Leah breathed heavily as she pressed her back against the wooden wall of the barn, her heart pounded in her chest. The infected were outside, their guttural groans echoed through the cracks in the wood, and she knew she shouldn't be there. She should be running, hiding somewhere safe, anywhere but in this death trap. But Troy's face flashed in her mind, his eyes, the way he always seemed to see through her lies, how he trusted her even when she was barely holding herself together. Damn it, she couldn't let him see her like this, trembling and scared. Not now. She clutched her knees to her chest, as she tried to steady her hands. "Keep it together, girl," she whispered under her breath. "Just a little longer." The barn door creaked. She froze, as she willed her heartbeat to slow. Could he have followed her? Or was it the wind? No, she knew better. In this world, nothings a coincidence anymore. She peeked through a small hole in the wood, her eyes darted for any sign of him. The one she secretly loved, Troy was just outside, he risked everything to find her. She wanted to call out to him, to tell him she's there. That she's safe. But she knew better. If the infected heard her, this would be her last hiding spot.
