Page 7 of Her Shadow

“Nah. I promised the guys I’d catch up with them. They’d never forgive me if I didn’t go back. I’m not sure I’d ever forgive myself. Plus, I haven’t even seen the place yet.”

Kara’s voice carried with it a note of pride as she spoke. “It’s not perfect, but I think we’ve all somehow managed to cling to some semblance of normality. I’ve found a sense of belonging there, at least. I mean, the wordnormalitymay be a bit of a stretch.”

As Kara moved through the forest, the dense foliage and rugged terrain tugged at something deep within her. It was like stepping back into a world she’d once known intimately. The way the underbrush crunched beneath her boots and the whisper of the trees against each other brought her back to thedays after college when she had joined a local search and rescue team. Back then, the forest had been her training ground. Being there now with Sam felt like a reunion with her past self, a reminder of what had defined her as a person before everything changed.

“So, tell me more about your life before all of this shit,” Sam said. “What sort of person were you… before the outbreak?”

Kara glanced at Sam and laughed. “Are you some kind of mind reader? I was just thinking about that.”

“I think we all do, though, don’t we? We can’t know the future. The present is pretty dire…and so we look back to the past.”

“Well, I grew up in a small town just outside of Seattle. I practically lived outside despite the rain. I was big into hiking on the weekends. I went to college and studied environmental science, with dreams of eventually working in conservation. But life had other plans.”

“Right, so this whole survival business must have come as a bit of a shock,” Sam asked.

“Yes and no. After college, I was in this search and rescue team back home. I learned a lot of stuff with them…and I guess it’s helped me. I was used to intense situations. Not zombie-intense, but still.”

Kara saw a hint of admiration in Sam’s gaze. “That sounds like a valuable pursuit. I guess we both sought to make a difference in our own ways.”

A small smile tugged at Kara’s lips. “Well, I don’t have the skills you have. You’re a leader. You understand life on the road. I still like my home comforts, clean blankets, and a full belly. But yeah, I guess the skills I learned back then have become even more crucial now. Who would have thought, huh?”

“Ha! Yes! It certainly wasn’t in my calendar.” Sam smiled gently before furrowing her brows, “The journey has beenrelatively smooth so far, but we have to be careful as we move further. We can’t drop our guard. I heard the undead had a herd by here not that long ago.”

“I hear you. I’m constantly looking for them. What else is there to look for?” Kara sighed and looked at the ground. It was easy to pretend that life was normal when lost in a good conversation, but then the stark reality of their broken world always came back to the forefront of everything. Especially when it was in the form of a snapping, rotten corpse jaw trying to take one's flesh and blood for supper.

When night began to fall, they chose a sheltered spot to rest. Kara wanted to show Sam what she was made of. She set about preparing their camp, her hands deftly spreading out their bedrolls despite the agonizing throbbing in her shoulder. She’d collected old cans on the way to spread around their chosen spot, a subtle detector for any of the undead who tried to come close.

Sam watched Kara, the soft glow of twilight highlighting her features. “You don’t look like you need any help, but can I do anything?” Sam’s voice felt like a gentle caress to Kara’s ears as it blended seamlessly with the soft night air.

Kara gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “I’ve got it,” she replied with a half-shrug. “In fact, I’m actually enjoying myself. The weather’s been good to us. I know you’ve brought snacks. I’m feeling much better than I was yesterday.”

“Of course. Come on. Let’s eat. I want to know more about Fort Haven—aand you,” Sam said as she took a seat on the bedroll, her fingers brushing against Kara's calf as she reached for her bag and laid out some strips of dried meat on a piece of wax paper on the ground.

Kara wrapped her arms around her knees and started to rock back and forth slightly. “Fort Haven has really evolved into something much more than it was ever intended to be. We’ve built it up. We’d added some incredible defenses, and the aimis that we keep expanding our facilities. I like to think of it as somewhere people can find safety and purpose.”

Sam inspected her nails as she listened. “It sounds incredible. I’m really looking forward to seeing it for myself. You sound so pumped when you talk about it. I’ve not seen anything like it since…”

Kara’s heart skipped a beat at the intensity of Sam’s gaze. She tried to keep her focus away from Sam’s lips.

“Well…I’m quite excited for you to see it, too. It’s important to me. You’ll understand why. I don’t know what I’m going to tell them when I get back. They’ll be devastated.”

“You know,” Sam said calmly, “this journey has been so much more than a trek. To me, at least. It’s been a chance to get to know you. To see what drives you. To take a chance on a total stranger. It may sound weird, but it’s so refreshing to meet someone like you.”

What’s she getting at here? Am I imagining this?

Kara felt her heart swelling with anticipation. “I know exactly what you mean. I think?”

“Look,” said Sam as she pinched the bridge of her nose and lowered her head. “I don’t want you to feel awkward or anything, but I like being around you. Maybe it’s a little silly, and erm…”

Sam’s words meandered into a comfortable silence, a shared understanding settling between them. Kara broke the quiet with a playful grin, glancing at the strips of meat. “Well, this looks delightful,” she laughed.

“Do I sense a hint of irony in your voice? I’ll have you know that thisgourmetdelight is…well…the best I can manage.” Sam’s laughter was warm and genuine as she took a bite, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “If we were in the old world, I could’ve reallywowedyou with something super delicious.”

“Oh really? I can only dream of that now. I’m sure it’s better than it looks,” Kara teased back, giving her a playful nudge.

Their eyes locked in the moment.

“You know, you make me feel like a real person again. Being around you, and the way we get on, it’s just…different. I feel as if I’ve known you a long time.”

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