The afternoon was slowly fading.
The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the quiet road and the abandoned gasoline station where Luis and Mia had been waiting for hours. The heat of the day had softened, replaced by a cooler breeze that carried the scent of dust and dry grass.
Inside the parked SUV, Luis remained alert behind the steering wheel. His eyes constantly scanned the empty road and the surrounding buildings.
The world had become too dangerous for carelessness.
Mia sat in the passenger seat, occasionally glancing at the radio while also watching the road ahead. The broadcast they had heard earlier still lingered in her thoughts, the explanation of the infection, the drug, the pharmaceutical company hiding from responsibility. She had heard it before. In the future she remembered but hearing it again now, while the disaster was still unfolding, felt different. Felt real and dangerous.
Luis leaned slightly forward in his seat, narrowing his eyes as he looked toward the gasoline station building. "Did you see that?" he asked quietly.
Mia turned her head. "See what?"
Luis didn't answer immediately. A figure had appeared near the station, a young man.
He cautiously approached their parked SUV, glancing around the empty road as if checking whether anyone else was nearby.
Luis studied him carefully. The man carried a rifle slung over his shoulder, but the way he held himself made it obvious he wasn't used to carrying a weapon. His movements were stiff and uncertain, like someone who had only recently picked up a gun for survival.
The young man walked slowly around the vehicle. Then he stopped beside the driver's side, peering inside the window. Luis immediately lowered the driver's side window.
The sudden movement startled the young man. He stepped back quickly, his hand instinctively touching the rifle strap on his shoulder.
Luis spoke calmly. "What do you need?"
The young man hesitated. His eyes darted briefly toward the empty road and the quiet station building behind him. He looked nervous. Afraid. Then he asked in a careful voice. "Are… are you Mr. Luis Ray?"
Luis frowned slightly. The question caught him off guard. "Yes," Luis replied cautiously. "Why?"
The young man swallowed before answering.
"My name is Rio," he said quickly. "I'm Pablo's younger brother."
Luis's eyes widened slightly. "Pablo's brother?"
Rio nodded quickly.
"He's nearby," Rio continued. "We've been waiting here since last night."
Luis's expression hardened. "Where is he?"
Rio looked around the area again before answering, his voice lowering. "We ran into a group of men on the road," he said. "We tried to avoid them, but they saw us."
Luis felt a sudden knot tighten in his chest.
"What happened?"
Rio hesitated before answering. "They shot him."
Luis's grip on the steering wheel tightened.
"Shot him where?"
"In the leg," Rio said.
The words hit Luis like a sudden shock. "Is he alive?"
Rio nodded quickly. "Yes. He's alive. But he can't walk properly."
Luis immediately leaned forward. "Where is he?"
"I can show you," Rio said.
Mia, who had been silently listening to the conversation, spoke from the passenger seat. "Let him in the car, Luis."
Luis glanced at her.
"He can guide us to Pablo."
Luis hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Get in."
Rio quickly opened the back door and climbed into the vehicle.
Luis started the engine. "Which way?" he asked.
Rio pointed toward a narrow road leading behind the gasoline station. "That way."
Luis slowly drove in the direction Rio indicated. The road led toward a small cluster of storage buildings behind the station, old concrete structures once used to store fuel supplies and equipment.
The area looked abandoned. Quiet, too quiet.
Luis parked the SUV behind one of the buildings.
"We're close," Rio said, his voice tight with worry.
Luis and Mia both scanned the surroundings carefully. No movement and no infected. But silence in this world never meant safety.
Rio quickly opened the door. "My brother is inside." He rushed toward the building.
Luis turned to Mia. "You stay here," he said.
Mia nodded. "Be careful."
Luis reached for the axe hanging from his belt and checked the pistol at his side. Then he stepped out of the vehicle.
Mia quickly moved across the seat and slid into the driver's position. If something went wrong, they needed to leave immediately.
Luis entered the small storage building cautiously. The inside smelled of rust, dust, and old fuel.
