The forest blurred around them.
Branches whipped across their faces as the two men crashed through the undergrowth, stumbling over roots and rocks without slowing.
Behind them, somewhere in the distance, came the faint shouts of pursuit.
One of the bandits glanced over his shoulder, breathing hard.
"I told you we should have taken a different road!"
"Shut up and run!" the other snapped.
They barreled through another thicket before the first man risked another look behind them.
There was nothing, only trees.
Still, he fired a quick burst from his rifle into the woods.
The crack of gunfire echoed through the forest.
"Quit wasting ammo!" his companion hissed.
"They're right behind us!"
"You don't know that!"
"I know enough!"
The second bandit cursed under his breath as he pushed a low-hanging branch aside.
"This whole thing's gone to hell."
"We lost Eddie."
The first man's expression hardened.
"That soldier dropped him before he even knew what hit him."
He slammed another magazine into his rifle.
"Jake's gonna lose his mind when he hears about this."
"If we make it back," the other muttered.
They continued running.
Their lungs burned.
Sweat poured down their faces.
Every snapped twig behind them sounded like another soldier closing in.
After several more minutes, their pace slowed to a fast walk.
Both men bent over, struggling to catch their breath.
The forest had fallen strangely quiet.
No shouting.
No footsteps.
No gunfire.
The taller of the two looked back the way they'd come.
"I..."
He took another breath.
"I think we lost 'em."
His companion didn't look convinced.
"They're out there. They're soldiers. QThey won't just—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Both men froze.
Leaves shifted somewhere to their left.
A moment later, another rustle came from deeper in the trees.
The taller bandit tightened his grip on his rifle.
"They're trying to flank us."
The two immediately raised their rifles.
"There!" one whispered.
The leaves shook again.
The taller bandit swallowed.
"I knew it."
"They found us."
He tightened his grip on the rifle.
"Come on!"
"You want us?"
His voice rose with nervous anger.
"Then get your ass out here!"
For a heartbeat...
Nothing happened.
The forest became deathly still.
Then—
The bushes exploded outward.
Something burst from the undergrowth with terrifying speed.
"What the—?!"
The impact threw one of the bandits violently onto his back.
His rifle flew from his hands.
The second man spun toward the movement, finger tightening on the trigger as a scream tore through the trees.
The forest erupted into chaos.
••••••
Pushing through the undergrowth, Shane held his shotgun tight against his shoulder.
Fresh footprints cut through the damp earth ahead of him, broken branches marking the fugitives' desperate path.
"They're slowing down," Hale whispered, crouching beside a snapped sapling.
He pointed toward the ground.
"See the heel marks? They're stumbling."
Shane nodded.
"They're getting tired."
Tucker, a few yards farther to the right, signaled silently.
Tracks.
Still heading north.
The three continued forward, spreading out just enough to avoid bunching together.
The forest was quiet.
Too quiet.
Then—
Bang!
A single rifle shot echoed somewhere ahead.
Another followed almost immediately.
Then a scream.
Not one of anger but one of absolute terror.
Shane stopped instantly.
The other two froze beside him.
"What the hell was that?" Tucker muttered.
Shane listened.
The scream was cut off abruptly.
Then...
Silence.
He looked toward Hale.
"Move."
The three advanced at a faster pace, weapons raised.
Branches slapped against their uniforms as they closed the distance.
The smell reached them first.
Fresh blood.
Then they emerged into a small clearing.
All three stopped.
One of the bandits lay motionless against the base of a tree.
Half his face had been torn away.
Blood soaked the leaves beneath him.
Several feet away, the second bandit was still alive.
Barely.
He had fallen onto his back, desperately kicking at a walker crouched over him.
"Get off!"
He shoved at it with both hands.
The walker lunged again, jaws snapping wildly.
Its teeth sank deep into his forearm.
The man screamed.
He managed to wrench the arm free—
Only for another walker to seize him from the side.
Then another.
"No!"
He fired blindly.
The shot struck a tree.
A third walker buried its teeth into his shoulder.
His scream echoed through the clearing before being drowned beneath snarls and tearing flesh.
Within seconds...
He stopped moving.
Shane stared for only a fraction of a second.
Then instinct took over.
"Walkers t!"
The shotgun roared.
The blast caught the nearest walker directly in the head, throwing it backward.
Hale opened fire with controlled bursts.
Two walkers collapsed almost immediately.
Tucker's rifle barked beside him.
Another corpse spun around before crashing into the undergrowth.
But there were more.
Walkers emerged between the trees from every direction.
Their movements were faster than the shambling corpses Shane had become accustomed to seeing.
Drawn by the gunfire and the scent of blood, they pushed relentlessly toward the clearing.
Shane counted them instinctively.
"...Eight..."
