The four of you made your way slowly toward the stairs leading to the 7th floor, each step heavy after the recent chaos with the zombies. In the brief moment of silence, it felt like a pause in the madness—a chance to catch your breath, however short-lived. Your bodies were worn, but the eerie calm gave you a fleeting sense of relief, a break from the constant tension that had been tightening around you since it all started.
You, Ginny, and Lara were trying to lighten the mood, swaying slightly to the beat of Rena's tunes, letting the tension melt away for a moment. Suddenly, Rena pointed both her hands at you and Lara, a curious glint in her eyes. "What about you two?" she asked, her tone playful but probing, as if she had caught onto something unspoken between the two of you.
You exchanged puzzled glances with Lara, who then chuckled softly and asked, "What about us?" Her tone was light, but there was a hint of curiosity beneath it, as if wondering what Rena was getting at.
Rena replied in a rhythmic chant, making exaggerated talking gestures with her arms:
"Sam, Sam. Yes, Lara."
"I love you. What, Lara?"
"Kisses you. Not fair, Lara."
Then, with a mischievous grin, she added, "Rena asks, are you having sex?"
Lara's face turned bright red at the last line, completely caught off guard. You could see her struggling between laughing it off.
Rena continued with a chuckle, "I messed up the ending. What I was trying to ask is, are you both a couple now?"
You shrugged with a smile. "We can think about that later, once we get out of here."
Lara, still slightly flustered, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we'll talk about that later. And seriously, stop with your R-rated humor—it's not funny."
Rena stopped walking and said, "Well, I don't know about you two, but if this zombie situation goes on much longer and I don't find someone I like, I might just sleep with this guy. That way, I'm giving my first time to someone who likes me for who I am, not for my popularity."
Lara shot her a glare, her voice sharp and angry. "Shut the fuck up, Rena."
The tension hung for a moment, but Rena just shrugged, unfazed by Lara's outburst. With their chit-chat and bickering still lingering in the air, they finally reached the stairs leading down to the 7th floor
Ginny suddenly halted, raising a hand. "Wait, stop." She squinted, glancing upward toward the rooftop. Her brow furrowed with concern as she turned to Lara. "Hey, Lara, can you come with me to the rooftop? Maybe I'm just seeing things, but I want to be sure."
Lara exchanged a quick look with you before nodding, curiosity and caution mixing on her face. "Yeah, sure. Let's check it out."
The group paused as the two prepared to head up.
It took them around half an hour to come back down, and when Ginny stepped off the stairs, her face and eyes were red, clearly showing she'd been crying for a while.
Rena immediately rushed toward her, concern etched across her face. "What happened? Why are you crying?" she asked, her voice filled with worry.
Ginny gently moved Rena aside and walked up to you, her hands shaking as she held out her phone. Her expression was heartbroken, eyes filled with unshed tears. She showed you a photo on the screen.
"Is she the reason you came to the rooftop?" Her voice trembled as she asked.
You stared at the phone screen, where a snapshot of Ginny and Nita was displayed. Both were on the beach, wearing bikinis, their faces illuminated with joyful smiles. The sight of Nita's familiar, radiant smile brought a mix of shock and relief.
"Nita!" you exclaimed, your eyes darting between the photo and Ginny's tear-streaked face.
A slight smile tugged at your lips as goosebumps formed on your skin. The realization hit you: "I still have someone with whom I can share and talk about Nita."
You then let out a big smile, which led to laughter. "Haha... You and Nita?"
Tears were still in Ginny's eyes, mixed with a look of confusion as she questioned, "Natalie??"
"Yeah, Natalie. I call her Nita."
"Okay, but why are you laughing?"
"Nothing!" You shook your head, tears spilling from your cheeks. You looked straight at her and asked, "You know Nita? How do you know her? Let's walk and talk."
You both started down the stairs, with Rena and Lara following close behind.
You only showed a small smile on your face, but inside, you were laughing like a maniac. The joy of discovering that someone who knew Nita was still alive filled you with a deep, genuine happiness.
Ginny began recounting her memories of Nita. "I first met her in a dance class during my 10th grade, and we became close friends. I even introduced her to Lara. We used to talk about a lot of things, and she often mentioned how she teased this classmate of hers, waiting for him to propose so she could accept him. She was really an interesting character."
You pondered for a moment. "Wait, Nita went to dance classes?"
"Yeah," Ginny replied. "She mentioned that her crush liked watching her dance, so she decided to participate in a district-level competition to surprise him. She even said she'd bring him to the auditorium, but on the day of the event, not even her family showed up. I tried asking her about it a lot, but she just gave me an empty smile."
"It probably happened after my mom and her dad got married. She didn't know who to talk to about it."
"Wait, you're her step-brother? Yeah, she mentioned that once and cried a lot because her crush ended up becoming her brother."
"Yeah, shit happens sometimes."
The four of you slowly crossed the seventh floor and headed down to the sixth floor.
Ginny pulled something from her pants pocket and held it out to you. "Natalie bought this for you and planned to tell your parents about your feelings at the family gathering next week. I helped her pick out this ring. That's why I was able to find her, even though her face was covered in blood. I don't know if I did the right thing or not, but I think she didn't want to live as a zombie."
You gently patted her hair and said, "Don't worry. About 20 to 30 minutes before she became one of them, with her last breath, she said a lot of things. One of them was that she didn't want to roam the world as one of them."
She gave a smile. Both Rena and Lara, who had looked quite troubled while listening to your and Ginny's conversation, felt a sense of relief after what you said.
Before you even realized it, all four of you had reached the sixth floor without any issues.
Rena stopped everyone on the sixth floor and said, "Anh told us to inform the people in the safe room to come downstairs."
You replied, "He came upstairs earlier. He might have already informed them."
Ginny suggested, "Why don't you give him a call?"
You dialed Anh on your cell phone.
Anh, busy checking the big bag that Berus had brought to the ground floor, was instructing the guys who came with Berus to arrange the food separately when he answered your call.
"What's up, Sam?" he said.
You replied, "Did you let the people in the safe room know to come down to the ground floor?"
Anh made a slurping sound and said, "Sorry, Sam, I forgot. Can you handle that? Just let them know; you don't need to babysit them. Also, don't worry about the zombies—I took down a few, and Berus said he cleared out 25 zombies on his way here."
You acknowledged and ended the call. Turning to the girls, you suggested, "Why don't you head to the ground floor? It'll take about 10 to 30 minutes to get to the safe room and come back. You three can use that time to get to the ground floor."
Rena responded, "We came all the way here; why split up now? We'll all go inform them and head to the ground floor together."
Ginny and Lara looked at you and nodded in agreement. You sighed and said, "If you insist, then let's go."
It took about 15 minutes to reach the safe room. Ginny pointed at a corpse opposite the door and said, "His head is half-eaten; there isn't even a broken skull left."
Lara leaned in to examine the corpse's face and remarked, "Isn't this the chemistry professor? The one who said Sam was just breaking zombie heads for fun?"
Rena nodded and confirmed, "Yeah, that's him. He had the same shirt."
Lara speculated, "He was probably thrown out by Slyde or used as a pawn to gauge the situation. But the zombies we've seen so far only eat flesh and attack us. They're not strong enough to break skulls."
You replied, "They might've been triggered."
Rena furrowed her brows. "Triggered? What are you talking about?"
You explained, "I'm not completely sure, but just hear me out. Zombies clearly have superhuman strength, right?"
The three of them exchanged glances, then nodded.
You continued, "Yeah, maybe it's not full consciousness, but more like instincts kicking in when they feel cornered or hear something loud. It's like a reaction to being threatened."
Lara frowned. "So, you're saying they get stronger when they're stressed out? That's messed up."
Rena chimed in, "Might be. But whether it's instinct or something else, one thing's clear—loud noises and pressure set them off. We need to remember that."
You noticed Ginny glancing at you, like she wanted to say something but held back. You thought,
"What's she trying to say? Whatever. Let's just get this over with."
You spoke up, voice firm, "We'll talk later. For now, let's do what we came here for and get out."
The girls nodded in agreement, all saying at once, "Yeah."
You moved to the iron door, tapping it five times—solid, loud knocks echoing. Silence. No response.
Frustrated, you shouted, "HEY! ANYONE IN THERE?! RESPOND!"
Lara muttered under her breath, "These freaks... What the hell are they doing in there?"
As she spoke, the iron door slowly creaked open, the sound sending a chill through the hallway. Slyde's face appeared, peeking through the gap with a sneer. His voice dripped with disdain as he spoke, "What do you want, child? If you're here to hide, forget it. No entry for rebels and psychos who enjoy blasting those things heads for fun."
