It was almost midnight, and Karina, along with three others, waited in the bathroom. The pregnant woman had given birth to a healthy baby boy, with Karina assisting in the delivery. Fortunately, her backpack contained antiseptics and some medicine, and while she wasn't a certified doctor, she knew enough about human physiology to help. The baby was now peacefully asleep in his mother's arms.
*Gurgle!*
The sound of a rumbling stomach from the girl in a school uniform broke the silence. Without a word, Karina tossed a piece of bread from her supplies toward the girl.
The girl glanced down at it, then quickly looked at Karina before snatching the bread and devouring it hungrily.
Feeling the eyes of others on her, the girl paused mid-bite. She saw the tan-skinned man and the woman holding the baby staring at her, their mouths practically watering.
Without hesitation, the girl divided the bread into three pieces, handing portions to the tan-skinned man and the mother, who quickly ate, ignoring the blood-stained zombie near the sink. Karina, watching the scene unfold, let out a small chuckle.
"You guys know each other?" Karina asked.
"Not before, but the three of us have been stuck here for a week. Oh, by the way, I'm Eila," the girl in the school uniform replied.
"Karina."
"Um, that's Aunt Yuna, and the tan guy over there is Haikal."
"Hey, I'm not tan! This is exotic!" Haikal snapped.
"Same thing."
Yuna, watching their bickering, smiled faintly. Suddenly, the baby's cry echoed throughout the bathroom.
"We have to get out of here; the baby's cold in this bathroom," Eila said.
"How do you expect us to leave? There are zombies everywhere," Haikal replied, frustrated, as he ruffled his black hair.
"We've been here for a week, and no soldiers or anyone have come. Damn it!" he added angrily.
"What are you waiting for? No one's coming to save you," Karina interjected casually, heading toward the door.
Haikal, seeing her walk toward the exit, asked, "Where are you going? You're not leaving us, are you?" His voice rose in panic, as Karina seemed to be the only competent one in the group.
Karina turned around. "To find food," she answered, throwing a knife in front of Haikal's feet. "You don't just want to sit around, do you?"
The tan-skinned man stood frozen for a moment before picking up the knife, determined to follow her.
"You two stay here," he whispered to Eila.
"Are you serious about going outside? We tried earlier and almost got killed. Let's just wait for Aunt Yuna's husband," Eila interjected.
"Oh yeah, Karina, Aunt Yuna's husband is a soldier. We can wait a bit longer," Eila added.
"It's been a week, hasn't it? Where is he? And there's no guarantee her husband hasn't turned into a zombie by now," Karina replied sharply.
Hearing this, Yuna looked down sadly at her baby.
"Hmph," Karina scoffed, heading out the door, followed by Haikal.
"Stay here and take care of Aunt Yuna," Haikal whispered to Eila.
...
Karina walked down the long, dimly lit hallway, her steps relaxed, knowing that for now, the zombies only relied on their sense of smell. But in a short time, they would evolve. Their hearing and vision would return. Behind her, Haikal trailed nervously, gripping the knife with trembling hands.
Karina drew her pistol from her bag and casually sliced through a zombie's head, knowing exactly where its fatal point was. If only the military knew these weak spots, it would be much easier to wipe them out. But for now, she alone possessed this knowledge.
She spotted a supply room and knocked firmly. A voice came from inside.
"Who's there?"
"Open up," Karina shouted.
But no one responded. Annoyed, she aimed her pistol at the door.
*Bang!*
Panic erupted inside.
"If you don't open this door, I'll shoot it down," she warned, her voice threatening.
In a frenzy, someone cracked the door open. Irritated, Karina pushed it wide, and she and Haikal entered.
Inside, she saw about ten people, including a few in blue uniforms—likely store employees—and some ordinary civilians.
"What's this? Just a couple of kids? You've got some nerve threatening us," a man said, grabbing Haikal by the collar.
Without hesitation, Karina pointed her pistol at the man.
"Hey, we found this place first. Didn't your parents teach you any manners?" a heavyset woman shouted.
"What's going on here?"
A deep voice boomed from the back, catching Karina's attention. She saw a familiar face: John Obhiren, the future leader of the headquarters that would become a safe zone for thousands, home to powerful hunters, doctors, and scientists. Karina herself would eventually become part of that headquarters as a scientist.
"What's he doing in a supermarket?" Karina wondered, frowning.
The man who had grabbed Haikal's collar walked over to John. "They forced their way in," he said, trying to provoke a response.
John looked at Karina and Haikal, his gaze scrutinizing. He briefly glanced at the pistol in Karina's hand.
"Why did you break in?" John asked. "If you want to stay here, you'll have to surrender all your weapons."
"Hey! Who do you think you are? This isn't your ancestral home where you get to make the rules!" Haikal shouted.
Karina shot him a sharp glare, signaling him to stay quiet.
Slowly, she placed her pistol on the ground. Haikal, confused but following her lead, lowered his knife as well.