Another stumbled through the bushes.
"...Nine..."
One more emerged behind it.
"...Ten."
He pumped another shell into the shotgun.
"Keep them in front of us!"
The three men instinctively formed a loose line, preventing the walkers from surrounding them.
The first reached striking distance.
Shane fired.
The walker's head disappeared in a spray of bone and rotten flesh.
"Reloading!" Hale shouted.
"I've got you!"
Tucker stepped forward, firing another controlled burst.
Two more walkers fell.
Still they came.
Slow enough to aim at.
Fast enough that none of them could afford a mistake.
Shane worked the shotgun again.
"We clear these bastards..."
He sighted on the next walker.
"...then we get back to the convoy."
Another thunderous blast echoed through the forest.
With more walkers stepping out between the tree's.
••••••
"How is he?" Andrew asked.
Novak looked up.
"He'll be alright."
She checked the bandage one last time before continuing.
"The round passed straight through."
Andrew glanced at the blood-soaked dressing.
"No fragments?"
She shook her head.
"Doesn't look like it. He was lucky. It missed the bone and the major arteries."
She gave Cole a reassuring pat on the shoulder—careful to avoid the wound.
"He'll be in pain for a while, but he'll keep the arm."
Cole managed a weak grin.
"Guess that's the good news."
"It is," Novak replied.
"But you're done for today."
He let out a quiet sigh.
"I figured."
Andrew gave a small nod before turning his attention back toward the forest.
The gunfire had stopped.
He was about to reach for his radio when another burst of gunfire echoed through the trees.
At first, it was the erratic crack of the bandits' weapons, lasting only a few moments before falling silent.
Then another volley followed.
This one was different.
Short, disciplined bursts.
"What happened?"
Andrew turned toward the voice.
Lee had stepped out of the RV, with Lilly and Carley close behind him.
"We were attacked by members of the group those four belonged to," Andrew answered.
"Is everyone alright?" Carley asked.
"We've got one wounded, but nothing serious."
He glanced toward the lead Humvee.
"The two bandits riding up front weren't so lucky."
The three instinctively looked past Andrew.
Two Rangers were dragging the bodies of the dead bandits from the rear of the Humvee, laying them carefully beside the road.
Their eyes widened.
Before any of them could speak, Andrew's attention shifted back toward the forest.
The gunfire hadn't stopped.
More importantly...
It didn't sound like a firefight at all.
His expression hardened.
The realization struck him almost instantly.
"Get back in the RV."
The sharpness in his voice caught all three off guard.
"What—"
"Now."
Andrew didn't raise his voice, but there was no mistaking the urgency.
"All that gunfire attracted walkers. We need to move."
Lee, Lilly, and Carley exchanged a quick glance before immediately hurrying back toward the RV.
Only seconds later, another transmission came over the radio.
"Keller to Alpha One!"
"We've got walkers coming out of the tree line behind the convoy!"
Andrew closed his eyes for a brief moment.
Damn.
Grabbing the radio, he keyed the transmitter.
"All units, form a defensive perimeter and prepare to move."
A brief pause.
He pressed the transmit button again.
"Hale, return to the convoy. We need to get moving before we're swarmed."
Static crackled before Hale's voice came through, punctuated by gunfire.
"We're on our way."
A second voice immediately followed, slightly farther from the radio.
"You don't need to tell me twice!"
It was Tucker's voice.
Andrew lowered the radio from his ear.
Then he noticed movement in the forest, with a figure stumbling out from between the trees.
Its clothes hung in filthy rags, one leg dragging uselessly behind it as it lurched toward the road.
Another emerged several yards away.
Then another.
Within seconds, more silhouettes began appearing through the trees.
Some shuffled slowly, their broken limbs forcing them into an uneven limp.
Others moved with disturbing urgency, weaving between the trunks with surprising speed, drawn into a frenzy by the sound of gunfire.
Andrew raised his MP5.
The red dot settled on the nearest walker's forehead.
Around him, the Rangers reacted almost simultaneously.
Rifles came to shoulders.
Safety selectors clicked.
A defensive line formed beside the convoy.
Andrew's eyes remained fixed on the growing number of walkers spilling from the forest.
••••••
The atmosphere inside the RV had changed completely.
The laughter from only minutes earlier had vanished.
Everyone sat quietly, listening to the muffled voices and radio traffic outside.
Kenny tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
"What'd the lieutenant say?"
Lee looked toward the side window before answering.
"They ran into more of those bandits."
Katjaa frowned.
"The same group that attacked us?"
Lee nodded.
"Looks that way."
Lilly folded her arms.
"One of the soldiers was shot in the arm."
She stopped for a moment before continuing.
"The two bandits riding in the lead Humvee were caught in the crossfire. They're dead."
