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chapter five

EVER SINCE THE OUTBREAK
unfolded, it was widely believed that the only threat came from the relentless dead, wiping out human population. However, as time passed, it became painfully clear that humans, once allies and friends, had morphed into just as formidable a danger. Trust became rare in this new world, where danger lurked not only from the undead but also from those who had managed to survive.

Vega Collins was running for  her life, her heart racing as she tried to put as much distance as possible between herself and the group she had just escaped from. The sun was slowly sinking below the horizon, casting an orange and purple glow across the sky. Each breath felt like fire in her lungs, the adrenaline coursing through her veins urging her to push harder.

That was the situation she found herself in right now—alone and vulnerable. Trusting anyone was a luxury she could no longer afford. As Vega sprinted, the weight of her decision to leave Daryl behind hung heavily on her shoulders, a gnawing guilt that threatened to consume her. But she pushed those thoughts aside, because most importantly, she had to make sure that she would never cross paths with Joe's group again. Only after securing that certainty, she could focus on finding her daughter who she could only hope was safe.

Not far away, a small cabin caught Vega's eye, a glimmer of hope in her desperate state. She took her knife out, raising it into the air as she slowly approached the creaky door, and as Vega pushed the door open, she felt a surge of relief wash over her. Luckily, the cabin was clear of any immediate threats; there were no signs of the dead or struggle within its walls. She desperately needed to plan her next move without the weight of fear pressing down on her.

She placed her bag on the floor, and began searching for supplies in the dimly lit cottage. As Vega made her way through the cluttered drawers and cabinets, she stumbled upon  blanket tucked away in a corner. It was slightly frayed at the edges but thick enough to offer warmth and comfort. Grateful for the find, she draped it over her shoulders, feeling a sense of security wash over her shivering body.

Continuing her exploration, she noticed a small table in the center of the room, covered in dust. As she approached, something caught her eye— a folded piece of paper with a pen next to it. With curiosity he picked it up and unfolded it, revealing a map. Whoever had left the map in the cabin, had drawn a circle around a place called "Terminus." Vega had heard Joe talk about the place when she was still together with the group. It was apparently a place rumoured to offer safety and community, but how trustworthy could it really be?

She took the map and packed it into her bag just in case she would need it. While rummaging through the bag in front of her, she in her luck found canned fruits. Vega quickly fished out the can opener and popped the lid open. With no hesitation, she practically devoured the tiny fruit bits, savoring each bite after days of rationing her supplies.

Though the only thing Vega Collins was missing was her daughter, Tessa, she clung to the hope that she would find her soon. Her plan was to leave at first light to try to find any tracks of her daughter, no matter how faint.

As she got lost in her own world, savoring the sweetness of the canned fruit, Vega was suddenly disturbed by quiet chatter nearby, pulling her attention away from the food.  With a furrowed brow, she quietly put down the can, the metallic clink breaking the stillness of the moment, biting her lip as she sound came out, hoping it wasn't too loud.

Vega then made her way to the nearest window in the cabin, her heart thumping in her chest. She approached the glass, holding her breath as she peered through the curtain. It was pitch black outside, making it hard for her eyes to follow where the sound was coming from.

Finally, three men with jackets filled with blood on them came to view, and Vega immediately knew it was them. She cursed under her breath, furious at the fact that they had found her.

In a hurry, the brunette quickly packed her things and made her way to find a window furthest from the front door, desperate to escape the approaching voices. Vega approached the window carefully pushing aside the curtain, and luckily it was big enough for her to fit through.

The window was old and slightly stuck, but she didn't have time to waste. With a firm grip, she pulled it upward, closing her eyes when the creaking sound came out. Time seemed to freeze as her heart raced—had they heard that? The laughter which came from the men had come to an end, replaced by an unsettling silence that made her skin crawl. Panic surged through her as she imagined their eyes scanning the area, searching for any sign of movement. Vega kept pushing harder, praying that the old window would finally give way before it was too late. She knew she didn't have much time left before she would get caught, and God knows what they then would do to the woman.

With one final push with all her strength, the window finally gave way with a loud squeak, and Vega gasped as the rush of cold air hit her face. She quickly glanced over her shoulder, her heart racing as she waited for the worst. The laughter had returned, now mingled with shouts, and she could hear footsteps approaching the door to the cabin.

"Collins, we know you're in here! Open the damn door!" A voice yelled, impatiently banging the wooden door with force.

With no time to think, she climbed through the window, her feet hitting the ground outside with a soft thud. She crouched low, her breath quickening as she scanned the surrounding area for a place to hide. Without a second thought, she sprang into action, sprinting toward the trees, her heart pounding in her chest, trying her best to look at her surroundings in the complete darkness and get as far away as possible. Tessa's knife Vega had found the night she and Beth disappeared felt cold and heavy in her hand. But in her frantic pace, her grip faltered, and suddenly, the knife slipped from her fingers.

Knowing she couldn't just leave her daughter's knife behind her, since it was the only thing she had left of her, she turned around to get it back, but before she knew it, a sharp pain struck the back of her head, and she fell flat onto her face on the hard concrete. The world around her faded to black as she lost consciousness.

AUTHORS NOTE !!

okayyy guess who's back after literally what 7 months?? anyways this was originally gonna be a LOOONG chapter but i decided to split it up because i just wanted to publish something after ages😭😭😭

not the best chapter, but at least it's a new update