***

The car's engine hummed as the miles rolled by, and I took a moment to check on the three companions sleeping soundly in the back seat. Their faces, though fatigued, displayed a certain peace amidst the chaos. I gently placed my hand on the rearview mirror, adjusting it to get a better look at the reflection of Cristy, David, and Kate.

As I continued driving down the dimly lit road, the sometimes-staticky radio emitted news bulletins about the ongoing catastrophe. I reached out and turned off the radio, leaving only the low hum of the engine.

"Jack... you awake?" I spoke in a hushed tone, not wanting to disturb the sleeping passengers.

Jack's voice came from the darkness of the back seat. "Yeah," he replied, just as softly.

Jack then responded, "You know, RJ, what if this is something like an alien invasion or something?"

I chuckled softly, replying, "Come on, Jack. Aliens aren't real. It's probably just some kind of outbreak. Remember teacher Alan? He got bitten and turned into one of them. It seems similar to rabies or something."

Jack nodded, "Yeah, you're right. If it's some kind of virus, maybe a new strain or a variant of rabies. We need to be cautious."

Our conversation fell into a brief silence. However, it wasn't silent enough. One of the girls, Kate, stirred and slowly woke. She groggily looked around, her eyes adjusting to the dim interior of the car, and then asked, "Where are we?"

Jack replied softly, "We're in the outskirts of the city."

I chimed in, "We can't go through the city. Cars blocked off, and it's too dangerous there."

Kate noticed the weariness in my eyes as I continued to drive. "You should rest," she suggested.

Jake agreed, saying, "Yeah, you need sleep RJ."

"I'm still fine", I replied.

I tried to brush it off, but Jack added, "We're in a tough spot, RJ. That emergency center is across town, and it's getting dark. Hard to see where we're going. Kate's right and you're our leader, and you need sleep. It'll be a long journey ahead."

I sighed, my grip on the steering wheel tightening. "Alright, fine. We'll safe place to stay for the night, somewhere we can rest and regroup."

As I contemplated the situation, I couldn't help but wonder, 'Since when did I become the leader?' With that decision made, I began to search for a safe spot to pull over and rest, knowing we had a long and uncertain journey ahead of us.

***

The group came across a nondescript motel. Kate woke David and Cristy, and RJ quickly explained their plan, parking the car near the entrance.

The entrance was shrouded in darkness, with dim light from the street barely penetrating the lobby. RJ and Jack cautiously ventured inside to locate the power switch. Kate, David, and Cristy kept a watchful eye on the surroundings outside.

Amidst the eerie reception area, RJ and Jack's eyes gradually adjusted to the dimness, and they nervously scanned for any lurking dangers. Finally, they spotted the power switch on the wall, and a collective sigh of relief escaped their lips. They then decided to explore behind the reception desk for room keys, and it wasn't long before they found what they were looking for.

Returning outside with the precious keys in hand, they ascended the creaky wooden stairs leading to the second floor. As they entered the rooms, they realized they were unoccupied. Feeling more secure, they fetched furniture to block the wooden stairs, fortifying their position.

Once their temporary safe haven was prepared, the group settled in one of the rooms, bringing the futons from other rooms to create a more comfortable space.

***

After ensuring their temporary fortress was secure, RJ, overcome by exhaustion, decided to take the much-needed rest he had been postponing. He settled down and was soon fast asleep.

As the night deepened, Jack took his position on the balcony of the motel, standing guard and observing the silhouettes of the monsters in the distance. The rustling and shifting figures were eerily human-like.

Kate joined Jack on the balcony, and together they gazed at the strange scene. Kate broke the silence, asking Jack, "Do you think they still have their memories?" Her voice carried a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

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Jack shifted his gaze from the shadows to Kate, considering her question. "I don't think so," he replied with a hint of uncertainty.

Curious, Kate probed further, "Why do you think that, Jack?"

Jack explained, "Because they move like normal humans, except for the twitching here and there." He pointed at one of the figures near a streetlight. "See that one over there? It looks like she's walking her dog, with the dog's collar in her hand."

Kate followed Jack's gaze, squinting to see the distant figure. After a moment, she concurred, "Oh, it does look like it."

A brief silence enveloped them, broken by Jack's inquiry about RJ. "By the way, how's RJ?"

Kate replied, "He's fast asleep. He was really tired."

Jack nodded, a hint of admiration in his expression. "He really overdid himself, taking the brunt of the monster's attacks."

Kate acknowledged, "Like you said earlier, we all have our roles." She offered a supportive smile.

