Ryo's heart raced as he walked down the stairs. The empty apartment building was quiet, and his footsteps echoed loudly. The air felt heavy, like the building was holding its breath. Every step made him nervous.
When he reached the ground floor, he stopped.
He took a deep breath to calm himself.
The front door creaked as he opened it.
Ryo stepped outside.
The world was silent.
The busy streets were now empty. A few abandoned cars sat with their doors open, and belongings were scattered on the ground. It looked like people had run away in a hurry. The only sound was the wind moving the leaves.
The sun was low, casting long shadows on the ground.
Then—he saw something move.
At first, it was just a shadow in the corner of his eye. Something was shifting in the distance.
He held his breath.
Then he saw them.
Zombies.
They moved slowly, their bodies twisted and broken. Their eyes were dark and empty, scanning the area as if looking for something. Some dragged their feet, while others moved in strange, unnatural ways.
Fear filled Ryo's chest.
This is real.
The news had said the zombies were dangerous and would chase people. But these hadn't noticed him yet.
Ryo stepped back, wanting to run away.
Crack.
He stepped on a small stone. The sound was loud in the silence.
A zombie turned its head toward him.
Its dark eyes locked onto his.
For a moment, everything stopped.
Then—it moved.
Its body jerked awkwardly, like it was trying to remember how to run. It wheezed as it started to move toward him.
Ryo panicked.
He turned and ran.
His heart pounded as he sprinted back to the building. He didn't look back. He couldn't.
He could feel something chasing him.
He reached the stairs and climbed them two at a time. His legs burned, and his breath came in gasps.
His apartment door was close.
He rushed inside and slammed the door shut. His hands shook as he locked it. He leaned against the door, trying to catch his breath.
Silence.
Ryo stood there, trembling. The world outside was no longer safe. Everything had changed.
He had to survive.
He forced himself to move to the window and looked outside.
The zombies were still there.
They moved slowly but with purpose. Their jerky movements were unnatural and scary.
Ryo looked at the street—abandoned cars, broken glass, and open doors. It was clear people had run for their lives—or didn't make it.
His city, his home, was now a wasteland.
And he was stuck in it.
Ryo stepped away from the window, his heart still beating fast.
He couldn't stay in his apartment forever.
His mind was racing. He knew he needed a plan.
Staying inside felt safe, but what would happen when he ran out of food or water? What if the zombies found a way in?
He took a deep breath and forced himself to move.
At the kitchen table, he picked up a notebook and pen. His hands were shaking as he wrote down what he needed:
Food
Water
Weapons
Information
Information.
He paused at that word.
The research facility.
If anyone had answers, it would be there. But the thought of going outside, with zombies everywhere, made him feel sick. He could still remember the cold, empty eyes of the zombie that had seen him. The way it moved toward him.
Would they still be there if he went out again?
A loud growl interrupted his thoughts.
It was his stomach.
Ryo realized he hadn't eaten since he woke up. He walked to the fridge and opened it. Cold air hit his face, breaking through the heavy silence in the room.
Inside were the last bits of normal life.
Eggs. Vegetables. Instant noodles. Leftover rice.
For a moment, he just stared.
It felt strange to think about food when the world outside was falling apart.
But he needed to stay strong to survive.
He started cooking, his hands moving automatically. He chopped, stirred, and cooked, but it didn't feel comforting. The silence in the apartment made everything feel eerie.
When he sat down to eat, the food tasted bland.
His eyes moved to the TV.
Maybe the news was back. Maybe there were updates—survivors, evacuations, something.
He grabbed the remote and turned on the TV.
Nothing.
Just static.
His chest felt tight.
The silence was overwhelming.
No news. No emergency messages. No voices. Just empty noise where the world used to be.
He put his fork down, no longer hungry.
Ryo leaned back in his chair, staring at the blank screen.
The world was gone.
And he was completely alone.
Ryo picked up his phone without thinking.
The screen lit up in the dark apartment, shining on his face as he opened the news app.
He scrolled through old articles, trying to understand what had happened. It felt like solving a mystery.
Day One: Reports of violent attacks.
Day Two: Panic in the streets.
Day Three: Martial law.
Day Four: Cities burning.
Day Five: Governments falling.
Day Six: Silence.
He stopped.
That was it.
No updates. No news. No explanations.
The world had simply ended.
A cold, empty feeling filled his chest as he opened social media. Maybe someone had posted something.
His feed loaded.
The last messages were from days ago. People were begging for help.
Some talked about locking themselves in their homes.
Others tried to escape the cities. Many had disappeared.
And then—nothing.
No new posts. No signs of life.
The silence felt heavy, like it was pushing down on him.
He turned off his phone.
He walked around the small apartment, trying to focus. If he wanted to survive, he needed a plan.
He thought about the research facility.
That place might have answers—about the outbreak, about why he was immune, about what to do next.
But how could he get there?
He looked out the window.
The zombies were still there, moving slowly in the streets. Their gray skin and black eyes looked almost human, but something was terribly wrong.
He needed supplies. Food. Water. A weapon. Anything to help him survive if he had to face them.
Because going outside without a plan wasn't just risky.
It would mean certain death.
Ryo took a deep breath.
He couldn't stay hidden forever. His food and water were almost gone, and the world outside wasn't going to fix itself.
That meant one thing.
He had to leave.
He had to move quickly, quietly, and carefully.
Avoiding the zombies was the most important thing. One wrong move, and they would tear him apart.
He stood by the window, looking at the streets below. He needed a plan—a safe route where he could get supplies and return before dark.
The convenience store: A few blocks away. It might still have food, water, or medicine.
The hardware store: Close by. It could have tools like knives or hammers to use as weapons.
He clenched his teeth. He had to be fast. The zombies moved less during the day, but that wouldn't last long.
Ryo turned and looked around his apartment one last time. For days, it had been his safe place, but now it felt like a trap.
He had no choice.
If he wanted to survive—if he wanted answers—he had to go outside.
A cold, strong feeling filled him.
This wasn't just about survival anymore.
It was about finding the truth behind the outbreak.
And whatever was waiting for him out there—
He was ready.
( End Of Chapter )