My favorite helmet hung from a nearby hook, its scratched surface reflecting the dim light of our encampment. Before pulling it over my head, I adjusted one of the switches inside for optimal communication quality.

The helmets were a necessary precaution for our travels outside the safety of our encampment. We had learned through trial and error that they were effective at repelling the vicious "headhumpers", the vicious little alien creatures that latched onto your neck and kickstarted the Turning.

With a thumbs up to Lilly, who was already straddling her powerful dirt bike, its engine growling impatiently, I spoke into our helmet coms. "Can you hear me?"

Her response came through crisp and tinny in my earpiece. "Loud and clear."

I reached up and adjusted the Go-Pro camera attached to the top and then pulled out my phone, checking the angle. Everything looked good. "How's yours doing?" I asked.

"Good, already done!" Lilly replied. Seemed like it was time to go, then.

I climbed onto my rugged ATV, an old Kawasaki four-wheeler that had been abandoned on the highway. It may have seen better days, but luckily Mathison's previous life as a mechanic had come in handy. Hopefully, it would hold up for another journey. Despite their loud engines, these vehicles were our lifeline, able to navigate quickly and effectively through both rough terrain and main roads.

We set off down the neglected rural road, sticking to the cover of the dense tree line. The rising sun cast long shadows that made me feel uneasy and hyper-aware of our surroundings.

The growl of the dirt bike engine echoed in my ear, a relentless undercurrent to the otherwise verdant silence of the Carolina wilderness. I tightened my grip on the handlebars of my ATV, my knuckles whitening under the strain. The rumbling vibrations of the Kawasaki's engine traveled up, numbing my arms, as I maneuvered over potholes and around gnarled roots.

Lilly roared past me, her dirt bike kicking up a cloud of dust and leaves that hung in the cold morning air for what felt like an eternity. I squinted through the haze and accelerated, my heart pounding against my ribs like a drummer on a cocaine binge.

A familiar sensation stirred in my stomach – a blend of fear and adrenaline that amplified every sound, every movement. The woods around us teemed with hidden life, each rustle of leaves and snapping twig hinting at unseen threats lurking.

Suddenly, Lilly skidded to a halt ahead. My reflexes kicked in; I brought my thumb down on the brake lever hard enough to leave an imprint. The ATV shuddered beneath me, lurching to a stop just inches from Lilly's rear wheel.

"What is it?" I asked, lowering my goggles to get a better look at Lilly's pale face.

Up ahead lay our intended destination. Barely discernable against the backdrop of towering trees and dense foliage, dilapidated wooden structures jutted out at odd angles - remnants of what once had been a thriving town.

"They never left; we would have seen them... James..." Lilly whispered into her helmet comms. Her brother's name hung in the air between us like a specter; the reason we were out here risking our lives.

Nodding in understanding, I revved my ATV back to life and we moved forward cautiously. A crow cawed somewhere off in the distance, its sharp cries echoing ominously through the abandoned township. Decaying buildings stood silent sentinel around us, windows stared at us like vacant eyes.

As we nosed our way deeper into the town, an eerie stillness blanketed everything. Even the usual chatter of woodland creatures had died down to an almost imperceptible whisper, as if they, too, sensed the unease hanging heavily in the air.

I reached for my gun, unclipping it from its resting place on my back. The cold metal was a solid reassurance in my hand as I kept a wary eye on the shadows creeping along the town's deserted streets.

Suddenly, Lilly put her hand out, signaling me to stop. Before I could ask why, a dread-filled moan rippled through the air, raising goosebumps on my skin.

"The Turned," I whispered into my comms; nonetheless, it seemed to echo through the silent town.

Lilly's grip tightened around her own weapon. She turned towards me, her eyes wide and alert beneath her helmet visor.

The moaning grew louder now, a chorus of despair that made my stomach twist with dread. From around the corner of a nearby building, they appeared. Their once-human forms stretched thin and gaunt, mouths gaping with teeth, their grey flesh slick with mucus – twisted caricatures of people who once lived and breathed.

