As they sprinted down the narrow alley, the sounds of the zombies grew louder behind them. The night air was heavy with tension, punctuated by the echoing groans of the undead. Sam led the way, her determination pushing them forward while Kelly and Liam struggled to keep pace. 
“Where do we go now?” Kelly panted, glancing back over her shoulder. The shadows of the horde loomed closer, their hunger palpable.
“Just keep running!” Sam shouted, glancing at a narrow side street that seemed to lead toward a park. “This way!”
They turned abruptly, darting down the side street. The park was dimly lit, with scattered trees casting eerie shadows across the ground. It was quiet here, save for the distant sounds of their pursuers. Kelly could hear her heart racing, a drumbeat of fear and adrenaline.
“Find cover!” Sam directed as they neared a cluster of bushes. They dove behind them just as the first few zombies stumbled into the park, their rotting bodies moving awkwardly in the dim light.
Kelly pressed herself against the ground, her breath shallow. “What now?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
“Let them pass,” Sam replied, her voice steady despite the tension. “We’ll wait for a moment, then head deeper into the park. There should be a cabin a bit further in where we can hide.”
Liam peeked through the branches, his eyes wide with fear. “How can we be sure it’s safe? What if there are more people like those guys from the school?”
“We’ll deal with that if we have to,” Sam said firmly. “Right now, we focus on getting away from the horde. Just stay quiet.”
They watched as the zombies meandered past, their vacant eyes searching for prey. The stench was overwhelming, and Kelly had to fight the urge to gag. It felt like an eternity before the last of the undead passed by, leaving the park silent once more.
“Let’s go!” Sam whispered, and they crawled out from behind the bushes, making their way deeper into the park.
The trees grew thicker, their branches twisting overhead, casting long shadows. Kelly could hear the rustling leaves and the distant sound of running water. As they ventured further, the atmosphere shifted from foreboding to strangely tranquil, with the night sky shimmering with stars.
“Do you hear that?” Kelly said, stopping suddenly. 
“Hear what?” Liam whispered back, straining to listen.
“Water,” Kelly replied, tilting her head. “There’s a stream nearby.”
“Good eye,” Sam said, nodding. “We might be able to refill our water supplies. But we need to be careful. No noise, remember?”
They followed the sound, moving cautiously through the underbrush until they reached a small stream that glistened in the moonlight. It was a perfect spot—hidden and quiet, with enough cover from potential threats.
“Let’s fill up our bottles,” Sam suggested, kneeling beside the water.
As they refilled their canteens, Kelly couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. For a moment, they were just three people trying to survive, free from the chaos of the city.
“This is kind of nice,” Kelly said, looking at the starry sky. “A little peaceful moment amid all this madness.”
Liam smiled slightly, the tension easing from his shoulders. “Yeah, it almost feels normal.”
“Normal?” Sam raised an eyebrow, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. “What’s normal about hiding in a park while zombies roam the streets?”
Kelly chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Okay, fair point. But we’re still alive, right? That counts for something.”
“Surviving doesn’t mean living,” Sam replied, her tone more serious now. “We need a plan, a real one. This isn’t just about dodging zombies anymore.”
“Yeah,” Liam said, his voice quiet. “What’s next? Do we just keep running forever?”
Kelly watched as Sam took a deep breath, her gaze focused on the stream as if searching for answers in the flowing water. “I don’t know. We can’t stay here for long. We need to find a secure location, something we can defend. Maybe a safe house or a community that’s still intact.”
“Do you think there are still communities out there?” Liam asked, skepticism clear in his voice. “Everyone’s just out for themselves now.”
“Maybe,” Sam admitted. “But I’ve heard whispers—places where people are banding together. If we can find one, we might stand a chance. Alone, we’re easy prey for gangs and zombies alike.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Kelly said, feeling a flicker of hope. “But first, we should rest a bit. We’ve been running for hours.”
Sam nodded, her expression softening. “Alright. Let’s take a breather. But keep watch; I’ll take the first shift.”
Kelly settled down on the soft grass, allowing herself a moment to relax. She leaned back against a tree, closing her eyes and letting the sounds of the night wash over her. The rustling leaves, the distant hoots of an owl, and the gentle burble of the stream created a calming lullaby that eased her frayed nerves.
Liam sat beside her, fidgeting nervously. “Do you think those guys from the school are still out there?”
Kelly opened her eyes, glancing at him. “I hope not. But if they are, we need to be ready next time. We can’t let our guard down.”
“Yeah, but how do we do that?” Liam’s voice trembled. “I’m not cut out for fighting.”
“None of us are, really,” Kelly admitted, sitting up. “But we have to learn. We can’t rely on luck forever.”
