The Nation 07

Their apartment, a small, second-floor unit in what was once a bustling Los Angeles high-rise, had become their sanctuary, their fortress against the relentless tide of the infected. Months of scavenging, sweat, and ingenuity had transformed it from a cramped living space into a surprisingly resilient stronghold. Boarded-up windows, reinforced doors, and a makeshift barricade crafted from salvaged furniture and metal scraps guarded their only entrance. A crudely fashioned alarm system, consisting of strung fishing line and empty cans, added a layer of rudimentary warning. But even this carefully constructed defense felt fragile, a thin veneer against the encroaching horror.

Beth, her face pale but resolute, checked the meager supply of scavenged weapons scattered around the room. A rusty pipe, a makeshift spear fashioned from a broken broom handle, and a battered baseball bat – not exactly the arsenal of a seasoned warrior, but the best they could muster in a world gone to hell. Billy, his eyes scanning the shadows beyond the barricaded doorway, ran a hand over the worn leather of his makeshift holster, its single, precious bullet a silent promise of a last desperate stand.

The silence stretched, a taut string threatening to snap. Then, it came.

Not a gradual increase in the distant moans, not a warning shuffle of infected feet, but a sudden, brutal assault. A ferocious crash ripped through the silence as something massive slammed against their barricade, followed by a chorus of guttural snarls and the sickening crunch of wood splintering under immense force. The apartment shook, the air vibrating with the sheer force of the attack.

The cans on their alarm system clattered to the floor, a shrill metallic shriek that instantly pierced the chilling silence. Beth let out a short, sharp gasp, her hand instinctively reaching for the rusty pipe. Billy drew his makeshift weapon, his muscles tense, his eyes burning with a fierce, desperate resolve.