With equipment like guns, swords, boxing gloves, etc., distributed to the kids, the students of Ashok Chakra hostel began their regular training routines.
After a long summer break, they were going to enjoy what they loved the most.
Martial arts were being conducted on the volleyball court under Jai's watchful eyes.
Kiaan was overseeing target practice on one half of the football ground, whereas Rahul was conducting melee weapon fights on the other half.
Ashva Sena, led by Kabir, followed their usual path through the entire campus, their movements precise and silent as they jogged through every corner, except the generator room.
From afar, it seemed like just another day at the hostel. But beyond the campus walls, and even within the infirmary, a different story unfolded, one the students remained oblivious to.
Dust and sweat streaked, a man with ripped clothes and dried blood splattered on his blue shirt was driving a van. It wasn't any ordinary van – this was a high-security transport for India's most dangerous criminals. A crackling phone beside him held Viren's voice from the other end.
"We'll be there in a minute, sir," the man said as he carefully navigated the road, his eyes fluttering open and closed due to his tiredness.
His heavy breaths and sweat hinted at signs of infection. And he wasn't alone in this struggle.
Two figures were beside him, passed out and sweating. "Looks like you two had a hell of a day," he muttered, nudging them awake. But they remained unresponsive.
The van halted before a massive steel gate, with the blue-colored Ashok Chakra emblem placed at its center.
The driver slammed his palm on the horn. Instantly, a crackling voice echoed through his walkie-talkie, attached to the van's radio. "Are you here for the infected?" it inquired.
"Yep!" the man grunted, his voice thick with exhaustion. He shook his friends again, hoping to wake them up.
The gate creaked open, revealing a clear path towards a green field – the football ground.
They'd expected one van, but three seemed to enter the academy. A slight curiosity crossed the guard's mind, but the vans were already past the door, so he just let them pass, considering the matter urgent.
Three identical indigo vans, each with yellow text saying "Kashi Police Force," were now inside the campus.
They had narrow windows on each side, which were caged. The only thing that could be seen inside was darkness. But the sound – both the middle and last van sounded like tigers were having a brawl inside.
The leading van was empty, though, while the two behind pulsed with moans and gnashes.
The driver, eyes heavy with fatigue, shook his unconscious companions again. "Wake up, dammit!" His harsh whisper was met with silence until the middle one, whom the driver was nudging and shaking for so long, sat upright.
His eyes were blazing red, and his expressions were of rage. With a roar, the infected lunged towards the driver and sank his teeth into the driver's neck.
The poor driver hit the brakes immediately while shouting in pain and pouring blood, and the second van crashed into the suddenly stopped one due to the sudden pause.
Though the crashes were minor, the middle van's rear door popped open under the impact. Gasps and startles were now heard loudly as human-like figures jumped out – men and women, their eyes red with rage.
Panic flooded the third van's driver. He turned the wheel in desperation to run away, but the narrow path of the academy didn't let him escape.
He slammed into the Tagore block's wall. And his van's safety feature had also flung open the van's doors.
And now, all the infected were free onto the courtyard of the Ashok Chakra Hostel.
.....
The infected didn't come out gracefully from the vans. Some stumbled like drunkards, others crawled out, and a few hunched their backs forward like beasts.
But one thing united them – they were all trying to seek shade from the sun's brightness. They shielded their eyes with their arms, their moans turning into hisses as the light stung their eyes.
Suddenly, a loud voice was heard commanding, "Now, let's take a right," drawing the infected's attention towards a left turn.
Kabir, jogging with a mixed group of students, froze at the sight unfolding before him.
He saw a good number of unfamiliar faces, twisted in weird postures. They had red eyes and they glared back at him.
Kabir was slightly afraid at this sight, but it was quickly replaced by his strong-minded determination. He raised his hand, silently signaling for the students to stop and stay quiet.
Everyone obeyed Kabir, and when they saw why the leader had stopped them, their own eyes widened with shock as they processed the situation.
No one made a sound until the vision of mysterious people adjusted to the sunlight. One of them let out a huge roar, and then the rest copied his action.
Kabir shouted loudly, "RUN! EVERYONE, RUN!"
He spun on his heel, only to find that all the students had already started running and had almost left the area.
"At least you should have waited for me," he thought as he too started running and left the area, but he was able to hear loud footsteps and groans following behind him.
...
Inside the Infirmary,
Viren, Diya, and Anju received the news through the walkie-talkie. "Sir, the infected… they've escaped! They're chasing the students!"
Viren's eyes widened in disbelief. "No, no, no, no," he muttered, shaking his head.
Viren clenched his fist and said, "We need to protect the kids," his voice firm. The place where Vijay had been bitten was now covered with a white bandage.
His eyes met Anju's, and he said, "Go bring both guns from the room. We're going to need them." Next, he turned to Diya, his voice demanding yet respectful. "Ma'am, where's the gun assigned to you?"
Diya pointed towards her desk in the corner of the room, her hands and voice shaking with fear as she said, "Se... sec.... second drawer, sir," her voice barely above a whisper.
Viren rushed across the room, gritting his teeth. "Ma'am, help Anju bring the guns and bullets," he ordered Diya as he pulled open the drawer.
Then he loudly yelled to Anju, who was already heading towards the stairs, "Make an announcement from the control room. All students – hide or fight back. Show no hesitation while killing them."
A loud "Roger that" echoed from the hallway, with footsteps jogging away.
Viren's gaze fell on the two waiters lying unconscious on the beds. "Will they become the same as Vijay?" he thought. "Should I kill them now while they are unconscious? What about me, will I...?"