You responded, "You know Anh, right? He said, 'If you want to get out of here, come to the ground floor.'"
As you started to walk away, Slyde's voice cracked with desperation. "Hey, why don't we all go together? We're scared out of our minds. You've got to know a way through this, right? Please… lead us."
You glanced at the girls. Rena and Ginny were calm, but Lara's face was a storm of anger. "What about you, Lara? Are you in?"
Her reply was sharp, determined. "I'm in. Let's move."
Slyde gathered everyone in the safe room and told them to come out. Twelve people shuffled into the corridor. You spoke up, "Don't freak out if you run into a zombie. Smash its head if you can't get a warning to the people around you. But try to stay calm."
Slyde jumped in, "Yeah, don't lose it. Better to let Mr. Sam or Miss Lara handle it."
Lara shot him a venomous glare, clearly fed up. You thought to yourself, What the hell did he do to earn that look? She's looking pretty damn fierce right now.
You gave the command, "Let's move." Everyone fell in line behind you and the girls. The 4th and 5th floors were eerily quiet, devoid of zombies. But as soon as you hit the 3rd floor, a zombie lurched out from the right-side hallway and clamped down on Ginny's hand.
Ginny was paralyzed with fear. Lara, right beside her, shouted urgently, "Close your eyes and mouth, Ginny!"
In a flash, Lara swung her shotgun up and blasted the zombie's head clean off. The recoil slammed her back a step, but she wasn't done. She shoved the barrel into the zombie's forehead and fired again.
The deafening noise ripped through the corridor, drawing the attention of nearby zombies. The low, guttural groans and shrieks grew louder from the left hallway of the 3rd floor as they started gathering towards the stairs.
You spotted three more zombies shuffling towards the group from the left hallway. You glanced at the boys, hoping one of them would step up, but their faces were masks of terror, frozen in place.
Suddenly, Lara broke from the group, wielding an iron pipe. "I've got your back. Let's move," she said, her voice cutting through the tension.
You charged at the zombies, swinging the baseball bat to push them back. One stumbled and crashed into another zombie behind it, sending all three sprawling. You targeted their legs, smashing the bones of two zombies to cripple them.
But one managed to stay on its feet and lurched toward you. You dodged its clumsy attacks at least five times, but you could hear more zombies closing in on the group. "I don't know how many, but a few are making their way to the stairs. I need to finish this quickly."
You signaled to Lara, nodding towards the left hallway while dodging the zombie in front of you. As you did, you kicked it hard in the left leg, sending it crashing onto its side. With a series of five powerful swings, you smashed its head in, blood splattering across the floor with each hit.
Lara quickly dealt with the last two crawling zombies, dispatching them with precise strikes and keeping herself safe.
You glanced at the baseball bat and remarked, "This thing's useless compared to that iron pipe you had earlier."
Lara held up the pipe and offered it with a nod. "You can take it if you want."
You shook your head. "Nah, you keep it. I'll find something else."
After your exchange with Lara, you turned to the group. Everyone looked stunned, except Rena and Ginny.
You eyed Ginny and let out a light chuckle. "What's with the blood on her shirt and neck? It's enough to make people think she's one of them."
While you were savoring the moment, of course, one jerk had to ruin it. Slyde's voice cut through the tension. "Quite the heroic display. Thanks for saving us, Miss Lara and Master Sam."
You shot back, "Cut the fake respect. It's making me want to puke."
Two students, brimming with the courage to defend their beloved professor but none to face zombies, chimed in. "Don't act like you're a hero for taking out a few zombies. Don't mock the professor just because of a personal grudge. He's the reason we're all still here."
You snapped back, "Your brains must have turned to mush after spending five hours next to him. Think about it—did he protect you, or did he just use you as human shields?"
One of the boys jabbed a finger at you, his face red with fury. "Know your limits, asshole, or I'll break that pretty face of yours."
You laughed, a cold, mocking sound. "Oh, now the tough guy's throwing threats? Where was that pussy attitude of yours, when you were facing zombies? You didn't even budge."
He stepped down a stair, crossed his arms, and said, "Because we don't have weapons like you."
You rested the baseball bat on your shoulder and looked at him. "Excuses. Excuses." You tossed the bat his way. He caught it, staring at you in confusion.
You continued, "Alright, 300 warrior. We're not leading this group anymore. You take over, and my friends and I will go our own way."
You glanced at the girls and said, "Let's go, ladies. These assholes aren't worth our time." The girls gathered beside you, ready to move out.
The arrogant boy, suddenly unsure of himself, glanced around anxiously. Two girls in the pack had tears in their eyes, quietly mumbling, while the rest of the group glared at him with anger. Even Slyde chimed in, "That's not how you talk to someone who's been helping us."
Just as you were talking to the girls, the boy charged at you, shouting, "Don't get cocky just because you smashed a few heads. I'll smash yours and lead this pack!"
The baseball bat was raised, ready to strike.
Before he could reach you, Ginny shoved you aside. You stumbled, losing your balance and hitting the ground. In a split second, Ginny stepped into your place. The arrogant boy shoved her aside, slamming her head into the wall. Blood splattered from the left side of her forehead, her glasses shattering as she cried out, "Mom…" before collapsing, tears mixing with the blood streaming down her face.
Lara and Rena rushed to her. Lara checked the wound, while Rena tore her shirt, quickly wrapping it around Ginny's head to stop the bleeding.
Everything unfolded while you sat on the ground, dazed. You looked at Ginny's tear-streaked face, then at Lara and Rena, both with tears in their eyes, clearly distressed. Finally, your gaze landed on the arrogant kid. His face twisted in anger, with no trace of remorse for hitting an innocent girl. You heard him sneer, "That's what you get for stepping into a man-to-man fight."
Fury surged through you as you stood and dashed toward him.He swung the bat, the handle smashing into your left temple. The force almost knocked you off balance, but you stayed on your feet. Blood trickled down your cheek, soaking your shirt. He sneered, "See? I broke your head. Now I'll lead this pack."
Despite the pain and adrenaline, you gripped his collar with your left hand. As he landed another punch on the spot where the bat had struck, you met his gaze with cold look and said, "Is that all you've got?"
Without waiting for a response, you landed a powerful punch to his face, sending him crashing to the ground. You immediately pinned him down and began raining blows on his head with relentless force. Each punch was fueled by a mix of anger and adrenaline, and you felt no remorse.
His attempts to block your attacks were futile. You overpowered him effortlessly. The outcome of this fight was entirely in your hands: you would either stop when you were satisfied or exhaust yourself completely.
Lara and Rena watched with grim satisfaction as you pummeled the arrogant kid. Rena's face was a mask of fury, while Lara shouted, "Break his shitty face." Ginny, however, was terrified. She pushed both Lara and Rena aside and saw your emotionless expression. "Stop, Sam, you'll kill him!" she pleaded.
Ginny crawled toward you, trying to pull you away from the beaten boy, but you shoved her back and landed another punch. Lara caught Ginny as she fell.
Undeterred, Ginny scrambled back and screamed, "SAM!" When you didn't respond, she slapped your face and shouted, "Stop, Sam!"
Finally, her voice cut through your rage. You slowly turned to look at her. Her eyes were fixed on the ground, tears streaming down her face. She cried out softly, "STOP FIGHTING!"
Looking at you with tear-filled eyes, she continued, "It's a waste to give this arrogant prick any more of your time. Yes, this pack is full of assholes, but there are people here who genuinely need help. Look at those girls—she's terrified and vulnerable. Who knows when the zombies might come back?"
Your gaze shifted to the pack. Two of them were visibly shaking, struggling to stand in the open, vulnerable space of the stairs. Turning back to Ginny, who extended a hand, you took it and stood up.
You thought to yourself, Why did I lose my temper over someone I met just a few hours ago? Looking around, you saw the pack's silence, their once arrogant faces now passive. The girls were still angry but beginning to calm down.
Suddenly, Ginny collapsed to the ground. You rushed to her side, shaking her and calling out, but she didn't respond. Panic surged through you.
Lara noticed and said, "We need to take her to the ground floor. Miss Yuri can help us figure out what's wrong."
"Yeah, let's go!" you replied. You carefully lifted Ginny into a princess carry and followed Lara as she led the way. Rena took up the rear, keeping a vigilant watch.
As you made your way downstairs, you couldn't shake the thought, Why did I lose my cool for her? Then it hit you—she's the only one left who can talk about Nita. Tears began to fall down your cheeks.
