In the early morning light, Mikhail's curiosity beckoned him to return to his floor on the 8th level, just beneath the rooftop, driven by the notion that the sewer system might connect to the lower floors. As he ascended to the 7th floor, thunderous footsteps echoed through the building, shattering the eerie silence, and fear overtook him, forcing a hasty retreat without a backward glance.
Upon reaching the rooftop, he found Rose still huddled beside the radio, her eyes harboring a glimmer of hope amidst her otherwise pessimistic demeanor. A sigh escaped his lips as he approached her, and she, with her perceptive eyes, sensed his unease.
"What's happened?" she asked bluntly, drawing Mikhail into a recount of his harrowing experience. Rose sighed, her negativity intensifying the gravity of their shared predicament.
"Let's begin by exploring every room on the 8th floor," she proposed, her tone direct. "We'll scavenge everything we can to construct a path to the 7th floor."
Mikhail's brow furrowed with concern. "But what about the wandering zombies on the lower levels?" he inquired, voicing the apprehension gnawing at him.
Locking eyes with him, Rose displayed an unwavering resolve, contrasting her typical pessimism. "We can use items like alarm clocks or anything else that might attract their attention. It's a risky gambit, but it's our best shot."
Mikhail reluctantly nodded, and together they set to work on their perilous plan. As they toiled, the fear of the unknown clung to their hearts, and the hours inched by like a languid river.
Amidst the rustling of the rooftop plants, Mikhail cautiously approached the edge and gazed down at the street below, where dozens of zombies loitered, some lurking in the shadows. Despite the grim scene, distant sounds of explosions, gunshots, and distant cries offered a glimmer of hope that humanity clung to life in this nightmarish scenario.
Suddenly, Rose pulled him down, her presence reassuring yet filled with urgency. She whispered for him to stay hidden as a zombie in the shadows seemed to have detected their presence. Her piercing gaze conveyed the importance of their silence, and Mikhail remained concealed on the rooftop.
As they waited, the radio crackled to life, capturing a faint signal. Rose's eyes widened as the voice of salvation filled the airwaves.
"This is the US military. We've established a safe area outside the southern part of the city. We can't rescue you, but the only thing we can provide is a secure haven," the message repeated, offering a tantalizing glimmer of hope in the darkness.
Mikhail and Rose exchanged uncertain glances.
"What should we do now?" Mikhail asked.
"Leaving this building right now would be too perilous; we couldn't clear it, even if we tried. There's a chance those monstrous zombies could overrun the building," she stated matter-of-factly.
"Well, then, what's our next move?" Mikhail inquired once more.
"Just as I said a moment ago, let's scavenge the 8th floor first, gather anything valuable that might aid our escape," she said.
"If you say so," Mikhail acquiesced.
Mikhail surveyed nearby buildings, hoping to spot other survivors on the rooftops.
A few minutes later, he heard the distinctive sound of a passing helicopter. It wasn't a military one, and it swiftly traversed the sky. In the distance, he spotted a red smoke signal on the rooftop of a specific building. Regrettably, the helicopter didn't pause and continued on its course into the distance.
"Do you truly believe the government can't rescue us?" Mikhail pondered aloud.
"Don't place your faith in the government; even before this nightmare unfolded, they'd already abandoned us," she said.
"Well, let's get started. Let's go ahead and I will unlock the room doors, and you'll stand watch," Rose suggested.
"Do you have the keys for the rooms in this building?" Mikhail inquired.
"No, I'm just skilled at picking locks," she replied with an enigmatic smile.
As they descended, they quietly barricaded the stairs leading to the 7th floor. Then, Rose commenced opening the rooms on the 8th floor, with Mikhail serving as her protector.
Room by room, they unlocked the doors and entered. Every room, except for one elderly lady's quarters, lay devoid of inhabitants. Given the city's size, most tenants were likely absent, perhaps at work when the pandemic began. They gathered all the items they found in Mikhail's room since staying on the rooftop after nightfall seemed too risky, fearing that zombies might ascend the building.
They examined their findings: a substantial supply of food, medicine, snacks, liquor, rope, hiking gear, a baseball bat, and a concealed handgun beneath a bed. They also came across flammable substances, solvents, alarm clocks, and gadgets with remaining battery life. These provisions became their lifeline, offering a glimmer of hope in a world overrun by the undead.