Walking Dead: Level Up or Die Trying

The morning light poured in through the high, dirty windows of the cell block, casting long slats of gold across the concrete floor. The air still held a chill, but the scent of heating canned food and brewing tea gave the block a sense of calm. Survivors sat in small clusters—on bunks, benches, or even the floor—eating whatever breakfast they had: oats, crackers, old jerky, or fruit cups that somehow hadn't expired yet.

Aiden moved slowly through the block, checking on each person. He wasn't loud, never had been—but he had a presence. People respected that. A quiet nod from him felt more reassuring than a dozen words.

He asked about their sleep. Their appetite. If they needed anything.

Most shook their heads or answered softly. Some just gave a thumbs up and went back to eating. It wasn't perfect, but no one was crying, no one was screaming, and for a morning in the apocalypse—that was progress.

After a short round, he made his way toward the back of the block where Mara was sitting on a bunk with Sophia tucked under her arm. They were sharing a packet of dried fruit and some crackers, wrapped in a thin blanket. Sophia's face was still pale, her eyes tired, but she was awake—and that was more than what Aiden had hoped for.

He knelt in front of them slowly, careful not to spook the girl.

"Morning," he said, his voice low but calm. "You two holding up?"

Mara gave a small smile and nodded. "We're alright. Tired… but better."

Sophia looked at Aiden nervously, her fingers still clutching Mara's sleeve.

Aiden softened his voice further, shifting slightly so he wasn't looming over her. "Hey, Sophia. I know it's been rough. But you're safe now, alright? No one's gonna leave you behind again."

She stared at him, blinking rapidly like she was holding back tears. Her lips parted, but nothing came out at first. Mara gently rubbed her back.

"I… I was hiding. In the woods…" Sophia finally whispered, barely audible. "Rick said he'd come back… but he didn't."

Aiden felt his chest tighten. He nodded slowly, never breaking eye contact with her.

"I know," he said. "That shouldn't have happened. You were just a kid… still are. That wasn't your fault."

Sophia blinked again, and a tear slid down her cheek. Mara held her closer, whispering gently in her ear, trying to keep her grounded. Aiden let the silence sit for a moment—he knew sometimes the quiet said more than words could.

"We're not like that," he said finally. "We don't leave people behind. Ever."

Sophia's eyes met his again. Something in her expression shifted—just slightly. A spark of trust. Maybe not full, maybe not yet. But it was something.

Aiden gave her a small nod, then looked to Mara.

"If either of you needs anything—blankets, water, space—just say it," he told her. "Today's gonna be about settling in more, fortifying the area. I'll make sure the noise doesn't get too close."

"Thanks, Aiden," Mara replied, her voice quiet but steady.

As Aiden stood up and turned to leave, Sophia spoke again, her voice just a whisper behind him.

"Thank you…"

He paused, glanced over his shoulder, and gave a slight smile.

Then he moved on.

There was still a lot of work ahead. But for the first time in a long while, this place felt like the beginning of something. Aiden wasn't used to hope, but maybe, just maybe, he could learn.

Aiden raised an eyebrow, then smirked.

"One down, three to go," he muttered under his breath.

He closed the prompt and turned to the crew—Davis, Nora, Eryn, and a few others. They were experienced now, sharper than they'd been a week ago. Fewer questions, better reactions. They weren't just survivors anymore—they were a team.

"Alright," Aiden said, voice carrying with a quiet authority. "Cell Block B's up next. Same game plan as yesterday—blow the horn, thin 'em out at the fence, then we move in. Stay sharp, keep your spacing, and watch each other's backs."

Davis nodded, loading another bundle of handmade spears onto his back. Nora adjusted her quiver, tapping the edge of her bow for luck. The others finished checking their weapons and gear, anticipation written across their faces.

With a final glance over the crew, Aiden led the group toward the old dividing fence. The metal clinked underfoot as they walked across a makeshift bridge of scrap they'd placed between the blocks. The morning mist still lingered in the air, casting shadows along the prison walls.

Ahead stood Cell Block B—still untouched. The windows were dark, the door sealed by rusted chains. Vines crawled up its sides, and faint smears of blood clung to the walls near the entrance.

"Same layout, but don't get comfortable," Aiden warned, his tone even. "This block might've held the worst of 'em back in the day. Riot gear walkers, possibly some fresh ones stuck inside, too. Let's not get cocky."

Benji set up the bright red blowhorn near the fence, nodding toward Davis.

"On your go, boss."

Aiden raised a hand, signaling everyone into formation. Spears forward. Bows raised. Eyes forward.

"Hit it."

The horn let out a piercing wail, louder than yesterday. It echoed off the concrete, bounced down the dark corridors of Cell Block B, and stirred the dead.

At first, there was only silence.

Then came the sound. Heavy footsteps dragging against the ground. Groans, wet and inhuman. Shadows moving behind the barred windows.

The dead were coming.