Larry let out a dismissive grunt.
"Good."
Several people looked toward him.
"They were bandits."
He shrugged.
"Saved everyone the trouble."
Nobody argued.
Even so, the mood inside the RV grew heavier.
Lee broke the silence.
"That's not why Andrew sent us back in here."
Everyone looked toward him.
"He said all that gunfire could have attracted walkers."
Almost as if on cue—
A burst of automatic fire erupted somewhere behind the convoy.
The children flinched.
Duck instinctively moved closer to Katjaa.
Clementine doing the same, gripping on of her sleeves.
Kenny leaned toward the driver's window.
"What now?"
One by one, everyone turned to look outside.
Andrew stood beside the lead Humvee, his radio raised.
After a brief exchange, he clipped it back onto his vest.
Then, in one smooth motion, he raised his MP5.
Without hesitation—
He opened fire.
The sharp crack of the weapon echoed across the road.
Outside, every Ranger followed suit, disciplined bursts filling the air as the tree line came alive with the dead.
Duck screamed.
Clementine instinctively covered her ears.
Katjaa pulled Duck close while Carley moved beside Clementine, trying to shield her from the sound outside.
Ben's eyes darted toward every window.
"We need to get out of here!"
"No kidding," Kenny muttered, already reaching for the ignition.
...
Outside, rifles continued firing in disciplined bursts.
Walkers kept emerging from the tree line.
Andrew fired two controlled shots.
The nearest walker collapsed.
Another immediately took its place.
"Keep them off the vehicles!" he shouted.
A chorus of acknowledgments answered him.
The Rangers fired in rotation, one covering while another reloaded.
Spent brass scattered across the asphalt.
Then movement caught Andrew's eye.
Three figures burst from the forest at a full sprint.
"Friendly!" someone yelled.
Shane was in the lead.
Hale followed only a few steps behind, Tucker covering their rear.
The three fired while running, dropping one walker before crossing the final stretch of road.
"They're back!" Keller called.
Without slowing, Shane reached the lead Humvee.
Andrew slapped him on the shoulder as they crossed paths.
"You good?"
"Barely."
"Get in."
Shane yanked the passenger door open and climbed inside.
Andrew followed a heartbeat later.
At the rear of the convoy, Hale and Tucker sprinted toward the second Humvee.
One walker lunged from the roadside.
Tucker drove the butt of his rifle into its face before Hale finished it with a single shot.
"Move!"
The two jumped into the vehicle as another Ranger slammed the rear door shut behind them.
Nearby, Novak and Ramirez helped Cole into the lead Humvee.
Cole gritted his teeth as pain shot through his injured shoulder.
"I've got him."
Ramirez supported most of his weight while Novak opened the rear door.
Together they practically shoved him onto the seat before climbing in after him.
One by one, the remaining Rangers piled into the Humvees.
Doors slammed.
Engines roared.
Andrew snatched up the radio.
"Alpha One to all vehicles."
He looked through the windshield toward Kenny's RV.
"We're moving."
He raised one hand and gave Kenny a sharp forward signal.
Kenny answered with a firm nod and released the brake.
The lead Humvee surged forward, tires throwing gravel behind it.
The RV accelerated after it.
Seconds later, the second Humvee pulled away, its gunner continuing to fire short bursts through the rear hatch as more walkers spilled onto the road behind the convoy.
Within moments, the three vehicles disappeared around the bend, leaving only scattered bodies and a growing number of walkers behind.
••••••
The convoy continued for another five minutes before Andrew ordered a halt.
The vehicles pulled off onto a narrow logging road, hidden beneath a dense canopy of trees.
The engines being kept idle.
The sudden silence was broken only by the ticking of hot engines.
Andrew climbed out of the lead Humvee and unfolded the map across the hood.
Hale, Shane, Collins, Novak and the rest of the Rangers, excepting Cole, gathered around.
Lee's group remained inside the RV, watching from the windows.
Andrew rested one finger on the location of the motel.
"We've got a problem."
His finger moved northeast.
His gaze hardened.
"When noticed that those two teams we encountered haven't reported back, the others are going to realize something's wrong."
"They may not know what. But they'll know enough to raise their guard."
Shane folded his arms.
"So our window's closing."
Andrew nodded.
"And every minute we waste makes it worse."
He studied the map for another moment before making his decision.
"We're splitting up."
Everyone looked at him.
"Hale."
The sergeant straightened slightly.
"Take one Humvee."
Andrew pointed toward the RV.
"You along Tucker and Novak will escort the civilians, the two prisoners and Cole back to Terminus."
"Once you're there, I want Cole checked over by the doctors."
Hale nodded.
"Understood."
Andrew continued.
"I also want the prisoners interrogated immediately."
He looked directly at Hale.
