Chapter 7 : The Cost of Loyalty

The group had been on the road for several days, scavenging what they could along the way. They had come across a small town that seemed relatively untouched by the outbreak, but it was clear that it wouldn't be long until the infected made their way there.

As they were making their way through the town, they heard gunshots in the distance. Without hesitation, they ran towards the sound and found a group of survivors holed up in a nearby building. The group was led by a man named Carlos, who had been a police officer before the outbreak.

Carlos was grateful for the group's help and offered them a place to stay. In exchange, he asked for their help in dealing with a nearby group of bandits who had been terrorizing the town. The group agreed, and they set out to confront the bandits.

They found the bandits holed up in an abandoned warehouse, heavily armed and ready for a fight. The group knew they were outnumbered, but they were determined to protect the town and its people.

The battle was fierce and brutal, with both sides taking heavy casualties. Miguel was grazed by a bullet, but he fought on, determined to see the mission through. Maya proved to be a sharpshooter, taking out several of the bandits from a distance. Olivia used her knowledge of chemistry to create makeshift explosives that took out several of the bandits' vehicles.

It was Marcus, however, who turned the tide of the battle. Using his knowledge of hand-to-hand combat, he managed to take out several of the bandits in close quarters combat, and his quick thinking saved Miguel's life when he was about to be taken out by a bandit.

After a long and grueling battle, the group emerged victorious. They had lost one of their own, a young woman named Ana, but they had managed to drive off the bandits and protect the town.

As they were leaving the warehouse, Carlos pulled Marcus aside. "I owe you my life," he said, his voice heavy with emotion. "I'll do whatever it takes to repay you."

Marcus shook his head. "You don't owe me anything. We're just doing what we have to do to survive."

But Carlos was insistent. "No, I mean it. I owe you a debt, and I intend to pay it. Whatever you need, whenever you need it, just ask."

Marcus nodded, still not quite sure what to make of the offer. As they rejoined the group, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He knew that Carlos was a powerful ally, but he also knew that alliances in the new world came at a cost.