The silence in the factory was unnerving. The abandoned building stood like a monolith of rusted steel and decayed machinery, offering the group shelter from the city's open dangers, but Kai knew it was temporary. They were still being hunted, and every shadow felt like a predator.
The group huddled in one of the upper-level rooms, where the windows were boarded up, providing a slight advantage. Kai stood by the door, his rifle slung across his chest, as his mind raced with possibilities. The hunters were closing in—it was only a matter of time before they found them again.
"We need to make sure every entrance is barricaded," Kai ordered, his voice sharp as he surveyed the group. "They'll hit us hard, but we have to be ready."
Rina, pale and visibly shaken, nodded, though her hands trembled as she held her bat. Yuki sat against the wall, her knees pulled to her chest, eyes distant and glassy. The events of the last few days had taken their toll on both of them.
Asuka moved methodically around the room, reinforcing the barricades, her expression hard but focused. She hadn't spoken much since their encounter with the hunter who had tried to blow them up, but Kai could feel the tension radiating from her.
"I've reinforced the windows downstairs," Asuka said, her voice calm but tight. "But this place won't hold if they really want to get in. We need to find a better location."
Kai shot her a look. "This is the best we have for now. We can't afford to keep running."
Asuka crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "You're just planning to wait here and let them come to us? That's suicide, Kai. We don't even know how many of them are left."
"We'll handle it when it happens," Kai replied coldly, his gaze locking with hers. "You have a better idea?"
For a moment, Asuka didn't respond, but her eyes never left his. The tension between them was palpable, the growing divide in their approaches to survival becoming clearer with every decision.
Before the conversation could escalate further, Daichi, one of the scavengers, interrupted. "What if they don't come right away? Maybe we could scout the area—find another place to hole up."
Kai considered the suggestion, but his gut told him they didn't have the luxury of time. "No. The hunters are close. We stay here and prepare. If they come, we take them out."
Daichi hesitated but nodded reluctantly. His partner, Yuko, remained silent, her eyes darting nervously between the others. The scavengers had been quiet since their betrayal was suspected, and though no one had outright accused them, the suspicion lingered like a dark cloud over the group.
Kai turned his attention to Rina, who stood by the window, staring out into the empty streets. Her pale face reflected the fading light, making her look even more fragile.
"Rina, are you ready?" Kai asked, keeping his tone softer. He needed to keep her from completely breaking down, especially now.
Rina blinked, her eyes clouded with fear. "I—I don't know, Kai. I don't think I can do this. I… I just want to go home."
Kai felt a pang of frustration but kept his voice steady. "There's no home anymore, Rina. We have to survive, and that means fighting."
Rina looked at him with wide, tear-filled eyes, but she nodded weakly. "Okay… I'll try."
Kai turned back to Asuka, who was watching the exchange with a frown. She didn't say anything, but her disapproval was clear. Kai could sense her judgment in every glance, every unspoken word. She didn't think Rina could handle it, and part of him feared she might be right.
The hours passed in a heavy silence as the group continued fortifying their defenses. The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, casting the factory in an oppressive darkness. The only sound was the occasional creak of metal or the distant groan of the infected somewhere outside.
Then, a sound broke the stillness—footsteps. Several of them.
Kai tensed, his hand instinctively tightening around his rifle. His Tactical Awareness flared, heightening his senses as he listened. The footsteps were slow, methodical, like predators stalking their prey.
"They're here," Kai whispered, signaling for the group to stay low.
Everyone froze, eyes wide with fear. Asuka crouched by the window, peeking out from a small gap in the boards. Her body was tense, every muscle ready for action.
"I see them," Asuka whispered, her voice low. "Three—no, four. They're moving toward the side entrance."
Kai's heart pounded, but his mind remained focused. The hunters had found them, but they still had the element of surprise. If they played this right, they could take them down before the hunters even knew what hit them.
"Rina, Yuki, stay behind cover," Kai instructed. "Daichi, Yuko, watch the back entrance. Asuka, you're with me. We'll take them as they come in."
The group moved quickly, taking their positions. Rina and Yuki huddled behind a stack of crates, their faces pale with fear. Daichi and Yuko stood nervously by the rear door, clutching their weapons. Asuka crouched beside Kai, her metal rod ready in her hands.
The seconds felt like hours as they waited, the sound of footsteps growing louder. Kai's grip tightened on his rifle. He could feel the tension in the air, the palpable sense that everything could go wrong in an instant.
Then, the door creaked open.
Kai didn't hesitate. As soon as the first hunter stepped inside, he fired. The crack of the rifle echoed through the factory as the hunter collapsed, blood pooling beneath him.
The others reacted immediately, guns raised as they rushed inside. Asuka moved like a blur, swinging her metal rod with deadly precision. She struck the second hunter across the head, the sickening sound of bone crunching beneath the impact.
The third hunter fired wildly, his bullets ricocheting off the metal walls. Kai ducked behind cover, returning fire with a series of quick, precise shots. The hunter let out a grunt of pain as one of the bullets found its mark, and he crumpled to the ground.
But before Kai could react, the fourth hunter lunged at him, a knife glinting in his hand. Kai twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding the blade, and brought his rifle up, slamming it into the man's chest. The hunter staggered back, but before he could recover, Asuka was on him, driving her rod into his throat.
The last hunter fell, gurgling as blood poured from his wound.
The factory fell into silence once more, the only sound the heavy breathing of the survivors.
Kai stood over the bodies, his heart racing, but his mind still focused. They had won this battle, but he knew it wasn't over. The hunters would keep coming. They were organized, relentless, and they wouldn't stop until Kai's group was wiped out.
Asuka wiped the blood from her rod, her expression grim. "That was too close," she said, her voice edged with frustration. "We need to move."
Kai nodded, but as he turned to gather the group, he noticed something that sent a cold chill down his spine.
The back door was slightly ajar. Daichi and Yuko, who were supposed to be guarding it, were gone.