The alley spat them out onto a street that was marginally less devastated than the main avenue, but the oppressive silence, broken only by the distant, ever-present moans of the dead, was a constant reminder of their isolation. Three blocks. In the old world, it was a leisurely stroll. Now, it was a gauntlet.
"Parking Lot B is that way," Ethan said, gesturing with his chin, his voice a low murmur meant only for Lily. He'd seen the general direction on the physical map, and the System's integrated overlay now painted a subtle, preferred path in his vision, highlighting potential cover and known Walker concentrations. "We stay off the main parts of the street as much as possible. Keep your eyes open, stick to me like glue, and no sudden noises. We can do this."
Lily, clutching the half-eaten chocolate bar from the bank like a precious treasure, nodded, her small face a mask of grim determination that tugged at Ethan's heart.
[ROUTE TO TARGET 'PARKING LOT B' CONFIRMED. EXPECT AMBIENT WALKER PRESENCE: LOW TO MODERATE. PRIMARY RISKS: UNEXPECTED HERD MOVEMENT, ISOLATED WALKER ENCOUNTERS IN CONFINED SPACES.]
[MONITORING COMPANION (LILY) STRESS LEVELS: ELEVATED BUT STABLE. FATIGUE INCREASING. RECOMMEND SHORT RESTS IF OPPORTUNITY ARISES, BUT SPEED IS CURRENTLY OF THE ESSENCE.]
Ethan didn't voice the System's fatigue assessment for Lily; they both knew it. Their first block was a nerve-wracking crawl through the skeletal remains of what was once a bustling shopping district. Shattered mannequins lay in grotesque poses behind broken display windows, their painted smiles mocking the desolation. They moved in fits and starts, ducking into darkened doorways whenever a shambling figure or a small, meandering group of Walkers appeared further down the street.
Twice, Ethan had to act. The first was a lone Walker, a former businesswoman by her tattered suit, that emerged suddenly from a looted jewelry store. Lily gasped, a tiny sound, but enough. The Walker's head swiveled. Ethan reacted instantly, pushing Lily behind him and lunging forward, his baseball bat a blur. The System highlighted the temple, and he connected with a sickening thud, dropping the creature before it could fully register their presence or make a sound that might draw others.
[WALKER NEUTRALIZED. EXP +10. COMBAT EFFICIENCY MAINTAINED.]
The second encounter was more perilous. As they cut through a narrow, debris-choked alley the System had marked as a 'low-signature pathway,' two Walkers, feasting on something unidentifiable in the shadows, were startled. There was no room for a full swing of the bat. Ethan shoved Lily behind a stack of collapsed pallets, drew his hunting knife, and engaged them in a brutal, close-quarters struggle. The System flashed warnings of his own rising exertion and proximity alerts, but he fought with a desperate, focused ferocity, his earlier training and the System's subtle guidance on weak points making his strikes count. He dispatched both, but not before one clawed at his arm, tearing his jacket sleeve.
"Are you okay?" Lily whispered, emerging as he panted, checking the tear. No broken skin, thankfully.
"I'm fine," he lied, his heart still hammering. "Just a scratch on the jacket. Let's go."
The second block passed with agonizing slowness, their progress hampered by a large pile of collapsed scaffolding that forced them on a short, exposed detour across an open plaza. The System warned of multiple Walkers on the periphery, but by keeping low and using wrecked cars as cover, they managed to slip by unnoticed. Lily was flagging, her small hand gripping his tightly.
Finally, at the end of the third block, the squat, grey concrete structure of a multi-level parking garage loomed. A faded sign read: "Municipal Parking – Lot B."
[TARGET 'PARKING LOT B' REACHED. INITIAL SCAN OF EXTERIOR AND GROUND LEVEL ENTRANCE: LOW IMMEDIATE WALKER ACTIVITY. STRUCTURE APPEARS LARGELY INTACT. MULTIPLE POTENTIAL ENTRY/EXIT POINTS.]
"We're here, Lily," Ethan breathed, a sliver of hope warring with a fresh wave of apprehension. Parking garages were notorious echo chambers, perfect for amplifying sound, and their dark corners could hide any number of horrors.
The main vehicle entrance ramp was partially blocked by a jackknifed delivery truck, but a smaller pedestrian doorway nearby was ajar. Ethan peered inside. The air was cool, damp, and thick with the smell of stale oil and something else… something faintly rotten.
"Stay here a second," he told Lily, positioning her behind a concrete pillar just outside the doorway. He slipped inside, bat raised. The ground floor was dimly lit by emergency lights that were somehow still functional, casting long, eerie shadows. A few abandoned cars were scattered about. He spotted two Walkers near the boarded-up attendant's booth, both fixated on trying to get through the plywood. They hadn't noticed him.
He dispatched them quickly, one after the other, his movements becoming more efficient, more brutal. The System noted the EXP gain with its usual dispassion.
"Okay, Lily, come on in. But stay quiet, this place is like an echo chamber."
Together, they began the search. The keys were for a "Branch Manager – Ford Explorer." Ethan guessed it would likely be in a reserved spot, or perhaps on a higher, less trafficked level. The System's internal scanner was of limited use without a clear line of sight to numerous vehicles, but it did offer a probability matrix.
[PROBABILITY ANALYSIS: MANAGERIAL PARKING SPOTS OFTEN LOCATED NEAR ELEVATOR BANKS/STAIRWELLS ON LOWER, SECURED LEVELS, OR DESIGNATED AREAS ON UPPER LEVELS FOR EASE OF ACCESS. SCANNING FOR FORD EXPLORER SIGNATURES...]
They took the stairs, checking each level. The silence was unnerving. Old oil stains on the concrete looked like dried blood in the dim light. They found a few more isolated Walkers, which Ethan dealt with before Lily could even register them as immediate threats. His protective instincts were on overdrive.
On the third level, tucked away in a corner near a sign that read "Reserved – Management," they saw it. A dark blue Ford Explorer. It looked dusty but otherwise remarkably intact. No broken windows, all four tires appeared inflated.
A surge of adrenaline, this time tinged with triumph, coursed through Ethan. "That's it, Lily! I think that's it!" he whispered excitedly, fumbling in his pocket for the keys.
He approached the driver's side door, Lily a hopeful shadow beside him. The key slid into the lock…
[!!! HIGH-PRIORITY WARNING !!! IMMINENT THREAT DETECTED! MULTIPLE HOSTILE HUMAN SIGNATURES (MATCHING PREVIOUS ENCOUNTER AT BANK OFFICE – 2 INDIVIDUALS) ENTERING PARKING GARAGE, GROUND LEVEL RAMP. ARMED. MOVING WITH PURPOSE. ESTIMATED TIME TO THIS LEVEL IF SEARCHING SYSTEMATICALLY: 3-5 MINUTES.]
Ethan's blood turned to ice. The men from the office. Here. Now. How? Had they been tracked? Or was this just horrifically bad luck?
There was no time to ponder. They were exposed, with their only hope for a quick escape still locked and untested.