TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter contains topics such as suicide.
The room bore witness to a macabre scene, stained with the aftermath of struggle. Blood dribbled off the fallen door, saturating the once-pristine carpet beneath, telling the silent tale of a desperate fight. Gunshots resounded in the distance, mingling with the anguished echoes of distant screams.
Upon the door lay the lifeless forms of defeated biters, their heads bearing the grim testament of knife wounds inflicted with precision. A grotesque tableau of death, where the metallic scent of blood hung heavy in the air.
In a separate corner, Lilah had confronted yet another adversary. A biter sprawled, blood smeared across its mouth, a stark contrast to the stab wound inflicted where its left eye should have been. The aftermath of their struggle painted a vivid tableau of violence.
The disconcerting symphony of chaos continued, punctuated by the resounding thunder of shelling that shook the very foundation of the beleaguered building. Amidst the carnage, a deafening rumble marked the collapse of the roof above, obstructing the passage on the third floor.
Sarge, vigilant and determined, sprinted on the second floor, witnessing the cataclysmic event above. His gaze fell upon a survivor pinned by a biter, and with an authoritative shove, he dislodged the undead assailant.
As it toppled to the side, Sarge's boot mercilessly stomped on it, silencing the threat with gruesome finality. "GO GO!" he bellowed, urgency lacing his command.
Meanwhile, shadows emerged on the fourth-floor stairs, illuminated by the dim glow of lamps scattered around. As they ascended, the rhythmic cadence of groans accompanied their movements.
The shadows unveiled themselves to be Carter and Lilah, both visibly battered and wounded. Carter, his arms marred by the ferocity of the biters, groaned in pain. Blood seeped from the gaping bite marks, a testament to the severity of the ordeal.
Carter's gaze fell upon Lilah, who, despite her own injuries, exhibited an unwavering determination. She guided him toward a room, her figure drenched in the inky blackness of undead blood, the crimson droplets staining her face.
Lilah tenderly placed Carter on the bed, her urgency palpable. "H-Honey. Stay with me, okay? We have to do this!" With swift determination, she raided a nearby closet, tearing sheets with a frenetic energy that mirrored the chaos surrounding them.
Carter, grappling with pain, emitted a groan in response to Lilah's efforts. "I know. But it'll be all over soon. I promise!" Lilah reassured, her hands working deftly to tie makeshift bandages around his wounded arms. However, her eyes, tracing his body, halted abruptly.
A faint circle of red delineated an ominous reality on Carter's hip. As she gingerly lifted his shirt, her widened eyes bore witness to a bite mark, blood slowly pooling out, a chilling harbinger of the encroaching peril.
In the heavy silence of the room, fraught with an impending tragedy, Lilah's voice emerged, laden with sorrow as she spoke to Carter.
"I thought you would be able to make it," she murmured, attempting to suppress a cry that threatened to escape. Gently pulling down her shirt, she unveiled a haunting reality — a bite mark on her shoulder.
Carter met her gaze, shock rendering him speechless. Lilah, teary-eyed, surveyed the room. "We will never be able to see our babies again," she lamented, a mournful acknowledgment of the irrevocable fate they faced.
Seeking solace in the touch of his hand, Lilah's grip tightened as tears streamed down her face. "We can't risk the others..." Her words, somber and weighty, resonated in the room. Carter, groaning in pain as blood stained the sheets beneath him, managed to articulate a plea. "Ple-please tie me up, and kill me."
Lilah's eyes widened at the request, meeting Carter's gaze as he gestured toward her blade. A hint of humor pierced the grimness as he quipped, "N…not my beautiful face."
Despite the gravity of the situation, Lilah couldn't help but chuckle. Tears mingled with her laughter as she leaned down, placing a tender kiss on his forehead.
Determinedly, she reached for the sheets, tying them securely around his arms and legs. Facing her husband, Lilah delved into her pockets, producing the family photo she had shared with Zach before. Tilting it for Carter to see, she traced the images of Cody and Aya, tears mingling with blood on her hands.
Honoring her husband's wishes, Lilah picked up a pillow beside him, resting the cherished photo next to him, facing him.
Family memories flashed before her eyes as she clutched the pillow with both hands. A sob escaped her as she spoke to him one last time.
"Goodnight my love," she uttered, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air. With a deep breath, she pressed the pillow to his face, her hands trembling as she began to push down.
Carter, succumbing to the suffocation, began to shake involuntarily. Lilah gasped, her sobs intensifying. "I love you," she whispered, the room witnessing the profound farewell. As Carter's movements ceased, Lilah lifted the pillow, staring into his lifeless eyes.
Lilah set the pillow aside, its significance heavy in the room. She tenderly picked up the cherished family photo, each glance a bittersweet journey through memories. Standing up, she shifted her gaze from the photo to the chandelier above, a fixture that once illuminated moments of joy.
With measured steps, Lilah placed the photo in front of the chandelier. A chair, conveniently nearby, was retrieved with a calm determination. She walked over, positioning it beneath the chandelier.
Tears flowed freely as she gripped the sheets, forming a makeshift noose. With meticulous care, she secured it above, her trembling hands tying the knots.
Taking a deep breath, Lilah placed the noose around her neck. Her eyes, fixed on the photo, whispered words of resolve.
"Survive... somehow..." she spoke, her voice carrying a weight known only to her. As she looked up, the ethereal figures of Cody and Aya materialized before her, radiant smiles gracing their faces.
"We love you, Mom," Cody's voice echoed, a manifestation of love within her thoughts. "I'm sorry, my boy," Lilah quivered, turning her attention to Aya. "Protect him for me." Aya nodded with an affectionate smile. "I will, Mom. I love you."
Returning her gaze to the photo, Lilah whispered, "I love you both." The chair was kicked away, closing her eyes as the pressure intensified. Yet, when she opened them, the oppressive scene transformed. White walls surrounded her, a lavish marble kitchen unfolding before her eyes.
In her hands, a frying pan with eggs sizzling inside, while Carter donned a suit. "Have fun at work, love!" Lilah beamed as Carter nodded. "I will. Love you!" he exclaimed before leaving. Lilah's voice echoed, announcing breakfast as Cody and Aya rushed downstairs.
Cody greeted her with a smile. "Hey, Mom." Lilah responded warmly, "Hey, sweetie." A reminder of a field trip lingered in the air. "Today's field trip day!" Cody cheerfully declared, prompting Lilah to nod. "I know. The bus will be here soon! Eat up!"
Cody and Aya indulged in breakfast, shared glances, and exchanged smiles. "Aya's been dying to go to a concert.", a spark igniting a conversation about the upcoming event. Aya discreetly hushed him, adding an air of secrecy.
"A concert?" Lilah looked at Aya, smiling. "Of course, honey. We will go, and you can bring a friend if you like." Aya expressed gratitude, "Thank you, Mom."
As Cody and Aya prepared for the field trip, Lilah bid them farewell. "I will see you later!" Cody ran off to the bus stop, and Aya followed suit with playful banter. Lilah chuckled, breathing in and out.
"Goodbye," she whispered, the room shifting back to the hotel, where the somber sounds of rope and a swaying body filled the space. With that, Lilah vanished.