, and I felt a pang of sorrow.
Sarah watched from across the room, her expression unreadable.
The room fell silent except for distant noises outside.
"Mia," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Can you hear me?"
She let out a faint groan, her eyes fluttering as if trying to respond.
I stroked her hair gently, feeling the brittle strands under my fingers.
Sarah shifted on her bed, breaking the silence. "Ethan, we need to talk about what we're going to do next."
I nodded but kept my focus on Mia. "I know. But right now, I just want to make sure she's okay."
"We can't stay here forever," Sarah said firmly. "We need a plan."
I looked over at Sarah, seeing the determination in her eyes. "You're right. We need to find somewhere safer."
"But what about Mia?" Sarah asked, glancing at the decayed figure beside me.
"We'll take her with us," I replied without hesitation. "We can't leave her behind."
Sarah sighed but didn't argue. "Alright. Let's get some rest and figure things out in the morning."
I agreed and lay down beside Mia, feeling the weight of our situation pressing down on me.
The distant sounds of the city outside were a constant reminder of the danger we faced.
But for now, all we could do was rest and hope that tomorrow would bring some answers.
As I closed my eyes, I felt Mia's cold hand still holding mine.
It was a small comfort in our chaotic world.
The night passed slowly, filled with restless dreams and haunting memories.
When morning came, I woke up to find Mia still beside me, her grip on my hand unchanged.
Sarah was already awake, packing up our supplies.
"Morning," she said softly as she noticed me stirring.
"Morning," I replied, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "Did you sleep at all?"
"A little," she admitted. "But we need to get moving."
I nodded and carefully moved Mia's hand away from mine before standing up.
"We'll find somewhere safe," I promised, more to myself than anyone else.
With our supplies packed and Mia in tow, we cautiously made our way out of the warehouse.
The early morning light cast long shadows across the deserted streets as we navigated through the ruins once more.
Every step felt like a gamble as we searched for a new hideout.
Our senses were on high alert, every noise a potential threat.
Finally, we stumbled upon an old church that appeared relatively intact.
The entrance was blocked by debris, but we managed to clear a path inside.
The interior was dark and musty, but it offered some semblance of safety.
"This will do for now," Sarah said as she began checking the rooms for any signs of danger.
I helped her secure the area before setting Mia down on an old pew we found in one of the rooms.
As I looked at Mia's decayed face resting peacefully on the pew, I felt a mix of emotions—relief that she was with us again and confusion about what it all meant.
But there was no time for reflection or answers.
"We need to rest," Sarah said quietly as she settled down beside me. "We'll figure things out tomorrow."
I nodded in agreement, feeling exhaustion wash over me once more.
We needed a more permanent shelter; our supplies were dwindling faster than we could replenish them.
Suddenly, I felt Mia's cold arms wrap around me from behind, her face nestled into my neck.
I froze, unsure of what to do but relieved she didn't bite.
"Sarah, help lift her to the bench, please," I said, my voice trembling.
Sarah quickly moved to assist, and together we gently placed Mia on the bench.
Her body was limp and unresponsive, her eyes half-open but unfocused.
The room was dimly lit by the morning light filtering through the stained glass windows of the old church.
Dust particles floated in the air, illuminated by the soft beams of sunlight.
"Ethan, what are we going to do?" Sarah asked, her voice tinged with worry as she looked at Mia's decayed form.
"We need to find a safer place and more supplies," I replied, my mind racing with worry and sorrow.
"But where? Everywhere we've been so far is either overrun or stripped clean," Sarah argued, frustration evident in her tone.
I glanced around the room, taking in the worn pews and broken altar.
The church offered some semblance of safety for now, but it wouldn't last long.
"We'll have to search further out," I said finally. "Maybe there's a place we haven't checked yet."
Sarah nodded reluctantly. "Alright. But we need to be careful. We can't afford any more mistakes."
I agreed and turned my attention back to Mia.
Her groans had subsided for now, but her condition was deteriorating rapidly.
"We should get moving soon," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
Sarah began packing up our supplies while I stayed with Mia, stroking her hair gently.
"We'll find somewhere safe," I whispered to her, though I wasn't sure if she could even understand me anymore.
With everything packed and ready, Sarah and I lifted Mia between us and made our way out of the church.
The streets outside were eerily quiet, the remnants of a once-bustling city now reduced to ruins and decay.
Every step felt like a gamble as we navigated through the desolate landscape.
Our senses were on high alert; every noise could be a potential threat.
As we moved through the city, we came across an old grocery store that appeared relatively untouched.
"Let's check it out," Sarah suggested.
We carefully made our way inside, scanning for any signs of danger.
The interior was dark and musty, shelves half-stocked with canned goods and other supplies.
"This could help us for a while," I said as we began gathering what we could carry.
Sarah found a shopping cart and started filling it with essentials—canned food, bottled water, medical supplies.
I kept an eye on Mia while grabbing anything useful within reach.
Suddenly, a noise from the back of the store caught our attention.
We froze, listening intently.
It sounded like shuffling footsteps.
"Stay here with Mia," I whispered to Sarah as I grabbed a makeshift weapon—a metal pipe—from one of the shelves.
I cautiously made my way towards the source of the noise, heart pounding in my chest.
As I rounded a corner, I came face-to-face with another survivor—a young man who looked just as startled as I was.
"Who are you?" he asked nervously, holding up his hands in a gesture of peace.
"I'm Ethan," I replied cautiously. "We're just looking for supplies."
He nodded slowly. "I'm Jake. Same here."
We stood there in tense silence for a moment before he spoke again. "Maybe we can help each other."
I considered his offer for a moment before nodding. "Alright. But no funny business."
Jake agreed and followed me back to where Sarah and Mia were waiting.
"Found another survivor," I explained as we approached them.
Sarah eyed Jake warily but didn't protest.
"We found some supplies," she said instead. "Let's get what we can and move on."
With Jake's help, we loaded up on everything useful from the store before making our way back out into the streets.
As we continued our search for a safer place to stay, I couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out for Mia—and possibly for all of us.
But there was no time for reflection or answers now; survival meant making hard choices and moving forward despite the uncertainty.
