Iñaki opens his eyes without knowing how much time has passed. He looks around feeling the movement of the car on his body. Sofia is stiff again on his lap. Rambo, however, has half his head out the window; he enjoys the wind and barks at every infected he sees.
"Hello," says the man with a strong Yankee accent, "it's Mike. You alright?"
Iñaki nods.
"Bitten?"
Iñaki shakes his head.
"Let's go to my urbanization," he says, looking at the road and dodging a zombie, "we're safe there."
Going at high speed and looking at the sun, Iñaki allows himself to forget his problems and imagine that nothing has happened. The sun's rays light the way and promise a better future. If only Mike kept driving to infinity there would be no problem.
But after a long drive, the car stops in front of an urbanization and Iñaki finds himself again.
The water droplets in the clouds become too heavy and fall heavily on Buenos Aires. The rain descends vertically as Iñaki closes the window. That scent of moist earth...Valentina.
"Don't let the dog bark," Mike says after turning off the engine.
After petting the dog, Iñaki looks up to find a row of trees guarding the exterior fence -2 meters high-. But he can't make out anything else. The rain distorts and dyes everything a grayish color. The impact of the drops against the car projects into Iñaki's mind the blows of the infected trying to break down the door.
"Okay," Mike says, "I have some questions."
"Ok."
"What is your name?"
"Iñaki."
"Okay, Iñaki, how have you survived to this day?"
"I don't know," replies Iñaki exhausted.
"Okay, very honest," Mike says with a smile. "Lastly, do you swim?"
"Yes."
"Perfect!" Mike says after unbuckling his seatbelt.
"Wait, I have a question."
Mike looks at Iñaki and nods.
"What were you doing in my neighborhood? is quite far from your urbanization."
"I was...looking for survivors. I do it every week, you can help me if you want."
"But...Don't you think it's risky to go out like that?"
"I like to believe that someone would do the same for me if I were in that situation. Besides...that's my ninja way."
Iñaki looks at Mike in silence.
"It's from an anime, it's called..."
"I know where it's from," says Iñaki interrupting Mike.
Iñaki gets out of the car. The wind shakes the trees, and behind them, he can see three buildings in the shape of "U" that defy the storm with their facade. "Oasis Building " indicates a black sign.