**Chapter 3: Survival Mode**

Angela crouched behind a dumpster, her heart racing as a zombie stumbled down the alleyway. Its eyes were fixed on her, and she could feel its gaze like a cold breeze on the back of her neck. She gripped her baseball bat tightly, ready to strike. The zombie drew closer, its moans growing louder, and Angela sprang into action. She swung her bat with all her might, connecting with a sickening crunch. The zombie crumpled to the ground, and Angela let out a shaky breath. She took a moment to catch her breath, then continued on her way. She had been surviving on her own for days, and it was starting to take a toll. She was hungry, tired, and scared. But she refused to give up. As she walked, she noticed a figure in the distance. It was a woman, stumbling down the street. Angela's instincts kicked in, and she readied her bat. But as the woman drew closer, Angela saw that she wasn't a zombie. She was human, and she looked just as scared and lost as Angela felt. The woman's eyes were wild, and her hair was disheveled. She was limping, and Angela could see a large gash on her leg. Angela's training kicked in, and she rushed to the woman's side. "Hey, are you okay?" Angela asked, trying to keep her voice steady. The woman looked up, and Angela saw a flash of fear in her eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine," the woman said, trying to stand up straight. But Angela could see that she was lying. The woman was in pain, and she was struggling to stay on her feet. Angela helped the woman sit back down, and she took a closer look at her leg. The wound was deep, and it needed to be cleaned and bandaged. Angela rummaged through her bag and found some medical supplies. She cleaned and dressed the wound, trying to make the woman as comfortable as possible. As she worked, the woman looked up at her. "Thanks," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I owe you one." Angela smiled, trying to reassure her. "You don't owe me anything. Just be careful, okay?" The woman nodded, and Angela helped her stand up. As they walked together, Angela learned that the woman's name was Fina. Fina had been surviving on her own for days, and she had encountered a group of hostile survivors earlier that day. They had chased her, and she had barely escaped. Angela's heart went out to Fina. She knew how scary it was to be alone in this new world. But she also knew how important it was to trust her instincts. And something about Fina didn't feel right. Not in a bad way, but in a "I'm not sure if I can trust you" kind of way. As they walked, Fina stumbled again, and Angela caught her. "Whoa, easy there," Angela said, holding Fina steady. "You're not exactly walking on sunshine, are you?" Fina laughed, a weak smile on her face. "Hey, I'm just trying to keep up with you." Angela grinned, feeling a spark of connection. "Well, slow down, then. I don't want to have to catch you again." Fina smiled, and for a moment, Angela forgot about the danger and the uncertainty of their situation. She forgot about everything except the warmth of Fina's hand in hers. But as quickly as it had started, the moment was over. Fina pulled away, and Angela let go, feeling a little embarrassed. They continued on their way, walking in silence. As the sun started to set, casting long shadows across the deserted streets, Angela realized that she was glad to have Fina by her side. She was scared, but she wasn't alone. And for now, that was all that mattered. As they walked, Angela noticed that Fina was limping more and more. Angela could see that she was in pain, and she knew that they needed to find shelter for the night. She spotted a small building up ahead, and she pointed it out to Fina. "Hey, let's check that place out," Angela said, trying to sound casual. "Maybe we can find some shelter for the night." Fina nodded, and they made their way towards the building. As they approached, Angela could see that it was an old gas station. The sign above the door read "Sam's Gas Station." Angela pushed open the door, and they stepped inside. The gas station was dark and quiet, but it looked like it had been abandoned for a while. Angela's instincts told her that it was safe, and she nodded to Fina. "Let's make ourselves at home," Angela said, trying to sound cheerful. Fina smiled, and they both collapsed onto the floor, exhausted. As they lay there, Angela realized that she was glad to have Fina by her side. She was scared, but she wasn't alone. And for now, that was all that mattered.