Cassidy, Mark, and Emma sat in a circle as the group ate, planning the direction. The night was cool but the bonfire they lit kept them warm, and the moon cast a silver glow over the camp, creating long shadows that danced around them.
“Are you sure it’s this direction?” Emma asked Cassidy, pointing at the map spread out before them. She furrowed her brow, recalling the memories of her past life. The base she joined after her family kicked her out of the Aires base was in a direction pretty near to where they were heading now.
Cassidy nodded, tracing a route on the map with her finger. “Yes, if we go this way,” she said, then pointed to a star-shaped symbol on the map. “And this is the Falming Base. We just go past it, and boom, we’ll be on track again.”
The flickering fire cast shadows on the map, giving an eerie glow to the paper. Hearing the name again, Emma shuddered. The memory of her dying. Her breath stopped slightly, but she steadied herself, swallowing the lump in her throat. “Okay. Let’s do that then,” she said.
As the group restarted their journey the next day, they met a small crowd of zombies. Dean quickly used his earth power to bury them alive, the ground swallowing them up in a matter of seconds. Mark followed up by using his fire abilities, burning any remaining undead. The smell of burnt flesh lingered in the air as they continued.
Amy drove the RV, following closely behind the two vehicles. The convoy moved steadily, the hum of the engines blending with the sounds of the desolate desert. As they got closer to the Falming Base, they could see a line of tired civilians waiting to get in. Unlike the Aries Base, where there was at least basic protection, the civilians at this base were all outside the base’s protective wall, some in temporary tents and others huddled under ragged blankets, trying to hide from the sun while waiting for their turn. The line stretched for what seemed like miles.
Amy stared at the long line as they drove by, her grip tightening on the steering wheel. The sight was a reminder of the harsh reality they lived in. Emma, noticing Amy's distress, patted her on the shoulder. “Yeah, this is the reality,” she said softly.
As the group drove farther and night closed in again, they stopped to set up a temporary camp. After eating a quick meal, most of the group returned to the vehicle to sleep. Three members, however, stayed outside to keep watch for any zombies that might come near the base. The firelight flickered across their faces, casting long shadows as they scanned the surroundings.
Using her mental powers, Emma lay down on the bed in the RV, her mind reaching out to sense any disturbances in the dimension around them. Her group only handled her and Amy, so they didn’t need to send anyone out to keep watch. However, Emma still kept a part of her consciousness focused on the outside, ready to alert the others at the first hint of danger.
The night was quiet, the gentle hum of the RV’s generator and the fire’s crackle the only sound as everyone else slept. Emma’s senses extended far beyond the RV, scanning for any sign of movement or threat. Suddenly, her eyes fluttered open. Her senses had alerted her to an approaching car, its engine a low rumble in the distance but growing steadily louder in her ears. Not noticeable to others yet, but way too much for her.
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Quickly, Emma sat up and swung her legs off the bed. She moved swiftly to the RV door and flung it open. “DRIVE!” she yelled into the night, her voice urgent and commanding.
The three members on watch duty turned to look at her, confusion showing on their faces. Xavier, who had been leaning against one of the vehicles, straightened up. “What’s going on?” he asked.
Emma waved her hands frantically. “Just go! Start the car, we need to get away from this place now!” she insisted. She could feel the approaching vehicle closing in, its intentions unclear but she could also start to hear some sounds of the undead.
Xavier and the others didn’t waste another moment. They scrambled to their feet, hurriedly climbing into the RV. Amy, who had been asleep, woke up to the commotion and quickly took her place in the driver’s seat, starting the engine.
As the vehicles roared to life and began to move, Emma took one last glance at the dark sight behind them. The headlights of the approaching car bore through the night, growing closer with each passing second. She closed the door and locked it, her heart pounding as they sped away.
It seemed the other car had also seen them and was now following them. Emma walked over to the back window and peered out. Behind the car trailing them was a horde of zombies, their monstrous forms illuminated by the vehicle's tail lights. They were running at an unnaturally fast pace compared to the zombies Emma had seen at this stage, their moans barely audible over the roar of the engines.
In the front, Mark’s voice crackled through the walkie-talkie, filled with concern. “Emma? What is happening? Why are we driving?” Emma hurried back to the front of the RV, her mind racing. “There’s a car following us, and there’s a bunch of zombies behind them,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.
The walkie-talkie soon crackled again, this time with Cassidy’s voice, stained with fear. “So what should we do?” This was her first time on a mission, and it was clear she was scared. She had begged her father to give her this chance, and now she was facing a real threat.
Emma sighed, trying to think quickly. “Keep driving, then follow me when you see me,” she instructed. She placed one hand over the steering wheel and quickly switched seats with Amy, maintaining control of the RV.
Emma’s eyes darted to the side mirrors, catching glimpses of the scene behind them. She slowed the RV down a bit, falling behind the two other vehicles, allowing the car behind them to catch up. Through the side mirror, she could see two people on top of the roof of the other car, frantically shooting at the zombies chasing them, while two others drove. She squinted her eyes; there was something familiar about that car. Despite her curiosity, she focused on the immediate danger and quickly sped up the RV again.
“Amy, when I pass those two cars, tell them to stop driving, understand? And press that button, okay?” Emma instructed, urgency in her voice as she tossed the walkie-talkie to Amy. Amy nodded, her hands trembling slightly as she gripped the device.
Emma accelerated even faster, the RV’s engine roaring as it surged forward. They soon reached the first car. “Stop driving!” Amy yelled into the walkie-talkie. She then pressed a button on the control board, releasing a heavy chain that shot out and latched onto the first vehicle. As they sped past the second car, the chain extended and attached itself to it as well. Now, the RV was leading the other two vehicles like a train.
In the two vehicles, the drivers quickly let go of the steering wheels, trusting Emma’s plan. Inside one of the cars, Cassidy hunched in the corner, her body trembling with fear. Xyla, sitting beside her, awkwardly patted her head. “I will protect you if we die, don’t worry,” Xyla said, her voice a mix of determination and awkward comfort. If she has her phone now she will be quickly searching for how to comfort someone you kinda hate sometimes.
The added weight of the two vehicles initially slowed down the RV, but Emma pushed the accelerator to the floor, and it soon picked up speed again. She expertly controls the RV, turning it back to confront the approaching car. The headlights of the pursuing vehicle glared at eyes as she quickly controlled the group to dodge the car.