Chapter 3 3

The Jeep rumbled over the uneven dirt road, its headlights cutting through the darkness like a lone beacon in the night. Jillian's fingers gripped the door handle, her knuckles pale from the strain. The cold air from the cracked window whipped through her hair, but it wasn't enough to cool the unease building in her chest. The events from the gas station still lingered in her mind, the way that man had watched them with calculating eyes, the tension in the air. Her thoughts kept returning to that fleeting moment when she'd thought the world might come crashing down, but they had made it out.

"That was too close," Jillian finally said, breaking the silence that had stretched between them for the last few miles.

Tom's grip on the steering wheel tightened, his jaw set. "We didn't have a choice. People are desperate out here. We can't keep trusting every face we see."

Jillian nodded, her gaze flicking to the rearview mirror. The lights of the gas station were now just a distant glow, swallowed up by the darkness of the forest ahead. She wasn't sure which part of the night unnerved her more-the dangerous strangers lurking in the shadows or the empty road that stretched endlessly before them.

"You think we'll find something better soon?" Jillian asked, trying to keep her voice steady, though doubt crept into her words.

Tom didn't answer right away. The uncertainty was in his eyes as he stared out at the road ahead, lost in thought. "I hope so. But we need to keep moving. We can't afford to stay in one place too long. It's too risky."

His words hung in the air like an unspoken warning. This was survival. The world outside had become a battleground, and every decision could mean life or death. They had to keep moving, stay alert. The road ahead was treacherous, and they both knew it.

A few hours later, they pulled into a small, abandoned town. The buildings were in various stages of decay, some still standing tall, others reduced to rubble. The silence that enveloped the place was eerie, like it had been forgotten by time itself. The wind howled through the streets, carrying with it the scent of dust and rot.

Tom parked the Jeep near what appeared to be a convenience store. The windows were shattered, the door hanging off its hinges. It was a small, nondescript building, but Jillian couldn't shake the feeling that something about it was different. They had seen places like this before-abandoned, forsaken by all but the desperate. Yet something about this particular store made her uneasy.

"Stay close," Tom said, his voice low as he killed the engine. He didn't need to say more. They both knew the rules by now. In this new world, nothing was ever truly safe.

Jillian grabbed her bag and followed him out of the Jeep, the ground beneath her feet uneven and cracked. Every step felt like a drumbeat in the stillness, the sound echoing louder than it should have. The broken windows of the store were dark, but faint shapes moved behind them-shadows of things that didn't belong.

"Think anyone's in there?" Jillian whispered, her voice tight.

"Only one way to find out," Tom replied, his tone grim.

They approached the door, their footsteps soft but deliberate. The air was thick with tension, both of them scanning their surroundings for any sign of movement. The building loomed ahead, its broken windows like empty eyes staring out into the night. Tom reached for the door, giving it a gentle push. It creaked on its hinges, the sound sharp in the still night.

Inside, the store was a mess. Shelves were knocked over, boxes and cans scattered across the floor. The smell of decay hung in the air, mingling with the faint scent of something metallic, almost like rust. Jillian's breath caught in her throat. They had been in places like this before, but the emptiness of it all, the sense of being watched, made her skin crawl.

"Let's make this quick," Tom said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Keep an eye out. We don't know what's lurking here."

They moved carefully through the store, searching for anything useful. Jillian's eyes scanned the shelves, picking through what was left. Canned food, bottled water, medicine. It was a short list of priorities, and she wasn't about to waste time looking for anything else. The longer they stayed, the more exposed they became.

"Check over there," Tom said, pointing to a row of shelves near the back of the store. He moved toward the counter, his hand hovering near the knife at his side, his eyes flicking toward every shadow, every corner.

Jillian nodded and went to work, her movements swift but cautious. She grabbed a few cans of soup and a couple of bottles of water, tucking them into her bag. The store had been ransacked before, but it wasn't completely emptied. There were still remnants of food, though nothing fresh. The shelves were mostly bare, but it was better than nothing.

Then she heard it.

A soft rustling noise coming from the back of the store.

Jillian's heart leaped into her throat. Her hand instinctively went to the knife at her belt, fingers gripping the handle tightly. She didn't move, waiting, listening. The rustling stopped, and for a moment, the only sound was the thud of her heart pounding in her ears.

"Tom," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Tom glanced over at her, eyes sharp. His face was a mask of concentration, but Jillian saw the flicker of concern in his eyes. He knew what she had heard.

"Stay here," he said, his voice low but firm. He moved toward the back of the store, his steps quiet but purposeful. Jillian stayed put, every muscle in her body coiled, ready for whatever might come next.

Minutes dragged on like hours. The silence grew heavier, more oppressive. Jillian's fingers tightened around the handle of her knife. She couldn't see what Tom was doing, couldn't tell if he had found the source of the noise. Her breath came in shallow bursts, her gaze fixed on the back of the store.

Then, without warning, a figure appeared in the doorway at the back. A man, tall and gaunt, with sunken eyes and dirty, torn clothes. His face was covered in a grimy beard, his expression wild. In his hand, he held a baseball bat, gripped tightly as if it were his only lifeline.

Jillian's heart skipped a beat. The man's eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, neither of them moved. The air between them crackled with tension. She could feel her pulse racing, every instinct screaming to run, to fight, to do anything to get out of the situation.

"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice shaky but steady enough to hide her fear.

The man's lips twitched into a smile, but it wasn't a friendly smile. It was twisted, almost feral. "I'm the one who's been waiting," he said, his voice low and rasping. "Waiting for someone to show up. You should've stayed away."

Tom appeared at her side, his body tense, his hand near the knife at his belt. He didn't speak, but his stance made it clear: he wasn't about to let this man threaten them.

"Look," Tom said, his voice steady but firm, "We don't want trouble. We just need some supplies and we'll be on our way."

The man's eyes flicked between them, sizing them up. The bat twitched in his hand, as though he was deciding whether to strike. Jillian could feel the danger in the air. This wasn't just a survivor looking for food. This man was something else. He was broken, desperate, and there was no telling what he would do next.

"Supplies, huh?" The man's grin widened, revealing yellowed teeth. "What do you have to offer?"

Jillian's heart sank. They didn't have much. A few cans, some water, nothing that could be traded for safety. She glanced at Tom, hoping he had a plan. Tom's gaze never wavered from the man. His hand remained steady on the knife.

"Let's just leave," Tom said, his voice even, though Jillian could hear the underlying edge. He was ready for a fight if it came to that.

The man snorted, clearly not satisfied. "Leaving? Not so fast. I think you owe me something for taking what's mine."

Jillian's fingers tightened around her knife. There was no room for negotiation now. "We're not looking for a fight, but if you push us, we will fight."

The man's expression darkened, and the grip on the bat tightened. But just before he could make a move, a loud crash echoed from behind him.

Something-or someone-had just broken through the back door.

The man's eyes widened, and for a split second, his attention shifted. That was all the opening they needed. Without thinking, Jillian lunged, her knife aimed directly for the man's side. He staggered back, letting out a sharp gasp of pain.

Tom moved in an instant, knocking the bat from the man's hands and pinning him against the wall. "Stay down!" he growled, his voice low and commanding.

The man's eyes were wide with shock, his breath ragged. His body slumped, defeated.

"Let's go," Tom said, pulling Jillian by the arm.

They didn't hesitate. Without a second glance, they ran for the door, hearts pounding, knowing that the hunt wasn't over yet. There were more dangers ahead.