The wind howled through the rusted gates of what was once called the Zombieland Hospital. Though the outside still looked like a ruin from a forgotten time, inside it had become the safest place for any kind of medical care in the survivor zones. The doctors were kind, skilled, and most importantly—human.
Alina, now five months pregnant, lay on the examination bed as the screen beside her showed the shape of her baby. Her heart beat fast as she stared at the little flickering image. The sound of the heartbeat filled the room, strong and steady.
"It looks healthy," said Dr. Niven with a small smile. "Would you like to know the gender?"
Alina nodded eagerly. "Yes, please."
"It's a girl," the doctor said.
A small gasp escaped Alina's lips as she stared at the image again. A daughter. Just like her mom had her. The moment filled her with both joy and fear. She gently placed her hand over her stomach, whispering, "Hi, baby girl."
After the appointment, she stepped out of the hospital, wrapping her coat tighter around her small belly. She had come alone—Kai was away helping patrol, and Ethan had stayed with Lyra and Elena. She thought it would be okay. It was just a checkup, after all.
But as she walked toward the front gate of the medical compound, she noticed something strange—new faces. People she hadn't seen before. Their clothes were too clean, their eyes too sharp. Not survivors. Not from their community.
Before she could react, a cloth was pressed over her mouth. Her body jerked, and she tried to scream, but the scent of chemicals overwhelmed her senses. Her vision blurred, and the last thing she saw before everything went black was a set of cold, unfamiliar eyes staring back at her.
The strangers moved quickly. A group of them loaded Alina into the back of a covered truck. The tires kicked up dust as they drove away from the hospital, leaving no trace behind.
Back at the survivor camp, time passed. When Alina didn't return within the hour, concern turned to panic. Kai arrived breathless, demanding answers, while Elena's hands shook with dread. Ethan ordered a search party immediately, but it was already too late. Alina had vanished without a trace.
Inside the truck, unconscious and unaware of what awaited her, Alina's baby girl kicked gently inside her womb—like a signal, a warning, or perhaps a promise: She would survive.