“I just wish things were back to normal,” Liam said, frustration seeping into his voice. “I miss… everything. My life before this.”
Kelly felt a pang of sympathy. “I know. I miss my routine, my job—everything too. But right now, we have to focus on surviving.”
As the minutes passed, Sam kept her watch, her eyes scanning the darkness. Kelly could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her jaw tightened. It was clear that Sam was feeling the weight of their situation more than she let on.
Finally, Sam shifted her weight, breaking the silence. “Okay, my turn to rest. You two keep an eye out.”
“Got it,” Kelly replied, feeling a sense of responsibility. She wasn’t sure how much longer they could keep this up, but for now, they were together, and that made all the difference.
They settled into a watch rotation, taking turns keeping an eye out for any dangers that might approach. After a while, Kelly felt her eyelids growing heavy. 
“Wake me up in twenty minutes, okay?” she murmured to Liam.
“Sure,” he said, his voice soft. “I will.”
As she drifted into a light sleep, Kelly dreamed of the world before—normal office life, her friends laughing, the comfort of a warm home. But the dream quickly twisted into nightmares, filled with zombies and chaos.
When she woke, it was to a soft rustling sound nearby. Her heart raced as she blinked away the remnants of sleep. She saw Sam sitting up, her eyes wide with fear.
“What’s wrong?” Kelly whispered, voice hoarse.
“I heard something,” Sam said, her tone low and urgent. “It might be zombies. I can’t tell.”
Kelly strained her ears, listening intently. A low growl echoed through the trees, followed by the unmistakable sound of shuffling feet.
“Get ready,” Sam whispered, reaching for her gun. “It’s time to move.”
Liam quickly got to his feet, fear written all over his face. “What do we do?”
“We run, but quietly,” Sam instructed. “Stay close to the trees and keep your heads down. We need to get away before they spot us.”
The three of them crouched low, hearts pounding in their chests as they made their way through the thick underbrush. The sounds of the zombies grew louder, a chilling reminder of the danger that lurked in the shadows.
Just as they reached the edge of the park, a figure stumbled out from behind a tree, its eyes glazed over and mouth slack. It was a woman, her clothes torn and bloodied. The sight sent a jolt of panic through Kelly.
“Stay back!” Sam hissed, raising her gun, ready to fire.
But as they froze, the woman looked up, her expression vacant but not aggressive. “Please…” she croaked, barely audible. “Help me…”
“Don’t get too close!” Sam warned, her eyes darting back to the sound of approaching zombies.
“Wait,” Kelly said, her heart aching at the sight of the woman’s distress. “She’s not attacking us. She needs help.”
“Kelly, this isn’t the time to play hero!” Sam snapped, her grip tightening on her weapon. “We need to move!”
The woman took a faltering step forward, and suddenly, behind her, a small group of zombies emerged from the trees. Their growls filled the air, and Kelly’s heart dropped. 
“Run!” Sam shouted.
Without thinking, Kelly rushed forward, grabbing the woman’s arm. “Come on! We have to go!”
The woman looked confused and terrified, but with a sudden surge of adrenaline, she took a step toward Kelly. “I… I can’t run,” she gasped, looking back at the approaching horde.
“We don’t have time!” Kelly urged. “Just follow me!”
The three of them bolted away from the woman, who stumbled and fell as she tried to keep up. Sam shot a glance back, her eyes wide with fear. “We can’t help her, Kelly! She’ll just slow us down!”
But Kelly couldn’t abandon her. “I can’t leave her!” 
“Kelly!” Sam yelled, urgency filling her voice. “We have to go! Now!”
With one last look at the woman, Kelly felt a pang of guilt. But there was no time. They had to escape the zombies closing in.
“I’m sorry!” Kelly shouted as she sprinted away, her heart heavy with regret. 
As they dashed into the trees, the sounds of the undead closing in behind them, Kelly couldn’t shake the feeling that they had just left someone behind to die. But in this world, survival came first—no matter how painful that truth was. 
They ran deeper into the woods, the sounds of their pursuers fading as the dense trees shielded them. Eventually, they slowed down, panting heavily.
“Did we lose them?” Liam gasped, wiping sweat from his forehead.
“For now,” Sam said, her eyes scanning the area. “But we can’t stop. We need to keep moving.”
“Where do we go now?” Kelly asked, feeling the weight of their predicament settling in. 
“There should be a path up ahead that leads to an old ranger station,” Sam suggested. “If we can reach it, we might be able to find supplies and shelter for the night.”
Kelly nodded, her resolve hardening. They had to keep fighting, keep surviving. “Let’s go.”
Together, they pressed on, the shadows of the trees surrounding them, their hearts pounding with the thrill of survival and the weight of choices made in a world gone mad. The night was far from over, and the fight was just beginning.