[4 Months Later]
I didn't realize it, but time has flown by so fast, I couldn't even notice it.
Everyone's changed. We've all aged—not just in years but in how we carry ourselves. The camp's situation has been good, considering everything. No food or supply shortages. But there's still one thing that weighs on us.
We're still worried as hell about the other camps nearby. We haven't heard from them in months. They're too far, and our signal here is weak as hell. We can't get in touch if something goes wrong.
"Reyes, it's me," I said, knocking on her office door.
The door creaked open, and there she was. Reyes. She looked... different, but in a way that made my chest feel tight. She was wearing a loose outfit—simple but still hugging her body in all the right ways. Her shoulder was bare, the fabric slipping slightly down her arm.
Her hair was slightly messy, like she'd just woken up from a short nap, and her green eyes were tired but still sharp, like she was carrying the weight of the entire camp on her shoulders.
"What is it?" she asked, her voice soft but a little impatient.
"N-nothing much," I stammered, leaning against the doorframe. "Just wanted to ask if you need help with anything."
Her green eyes flicked up to meet mine, and for a moment, I felt like I couldn't move. "Everything's fine. Stop worrying so much, Alan," she said, waving me off.
Before I could say anything else, she gave me a small, almost teasing smile and shut the door.
I sighed, walking away. Why does she have to be so... distracting?
"Yo!" Suddenly, someone slammed into my back.
"Who the hell—?" I started, already knowing exactly who it was.
"You seriously can't pretend you didn't know it was me!" Kayla said, pouting as she crossed her arms.
"How could I not know? Your voice is the same annoying one every day," I said, grinning as I teased her.
"That's so unfair!" Kayla glared at me, puffing out her cheeks like a kid.
"Yo! Yo! Yo!" Michael suddenly appeared, looking like he'd just walked out of a comedy show.
"Jesus, this idiot again…" Kayla muttered under her breath, but I could tell she wasn't really mad.
"Hey! I saved your ass once, remember? You're welcome!" Michael said, grinning like he'd just cured the apocalypse.
"Yeah, yeah, I remember," Kayla replied sarcastically, pinching his nose like he was a kid.
I laughed at the sight of them bickering. "What the hell are you two doing here?" I asked, genuinely confused.
"Nothing. Just killing time," Kayla said, shrugging. "But I have no idea why this guy's even around."
"I'm just bored as hell," Michael admitted, not even pretending to care.
"Have you guys seen Alice?" I asked, suddenly remembering I hadn't seen her all day.
"Oh, she's at the medical tent," Kayla replied, shrugging again.
"That girl's always working her ass off," I said, chuckling softly.
[Switching to Alice's POV]
Every day is the same for me. Helping the sick, cooking for the camp, organizing supplies. It's all I ever do.
But I can't help thinking... I'm 18 now. Who would've thought I'd spend my youth like this? No parties, no fun, just endless survival. It's exhausting.
I sighed, letting the weight of everything crash down on me for a moment. My body felt like it was going to collapse.
[Hours Later]
"Finally! My shift is over," I groaned, stretching my sore muscles. "I swear, my body's about to break in half."
The camp's been peaceful lately, which is good. But sometimes it feels like we're just... stuck. Like we're surviving for no reason. What's the point of living if we're just waiting for the world to end?
As I walked toward the restroom, I noticed the door was locked from the inside.
"Hello? Anyone in there?" I called, knocking on the door.
No answer. Nothing.
"Hey!" I turned to one of the guards standing nearby.
"Yeah, Alice?" he said, raising an eyebrow.
"The restroom's locked. Can you check it?" I asked.
"Sure," the guard said, walking toward the door.
"Hello? Anyone in there?" he called out, louder this time.
"If you don't answer in ten seconds, we're unlocking the door," he warned.
Ten seconds passed.
"Don't say we didn't warn you!" The guard gripped the key and unlocked the door.
The door creaked open.
"AHHHHH!" I screamed, my heart dropping into my stomach.
The sight was horrific.
"What the hell...?" the guard muttered, his voice shaky.
There was a body lying on the floor, disfigured beyond recognition. Blood was everywhere, pooling under her torn body. My eyes locked on the name tag pinned to her uniform: Tiara.
"TIARA! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOU?!" I screamed, panic surging through me.
Her body was torn apart. Her insides were exposed. Blood painted the walls. None of us knew what the hell had happened, but I couldn't stop shaking.
"Damn it!" the guard cursed, running outside.
"THERE'S A DEAD BODY INSIDE!" he shouted.
[Switching to Alan's POV]
I was walking with Michael and Kayla when we noticed a large crowd gathering outside the medical tent.
