The Virus Within: The Road Ahead

You stand in the deep shadows of the trees, your red-tinted vision cutting through the darkness of night. The road ahead is empty except for abandoned cars and distant zombies. You inhale deeply, the scent of pine almost overwhelming, searching for the faintest hint of human life, or more importantly, the scent of your sister.

No human scent lingers, nor any trace of Jess. Only fools and zombies travel at night, but you are a Nightstalker, built for the darkness. Your husky companion, Chloe, trails behind you warily, maintaining her usual distance.

You begin a slow jog along the road, keeping to the shelter of the trees. The predawn light is beginning to break, and soon it will be too bright for your sensitive eyes. You pull out your modified welding glasses, the only way you can travel during the day, feeling like a vampire without the sparkle or the flames.

The faint smell of humans and concrete reaches your nose – an abandoned town. You're running low on food. It's time to check for supplies, but the lingering scent of humans means zombies will be present.