"Ethan, where are we headed now?" Sean asked, glancing around as they left the supermarket behind.
The group slowed, a little aimless now that the adrenaline had worn off. With their packs full and no immediate threat, the question hung in the air.
Ethan looked at them, then asked, "Any of you live nearby? Need to check on your families?"
That hit like a stone in the gut. Everyone went quiet.
In the apocalypse, nothing weighed heavier than not knowing if your family was alive. Especially with all communication down—no calls, no texts, no news. Just silence.
"I'm from Minnesota," Sean said after a moment, his voice low. "Big Mike too. Skinny Pete's from Louisiana. We're all a long way from here. And with flights grounded and Amtrak shut down…" He gave a bitter laugh. "Getting home's a pipe dream."
Ethan nodded. "Chris and I are closer—about three hundred miles out. Still not exactly a walk in the park. Henry's from Boston, so yeah… even worse."
