Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven Content Sneak Peek

In chapter 15, you finally get to meet the River Dogs at their factory across the lake. This is a scene where you are meeting Casey and a few others. I also included a few of the questions you can ask.

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The heavy metal doors groan as they slide open, revealing a dimly lit expanse beyond. The air inside is heavy, carrying the mingling scents of oil, rust, and unwashed bodies. Rows of crates line the walls, some stacked neatly, others haphazardly, as if they’d been rummaged through. A few are pried open, their contents spilling out: metal parts, tangled wires, and faded labels that hint at their original use.

Against one wall, a line of mismatched mattresses, sleeping bags, and even a few patched tents create a makeshift sleeping area. Clothes hang on a rope strung across the space, the fabric damp and wrinkled. A stuffed lion peeks out from one of the tents, its fur worn down to threadbare patches.

The ceiling stretches high, crisscrossed with beams and rusted machinery suspended from chains. A metal catwalk runs along the upper part of the room, accessible by a narrow set of stairs. Shadows cling to the corners where the light from a single floodlamp doesn’t reach. More crates are shoved against the far wall, some marked with faded stencils reading “Fragile” and “Caution.”

People stir as your group enters. A tall black man rises to his full height, a few inches shorter than Jaime. He steps closer, as he looks over your group with a completely neutral expression. “Brian, I'm Emily's husband.”

Near one of the tents, a teenage girl sits cross-legged on the ground, clutching the stuffed lion tightly to her chest. Her brown hair is tied back, her expression wary but curious. “That's Chloe," Casey says.”

A small woman with long black hair leans against a crate, her arms crossed. She watches silently and nods when Casey gestures toward her. “Annabel,” he says. “She’s our green thumb, keeping us alive in ways you wouldn’t expect.”

At the base of the stairs leading to the catwalk, a woman with sharp eyes and a solid stance stands close to Casey’s wheelchair, her protective presence evident. “And that's Eden,” Casey says.

Emily steps forward, slipping her arm around Brian's back. “This is what we’ve built,” she says, gesturing to the room. “It’s not much, but it’s home.”

Casey’s chair hums faintly as he rolls further into the space. “We’re not living the high life, but we’ve managed to carve out something. It’s rough, but it’s ours.” He turns the chair to face you. I'm sure you have questions for us. What would you like to know?"

• "What's in all the crates around here?"

• "What type of factory was this?"

• "How have you managed to stay safe out here? The defenses don’t look very strong."

• "Do you have a steady source of food and water?"

• "What’s the story behind your group? How did you all end up here?"