Chapter 2: The Search for Supplies

Nate tightened the strap on his backpack, glancing over his shoulder at Bella. They had been moving through the quiet streets for nearly an hour, stepping around debris and darting across open spaces to avoid being seen. Buildings loomed around them, their windows shattered, metal frames twisted by time and neglect. Somewhere above, dark clouds moved slowly, making the streets below feel dim and cold.

He could hear Bella’s uneven breathing behind him. Though she tried to hide it, the pain from her injured leg was obvious. She limped but kept pace, her expression set in stubborn determination. Nate found himself admiring her resilience, though he said nothing. In this world, words of encouragement felt foreign and useless. Surviving together was enough for now.

They stopped near a crumbling gas station. Nate held up a hand to signal a break, crouching behind a rusted car. Bella followed, sliding down to sit on the pavement with a sigh of relief. She leaned her head back, closing her eyes for a moment.

“You good?” Nate asked quietly, his eyes scanning the street.

Bella nodded, though her lips were pale. “Yeah… just need a minute.”

Nate glanced at her leg, the dark stain of blood barely visible beneath her makeshift bandage. “That cut’s not gonna heal if we don’t find some supplies,” he muttered. “Infection will kill you faster than a Pale One.”

Bella opened her eyes, a spark of defiance flaring up in them. “You can leave me if it’s too much trouble.”

Nate raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t say that. Just saying we need to get you patched up, or this journey’s over before it starts.”

She held his gaze, then nodded in grudging agreement. “Fine. But I’m not slowing you down.”

Nate allowed himself a brief smirk. “We’ll see.”

As they caught their breath, Nate’s mind shifted to their next move. They had barely enough food and water to last them a few days, let alone the journey to the safe zone. They needed to find supplies — medical, food, water, and maybe even a weapon or two.

“Think there’s anything left in that gas station?” Bella asked, nodding toward the rundown structure.

“Only one way to find out,” Nate replied. He straightened up, scanning the area for any signs of movement. The world was quiet, almost eerily so. He motioned for Bella to stay close, and they made their way toward the station.

The inside was a mess, shelves overturned and their contents long pillaged. Glass crunched under their feet, and the faint smell of oil and decay hung in the air. Nate moved cautiously, examining every corner as they stepped through. Most of the shelves were bare, but in the back, he found a first-aid kit wedged between a fallen shelf and the wall.

“Score,” he muttered, reaching for it. He opened it up to find a few bandages, antiseptic wipes, and some painkillers. It wasn’t much, but it would be enough to clean Bella’s wound and keep the infection at bay for a little while longer.

He walked back over to her, handing her the kit. “Here. Might sting a bit, but you need it.”

Bella took the supplies without a word, carefully unwrapping the old bandage around her leg. She winced as she cleaned the wound with an antiseptic wipe, her jaw clenched in silent pain.

As she worked, Nate searched through a few more shelves, pocketing a couple of cans of food that had rolled behind a counter. It wasn’t much, but he figured they could stretch it for a couple of days.

Bella finished dressing her wound and looked up at him, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes. “Thanks,” she murmured.

“Don’t mention it,” he replied, his voice gruff. “Let’s keep moving.”

They were barely a block away from the gas station when Nate caught sight of something unsettling. Down the road, moving slowly and without purpose, was a group of Pale Ones. There were five of them, their gaunt figures swaying as they staggered forward. Their lifeless eyes stared blankly ahead, their pale, decaying skin a sickly gray.

Nate held up a hand, signaling Bella to stop. She followed his gaze, her face tightening with fear as she saw the Pale Ones shuffling in their direction.

“Think they see us?” Bella whispered.

“Not yet. Stay low. We’ll move around them,” Nate replied, gesturing toward a nearby alleyway. The Pale Ones might be mindless, but they were fast when something caught their attention. Nate wasn’t eager to find out what would happen if a group of them attacked.

They slipped quietly into the alley, moving as fast as they dared without making noise. The sounds of their footsteps were muffled on the dirt and broken asphalt, but the occasional clink of loose debris kept them both on edge. Bella’s limp was more noticeable now, and Nate found himself glancing over his shoulder more often than he liked.

Suddenly, a clang echoed behind them — Bella had accidentally kicked an empty can that had been lying in the shadows. The sound reverberated down the narrow alley like a gunshot, and they both froze, dread creeping into their bones.

For a brief, hopeful second, it seemed as though the Pale Ones hadn’t noticed. But then, one by one, their heads jerked in the direction of the alley, their blank stares locking onto the noise.

“Run,” Nate hissed, grabbing Bella’s arm and pulling her forward. They sprinted down the alley, weaving through debris and dodging obstacles, the Pale Ones’ haunting groans growing louder behind them. The narrow path opened up into an abandoned courtyard, and Nate frantically searched for a way out. There, on the far side, was a small door hanging ajar.

“This way!” he shouted, dragging Bella toward it. They slipped through just as the Pale Ones reached the courtyard, their heavy footsteps pounding the ground behind them. Nate slammed the door shut, bracing his shoulder against it as the Pale Ones thudded against the other side.

Breathing hard, Bella looked around. “That won’t hold them for long.”

“Doesn’t need to,” Nate replied, scanning the room. It was a narrow stairwell leading up into what looked like an old office building. “Come on.”

They climbed the stairs quickly, their footsteps echoing in the silent building. By the time they reached the third floor, both of them were breathless, but the sound of the Pale Ones had faded. They entered an empty office room, the walls covered in peeling paint, scattered papers, and overturned desks.

Nate walked over to the window and peered outside, keeping an eye on the street below. The Pale Ones seemed to have lost their trail, wandering aimlessly back down the street.

Bella sank to the floor, cradling her injured leg. “That was too close,” she muttered, her voice trembling slightly. She looked up at Nate, her expression shifting from relief to something more complex. “You didn’t have to do that, you know.”

Nate leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. “Do what?”

“Risk yourself like that… pulling me along,” she said, her gaze steady. “You could’ve just… left me.”

He met her eyes, his own expression unreadable. “You think I’d leave someone to get ripped apart by Pale Ones?”

“I don’t know what to think yet,” Bella replied, the edge in her voice softened by exhaustion. “But… thank you.”

Nate gave a small, almost reluctant nod. He wasn’t used to the idea of relying on others, and he wasn’t sure how to feel about her gratitude. Survival was survival; it didn’t need words or explanations.

“Just… don’t slow me down,” he said finally, though his tone held a hint of something less harsh.

Bella smiled faintly. “I’ll try.”

They fell into silence, both of them catching their breath. Outside, the world remained as desolate and dangerous as ever. But for a brief moment, they had found a fragile sense of safety — and perhaps, just a flicker of trust.

Without looking at her, Nate muttered, “We’ll keep going at dawn. Try to rest.”

Bella nodded, leaning her head back against the wall. For the first time since this nightmare began, she felt a strange sense of reassurance. And as she closed her eyes, she wondered if this alliance — this uneasy partnership — might just be the only hope they had left.