somewhere outside the city

-Ren stares at Ali for a few seconds before asking “he’s not with you?” A few seconds pass, the silence filled with the soft whistling of the wind.

Finally both Ali and Ren’s eyes widen “I thought he’s supposed to be with you!” Ali whisper yells at Ren who drew their eyebrows together “why would you think that!” They whisper yell back at Ali.

The pair stare at each other before Ali sighs “it’s not the time for this Ren” Ali puts an end to the silent argument “we need to find Echo” she says voice laced with worry.

Ren looks at the ground before saying “right- you’re right if we don’t find him certain maggot colonies might-“ the look on Ali’s face makes Ren rethink what they said.

 “Sorry sorry I’m sure echo is doing great!” Ren says the sentence without breathing then continue after taking a breath “I think I saw a cabin near the tree over there” they point to a tree that seemed to tower over the rest “Echo might head there” 

Ren gets up and extends their palm to Ali, the moment Ali held it they pulled her up and started dragging her the cabin.

(I love your writinggg<3)

They both carefully walk towards it, Ali keeps a close eye around the trees, she sees shadows sometime making her feel creeped out - as she's losing against her anxiety and her own thoughts.

Suddenly she felt someone grab onto her arm and pull her back, it was Ren who gave her a worried look that only meant danger.

"I'm sorry I'm sorry-" Ali whispered, sweats forming down on her forehead and she was breathing a little faster.

"Come on" Ren gently said, kneeling down infront of ali, she thinks for a moment before the light blub went off. 

"No-" 

"We're getting slower, just get on" They interrupted her, which got her pursed her lips and sighs in defeat. Getting on ren's back, they stand back up and start walking toward the cabin quickly yet quietly.

As they were nearing the cabin, Ali could sense something is wrong. The feeling of dread grew heavier as she feels more nervous about everything. She was shaking a bit, she was afraid. she couldn't shake the feeling of being hunted.

As soon as they got inside the cabin, Ali closed the door immediately and spun around as she pulled out her dagger from her boots. Ren looked toward her then around the room as they pulled out their weapon as well. "This place smell" Ali complained, checking the living room while Ren checked the kitchen.

(Waaa thank you thank you)

-Ren heard Ali saying “this place smell” that smell was what they kept smelling for days, a smell that you can’t mistake for another, death.

Ren tried to ignore the smell as they started opening the kitchen cabinets and looking for supplies, when suddenly the next step they took sounded oddly wet.

They looked down slowly as dread filled them, they stared in a daze at the blood before following the bloody path till they stumbled upon a body.

Ren’s face paled as they saw the man, gun in hand, with pieces of flesh stuck to the cabinet and floor, and the final touch an exploded head.

“Hey Ali” they called out frozen in place “yeah?” Ali replied “i ah- I don’t think the owner left this place” they said, their voice trembling more with every word that leaves their mouth.

Ali walked into the kitchen swallowing down the words she was going to speak when she saw Ren standing behind the counter with a pale face

Ali grabbed her dagger as she came closer, “hey Ali” Ren called again, sounding almost hypnotized “they can’t smell blood right?” Ren glanced over their shoulder at Ali who slammed her hand against her mouth trying to suppress the urge to puke.

“I know…” Ali said, she took in a shaky breath “but the blood is so thick…” Ali continued, the fear creeping through her words, she turned away “I supposed theres no body surrounding the.. cabin” Ali said in a shaky tone, holding on tight to her dagger.

“I suppose” Ren replied, backing away from the corpse. “Come on.. I found a way to upstair,, we gotta find echo it gets dark” Ali whispered, shakily finding Ren's hand before grabbing it and pulled them away from the body.

Silently they both walk upstairs, the staircases creaked everytime they steps onto it. they slowly reach the second floor - it was surprisingly an attic - still holding their weapons in their hands. Ali stopped and listened closely. It almost as she hear nothing but until something shifted from behind the boxes.

It seem as someone's hiding behind it. 

Ali took her dagger out and held it on her front ready to strike if anyone come out from it's cover. Ali slowly peeked over the boxes in front of her, she could see a small figure curled in a ball. Ali carefully approach the person as they slowly stood up and slowly turn, revealing the person it was Echo.

"Ali!!" Echo quickly cries out, immediately stood up as he went to hug the redish. Ren sighs in relief once they found echo, "Where were you, Echo. We been looking for you" They asked, walking toward them.

"I thought maybe I could explore the cabin,, I'd have a weapon with me though but as soon as I heard someone's approaching the door I had to ran up there to hide" He quickly yet quietly said them way too fast that Ren had to slow him down.

"You're okay now, lad" Ali pulled away, patting his shoulders in comfort. Echo sighs "I won't leave again,, what did you guys find?" He asked, looking both of them curiously.

