The day was cold and grey. The first light of dawn weakly filtered through the ruined buildings of the school, casting long shadows over shattered windows and crumbling walls. The presence of Rafe had continued to stir a growing tension within the group. No one could pinpoint exactly why, but something about him felt wrong—like a coiled spring, waiting to snap.
His calm demeanor and seemingly perfect control over every situation instilled a sense of unease, leaving everyone with an unsettling feeling of uncertainty. No one dared voice their suspicions, but beneath the surface, the air was thick with distrust.
As midnight approached, Mia felt a strange restlessness in her chest. When she entered the communication room, she noticed the faint red light blinking on the panel again. It was supposed to be off. Rafe was there, sitting alone in the darkness.
At first, he didn't notice her entrance.
"Mia," he said, startled. "Couldn't sleep either?"
"I thought this panel was off-limits," she replied, her voice cautious.
"I was just checking the battery flow," he explained with a nonchalant shrug. "Signal strength seems stronger at night. We might be able to reach beyond the city."
Mia raised an eyebrow. "You were sending something?"
He smiled, but there was nothing warm in his expression. "No. Just listening."
Mia forced a nod and stepped back, though something about his tone didn't sit right with her. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this than he was letting on.
The group gathered early the next day, ready to set out on a mission to an old gas station to retrieve medical supplies from a nearby pharmacy. Tom, Kyra, Arden, and Rafe were the ones chosen to go.
Before they left, Arden addressed the group, always meticulous. "We'll clear the station and get the supplies. Stay sharp, there could be dangers along the way."
The journey began without incident. The air was unusually cool, and the lack of zombie activity made the journey seem almost too easy. The streets were eerily quiet, with only the occasional groan of the infected echoing from the distance.
But as they traveled farther, Arden suddenly stopped. His eyes were fixed on something ahead—footprints. Not theirs. Fresh tracks.
Kyra knelt down to inspect them. "Two people. One heavy, one light. They're headed toward the school."
Arden's gaze hardened. "These aren't our tracks," he muttered. "Someone's been following us."
Tom glanced around, looking tense. "We didn't trigger any alarms."
Arden's eyes shifted to Rafe, who was crouched by a bush, silent. Watching. Calm.
"We need to get back. Now," Arden said, his voice low and urgent.
As the group made their way back toward the school, they passed under an old overpass. More footprints—numerous, not just one or two. They were unmistakably human.
Arden felt his stomach tighten. He signaled for everyone to move faster. Every instinct told him to return to the school and lock everything down. They were being watched, but who was watching them?
By the time they returned to the school, the atmosphere was charged with unease. The group had barely made it through the gate when they noticed a figure in the shadows—someone had been waiting. But in the dim light, it was impossible to make out their identity.
Inside the school, the group gathered in the common room. Rafe was once again too calm, too composed, and it was starting to rub everyone the wrong way. He had a way of observing without reacting, as if everything and everyone were part of some game he was quietly playing.
Kyra shot Arden a look, her face hardening. "What do you think? Is he one of them?"
Arden's eyes narrowed as he watched Rafe from across the room. "I don't know. But there's something off about him. He's too clean. Too controlled."
Mia stood by, watching Rafe as well. "Maybe we're just paranoid. He's done nothing wrong."
Arden shook his head. "I've seen men like him before. And they don't play by the rules."
Rafe, sensing the tension, finally turned to face them, his calm smile never wavering. But Arden knew better. The smile didn't reach his eyes.
The group exchanged silent glances. Arden's mind was already racing, considering every possibility. Rafe's presence in the group had gone from being merely unsettling to dangerous.