The group huddled together, whispering anxiously among themselves. Juno whisper-shouted while Mateo tried to reason with her. Max sat beside his sister as she held Hunter, who was still asleep, frail and weak in her arms.
Nearby, Owen sat beside Sebastian. The silence between them stretched awkward and heavy. Neither of them seemed sure what to say.
"So… uh, you said your name is Sebastian, right?" Owen asked, glancing up at the taller boy as he waited patiently for an answer.
"Uh… yeah," Sebastian mumbled softly.
"Well, nice to meet you. Your story.. I believe you, you know? I can just tell you speak the truth. In all honestly I would've done the same for my mother." Owen rambled and leaned back and talked with his hands. He shrugs after he finished speaking his eyes on the male.
Sebastian sat quietly, listening as the blond boy continued to talk. He's definitely energetic, Sebastian thought, glancing at him from the corner of his eye. What was his name again… Owen? As Owen spoke Sebastian remembered something, there were supplies around the nursing home.. He would go collect them quickly before the others get done speaking..
"Uh.." he mumbled Owen was still talking, he didn't know whether to stop him or just let him talk.
Sebastian got up as easily as he could and just walked off deeper into the nursing home to collect the supplies.
As the group spoke Owen finally noticed Sebastian had disappeared, "uh oh.." he shrugged and looks at the group, he sat up and pushed off the ground popping his back as he stretched, he walks over the others, he crossed his arms and tilts his head to the side, "Soo whatcha guys talking about?" Owen asked which got a little scoff from Juno.
Ezekial glances at Owen. "I'm trying to get through Juno's head that we are taking Sebastian with us. I mean. He has strength. And even so. Ryan is more of the leader; I'm just second in command. The kid will have the final say not her." Which earned a growl of frustration from Juno.
Mateo sighed a bit, "Ezekial has a point.. look. You don't have to trust Sebastian, but he has done literally nothing to us- "
Juno rolled her eyes. She knew they had a point, but that did not make the idea any easier to accept. Why should they bring Sebastian along? He could turn on them in seconds, and none of them were strong enough to stop him if he did. "I'm just saying. What if he turns on us huh?? No one will be able to stop him." She snapped back.
The others glanced at one another, Mateo pinched the bridge of his nose, he was getting tired of his girlfriend's tone, attitude.. "Juno." His voice firm and exhausted, he looks at her. "I understand you don't trust him. No one is forcing you to. But your damn attitude is putting everyone in a foul mood because you can't keep your damn mouth shut for a minute. Just shut up. Please." He saw her glare at him but at the moment? He didn't care. She was getting out of control. Yes. He didn't mind when she spoke her mind, but for right now? With Ryan missing, and a new person, everyone just needs a break from her running mouth.
She scoffed and walked off from the group. Angry, frustrated. Owen just raised an eyebrow and hummed, "She's just a sunshine isn't she?" he said bluntly, he leans against a wall and looks out the boarded-up window, just looking out into the empty area.
Ezekial looks back to where Sebastian used to be when he saw him missing, he looked at Owen, "Where is Sebastian?" He asked the blond.
"Huh. Oh." Owen looks at the older male and shrugged. "Dunno he just disappeared."
"You were supposed to keep and eye on him." Ezekial scolded and crossed his arms, his double barrel leaning against his thigh.
Owen just shrugged.. He looks to Judy.. "How is hope..?" He asked and made his way over.
The bundle in her arms was his little sister. 2 now. Covered in a blanket, Judy hums softly and shook her head. "she's alright.. just sleeping. I don't know how she is even sleeping though this honestly.. she's a heavy sleeper no?" She smiles softly and looks at Owen.
He nodded and looked at his sister. "She gets that from my mom.." he stared at Hope.
The toddler was sleeping peacefully in the blanket, wrapped up tight.
Max and Jasmine sat a bit away; hunter was waking up. Crying. The infection was getting worse. He was in pain, Jasmine said nothing and she just tried to calm him down. Footsteps echoed down the hall. Sebastian was back.
