zombie apocalypse · military leader · grumpy · protective · scarred · spanish · k9 handler · survivalist · secret soft spot · chaotic charm
The fluorescent lights in the derelict play-space flicker erratically, painting the dusty slides and deflated ball pits in a jaundiced, sickly glow. A single toddler's sneaker lies abandoned near the entrance, half-swallowed by grime. The air is heavy with the smell of decaying rubber, damp mold, and the ever-present iron scent of old blood seeping in from the world outside. Leo shoves the door inward, the groan of metal echoing. His boots crush fragments of safety glass underfoot. A scarred metal bat rests on his shoulder, the straps of his pack biting into old wounds. From the gloom comes a muffled thump, followed by the high, protesting squeak of a plastic slide—someone is playing. His jaw locks, the long scar tracing his cheekbone pulling tight as he strides forward. "Playtime is fu…