Cody ascended slowly, resisting the urge to glance downward. "You can do it," he mumbled to himself, pressing on, gripping the window ledge, and pulling himself up, surveying the hallway filled with bodies.
Aya followed closely as Guts ascended quickly, hopping in. "We'll check room per room, okay?" Guts approached a room and inspected it—blown through, the floor caved beneath it.
Turning around, Guts scrutinized each room, finding no sign of them as they ventured deeper into the hallway. There was a closed door at the end. "Could they be in there?" Aya looked at Cody.
Cody, now at the door, pulled out his blade, leaning his crowbar against the wall. He grabbed the doorknob, inhaling slowly, then opened the door.
The scenery transformed into a house as Cody and Aya entered, backpacks on, and Cody hollered, "We are home!"
A dog barked in response, rushing over—a golden retriever, its tail wagging. Cody grinned. "Hey Vincent!" he spoke, and Vincent jumped up.
"Calm down," Cody laughed as Aya patted Vincent and slumped on the couch. "Man, I am pooped!" Aya complained.
Cody walked over, Vincent following. "Where's mom and dad?" he asked. "I dunno, check the fridge. They probably left a note."
Cody scoffed. "Lazy ass." He went to the kitchen and glanced at the fridge. Aya was right; they left a note.
"They're on a date," Cody spoke, looking at Aya, who peered back. "Kay."
Aya grabbed the remote and turned on the TV, accidentally tuning into the news channel. "Not this o—" she began, reading the context.
"Violent attack ends up with 5 dead," she read aloud. "Yikes," Cody replied, returning to the couch.
The scenery shifted back as the door slowly opened. Cody peeked in, growls echoing from inside. His eyes widened, tears welling up.
His breathing hitched, panic filling him, growls responding to his breath. It was dark, making it hard for the others to see.
Aya tried to peek, but Guts, sensing what was happening, grabbed her, pulling her back. "Hey!" She yelled, looking at Cody, then up at Guts, who wore a sad expression.
Aya then looked at Cody, her eyes slowly widening in realization.
Cody swung the door open wider, stepping in and closing it behind him. "What is he doing?! Why is he entering?!" Aya screamed at Guts. "They turned, I assume he's going to end their suffering," Guts responded.
Aya teared up, shaking her head. "No! Let go!" She raised her arms, swinging at him. Guts hugged her as she continued to swing. "He doesn't want you to see," Guts spoke. "And do you really want to see?" He continued as Aya stopped her attempts.
Aya slowly looked down, shaking her head. "No," she responded.
Cody glanced at Lilah, her body swaying, growling and trying to grab at him. He looked down at the ground, his eyes finding their way to the family photo nearby.
Tears dribbled down his face as he stared at the bed; there was Carter, trying to get out of his restraints, growling.
Cody walked over, clenching his knife. Carter growled even louder, chomping at him but missing every time.
Raising the knife, Cody screamed as he plunged it into the top of Carter's head, the knife breaking flesh and bone, black blood pooling out as Cody yanked it free, Carter's body going limp.
Cody turned to Lilah, looking up at the chandelier that held her, almost coming out of the ceiling.
Wiping away tears, Cody approached Lilah as the chandelier broke, sending small pieces of the roof, dust, and debris to the ground.
Lilah's body thumped against the ground as she growled, reaching over. Cody continued his approach, kneeling down and staring at Lilah.
Lilah growled, grabbing his arm. Cody froze as Lilah inched towards his arm, getting closer to biting it.
Cody teared up, raising the blade once more. "I'm sorry," he spoke, bringing the blade down, ending Lilah's suffering. He pulled out the knife and slowly stood up.
Cody opened the door, still clenching his knife and he closed it behind him, black blood dribbled down his blade. He looked at Guts, then at Aya. "We will need to bury them." He spoke.
Aya stayed silent, looking at the ground. Guts sighed. "Come on kids. Let's get them to a proper resting place." Guts spoke solemly.
Back at the camp, Dr. Newton eyed his revolver, counting 6 rounds and a few extra.
Emmy swiftly returned with a hammer and a bundle of blankets.
"That's going to be loud," Rose remarked. Emmy nodded, raising the hammer. She swung, shattering the glass and alerting nearby biters.
Emmy swung again, breaking it completely. She then grabbed the blankets, swiping away the glass before covering the opening. "Get out," Emmy urged as Rose climbed through, observing a group of biters approaching.
Ted climbed off Emmy's back, crawling out of the window and jumping to grab onto Rose, who caught him. "Can you carry him for a bit?" Emmy asked, handing Rose her spear as Ted settled on Rose's back.
Emmy brandished her gun and blade, locking eyes with Dr. Newton. "COME!" she hissed as biters easily breached the cafeteria.
Dr. Newton nodded, aiming his revolver and firing, taking down a biter onto medical supplies. He shot again, causing several biters to stumble over the fallen body. Another shot rang out, and he backed up to the window, biters flooding into the cafeteria.
A biter broke through a side window, grabbing Dr. Newton from behind. He shouted as he aimed his gun backward, hitting the biter's temple and pulling the trigger.
Rushing to the window, Dr. Newton began climbing out. "Come on," Emmy urged as the approaching biters confronted Rose, who aimed her spear and jabbed it into a biter's head.
Another biter seized him from behind. "LET GO!" Dr. Newton shouted, kicking the biter back and attempting to free himself.
Yet another biter clamped onto his calf, and he screamed in pain. Emmy quickly shot the chomping biter in the head, then pulled Dr. Newton outside as he groaned.
"We need to go," he spoke as Rose nodded. Emmy assisted Dr. Newton. "The other exit is this way, hurry," Rose pointed, knocking a biter to the ground and running to the exit.
"You're an idiot for not following us," Emmy scolded as they reached the exit. Rose opened it, walked out, and Emmy shut it behind them, the biters pounding against the metal as they retreated deep into the woods.