Ren and Ali looked at eachothers before looked back at Echo. "You don't wanna know"

-Ren starts walking back into the kitchen “we’re gonna need supplies” they say with a heavy sigh “you can both stay here I’m more used to blood I believe” 

Echo was waiting for an explanation as to why the pair he was with acted like the kitchen was a murder scene “can I ask-“ before they finish Ren answered “a body echo, not a zombie a human body— I suppose they weren’t able to handle the situation and they ya know” Ren pointed at their head mimicking a gun.

Echo kept glancing between the other two then finally stopping his wandering gaze on the door “we need to leave” he said voice dropping with seriousness.

Ali nodded in agreement while clenching her dagger “we do need supplies first so let’s search around the living room” Ali said a bit hesitantly before pointing at Ren “Ren do not touch the body in the kitchen”

Ren gave her a “you’re joking right?” Face before going into the kitchen to finish the search.

(I feel so bad for seeing late ngl!)

They searched around the house but to no avail the place was clean as ever.

After searching for hours, they decided to take a break.

A long break.

“Do you think Echo will be alright?” Ali whispers as she watches Ren pace around the small living room.

“I supposed so,,” They replied, “it’s just...he seems very troubled” Ali looked down, “yes he does” Ren response bluntly, “I don't really blame at all” They continued.

Ali sighs, messing with her trousers, they both heard footsteps coming down from stairs which they looked up to find Echo.

"Hey" He greeted.

"Hi" Ali response, dropping her knees. "What time it is though?" Ren asked, earning a shrug from the red head while Echo start searching a pocket watch in his bag.

"5:09pm unfortunately.." He said, looking up “how long have we been here?” Echo asks. “About a couple of hours I guess" Ali answers as Ren looks around

“We can leave now but the problem is we couldnt find any food except for some candles and bullets” They sighs, crossing their arms. “Well Maybe we can go out and check outside, make sure no one has seen us or are hunting us” Echo suggested with a hopeful expression.

“No, Thats dangerous option” Ali stated, standing up. “Well What do we do?” Echo asked looking from Ali to Ren.

“We wait, we dont want anything bad happening to Echo” Ren said.

“But we cant just sit here forever!” Echo protested.

“We’ll go back out when the sun rises” Ali added.

-the trio made a makeshift bed with blankets and pillows they found around and tried to get some sleep huddled together to stay as warm as possible 

Ren staid in a hazy state between sleeping and waking, every sound made them alert, the wind passing through the cracks, the tree branch hitting the window and even the soft snoring of their companion that was barely audible.

Something, no rather someone, caught Ren’s eyes, a person not a zombie but a living human staring through the window at the small group who looked like a bunch teenagers having a sleepover rather than an apocalypse survivors.

Ren used echo’s hair to hide but still be able to see the mysterious presence, till eventually the figure walked away from the window and away from the cabin.

It finally clicked in Ren’s brain now as to why the cabin was empty if the man was dead, it’s because they weren’t alone and unlike the past incidents, they were being haunted by humans.

Ren started shaking echo and Ali to wake them “what now” echo groaned not too pleased to have been woken up, before Ali of Echo were able to sit up Ren put their hands on their chests to keep them in place.

“We need to leave” Ren said in a quiet voice “I saw someone— a human there’s a possibility it’s a group and they probably been stalking us” Ren said and removed their hands when they were sure the pair won’t move

“Leave to where?” Ali said “we don’t have a map and if you’re right then these people will know about our every move!” her voice got higher at the end with nerves 

Echo caught a glimpse of something and it was the person heading back to the window “guys! The window” echo said alarmed.

They couldn’t do anything, desperation settled over the group with like a heavy winter quilt as they felt the man gaze on them, burning them and yet sending shivers down their spines.

It felt like this man wanted to see them suffer. This time the figure didn’t return to the window as its hand gripped the glass instead, the glass slowly starting to crack as it pushed harder. 

Echo brought his knees up, backing a bit while Ali slowly crawl her hand under the pillow as she remains still. 

The man’s eyes were set onto Ali now, his grip tightening even more as the glass starts breaking. Echo looked back and forth, “allium!!” as they could feel ice begin forming around the cracks in the glass.

Suddenly a loud shattering noise filled their ears as it completely shattered, shards of glass scattering everywhere.

in that moment the man pulled out a gun, and echo knows that it's not a good idea. A shot fired in the cabin, aiming toward Ali which she quickly pulled out her dagger and blocked the bullet which got the knife flew away and blade scattered into pieces. 

"How did I even do that?!?!" Ali asked herself, Ren immediately take Ali by her shoulders and drag her up before they runs. 

"What the hell is happening??!" Echo asked, "Keep the supplies bag safe .. I guess" Ren said, quickly looking around the room and spotted the crowbar resting in the corner. 

Better than nothing.