The hideout buzzed with quiet activity, but Jaden's mind was fixed on their next move. They needed more strength.
"We can't do this alone," Jaden said, pacing in front of the maps spread across the metal table. "There are others out there—people still fighting to survive."
Marcus nodded in agreement. "The more people we bring in, the stronger we get. And with Kira's healing ability, we can keep everyone healthier."
Tess, still nursing her injured arm, looked toward the exit. "I've been scanning nearby sectors using old comm signals and heat signatures. There are survivors—scattered, hiding in ruins or trapped. If we don't find them first, Eclipse or the zombies will."
Raya tightened her grip on her rifle. "Then let's move. We bring them back, and build our numbers."
Jaden assigned teams and planned their routes carefully, focusing on areas where signs of life flickered—faint noises, smoke from small fires, or the flicker of a flashlight in the darkness.
The Library Rescue
Jaden and Tess moved cautiously into the skeleton of an old library, its once-majestic windows shattered and the interior dark except for a faint glow. Inside, a small group of survivors huddled behind overturned tables, their eyes wide with fear.
Jaden spoke softly, lowering his weapon. "We're not here to hurt you. Come with us—we have a safe place."
One of them—a woman clutching a trembling child—stepped forward hesitantly. After a tense moment, she nodded.
Carefully, Jaden and Tess helped them through the maze of fallen bookshelves, avoiding zombie patrols outside. The survivors' relief was palpable when they reached the relative safety of the hideout.
The Mechanic's Trap
Meanwhile, Marcus and Raya had tracked a faint heat signature to an old garage. Inside, they found a man surrounded by broken machinery, trying to fix a makeshift generator. His face was smeared with grease and exhaustion.
Before they could make contact, a sudden groan echoed from the shadows—zombies had surrounded the garage.
Marcus sprang into action, firing precise shots to keep the creatures at bay while Raya covered the exits.
Once the last zombie fell, the mechanic blinked in disbelief. "You came for me?"
Marcus offered a grim smile. "We're building something bigger. You're coming with us."
Back at the hideout, the new survivors shared stories of loss, hope, and survival. The walls, once bare and cold, now bore the marks of new life—messages pinned to the walls, plans scrawled in haste, and quiet laughter in the air.
Kira moved through the crowd, offering healing to bruises and cuts, her powers growing stronger and bringing a rare comfort to the weary.
Jaden watched it all—the beginnings of a true community.
Their fight was no longer just about survival.
It was about rebuilding.