The forest outside London was dense and quiet, the towering trees swaying gently in the cold breeze. The group moved cautiously, their breath visible in the crisp morning air. Sunlight barely pierced through the thick canopy above, casting long shadows over the uneven forest floor. Every crack of a twig beneath their feet felt deafening in the stillness.
Aiden led the way, his rifle in hand, scanning their surroundings with practiced precision. Behind him, Ruben struggled to keep up, his small bat clutched tightly in his hands. Maya followed, glancing back frequently to ensure no walkers had followed them. Eli muttered under his breath about the cold, while Leila walked silently, her sharp eyes scanning for any sign of danger. Jax trailed the group, fiddling with the strap of his worn backpack as he tried to keep his nerves steady.
Maya: "We need to stop," she said, her voice low but firm. "We've been walking for hours. We need a plan."
Aiden: "No," Aiden replied without breaking stride. "Not here. The trees are too thin, and if we're cornered, we'll have no way out."
Eli: "And where exactly are we heading?" he asked, his tone laced with irritation. "Or are we just wandering until we drop dead from exhaustion?"
(Aiden stopped abruptly, turning to face the group)
Aiden: "We're heading for higher ground. If we can find a spot to see further out, we'll know if there's anything ahead—food, water, shelter." His voice was calm, but his eyes carried a sharp edge. "Unless you've got a better plan?"
(Eli opened his mouth to retort but thought better of it, shrugging instead)
Eli: "Fine. Lead the way, soldier boy."
After another hour of walking, the group came across a small clearing near a cluster of moss-covered boulders. The light here was brighter, but the air felt just as heavy. Aiden gestured for the group to stop.
Aiden: "Stay quiet. Stay alert." he said
(Ruben plopped down on one of the boulders, his legs trembling from the trek)
Ruben: "Why are we always running?" he whispered, more to himself than anyone else.
(Aiden crouched next to him, pulling a small water bottle from his pack and handing it over)
Aiden: "Because staying still gets you killed."
(Ruben took a sip, his small hands trembling as he passed the bottle back)
Ruben: "I'm tired."
Aiden: "I know," Aiden said softly. "But we have to keep moving. You trust me, right?"
(Ruben nodded, his wide eyes filled with a mixture of exhaustion and trust)
Ruben: "I trust you."
Leila stood near the edge of the clearing, her hand resting on the hilt of her knife. Something about the forest didn't feel right—an unnatural stillness that gnawed at her instincts.
Leila: "You feel that?" she asked Maya, who had taken a seat nearby
Maya: "Feel what?" Maya replied.
Leila: "The quiet. Too quiet," Leila murmured. "It's like the forest is holding its breath."
(Aiden overheard and straightened, his hand instinctively moving to his rifle)
Aiden: "Everyone up," he ordered in a low voice. "Now."
The group quickly gathered their belongings, their movements tense and hurried. Jax, lagging behind, muttered
Jax: "What is it now?"
Ruben: "Walkers?" he asked, gripping his bat tightly.
Aiden: "Not sure," Aiden replied, his eyes scanning the treeline. "But we're not waiting to find out."
As they moved deeper into the forest, the eerie silence was broken by a faint groaning sound from the west. The group froze. The sound grew louder, accompanied by the unmistakable shuffle of multiple walkers dragging their decayed feet over the forest floor.
Leila: "They're coming," Leila whispered, pulling her knife free.
(Aiden raised his rifle and motioned for the group to move faster)
Aiden: "This way. Keep quiet."
The groans grew closer, the sound reverberating through the trees. Suddenly, from the shadows ahead, two walkers emerged, their lifeless eyes fixed on the group. Aiden fired once, dropping one with a clean shot to the head. Leila lunged forward, burying her knife into the temple of the second. But the noise had drawn more.
Dozens of figures began to emerge from the treeline, their rotting bodies lurching toward the group. The forest seemed to come alive with the sound of the dead.
Aiden: "Run!" Aiden shouted, grabbing Ruben's arm and pulling him forward.
