The cold, damp air of the prison block hung heavy, thick with the smell of disinfectant and rusting metal.
Fabio and Artur moved swiftly through the dimly lit corridors, their breaths shallow and their movements silent. The sounds of Luka's distant whistle and the snarls of the creatures chasing him echoed faintly, a chilling reminder of the danger lurking nearby.
"Where is he?" Artur muttered, his voice tense but low, his eyes scanning the rows of shadowed cells.
"He's supposed to be here," Fabio replied, stopping abruptly in front of the cell where Asahi Rei was supposed to be confined.
His brow furrowed as his eyes swept over the empty cot and the bare walls. "This doesn't make sense. He wouldn't just—"
Before Fabio could finish, a guttural snarl cut through the silence. Both men froze, their muscles tensing instinctively as the sound reverberated through the corridor.
"They're coming back," Artur said, gripping his knife tightly.
"No," Fabio whispered, his eyes narrowing as the snarling grew louder, closer. "It's not Luka leading them this time."
From the shadows at the far end of the corridor, grotesque figures began to emerge. Their bodies twisted unnaturally, their skin pale and sickly, stretched taut over sharp bones. Their glowing, feral eyes locked onto Fabio and Artur with predatory intensity.
"Zombies," Artur spat, his voice tinged with disgust. He raised his blade as the creatures advanced.
"There are too many of them," Fabio said, pulling out his knife.His heart raced, but his mind was sharp, calculating. "We need to fall back."
But the creatures moved faster than expected, their distorted forms jerking forward with unnatural speed. Fabio and Artur barely had time to react as the first of the zombies lunged at them.
Fabio dodged to the side, his blade flashing as he slashed at the creature's arm.
Artur thrust his knife into the chest of another, but the creature barely flinched, its glowing eyes fixed on him as it snarled.
"This isn't working!" Artur shouted, pulling his knife free and retreating a step.
"Try separating their heads!" shouted Fabio.
Just as the situation seemed hopeless, a sudden blur of movement appeared from the side corridor. A figure darted between the creatures with incredible speed and precision, a long blade flashing in the dim light. One of the zombies let out a gurgling scream as its head was severed cleanly from its body.
Fabio and Artur turned in surprise as the figure landed lightly in front of them, her back to them as she faced the advancing horde. She was tall and lithe, her long black hair tied back in a braid.
Her movements were fluid, almost graceful, as she shifted her stance and raised her blade.
"Who are you?" Artur demanded, still gripping his knife but clearly thrown off by the sudden arrival.
The woman glanced over her shoulder, her piercing green eyes locking onto them. "Nina," she said simply, her voice calm and focused. "And unless you want to die here, I suggest you stay behind me."
Before they could respond, Nina surged forward, her blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. The zombies, which had been advancing relentlessly, now hesitated, as if sensing the danger she posed. But hesitation wasn't enough to save them.
Nina moved like a shadow, her strikes swift and unerring. Limbs and heads fell to the ground as she cut through the horde.
Fabio and Artur watched in stunned silence, their knives lowered as Nina carved a path through the creatures. The sound of her blade slicing through flesh and bone echoed in the corridor, mingling with the dying snarls of the zombies.
"Who is she?" Artur muttered, his eyes wide.
"No idea," Fabio replied, his tone equally awed. "But I'm glad she's on our side."
As the last of the creatures fell, Nina lowered her blade and turned to face them. She was breathing hard but otherwise seemed unshaken. "You're looking for Asahi, right?"
Fabio nodded, his mind racing with questions. "How do you know that?"
Before Nina could answer, another sound filled the corridor, a slow, deliberate clap. All three turned toward the source to see Asahi Rei stepping out from the shadows, his expression calm but his eyes burning with intensity.
"Took you long enough," Asahi said, his voice carrying an edge of amusement.
"Asahi," Fabio breathed, relief washing over him.
Another wave of snarls erupted from the far end of the corridor. More zombies were approaching, their grotesque forms silhouetted against the flickering lights.
Asahi's smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of grim determination. "Stay back," he said, stepping forward.
"What are you..." Fabio began, but Asahi raised a hand to silence him.
Asahi reached into his coat, pulling out a pair of short swords that gleamed ominously in the dim light. His movements were deliberate, almost ritualistic, as he adjusted his grip on the weapons. The air around him seemed to shift, growing heavier with an unseen force.
The first zombie lunged at him, and Asahi moved.
He was a blur, faster than even Nina, his swords slicing through the air with deadly precision. The creatures didn't stand a chance. Heads, limbs, and torsos fell in rapid succession as Asahi tore through the horde. His movements were fluid, almost effortless, as if he were dancing through the chaos.
Nina watched him with a mixture of awe and approval. "Impressive," she muttered.
Fabio and Artur, meanwhile, could only stare. Neither had ever seen Asahi fight before, and the sheer ferocity of his attacks left them speechless.
By the time Asahi finished, creatures lay in pieces around him. He stood in the center of the carnage, his swords dripping with black ichor, his breathing steady.
"That should keep them busy for a while," Asahi said, sheathing his weapons.
Before anyone could respond, Luka appeared at the far end of the corridor, slightly out of breath but otherwise unharmed.
"That's a surprise." said Luka.
"Luka," Fabio said, stepping forward. "Let's get out of here."
Luka's glanced around at the carnage, his eyes landing on Nina. "Who's this?"
-TO BE CONTINUED.