Path to the negotiations

Mathew and his companions followed Peter as he guided them through the insides of the survivor's camp. Everywhere they looked, the scene was similar; walls that had been taken apart in haste, doors barricaded with whatever random furniture was available at hand, and windows boarded up with wood or metal plates. It made for a depressing sight that only served to highlight the struggles of those who had called this place home until recently.

The group walked on in silence; each lost in their own thoughts as they took in their surroundings. The state of disarray reminded Mathew of his previous encounters with survivors back in his original life. The same desperation could be seen here as well - it seemed that just about every person living here had given up hope for a better future and was simply trudging through life one day at a time.