Footsteps.
Footsteps pressed into shallow puddles left behind by the night's rain.
The sky was pale, morning light was spreading weakly between the broken buildings. Water still dripped from balconies and rusted railings.
The city felt too quiet. The boy was moving down the street. A bag hung from his shoulder, the strap pulled tight across his chest.
Nathan's bag.
The boy adjusted it slightly as he walked, the fabric still damp from the rain. The apartment building was far behind him now. Far enough that he could no longer see it. Only empty roads streched ahead.
His shoe disturbed another puddle as he stepped forward, ripples spreading across the gray reflection of the sky.
A low sound broke the silence. His stomach growled. The boy slowed slightly, pressing a hand against it. Only then did he realize that he hadn't eaten anything since he woke up.
Hours.
Maybe longer.
His head felt light. A faint wave of dizziness passed through him, making the buildings around him seem blurry. He steadied himself and kept walking.
A few minutes later, a faded sign caught his attention. A supermarket. He stopped at the entrance and scanned the street carefully.
Slowly, he stepped inside. Most of the shelves were half empty, but a few scattered items remained. He walked down one aisle and grabbed a small packaged snack.
His fingers were already pulling at the wrapper when he heard it.
A low groaning sound.
He froze.
The sound came from somewhere deeper in the store. His heart began to pound. For a moment he didn't move. He didn't breeze.
He considered leaving. Just grabbing the snack and walking away. But before he could decide.....
A woman stepped around the corner. One hand pressed against her stomach. She looked like she was in pain.
They stared at each other.
The boy didn't move, his eyes widening slightly.
The woman raised her free hand slowly.
"Hey, why are you looking at me like that? I'm not dangerous."
The boy relaxed slightly.
"I'm sorry. I don't really know what is dangerous and what is not right now."
She leaned on the wall and winced.
He hesitated before speaking.
"Are....are you okay?"
She gave a weak smile, still holding her stomach.
"Yeah. Just a stomachache.....I ate something earlier that was probably expired."
The boy looked at her for a moment longer. Then looked away at the empty aisles around them.
"You know it's rare to find survivors around here." She smiles. "I am glad i ran into someone."
The boy didn't answer.
Her gaze dropped briefly to the snack in his hand.
"You know if you're that hungry, you should come to where I am staying."
He blinked.
"I've got proper food...something better than that."
He shook his head slightly. "No, it's....it's okay."
Before he could react, she stepped closer and took the snack from him.
"That's not food..." She places it back on the shelf. "I said i have proper food."
The boy blinked. He opened his mouth to protest but the words didn't come.
"You're coming." she walked towards the exit. "You look like you're going to pass out before finishing that anyways." Her voice came out pained.
His stomach twisted again. He followed her.
Together, they stepped out of the store and back into the empty street. The woman stayed a few steps ahead of him, moving slowly between puddles left behind by the rain.
The boy followed behind, Nathan's bag resting against his shoulder.
For a while, neither of them spoke. Only their footsteps echoed faintly against the wet pavement.
After a moment, the woman winced. A quite groan escaped her lips as her hand pressed harder against her stomach.
She slowed slightly.
The boy didn't ask.
She glanced back briefly, studying him.
"So....what do you have in that bag?"
The boy stiffened slightly. His fingers tightened around the strap. He knew what was inside.
Weapons.
Supplies.
Things that might make her nervous. He saw that she was completely unarmed so he guessed that she might not be from the safe zone that Willow and Nathan came from.
He stayed silent.
"You really don't talk much, do you?"
Another groan escaped her, bending slightly as she walked.
She continued talking.
"You're lucky you run into me....not many friendly faces out here."
Her steps looked unsteady. The boy watched her carefully now.
He spoke very quietly.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Of course." She waved one hand as if brushing the question away. "It's just my stomach."
They walked for a few more meters before she suddenly stopped. The boy slowed behind her.
"Hey..."
The woman dropped to her knees. A strained groan tore from her throat. Her fingers digging into the pavement. The boy took a step forward.
He froze.
Something moved beneath the skin of her back. Deep cracking sounds echoed throught the empty street. Her spine bent sharply. Her back arched violently.
The boy stumbled back a step, looking terrified. His breathing getting heavier.
Snap....snap....snap....snap
Her shoulders twisted unnaturally, bones shifting beneath her skin. Her arms jerked as if something inside was forcing them into a different shape.
She screamed.
But the scream didn't last.
It broke halfway through, turning into a harsh guttural sound that scraped out of her throat.
Her spine bent again....Crack.
Clothes streched tightly as her frame shifted, muscles pulling in direction they weren't meant to. Her head snapped sideways.
Crack...Snap...Snap
Then she lifted her head slowly. Her breath came out in ragged, animal like growls.
For a moment, she didn't move.
The boy stumbled backwards. His hand fumbled inside Nathan's bag, fingers shaking as he searched desperately. The gun brushed against his hand.
He pulled it out with trembling hands.
But his grip slipped.
The gun hit the pavement with a sharp clatter. His heart lurched. She was already on him.
She leapt forward with a guttural snarl, claws aimed at his face.
Instinct took over.
He threw his arm to his face.
Pain tore through his forearm as her claws raked across it, slicing through fabric and skin.
Blood spilled instantly.
He staggered backward, breathing heavily, his injured arm shaking as he held it close to his chest. A sharp breath caught in his throat. The pain was overwhelming.
The creature....the woman swayed slightly where she stood....her body twitched, as if the transformation hasn't fully settled yet.
The boy felt something rise in his chest. For a moment, his vision blurred. Like he might cry.
Not just from the pain, but from the fear.
The boy turned and ran.