You whispered to yourself, "Please be safe, Ginny."
In a world falling apart, she's the second person you truly care about protecting. I'll keep her safe this time.
On your way to the ground floor, you encountered a few more zombies attempting to attack from the 1st and 2nd floors. Lara's shooting was impressive—each shot was precise, hitting zombies straight in the head. In just seconds, she covered three hallways, taking down eight zombies in total.
Finally, you reached the ground floor and were met by Anh and Berus. Berus quickly said, "Everyone, hurry up! A few zombies are following you."
As he warned, five zombies that had tumbled down the stairs began to rise, their dead eyes vacant, blood splattered across them, and veins bulging from their skin.
Without missing a beat, Anh shot each zombie right between the eyes. Meanwhile, Berus ran upstairs and returned a few minutes later, his hands covered in blood.
You didn't wait for Berus to catch up. You ran towards the nurse's office, but it was empty. Just then, you heard someone call your name, "SAM!" Turning around with Ginny in your arms, you saw Aunt Yuri, tears streaming down her face.
She pleaded, "Just be a coward. No one expects you to be a hero. Don't make this old lady—"
Before she could finish, you rushed to her. "Yuri, please help her. She just collapsed." Your voice was choked with concern, fear, and the dread of losing her.
Your aunt wiped her tears and said, "Don't worry, let me take a look at her. Put her on that bed."
You gently placed Ginny down, and your aunt immediately began cleaning the wound on her head with medical alcohol.
You couldn't take your eyes off Ginny, watching anxiously for any sign of improvement. After finishing the bandage, your aunt walked over to you, stopping right in front of you.
"She's going to be okay," she reassured you. "She lost consciousness from the blow, but she'll be fine." You exhaled, letting out a small, relieved chuckle. Then, she pointed to your own forehead and added, "Now, sit on that stool over there. Your wound looks pretty bad. Let me take care of it."
You sat on the stool as instructed. Your aunt began a thorough examination, her hands moving with practiced ease. "You're going to need a few stitches," she said, pausing to search for supplies. "Who's the idiot that hit you in the head?"
Surprised, you replied, "Wait, you could tell it was from a fight?"
Without missing a beat, she continued, "Of course. A bump like that on your left temple? It's obvious. You don't get that from just bumping into a wall." Still searching for something, she added with a hint of sarcasm, "Do you know how many cases like yours I've treated since I started here? Most of the complaints, somehow involve those third-year engineering students. They've been troublemakers since high school."
Finally, she found what she was looking for. "Ah, here it is," she said, turning toward you with a bottle of Brandy. "You okay with Brandy?"
You looked at her, confused. "Why the hell do you have alcohol in college?"
She shrugged with a smirk. "It's from the late-night unpaid labor we lecturers sometimes endure. This is what keeps us going. And since we don't have anesthesia, drink up. I'll get the equipment for the stitches."
As she was about to leave, she noticed two girls peeking into the room. With a raised eyebrow, she asked, "What do you both want?"
You glanced back at the door and said, "What are you both waiting for? Come in." The two girls cautiously entered and walked toward Ginny. Then, turning to your aunt, you added, "They're her friends."
Your aunt placed her hands gently on their shoulders and smiled. "She's safe, don't worry. Go ask Anh or Ria for some hand sanitizers and wash your hands. Then you can come back and sit with her."
Rena nodded and replied, "We'll do that." The two girls quickly left the room, leaving you and your aunt alone again.
Your aunt approached and handed you the bottle of brandy. "Drink this," she instructed. "I'll be back in a few minutes."
She left the room, and you uncapped the bottle, taking a tentative gulp. "Weird taste, but compared to beer and whiskey, it's manageable," you muttered before taking a few more gulps. A few minutes later, your aunt returned with a tray of stitching supplies, and Berus followed behind her.
"Hold his head steady," she asked Berus. "He can't move an inch."
"Roger," he replied, gripping your head tightly. You quickly realized that with his hands on your head, there was no chance of movement. You were completely immobilized.
As Berus tightened his grip on your head, you couldn't help but wonder, "Who the hell is this guy? He held my head like it weighed nothing. What kind of monster is he?"
Your aunt began the stitching, and although the needle stung, you gritted your teeth and endured it. After a few minutes, the process was complete. You sat up, rubbing your neck, and cracked it to the left.
Turning to Berus, you asked casually, "Where's your girlfriend?"
Berus replied, "She's sleeping in the next room. By luck, the bag you gave me had anesthesia, and surprisingly, it worked on her."
You raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that? Do you know anesthesia doesn't work on zombies?"
Berus quickly looked away, his voice trailing off. "Nah, I didn't mean it like that. I just meant… generally, you know... it worked better than I expected."
The awkward pause hung in the air, leaving you to wonder what exactly he wasn't saying.
You thought, "Something about him has been fishy from the start. Even though Rena's bodyguard turned into a zombie, Berus fought off zombies while still holding his zombie girlfriend. He even barged into a whole horde and came back alive. It doesn't add up. Who is he, really?"
The unease gnawed at you as you glanced at Berus. Something about his abilities, his calmness in the face of chaos—it was unnatural. You couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than met the eye.
Berus said, "Everyone's holed up in the main security room. If you're ready, we can figure out how the hell we're getting out and why you dragged that snake along."
You raised an eyebrow. "You mean Slyde? What did he do to you?"
Berus's anger flared. "What did he do? That backstabbing son of a bitch got Rias bitten. I told him to watch her while I helped her friends. Instead, he used her as bait and took off. If I hadn't saved him, he'd be one of those fucking ghouls now."
You placed a hand on Berus's shoulder. "What's done is done and I'm not looking to work with that asshole either. But... Why do we need to leave? Aren't we safe here?"
Berus shook his head. "How many days do you think we're safe here? Not even two hours. I watched those things snap a human spine like a matchstick. You really think these doors will hold? The west entrance is wide open. Who knows when they'll come crashing in? You hear those groans, right?"
He pointed towards the cafeteria. To your left, faint groans could be heard.
Berus continued, "I checked out the west entrance. The cafeteria's swarming with those things. There's a narrow gap we could use to get to the buses and make our escape. Right now, zombies are preoccupied with the bus drivers and the school pets in the west zone. Maybe we're safe here for an hour, maybe four—who knows? You can stick around if you want, but if you're thinking about escaping, make your move fast."
While talking with Berus, Ginny slowly regains consciousness and whispers, "Sam, where are we?"
You look back at her, move closer, and ask, "You good?"
She sits up on the bed and replies, "Yeah. Where are Rena and Lara?"
You reassure her, "They're fine. They're in the next room."
As you talk with Ginny, Berus makes a hissing sound. You glance at him, and he gestures towards the next room before walking out.
You then ask Ginny, "Can you walk?"
She nods, "Yeah," as she slowly gets down from the bed.
You continue, "Sorry for rushing you, but we need to move. Staying here only causes problems."
Ginny agrees, "Okay."
As you and Ginny enter the main security room, you spot a new face beside Anh and notice Berus' girlfriend and Hina asleep on the floor. You ask, "What happened to Hina?"
Miss Yuri, sitting at the PC desk, looks up and replies, "She just got drunk. Nothing serious."
Anh, standing in the middle of the room, asked, "Are you okay, brother?"
You responded, "Alright. So, what's the plan? I just heard from Berus that 'zombies might block the west entrance in 2 or 3 hours.' We need to get out of here."
Berus stood up and clarified, "It's not a 'might.' They will definitely block the west entrance. If we're lucky, we have 3 hours. If not, it could be as little as 30 minutes."
Anh added, "You heard him. My plan has been to get out from the start. If you want to stay here, no one's stopping you. But if you come with us, don't expect us to save you every damn time."
Berus stood up and continued, "We can't make sure that your lives are safe and also we are not a group, My hands are full, I have my friends to take care." He looked over at his friends and gave them a nod.
Anh added, "Yep, we only care about ourselves, So come with us if you're prepared." He looked at you and gave him a nod.
Anh continued, "Decide your actions after you hear the plan. According to Berus, we have a chance to escape if we leave in 15 minutes. The west side of the campus should be clear enough to run to the buses and get the hell out of here. Initially, I planned to drive the bus, but since Miss Yuri is the best driver among us, she'll take over. Madam, can you drive the bus?"
Miss Yuri, with a reassuring smile, replied, "I will."
Anh turned to Berus and said, "Berus, you mentioned you found the keys for bus number 25. Take Miss Yuri with you and please park it close to the exit, madam."
