The MC, John, has the survival instincts of a sorority girl in a slasher movie. Girl in a dog cage on the side of the road with zombies? Surely, she must have been trapped in there for years, leap into action without looking for evidence of a trap!
The big bad has been trying to kill you and has kidnapped your lady love and surviving settlement members? Let him live and try to hide in the same region rather than killing him or just leaving. Never, EVER, scout a bad guy stronghold and engage from range. Leave the seven year old trauma survivor alone in the woods with a pistol; WHAT COULD GO WRONG???
It’s infuriating.