The group broke into a sprint, weaving between the trees as the walkers pursued them. Jax tripped over a root but was quickly yanked to his feet by Eli. Maya and Leila covered the rear, slashing at any walker that got too close. After what felt like an eternity, the group burst through the forest and into a wide clearing. Aiden quickly scanned the area, spotting a small ridge on the far side.
Aiden: "Up there!" he yelled, leading the way.
They scrambled up the incline, slipping on loose dirt and rocks. Ruben nearly lost his footing, but Aiden caught him, pushing him forward. The walkers struggled to follow, their rotting limbs unable to manage the steep climb. Reaching the top, the group collapsed in exhaustion, their chests heaving as they tried to catch their breath. Below them, the herd milled about aimlessly, their grotesque faces turned upward.
Maya: "Too close," Maya said between breaths, her face pale.
Jax: "Way too close," Jax added, his hands shaking.
(Aiden stood, his rifle still in hand. He looked at each member of the group, his expression grim)
Aiden: "We need to find somewhere better than this. Somewhere we can actually defend."
(Eli leaned back against a rock, his voice dripping with sarcasm)
Eli: "Oh yeah? Got a five-star bunker hidden somewhere, O'Connor?"
Aiden: "Not yet," Aiden replied, his voice hard. "But I'll find one."
As the group sat in uneasy silence, the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting the forest in shadows once more. Above the groans of the walkers below, the distant howl of the wind carried a chilling promise—there would be no peace here, not yet.
The group sat scattered around the ridge, trying to catch their breath. The clearing below them was still filled with walkers, their groans carrying on the cold breeze. The sun was now dipping below the horizon, painting the forest in hues of amber and deep shadow. Aiden paced near the edge of the ridge, his rifle resting against his shoulder. His sharp eyes darted between the walkers below and the forest stretching into the distance.
Aiden: "We can't stay here," he said firmly, breaking the tense silence.
(Leila, leaning against a tree, wiped her knife clean on her sleeve)
Leila: "We've been moving all day. The kid needs rest," she said, gesturing to Ruben, who sat slumped against a rock, his bat still clutched in his trembling hands.
Maya: "We all do," Maya added, her voice soft but resolute. "But she's right. Ruben's just a boy."
(Aiden glanced at his brother, the tension in his jaw softening slightly)
Aiden: "I know. But if we stay here, we're trapped. The ridge isn't defensible, and those walkers down there aren't going anywhere."
(Eli sat nearby, poking the dirt with a stick)
Eli: "So what? We keep running until we collapse? Great plan, soldier boy," he muttered sarcastically.
(Aiden stopped pacing, his piercing gaze locking onto Eli)
Aiden: "You got a better idea?"
(Eli raised his hands defensively)
Eli: "Hey, I'm just saying. A little sleep wouldn't kill us."
Leila: "Neither would a bit of planning," Leila interjected, her voice steady. "Aiden's right. We can't let exhaustion cloud our judgment. If we rest here and that herd finds a way up, it's over."
(Jax, who had been sitting silently, finally spoke up)
Jax: "What if we find a spot to camp further into the forest? Somewhere higher, away from the herd?"
(Maya nodded thoughtfully)
Maya: "That could work. If we move quietly, we could stay ahead of them."
(Aiden sighed, running a hand through his hair)
Aiden: "It's risky, but it's our best option. We need to find somewhere secure before nightfall."
(Eli stood, brushing dirt off his pants)
Eli: "Lead the way, O'Connor. Let's hope your survival instincts don't get us all killed."
(Ignoring the jab, Aiden walked over to Ruben and crouched down)
Aiden: "Come on, Rubes," he said softly, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder.
(Ruben looked up, his tired eyes meeting Aiden's)
Ruben: "I'm okay," he whispered, though his voice lacked conviction.
Aiden: "I know you are," Aiden replied, helping him to his feet. "But we've got to keep moving. Stick close to me."
Ruben nodded, gripping his bat tightly as the group prepared to head deeper into the forest.
The group moved quietly, the shadows of the forest growing longer with each passing minute. The groans of the herd faded behind them, replaced by the eerie silence of the woods. As they walked, Aiden scanned the terrain for anything that resembled shelter—a cluster of rocks, a small cave, or even a thick grove of trees that could provide cover.
