The evening fell silent over Zombieland. The wind was unusually cold, brushing through the walls of the settlement like whispers. Elena and Ethan were helping Alina settle Aurora down for the night, the newborn gently wrapped in a soft pink blanket, her tiny hands curling in sleep.
Suddenly, the perimeter alarms blared.
Everyone froze.
Ethan ran to the lookout tower. Survivors scrambled into defensive positions, weapons in hand. But there were no zombies this time—no mindless groans or staggering silhouettes.
There was only a box.
Sitting outside the gates.
Cautiously, they brought it inside. Inside the box: a voice recorder, a note written in smudged red ink, and a necklace. The same necklace Alina wore during her kidnapping—ripped from her neck.
Elena pressed play.
The distorted voice echoed through the silence:
"You've taken something that does not belong to you. The child... is more than just a baby. She is the key. Hand her over by the next full moon... or blood will paint your safe haven."
Elina's hands trembled as she looked down at Aurora.
"What the hell do they mean?" Ethan growled, fury rising in his chest.
Alina pulled her daughter closer. "They're not just survivors... they know something about Aurora. About me."
Kai stepped forward, eyes sharp. "We're not giving her to anyone."
Everyone was thinking the same thing. This wasn't over. It was just the beginning.
Outside the walls, deep in the woods, red eyes watched the lights of the camp.
They were waiting.