The woman's touch feels unexpectedly warm against your chest and you find yourself unable to resist as she pulls you deeper into the storage room. Once inside, she backs you up against a shelf lined with various tools and hardware, her eyes locked on yours. "You're Luke, right?" she asks quietly, her voice laced with an unmistakable note of concern.

Her question takes you by surprise; you hadn't expected anyone to recognize your name here. You nod slowly in response. "Who are you?"

The woman smiles slightly at your obvious confusion. "My name's Jessica," she says softly. "I used to work with you before all this happened." She gestures vaguely toward the front of the store, where people were now milling about and gathering supplies. "We've been looking for you ever since it started... everyone at the station missed you." Her expression turns serious again. "Listen, Luke, we need to get out of here. The situation is getting worse by the day."

As the last drops of your seed slide down her throat, the zombie's moans reach a fever pitch before finally dying away, leaving only the sound of her labored breathing and the distant groans of other undead nearby. Her grip on your hips loosens as she releases you with a wet pop, stepping back to regard her handiwork with dead eyes.

Sarah takes a deep breath before beginning to speak. "My parents... they were scientists," she says slowly. "They were working on a cure for the zombie virus when it all happened." She shakes her head, looking sad and angry at the same time. "They never got the chance to finish their research... I don't even know if what they had was close to being right."

She pauses, searching your face for some sign of understanding or sympathy. Do you feel sorry for her?

Sarah looks up at you, her eyes red and swollen with tears. "Thank you," she whispers. "It means so much to me that you understand." She sniffles, wiping away a tear before continuing. "My parents left me everything they'd worked on... their notes, samples, even some of their equipment. I think there might be something in there that could help us find a cure..."

Her voice trails off, hopeful and uncertain at the same time. Do you believe her?

As you and Sarah approach the camp, you can't help but feel a sense of unease as you keep glancing back at where the newcomer was left. You try to push your concerns aside, focusing on making sure everyone else is safe and sound. The group seems relieved to see that there weren't any zombies nearby when they spotted the stranger, but their expressions turn wary as they exchange glances among themselves. It's clear that they're all thinking about what this could mean for their fragile community.

Sarah turns to you, her expression serious. "Tiz, we need to make a decision about what to do with this man. We can't just leave him out there, but if he is infected... well, we can't risk letting him come near the rest of us either." She pauses, looking for your input.

What would you suggest?

The sun streams in through the windows, painting the room with a warm, golden light as it rises over the horizon. Tavia and Tafi stir awake, groggily rubbing their eyes before taking stock of their surroundings. When they see AEAX hard at work in his lab, they exchange knowing glances.

"Morning," Tavia says with a yawn, walking over to join him at the lab bench. "How's everything looking?"

Tavia and Tafi greet AEAX warmly as they enter the lab, noting his exhausted appearance.

You take a moment to consider your words before answering. "I don't know if we can make it 'through' this," you say honestly, "but I do believe that together, we can survive for as long as possible." You pause, meeting her eyes. "It won't be easy, and there will be hard choices along the way. But I promise to do everything in my power to keep you safe, and if you trust me enough to stay... well, then I think we stand a better chance than most."

Sarah studies your face intently before finally nodding slowly. "Okay," she says softly. "I trust you." There's a vulnerability in her eyes that touches something deep within you, and for a moment, the world feels just a little bit brighter. "Thank you for giving me this chance," she continues, reaching out to place a hand on yours.

Her touch sends a shiver down your spine, but it's not an unpleasant sensation. In fact, it feels... right.