I gripped my shotgun tighter as Lilly moved forward; time slowed as she raised her weapon and took aim at the approaching Turned. Then there was only the deafening report of gunfire and an explosive shower of gore as Lilly started taking them down one by one. I fired alongside her and watched in slow motion as one of the Turned's head erupted in a gout of blue and gray. I fired again and watched another drop.

They kept coming, leaping and clawing over the bodies of their fallen brethren, our blood, meat and bodies the only goal in their minds. I saw movement behind them and recognized the skittering movement of HeadHumpers. Time to go. And I was out of bullets. I swung the gun low, pulling shells from the saddle and slotting them in as quickly as I could. In my peripherals, I could see that the Turned were growing closer with only Lilly slowing them down.

As Lilly held our line, I revved my ATV's engine once more, gunning for a narrow passage through what used to be a neighborhood. I pulled in front of Lilly as I heard her gun click, ammo depleted. "Follow me!" I yelled into the comms, steering the four-wheeler with one hand as I blasted off rounds with the other.

The world blurred into a dizzying swirl of flying debris and snarling Turned.

As we sped out of the town, leaving behind the guttural moans of the Turned, I couldn't help but think about James and his group. Would we find him? Was he even still alive? The questions gnawed at my gut, but I pushed them aside.

And just as abruptly as it had begun, our escape came to an end - leaving us panting and adrenaline-fueled in the quiet safety of an untouched woodland clearing. The ATV engine coughed beneath me before dying down to an idle rumble.

I bent over, panting. "H-h-huh, holy, holy shit."

Lilly swung her leg off her bike, dismounting it and letting it clatter to the ground, where it whined for a moment before dying. She threw her helmet on the ground. "Fuck!" she yelled.

"Hey, hey, easy, easy," I said, flipping up my visor and holding a hand out towards her. She took it and I drew her into an embrace. "I'm sure he's alright. Those pricks showed up as soon as we were in town, and we were able to get away; maybe they're just hiding out in the woods."

She sniffled and pressed her face against me. "Bullshit." She wiped her nose and looked up at me. "You know they aren't in the woods, they'd have come running when they heard our bikes. They got pinned, just like we almost did. I'm gonna gut those mother fuckers," she said.

I smiled. "I know love. Okay, so let's plan." I moved away from her, holding onto her shoulders and looking at her. "Where would James go? He knows how to hide."

"I don't fucking know," she snapped. "I know nothing about this town."

"Okay," I replied, reaching into my pocket. Let's check it out then."

I punched up Google Maps once more, zooming into our location and panning around, looking for anything of note.

"Um... There's a school... Couple of gas stations, no, he wouldn't be at those... A rec center?" I looked up at Lilly. "I'd pick the Rec, if I were in his shoes."

"And he's learned most of what he knows from you, so let's check that out," she agreed.

Getting to the Rec had been a bitch and a half. We had been in the town for hours and had only just made it to the entrance. The Turned were everywhere. I was absolutely certain it was a contingent sent out to look for our group after our failed raid on Macon.

I moved low, skirting the rusted body of an overturned school bus, its decaying hulk providing cover as we neared the Rec. Lilly slipped into step behind me, her boots crunching over broken glass and debris - a staccato rhythm in the otherwise quiet township.

I crouched; breath heavy. Lilly settled beside me, her back to the underbelly of the bus, checking her ammunition. "Shit, fuck. I've got one clip left." She zipped up her fanny pack with a sharp jerk. My breath caught as the sound of the zipper rang through the air. After a tense moment, I relaxed, not hearing the sound of clawed feet charging our location.

"You know, this whole problem would have been solved if you hadn't lost that long distance walkie talkie," I said. "Hunting party answers, they're fine. Hunting party doesn't answer, they're dead."

Lilly glared at me. "I didn't lose it! I just... Don't know where I dropped it... Three towns ago..."

I snorted. "I think we call that... 'Losing it.'"

"Tell you what, when I find it, I'll ram it up your ass. Deal?"

I looked under the car, seeing if the last group chasing us had caught our scent yet. "I love it when you talk dirty to me."

We were clear. I motioned to her, and moved around the rear of the vehicle, keeping low and heading for the Rec doors.

