The group knew they had to plan precisely how to escape Zarco.

  The city was infested with hostiles, and any mistake could cost them their lives. They couldn’t afford more casualties.

  Néstor paced back and forth across the room.

  "We need a means of transport that can carry all twenty-eight of us," he said firmly.

  "I freed the horses, but they wouldn’t be enough for everyone," Lix replied.

  "Riding horses inside the city isn’t safe… I can’t imagine outside the walls," added Martin, the father.

  Luke looked around at everyone in the room. "We wouldn’t even make it to the nearest city with horses…" he murmured thoughtfully.

  Cody raised his voice. "We don’t have to reach another city. We can get to the outer watch base; the evacuation train probably stopped there."

  "The kid’s right. Our first destination should be the outer base," Andrew agreed.

  Ander, at the back of the room, listened without being able to join in.

  Alicia held his hand, showing her support and making sure he didn’t feel alone, proof of the strong bond of friendship they had built over the years.

  Meanwhile, around the map, the debate continued—whether to head toward the nearest city or the outer watch base.

  "I still think horses are too risky," Luke commented.

  Someone who had remained silent until now, Don Saúl, part of Cody and Gaspar’s group, finally spoke.

  "We don’t have to go on horseback," he said calmly.

  Everyone turned to look at him.

  "There must be a locomotive in the maintenance yard. It’s the only safe way to transport us," he explained, showing an old photo of himself with his family, dressed in his railway engineer uniform with a train in the background.

  The group exchanged glances.

  The possibility of escaping the city sparked hope in their hearts.

  "You know how to operate it?" Luke asked.

  "Of course, son. The yard isn’t far from here," Don Saúl assured.

  "Perfect. First things first—we’ll need to reach the carriage, then move everyone to the train yard," Luke concluded.

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  But while they discussed the plan, Ander, whose body had been fighting the infection, could no longer hold on and collapsed.

  "Boy, are you all right?! Wake up!" Rebecca cried.

  "Ander!" Alicia exclaimed, clutching his hand.

  Panic swept through the group.

  His face was pale, his breathing shallow.

  "Friend, wake up!" Josh pleaded desperately.

  Rogelio, the veterinarian, rushed over. "He’s still breathing, but his body is already very weak from the infection."

  "We need to do something to help him!" Alicia begged, tears in her eyes.

  Silence filled the room. Josh could barely breathe, and Alicia, refusing to accept the inevitable, gripped Ander’s hand tighter.

  Her friend was dying.

  Luke, his face hardened by urgency, broke the silence.

  "We move. We have to leave this place immediately."

  A small group of ten—Luke, Néstor, Andrew, Cody, Noah, Carlo, Lix, Dante, Tobias, and Magnus—left the building, heading toward the carriage with supplies in the evacuation zone.

  "All right, we’re ready. Remember, the carriage is close, to the west. Stay together and stay quiet," Néstor ordered.

  "No one separates. We have to move fast," Magnus added, opening the door.

  Their footsteps echoed in the empty street, tension thick in the air. The sound of breathing and the crunch of boots were the only noises accompanying their advance.

  "Keep moving, don’t let your guard down," Andrew warned.

  Suddenly, hostiles appeared, growling and charging. The group reacted instantly, taking cover behind walls and rubble.

  Lix and Dante moved in sync, covering each other while cutting down the beasts.

  Tobias unleashed a burst of gunfire, piercing skulls with precision.

  "Dante, behind you!" Lix shouted.

  Dante spun just in time to shoot a hostile lunging at him from behind.

  Luke positioned himself, his light-blue eyes focused. Every shot was precise.

  Beside him, Noah and Cody held the hostiles at bay with swift, accurate movements.

  "Keep moving, we can’t stay here!" Néstor ordered.

  The advance was slow, each step bringing a new wave.

  Luke and Néstor led, but their weapons were running dry. Roars and shrieks echoed across the area, surrounding the group in a chorus of terror.

  "Damn it! They were waiting for us to come out," Magnus exclaimed.

  "I’m out of bullets!" Noah shouted.

  Andrew, at the rear, fired relentlessly, ensuring no hostile got too close. "Come on, don’t be afraid!" he yelled, each bullet striking vital points.

  Finally, the carriage came into view.

  Hope lit up their eyes, but the noise also drew more hostiles.

  Bravely, Néstor rushed to the carriage, flung open the doors, and passed out supplies.

  "Here, take this," he said, handing out ammunition.

  Luke and the others formed a defensive line around the carriage. The air filled with bullets, screams, and blood, but slowly the tide of hostiles began to break.

  "Looks like they’re thinning out," Carlo said, panting.

  What had seemed impossible at first was achieved: the group eliminated the ambush.

  They loaded the recovered supplies.

  Lix reunited with his horse, while the others organized weapons and provisions.

  Andrew was impressed.

  "This will be enough for everyone," he said, satisfied.

  "We need to get back to the building immediately," Luke replied, worried.

  "Yes, that’s right. But relax a little, kid. Celebrate this small victory," Andrew added, trying to ease the tension.

  "I won’t celebrate until we’re out of this city."

  The scene showed the ten of them carrying supplies and weapons, ready to face any threat on the way back.

  "Let’s return to the others and take down anything that crosses our path," Luke said decisively.

  ***

  In the building where the rest of the group remained, a hostile found an entry through a hole in the structure.

  It managed to get inside.

  While some returned with hope, those who stayed behind faced the beginning of a new nightmare.