Chapter 89: A World of Memories
The group settled down for the night near the car, their faces drawn and weary. Leo perched quietly on Winter’s lap, clutching his worn stuffed toy. He had taken it out of his space unconsciously again. Winter’s arms rested protectively around the boy, though his sharp gaze stayed fixed on the men patrolling the perimeter.
Zara knelt beside Sam, peeling back the bloodied makeshift bandage from his arm to inspect his wound. Her fingers worked quickly but gently, and her brow furrowed with worry. "It’s not as bad as I thought," she murmured, glancing up at Sam’s pale face. It still needs cleaning, though."
"I can handle it," Sam replied with a weak smile. "Just need the right supplies."
Richard and Mike stood a few paces away, their arms crossed, also watching the armed men move about. Mike shifted his weight, fingers twitching toward his side, where his utility belt rested—uncomfortably close.
One of the men from the convoy stepped closer, his boots crunching against the gravel.
"You’ll be at the base by tomorrow," he said, his voice calm but authoritative. "Stopping here is safer. The roads ahead are clogged, and travelling at night increases the risk. This area is clear—for now."
Winter’s brow furrowed. "Safer? With zombies roaming in the dark?"
The man gave a faint smile, his eyes briefly scanning the area. "It’s not just the undead you need to worry about. Bandits take advantage of desperate groups travelling after dark. Here, we’ve got light, numbers, and a defensible position. Your chances are better with us tonight."
The group exchanged hesitant glances but couldn’t argue with his logic. He glanced at Zara and the others, noting the fatigue on their faces. "Alright," Winter said, his voice lowering to a more reassuring tone. "We’ll go along with it."
Zara looked up from Sam’s side. "How safe is this base you’re talking about?" she asked.
The soldier’s gaze softened as it flickered to Leo. "Safe enough. We’ve fortified it and have protocols in place. It’s held against larger hordes than what you ran into."