As you barrel back into your car and slam the driver-side door, whatever was chasing you out there seems to lose interest. You figure it can't smell you anymore, now that you're inside. You see it through a window as a silhouette, obscured by the mist, shambling unnaturally in some other direction. After taking a moment to pray that it doesn't get close enough for you to be able to make out its finer features, you rest your head on the steering wheel, letting your racing heart and adrenaline ease down. Despite the scare, you got what you came for - enough gas to make it anywhere you want.

But where is there left to go?

You're pretty sure you're still in Vermont. You consider following the road west to Albany or NYC in the hope that the bigger cities fared better. Then again, you've heard rumors that the mist originally spread out from the tip of Maine, east of here. There could be some answers in that direction, but resistance would probably be heavier. For whatever reason, your intuition tells you that there may also be something worthwhile in Hartford, to the south.

MIND: Stable condition.
BODY: No active wounds. Wearing a torn shirt and jeans.
ITEMS: Revolver (.44) (5 rounds). Swiss army knife. Granola bars (6). Car key.

You decide to find other survivors before making your next big decision. After driving around the area for a bit, you come across another vehicle parked at the edge of the forest. There are no movement outside except from animals, but it seems like someone might be inside the car. You approach cautiously, keeping your revolver ready in case things take a turn for the worse.

You carefully peer into the vehicle through the window. The car is empty, but there's a piece of paper on the dashboard. It looks hand-written and reads: "Went to check out the store down the road - hope they didn't send that thing our way." You can make out vague tracks leading away from the vehicle in both directions. Which path do you follow?

MIND: Composed and alert.
BODY: No active wounds. Wearing a torn shirt and jeans.
ITEMS: Revolver (.44) (5 rounds). Swiss army knife. Granola bars (6). Car key.

Following the tracks leading to the right feels more natural than trusting your instincts about what "that thing" might be. You proceed cautiously, occasionally pausing and listening carefully for any sounds out of the ordinary. The tracks lead deeper into the forest before opening up onto a small clearing with an abandoned gas station in the center. There are fresh footprints leading around the perimeter, but most appear to be going toward the gas station's back door. Perhaps there is someone else here who could use your help.

You carefully approach the back door and peer through a small window. Through it you see what appears to be an old storage room with dusty shelves lining the walls. There's some movement, but it's hard to make out any details in the dim lighting. Slowly, and as quietly as possible, you force open the creaky door and step inside.

As you enter the storage room, a figure lunges at you from the shadows! You react instinctively and fire a shot at it, but miss as it falls short. The creature crashes into the floor nearby with a thud. It lets out a pained grunt and begins to scramble toward you on all fours.

You squeeze the trigger again, aiming center mass as you're taught. This time your shot finds its mark and hits the creature squarely in the back. It lets out a choked gurgle before falling limp at your feet. As it lies there motionless, it almost seems to deflate like a punctured balloon. You let out a shaky breath you didn't realize you were holding.

The room is quiet now except for the ragged sound of your breathing and the dripping of whatever that was onto the concrete floor. When your heart rate slows down enough to think clearly again, you look around and spot another figure huddled in a shadowy corner. It's hard to tell if they were trying to hide from you or something else. Do you approach them cautiously or give them some time alone?

You slowly make your way over to the corner, keeping your revolver trained on the figure as you approach. As you get closer, you see that it's a woman, shivering violently and clutching something to her chest. Her eyes flick back and forth between you and the motionless creature at your feet.

She whispers hoarsely, "Are... are they gone?"

You hesitate for a moment before responding. "Yeah," you say slowly. "They're gone now." You gesture to the creature lying motionless on the floor. "I... I think it's safe here for now."