Looking at everyone, Anh added, "If you don't know the people beside you, don't trust them. Even me. Everyone in this room has no reason to save others they don't know."
Anh concluded, pointing his left hand towards Slyde, "Lastly, don't trust this snake motherfucker. He's insane, egoistic, and self-centered. To save his own skin, he'll spin as many lies as it takes. In the end, you're the one who ends up dead."
The same guy who hit you raised his voice and shouted, "WHAT THE FUCK…"
But Lara cut him off, landing a punch on his left cheek. "You idiot! Why the hell are you shouting? Do you think we're here for a party? The moment we entered, Anh said, 'Those things react to sound, so keep it down.'"
He shot her an angry glare but continued, "Are you all brain-dead? He saved us—me and those two girls. Do you think you could have done that? And now you're calling him a snake?"
Berus pointed at Slyde, his voice filled with anger. "You're saying the guy who shoved my girlfriend toward the zombies to save himself is a hero, and I'm the one who actually saved him?"
The same guy replied with a twisted smile, "It was almost inevitable—someone had to sacrifice to survive. Professor Slyde did what he had to. I saw Rias fall and the zombies swarm her."
Berus advanced toward him, his anger palpable. "So it was you. Slyde pretended he saved you, but I couldn't see your face through the window. It was you."
The same guy tried to respond, but Berus's fist connected with his mouth, shattering his front teeth and causing his lips to bleed. Blood spattered from his nose and mouth. Without a hint of exertion, Berus lifted him effortlessly and started towards the door.
You stepped into his path and demanded, "Where are you taking him?"
Berus replied coldly, "It's none of your concern."
You shot back, "What, are you going to throw him outside and regret it later? He's not even worth your time."
Berus sneered. "He's not even worth my time, but he doesn't deserve to live. Do you think I'd regret throwing a nobody like him outside? I've killed hundreds for my family and never thought twice about it. They're all just cockroaches to me. Maybe there are good people out there, but why should I care? After crossing five seas, I finally found something—or someone—who truly cares for me, without asking for anything in return. And he, along with that asshole, ruined that. You want me to let him live?"
Slyde intervened. "So, this is how things work here?"
Everyone in the room turned to him. Even Berus shot him a sidelong glance as Slyde continued, "A fatty who knows how to shoot, a psychopath who blasts heads for fun, and an ex-murderer—he said it himself. These three are leading the pack. What a joke. I don't give a fuck because in this world, the strong survive and the weak perish. Whoever runs the show, all I care about is surviving. We're just old people." He pointed to the remaining eight professors and added, "We want to survive, but how can we when there's a zombie among us?"
Slyde slowly approached Berus's friends. "The reason your murderer friend wants to save you is because five of you are just food for his zombie girlfriend. He admitted it himself—yes, I pushed her towards a zombie. Her death was necessary. As the saying goes, 'Kill 100 to save thousands.' I sacrificed her to save that innocent kid, who he now wants to kill. But one thing's for sure—I saw her get bitten." He locked eyes with Berus. "She got a bite on her right thigh. Am I wrong, Mr. Self-Proclaimed Murderer?"
Except for Lara, Anh, Yuri, and you, everyone else watched Berus and his girlfriend with a mix of fear and disbelief. Some of them were trembling.
Berus scanned the room. Three of his friends were avoiding eye contact. With a sudden, fierce motion, he threw the guy he was holding to the ground, the impact echoing like a gunshot. The sound of cracking bones filled the room as the man let out a pained cry before slipping into unconsciousness.
Berus grabbed Slyde by the collar. "I shouldn't have saved you, cockroach."
Slyde surveyed the room with a smirk. "What, you gonna hit me or kill me now? Either way, it's a favor. If you off me, I won't have to worry about tomorrow. Come on, murderer boy, do it. You don't care, right? Just kill me."
Berus hurled him to the side. Slyde slammed into the wall with a heavy thud and crumpled to the floor. He looked up at Berus, taunting. "Is this all you've got? You said neither of us deserved to live. So, give me my death. Set me free, and feel guilty for it."
Berus grappled with a whirlwind of emotions. Killing someone was a first for him, and the gravity of it weighed heavily. Until now, everyone had either begged for their lives or offered him deals to spare them. None of it had made him pause or reconsider.
But Slyde was different. He wasn't just pleading; he was taunting Berus, playing with his mind and emotions to save his own skin. Slyde understood Berus's internal struggle with frightening clarity, exploiting it with every word.
Slyde thought, What's this crazy bastard thinking? Just kill me and be done with it. Who wants to die? Just get the hell out of here.
Slyde's tactics were clearly working. Berus was caught in a storm of overlapping emotions—anger, sadness, and the torment of freeing those who had hurt him. It was pushing him to the brink.
In a fit of rage, Berus punched himself, as if trying to beat away his torment. He lost his sense of purpose and direction.
Miss Yuri attempted to intervene, but he shoved her aside and began bashing his head against the wall. You could see the agony in his eyes—the pain of losing someone dear and the internal struggle tearing him apart.
Understanding his turmoil, you stepped forward. With all your strength, you pushed him away from the wall and shouted, "Fuck this shit! Do you think you're the only ones hurting here? I get it. For a moment, I wanted to smash the faces of those three girls who killed Nita. But then I realized, Nita's not coming back. Those girls didn't kill her; they stopped a zombie that could have killed more people."
You took a deep breath and continued, "I'm not here to debate who's right or wrong, and I'm not saying Slyde's some kind of saint. What I'm saying is we have bigger things to worry about than holding onto a pity grudge against that insane bastard."
Berus lunged at you, his face twisted in fury. "You think my anger is just a pity grudge? They shoved my girlfriend into the path of zombies, laughing like they'd won something. Are you saying my rage is nothing?" He grabbed your collar and slammed you against the wall, his eyes blazing with anger.
You responded with a sarcastic chuckle, "What's the hold-up? Go ahead, strangle me just like you did before." After a brief pause, you added, "What's stopping you? Just do it."
Berus released you and turned away, his fury giving way to frustration. You put a firm hand on his shoulder and spoke with conviction. "Look at your girlfriend. Remember what you said? I can still find people who might cure her. But right now, you're wasting your time on these freaks. You said it yourself—we don't have time to waste. Yet here you are, burning through the precious moments you have."
You addressed everyone in the room, your voice firm and resolute. "We're leaving now. Anyone who wants to join us, follow. Berus, take care of what you need to." He nodded in acknowledgment and moved towards his girlfriend.
Miss Yuri spoke up, "If you're coming with us, grab one of those bags. They're packed with essential supplies and food. And Mr. Slyde, don't make this harder than it needs to be—move with us. We don't have time for stubbornness."
Berus hoisted his girlfriend onto his shoulder and grabbed the heaviest bag. He exited the room with Lara, Rena, and Ginny following closely, each carrying a bag.
Only one of Berus's friends, Boy A, grabbed a bag and followed Berus out of the room.
Anh poured a bottle of water on Hina's face and slapped her cheeks to wake her up. As she stirred, she mumbled, "Let me sleep," but her eyes widened when she saw you.
She sprang up with a bright smile, exclaiming, "You're fine!" She pulled you into a hug, then asked, "Where's your sister? Are you really okay?"
You gently extricated yourself from her embrace and said, "We'll talk about that later. Right now, we need to get out of here."
Hina scanned the room and quickly understood the urgency. "OK, I get it." You gave her a reassuring chuckle and noticed Slyde's group—two girls and three boys—grabbing bags and heading out with Berus. You thought, "Looks like they've made up their minds."
You gave a look to your aunt, Miss Yuri, and nodded. "We don't have time to make them listen to us. Let's go, Yuri."
You then glanced at a few familiar faces from your class and asked Anh, "Are those three coming with us too?"
Ria, the headstrong girl who loves messing with other students, Gwen, the brilliant topper, and Lyra, the class representative, were among those you glanced at. You also wanted to ask about the girl holding Anh's hand, but you stopped yourself.
Anh nodded towards the three girls. "Yep, they're coming with us. Right, girls?" The three of them nodded in unison.
Hina, now more alert, asked, "Where are the others?"
Miss Yuri, her voice urgent, replied, "A lot's happened while you were out. We'll fill you in later. For now, we need to move. We've got five more bags to carry. Each of you grab one and let's go."
Miss Yuri opened the door, and one by one, everyone grabbed a bag and left the room. Before stepping out yourself, you glanced back and said to Slyde and the people around him, "We can help each other. Think. Staying here only means death."
