The next day, it's Sam's birthday and everyone is excited to celebrate. They start the day off with a delicious breakfast cooked by Josie, with candles and a homemade birthday banner. Sam is surprised and touched by the effort they all put in for her special day.

Josie gave Sam a beautiful sketchbook as a present. Each page is filled with memories of their time together, drawn by Josie with great care and detail. Sam is overwhelmed by the thought and effort Josie put into the gift, she had never been given something so amazing and thoughtful. She was speechless and spent hours flicking through the detailed drawings of their memories. She loved it.

Elijah gave her a skateboard, as she had mentioned that she loved skateboarding. Sam was ecstatic and couldn't wait to try it out. She thanked Elijah and gave him a big hug much to his dismay.

But Tom seemed to be keeping a secret.

As the day went on, Tom became more and more distant. He avoided conversations and seemed to be hiding something. Sam started to get suspicious, wondering if he's planning something for her birthday. But as the day wears on, it becomes clear that Tom has indeed forgotten her birthday.

Feeling a mix of disappointment and hurt, Sam tries to shake it off and enjoy the rest of her day. Josie's sketchbook is a wonderful distraction, and she spends the afternoon flipping through the pages, laughing at the memories and feeling grateful for her friends.

As the day came to a close, Sam was getting ready for bed, feeling a little disappointed that Tom hadn't done anything for her birthday. She tried to hide her disappointment and put on a brave face. But just as she was about to climb into bed, she heard a knock on her door. Curious, she opened it to find Tom standing there, dressed in an oversized suit and tie that was done up haphazardly. He had clearly made an effort to comb his hair and was holding a bouquet of wildflowers. He stood at the door smiling sheepishly.

Sam was speechless, staring at him in shock. Tom reached out his hand, inviting her to follow him. "Can't you tell? I'm dressed like James Bond," he said with a grin. "I'm here to take you to prom."

Sam, still in her pyjamas, laughed. "I might be a little underdressed for the occasion," she said playfully. Tom led her outside the warehouse, where he had set up a small speaker and some lights. There was a mysterious looking liquid in a bowl, which he referred to as "his special punch". As they stood there, Tom fiddled with his tie, struggling to get it to sit properly.

Sam couldn't help but giggle at the sight of him. She reached up and helped him fix his tie, and they shared a cute moment, where they both paused and looked at each other. The music started playing, some soft and romantic songs, and Tom led Sam in a slow dance. "I found the suit in a box in the warehouse," Tom admitted, "It was the only one that fit me. Kind of. I've been keeping it a secret for weeks, planning this surprise for you."

As they slow danced, Sam couldn't help but giggle at Tom's attempts at suave Bond-like moves. "You know, you might have the suit, but you're no Daniel Craig," she teased. Tom feigned offence. "Hey, I'll have you know, I've been practising my moves all day. I even watched some movies with ballroom dancing scenes," he said with a grin. Sam laughed. "Well, I'm impressed. Maybe you should add 'International Spy' to your resume," she said, playfully batting her eyelashes at him.Tom leaned in close, his breath tickling her ear. "I'd rather add 'Future Husband' to mine," he whispered, causing Sam to blush.

Tom leaned in and whispered in Sam's ear, "I know it's not the real prom, but I wanted to make it special for you. I know we missed out on so much before the apocalypse and I wanted to give you at least one special memory." Sam smiled up at him, her heart fluttering with happiness. "This is perfect, Tom. I couldn't have asked for anything more. I just wish I had a dress to wear and that we could have danced like this a long time ago." Tom chuckled, "I think you look beautiful in your pyjamas, and I'm just glad that I get to dance with you now."

"You always know how to make me feel special," Sam said, resting her head on his shoulder.

As Tom and Sam continued to dance, the air was thick with tension and anticipation. Tom, with a hint of nervousness in his voice, mustered up the courage to confess his feelings for Sam. "Sam, I know this might be a little unexpected, but I've had a crush on you for a while now," he said, trying to hide the quivering in his voice. Sam's heart skipped a beat as she realised that she felt the same way. "Tom, I think I like you too," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Tom's face lit up with a mixture of relief and joy, and he leaned in to kiss her. The moment was perfect, their lips finally meeting in a tender embrace. As they were about to deepen the kiss, Tom suddenly jolted forward, a look of shock and terror on his face. Sam, confused and worried, asked him what was wrong. But before he could answer, Tom began to cough up blood, his body convulsing in pain. "Run, Sam, run!" he managed to gasp out.

Sam's mind was racing as she tried to process what was happening. She wrapped her arm around Tom's waist, trying to hold him up and keep him from falling. She was yelling for Josie and Elijah, her voice straining and tears streaming down her face. When suddenly she saw an arrow flying towards her, Tom quickly using all his strength took a big step forward and the arrow hit him directly in his chest. She pushed open the door to the warehouse, where Josie and Elijah were running down the stairs to see what was happening. She slammed the door shut behind them and locked it.

Tom collapsed onto the ground, onto his knees, and Sam saw the arrow that was sticking out of his back. Everyone was in a panicked frenzy, Josie trying to stem the flow of blood from his wounds, Elijah running to get bandages. Tom looked up at Sam, his eyes filled with pain and love. He placed his hand on top of hers, which was pressed against the arrow in his chest. He whispered, "I guess I really am like James Bond, saving the girl." Tom said with an attempt at a smile. He then slowly turned his head to look at Josie, and he opened his mouth when suddenly his eyes went blank, and his mouth began to close, without making a sound.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Josie screamed in tears, Elijah dropped the bandages and collapsed to the ground in shock. Sam, wiped her hands covered in Tom's blood, grabbed her knife and bat, and tried to unlock the door. Elijah, still in a state of shock, grabbed her and begged her not to leave. But Sam was determined, fueled by a burning anger and a need for revenge. "The people who did this are out there," she yelled, struggling against Elijah's grip. "I need to do something." But Elijah, holding her tightly, begged her to think first.

