The sun had barely risen, casting a golden hue over the treetops. A false sense of peace.

Leon knew better.

The government had just issued an alert from the National Center for Disease Control. A “mild viral outbreak” was their official story. Bullshit. He had seen this lie before.

By now, panic would be setting in. People would start raiding stores, buying everything they could.

If he wanted to secure supplies, he needed to act fast.

Leon and Eric made their way down an old hiking trail, heading toward Brooksville, a small town about four miles south of their base.

The streets were already chaotic.

Supermarkets were packed with frantic shoppers. Gas stations had long lines. People were arguing, fighting, scrambling for whatever they could grab.

Eric cursed under his breath. “Damn… it’s really happening.”

Leon stayed calm. He had lived through this madness before. He knew where to go.

Instead of heading straight to the supermarket, Leon led Eric to a small butcher shop tucked away in an alley.

Most people overlooked it in their panic. They wanted canned goods, not fresh meat.

Leon kicked the door open. The inside was dark, empty, the butcher had already left.

Supplies Found:

Cured meats (jerky, sausages) – Good for long-term storage.

Vacuum-sealed steak cuts – They wouldn’t last forever, but could be preserved.

Knives & Cleavers – Not just for cooking, but also weapons.

Leon stuffed what he could into his backpack, then tossed a cleaver to Eric. “Keep this.”

Eric frowned but nodded, gripping the handle tight.

Their next stop was a small pharmacy on the outskirts of town. Most people were still focused on food.

But medicine would be just as important.

Leon slipped inside, moving fast. No time to waste.

Supplies Found:

First aid kits – Bandages, antiseptics, painkillers.

Antibiotics – Essential for infections.

Multivitamins & energy bars – Not a meal, but better than nothing.

As Leon zipped up his bag, a loud crash came from outside.

A group of three men had just broken into the liquor store across the street. They were looting bottles, laughing, completely unaware of Leon and Eric.

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For now.

Eric whispered, “Should we go?”

Leon nodded. No need for unnecessary fights.

Not yet.

Despite the chaos, Leon had to risk it.

They reached Brooksville Market, one of the town’s biggest grocery stores.

It was a madhouse.

People were shoving carts, grabbing whatever was left. Shelves were nearly empty.

Leon didn’t waste time with junk. He headed straight to the back, searching for what others ignored.

Supplies Found (Hidden in Storage):

Bags of rice & dried beans – Long shelf life.

Cooking oil & salt – Essential for survival.

Bottled water & energy drinks – Liquid gold.

As Leon packed the last bottle, a fight broke out near the entrance.

Two men were arguing over the last box of canned food.

One swung a punch. The other pulled out a knife.

Screams echoed. People panicked.

Eric tensed. “Leon”

“Move,” Leon ordered.

They slipped out the back exit just as chaos erupted inside.

As they made their way back to the lodge, Leon’s instincts screamed something was wrong.

The town felt different.

Too many people were coughing now. Some looked pale, sweating.

The virus was already here.

Eric noticed it too. “Leon…?”

Leon clenched his jaw. “We’re out of time.”

Six days left.

And the world was already starting to fall apart.

***

The infection was spreading faster than expected.

Leon and Eric had barely made it out of town when they noticed people collapsing in the streets. It was subtle for now, a few coughs, some dizziness, but Leon knew what it meant.

The virus was already circulating.

Time was running out.

They had food, water, and medical supplies, but it wouldn’t mean a thing without firepower.

Leon exhaled. "Next stop. Weapons."

Brooksville had one local gun store—Henderson’s Hunting & Tactical.

A small, privately owned shop that mostly sold hunting rifles, shotguns, and bows. Not military-grade, but better than nothing.

By the time Leon and Eric arrived, the store was already in chaos.

Half the windows were smashed, looters were climbing in and out, gunfire rang from inside.

Eric ducked. "Shit! Someone's already fighting inside!"

Leon observed the scene. "Stay low. Follow my lead."

The store was a war zone.

Three men were dead on the floor. A group of looters were pointing guns at each other.

One man, a bald guy with tattoos, was yelling, “Put the damn gun down!”

Another, **a scrawny, nervous-looking kid, **was holding a shotgun but shaking. “S-Screw you! I got here first!”

Leon moved before things could explode.

BOOM.

A flash grenade rolled across the floor, detonating in a bright flash.

The looters screamed, blinded.

Leon didn’t hesitate. He moved like a ghost.

One punch to the bald guy’s throat—he collapsed, gasping.

A swift kick sent the shotgun flying from the kid’s hands.

Eric grabbed a crowbar and cracked another guy’s skull.

Within seconds, the fight was over.

The remaining looters ran.

Leon smirked. "And that’s why you don’t hesitate."

They moved fast, grabbing everything they could before more looters arrived.

Weapons Secured:

Remington 870 Shotgun – Close-range firepower.

AR-15 Rifle – Semi-auto, perfect for mid-range.

Mossberg Hunting Rifle – Good for long-distance shots.

Tactical Crossbow – Silent, deadly, reusable bolts.

Knives, Machetes, and Tactical Axes – Close combat.

Ammunition & Tactical Gear – Enough to last weeks.

Eric grinned. “Holy hell… we’re stacked.”

Leon slung the AR-15 over his shoulder. "Not yet. We need people."

Leon knew the importance of allies.

Surviving alone was possible. But rebuilding? Fighting elite zombies? That required a team.

He ran through his memory of the first outbreak.

There were a few survivors worth recruiting. But the first one was a priority.

***

A virologist.

One of the only people who understood the virus.

In his past life, she was captured by the military and forced into research. But Leon remembered where she had been before that.

An old hospital on the edge of town.

Time to pay her a visit.

Leon and Eric approached Brooksville General Hospital.

From the outside, it looked normal.

But Leon knew what lurked inside.

The first cases of infection had already begun.

The outbreak would officially start here.

He checked his gear. Shotgun loaded. Crossbow ready. Knives within reach.

Eric tightened his grip on the machete. "You think she's still here?"

Leon smirked. "She better be. Otherwise, we just walked into a death trap for nothing."

They stepped inside.

The air was too quiet.

The hunt for Dr. Carter had begun.