Slyde stepped forward, his arms crossed. "Yeah, and then what? We end up as food for that zombie…"
You cut him off, "Don't drag this out, Slyde. You're sweating like a pig, even though we're in an air-conditioned room. I can hear your heartbeat pounding from here." You gestured towards the people around him. "What, can't you hear his heartbeat? Look at his legs, shaking like jelly. Slyde, last chance—come with us or be food for those things outside."
He straightened his tie and addressed the people around him, "We're in a dire situation. One option is the river; the other is the sea. Both are dangerous, but at least we can swim and escape the river. In the sea, we're lost. So, I'm going with them. Who's coming?"
Anh, who had been listening to the whole conversation from outside, leaned toward the doorway and said, "But I don't know how to swim, sir."
A few people waiting outside chuckled quietly, and even some on Slyde's side cracked a smile. Slyde shot Anh an angry glare and retorted, "Then fucking die."
Anh's response was a simple, resigned, "Ohhh...!"
Just a few seconds after the laughter died down, the people on Slyde's side looked at each other and nodded in agreement with him. With Berus's girlfriend included, a total of thirty of you headed towards the West Entrance.
The West Entrance is a wide and long space, about 50 meters in length. It is situated between the cafeteria and the MECH and Aeronautics Lab.
Most of the people around you were stunned by how clean the path appeared now—like night and day compared to the bloodbath they'd seen just hours earlier. It was almost as if the carnage had never happened. But when they glanced back, the blood and gore served as a harsh reminder: it had all been real.
You all moved cautiously towards the end of the Entrance. With every step, the distant groans of zombies grew clearer, their unsettling sounds echoing through the area. A few of the group were huddled together, gripping each other for comfort.
As you reached the end of the West Entrance Pathway, the scene was both shocking and grim. Zombies were scattered across the bus ground, and the walkway to the College Exit was lightly populated with them. If you ran at full speed, there was a chance you might make it out, but you'd have to sprint with everything you had.
Here's a revised version with improved flow and a more cinematic feel:
Berus glanced at everyone and then turned to Miss Yuri. "Sorry for this, Madam, but you're the only one who can drive. Please forgive me."
He set the bag he'd been holding on the road and moved toward Miss Yuri. Before she could react, he lifted her effortlessly and hoisted her over his shoulder. "Just hold on for a few seconds, Madam!" he said, securing her position.
He gave a quick, sideways glance. "Hey, Sam, pass me that bag."
You struggled with the heavy bag but managed to get it into his hands. Berus grabbed the handle and, without breaking stride, took off. He carried both Miss Yuri and his girlfriend with ease, sprinting down the path as if the weight were nothing.
The remaining people watched in stunned silence as Berus took off. Anh stepped forward, gripping the new woman's hand. "We don't have time to gawk. Let's follow him and get the hell out of here before those freaks catch up."
You all dashed after Berus, pushing yourselves to the limit. The scattered zombies in the bus parking lot were stirred by your movement, some shuffling quickly, others limping in your direction.
The gap between you and the pursuing zombies was narrowing. They were closing in, now just 30 to 50 meters behind.
In the chaos, your only hope was Miss Yuri, who needed to maneuver the bus to safety. The bus had to be right where it needed it to be, or escaping this zombie horde would be impossible.
As you all sprinted toward the university exit, the gathering swarm of zombies closed in from every side. Some were charging at you from all directions, while others had already reached you. You fought desperately, evading and battling in small groups, smashing zombie heads wherever you could.
Just when it seemed like the horde might overwhelm you, a vehicle roared into view from your right. The college bus, driven by Miss Yuri, plowed through the zombies in its path, running them over as it barreled toward the exit.
Berus's voice cut through the chaos, urgent and commanding. "RUN TO YOUR RIGHT! THE BUS IS HERE—WE CAN'T STOP IT! RUN AND GET IN, NOW!"
Anh held the new girl's hand tightly, leading her toward the bus while firing at the encroaching zombies. Slyde and his group followed, but they were falling behind as you and the others pushed ahead. You sprinted with the girls and the remaining survivors, all moving toward the bus.
Slyde and his people lagged a bit, forcing the students trailing behind him to wait. You and your group surged ahead, catching up to Anh. As you neared him, you shouted, "What the hell? You just left us back there!"
Running alongside him, Anh shot a quick glance your way. "Once I get her to safety, I'll help the others. By the way, this is my girlfriend, Rachel."
You thought to yourself, His girlfriend, huh?
You gave Rachel a nod and continued sprinting toward the bus, but the zombies were closing in fast. Berus, losing patience, leapt from the bus and charged toward you. He grabbed Ria and Lyra, lifting them effortlessly, and told Gwen to climb onto his back.
Breathing heavily, he paused to speak to you and Anh. "If you can carry anyone, do it and keep running. We're out of time—the zombies are swarming. I'll come back for more."
With that, Berus sprinted back to the bus, delivering the girls inside with a few swift movements. He didn't waste a second before racing back to help again.
This time, he picked up the extra people in your group and his friends, carrying them as he bolted toward safety. Returning once more, he lifted Rena and Ginny in each arm, and told Rachel to climb onto his back.
As he ran, he shouted over his shoulder, "Now you're free of baggage—RUN!"
As he said, the people around you made you all slow except Anh. He can't run faster because of his weight and the remaining three of you, You, Lara and Hina were looking out for people they are close to so you run along with their pace.
After Berus's shout, Hina dashed toward Anh and said, "Climb on my back. We don't have time for your damn self-respect—just get on!"
Anh scrambled onto Hina's back, and Lara moved in beside them. "I'll provide support. Follow my pace, Hina Sei Tanaka."
Hina, with Anh secured on her back, shot back, "No need for formalities—let's move!"
They began running, initially struggling to find their rhythm. It took a few moments, but they eventually synced up. Hina balanced Anh while trailing Lara, and you kept pace, pushing yourself to stay with them.
As you all approached the bus, Hina glanced back and asked, "Why do you smell like this woman, Sam?"
You shot a confused, vacant look at Hina, who was running beside you. Before you could respond, Lara answered, "It's from something like kissing."
Hina shot you an irritated glance, while Lara's face lit up with a bright smile. As the three of you continued running alongside the bus, Lara called out, "Hulk man, we need some help here!"
Berus, peering out of the bus window, shouted back, "Yeah, I'm coming!"
Berus leaped from the moving bus, and you expected him to grimace in pain. Instead, he landed effortlessly and dashed toward Hina. He scooped Anh up with both hands, cradling him like a baby, and sprinted back to the bus.
You couldn't help but laugh, shouting, "Is he some kind of real-world Popeye? What the hell? He doesn't even flinch when he hits the concrete!"
At your remark, both Lara and Hina burst into laughter. As you approached the bus door, you heard frantic screams from behind. You started to look back, but Lara and Hina shouted in unison, "Don't look back! Keep your eyes forward—we're almost there. Get inside first!"
They slowed their pace, pushing you ahead of them. You sprinted up the bus stairs, grabbing the bar and pulling yourself inside. Once you were fully on the bus, you reached out to Hina, pulling her in, and did the same for Lara.
As you looked out the window, you saw the grim scene unfolding: the group following Slyde was being overrun by zombies. Only a few, including Trident, Slyde, and the guy who had hit you, were still running toward the bus.
In front of you, three men fought desperately to reach the moving bus, pushing and shoving others out of their way to survive.
As they neared the bus, a zombie lunged at Slyde. With a cruel grin, he used the guy who hit you as a human shield, tossing him aside. Slyde continued running, shouting, "Everyone's a sacrificial lamb—it's all for my survival!"
Trident chimed in, "Our survival."
Lara, frustrated, yelled at Miss Yuri, "Hit the gas! We don't have to wait for those assholes."
Miss Yuri, shaking her head, replied, "I can't do that. They're still human and I can't let them die in front of me. Sorry, I don't have the guts to do that."
Anh, tense and focused, said, "Please, sit down. This isn't the time to argue about this."
Lara, fuming, sat down with a scowl on her face.
Finally, the two professors, Trident, and Slyde made it onto the bus.
Once she saw no one else running toward them, Miss Yuri muttered to herself, "They killed my family. They're dead." Over and over, her voice was a mix of rage and sorrow. With a determined look, she slammed the gas pedal, crushing zombies under the wheels as they tried to close in.
The remaining zombies grew more frantic, running and limping faster toward the bus, but Miss Yuri didn't flinch. She pressed the accelerator to the floor, barreling through the chaos until she reached the edge of the university. As the bus roared onto the national highway, she hit the brakes, shifted gears, and took a sharp turn, speeding away towards the city.
