"Why hasn't he answered the phone yet?" Lily muttered, gripping her phone tightly, her expression tinged with worry.
The airport had just descended into chaos. Most people were either dead or had fled. Tragically, many hadn't fallen victim to zombies but were instead trampled by the panicked crowds.
Luckily, Lily had reacted quickly and made her way to the third floor. There were fewer people there, and not many had turned into zombies. A large group of the undead had been drawn away by the earlier commotion, and the remaining few were dealt with by the airport security team.
"Hurry up and block the stairs! There are more zombies down there," Lily said firmly to the security captain nearby. Moments earlier, a frenzied crowd had rushed down the stairs, unknowingly heading straight into a larger horde of zombies below.
The captain nodded, his face pale but resolute. He barked orders to his frightened subordinates, who scrambled to push tables, chairs, water dispensers, and anything else they could find to barricade the escalator entrance.
Fortunately, in an airport, escalators are the primary way to access the upper floors. While there was a separate emergency staircase, the security team had already locked and barricaded it, providing a temporary solution to the immediate threat.
"Thank you for the reminder," the captain said to Lily with a faint, grateful smile.
Lily gave a small nod. "Just doing what I can," she replied, her voice calm despite the tension in the air.
The captain's name was Liam. He had been a soldier before joining the airport security team and was one of the first to respond when the outbreak started. By sheer luck, he and a few comrades had been on the third floor for lunch when the chaos began.
Realizing the severity of the situation, Liam quickly rallied the remaining security personnel, neutralized the zombies on the third floor, and quarantined those who had been bitten. Now, thanks to Lily's advice, the critical entrances were secured, at least for the time being.
"Captain Liam! Over here!" A shout interrupted his momentary reprieve. One of his subordinates waved him over urgently. Lily followed him toward the commotion.
In a corner of the room, five or six people were either lying down or sitting awkwardly against the walls. Their appearances were unsettling—flushed, with red eyes, drooling, and emitting low, guttural sounds. The smell of decay clung to the air around them.
Liam's expression darkened as he approached. These were the people who had been bitten earlier during the chaos. It had been less than 20 minutes, yet the signs of infection were unmistakable. The symptoms were progressing rapidly, and their behavior eerily mirrored that of the zombies they'd just dealt with.
The other survivors, about 20 people huddled nearby, watched in silence. Fear radiated from them, and even those who were relatives of the bitten kept their distance, too afraid to approach.
Liam let out a heavy sigh. He had suspected the bitten might turn, but the speed of their transformation was far faster than he'd anticipated.
"What's going on, Captain?" A man broke the tense silence, stepping forward with concern etched on his face. His eyes darted nervously toward the infected group. Among them was a woman sitting limply against the wall—his wife.
Liam turned to face the group, his tone somber. "Everyone… you've seen what's happening. Those who were bitten are showing clear signs of infection. They're turning into zombies. I'm afraid there's no hope for them."
"No… no, that's impossible!" the man stammered, his voice rising in panic. He took a shaky step forward, as though wanting to rush to his wife's side but hesitated, fear rooting him in place.
"I'm sorry," Liam said softly but firmly. "For everyone's safety, we need to isolate them now. We can't risk letting them hurt anyone else."
The man's composure cracked. "No, please! My wife—she can still be saved!" His voice broke as he turned to the crowd, his desperation palpable. "Please, someone, help me! Don't let them take her!"
The group remained silent, their expressions a mix of pity and unease. None dared to step forward.
Although some in the crowd were tempted to act, none were willing to take the risk. Many had relatives among the bitten, but fear of becoming one of those monsters kept them rooted in place.
Liam shook his head helplessly. "I'm sorry. I can't take that risk."
He ordered his team to use stools and tables to isolate the infected people from the rest of the survivors.
Lily, observing the scene from a distance, crossed her arms and silently evaluated the situation. It seems this soldier isn't just calm—he's also no fool, she thought.
The reality of the situation weighed on her. The apocalypse wasn't going to end anytime soon, and the airport was surrounded by zombies. A small survivor base would inevitably form here. If she wanted to survive, she needed to secure her position within this fledgling group.
Liam had caught her attention. From what she'd observed, he was well-trained, responsible, cautious, and skilled. While he might not be a genius, he wasn't stupid, either. His leadership brought structure and order to the survivors, which would prevent chaos for the time being.
This was precisely why Lily had advised him earlier. On one hand, it ensured she wouldn't be overrun by zombies. On the other, it positioned her favorably within the group.
"Be careful!"
Her thoughts were interrupted when a young boy among the bitten suddenly sprang up, rushing toward a security guard who had been carrying a stool.
Lily's warning came just as Liam reacted. "Watch out!" he shouted.
The guard froze for a moment, startled by the sudden attack. As the zombie lunged, he stumbled backward, narrowly avoiding its grasp.
Unlike Liam, the airport security guards weren't trained soldiers. They were competent enough to maintain order during normal operations but far less prepared for life-or-death combat.
Thinking quickly, Liam grabbed a nearby suitcase and hurled it at the zombie, striking it in the head and knocking it back slightly.
The surrounding security guards, armed with makeshift weapons like table legs and stools, finally reacted and closed in. They attacked with hesitation but enough force to subdue the creature.
But the boy's infection acted like a spark in a dry forest. Within moments, the other bitten individuals succumbed to the virus, transforming into feral zombies. They lunged at the nearest guards, breaking the fragile circle of containment.
Chaos erupted as the security team fought to regain control. The infected, now fully turned, were relentless.
After a desperate struggle, Liam and his team managed to eliminate the zombies. The victory, however, came at a cost.
One of the security guards—ironically, the same man who had dodged the first attack—was overwhelmed by three zombies that charged him from behind.
Despite Liam's warnings, he didn't have the chance to escape or defend himself. His screams were cut short as the infected tore into him. He didn't even have a chance to kill the infected zombies...