Irvin crept through the ruins of the city, he circled closer to what used to be office buildings for banks, and small shops, scanning them for any signs of life.

The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the overgrown streets, and he knew he needed to find shelter soon. The thought of spending whole night alone in the open made his skin crawl. I will need to go back soon, who knows what will happen tonight.

One thing he realized over the hours of purposeless walking and thinking was that midnight was likely the changing point for whatever was happening.

As he turned a corner, he heard voices coming from ahead of him. Irvin froze, his heart pounding in his ears. He hadn't properly interacted with any other survivors since the transformation began, and he wasn't sure what to expect.

He inched closer, peering around the corner to get a better look. A group of young people, maybe twenty or so, were huddled together in the narrow space. They were dressed in dirty clothes, their faces smudged with grime.

Irvin recognized the logo on some of their shirts - they must have worked together in the same office before everything changed. He watched as they rummaged through piles of debris of what used to be old convenience store.

"There's nothing here," one of them said, his voice annoyed. "We've been searching for hours, and we haven't found a single scrap of food."

Irvin crouched behind a partially collapsed wall, straining to hear the conversation unfolding among the group of survivors. Their voices carried in the eerie stillness of the transformed city.

"We can't give up now," a woman's voice insisted. "There's gotta be something left in this store."

A man sighed heavily. "Face it, Sarah. We've turned this place over and nothing. We need to move on."

"And go where, exactly?" another voice chimed in. "Every building we've checked is the same. Empty."

Sarah's voice rose with frustration. "So what, we just sit here and starve?"

"Maybe we should try the residential areas," someone suggested. "People might've left food in their homes when they evacuated."

"Too risky," the first man countered. "Those vines are thicker in the populated areas. Remember what happened to Jan?"

A collective shudder seemed to pass through the group at the mention of Jan.

"We could try the old supermarket on 5th," a new voice offered. "It's a long shot, but-"

Irvin lost the rest of the conversation as the group moved further. He trailed behind them for a while, keeping a safe distance as they continued their heated discussion about their next move. The seven men and nine women were too preoccupied with their argument to notice his presence, their voices rising and falling with each new suggestion.

He watched them closely, trying to gauge their dynamics and figure out who was in charge. The group seemed to be divided, with a few strong personalities vying for control.

Irvin's eyes narrowed. I'm wasting time here, I need to make decision. His palms covered in sweat as he sped up to catch up to the group.

I need to approach this carefully, he thought. If I rush it, they might see me as a threat. But if I'm too passive, they might push me out soon.

He squeezed the straps of his backpack, feeling the reassuring weight of the supplies he had scavenged. It was a valuable bargaining chip, but he knew it wouldn't be enough to secure his place in the group long-term.

I have to make myself indispensable, he realized, his jaw clenching with determination. I have to show them that I'm more than just a source of food. Then find a way to utilize them.

Irvin took a deep breath, steeling himself for the confrontation ahead. He stepped out from behind the rubble he had been using as cover, his hands held up palms open.

"Hey there," he called out, his voice calm and steady. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. Sounds like you're in a bit of a bind."

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The group whirled around, their eyes wide with surprise and suspicion. A few of the men stepped forward, their fists clenched at their sides.

"Who the hell are you?" one of them demanded, his voice rough with hostility.

Irvin kept his hands up, his expression neutral. "My name's Irvin," he said, his tone even. "I'm a student, or was before this." He motioned with his hands around. "I've been looking for supplies on my own, but I didn't had much luck. I was hoping I could join your group, maybe we could cooperate?"

The group exchanged wary glances, their distrust palpable. Irvin could see they didn't abandon their humanity yet, it had been just couple of days, but being hungry and afraid isn't something normal people could be used to.

"And why should we trust you?" a woman asked, her voice sharp with suspicion. "For all we know, you could be a thief."

And steal what, for fucks sake. Annoyance flashed in Irvins eyes before he shook his head.

Irvin felt his eye twitch. Looking over to the men in front, he kept his tone even. "I'm a student, not a thief, I'm not interested in leeching from you. I'm offering to pool my supplies with yours. In exchange, I just need some security and a fair cut of anything we scavenge as a team." Pulling the bag from his shoulder Irvin sat it down between them, gripping on the shoulder strap.

