Mourning (2)

In the stillness of the night, illuminated only by the silvery moonlight and the haunting melody of chirping crickets, Cody and Aryton worked together, shoveling the damp earth.

The grave they dug felt like a hollow, desolate space, serving as a poignant reminder of the profound loss they had suffered.

When the pit was finally deep enough, Aryton broke the solemn silence.

"Help me with her body," he said, his voice tinged with regret. Gently, they reached for Lilly, their trembling hands touching the edge of her blanket.

Together, they carefully lowered her into the open grave, their eyes weighed down by the enormity of the moment.

With a deep breath, Aryton spoke, his words filled with remorse.

"I'm sorry for not going with you guys. I should've been there for her. I was just scared of witnessing her die." His voice cracked with sadness, and his eyes welled up with tears.

Cody, his own voice quivering, felt the tears gather in his eyes as well.

"We looked for help, the city is gone, the military has gone rogue, the new people saved our lives. We went back to the bus and… we saw a blood trail. I traced the trail, and it led to Lilly. She turned into a biter… I… I made sure she didn't suffer anymore."

A heavy silence lingered between them as Cody stared into the depths of the dark forest.

"I hope you don't hate me for it," he finally whispered, his voice a mixture of sorrow and self-doubt.

Aryton gently shook his head. "I don't hate you," he replied softly.

"You did what you had to do. I'm sorry you had to go through with it." He wrapped his arms around Cody in a consoling embrace, and Cody returned the hug with equal sincerity.

"I'm sorry that you lost her," Aryton said, his gaze fixed on the somber forest. "Me too."

With their conversation offering some degree of solace, they turned their attention back to the task at hand.

Together, they filled the grave with earth, the last act of respect and closure they could offer Lilly for now.

"We will make the cross in the morning," Cody said as they patted down the soil and stepped away from the mound of freshly turned earth.

A sense of finality hung in the air as they turned to leave the grave behind.

However, as they ventured away, a sudden disturbance disrupted their quiet moment. A twig snapped, drawing their attention to the dark treeline.

Cody looked around, hearing faint grunting sounds. He whistled, hoping to draw whatever was approaching out of the shadows.

A biter emerged, its ragged appearance illuminated by the moonlight. Cody readied himself and swung the shovel, knocking the biter to the ground.

Raising the shovel high, he plunged the metal blade deep into the biter's head, a gush of black blood spewing forth.

Another biter, sneaking up behind him, attempted to grab him, but Cody's elbow landed with fierce determination, pushing the biter away.

Aryton, similarly engaged, struggled to fend off one of the biters.

"Aim for the head," Cody called out, his voice reflecting the urgency of the situation. He fought the biter off and swung his shovel, bringing the metal blade down upon the biter's forehead, ending its life.

In tandem, Cody and Aryton both aimed for the last biter, their shovels striking it, their metal heads colliding with an almost musical clank.

Together, they pulled the shovels free, the top of the biter's head falling away in a gruesome display.

The perilous encounter with the biters was a stark reminder of the world they lived in, and the relentless threats that surrounded them.

As they stood there, gasping for breath, the haunting sounds of the forest at night seemed to grow even darker, and the loss of their friend, Lilly, weighed heavy on their hearts.

The approaching morning painted the horizon with a soft hue, its gentle light slowly pushing back the veil of night.

Within the relative safety of their hideout, Cob sat near the entrance, his knife puncturing the ground absentmindedly.

Boredom gripped him as he watched the makeshift fire crackle, sparks dancing like fleeting fireflies.

A voice disrupted his mundane task. Maddy appeared, carrying a bowl of stew.

"I made some stew," she offered, handing him a bowl. Cob nodded in appreciation.

"I'll get a bowl soon—" he began, but Maddy cut him off, gently insisting, "I already poured yours."

Cob nodded again, taking the bowl in his hands. Their conversation was subdued as they both kept their attention on the entrance.

Maddy inquired, "Are you making sure they don't get in?" She gestured toward the barricaded door, and Cob nodded solemnly. "You never know what can happen."

Zach, on the other hand, kept his eyes fixed on the outside world.

He watched the slowly retreating horde of biters, their clumsy steps taking them further away from their hideout.

He turned his gaze toward the room's occupants, addressing them, "We have a place to stay if you guys want."

Lilah, with an inquisitive look, probed further, "Where is it?" Zach measured the distance in his mind. "Not too far from here. A 20-minute walk, at least."

Carter, the voice of caution, chimed in, "Can you guide us there?" Zach didn't hesitate to offer his assistance. "Yeah," he replied with a reassuring smile.

Jug whispered something into Lilah's ear, and she nodded in agreement. Carter then posed the question on everyone's minds, "Is it safe?"

Zach took a moment to ponder before responding, "We can make it safe." Lilah's eyes met with Jug's, and they seemed to reach a silent understanding.

"Okay. We will go then," she affirmed, and Zach's gaze turned toward the departing horde.

But before they could make their move, Lilah picked up a walkie-talkie from her side and pressed the transmission button.

She attempted to contact potential allies, her voice cutting through the static, "Is anyone out there? We are friendly and we want to help."

For a moment, only static answered her call. She tried again, speaking with determination, "Hello? We would like to help. This was the channel the news ordered for people to stay on."

Finally, a deep, manly voice broke through the static, though distorted.

"I'm here," the voice announced. Lilah, encouraged by the response, asked, "That's great. Where are you?" But once again, static interrupted their communication.

In an adjacent alleyway, a figure obscured by biter blood emerged. He watched as the horde retreated, his grip tightening on the walkie-talkie. "I can see the horde," he answered.

This development puzzled the group, and they exchanged concerned glances. Cob, skeptical of the situation, couldn't help but interject, "How does he know about the horde? We must be being watched."

Cob, with a sense of urgency, approached Lilah and demanded the walkie-talkie.

He pressed it to his lips and spoke aggressively into the device, "Listen here, you come near our group. And we will kill you." With a sudden burst of frustration, he threw the walkie-talkie back to Lilah, leaving her baffled.

Lilah was left in a state of confusion. "What did you do that for?" she inquired.

Cob was firm in his reply, "Zach was the only one there. The guy he chased was the only one in sight who knows about the horde, and there's no one in sight in these buildings."

But Lilah had to make sure, she countered, "I've been looking at those buildings all night. No one was there." Danny stood beside Cob, adding his agreement, "Yeah. I don't see nothing either. He must be r—"

A sudden, eerie gunshot, striking with ruthless precision, shattered the window and hit Danny. The shock sent Danny to the ground, his blood splattering across the floor as he clutched his throat in agony.

Cob's eyes widened, and instinct took over as he hurriedly sought refuge behind a desk. The bullets continued to strike the wooden barricade as panic consumed the room.

"Danny!" Jug hollered, rushing to his fallen friend, witnessing the ghastly wound on Danny's throat.

Cob, still hiding, puzzled over the events, concluding, "I've been looking at those buildings all night. No one was there!"

As he voiced his doubts, Cob realized that they were in grave danger. Lilah held a walkie-talkie in her trembling hand, unable to understand what had just happened.

Suddenly, a voice, distorted and threatening, disrupted their confused silence. "You should really be nice to a man with a gun and a sea of undead," it declared, and the gravity of their situation deepened.