Inside the bus, everyone settled into the available seats. Out of the original 30, only 20 had survived, and whether anyone among them had been bitten remained unknown. For the moment, there was a rare peace.
Anh sat beside his girlfriend, holding her hand. He leaned against her, closing his eyes as she gently rubbed his head. "Thank you for everything you did. I thought you'd forgotten about me," she whispered. Anh managed a small smile before drifting off to sleep on her shoulder.
In the back, Rena, Lara, Ginny, Ria, Gwen, and Lyra gathered on the large seat, sharing smiles and relief at having survived the ordeal.
Berus settled his girlfriend by the window and gave you a nod. As he took a deep breath, you couldn't shake your suspicion. "He knows something. His insane strength—does he know more about this nightmare we're in?" Your doubts lingered, unbidden.
Up front, Trident, Slyde, and the other two occupied the left seats. Trident's unblinking gaze was fixed on Rena and her friends, his hand occasionally rubbing his crotch in a disconcerting manner.
Hina stood next to Miss Yuri, guiding her on the route and offering assistance.
As you contemplated the chaos around you, a grim thought crossed your mind: "Is this nightmare ever going to end, or is it only going to get worse?"
The bus rumbled on through the evening, each survivor lost in their own thoughts, the weight of their ordeal settling in. As the city lights flickered in the distance, a somber realization dawned: the nightmare might not end soon, and survival was a fleeting moment of calm in an ever-unfolding chaos. Exhaustion finally claimed you, and with a heavy heart, you drifted into a restless sleep, hoping for a brighter dawn but fearing the darkness that lay ahead.
Bonus Story 2: Anh Plan- The Solved Mystery
After they done what they needed to do in mechanical lab they walked back to the Trident room
Anh knocked on the door. After a few moments, Lyra's voice came through, "Who is it?"
Hina replied, "It's us. Open the door."
Lyra opened the door, and everyone entered the room.
Anh, who entered last, closed the door behind him and waited for everyone to settle down. After a couple of minutes, he said, "Guys, hear me out."
Just then, a loud "Wooooo… Hooooo…" echoed through the room, the sound of Miss Yuri's vocalizations coming from the ground floor speakers.
Anh paused, and everyone in the room exchanged glances before bursting into laughter. The room filled with their collective mirth. Even Anh joined in, and the laughter went on for a few minutes.
Once the laughter subsided, Anh said, "First, we need to tell Miss Yuri to stop making those sounds."
Hina, still chuckling, said, "Haha… yeah, give me your phone." Anh tossed the phone to her, and she caught it and dialed Miss Yuri.
The call connected, and Miss Yuri answered. Hina, trying to stifle her laughter, said, "Miss Yuri… can you please stop those sounds? Anh said, 'You've done enough.' Thanks for your help, Ma'am."
Anh signaled Hina to switch the call to speaker mode, which she did.
After a brief pause, Miss Yuri replied, [I turned off the speaker switch. As for helping you, don't worry about the little things. I'm just happy you're still alive. I'm not alone anymore.]
Hina responded, "Thanks, Ma'am. And don't worry, you won't be alone."
Miss Yuri then asked, [Do you know Sam Son from class 2A? He's my sister's son. Have you come across him? Is he alive?]
Hina replied, "Yes, Ma'am. He's alive and safe. We can meet him once we've completed what we need to do."
Miss Yuri paused for a moment before replying with a chuckle, [He's safe. Thanks for letting me know. And what about Nita, his sister? Do you know where she is?]
Hina responded, "We don't know, but Sam went to the rooftop to look for her."
Miss Yuri replied, [Okay!]
Anh walked towards Hina and stood beside her. He then said, "Miss Yuri, can you please check if the first-floor stairs connecting to the cafeteria are clear?"
Miss Yuri replied after checking the footage, [It seems clear, but I can see a few shadows moving around.]
Anh asked, "Is the cafeteria camera connected to the system you're using, Miss?"
[Nope, I can only see the stairs and a bit of the walkway connecting to the ground floor office space.]
Anh inquired, "Does the office space area have zombies?"
She switched the screen to a ground-floor camera and said, [There are a few coming from the cafeteria. Most of the zombies are outside the office space, milling around the empty ground floor. The office hallway is still dangerous. There's a half-metal, half-glass door blocking the zombies from getting in, but the door leading to the west entrance is open. Even a small mistake could let them through. Also, we don't know how many are in the cafeteria.]
Anh muttered, "Zombies coming from the cafeteria." He then asked Miss Yuri, "Can you make that screeching sound again and see how many zombies are moving into the office space from the cafeteria hallway?"
[Give me a second.] Miss Yuri turned on the mic and created a screeching noise. After a few minutes, she said, [There are only a few zombies coming from the cafeteria hallway, and the number in the office space hallway has increased to about five. The main issue is you'll have to fight your way out. If you engage, you'll definitely alert the larger group waiting in the empty ground floor space.]
The group exchanged worried looks. Anh, though anxious, said, "We came all this way and completed part of the plan. Fear won't help now. We'll push forward. If we die, we become zombies. If we survive, we get the hell out of here." He looked at everyone, everyone nodded in agreement, including Trident.
Anh then said to Miss Yuri, "We're heading to the ground floor. Can you guide us to the end of the sixth left hallway?"
Miss Yuri replied in a dry tone, [I will.]
Anh then initiated the mini-plan. The group left the room, with Ria and Hina leading the way. Trident was left at the rear
The first floor was cloaked in darkness, making it hard to see. As they exited the hallway and entered the main corridor, the scene was grim. To their left, the staircase was packed with zombies, and some were even falling down from above. To their right was a dark hallway, with a few zombies scattered around, feasting on the corpses they had found.
They moved right, heading toward the sixth hallway on the left.
As they pressed forward, they encountered a handful of zombies. Ria and Hina shoved the zombies out of their path, while Anh fired his nail gun, sending nails into the zombies' heads. Each hit brought a zombie crashing to the ground.
Meanwhile, Miss Yuri was continuously updating them with directions and warnings about the zombies through the speakerphone.
Their progress was steady, and their teamwork was improving. However, Trident remained an enigma. None of them could figure out what he was thinking or why he was following them without a word. Still, each of them had their own thoughts and concerns brewing in their minds.
Trident thought to himself, "Just wait, you all. I've got a message from Professor Slyde. Clear these zombies out, and he'll deal with you later. You're just stepping stones for our survival. Once we hit the bus, I'll make sure you all regret ever crossing me. I'll fucking wreck every one of you bitches until you're pussies broken and sagging. Hina, you're first. You're going to get it hard." His eyes were locked on Hina as she shoved a zombie aside. "I'll shove it deep, right up your ass."
Anh thought to himself, aiming at a distant zombie, "Are you safe? Please, just be safe, my little girl."
Hina kicked a zombie, crushing its head, and continued running. She muttered to herself, "Please be safe, Sam. Mom, Dad, I hope you're alright."
Ria shoved a zombie aside and thought, "Mom, Aki, please stay inside the house. Stay safe."
Lyra walked between Anh and Ria, her thoughts drifting, *"Thanks for saving me. Mom, I think I've finally made some real friends." A small smile touched her lips.
Gwen glanced at Hina and Ria, reflecting, "Ria used to bully people, and Hina was one of her targets. But now they're fighting side by side. Thanks to both of you, I'm still alive. I hope the kids at the orphanage are safe."
Miss Yuri thought, "You've come a long way and freed yourself from those shackles. You need to reunite with your child and speak your heart. Don't let yourself become one of them."
Everyone harbored their own thoughts, but now their main goal was clear: "I can't become one of them."
Finally, Anh and the gang reached the sixth left hallway.
All of them stopped in front of the sixth hallway when they saw a silhouette of a woman carrying a child. Their emotions were a chaotic blend of fear and revulsion, but one truth stood out clearly: "That is not human."
As the figures approached, Hina's eyes widened in horror. "They're zombies."
The scene before them was a nightmarish display: a zombie child, no older than three or four, had its left shoulder gruesomely torn apart. The child was gnawing on the exposed breasts of the female zombie, a grotesque sight that left them all in stunned silence.
The female zombie moved slowly, much more so than any zombie they'd encountered so far. The sight stirred mixed emotions in all of them.
Hina took a step forward and said, "I don't think she can follow us. Look at her legs." The group noticed that half of the flesh from the back of her thighs had been eaten away, and her calf bone was visibly broken. "Come on, let's get out of here."
Everyone nodded in agreement, but Trident stared at the zombie with a cold, intense glare. As the others began to run, Trident lagged behind. He kicked the zombie's broken legs with force.
