The safe zone was quiet at dawn, the air thick with tension. Damien and Mira sat by a campfire, the first rays of sunlight casting a soft glow over the valley below. Today, they were meeting with key resistance leaders to finalize their plan against the Zombie King, and the antidote was their only hope.
Hours later, as the morning haze lifted, Damien spotted a caravan winding its way toward them, flanked by guards and survivors who’d heard of their success in escaping the Zombie King’s stronghold. A tall figure dismounted from one of the horses—it was Cal, an old friend of Damien’s from before the apocalypse and a leader in the resistance. He gave Damien a firm handshake and nodded at Mira.
“It’s good to see a familiar face,” Damien said, his voice low with a mix of relief and urgency.