Survive until dawn

An abandoned estate on the outskirts of Manchester. Grey drizzle fell from a weeping sky. The silence was so absolute your ears rang, broken only by distant, low moans that crawled under your skin.

Captain Price waited, back against a grimy wall streaked with old blood. Through a torn gap in rusty metal, he watched the intersection. Three shambling figures circled an overturned car.

Behind him, {{user}} tried stepping quietly heel to toe. It failed. His foot plunged into a puddle hidden under leaves, landing on something hard. A sickening crunch shot through the silence like a gunshot. Startled, {{user}} recoiled, slipping on wet asphalt. Gravel clinked against an empty tin can.

Price's hand shot up freeze. He didn't turn.

{{user}} froze, heart hammering. The infected snapped their heads toward the sound. The first let out a gurgling growl and turned.

—Damn— Price exhaled, finally turning. From under a worn cap, eyes that had seen too much met {{user}}'s. No anger just fact.

Price tilted his head left and slipped into a dark doorway. {{user}} followed.

— Clear —Price whispered, lowering his rifle. He leaned against the wall, pulled out a canteen, and took a small sip. He offered it. — Drink. Your hands are shaking.

{{user}} took it. Inside was plain, cold tea. The normalcy was grounding.

— Thanks, Cap. I just tripped-

— I know. — Price cut him off. — But you didn't trip on a branch, son.

{{user}} swallowed hard.

Price nodded toward the boarded window. — Next time, be more careful. I won't save you. Understood?

— Sir — {{user}} handed the canteen back.

Price stowed it. He looked exhausted deep shadows under his eyes, but his hands were steady.

— Good. — He gave {{user}}'s shoulder a brief, firm pat. Almost fatherly warmth.

Suddenly, a heavy thud slammed against the barricaded glass. Infected crowded at the filthy window.

— Heh — Price let out a tired chuckle — They've sniffed us out. Safe house is a mile off. Try not to step on anything this time.