The impact of the kick sent the zombie sprawling, and the child zombie fell to the ground. The group turned to look at Trident, shock evident on their faces. Hina spoke up, "That was unnecessary. Let's move."
Trident smirked and replied, "Nothing's unnecessary. I'm just doing my part. You're all showing sympathy for a zombie carrying a child zombie." He approached the fallen child zombie and crushed its head with his foot. The others glared at him, but he shrugged off their looks. "I did what you couldn't. I'm the best." He chuckled darkly, a hint of a villainous laugh in his tone.
Anh replied, "Whatever, let's move. There are still zombies around us."
It was clear to everyone now: "We can't trust this guy." Their distrust wasn't just about him crushing a child's head; it was the unsettling enjoyment he seemed to derive from it. There was a distinct difference between the grim thrill of surviving in a zombie world and the twisted pleasure of ending lives.
As Trident continued to laugh and mumble incoherently, the others couldn't make out his words, but his unsettling grin made them all wary.
Only Hina fully grasped what was happening with Trident. She thought, "So, he finds pleasure in killing. I initially thought his fearlessness was due to his thrill for survival in this world. But he's actually the first one to kill a classmate when the zombies were attacking someone. He's not just surviving; he's reveling in it. He takes satisfaction in seeing death. We need to get rid of him soon, or we'll end up losing people because of him."
As they processed their thoughts, they reached the end of the left hallway. There were stairs leading down to the cafeteria.
Anh stood by the stairs, his voice barely audible. "Wait. As Miss Yuri said, I can see shadows of people moving around. But I don't see any legs or zombies in the hallway."
Hina nodded. "But those eerie groans are definitely coming from the cafeteria. Listen carefully."
The group fell silent, straining to hear over the increasing groans, their faces etched with fear.
Anh drew his gun from his back while Hina began descending the stairs, Anh covering her from behind. The rest of the group remained on the first floor, tense and watchful.
As they went down, the eerie groans grew louder. Reaching the cafeteria hallway, they were met with a grim sight: the legs of people behind the closed glass door.
Anh's voice trembled. "WHAT THE FUCK!" His legs shook as if an icy chill had run through him.
The zombies inside the cafeteria were trying to push against the door, their groans growing gradually louder. Anh and Hina, paralyzed by fear, stood frozen for a good 15 minutes, staring at the scene. The zombies gradually became more aggressive and angry, either driven by rage or desperation, slamming against the glass door with the palms. With each violent impact, the door started to crack and splinter, and the groans grew harsher and louder, sending shivers through both of them from their feet to the top of their heads.
Hina said firmly, "We need to get out of here." Anh, paralyzed by terror, was unresponsive. Hina grabbed his arm and slapped him to snap him out of it. "Run back to the first floor."
Without a second glance, they sprinted up the stairs.
When they regrouped with the others, everyone was visibly shaken. Ria, her voice trembling, asked, "What were those groans?"
Hina, catching her breath as she ran back to the group, replied, "We can discuss it later. Right now, we need to get out of here. It's not safe anymore. Everybody, run!"
They all sprinted down the first-floor corridor, but halfway through, Anh suddenly stopped. Fear gripped him, but a memory flashed in his mind—this same situation had happened on the fifth floor, and one of the zombies had gone aggressive, running straight at them. He froze in place, glancing back as his mind raced.
Hina and the others were nearly at the end of the hallway when she glanced over her shoulder to check the group. That's when she noticed Anh missing. Her heart skipped a beat as she spotted her brother, standing still in the middle of the hallway, not moving.
She yelled out, her voice echoing down the corridor, "Stop! That idiot's not coming with us!" Everyone turned and saw Anh standing frozen in the middle of the hallway, his face pale with fear. Trident, never one to keep quiet, blurted out with a smirk, "Did he turn into a zombie?"
Hina didn't hesitate—she slapped Trident hard across the face, her palm leaving a sharp echo in the hallway. Grabbing him by the collar, she leaned in, her eyes blazing. "Did you see him get bit? Don't tear apart the teamwork we've built in the last hour with your twisted mind," she snapped. She looked at the others, her grip still tight on Trident's collar, and reassured them, "He's not bitten. None of us have a single scratch. This idiot just lost his nerve. You all stay here—I'll go get him."
Hina stormed over to him, her eyes blazing with anger. Grabbing his hand, she hissed, "Move, you dumb fuck. That door could break any second."
Anh spoke in a calm, quiet voice, "They can't break that door. If they could, it would've shattered already. Remember how hard they slammed against it? The glass didn't even crack, just bent." He paused, taking a deep breath. "Listen... their groans are getting quieter."
Without another word, Anh began walking toward the stairs. Hina, furious, grabbed his arm. "Are you out of your mind? You saw them go berserk, and you still want to go back there?"
Anh replied, "Yeah, I saw it—not once, but twice. That's why I understand it now. Remember when I said I came across a zombie that ran on the fifth floor?" She nodded, and Anh continued, "Now I get why it ran. First, calm down—they won't break through. That glass is probably acrylic or polycarbonate; if it weren't, it would've shattered after those insane slams against it."
He paused, giving her a few moments to cool down.
Anh continued slowly, "Do you remember how quiet they were when we first stepped into the cafeteria hallway? They still tried to move towards us, but they were silent at first. They only became aggressive when they couldn't catch or eat us. The same thing happened on the fifth floor. Sam was fighting zombies, but most of the time, he was trying to push them away, keeping about two arm's lengths between them. When he managed to get that distance, he'd aim for their heads.
Without realizing it, Sam kept knocking them back, and those further behind got pushed back even more. The zombie that ran at him came from the back, and now it all makes sense—why that one was running and more aggressive. It's the same thing that happened here. There's a glass door acting as a barrier, stopping them from reaching us, and because we stood in their line of sight for a good 15 minutes, they gradually became aggressive. That's exactly what happened on the fifth floor with Sam."
Hina's mix of confusion and fear was palpable. She yelled, "What are you trying to say?"
Anh turned back, holding both of her hands. "We can get past them safely if we move quickly. I'm not saying we need to sprint like athletes, but we need to move fast enough to avoid making them more aggressive by staying in their line of sight for too long."
Hina, still somewhat anxious but regaining composure, asked with doubt, "Are you sure about this? Are you certain those zombies won't break the glass?"
Anh took a deep breath and sighed, "If the door were made of real glass, we wouldn't be having this conversation—we'd have become zombies by now. I'm certain it's made of either Polycarbonate or Acrylic (Plexiglass), which are alternatives to regular glass. The thickness of the material affects its durability, but from what we've seen, we can safely say they can't break out. We're actually lucky that the automatic door system malfunctioned; otherwise, we'd have been eaten alive by now."
Hina took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves as she glanced around. "Alright, if the door still holds, what about the zombies still wandering the office space and the ones that followed us into the cafeteria hallway when I shouted at you to run?"
Anh glanced back at the group huddled at the end of the hallway before turning to face Hina. "We've got two options. One, we use the speaker we placed outside our block to make a huge noise. That'll draw all the zombies on the ground and first floors towards it. If we do that, we can escape with just us and Miss Yuri. The others on the upper floors, including your Sam and my Nancy, if they're still alive, will have to fend for themselves. Nancy sent me a message saying she was hiding in a library locker, but she didn't specify which floor. Service cut out right after, so I haven't heard from her since. I need to find her."
He took a breath before continuing, "The second option is to head straight for the main control room. It's risky—we'd risk our lives and Miss Yuri's too—but it's our best shot."
Miss Yuri, listening through the call on Anh's phone, said firmly, "If you're ready, I don't care about my life. I'll keep the door open until you reach the room. I want to see my nephew and niece and escape from this hell. They're the only ones left for me."
Hina glanced at the remaining group and asked Anh, "What about them?"
Anh replied, "Talk to them. Try to convince them to come with us. If they refuse, we'll leave them in Trident's room and head to the maintenance room ourselves."
Suddenly, Ria's voice cut through the tension, startling both Anh and Hina. "What's this, Hina? I thought you were hiding that Anh got bitten. Haha! Just ask us—we're all in. I owe you, Hina, and I want to see uptight guy Sam again too. Not just me; those two back there are ready to help as well. Trident seems okay with the second option too. And by the way, if you're talking secrets, you might want to pick a better spot. Your conversation is echoing all the way down the hallway."
Lyra and Gwen hurried away from Trident, joining Ria. Trident, catching up with the rest, stopped and looked at them. "So, what's the plan?"
