The road outside remained silent long enough that even the smallest sound became noticeable.
At first there was nothing—only dry wind moving dust across cracked asphalt, broken signboards leaning sideways, and sunlight pressing hard over the abandoned city.
Then footsteps began to echo somewhere farther down the street.
Not loud.
But enough.
Tyler immediately moved toward the side wall near the broken entrance and leaned carefully just enough to look outside without exposing himself fully.
Above him, on the top of a half-collapsed wooden watch post attached to the neighboring structure, Tansy had already taken position.
She crouched low, scanning the road from above.
A second later she looked down and signaled.
No immediate visual threat yet.
Tyler raised one hand behind him and motioned forward.
Rose and the old man followed without argument.
The old man—Rudd—moved slower than the others, but his footing remained steady despite age.
They crossed the road quickly.