Dim light filtered through broken windows. Rio moved quickly ahead of him. "Pablo!" Rio called softly.
Luis followed him deeper inside then he saw him. Pablo sat on the floor against the wall, one leg stretched out in front of him. His pant leg had been torn open and wrapped with cloth that was now soaked with dark red blood.
The moment Luis saw the wound, he understood how serious it was. Pablo's face was pale. Sweat covered his forehead. His jaw was clenched tightly as he endured the pain.
But when he saw Luis, relief appeared in his eyes. "Luis…" Pablo said hoarsely.
Luis immediately approached him. "You're alive," Luis said.
Pablo gave a weak smile. "Barely."
Luis knelt beside him and examined the wound. The bullet had entered the lower part of Pablo's leg. Blood had soaked through the makeshift bandage. The flesh around the wound was swollen and dark. Every slight movement caused Pablo to inhale sharply through his teeth. Gunshot wounds were brutal. The bullet tore through muscle and tissue, leaving damage that was far worse than a simple cut.
Luis looked at him seriously. "I'll clean the wound," Luis said. "We have medical supplies in the car."
Rio remained near the entrance, watching the outside area nervously. "We should hurry," Rio said.
Luis nodded. "I'll be right back."
He quickly returned to the SUV.
Mia leaned out of the window. "How bad is it?"
"Gunshot wound," Luis replied.
Her expression tightened. "Do you need me there?"
Luis shook his head as he opened the back compartment and grabbed a medical kit.
"No. Stay here and keep watch."
He looked at her seriously. "I'll move fast. Then we leave immediately."
Mia nodded. "Be careful."
Luis returned inside the building. Pablo remained in the same position, breathing slowly as he tried to control the pain.
Luis knelt beside him and carefully removed the soaked cloth around the wound. The smell of blood filled the air. Pablo groaned as Luis examined the injury.
"Bullet's still inside," Luis said quietly.
Pablo forced a weak laugh. "Lucky me."
Luis poured disinfectant over the wound. The liquid touched the exposed tissue. Pablo's body tensed violently. A raw, painful groan escaped his throat. The burning sensation from the disinfectant spread through the wound like fire.
Luis worked quickly but carefully. "Stay still."
Using medical tweezers from the kit, Luis carefully probed the wound. The flesh around the entry point was swollen and torn. Pablo gripped the floor with his hands as waves of pain shot through his leg. Every small movement sent sharp agony through the injured muscles.
Then,
Luis felt the metal. "Got it."
With a careful pull, the bullet slid free. Blood followed immediately. Luis quickly applied pressure to control the bleeding. Pablo leaned his head back against the wall, breathing heavily. Luis cleaned the wound again before using a medical stapler to close the torn skin.
Each metallic click echoed softly in the room.
Pablo clenched his jaw but didn't scream.
Finally, Luis wrapped the leg tightly with a clean bandage. The bleeding slowed.
Luis looked at him. "Can you stand?"
Pablo gave a tired nod. "I'll try."
Rio quickly came to his side. Together, they helped Pablo push himself up.
The moment he put weight on his injured leg, pain shot through him. Pablo groaned deeply.
It felt as if the muscles in his leg were tearing apart but he forced himself to remain standing.
Luis spoke firmly. "We need to move. This place isn't safe."
Pablo nodded weakly. "My family… we need the medicine."
Luis supported him as they slowly moved toward the door. "Let's go," Luis said.
"We'll take you to your parents' farm."
Rio helped carry most of Pablo's weight as they reached the SUV. Mia opened the driver's door. "I'll drive," she said immediately. Luis nodded.
Pablo and Rio climbed into the back seat.
Pablo leaned against the seat, breathing slowly as he tried to endure the pain in his leg. Luis sat beside him, watching the surroundings carefully. Mia started the engine.
"Which direction?" she asked.
Rio pointed down the road. "To the farm."
The vehicle began moving. The road stretched ahead of them, leading farther away from the bunker. It would be a long drive.
And night was coming soon.