As the footsteps drew closer, we prepared for battle, but instead of a horde of zombies, a group of survivors stumbled into the light. They looked exhausted, battered, and bruised, but alive. They gazed at us with a mix of fear, hope, and desperation.
One of them, a young woman, stepped forward. "Please... you have to help us. We were separated from our group... we don't know what happened to them..."
Taehyung and I exchanged a look, our grip on our weapons relaxing slightly. We knew what it was like to lose people, to feel helpless in the face of this zombie apocalypse.
"We'll help you," I said, trying to sound reassuring. "But first, we need to get out of here. This building is collapsing."
The survivors nodded, gratitude in their eyes. Together, we made our way through the wreckage, searching for a safe exit.
As we moved, I realized that our mission had just expanded. We weren't just fighting to destroy the source of the outbreak; we were fighting to protect each other, to keep hope alive in a world gone mad.
We navigated through the rubble-strewn corridors, avoiding weakened structures and zombie pockets. The survivors followed closely, their eyes fixed on us with a mix of fear and gratitude.
Finally, we reached the exit, and a gust of fresh air hit us as we emerged into the bright sunlight. We found ourselves in a deserted parking lot, surrounded by abandoned cars and buildings.
Taehyung pointed to a nearby structure. "That building looks intact. Let's get them to safety."
We led the survivors to the building, a former office space with sturdy walls and secure doors. We cleared the area, ensuring no zombies lurked inside.
As we settled the survivors in, they introduced themselves: Sarah, Jake, Emily, and Matt. They had been a part of a larger group, but got separated during a zombie attack.
Sarah gazed at us with tears in her eyes. "Thank you... thank you for saving us."
We shared what food and water we had, and tended to their wounds. For the first time in days, we felt a glimmer of hope.