Each step we took seemed to echo through the abandoned streets. Buildings on either side bore the scars of old battles, their crumbling facades judging us as we passed them by, jealous of our life and our breath. Windows and doors hung open, like gaping mouths accusing us of their loneliness.

The entrance to the Rec loomed ahead - a towering structure, once resplendent with life, now a mausoleum for forgotten memories. Its steel doors stood defiantly closed. I couldn't help but wonder whether they served as a sanctuary for survivors or a tomb for those who hadn't made it.

A sudden screech shattered my musings - a Turned rounding the corner at an alarming pace. Its distended jaws spread wide in an unholy howl as it charged us. My Mossberg leapt into my grip as I took aim and squeezed off a round. The creature's head blew out the back like a demented party popper, its body crumpling lifelessly onto the asphalt.

Lilly's hand brushed against mine as she passed me, her eyes hard and unyielding beneath her visor; any trace of fear left behind as we pressed forward.

We reached the steel doors, their once shiny surface tarnished by time and neglect. After sharing one final glance, I reached out and gave one mighty push against them.

The metal groaned under my weight but eventually gave way to reveal a large circular gymnasium behind it. Rows of bleachers sat empty on either side while faded banners littered the room with their vivid colors and cheerful slogans — relics of an era that was no more.

Further in, amidst the gloom, I spotted a huddled group of people. They were filthy, tired, but alive. A man stepped forward and relief washed over us like a tidal wave. James. He was hurt, clearly, but alive. His arm was in a sling and he had a lot of blood dripping down his side, but he was alert and functioning.

With a surge of relief, I turned to Lilly, who stood frozen in her tracks, her eyes locked onto the group. A single tear welled in her eyes, tracing a line down her dirty cheek and pooling against the edge of her visor.

"James!" she whispered before sprinting towards him. She closed the distance in a handful of heartbeats and disappeared into his waiting arms.

The remaining tension within me evaporated, replaced by an overwhelming sense of relief. For all that we had lost, for all those we had left behind - we had found James and his group. A small victory in an otherwise rueful day.

Suddenly, a low snarl echoed through the room making my heart clench in fear. The Turned poured in through the entrance, their grotesque faces twisting with hunger as they locked onto us. A second wave of terror hit me as I realized - the gunshot had drawn them here.

I lifted my shotgun and roared at the incoming horde, "Come on then!" The echoing chamber amplified my voice into a challenge that filled the room just as the first bullet left my gun's chamber and found its mark on an incoming Turned skull.

The gun in my hand kicked like an angry mule, the recoil shuddering up my arm while the bullet expelled from its chamber. The steel projectile hurtled towards the oncoming monstrosity and collided with its gaping maw, a fountain of brain matter, bone fragments and blue goo erupted in response.

As the creature folded onto itself, I swiveled on my heel, pivoting towards the horde with the muscle-memory of countless encounters before. I braced myself for another round, the kickback of the gun against my shoulder causing my wrist to scream in protest, but I hardly noticed.

Lilly was already on her way to them before I could register her movement. She darted to my right, forsaking her own firearm for a serrated machete that glinted menacingly under the light of the sun streaming through the dusty air. She charged at one of the Turned without hesitation.

In contrast to my shotgun's thunderous roar, her blade sang a silent song. A hasty upward slash severed an arm; a quick pirouette avoided gnashing teeth. Another swing and a head rolled off to thump dully against hard concrete.

The sight of Lilly's fluid combat dance propelled me forward. My shotgun spat out another killing phrase – a ghastly end in lead and fire – at another unfortunate creature. We were lucky, the Turned weren't armed. We would have been fucked.

Lilly's voice crackled over our helmet comms with a terse command: "Grab James and his group - get them out!"

Every decision she made was calculated; each action bore the marks of survival instinct chiseled into her by this grim world. My fingers squeezed around my shotgun's grip, cradling its cold weight closer as I turned on my heel.

"Move it!" I ordered James' group through gritted teeth. The once huddled group seemed startled into action by my harsh cadence. Fear etched deep lines into their faces as they began scrambling towards the exit.

The Turned continued their grotesque march, unbothered by the loss of their comrades. The guttural moans grew louder, a chorus of hunger and despair that echoed against the gymnasium's walls. A wave of them closed in, bodies shuffling and limbs flailing.