"After that, get Captain Harper. Tell him to have the platoon ready to move."
"I don't want any delays."
"If we are to hit that school..."
He looked around the group.
"...I want everyone ready to roll as quick as possible."
Hale gave a firm nod.
"I'll make it happen."
Andrew folded the map.
"The rest of us will continue the reconnaissance."
A few minutes later the convoy divided.
Hale's Humvee pulled onto the road first.
The RV fell in behind it.
Together they turned south, beginning the journey back toward Terminus.
Andrew waited until they disappeared behind the trees.
Then he looked toward Collins.
"Let's finish what we came here to do."
The remaining Humvee turned onto a narrow secondary road, disappearing into the Georgia wilderness as it continued toward Stone Mountain High School.
••••
The Humvee rolled slowly along the narrow county road before Collins raised a hand.
"There."
Wyatt immediately eased off the accelerator.
Barely visible beneath the overgrown branches, an old forestry track disappeared into the woods.
The Humvee turned off the road, branches scraping softly against its sides as it disappeared beneath the thick canopy.
After another hundred yards, Collins spoke again.
"Stop here."
The engine idled for a moment before falling silent.
For a few seconds, nobody moved.
Andrew studied the woods surrounding them.
The trees were dense enough to conceal the vehicle from the road, while the uneven terrain made it unlikely anyone would stumble across it by accident.
He gave a satisfied nod.
"This'll do."
Everyone climbed out, speaking only in whispers.
Andrew unfolded the map across the Humvee's hood one last time.
Collins pointed toward the northeast.
"The school should be about a mile from here."
He traced a faint line through the woods.
"If we stay inside the tree line, we shouldn't be exposed until we're almost on top of the neighborhood."
Andrew looked around at the team.
"Wyatt and Keller, two of you will remain here."
He pointed toward the Humvee.
"Keep the vehicle concealed. If anyone comes down this road, you report it immediately."
The two Rangers nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Andrew continued.
"Engine stays off unless you have to move. If we're compromised, don't come charging in."
He looked each of them in the eye.
"Wait for my order."
"Understood."
Satisfied, Andrew slung his MP5 across his chest.
He looked toward the remaining Rangers.
"Let's move."
Without another word, the reconnaissance team disappeared into the woods.
The forest swallowed them almost immediately.
No one spoke.
The only sounds were the occasional rustle of leaves beneath careful boots and the distant calls of birds overhead.
Collins took point along Andrew, navigating confidently through the dense woodland, his eyes constantly moving between the terrain ahead and the trees to either side.
The rest of the team spread out behind them, maintaining enough distance that a single burst of gunfire couldn't catch more than one man.
Every few minutes Andrew paused to confirm their direction before continuing.
The deeper they moved into the forest, the quieter everything became.
Eventually Collins stopped.
He slowly raised a clenched fist.
The entire team froze.
Andrew slowly crouched.
Collins pointed ahead before slowly lowering himself to one knee as well.
Andrew moved beside him.
"What is it?" he whispered.
Collins didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he carefully parted a few branches.
Andrew leaned forward.
Beyond the tree line, the forest gave way to an abandoned neighborhood.
Nature had begun reclaiming it.
Lawns had become fields of waist-high grass.
Weeds pushed through cracked driveways.
Children's bicycles lay where they'd fallen months before.
Most of the houses stood silent, their windows broken and their front doors hanging open.
At first glance it looked deserted.
Then Andrew spotted movement.
A man carrying a rifle stepped out onto the porch of one of the houses.
He paused only long enough to light a cigarette before looking lazily up and down the street.
Across the road, another occupied house came into view.
An old pickup truck sat parked in the driveway.
A pair of armed men carried wooden crates from the garage toward the house while another leaned against the fence, keeping a casual watch over the street.
Andrew slowly shifted his gaze farther down the neighborhood.
Unlike the others, these houses showed unmistakable signs of occupation.
Fresh tire tracks.
Smoke drifting lazily from a chimney.
Clothes hanging from a line stretched between two trees.
People moved between the occupied houses without any apparent concern.
They looked comfortable.
Like they believed no one could reach them.
Collins leaned closer.
"Looks like the woman you found was telling the truth."
Andrew gave a slow nod.
"They've expanded beyond the school."
His eyes continued studying the neighborhood.
"They're using these houses as an outer perimeter."
Only then did his gaze travel beyond the rooftops.
In the distance, rising above the trees, stood Stone Mountain High School.
The chain-link fence surrounding the campus had been reinforced with makeshift barricades.
Several vehicles were parked inside the grounds.
Even from this distance, Andrew could make out armed figures moving between the buildings.
He remained silent for several long seconds, committing every detail to memory.
Finally, without taking his eyes off the school, he spoke quietly.
"We're in the right place."