The city’s skyline was barely visible through the veil of dust and ash hanging in the air. The moonlight was muffled by the clouds, casting the streets below in an unsettling gray hue. August could feel the tension in his bones, the chill in the air that spoke of death, destruction, and a world that had long since turned against them. He clenched his fists, gripping the knife that had become both his weapon and his lifeline, his pulse quickening as the map flickered in his mind.

“North,” August muttered, staring at the route. They had to go north, to the marked shelter. The map showed a safe zone, though the word ‘safe’ had long since lost its meaning.

Jude was already moving ahead, his eyes scanning the horizon with a burning intensity. There was no telling how long they’d been on the run—hours, days, weeks. Time had blurred into a constant state of survival. Jude’s mind was elsewhere, on his family. August didn’t blame him. If it were his wife—his Sabrina—he would be just as desperate, maybe even more so.

But the city was getting more dangerous by the hour. And now, there was something else—something looming in the distance.

August glanced over his shoulder, his gut tightening.

The map showed a massive horde heading their way, the red dots forming a dense wall of destruction. The world was closing in around them.

“We need to move,” August hissed, pushing Jude forward.

Jude, still caught in his thoughts, gave a quick nod and increased his pace. The sound of their footsteps was muffled against the cracked asphalt, but it didn’t matter. They were exposed. There was no safe place to hide in this world anymore. The once bustling streets were now nothing more than haunted ruins. And the horde that had been detected was far too close for comfort.

“I can’t wait any longer,” Jude said, his voice strained with urgency. “My family—they’re close. I know it.”

August didn’t respond. He couldn’t afford to. They needed a plan, and they needed it fast.

Looking ahead, August spotted an old office building to their left. The windows were shattered, and the building’s structure looked unstable, but it was a place they could take refuge in—at least temporarily.

“This way,” August said, gesturing toward the building. “We’ll lose them in there.”

The two of them veered off the main road and hurried toward the entrance of the building. Their footsteps echoed in the empty streets, amplifying the sense of impending doom. The sound of distant groans and scraping footsteps grew louder, as though the horde was closing in on them from all sides. It was like a nightmare they couldn’t wake up from.

August reached the door first, pushing it open with a grunt. The hinges squealed in protest, a sound that felt deafening in the stillness of the night. Inside, the building was dark, the faint glow of emergency lights casting long shadows on the walls. The air was stale, thick with dust and the remnants of whatever had been left behind when the building was evacuated—or perhaps abandoned when things got worse.

Jude followed closely behind, his breathing shallow, as he cast a quick glance over his shoulder. The night seemed to close in around them, like a predator stalking its prey.

“We need to barricade the door,” August said, his voice firm. “We can’t risk them getting in.”

Jude, still shaking off his dazed expression, nodded and immediately began looking around the room. There were a few discarded desks and filing cabinets nearby. Without wasting any time, he pulled one of the desks toward the door, pushing it into place.

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“Help me with this,” Jude said, his voice urgent.

Together, they shoved a couple of cabinets against the door, creating a makeshift barricade. The wood creaked under the pressure, but it held. For now.

August took a step back, his breath coming in ragged bursts. He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, feeling the cold sweat dripping down his face. “It won’t hold for long. We need to move deeper into the building.”

Jude was already looking around, his eyes darting toward the staircase that led up to the next floor.

“Upstairs,” he said, his voice low. “We go up.”

The two of them quickly ascended the stairs, the sound of their footsteps echoing through the hollow space. Every creak of the wood felt like a warning, but they had no choice. The horde was closing in fast.

As they reached the second floor, they paused, trying to listen for any signs of movement. The building seemed to be abandoned, but the eerie silence only heightened the tension. August’s mind raced, scanning the room for a better place to fortify themselves.

“Over there,” August said, pointing to a small office at the far end of the corridor. The door was slightly ajar, and a desk inside seemed sturdy enough to help reinforce their position.

They made their way over, their footsteps almost inaudible on the worn carpet. August motioned for Jude to follow him into the office.

“Barricade the door,” August ordered.

Jude nodded and began moving the desk, but then he froze. His gaze flickered to something in the corner of the room—an old wooden bookshelf that looked as though it could collapse at any moment.

August was about to ask what was wrong when the sound hit him—an ominous creak from below.

The barricade on the front door had failed.

They heard the groan of something heavy hitting the door, followed by the sound of splintering wood. August’s heart skipped a beat as he realized the horde had found them.

“No time!” he yelled, turning to Jude. “We have to move!”

But before Jude could respond, there was a loud crash from behind the office door. The barricade they had set up failed, sending debris scattering across the room. A single zombie—tall, gaunt, with its skin hanging from its bones—barged through the weakened barrier. It let out a guttural moan, its eyes locking onto Jude as it lunged forward.

“No!” August shouted, rushing to push the zombie back.

But it was too late.

The creature’s claws dug into Jude’s shoulder, pinning him against the desk. He screamed in pain, his hands scrabbling to push the creature off him, but the zombie’s strength was overwhelming. Its rancid breath hit him in waves as it tried to sink its teeth into his neck.

August wasted no time. The system in his mind flickered again, its automated commands pulsing through his head. He grabbed the knife tightly, focused on the kill.

In one smooth motion, he plunged the blade deep into the zombie’s skull, the force of the strike sending the creature crashing to the floor. It twitched and spasmed before lying still, its body crumpling onto the floor.

Jude, panting and bloodied, shoved the body off him with trembling hands. He looked up at August, his eyes wide with shock. His breath was shallow, and the pain from his shoulder was evident in the way he winced.

“Are you okay?” August asked, his voice tight with concern.

Jude nodded weakly, but his eyes were filled with a sense of dread. “That was too close.”

August’s heart was still pounding in his chest. The fear was a constant now, gnawing at the edges of his mind. They couldn’t keep this up forever. Every moment felt like an eternity. Every turn felt like a death sentence.

“We’re not safe here,” August said, his voice firm. “We need to keep moving.”

Jude, still holding his shoulder, glanced at the door, his face pale. The sound of distant growls echoed through the building. More zombies were coming. The horde was closing in, and they didn’t have much time.

August grabbed his arm, pulling him toward the stairwell. “Let’s go. We’re not staying here.”

But just as they turned to flee, the unmistakable sound of another zombie tearing through the barricade reached their ears. The door slammed open, and a massive, hulking figure—one of the bigger undead they’d seen so far—lunged through the opening, its rotting hands swiping at them.

The zombie smashes through the barricade, pinning Jude to the floor, and leaving August to face the creature alone.