I turned back towards the steel doors, now a battlefront between us and them. James and his group were close to the exit now; their survival was within reach.

Lilly moved like a shadow amongst the creatures, her machete painting a gruesome picture with each efficient move. She flickered in and out of my peripheral vision, a beacon of deadly grace in the midst of chaos.

Further gunfire erupted behind me, but I didn't turn to look. Time was running short; every second wasted was an opening for death to creep in.

My shotgun barked again, its report reverberating through my bones as it spat death towards another creature. Its body collapsed amidst its advancing kin – another obstacle they simply clambered over in their relentless pursuit of flesh and blood.

"James' group is out!" I called into my helmet comms as I sprinted back towards Lilly.

Gun emptied and discarded to the side, she fought on with only her machete. The blade danced in her hands as she wove around the onslaught of snapping teeth and reaching claws.

"Do we have an exit?" Her voice crackled over the comms, punctuated by grunts of effort and exertion.

"I-Gah!" My response cut off abruptly as a Turned lunged at me. I twisted away, bringing up my own knife to shove into its gaping mouth with all my strength. It fell back, gurgling on its own violet blood as it twitched on the cold floor before going still.

A harsh sound—part growl, part grunt—ripped from my throat as I tore my blade free, a mélange of black blood and gray matter dripping from its tip. I barely had time to acknowledge Lilly's affirmative grunt over the comms before I was back in the fight, blades flashing.

The world reduced itself to the space within the gymnasium - me, Lilly, and the Turned. The grunts of exertion, the wet sounds of blade meeting flesh, the guttural moans of the creatures - it all blended into a cacophonous melody of survival.

As I plunged my knife into another creature's chest, my eyes found Lilly's silhouette amidst the horde. She moved with an explosive energy, her kicks and strikes flowing together seamlessly. Her machete lashed out in a wide arc, taking down two Turned with one swift stroke.

Then we were back to back once more – an unstoppable team amidst a sea of monstrosities. Sweat dripped down my face inside my helmet; muscles screamed for respite under continuous strain.

The reality hit me like a punch to the gut - we were trapped. There was no way out.

The bleak realization sank its teeth into my consciousness as I surveyed the scene before me. We were surrounded on all sides, backed into a corner with nowhere to run. The Turned continued their relentless advance, bodies piling up around us even as more flooded in to take their place.

I felt the first cold tendrils of despair curling around my heart. After everything we had survived, after coming so far, was this how it would end? Trapped and torn apart in an old gymnasium?

No. I refused to accept that fate. Gripping my knife tighter, I fought on, striking out in a whirlwind of slashes and stabs. Beside me, Lilly was a force of nature, her machete cleaving through rotted flesh and bone.

We would not go gently into the night. If this was our end, we would make sure we took as many of these bastards down with us as possible. I let loose a feral roar, channeling all my rage and defiance into the sounds. Lilly echoed me with a cry of her own.

The Turned faltered briefly at the primal sounds. Sensing their hesitation, I pressed the attack, carving a path through their ranks even as I felt teeth and fingers glancing off my armor, tearing chunks of leather away, getting ever closer to the flesh. Step by step, Lilly and I forced them back through sheer fury.

A burst of static sounded in my earpiece, followed by a familiar voice. "Hold on! I'm almost there!" James said. "Ack! Shit!" I heard several gunshots. "I can't get in guys, there's too many! The egg, Alec, do you have the egg?"

My hand leapt to the pack at my waist. Stupid! Stupid stupid!

"Lilly, get over here by the wall!" I shouted. "Cover me!"

"Alec... Alec, okay... where are you? We'll... wait by the wall!" James sputtered in my ear.

"I don't fucking know! Don't stand next to the wall! I repeat, don't stand next to the fucking wall!"

As Lilly drew closer, lashing out at any Turned that dared to try and dart past her to get to me, I tore at my fanny pack, reaching inside, searching for the alien weapon, fingers rummaging through various ammunitions until I found it and pulled it from the pack, several bullets clattering to the floor.

Grasping it in my hands, I aimed at the wall, positioned my thumb above the indent and shouted, "Fire in the hole!"