The rain hadn't let up. It poured down in thick sheets, drenching the streets and turning the city into a symphony of dripping water and distant echoes. The once-busy roads were now eerily silent, littered with abandoned cars, broken glass, and remnants of the chaos that had unfolded.
Naira tightened the straps of his backpack, adjusting the crowbar in his grip. Kiran was right beside him, her breaths slow and controlled. Maya, though visibly nervous, kept close, her fingers gripping the straps of her own bag.
"Stick to the shadows," Naira whispered. "Avoid open streets. If we see movement, we stop and assess. No unnecessary noise."
The plan was simple: head toward Maya's suggested building without drawing attention. The rain gave them some cover, masking their footsteps, but it also limited their vision. They had to be careful.
Kiran took a deep breath. "Alright. Let's move."
---
Slipping Through the Ruins
The trio made their way through the narrow alleyways between buildings, stepping over toppled trash bins and shattered storefront windows. The glow of neon signs flickered weakly above, some still buzzing with residual power.
They kept low, pausing at every corner to scan for movement. The air smelled of wet concrete and something foul—rotting. Naira gritted his teeth. He didn't want to know what was causing that smell.
As they approached an intersection, Maya suddenly held up her hand. "Wait."
Naira stopped immediately, eyes following hers.
A figure stood in the middle of the street. Not moving. Not breathing. Just… standing.
It was a woman, her head tilted unnaturally to the side, her long hair soaked from the rain. Her back was turned to them, arms hanging limply by her sides.
Kiran exhaled slowly. "She's not moving… Maybe she's—"
Then the woman twitched. A sharp, jerking movement.
Naira tensed.
Maya whispered, "We go around. No noise."
No one argued.
They backed away, moving through the broken remains of a convenience store, careful not to step on the shattered glass. Kiran grabbed a pack of instant coffee from a nearby shelf and shoved it into her bag without stopping.
As they exited through the back, a faint gurgling noise drifted through the air.
Naira turned his head slightly. The woman in the street was moving now, her head snapping toward their direction, her lifeless eyes scanning.
But they were already gone.
---
Encounter in the Parking Lot
They reached an underground parking garage, using it as a shortcut to avoid the main roads. The space was dark, only faint emergency lights casting eerie red glows on the concrete pillars. The scent of oil and rust filled the air.
Kiran muttered, "I hate this. It feels like a horror game."
"Yeah, well, in horror games, there's usually a jumpscare," Naira whispered back. "Stay alert."
They weaved through the abandoned vehicles, careful not to make noise. A few car doors were left open, some with blood smeared across them. There were no bodies, but that only made it worse.
Then, a sound.
A low, wheezing growl.
Naira stopped. "Did you hear that?"
Maya nodded, pointing toward a van near the exit. A hunched figure was slumped against it. At first, it looked dead. But as the trio edged closer, its fingers twitched.
Kiran held her breath.
Then it moved.
In a flash, the figure snapped its head up, revealing a face covered in torn flesh and cloudy, vacant eyes. It let out a sickening gurgle before scrambling to its feet unnaturally fast.
"RUN!" Naira hissed.
They sprinted toward the ramp leading to the upper level. Footsteps pounded behind them. The thing was chasing them.
Maya tripped over a fallen sign, hitting the ground hard.
Naira didn't hesitate—he spun around and swung his crowbar as the creature lunged. The impact cracked against its skull, but it wasn't enough. The zombie staggered, then lunged again, its rotting hands reaching for him.
Kiran grabbed a nearby fire extinguisher and smashed it into the creature's side. The force sent it crashing into a car, denting the metal with a sickening thud.
"Go! Go!" Naira grabbed Maya's hand, pulling her up.
They ran up the ramp, not stopping until they burst onto the open streets again. Rain hit their faces like needles, but they didn't care. They were alive.
Panting, Kiran wiped her wet hair from her face. "Holy shit. That was close."
Maya nodded, still shaking. "I thought… I thought I was dead."
Naira exhaled. "Not today."
But as he looked back at the entrance to the parking garage, he saw more figures emerging from the darkness.
More were coming.
---
The Safehouse
They reached Maya's building after another twenty minutes of careful moving. It was an old apartment complex, the kind with rusted stairwells and faded paint. But the structure was sturdy, and the entrance was secured by a heavy-duty gate.
Maya pulled out her keycard. The lock beeped and clicked open.
Inside, the air was dry, and the silence was almost unnerving. The lobby was empty, save for a few overturned chairs and abandoned luggage.
"We should check the rooms," Kiran said.
"No," Maya interrupted. "Not yet. First, we secure the entrance."
Naira agreed. They moved quickly, blocking the door with whatever they could find—filing cabinets, broken furniture, even a vending machine. It wasn't perfect, but it would buy them time.
After that, they took the stairs up to the third floor, checking for signs of life.
Most of the apartments were abandoned. Some had doors slightly open, but they didn't risk checking them yet.
Finally, they found an empty unit. The inside was dusty but untouched. A couch, a small kitchen, and a few scattered belongings remained.
Maya sighed in relief. "This will do."
Naira set his bag down, scanning the room. "We'll rest here for now. Tomorrow, we'll make a plan."
Kiran collapsed onto the couch, pulling her knees to her chest. "I just want to sleep for a year."
Maya sat beside her, rubbing her arms. "We made it, though. That's what matters."
Naira glanced out the window. The rain was finally letting up. But the streets below were still crawling with movement.
The city wasn't theirs anymore.
And this was only the beginning.
End of Chapter.