"What the hell's going on?" Michael asked, frowning as he looked at the growing crowd.
"How the hell should I know?" I replied, already feeling uneasy. My instincts were screaming that something was wrong.
"Let's check it out," Kayla said, her voice more serious than usual.
We pushed through the crowd, and as soon as I saw what was inside, my stomach dropped.
"Shit…" Micheal muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
The body was still lying there, lifeless and broken. The air felt heavy, like it was suffocating us. The blood on the floor was fresh, still glistening under the dim light.
"What the hell happened to her?" Kayla whispered, her voice trembling.
One of the guards stepped forward, his face pale as he shook his head. "We don't know. No one came in or out of the tent. It's like... it just happened."
"Impossible," I said, my voice low. "No one could've done this without being seen."
My eyes scanned the tent, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. Tiara's body was torn apart, but there were no signs of struggle. No broken furniture, no claw marks on the walls. It didn't make sense.
"This isn't over," I said quietly, my fists clenching. "Whatever did this is still out there."
I turned to the guard, my voice sharp. "Double the patrols around the camp. I want every inch of this place covered. No one goes anywhere alone."
He nodded quickly, but I could see the fear in his eyes.
I glanced back at Tiara's body, my chest tightening. I wasn't going to let this happen again. Not to Alice. Not to anyone.
I ran straight to Reyes office, rushing my way inside of her office.
"REYES! THERE'S A BIG COMMOTION!"
I shouted, catching my breath from all the running earlier.
"Woah Alan calm down, tell me what's happening?" She said as she helped me get up.
"Terrible thing just happened Reyes... One of the medical staff... Is dead, and I don't think it's done by a human." I said, my face still in shocked from the view I had witnessed earlier.
"What? Bring me to it!" She said her face is in confusion.
I didn't wasted any time and dragged her hands outside, rushing to the crime scene.
[Upon arriving at the scenes.]
Reyes face was horrified, she open her mouth wide, covering her mouth with her hand.
And before I know it, the tough Reyes gagged at the sight. This doesn't fit her character... This gory scenes must have made such a huge impact to her.
"Shit, bring her somewhere to calm her down!" I order one of the guard beside Reyes.
After Reyes was dragged to safety, I looked at Alice face. She was... Upset, angry, in agony, scared, all kind stage of emotion.
"Hey Alice...?" I called for her, but received no response.
Receiving no response, I get closer to her. Touching her shoulders she suddenly jump.
"AHH!" Alice jump in shocked, I can tell she is under a deep emotional state right now.
"Tiara.... What happened to you...?" Alice continue, crying as she held Tiara hands that is separated from her body.
I quickly pulled her away, "ALICE NO! YOU COULD GET INFECTED!"
"NOOO! BRING TIARA BACK!" She continue to scream while tears streaming down her face.
"Damnit! Guards bring my sister to somewhere safe!" I said with a worried tone, asking for help from one of the guard at the area.
"NO! LET ME GO!" Alice quickly protested as she was dragged from the scene.
She continue to fight back, her small body trying to fend off the grip of the guard. But she failed.
"NOOO! TIARA!" Alice continues to cry in pain from the sight of her dead friend.
After Alice was dragged out of the tent, Reyes came in. Still shocked from the scene but she could held herself up this time.
I look around for Micheal and Kayla, they were outside. Blocked by the guard from entering.
"HEY, CORPORAL LET ME IN! I'M YOUR LIEUTENANT!" Micheal protested, trying to breakthrough.
"Let them in!" I ordered, the guard listened intently and let them in.
"Holy Jesus.... What the fuck just happened here..." Micheal said in shocked, finally seeing the full sight.
"What the hell could have done this..." Kayla asked, her voice shaky, and her face in terror of horror. I could see her hands trembling and her body shake uncontrollably.
And before anyone knows it, Kayla collapse right there.
"The fuck?!" Micheal yelled.
"Yo Kayla wake up! Wake up!" Micheal tapped Kayla gently but firm.
"Damnit... Micheal bring Kayla out of here!" I quickly ordered micheal, hoping to bring Kayla from this madness of a scene.
Micheal quickly nodded and brought Kayla outside, holding her tightly into his arm.
Reyes in the other hand, is covering her nose with a cloths.
"Jesus... Smell here is really terrible..." I cover my own nose with my hand after realising the smell I did not realise.
"Here." Reyes handed me one of her spare cloths, her face is still shocked but has calmed down a little.
"Thanks." I said as I took the cloths from her.
Thinking to myself, I am trying to rewind back my memory and which infected could possibly done this.
"Which creature did this horrible genocide..."
I said to myself, thinking deeply.
Just what have commited this disgusting sight....