Anh gathered everyone around and said, "The plan is straightforward. Miss Yuri, listen carefully. First, turn on the mic on the ground floor to make that screeching sound and attract the zombies. Once they're drawn to it, Hina, you're our only option. Run, evade—whatever you need to do. Get to the office space door leading to the West entrance and close it. Miss Yuri, keep track of her through the security cameras. Once Hina closes the door and reaches the first floor, turn off the mic."
Miss Yuri and Hina replied in unison, "Let's fucking do it."
Hina turned to the others and said, "Don't even think I got bit. I'll come back without a scratch."
She gripped the iron pipe tightly, waiting for the howl of the zombies once the mic's screeching sound started.
The screeching sound from the mic blared, and Hina received the signal. The howls and groans of the zombies filled the air, creating a cacophony that felt apocalyptic.
Just as she was about to move, Miss Yuri's voice crackled through the outgoing call on Anh's phone, "They've all gathered right in front of the maintenance room. If it weren't for the iron door, they would have already broken through. One even slipped out through an open door, so watch your back."
Hina suddenly grabbed Anh's hand, her voice urgent. "Change of plans. Run with me!"
Without waiting for a response, she yanked him forward, sprinting ahead and skipping five stairs at a time. Anh struggled to keep up, stumbling and earning bruises on his arms and legs. They rushed through the Cafeteria hallway, where the zombies behind the glass door slammed against it, unable to reach them.
They finally reached the doorway of the office space.
The ground floor office area was about 20 feet from the West entrance. A cramped space connected to the Cafeteria hallway, it housed the principal's room, the nurse's office, and a maintenance room. The rest of the area had been converted into a massive server room for ANGEL BLOCK.
Hina quickly assessed the situation, thinking, "The door to the West entrance is at least 10 feet away. I'm gonna have to trust him."
She turned and shouted, "Anh, shoot them and cover me! I'll close the door!"
Anh opened his mouth to respond, but Hina cut him off, slowly stepping toward the door. "The reason I brought you down here is so we can take out these freaks and close the door at the same time. Even if we shut it and escape now, we'll still have to deal with them later. Just do what I say."
With a quick nod, Anh pulled the gun from his back pocket, loading it in one swift motion. His aim locked on a zombie standing in the middle of the pack.
BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM!
Nine zombies hit the floor with precise shots, collapsing in a heap. The remaining six, startled by the noise, turned and began shambling toward them, drawn by the gunfire.
Hina shot him a glance. "We're not done yet."
Anh took a deep breath, frustration boiling over, and stormed into the office hallway. "FUCK THIS!" he shouted, raising his gun as he marched forward. Each step was accompanied by a precise shot. BAM. Step. BAM. Step. Six zombies dropped one by one as he advanced, six steps, six dead.
The hallway fell silent for a moment, the stench of blood and gunpowder filling the air.
As Hina reached the sliding door, she realized there was a problem—it was a heavy metal door with glass panel fixed into the upper part of it. She began to carefully slide it shut, but the grating sound of iron scraping against the wall echoed through the ground floor. The noise immediately caught the attention of a few nearby zombies, who began shambling toward her.
Her heart raced as she saw them coming. Desperately, she tried to close the door faster, but one of the zombies moved quicker than expected. Its hand jammed between the door and the frame, violently slamming its free hand against the glass. Each strike sent a jolt through her nerves. The force of the zombie's push made it harder to shut the door, and to make things worse, more zombies were now closing in, drawn by the commotion.
Her grip tightened on the door handle as she fought to close it, the zombie pushing harder, inch by inch.
Anh saw the chaos unfolding and sprinted toward the door. Without hesitation, he aimed and fired, the bullet whizzing right past Hina's ear, making her ears buzz. It slammed into the zombie's head, blowing through and striking another one in the leg. Blood splattered against the glass as the zombie blocking the door slowly crumpled, its hand finally slipping free.
Despite the ringing in her ears, Hina shoved the hand out of the doorway and slammed the door shut. Both of them stood there for a moment, breathless, exchanging a quick smile of relief before bolting upstairs, leaving the growing horde behind.
While they were running to the stairs, they heard Miss Yuri's voice blaring from the speakers: "ARE YOU BOTH FUCKING MAD? I TOLD YOU FIGHTING THOSE THINGS IS A BIG NO! NOW THEY'RE SPREADING ALL OVER THE GROUND FLOOR AND YOU BOTH WOULD HAVE BECOME ZOMBIES WITH THAT STUNT YOU PULLED!"
Hina grabbed Anh's phone from his shirt pocket while they climbed the stairs. "No problem, Miss. Just keep yelling into the mic. The louder you are, the more they'll gather around the speakers."
Miss Yuri's voice blared from the speakers: "THAT IS NOT THE POINT! IF YOU'D COME HERE QUIETLY, I WOULD HAVE OPENED THE DOOR AND YOU ALL WOULD HAVE BEEN SAFE. WHY TAKE SUCH A RISK NOW?"
Anh replied, "Miss, to be honest, I was thinking the same way. Hina's quick, so I figured she could close the door and come back. But with almost 15 zombies around, even if she gets the door shut, we'd still have to fight them. I'm good with guns, but Hina can only handle maybe four zombies at a time. Ria can throw a punch but doesn't know how to defend herself, and the rest of them are clueless about fighting. Trident? He's a wild card—God knows what he'd do with a gun. The reality is, we might need to sacrifice one or two of us to get the rest into the maintenance room."
Hina added, "So we both took the risk. Now no one else has to die or turn into a zombie."
They finally reached the others, and Miss Yuri's voice blared from the speakers: "BUT YOU RISKED YOURSELVES, AND A ZOMBIE ALMOST BIT YOU!"
Hina took a deep breath, sank to the floor next to Ria, and leaned against her legs. "It was part of the plan, Yuri. I used only my left hand to close the door on purpose. If I'd used both hands or my right hand, I could've closed it faster, but the risk of getting bitten was too high. And the reason I brought Andy with me was to handle the rest. He did exactly what he was supposed to."
Ria cut in abruptly, "Who the hell is Andy?"
Anh raised his arm and replied, "I'm Andy Hanks, but just call me Anh."
Miss Yuri replied, "WHATEVER. ALL OF YOU STAY WHERE YOU ARE. I NEED TO MAKE THESE ZOMBIES THAT HAVE SPREAD ALL OVER THE WEST ENTRANCE MOVE AWAY FROM THERE."
It took her a good hour and a half, and by the end, her throat was sore. The zombies eventually gathered towards the speakers placed near the East Entrance.
Miss Yuri responded to the ongoing call with Anh, saying, [You guys can come in, but I'm out of energy to shout anymore. So please be silent, especially you both, Anh and Hina.]
After Miss Yuri's message, everyone started down the stairs, eventually reaching the cafeteria hallway. As they stepped into the cafeteria, everyone except Anh and Hina was stunned into silence by the sight before them: an overwhelming number of zombies, all fixated on the door, trying to break through. The scene was horrifying.
Lyra and Gwen were on the verge of screaming, but Hina quickly covered their mouths and whispered urgently, "Stay silent and move." The three of them made their way toward the Office hallway entrance, glancing nervously at the zombies that were now focused on them. Ria, overwhelmed, froze in place, mirroring the shock Hina and Anh had felt when they first encountered this terrifying sight.
Anh gave Ria a sharp pat on the back and said, "We don't have time to gawk at the zombies. Move it!" Ria snapped out of her daze and hurried to join Hina and the others as they headed into the Office hallway.
As they reached the main control room, Anh unceremoniously tossed Trident onto the floor, where he lay groaning in his own disgrace. Hina, visibly exhausted but determined, took a deep breath and surveyed their new surroundings. The room was dimly lit by the glow of multiple monitors and blinking consoles.
Miss Yuri, barely managing to follow them inside, slumped into a chair, catching her breath. The silence of the room was a stark contrast to the chaos they had left behind, thanks to the speakers drawing the zombies away.
Hina turned to the group, her voice steady despite her fatigue. "We've made it. For now, we're safe. What's our next move, Anh?"
Anh, still catching his breath, replied, "We need to keep doing what we're doing—baiting the zombies with sounds, but on a larger scale." He gestured towards the PCs and monitors. "We have everything we need here."
Ria, still shaken, nodded. "We also need to figure out what's happening outside."
As the group settled into their new temporary haven, the weight of their situation hung heavily over them. They had survived the immediate threat, but the struggle was far from over. The main control room became their base of operations, a place to regroup, strategize, and prepare for whatever came next. In the midst of the apocalypse, their fight for survival was far from finished.
After this you know what happened in the story Please read chapter 2 to know more.