The Lazy Chronicles: Apartment of the Apocalypse-Chapter 81: Shadows in the Distance

The days after their successful bluff against the intruders were a whirlwind of activity. The encounter had shaken everyone, forcing Mallory and her team to confront a grim reality—they couldn’t rely on luck or clever tricks forever. The world outside was growing more hostile, and their sanctuary, no matter how fortified, was not invulnerable.

Mallory stood in the middle of the apartment complex’s makeshift war room, a space cluttered with maps, scavenged radios, and plans hastily scribbled on scraps of paper. Greg leaned over a table, tracing routes with his finger.

"So, you’re saying we’ve got two options?" Greg asked, rubbing his temples. "Stay here and fortify, or find a new base entirely?"

"Exactly," Mallory replied, her voice tight with frustration. "Staying here might work for now, but if we’re found again, it could end badly. Moving, on the other hand, puts us at risk of exposure."

"And adds the delightful challenge of dragging along kids, old man Mark, and Blinky," Alex chimed in from the doorway, biting into an apple he’d clearly swiped from their dwindling stash.

"Hey!" Harper snapped, snatching the apple from his hand. "We’re rationing, you idiot!"

"I was testing it for poison," Alex replied, grinning.

"Alex," Mallory warned, her patience wearing thin, "if you don’t take this seriously—"

"I am taking this seriously," Alex interrupted, his grin fading. "Look, I get it. We’re all on edge. But if we don’t find a way to work together, we’re toast."

Ethan, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up. "We need to figure out what’s out there. If that group was organized, there might be others like them. Better or worse. Either way, we need intel."

"I agree," Ryder said, crossing his arms. "We need a scouting mission. Something bigger than what we’ve done so far. We’ve been too focused on survival to see the bigger picture. That has to change."

Mallory nodded. "Fine. We’ll send out a team. Volunteers only."

---

The next morning, Mallory was surprised to find a lineup of volunteers waiting for her.

"I’ll go," Alex said immediately, arms crossed.

"Like hell you will," Greg muttered.

"I’m serious," Alex shot back. "I’m fast, resourceful, and let’s face it—I’ve got the best hair. People trust a guy with good hair."

Mallory rolled her eyes. "This isn’t a beauty contest, Alex."

"No, but it’s about adaptability, and I’ve got that in spades."

Harper stepped forward. "I’m going too. Somebody has to keep this moron alive."

"I think you mean you need someone to make you laugh," Alex teased, earning himself a sharp elbow to the ribs.

"I’ll go," Ethan added, his tone far more serious. "I know the area better than most of you, and I’ve got a good sense of when something’s off."

"Fine," Mallory said, raising her hands. "The three of you will go. But this isn’t just a random excursion. We need information—on the group we scared off, on supplies, and on any potential safe zones. If anything feels wrong, you come back immediately. No heroics."

Alex saluted dramatically. "Yes, ma’am!"

Mallory shot him a glare that could have melted steel.

---

As the scouting team prepared to leave, Greg pulled Mallory aside. "You sure about this? Sending Alex and Harper together sounds like a recipe for disaster."

Mallory sighed. "They’re both capable, and Harper keeps Alex grounded. Mostly."

Greg snorted. "Grounded? Last week, he tried to train Blinky to play fetch with a grenade."

"It was a dud grenade," Mallory replied, though she didn’t sound entirely convinced herself.

"Sure it was," Greg muttered.

---

The scouting mission started smoothly enough. The trio moved quickly through the city’s labyrinth of abandoned streets, their senses on high alert. Alex took point, his lighthearted demeanor masking a sharp focus that surprised even Harper.

"Stop," Ethan whispered, holding up a hand.

"What is it?" Harper asked, her hand instinctively going to her weapon.

"Movement," Ethan said, pointing toward a nearby alley.

They crouched low, peering into the shadows. A figure darted across their line of sight, too fast to identify.

"Human or...?" Alex trailed off, his voice uncharacteristically serious.

"Don’t know," Ethan replied. "But whatever it is, it’s not alone."

As if on cue, a guttural growl echoed from the alley, followed by the sound of claws scraping against concrete.

"Great," Alex muttered. "Why is it never a friendly stray dog?"

The growling intensified, and Harper caught a glimpse of glowing eyes in the darkness.

"Run," Ethan hissed.

They bolted, the sound of their pursuers growing louder with each passing second.

"Left!" Alex shouted, leading them into a narrow passageway that opened into a crumbling parking garage.

"Why are we following you?" Harper panted.

"Because I have a plan!" Alex replied, darting up a flight of stairs.

Ethan and Harper exchanged skeptical glances but followed him.

---

The "plan," as it turned out, involved luring their pursuers onto a precariously unstable section of the parking garage.

"This is your genius idea?" Harper shouted as the creatures—mutated dogs, by the look of them—closed in.

"Trust me!" Alex yelled back, grabbing a loose cinder block and tossing it onto the weakened structure.

The floor buckled, sending the creatures plummeting into the abyss below.

Ethan stared at Alex, wide-eyed. "You actually pulled that off."

"Never doubted myself for a second," Alex said, brushing imaginary dust off his hands.

Harper punched him in the arm. "You’re insane."

"And you’re welcome," Alex replied with a grin.

---

The rest of the mission was mercifully uneventful, though the trio couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. They returned to the apartment late that night, their report filling Mallory and the others with equal parts hope and dread.

"There’s a larger group out there," Ethan explained, "but they’re not like the one we scared off. These people are organized. Military-level."

"And the good news?" Mallory asked, though her tone suggested she wasn’t expecting much.

"We found a potential safe zone," Harper said. "It’s an old factory, fortified and stocked with supplies. If we can clear it out, it could be a real upgrade from this place."

Mallory nodded, her mind already racing with plans. "We’ll check it out. But for now, we need to focus on surviving here."

---

That night, as the group settled in, Alex regaled everyone with an exaggerated version of their adventure, complete with sound effects and dramatic gestures.

"And then I said, ’Trust me!’" Alex declared, standing on a chair for emphasis.

"You mean you screamed it while running for your life," Harper corrected, rolling her eyes.

"Details," Alex replied with a wink.

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