He could see the gears turning in their heads as they stared at his offer. The prospect of food and additional supplies was tempting, but taking in a stranger was still a concern.

"How do we know you won't just take off with our stuff the first chance you get?" one of the men asked, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.

Irvin spread his hands in a gesture of openness. "You don't," he admitted, his voice frank. "But I'm not stupid. I know that I can't survive on my own forever. Joining a group is the smart play, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to earn your trust."

He reached into his backpack and pulled out roll of salami, tossing it to the man who had spoken. "Consider that a down payment," he said, his eyes glinting. "There's more where that came from if you're willing to take a chance on me."

The group huddled together, their voices low as they debated the merits of Irvin's offer. He watched them closely, trying to read their body language.

After a few tense minutes, the group turned back to face him. "Alright," the woman who had spoken earlier said, her voice grudging. "You can join us for now. But you're on probation. One wrong move, and you're out. Understood?"

Irvin nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "Understood," he said, his voice smooth with satisfaction. "You won't regret this. I promise."

After an hour of walking Irvin cleared his throat, adjusting the straps of his backpack. "So, where do you all stay at night? It's getting late, and I don't think any of us want to be caught out here after dark."

The group exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them. Finally, the woman who seemed to be their leader spoke up. "We've slept yesterday in an old office building a few blocks from here. It's not much, but it's sturdy enough."

As they made their way through the crumbling city, Irvin couldn't help but notice the way the buildings seemed to groan and shift around them. Cracks spider-webbed across facades, and chunks of concrete tumbled to the ground with alarming frequency.

This place is falling apart faster than expected, Irvin mused, his eyes darting from one unstable structure to another. We'll need to find somewhere away from the houses.

The group's dynamics became clearer as they walked. Two men, Mike and Dave, seemed to be vying for leadership, often contradicting each other's suggestions. The woman who had spoken to Irvin earlier, Sarah, acted as a mediator, her calm voice often settling disputes before they could escalate.

A younger woman, barely out of her teens, kept close to Sarah's side, her eyes wide with fear. Easy target, Irvin thought, making a mental note of her. They aren't all from the same work place, and they don't know each other that much. Irvin mussed to himself.

As they walked, a man who had introduced himself as Tom fell into step beside Irvin. His eyes were sharp, studying Irvin with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

"So, Irvin," Tom began, his tone casual, "what were you studying before all this went down?"

Irvin glanced at Tom, measuring his response. "Energy engineering," he said smoothly. "What did you do, office worker?"

Tom nodded, seemingly satisfied. "IT support. Funny how useless that is now, huh? What year were you in?"

"Third year, basically at the end of the whole process," Irvin replied. "How long have you guys knew each other?"

Tom nodded at the group to their left. "We all worked in the same building. Well, most of us. How'd you end up alone?"

Not much point in lying at this point I guess. Irvin shrugged. "Dorms were on lockdown, but once the buildings started to fall down it was chaos. Lost track of my roommates. You guys seem to know each other. You have any family in the city?"

Tom's face fell slightly. "No, just colleagues. You?"

"Same, my family wasn't in the city when this thing started." Irvin said, noting Tom's reaction. "Guess we're all in the same boat now."

Tom launched into a story about his job at the office, and Irvin listened attentively, filing away every scrap of information. The more I know about them, the easier it'll be to deal with them when necessary.

Irvin's eyes widened at the sight before them. The building where the group had stayed the previous night was barely standing, half of it already crumbled into a pile of rubble and twisted metal.

"It 'was' sturdy enough," Irvin mumbled under his breath, his mind immediately racing to his hidden cache of supplies. That place will be rubble by morning as well, if it isn't already.

Cursing at himself for splitting his stuff he looked around as the group erupted into panicked chatter, their voices rising with fear and frustration.

"What are we going to do now?" Sarah asked, her usual calm demeanor cracking.

Mike stepped forward, his jaw set. "We need to find somewhere else, and fast. It's getting dark."

"But where?" Dave countered, gesturing at the decaying buildings around them. "Everything's falling apart!"