*gasp*

The gasps could be heard from just around the corner of the street by every passerby. There was a group of people gathered there, and they all appeared to be worried. Kuchi just passed the group on his way to school, which is located at the top of a hill in the middle of town, while wearing his usual white-navy uniform and black eyeglasses. The first thing he noticed the moment he stepped outside his house in the morning was that everyone was wearing the same expression.

"Kuchiiiiiiiiiii!"

Ack.

The voice rang so loud in his head as he instinctively shrinks his head down as if telling that he already knows who the person is. It was Sarah and she was running towards him, waving her tiny hand while wearing a cute smile on her face. Sarah is one of his closest and dearest friends and her parents were the couple who first discovered Kuchi before when he first arrived on this island.

16 years ago, Kuchi was discovered in a raft by the people of this island, he was still months old at that time and was wrapped in a clean towel. Everyone knew he had been abandoned by his parents. Regardless of his origin, everyone treated him nicely and kindly and as if he were their child. He grew up on this island with two childhood friends, and they used to spend every night at the east, where they'd built their headquarters. They're not sure if that HQ is still standing because it's been three years since they've been there. He's now 5'8" tall and has lived a normal and happy childhood like any other person should.

"Is there something wrong?"

Sarah leaned forward, her gaze fixed on Kuchi's face above. Her golden hair smells as good and smooth as ever, and her bright eyes are impossible to ignore. It's no surprise that so many of the guys at school adore/like her.

"No, it's nothing..."

"Oh yeah, have you noticed everyone's expression lately?"

"umm... yeah..."

"Everyone has been kinda gloomy."

She sighs and gently shakes her head as if to indicate that delving further into the matter was pointless.

It all started two days ago when a shipwreck was discovered on the island's north side. The mayor of the town organized a search party, but nothing was heard from them the next day. There's been a lot of talk in town about the mayor's plan to organize another search and rescue party, and I believe this is the reason why many people have been kinda gloomy recently as if they're afraid of something.

"Hey, Kuchi~"

Kuchi immediately snapped out from the middle of his thinking when he heard Sarah's voice.

"Geez, you're spacing out."

"Sorry sorry haha..."

"We have arrived~"

After a 10-15 minute walk up the hill, they both arrived at the school's large iron gate. Without wasting any time, the school bell rings so loud, signaling that the first class is about to begin.

"Crap! Let's hurry!"

...

12 minutes later, both of them were seen silently crouching outside the classroom with books atop their head, both still sweating profusely from the running.

Sometime later, the teacher finally allowed them to enter the room and both of them got to their respective seats and the class was resumed.

[ 12:10 PM Lunch Break ]

Daniel's laughter could be heard across the entire room, startling everyone who was eating. He is one of Kuchi's closest friends, and the three of them grew up together. He stands 6 feet tall and has a good body shape. He was the top athlete at this school until a year ago when he accidentally injured his right leg and was kicked off of his scholarship. That must have been a serious blow to him, but it didn't stop him from remaining cheerful and loud. That's one thing I admire about this guy.

"I can't believe you guys tripped together!" Then once again, Daniel bursts into laughter.

"AAAAHHHHRRG" Sarah whined while covering her face with her handbag, embarrassed at what happened earlier. She picked up her pencil case and threw it at Daniel's face and both of them is screaming at each other.

Everything seems so normal like any usual day...

...

....

Kuchi's vision became dark and blurry all of a sudden. Everything in his path was on fire. He saw Sarah being attacked and Daniel attempting to rescue her but failed to do so as some group of attackers was holding him.

Sarah and Daniel's faces turned gruesome and eerie as they both tried to call out to him.

And...

"Kuchi!"

He blinked his eyes open wide, sweat pouring down his brow. He scans his surroundings and exhales a sigh of relief, realizing what he thought was just a bad dream. He notices that everyone's expressions are perplexed as they stare at him. "Are you okay?" Sarah asked quietly.

Just as he was about to recover, a loud gunshot was heard from a distance closer to the school. Everyone was startled and quickly shifted their gaze to the window. Everything fell silent for a few seconds until another sound was heard, and just as Kuchi was about to look at his left side, a bullet grazed his left cheek.

"Kuchi!!!"

Daniel and Sarah both called out his name at the same time and rushed up to assist him. Everyone seemed to move slower and more hazily for Kuchi, while his other classmates were also perplexed and trembling in the background.

"Everyone stay calm and don't move; the security guards will soon address this madness. So stay put!" the teacher in his twenties instructed everyone, which is the best thing in this type of situation. He then went directly to where Kuchi was lying down to help. He can see Sarah's teary eyes and is constantly trying to make sense of Kuchi, who appears to be in shock.

"He's bleeding, but he should be all right." The teacher tries to reassure them.

"Teacher, what are we going to do?" Sarah's trembling voice was clear, and he understood how she felt, but there was nothing they could do in this situation but to remain calm.

"Hey Kuchi, Hang in there!" Daniel's worried voice can also be heard.

"For the time being, let's stop the bleeding and give him some rest."

A female student's faint scream can be heard just as the teacher was about to finish treating Kuchi. Everyone looked in the direction she was looking, trembling at what they had just witnessed.

The school ground was painted in red blood splatters near the school gate, and the teachers were being attacked by unknown people. And it appears that they are only using their bite to kill everyone.