In the stillness that followed their meal, Naira and Kiran sat quietly, their thoughts heavy with the weight of what had happened and what was to come. The only sound was the occasional drip of rain against the windows, a soothing but distant reminder of the world outside.
But then, the faint sound of footsteps reached their ears. It was soft at first, barely audible, but as it grew closer, they could make out more details—uneven steps, a slight dragging sound, and a rhythm that suggested the person was limping.
Kiran's eyes widened as she listened intently. "It's a girl," she whispered, her voice tinged with both fear and concern. "She's limping. I can hear it."
Naira, impressed by her keen observation, couldn't help but crack a small smile. "Playing Valorant a lot sure paid off, huh?"
Kiran shot him a quick, nervous grin, but they both fell silent as the footsteps drew nearer. The tension in the air was palpable as they tried to stay hidden in the shadows of the dimly lit café.
The girl's silhouette came into view, her form partially obscured by the rain-streaked glass. She was dressed in office attire, the kind that suggested she was also a BPO employee like them. Her clothes were disheveled, and she looked exhausted. She limped closer, peering through the window with desperation in her eyes.
As she scanned the room, her gaze fell on the residue of their meal—the empty cup noodles and discarded wrappers. Her eyes widened with recognition, and she whispered, "Help… please, I know someone's in there."
Naira and Kiran exchanged a quick, tense glance. They could see the fear and exhaustion on the girl's face, but they also knew how dangerous it was to trust anyone in a situation like this. There was no way to know if she was truly alone or if she might pose a threat to them.
Naira held up a hand, signaling Kiran to stay quiet. They both crouched lower behind the counter, trying to remain as still and silent as possible. The girl continued to press her face against the window, her breath fogging up the glass as she scanned the darkened café.
"Please," she whispered again, her voice barely audible over the sound of the rain. "I just need somewhere safe…"
Kiran's heart ached for the girl, but she knew Naira was right to be cautious. Trust was a luxury they couldn't afford in this new, dangerous world. They remained hidden, their breaths shallow, hoping the girl would move on and not draw any unwanted attention to their hiding spot.
Minutes passed, feeling like hours, as they waited in silence. Eventually, the girl seemed to lose hope. She stepped back from the window, her shoulders slumping with defeat. With a final glance at the café, she limped away, her footsteps fading into the distance.
Naira and Kiran stayed where they were for a while longer, making sure the girl was truly gone before they dared to move. When they finally did, Naira let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"That was close," he whispered, his voice barely above a breath.
Kiran nodded, her expression conflicted. "I feel bad for her… but you're right. We can't trust anyone right now."
Naira and Kiran held their breath as the girl outside the window whispered again, this time with more urgency in her voice. "I wasn't bitten! I have no wounds!" she said, desperation lacing her words.
Naira exchanged a quick glance with Kiran. This information was crucial. If she was telling the truth, it meant she wasn't infected. After a moment of deliberation, Naira nodded, deciding to take a cautious risk.
"Stay quiet and move slowly," Naira instructed as he carefully unbarricaded the door. He kept the crowbar at the ready as he let the girl in, maintaining a safe distance.
The girl, drenched and exhausted, stumbled inside, immediately collapsing into a chair. She looked between Naira and Kiran, her eyes wide with fear but filled with relief at finally being indoors.
Naira studied her cautiously. "How did you know that getting bitten turns you into one of those… things?"
The girl shuddered, her eyes darkening with the memory. "I was in the office when it all started," she began, her voice trembling. "I saw it happen right in front of me. People were getting bitten, and they… changed. They turned into those… monsters. I saw one of my coworkers get bit, and within minutes, he wasn't himself anymore."
She paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "It wasn't just bites, though. I saw someone with an open wound get splattered with… with their blood. A few hours later, they started showing signs too. And there was another… He wasn't bitten, just dead from something else. But when a zombie got to him, he turned, just like the rest."
Naira felt a cold chill run down his spine. This was more than just avoiding bites—they needed to be wary of any kind of contact with the infected.
"How did you manage to survive?" Kiran asked, her voice soft but curious.
The girl looked down at her hands, still shaking slightly from the ordeal. "I was lucky. I managed to hide in the storage room. It's normally off-limits to regular employees—only accessible with a special keycard, and only a few of us have one. I stayed in there until I was sure it was safe to leave, but… I couldn't stay there forever. I needed food, and I thought I'd be safer if I found others."
Naira nodded, processing the information. "You did well to survive this long," he said, though he remained on edge. "But we can't take any chances. We'll keep an eye on you, and if anything changes—if you start feeling different—you need to tell us immediately."
The girl nodded quickly, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I promise. I just… I just don't want to be alone out there anymore."
Naira took a deep breath and relaxed his stance slightly. "Alright. You can stay with us for now, but we're all in this together. We have to stay alert and be ready for anything."
Kiran, who had been silent, finally spoke up. "What's your name?"
The girl looked up, her eyes softening a bit as she responded, "I'm Maya."
"Welcome, Maya," Kiran said with a tentative smile. "We'll do our best to keep each other safe."
As the three of them settled into their new reality, the gravity of their situation became even clearer. The café, once a place of fun and relaxation, was now their refuge, but it was also a potential prison. With a new member in their group, trust and caution would be their only lifelines.