They lurched into the yard in clumps—slow at first, then faster as the horn agitated them. Some wore inmate jumpsuits, others were in more decomposed remains of old prison uniforms. Their skin was pale and patchy, their eyes milky with rot, and some had barbed wire tangled around their limbs.

But it was the riot walkers that made Aiden's stomach tighten.

Thick helmets. Hardened vests. Armored padding. All still intact in places. These didn't go down easily.

The crew engaged with calm precision. Spears stabbed through the fence as the walkers came close, targeting eyes, mouths, and exposed necks. Arrows flew only when necessary, saving precious ammo. Nora lost a clean shot straight through the visor of a riot walker, taking it down with surgical aim.

But it wasn't easy.

Some of the armored walkers piled against the fence, pressing their weight into it. Aiden shouted orders, directing the group to spread out and avoid concentrated pressure points. Davis used a crowbar to hook and pull a walker's helmet free while Eryn jabbed a spear into its exposed skull.

An hour passed. Maybe more. The pile of corpses grew on the other side of the fence. The air stank of rot and blood. But finally… the noise died down.

No more footsteps. No more groans.

Aiden exhaled, his grip loosening on his spear. "Good work. Hydrate, then we breach."

They took a short break, passing around canteens and catching their breath. Then Aiden approached the gate to Cell Block B, this time with bolt cutters in hand.

The rusted chain fell away with a snap, and the door groaned open just enough to reveal the dark hallway beyond.

"Same as before—set up barricades just inside. Kill zone in front. Once we're ready, we sound the horn again and draw them out."

Benches and tables from the yard were repurposed into makeshift barricades. Gaps were left just wide enough for spear thrusts and clean arrow shots.

Once in place, the group took positions again. This time, the horn was blown inside the block.

The sound rattled through the narrow corridors like thunder. Echoes collided in the dark. And then—they came.

Walkers spilled out of the cells in the upper levels and stairwells, crashing into the barricade with snarls and gnashing teeth. It was controlled chaos. Aiden and the others moved with mechanical precision—strike, pull back, strike again. Arrows whistled, spears slammed, and boots kicked staggering corpses away from the gaps.

Eventually, the flow slowed. They'd either killed them all… or what remained was too stuck to move.

They broke down the barricades and moved in, double-tapping any bodies on the floor, and clearing the last stragglers from corners and locked cells. A few walkers had been trapped behind debris or wedged under metal bunks, but none survived long once Aiden's group found them.

By midday, Cell Block B was theirs.

Blood stained the floor, but it was quiet now. Peaceful even. The kind of quiet that only came after hard-earned survival.

Aiden let himself rest for a moment, leaning against a cold concrete wall.

[Ding!]

Another prompt appeared:

[Cell Block B – Completed]

Two down. Two to go.

Aiden smiled to himself, then turned to the others.

"Let's clean up. Then we'll radio Mara. The sooner we make this place livable, the better."

As Aiden and his group moved through the narrow, dim corridors of Cell Block B, their boots echoed against the concrete floors. Dust hung in the air like a thin fog, disturbed by every step. The deeper they went, the heavier the silence felt. Now and then, someone would jab a spear into an open cell, double-checking for any straggling walkers.

Eventually, the group reached a heavy steel door partially wedged shut with a food cart. Faint sounds echoed from the other side—voices. Human voices.

Aiden motioned for everyone to hold position. He stepped forward cautiously and nudged the cart out of the way just enough to see through the reinforced window slot. Inside was the cafeteria—dimly lit from a skylight cracked with grime—and gathered behind overturned tables and benches were several men in orange prison jumpsuits.

They were filthy, pale from lack of sun, and jittery. One of them was pacing, muttering to himself. Another banged on the tray slot with a spoon as soon as he saw movement. They looked worn down but not injured.

"Hey! Someone out there?" one of the prisoners shouted, his voice hoarse. "What the hell is going on? Where's the riot squad? We've been in here for… days?"

Aiden exchanged a look with his group.

The prisoners had no idea.

Another man stepped forward—broad-shouldered with a shaved head and a mean look in his eye. "You here to move us or what? Food's been dry for two days! Where's the damn guards?"

From their expressions and words, it became clear—they still believed this was some kind of prison riot, not the end of the world. They hadn't seen what the world had turned into beyond these walls.

Behind Aiden, one of the group members whispered, "They don't know..."

Another added, "What do we do? Tell them the truth? Or…?"

Aiden stood silent for a moment, eyeing the locked door, the desperate faces on the other side, and the unknown factors in dealing with desperate, armed men who had no idea what they were waking up to.

Aiden already knew who these prisoners were — the same group from the old Walking Dead days. Their leader, the man with the revolver, had a hidden gun from the moment they stepped behind the cafeteria door. Aiden had seen enough to realize this was a threat that couldn't be ignored.