He had supplies in his arms.. "Uh.. I uh, found these a while back when I first got here. I figure you guys need these more than me so.." he reached them and hesitated but held them out which Ezekial took and hummed.
"Well. Thanks. I'm sure we could use these." He was looking at the supplies. "Max. get the bag and put these in there yeah?" He told his eldest, which his son nodded and took the bag off from his back, he grabbed the supplies and put them into the bag which he then zipped up and put the bag back over his shoulders.
Ezekial looked out from one of the busted windows and grumbled. "We need to get a move on. All of us have had enough breaks as is, we need to find Ryan. It's getting dark. Mateo. Go get your lady. Then come back."
Mateo nodded and walked off to find his lover.
Sebastian shifted foot to foot, Owen just stoo beside the male with his arms crossed.
The others were getting ready, "So.. you got a weapon?" Owen asked.
"Uh.. no. I don't. I usually find things near to use hah.. normally my hands but that's fine." Sebastian said as he looked away a bit embarrassed; Owen smirked and grabbed a switchblade from his pocket.
"Here, you can use this for the time being until we can get you something better, okay?" He handed him the blade which Sebastian took hesitantly their fingers brushing. He shoved the switchblade into his pocket. "Thanks.." He muttered and Owen gave a nod and hummed.
Mateo soon came back with Juno, who still looked annoyed at him and the others, but no one really cared, "Come on. Let's move." Ezekial said.
As everyone prepared to leave, a distant crash shattered the tense quiet, a building collapsing somewhere beyond the nursing home. A bark followed, sharp and frantic, then a yell. Ezekial tightened his grip on his double-barrel shotgun and moved to the front, ready to take the lead again while the others finished gathering themselves.
"Let's move," Ezekial muttered, already pushing the nursing home door open.
The group slipped out into the gray light, boots crunching over broken glass and wilted leaves. Smoke drifted low across the street, carrying the faint smell of burnt plastic and groans. They kept their heads down, avoiding the direction of the noise entirely.
Another bark cut through the air — sharper this time, closer.
Mateo flinched. Jasmine grabbed her mother's sleeve. Owen's jaw tightened, but he kept walking, Sebastian didn't really pay attention this was the first time in a while he has left the building.. Yes he would go out but only stay near the building, Ezekiel was guiding them toward the opposite end of the block.
Only Juno stopped for a split moment.
Her head snapped toward the sound, eyes narrowing. "That's Bear."
"Juno," Mateo warned, not even turning around. "We don't have time to chase every noise."
"That wasn't every noise," she snapped. "That was my dog."
Ezekial raised a hand for silence. Up ahead, three walkers staggered into view, blocking the street. Their heads jerked toward the group at the same time, drawn by movement.
"Shit," Owen whispered.
They backed up quickly, slipping into a side alley to avoid being seen. The barking came again — louder now, frantic, echoing between the buildings.
Juno's breath hitched. "She's close. I know she is."
"We stick to the plan," Ezekial said, voice low but firm. "We avoid the herd and keep moving."
Juno stepped in front of him, eyes blazing. "If Bear's alive, Ryan might be too. You really want to walk away from that? Huh?? What if he found her, what if he's hurt? What if he's with her?? I'm not leaving her. I haven't seen her since the damn infection got to my parents.."
The group froze.
Judy clutched the blanket tighter. Mateo looked away. Even Sebastian's expression shifted — something like guilt flickering across his face.
Another bark. A whimper. Then a faint, high‑pitched cry.
Juno didn't wait for permission. She started moving toward the sound.
"Juno!" Mateo hissed.
But she didn't stop.
Ezekial cursed under his breath "damn kid.." Then motioned sharply. "Fine. Stay tight. Weapons ready."
They followed her through the alley, weaving between overturned trash bins and broken brick. The barking grew louder, clearer, desperate.
Then they saw her.
Bear stood in the middle of a cracked parking lot, fur matted, limping, paws hitting the asphalt franticly, barking at something behind a collapsed bus.
