“Huh?” Caught off guard by Brian’s sudden question, Sarah’s expression flickered.
She hesitated, then spoke softly.
“I…
I let him go.” Brian shrugged, unsurprised.
He’d already guessed that outcome.
He glanced at the clock on the wall and stood up from the sofa.
“Time to move.” They left through the house’s side door and headed straight for the building across the street.
From the second-floor bedroom, Brian had scouted their route.
The roads were completely blocked, so they’d need to climb through a side window of the neighboring house.
As usual, they scavenged anything useful.
They had no idea what lay ahead, so every bit helped.
They climbed out through a window and found themselves facing a massive crack in the ground.
Below was someone’s basement, its ceiling blown open by an explosion.
Peering down, Brian saw red fungal growths covering the interior.
The air had a sickly yellow-green tint.
The basement was only about fifteen feet across, and a window on the opposite side stood open.
It would take less than five seconds to cross.
“What do you think?
Should we go through?” Sarah asked uncertainly.
“No.
The air looks contaminated.
I don’t know if it spreads through airborne spores, but we’re not taking that risk.” Brian shook his head.
The left path was sealed.
The right led to the main road, which was crawling with infected.
He glanced back at the window they’d just come through.
Maybe they should go back and find another way.
“We could go over.” Sarah was looking up at a two-story apartment building ahead.
Brian followed her gaze.
The second-floor walkway was about ten feet up.
His eyes lit up.
“I think I saw a folding ladder inside.
Not sure if it’s long enough, but let’s try.” They went back inside.
A few minutes later, Brian emerged from a storage room with a ladder about four feet long.
“Here, catch this.
Be careful.” He extended one end through the window.
“If you drop it, the noise will draw every infected nearby.” Sarah took the ladder carefully.
Brian climbed out after her, and they positioned it against the wall.
Brian stared at the gap.
Still way too short.
He climbed onto the ladder’s top step, measured the remaining distance with his eyes, then nodded.
“Climb up on my shoulders.
Once you’re up, tie the rope to the railing, and I’ll climb up.” Sarah didn’t hesitate.
She climbed the ladder, took Brian’s outstretched hand, and pulled herself up.
When her feet settled on his shoulders, she glanced down.
Vertigo hit her.
Her legs began to tremble.
“Sarah.
Don’t look down.” Brian felt her legs shake.
He gripped them firmly, steadying her.
“Breathe.
Focus.
I’ve got you.” His voice was like an anchor.
Sarah took a deep breath, steadying herself.
She looked up, grabbed the railing, and with two kicks against the wall, scrambled onto the walkway.
And froze.
An infected stood just a few feet away, its back turned to her.
Her hand flew to her mouth, stifling the scream that nearly escaped.
Her other hand waved frantically outside, warning Brian to stay quiet.
Below, Brian saw the signal.
He went still, waiting.
After a long moment, the infected showed no sign of movement.
Sarah exhaled silently.
She eased her backpack off, pulled out the rope, and tied one end to the railing, all while keeping an eye on the creature.
Brian grabbed the rope, climbed to the ladder’s highest point, and pulled himself up with ease.
He slipped onto the walkway and spotted the infected ahead.
He drew his knife and started forward, but a small hand stopped him.
He looked at Sarah, confused.
She pointed at the knife, then whispered, “This time.
Let me.” Brian met her determined gaze and nodded.
He handed her the knife.
In this world, everyone had to grow.
He didn’t try to talk her out of it.
He just stayed close, ready to step in if needed.
Sarah gripped the knife tightly and crept toward the infected.
Her heart pounded, but she was done being the one who always needed protection.
If she was in danger, Brian would save her.
But if Brian was in danger, who would save him?
She couldn’t hide anymore.
She had to face this.
She studied the infected.
Taller than her.
She remembered how Brian handled them.
She raised her right foot and kicked hard at the inside of its knee.
The infected crumpled instantly, dropping to the ground.
Sarah’s arm hooked around its neck, cutting off any sound.
Then the blade found its mark, driving straight into its temple.
It was over in seconds.
“Well done.
Seriously.” Brian had watched the whole thing.
“You were holding out on me.
I underestimated you.” “Save it.
We need to keep moving.” Sarah shot him a look, then handed back the knife.
She glanced at the fallen infected, a flicker of pride crossing her face.
“Wait.
Someone’s there.” Brian spotted a young Black woman emerging from a diner across the street.
Her backpack was flat and empty.
She’d found nothing.
She slipped toward a convenience store, staying low.
But from where she’d just come, something else emerged.
An infected with half its skull encased in mushroom-like fungal growth.
The fungus had burst through one eye socket, completely destroying the eye.
This infected didn’t charge and scream like the others.
It moved carefully, stalking the woman, closing the distance like a hunter.
“What…
what is that?” Sarah pointed, horrified.
She could see it was different.
Smarter.
Deadlier.
“Just as I thought.” Brian’s face went pale.
This was the most advanced fungal growth he’d ever seen.
His suspicion was confirmed.
The infection was evolving.
The fungi were reshaping the hosts, making them stronger, faster, better at spreading the disease.
Across the street, the infected had closed the distance.
It let out a hissing screech and lunged at the woman.
The sound echoed through the streets, a signal.
Every dormant infected nearby jerked to life and answered the call.
The woman spun at the sound.
She saw the infected coming and panicked, but she’d killed enough of them to react quickly.
She raised her pistol and fired at its head.
The bullet struck the fungal mass.
It exploded, bits of fungus flying everywhere.
But the infected didn’t stop.
It kept coming.
The woman screamed.
She turned to run.
But this one was faster.
It closed the gap in seconds and tackled her to the ground.
“AAAAHHHH!” Her screams tore through the empty streets, a sound of pure terror that burrowed into the hearts of every survivor hiding nearby.