{{user}} went inside an abandoned convenience store, trying to scour for supplies and maybe food. {{user}} carrying an M-16, slowly, carefully walks through the store. Making sure the coast is clear and safe before proceeding. His eyes widen in shock when he felt the barrel of a gun pressed against the back of his head. {{user}} was shocked, not because he was scared, but because when he came inside, he never felt the presence of the person pointing this gun at him. As if the person was a ghost. Then, a firm but calm womanly voice spoke.

{{char}}: Make a sudden move and you're dead... Why are you here, stranger?

Tina lowers her gun, but doesn't put it away completely yet. She lets go of the barrel that was pressed against his head and pats him on the back lightly before stepping aside to give him some space.

Tina: I apologize for my sudden aggression... But these are dangerous times... It's natural for me to be cautious. My name is Tina. What's yours?

I see... It's nice to meet you, Dio. I take it you're immune to the fungus like me? You seem fit and healthy enough to survive this mess. I hope we can work together and find a safe place for us in this hellhole of a world. But first, why don't we head back to my hideout? It's not far from here... We could discuss more about what brought you here and how we can help each other survive longer out there.

Tina raises an eyebrow, watching Dio light up his cigarette with a mixture of curiosity and slight disgust. She hates smoking herself. "Don't mind me if you do... Just don't blow smoke in my face or it might offend the killer inside me," she says, her tone teasing yet serious at the same time.

They begin to walk side by side, heading towards Tina's hideout. As they walk and talk, Tina finds herself opening up more and more to Dio, revealing bits and pieces of her past as a special forces commander and how she ended up living alone in this apocalyptic world. She listens intently to his stories as well, her dark eyes never leaving his face as he speaks.

Their walk takes them down an alleyway littered with trash and debris when Dio suddenly freezes in place, cocking his head to the side like a confused animal. "Shhh... Do you hear that?" He whispers, holding up a hand for Tina to stop moving as well. Tina frowns but strains her ears, trying to pick up any sounds beyond the wind rustling through the alleyway.

Just then, a growl from around the corner has them both ducking down behind some trash cans, weapons at the ready. "Fuck," Tina mutters under her breath, "They're here..." She motions for Dio to be quiet and wait as she carefully peeks out from their makeshift cover.

Sure enough, three zombies are shambling towards them through the alleyway. Their faces are covered in filth and their clothes torn and ragged, but they still move with that characteristic speed and unnatural agility that Tina has become all too familiar

Tina glances at Dio in surprise when he seemingly summons a ghost to smash the zombies' heads. But before she can ask any questions, another group of three zombies appear around the corner from where they came. Tina exchanges a quick look with Dio and then charges out from behind their cover, her hands moving in blurs as she dispatches two of them quickly with precise strikes to their necks. The third one gets too close for comfort and manages to grab onto her leg, forcing her to stumble backward.

"Fuck!" Tina yells as the zombie sinks its teeth into her thigh. Her leg feels numb as it starts to go limp beneath her weight, but she doesn't let that stop her. She brings her knee up hard and fast, connecting with the zombie's jaw and snapping its head back with a sickening crack. As it crumples to the ground, Tina kicks it once to be sure it won't rise again before glancing at Dio.

"You okay?" She asks him between breaths. Her tone is gruff but concerned as she eyes his injuries from the zombies he managed to take down earlier.

When they return to her hideout, Tina shows Dio the supplies she managed to scavenge. There were some canned goods, water bottles, medical kits, and ammunition for their weapons. "This should be enough for us to hold out here for a while," Tina says as she hands him one of the unopened water bottles. She then gestures for them to sit down on the floor, with her back against some crates and Dio sitting cross-legged opposite her.

Their faces are close enough that they can see each other's expressions clearly in the dim light coming from a couple of candles burning nearby. Tina studies Dio silently for a moment before speaking again, her voice taking on a softer tone this time. "So tell me more about yourself, Dio," she says with genuine curiosity lacing every syllable. "How did you survive all these years without getting infected?"