He signaled quietly to his team, fingers tightening around his M9 pistol hidden beneath his jacket. The door creaked open slowly, revealing the prisoners crammed inside, their eyes wide with a mix of fear and desperation.

The leader raised his revolver immediately, aiming it squarely at Aiden.

In the blink of an eye, Aiden pulled out his M9 and fired.

The sharp bang echoed through the room, a single bullet finding its mark — a headshot. The leader dropped instantly, the revolver clattering to the floor.

Before the others could react, Aiden swept his gun toward the rest of the prisoners. One by one, shots rang out. The cold efficiency of his aim was ruthless — no hesitation, no mercy.

Bodies fell, some scrambling, others frozen in shock, all silenced under the thunder of Aiden's gunfire.

Behind him, his group was frozen — some wide-eyed, some shaking, caught off guard by how quickly things escalated. The air was thick with the sharp scent of gunpowder and fear.

Aiden's breathing was steady, his face unreadable. He holstered his pistol and slowly turned to his team.

"This isn't a negotiation," he said coldly. "They were a threat, and threats don't get second chances."

No one spoke. The silence was heavy, broken only by the faint groans of the fallen.

Aiden's decision sent a clear message: survival came first. Morals were a luxury they couldn't afford.

The group swallowed their unease, knowing that in this new world, mercy often meant death.

[Ding]

[ For killing sub-plot characters]

[+300 EXP]

Aiden didn't dwell on what had just happened. There would be time later—plenty of time—to talk about the harsh realities and choices that had been made in the heat of the moment. Right now, there was a prison to secure, a place that could become their new home if they played it right. The stakes were high, and the weight of leadership settled heavily on his shoulders. But he moved forward, pushing down the questions and second-guessing. Survival was the only priority.

He turned back to the task at hand and barked quiet orders to his group. "We clean Cell Block B next. No cutting corners." His voice was steady, but carried the iron edge of someone who knew what failure would mean.

The group responded immediately, breaking into smaller teams. Aiden took charge of one, moving methodically through the long, dim corridors of the prison's second cell block. The smell of decay was thick in the air, but there was no time to be bothered by it. Every step was careful and deliberate, weapons drawn, eyes scanning every shadow and corner.

The bodies piled high — walkers they had killed, prisoners caught unawares, those who had met their end in the chaos of the outbreak and riot. Aiden's team worked with grim efficiency, stacking corpses in corners away from main walkways to clear paths for movement. The task was brutal and exhausting, but necessary. They couldn't risk the disease or attracting more walkers with rotting bodies left exposed.

While some cleaned, others searched through the prison debris, scavenging for anything useful. Riot gear was a prime find — heavy-duty jackets, helmets with visors, thick gloves, boots that could protect against bites and blunt force. These items would provide the fighters with an edge, better protection during skirmishes, and supply runs. Aiden made mental notes of the usable clothes — sturdy fabrics to patch holes in their worn gear, layers to keep warm when nights grew cold.

They also uncovered bags and lockers with supplies — canned food, first aid kits, and even old walkie-talkies, the kind with short-range signals perfect for communication inside the prison's walls. Aiden quickly claimed some for himself and passed others out, knowing that good communication would be vital if things went sideways.

The prisoners' personal belongings—scraps of paper, worn photographs, tattered books—were largely ignored. There was no time for sentimentality. Survival was the name of the game, and every second wasted was another chance for disaster to strike.

The group moved steadily, some working in silence while others muttered quietly to each other, the atmosphere heavy but focused. Aiden could see the strain on their faces, the weariness that came not just from physical labor but the psychological toll of living in a world gone mad. Yet, they persevered.

By midday, Cell Block B was nearly cleared. The air felt lighter, less oppressive, without the lingering presence of death in every hallway. Aiden gathered the group in the main hall, their faces smeared with grime but eyes burning with a quiet determination.

"We're making progress," he said firmly. "But this is only the beginning. We've got to keep moving. Clean up Cell Block C next, and keep an eye out for supplies. Every little bit counts."

Some nodded, others gave tired but resolute smiles. They understood the task ahead, even if they didn't fully grasp the price it might cost.

Aiden took a deep breath, steadying himself. The prison was slowly becoming more than just a crumbling fortress — it was shaping into a bastion of hope, a place where maybe, just maybe, they could carve out a future amid the chaos.

But to get there, they'd have to face whatever horrors lurked behind the next door — and be ready to make the hard calls again.

With the sun climbing higher, Aiden pushed onward. The work was far from over.

[Walkers killed: x27]

[Riot Walkers x4]

{Total EXP gained: 62]

Author's Note:

Hey everyone, first, I want to thank you all for your patience and support.

Over the past while, I've been dealing with some personal issues that required my full attention. On top of that, I faced a mix of power outages and internet problems that made it difficult to stay connected or upload anything consistently.

I know many of you have been waiting, and I truly appreciate those who stuck around. The good news is: I'm back, and I'm ready to continue the story!

Thanks again for your understanding. Let's get back to it