They couldn't stay in the house much longer.
By midday, the small amount of food Elias and his father had brought back was already being divided carefully. A few cans. A little water. Enough to hold them—for now.
But not enough to survive.
"We need more," his father said, setting the empty can aside.
Elias nodded.
"Yeah. And something better than this place."
The house had worked for one night—but it wasn't secure. Not really. The barricade wouldn't hold forever. And the longer they stayed, the higher the risk.
His sister leaned back against the wall, arms crossed.
"So what? We go out again?" she asked.
"Yes," Elias said. "But this time, all of us."
His mother looked unsure. "Is that safe?"
"No," Elias replied honestly. "But splitting up is worse."
Silence followed.
No one liked it.
But no one argued.
"Where are we going?" his father asked.
Elias thought for a moment.
Then—
"A bigger store," he said. "Something that hasn't been completely picked clean yet. Maybe a supermarket."
His father nodded slowly.
"Risky."
"Yeah," Elias said. "But we don't have a choice."
They packed what little they had.
Took what could be used as weapons—metal rods, broken wood, anything solid.
Nothing felt like enough.
But it had to be.
"Stay close," Elias said as they prepared to leave. "No running unless I say. No noise unless necessary."
His sister rolled her eyes slightly.
"I get it."
Elias gave her a look.
"Seriously."
She nodded this time.
"I know."
They moved out together.
The street was quieter than before—but not safe.
Never safe.
Elias led, his father close behind. His mother and sister stayed between them.
They moved slowly, checking corners, avoiding open areas.
Every sound mattered.
Every shadow felt alive.
After several blocks, they found it.
A supermarket.
Larger than the last store.
Glass doors shattered.
Inside—
Dark.
Still.
"Jackpot," his sister whispered.
"Or a trap," Elias replied.
They approached carefully.
No movement.
No sound.
Elias stepped inside first.
The smell hit immediately.
Rot.
But faint.
Old.
Not fresh.
"Clear… I think," he said.
They entered.
The place had been looted—but not completely.
Some shelves still had items scattered.
Water bottles.
Canned goods.
Clothing from a small side section.
Hope.
"Move fast," Elias said. "Take what you can."
They spread out—but stayed within sight.
His mother gathered food carefully.
His father checked the back.
Elias scanned the aisles.
His sister moved toward a shelf of supplies.
For a moment—
It felt almost normal.
Then—
A crash.
Loud.
From the far end.
Everyone froze.
Elias turned.
"Did you hear that?" his mother whispered.
"Yes," he said.
Too loud.
Too sudden.
Not them.
"Stay together," Elias said, moving toward the sound.
But before they could regroup—
A shout rang out.
"Hey! Over here!"
Elias spun.
Not a zombie.
A person.
A man stepped out from behind a shelf—tall, strong build, holding a metal pipe. Behind him, a girl—around their age—stood tense, gripping a knife.
"Relax," the man said. "We're not here to fight."
Elias didn't lower his guard.
"Names," he said.
The man nodded slightly.
"Malik," he said. "And that's Sarah."
Sarah gave a small nod, eyes cautious but not hostile.
Elias glanced at his family.
Then back.
"Elias," he said. "That's my family."
Malik looked them over.
"You're lucky," he said. "Still together."
Elias didn't respond.
Because luck didn't feel like the right word.
A moment passed.
Tense.
Then—
A low growl echoed through the store.
Everyone froze.
Malik's expression changed instantly.
"Not good," he muttered.
From the far aisle—
Movement.
Multiple.
"They're coming," Sarah said.
Elias tightened his grip.
"Grab what you can and move," he said.
Too late.
Figures emerged.
More than before.
Drawn by the noise.
"They're too many!" his sister said.
"Then we don't fight!" Elias snapped. "We run!"
They turned—
But the path back was already closing.
More of them.
From behind.
"We're surrounded!" his mother cried.
"Not yet," Malik said sharply. "This way!"
He pointed toward a side exit.
"Go!"
They ran.
Fast now.
No holding back.
Zombies rushed from both sides.
One lunged at Elias's father—
Elias shoved it aside.
"Keep moving!"
They reached the exit—
But something went wrong.
His sister slipped.
Her foot caught on something—
She fell hard.
A sharp cry escaped her.
"My leg!"
Elias stopped instantly.
"No—!"
He turned back.
She tried to stand—
But couldn't.
Her face twisted in pain.
"I can't—!"
A zombie closed in.
Too close.
Elias moved without thinking.
He grabbed a broken pole and swung—
CRACK.
The creature dropped.
"Get up!" he shouted.
"I can't!" she cried.
More were coming.
Fast.
Malik stepped in.
"I've got her!" he said.
Without hesitation, he lifted her up, carrying her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing.
"Move!" he shouted.
They ran.
Through the exit.
Into the alley.
No stopping.
No slowing.
The sounds followed—
Then faded.
They didn't stop running until they were far.
Far enough.
Finally—
They slowed.
Breathing hard.
Elias rushed to his sister.
"Let me see."
Malik carefully set her down.
She winced immediately.
Elias examined her leg.
Swelling.
Bad.
"…It's injured," he said.
His mother knelt beside her, worried.
"Can she walk?"
Elias shook his head slowly.
"Not right now."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Because now—
Everything had changed.
They couldn't move fast.
They couldn't run.
And in this world—
That meant one thing.
They were vulnerable.
Elias looked up.
At Malik.
At Sarah.
Then back at his family.
His jaw tightened.
"Then we adapt," he said.
His voice was firm.
Stronger now.
Because it had to be.
"We don't stop," he continued. "We just move smarter."
Malik gave a slight nod.
"Good," he said. "Because stopping gets you killed."
Sarah crossed her arms.
"Looks like we're sticking together now."
Elias didn't argue.
He couldn't.
Not anymore.
Because now—
They needed each other.
And as the sun slowly began to fall again—
Elias realized something else.
Surviving alone was hard.
But surviving with others?
That came with its own dangers.
And this time—
It wasn't just about the dead anymore.