"Grab what you can carry," Don instructed.
They loaded up on ammunition, flashlights, and a few other essential supplies. Don handed Kia a small backpack. "Put this on. We'll get some food, water, and first aid."
Kia nodded and slipped it on.
They remained silent for a few more seconds, staring at each other as if contemplating how they would step back out there. It was a tough decision, especially for Don, who seemed to struggle more but hid it behind a mask.
He took a deep breath and stepped out first, using his flashlight to scan their surroundings.
Kia was following close behind when he realized that Sofie had been quiet for a while.
"Sofie," he whispered softly, nudging her a little.
"Hmm..." Sofie hummed a weak response, lifting her head slightly from Kia's shoulder.
"Are you okay?" Kia asked. He shifted her slightly to get a better look at her face.
"I'm thirsty," Sofie muttered, her voice barely audible.
There was no water or anything edible with him, leaving them with no option. She had to hold on just a little longer, Kia thought.
Don must have heard, as he patted Sofie on the back. "We'll find something soon, kid. Hang in there," he said, his voice softening for a moment as he brushed a strand of hair from her face.
Sofie's eyes fluttered closed, and she leaned her head against Kia's shoulder once more. It was obvious she was struggling to stay awake; her small body was exhausted.
As Don walked ahead to check if the area was clear, Kia decided to take a small break as Sofie's weight on his back was becoming heavier. His plan was to lower Sofie down for a moment, giving him enough time to stretch his worn muscles and get some blood flowing back into his legs. He lowered himself to the ground, trying not to jostle Sofie too much, but as soon as he did, Sofie's eyes flickered open.
Before Kia could reassure her that everything was alright, he heard a sudden crash.
His heart skipped a beat as he once again felt that weird sensation of being watched. He spun around quickly and, without warning, felt something cold and clammy grab his leg and yank him off balance.
"Argh!" Kia let out a terrified yell and crashed to the ground, landing in a sickening pile of decaying bodies.
Kia fumbled for his flashlight, his hands trembling. The beam of light revealed a gruesome scene: a sea of rotting flesh, dismantled pieces of dead bodies, some missing limbs, and bloated torsos. He screamed again, his voice echoing through the desolate hallways. The stench was overwhelming, and the sensation of the soft, squishy remains against his skin made his stomach churn.
"Argh! Get it off me!" Kia yelled, frantically trying to scramble out of the pile.
His flashlight then fell upon a body lying on the floor, its hand resting against the wall. The realization hit him hard—this was the creature that had grabbed him. He scrambled backward, raising his gun in a panic, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Sofie's eyes were now wide open as she rushed to his side. In fear, she stood behind him and held his pants tightly.
Just as he was about to pull the trigger, Don's hand shot out, gripping Kia's wrist firmly. "Don't shoot!" Don barked.
"What are you doing? Why are you stopping me?" Kia shouted.
Don didn't answer immediately. Instead, he knelt beside the body, shining his flashlight on the man's face. It was an old man with white hair that was partly stained with blood; part of his face had been beaten off, leaving a bloody, pulpy mess.
"Oh no, old man Clarence," Don called out, his voice trembling.
The old man's eyes were frozen in a permanent stare, and his mouth was open in a silent scream. Then he groaned weakly, and Kia saw a glimmer of life in the man's eyes. He was not entirely gone... yet.
"Dear God. What did they do to you?" Don muttered, stepping back with a sigh.
"What now?" Kia, still confused and frightened, could only ask.
There was a brief silence as Don contemplated. "Put him to rest, I guess. That seems like the only proper thing to do."
He stood over the old man, his eyes never leaving his face. "Clarence," he repeated softly as if saying goodbye to an old friend. With a heavy sigh, he leveled the gun at Clarence's head. "Rest on."
The shot echoed through the corridors, loud and final. The old man's body went still, the faint glimmer of life extinguished.
"Let's get going... they'll be here in no time," Don added.
Kia was still in shock by what had just happened and found it difficult to process what Don had said. "Who?" he asked. "Who is going to be here?"
"Company," Don responded. With that, he fired two more shots. The bullets flew past Kia's ear and hit two decaying zombies that had emerged from the shadows.
"That kind of company," Don said grimly, lowering his gun. "Now move before more show up."
Kia nodded and quickly scooped Sofie into his arms, racing towards the exit, but it was too late. They stopped dead in their tracks as they spotted a horde of zombies running toward them. The undead shuffled forward, their moans growing louder as they caught sight of fresh prey.
Don quickly darted across the corridor, scanning for a way out. He saw a passage, revealing a maintenance door to their left.
"Over there," Kia pointed as he had already
began moving towards the door with Sofie clinging tightly to him. Don followed from behind, firing a few more shots to keep the approaching zombies at bay.
They reached the maintenance door, and Don shoved it open with his shoulder. The door creaked loudly, and they rushed inside, quickly shutting the door behind them and leaning against it to catch their breath.