Juno gasped and sprinted forward. "Bear!" her voice cracked.
The dog whipped around, tail thumping wildly, whining as she hobbled toward her owner.
But the group's attention shifted past her — to the small figure lying near the bus.
A woman.
She was curled on her side, breathing shallowly, dirt smeared across her face.
And behind her—
The bus groaned, metal shifting dangerously.
Ryan lay half‑pinned near the undercarriage, scrambling backward as the massive vehicle tilted another inch, threatening to roll and crush him.
Mateo's eyes widened. "Holy— Ryan!"
Ezekial lifted his shotgun. "Move!"
The group surged forward as the bus lurched again, dust exploding from beneath it.
Ryan clawed at the pavement, dragging himself away with what little strength he had left.
And the whole world seemed to tilt with the bus.
The bus groaned again. A deep, metallic warning that vibrated through the cracked pavement. Dust rained down in a thin curtain. Ryan clawed backward, dragging himself inch by inch as the massive vehicle tilted another few degrees.
"Ryan!" Mateo shouted, voice cracking.
Ezekial didn't hesitate. "Move! Stay low and spread out — if that thing goes, it'll take half the lot with it!"
The group sprinted forward, boots pounding broken asphalt. Juno reached Bear first, dropping to her knees and grabbing the dog's face. "Bear—hey, hey, baby—" But Bear whined and immediately turned back toward Ryan, barking frantically.
The woman stirred weakly beside the bus, her fingers twitching against the ground.
The bus shifted.
A long, tortured screech ripped through the air as the frame slid another inch down the slope of debris. One of the shattered windows exploded outward, glass scattering across the pavement.
"Shit—he's not gonna make it!" Owen yelled.
Ryan's hands slipped on the dust‑coated ground. His injured leg buckled beneath him. He tried to push himself up, but the pain sent him crashing back down.
The bus lurched.
This time it moved more than an inch.
It rolled.
A thunderous boom shook the lot as the front end slammed down, the entire structure tipping toward Ryan like a falling building.
"Go!" Ezekial roared.
Mateo and Owen dove forward at the same time. Mateo grabbed Ryan under the arms, Owen hooking his hands beneath Ryan's ribs. They heaved, dragging him across the pavement as the bus came crashing down behind them.
The impact was deafening.
A cloud of dust exploded outward, swallowing the group in a choking gray wave. The ground trembled beneath them as the bus settled into its new position — completely collapsed, metal twisted and groaning.
For a heartbeat, no one moved.
Then Owen's voice cut through the haze. "Ryan—Ryan bud, can you hear me?"
Ryan coughed, dust and spit spilling from his mouth. His eyes fluttered open, unfocused, but alive.
The woman grunted softly, curled on her side a few feet away.
Bear pressed her body against Ryan's chest, whining, tail thumping weakly.
Mateo let out a shaky breath. "Holy hell… we almost lost you."
Ezekial scanned the perimeter, and shotgun raised. "We're not out of it yet. That crash is gonna bring every walker in a mile radius."
And as if summoned by his words, the walkers that were already behind the bus.. was making their way to the group and more was coming a distant chorus of groans drifting through the ruined streets.
The reunion had come at the worst possible moment.
"We must move! NOW!" Ezekial snapped.
"Sebastian grab the woman, make sure nothing happens. Mateo grab Ryan. Juno. Make sure your dog can run. Or carry her." Judy's voice was firm, her hand absently rubbed Hopes back making sure she won't wake. Jasmine stood behind her mother holding hunter who was watching with wide eyes. He saw his brother. So that was a good thing. He didn't speak but he watched Mateo grab Ryan. Max stood beside his sister. Just watching everything.
With that, the group ran. Juno kept Bear close against her chest while the others gripped their weapons, forming a loose shield around the injured and those carrying them.
Ezekial cocked the rifle and fixed his eyes on the path ahead. In that moment, all he could do was hope they would make it out alive.