Jack smiled back and made a contemplative sound. "Let's get inside. I want to have a talk with Cristy and David." Kate looked slightly puzzled, but she trusted Jack's judgment. She followed him inside the motel as they prepared for their upcoming conversation.

Once they were inside the motel, Jack took a moment to glance at RJ, who was sleeping soundly, and then proceeded to call David and Cristy. Kate followed Jack closely as they gathered the group.

Jack inquired about their supplies, to which Cristy responded, "We only have 2 chocolate bars and nothing else." David added, "Our first-aid supplies are sufficient, but having more would be better." Kate contributed, "I found a small flashlight in the car. It should be helpful."

Jack considered their priorities carefully. Food was a pressing concern, and they needed backpacks to carry supplies more efficiently. "Alright, I'll go gather supplies. You guys wait here," he announced.

Katie immediately expressed her concerns, "That's too dangerous, Jack!" David and Cristy concurred, suggesting that they wait until morning to scavenge for supplies.

Jack weighed their words and then explained, "I know it's much safer in the morning, but if we do that, the time we waste gathering means we'll be delayed getting to the evacuation point, and who knows when they'll leave." The daunting distance to the evacuation point, which was located on the other side of the city, weighed heavily on their minds. They hadn't even reached the halfway point yet.

Determined to prepare for the journey, Jack stood up. Kate also rose and insisted, "I'll come with you!"

However, Jack quickly rebuffed her offer, stating, "No, me going is enough. I don't want to endanger you." Kate felt a pang of hurt at his words.

Seeing her distress, Cristy approached Kate and reassured her, "It's okay, Kate. Jack's going to be fine." David added, "We can trust him to come back." The trio offered their support as they went their separate ways.

With his preparations complete, Jack headed toward the door. Before leaving, he turned to the group and said, "Stay safe, guys, and keep watch of the surroundings." They all nodded in agreement, and Kate clenched her fist in a show of determination. With that, Jack left on his mission to secure the supplies they desperately needed.

***

Jack, outside, was sneaking through the darkness, avoiding the lurking monsters, as he searched for supplies. He slowly made his way to various houses, but most of them were locked. His heart raced with each step as he hunted for an accessible entry.

Finally, he found a house that was unlocked and went inside, taking care to close the door silently behind him.

Jack carefully navigated the dark and quiet house, his small flashlight cutting through the darkness. He reminded himself, "Okay, Jack, get what you need and get out. Simple as that." He moved silently through the house, crouching and avoiding any creaking floors.

Jack eventually reached the kitchen and began searching through cupboards and drawers. He found canned food, and the refrigerator yielded some provisions. Jack also discovered a few tumblers in the cupboards and filled them with water.

As he continued his search, the sudden sound of the door closing sent a shiver down his spine. His instincts kicked in, and he immediately turned off the faucet and switched off the flashlight. He grabbed a nearby towel and moved to the shadows, waiting for the intruder to come closer.

In the eerie darkness and silence, he watched as the intruder approached. Jack couldn't see clearly, but he noticed something unusual. When the figure drew nearer, he lunged forward, clamping the towel over the intruder's mouth.

The figure reacted strangely, more like a human than a monster, struggling and flailing. Confused and surprised, Jack reached for his flashlight, turned it on, and directed the beam at the intruder's face, revealing Kate. He gasped, "Kate?"

Kate, her eyes filled with anger and a tear glistening on the side, stared back at Jack. He quickly realized his mistake and apologized, "I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you." He removed the towel from her mouth.

Jack, upset, retorted with, "Why are you here?! You should've stayed at the motel."

Kate argued, "I don't care. What if something happened to you? We would all be worried, especially RJ!" Kate's words weighed on him, and he reluctantly agreed, "Argh, fine. Just don't make too much noise."

Jack muttered to himself, "How am I going to explain this to your father now..." Kate, puzzled by his comment, questioned him about her father, but before she could finish her sentence, there was a loud noise from above.

Jack silenced her with a whispered, "Let's continue that later. It seems we're not alone." The situation had taken an unsettling turn, and their focus shifted to the potential threat in the house.

After putting the supplies they found in a plastic bag and grabbing a pair of knives, Jack and Kate cautiously made their way upstairs, trying not to make much noise. As they ascended, a familiar smell wafted into their noses. It was the unmistakable odor of blood. Jack clicked his tongue and said to Kate in a hushed tone, "There might be one or two of them here. It'll get dangerous. Stay close to me."

They continued to ascend to the second floor of the house. When they reached the top, they saw that it was clear, but the stench of blood was thick in the air. Jack shone his light on one of the doors and noticed a pair of feet protruding from beneath it. He readied his weapon and slowly pushed the door open, revealing a twitching figure with red, glowing eyes.