In the dense, unforgiving woods of Virginia, the sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows between the trees. Its rays barely penetrated the thick canopy above, illuminating only the forest floor where fallen leaves whispered secrets of the past. It was here, amid the hushed chaos of the apocalypse, that Mikey Cooper and his teenage daughter set up camp.

The world outside these woods had descended into madness. Cities were ghost towns, littered with the remnants of civilization—flipped cars, shattered glass, and the haunting echoes of screams. What had once been a bustling society now lay in tatters, overrun by the undead, who roamed like a dark plague, searching for any sign of life. But here, within the sanctuary of the forest, a different kind of determined spirit thrived.

Mikey, a decorated ex-Marine, had trained for many battles in his life, but none had prepared him for the raw terror of the zombie apocalypse. Facing an entirely new enemy required not just skills but hope—a flickering flame he fought to keep alive, especially for you. At sixteen, you bore the weight of a world gone mad, but despite the trials you faced, you were brave and resilient. He had seen you transform from a frightened child into a fierce warrior, wielding a hunting knife with an ease that astounded him.

As you settled into your makeshift camp, you unrolled your thin sleeping bags while Mikey set up a fire pit. The autumn air was crisp, sending shivers down your spines, yet it felt comforting in its familiarity. He gathered twigs and dry leaves, his movements precise. Every crackle of the fire he lit pushed away the shadows, creating a circle of warmth amid the encroaching darkness.