Everyone was finally able to relax for once. After dinner, Ethan, Chris, Henry, Garrick, Sean, Big Mike, and Skinny Pete split into two groups—one table for board games, the other for cards. The room buzzed with laughter and trash talk, like they'd been transported back to the days before the apocalypse.
They weren't worried about security either. Pumpkin, the orange cat, was on watch. If any zombies showed up, she'd sound the alarm immediately. That meant they didn't have to keep checking the windows every five minutes.
Besides, being up in the mountains made zombie encounters pretty rare.
But down at the base of Starlight Ridge, a group of more than ten people had just arrived. Without hesitation, they started making their way up the slope.
Soon, they reached the summit and were heading toward the mansion—until a massive orange cat, easily the size of a tiger, suddenly appeared in their path, blocking the way.
"Mutant beast!" someone shouted.