Eli: "I hate this place," Eli muttered under his breath. "Feels like the trees are watching us."
Maya: "Better than walkers," Maya whispered back.
(Leila suddenly raised her hand, signalling for the group to stop)
Leila: "Wait," she said, her voice low.
(Aiden stepped forward, his rifle raise)
Aiden: "What is it?"
Leila pointed ahead, where the trees thinned out into another clearing. In the centre stood an old, crumbling church, its stone walls covered in ivy and its steeple leaning precariously to one side.
Jax: "Think it's safe?" Jax asked, his voice tinged with both hope and apprehension.
(Aiden studied the structure carefully)
Aiden: "We'll find out. Stay close."
The group approached the church cautiously, their footsteps muffled by the soft forest floor. Aiden gestured for everyone to stay back as he stepped through the broken wooden doors, his rifle at the ready. The interior was dim, the last rays of sunlight filtering through shattered stained-glass windows. Dust floated in the air, and the only sound was the faint creak of the wind pushing against the old walls.
Aiden: "Clear," Aiden called after a few minutes of checking every corner.
(The group filed in, their expressions wary but relieved)
Aiden: "It's not much, but it'll do for the night," Aiden said, lowering his rifle.
(Maya set her pack down and immediately began checking her supplies)
Maya: "I'll look for something to barricade the doors."
Leila: "I'll help," Leila said, moving to a pile of broken pews near the back of the church.
(Jax sat down on a stone bench near the altar, his shoulders slumping in exhaustion)
Jax: "Best accommodations we've had in days," he muttered.
(Eli chuckled dryly)
Eli: "Yeah, if you don't mind the draft and the eerie 'haunted house' vibe."
Ruben stayed close to Aiden, his eyes darting nervously around the room. As the group worked to secure the church, Aiden took a seat next to Ruben on one of the intact pews.
Aiden: "You holding up okay?" Aiden asked, his voice soft.
(Ruben nodded slowly, though his hands fidgeted with the handle of his bat)
Ruben: "It's just… there's no end to it. The walkers, the running... it feels like it's never going to stop."
(Aiden sighed, placing a reassuring hand on Ruben's shoulder)
Aiden: "I know it feels that way. But it will stop, Rubes. One day. We just have to keep going until we find it, we just have to hold onto hope"
(Ruben looked up at him, searching for hope in his brother's face)
Ruben: "You really think we'll find it?"
(Aiden's gaze softened)
Aiden: "Yeah. I do. And I'll make sure we do. No matter what."
For the first time in hours, Ruben managed a small smile. The moment was fleeting, but it was enough to remind both of them why they kept fighting. Outside, the wind howled, carrying with it the faint groans of walkers in the distance. The group settled in for the night, knowing that the real fight was only just beginning.
The faint light of dawn seeped through the cracked stained-glass windows of the church, casting fragmented colours across the dusty floor. The air was still, save for the occasional rustle of leaves outside and the soft breathing of those still asleep. Aiden stirred first, his instincts kicking in before his eyes even opened. He sat up on the hard pew, rubbing the stiffness from his neck as he scanned the room. His gaze landed on Ruben, still curled up on the pew opposite, clutching his bat like a lifeline. The sound of shuffling nearby drew Aiden's attention. Maya was already awake, crouched near the altar as she rummaged through her pack. Leila stretched in the corner, her knife strapped to her hip, while Eli leaned against the wall, fiddling with a pocket knife.
Maya: "Morning," she muttered, standing and stretching out her shoulders.
Aiden: "Morning," Aiden replied quietly, glancing over his shoulder. "Sleep okay?"
Maya: "As good as it gets," she said, moving toward the others. "We need to talk."
One by one, the group woke, except for Ruben, who remained nestled in the pew, his small frame rising and falling with each peaceful breath. Jax yawned as he sat up near the back, rubbing his eyes.
Maya: "We're running low on everything," Maya said bluntly, sitting cross-legged on the floor. "Food, water… everything's almost gone."
(Leila leaned against a crumbling pillar, arms crossed)
Leila: "We can't stay here long anyway. It's too exposed, and we've got no way to defend it properly."
