A few moments later, a group of young people appeared at the entrance of Big Mike's BBQ & Buffet.
They were dressed simply but practically—most of them wore hooded jackets or long coats, with scarves wrapped around their necks to keep out the dust. Their expressions were tense, eyes darting around the street like they were ready to bolt at any second.
They didn't speak loudly. Instead, they communicated with quick hand signals or hushed whispers, moving fast but with a clear sense of coordination.
"This is the place Emily mentioned, right?"
"Yeah, no doubt about it."
"Looks like it's shut down."
"Let's go—move!"
"…"
They pushed the door open and stepped inside—only to immediately spot a girl standing at the bottom of the staircase.
"Over here, quick!" Emily waved them over, clearly excited to see them.
They hurried to her and followed her up the stairs.
"Emily, you said the new person you found is strong?"
"Yeah, I think so," Emily replied without hesitation.
