Untold Story ║ Book 1 of The Untold series

Chapter 34 - Fractured peace

Our conversation started to ease into a more lighthearted one as we reminisced about old times, about the family, and our shared love of jokes and pranks.

However, our laughter was abruptly cut short by a sudden, deafening explosion that rocked the entire camp. A plume of smoke and debris shot into the sky, and panic instantly seized the community. My ear ringing, my sight restricted. People screamed and scattered in all directions, desperate to find safety.

Lucas and I exchang wide-eyed glances, and within moments, our playful atmosphere transformed into one of chaos. The ground shook, and we struggle to maintain our balance as the aftermath of the explosion sends shockwaves through the area.

"What the hell was that?" Lucas shouts over the clamor, his voice strained with alarm.

I scan the scene, my heart pounding as I search for the source of the explosion. Smoke and dust cloud the camp, making it difficult to see anything clearly. As the commotion grew more chaotic, the fear of not knowing what had just happened intensified. All around us, camp residents were running and shouting, frantically trying to make sense of the situation.

The ground rumbled beneath our feet as the aftershocks of the explosion continued to reverberate. We couldn't afford to stay where we were, and the urgent need to find safety drives us into action. With Lucas by my side, we push through the panic-stricken crowd, determined to discover the cause of the explosion and ensure the safety of our makeshift family.

As we ventured closer to the origin of the blast, the full extent of the damage came into view. The scene was one of devastation, with tents torn asunder, debris strewn about, and the echoes of screams still hanging in the air. The camp that had once offered us refuge and community now lay in shambles.

Amid the chaos, we could only hope that Jane and the rest of our family were safe and unharmed. The explosion had shattered the fragile peace we had grown accustomed to, and we were left to face an unknown threat, its nature and origins a chilling mystery that demanded our immediate attention.

Lucas and I soon realized the source of the calamity. Emerging from the thick, hazy smoke and debris, a group of walkers – the reanimated corpses that had plagued the world – stumbled toward us with their distinctive, haunting gait. Their milky, clouded eyes and ashen skin made them unmistakable.

The camp's defensive line had been breached, and walkers had infiltrated our sanctuary. Panic and chaos reigned as people fled from the advancing horde of the undead. It was a nightmare come to life, the peaceful existence we had briefly enjoyed shattered in an instant.

Lucas and I knew that we couldn't stand idly by. In the midst of the chaos, our instincts kicked in. We had to protect Joel, and any others we could find. The children were our immediate concern.

"Lucas, we have to get Joel out of here," I shout over the growing cacophony. We needed to ensure their safety before anything else.

Lucas nod, determination etched across his face. "Agreed, Thomas. Let's find them."

We navigated the pandemonium with a single-minded goal. It was like a grim dance through the chaos, as we moved against the tide of panicked camp residents. The sound of terrified screams, the moans of the walkers, and the echoes of gunfire were all around us, creating a disorienting symphony of fear and danger.

As we searched for Joel, I couldn't help but worry about the rest of our group. Were they safe? Were they fighting their way through this nightmare as well? The sense of powerlessness gnawed at me, but we had to focus on the task at hand.

Our search eventually led us to the area near the playground. There, amid the confusion and fear, we spotted Joel and i assume his new friend Lily. They huddled together, terrified but unharmed, the memory of their joyful play now replaced by the stark reality of the camp's breach.