Footsteps echoed on the concrete pavement as the trio stepped foot into the heart of the factory. Ryan’s jaw dropped, taking in how massive the place looked on the inside. In any other situation, he’d want to shout and get an echo to respond back to him. Then again, the place would've had people walking, talking, and working the day away. It hit him just how small in scope he was in comparison.

  Ryan didn’t have time to stand around and sightsee, but he also didn’t want to ignore his surroundings and walk around blindly, either. The group had to be on the lookout for anything suspicious, not just search for water and survivors. First sign of any real danger and they’d run. Simple as that.

  Grime and rust filled the walls. Inoperable machinery and conveyor belts stood motionless. Sunlight creaked through the broken windows and pieces of the high ceiling. Droplets of water fell from pipes, some sturdy, others broken. Ryan, Mike, and Karin stepped over broken glass and puddles as they continued their search.

  The trio inspected the crushed and torn bottles but deduced that the water wouldn't be sustainable or sanitary to drink. The doors from the first floor were locked, and they couldn't get any of the machines to power on, even if they wanted to. There have been no zombies so far, but there has been no sign of other human life, either.

  Mike wanted to continue inspecting the more sturdy pipes, believing clean water was still within reach. Karin agreed with caution. Although she'd rather focus on finding people first, she knew how vital staying hydrated was. The trio walked underneath a leak from the pipe, the droplets forming a puddle beside their feet. Mike held his hands out and waited for the water to land in them while Karin and Ryan stood on guard in case anyone tried to sneak up on them. Examining the water on the ground and on his palm, he couldn't believe it. Neither could they.

  The water appeared clear and easily drinkable, despite the factory being abandoned. This lifted weights off the groups’ shoulders, but now another problem arose. Where did the end of the pipe lead? How were they going to create a hole big enough to collect more of it, just to be safe and inspect it?

  The trio pressed on, now walking alongside the pipes, hoping to find a way closer to the water. Karin turned a corner and called out to Mike and Ryan, pointing them to a set of stairs on the side.

  Up the stairs, one path led to a catwalk that extended across the room, and the other just led to a higher plane of floors with more doors via a fire escape. Thinking the pipes above led to a room on a higher floor, the group wasted no time climbing up the stairs.

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  The walkway was sturdier than expected, supporting each of the group's weight with no problem. Ryan slid his finger across the bar. The rough, metallic burn caused him to pull back right away. Was it still rusting? Was it a good idea to walk across? What if it broke? Ryan didn’t want to imagine looking down and seeing how high up they were, much less if it could hold them for long.

  Despite the loud clanking with each step they took, and it echoing in the vast empty space, nothing garnered any attention so far. Were they safe so that they could let their guard down, even a little? Or were the monsters in hiding, or worse, trapped in another room, eager to escape? Ryan can’t imagine going far on the catwalk, either, especially with it being in the middle of the factory.

  After all that walking, the three took a short break to rest their legs. Being from a higher level meant they could see more of the factory from above, especially the different quadrants they'd yet to explore. Ryan could spot crates that blended with the environment, stacked and tucked away in a corner. Karin also noticed conveyor belts and more inoperable machines. To her dismay, a few of the zombies mindlessly roamed around that area.

  Ryan didn’t blame her, but also had no clue what to say to help comfort her. Unfortunately, they were losing daylight, and couldn’t stay in place for long.

  While continuing to follow the pipes, the three opened each door along the way, hoping to find more survivors needing help. Either the doors ended up locked, or zombies leeched inside. Depending on the number, Mike, Karin, and Ryan would either fight them off, inspect the room, or close the door and leave it behind.

  Karin lowered her head; her faith in finding survivors, much less her mother, dwindled by the second. That much was evident. But she didn’t let it show for too long. They had to come up with something. They had to find someone human here. The last thing anyone wanted was for this trip to be a waste of time. Or worse, for someone to bite the bullet here, of all places. It was her idea to come here, after all.

  Karin placed a hand next to her ear, listening for the sounds of the water.

  “That way.” She pointed and marched ahead. The other two followed her, since she knew more about the factory than either of them, anyway.

  After a while, the trio stopped in their tracks and looked up. The pipe had disappeared into the wall. In front of them lied a door, differently colored than the rest. There was a sign plastered on the door, along with scratch marks, making it unreadable. This had to be what they were looking for, as far as finding water, anyway. Hopefully, they’d find people in there, too.

  “Get ready.” Mike warned the two, gripping his bat.

  Ryan and Karin nodded, holding their weapons close.

  Mike reached out to touch the handle, only for the door to creak open. It took them a moment to process what happened, but it didn’t take long for them to brush it off and proceed cautiously.