(Eli chuckled dryly)
Eli: "Yeah, it's a bit hard to hold off walkers with good intentions and a couple of knives."
(Jax shrugged, rubbing the strap of his backpack)
Jax: "There's gotta be something out there. We're close to the city, right? London's got to have supplies left, even after all these years."
Leila: "Maybe," Leila said skeptically, "but going back into London is a death wish. Narrow streets, blind corners—perfect place to get cornered."
Aiden: "We don't have a choice," Aiden interjected, his tone firm. "If we don't resupply, we're done for."
(The group fell into a tense silence, each of them weighing the risks. Maya broke it, her voice steady)
Maya: "We can't all go. Someone has to stay back to watch Ruben and keep an eye on this place."
(Aiden nodded)
Aiden: "Agreed. We'll split up. One team goes on the supply run, the others stay here and fortify the church as much as they can."
Leila: "I'll stay," Leila said quickly. "I know how to rig traps. If anything comes near this place, they'll regret it."
Maya: "I'll stay too," Maya added. "If Ruben wakes up and we're all gone, he'll panic. Besides, someone needs to keep Eli out of trouble."
Eli: "Hey!" Eli exclaimed, feigning offense. "I'm a beacon of responsibility."
(The group ignored him)
Aiden: "That leaves me and Jax," Aiden concluded.
(Jax blinked in surprise, then straightened up)
Jax: "Alright. I'm in. Let's do it."
Maya: "You sure?" Maya asked, her brow furrowed. "It's dangerous out there, especially that far into London"
(Jax nodded, a faint determination flickering in his eyes)
Jax: "If we're going to survive, we've got to take risks. Besides, Aiden's got my back, right?"
(Aiden glanced at him, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth)
Aiden: "Just don't slow me down."
While the others began securing the church, Aiden and Jax prepared for the supply run. Maya handed them her spare pack, and Leila gave them a map she'd scavenged years ago, with a few marked areas that might hold supplies.
Leila: "Stick to the edges of the city," Leila advised. "Avoid the big streets—they'll be crawling."
Eli: "And if you see anything we can eat, grab it," Eli added with a grin. "Even if it's old canned beans."
(Maya glanced toward Ruben, still asleep)
Maya: "What do I tell him if he wakes up and you're not here?"
(Aiden hesitated for a moment before replying)
Aiden: Tell him… tell him I'll be back before he knows it"
(Maya nodded solemnly, but her expression betrayed her doubt)
As Aiden and Jax stood by the broken doors, ready to leave, Aiden took one last look at Ruben. The boy shifted slightly in his sleep, his face peaceful despite the chaos of the world around him.
Maya: "I'll keep an eye on him," Maya said softly, placing a hand on Aiden's shoulder.
(Aiden nodded, his jaw tight)
Aiden: "Thanks."
Without another word, Aiden and Jax stepped outside, the forest around them still bathed in the faint glow of dawn. The groans of distant walkers were carried on the wind, a grim reminder of what awaited them.
Jax: "Let's get this over with," Jax said, adjusting the strap of his pack.
(Aiden nodded, his rifle at the ready)
Aiden: "Stay close. Stay quiet. And don't do anything stupid."
With that, the two set off toward the distant city, their silhouettes disappearing into the treeline as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the canopy. As the morning light filtered through the trees, the group left behind at the church settled into an uneasy rhythm. Maya quietly sorted their dwindling supplies, her movements precise but weighed with worry, while Leila worked to secure the perimeter, her knife flashing as she muttered about the risks of city ventures. Eli sat against a wall, carving absentmindedly at a piece of wood, his casual demeanour betraying the tension in his eyes. Ruben still slept, curled tightly on the pew, his small frame a reminder of the fragility Aiden fought so hard to protect. The forest around them was alive with the faint groans of distant walkers and the rustle of leaves in the wind, a haunting melody of a world that refused to die. As the hours passed, they all felt it—the fragile thread of hope that tied them to Aiden and Jax stretching thin, the weight of survival pressing heavier with every tick of the clock.
End of Chapter 2