As Sam struggles to break free from Elijah's grasp, she can feel the weight of Tom's death bearing down on her. Her heart was pounding in her chest and her mind was racing with thoughts of anger, sadness and despair. She had just lost Tom, the person who had helped her through the apocalypse and now she couldn't even avenge his death.

Josie, still crying, was trying to bandage Tom's wounds but it's clear that it's too late. His body was limp and his eyes were fixed open, staring blankly at the ceiling. Sam can see the guilt and sadness etched on Josie's face and she knows that she is feeling the same way. Elijah is standing there, looking lost and confused, not knowing what to do or say.

They were all struggling to process what had just happened. Josie is still crying, her tears leaving small stains on Tom's shirt as she clings to him. Elijah is pacing back and forth, muttering to himself about what they should do next. Sam is sitting on the ground, staring blankly at the door, her mind racing with thoughts of revenge and the need to protect her friends.

The room is silent except for the sound of Josie's sobs and the sound of Elijah’s steps. They all knew that there was nothing they could do to bring Tom back and that the only thing left to do was to mourn his death and to prepare for whoever had done this.

The pounding on the door had stopped, but the silence that followed was even more terrifying. They waited in the darkness, the fear building inside of them as they strained to hear any indication of what was happening outside. Suddenly, they heard a noise coming from the stairs. It was a faint shuffling, but it was enough to send chills down their spines.

Sam instinctively grabbed Josie's arm and helped her up. Josie was still in shock, her mind unable to process the fact that Tom was gone. She didn't want to leave his side, but she knew she had to. They made their way over to Elijah, who was standing guard by the door.

In hushed whispers, Sam suggested that they head to the storage room. It was their best chance at survival, as it had only one way in and would be easier to barricade themselves in. They moved quickly and quietly, their hearts pounding in their chests as they heard the noises growing louder.

As they reached the storage room, they heard a sudden crash, followed by the sound of shattering glass. They knew that the intruder had found a way inside the warehouse. They pushed heavy boxes in front of the door, but they knew it wouldn't be enough to keep the attacker out. They could hear his heavy footsteps approaching, and they knew they were running out of time. As they huddled together in the darkness, they could feel the tension and fear building inside of them. They didn't know what to expect, or who was coming for them.

The three of them huddled together in the darkness, their hearts pounding with fear as they heard the intruders outside. The sound of glass shattering and screams filled the air as the zombies made their way into the warehouse, after hearing the glass shatter or the music that was playing from prom. The door to their makeshift sanctuary began to shake as the intruders banged on it, trying to break through the barricade. The old, rusty lock strained against the force, the sound of it giving way sending chills down their spines.

Sam felt a sense of dread wash over her as she realised what had happened to Tom. He had been hit in the back and chest with an arrow, not the brain. The thought of him being one of the undead outside made her stomach turn. Josie's hand was clammy in hers, her breathing coming in short gasps as they heard the door slowly open. The light from the intruders' flashlights illuminated the massive room they were in, casting eerie shadows on the walls.

They were trapped, with nowhere to run and no way to defend themselves. All they could do was wait for the inevitable as the zombies and intruders closed in on them. The screams and fighting outside grew louder, the sounds of the undead getting closer with every passing moment.

Suddenly, a flashlight shone on the three of them. They had been found. A woman yelled out to them, screaming that her husband, Philip, had never returned from his search, when he split up from the group, a few weeks ago. Sam looked guilty. Before she could say anything back.The fight began with a flurry of fists and kicks, as the intruders launched their attack on Josie, Elijah, and Sam.

The fight between the intruders and them was intense and brutal. The darkness made it difficult to see who was on their side and who wasn't, adding to the tension and fear. The sound of flesh being torn and bones breaking filled the air as the group battled for survival.

They fought with everything they had to protect each other. Sam, who was still reeling from the death of Tom, fought with a fierce determination to keep Josie and Elijah safe. She fought off the intruders with her knife and bat, her movements quick and precise.

Elijah threw punches with precision, his years of training in martial arts giving him an edge in the fight. He took out several of the intruders with swift, powerful strikes. But soon, he was surrounded and outnumbered, and he was eventually knocked out with a blow to the head.

Sam fought like a wild animal, her adrenaline pumping as she fiercely defended herself and her friends. She kicked and punched, swung her bat and stabbed with her knife, taking out several of the intruders in the process.

Despite her best efforts, the odds were against her. Sam was eventually overpowered. One of the intruders grabbed her from behind, and she felt a bag being placed over her head. She could hear the screams of Josie, and she knew that her friends were in danger. She struggled and kicked, but it was no use. Suddenly everything went black.

When she woke up, she was being carried over someone's shoulder and her limbs were tied, making escape impossible. The intruders revealed that they were taking her to the town for revenge,of their loved ones, and how the leaders would be proud.

As Sam was taken to the town, she felt a mix of emotions. Fear, anger and guilt was the first thing she felt. She couldn't help but think back to the night when she killed the man, Philip and how she never asked him if he was alone. She also couldn't help but think of her friends, Elijah and Josie who were left behind. She didn't know what would happen to them. She could only hope they were safe and that she would find a way to escape and come back for them.