Thick smoke billowed inside the hospital, enveloping every corner with a suffocating burnt scent. On the rooftop, Rachel pounded on the locked iron door with what little strength she had left.
BAM! BAM!
"Ugh...hah...hah..." Her breath was ragged, mixed with the pain in her throat from the increasingly suffocating smoke.
"Sister Rachel, I want to help too," Anastasia's hoarse voice sounded, revealing bravery despite her small, weak body.
"Okay, let's push together," Rachel knelt for a moment, taking a short breath before gesturing. "One... two... three!"
Both pushed with all their might, but the door didn't budge an inch.
The smoke began to encircle them, thinning the fresh air. Anastasia coughed violently, her body trembling.
"Anastasia! Are you alright?" Rachel asked, kneeling beside her with concern.
Anastasia shook her head weakly, though her coughing didn't stop. Tears streamed down her dirty face from the residue of the fire.
Rachel hugged her briefly to calm her, but her eyes kept scanning the surroundings, looking for an escape. "God... please help us," she whispered in hope.
Outside the Hospital
Amid the melting snow caused by the heat of the fire, Abraham and Rick navigated along the hospital's outer wall. The building was nearly collapsing, with large cracks appearing here and there, revealing the blazing flames inside.
"Abraham, we don't have an entry!" Rick shouted in panic, his eyes wildly scanning their surroundings. "How are we going to save them?"
Abraham gritted his teeth, his eyes full of resolve. "Let's check the back. There must be an entry."
They ran to the back of the hospital, but their steps suddenly stopped.
"Rick, wait!" Abraham raised his hand. "Do you hear that?"
A loud rumble echoed, shaking the ground beneath them.
"Oh no... It's coming again!" Rick's eyes widened with fear.
"We need to find Anastasia before that creature reaches us!" Abraham urged, pushing aside the fear that haunted them.
When they arrived, a loud crashing sound echoed from above. Bang! Bang!
"It's from the rooftop!" Rick shouted, pointing upwards.
Abraham looked up, his sharp eyes focused on the source of the sound. He spotted an emergency ladder on the side of the burning building. Without hesitation, he pulled Rick with him as they hurriedly climbed the ladder, step by step.
Bang! Bang! The crashing sound grew louder.
When they reached the rooftop, they were greeted by the sight of the locked iron door. Smoke and fire were closing in from the other side of the building, leaving them with very little time.
"Anastasia! Is that you?" Abraham shouted loudly, his voice cutting through the roar of the raging flames.
From behind the door came a small, hopeful voice. "Dad!"
Hearing that voice, Abraham knew there was no time to waste. "Wait there, Anastasia! Dad will open it!"
Abraham and Rick pushed the door with all their strength, but their efforts were in vain.
"Damn it!" Abraham cursed in frustration.
Rick quickly glanced around, his eyes catching a nearby emergency box containing an axe. He grabbed it and shouted, "Move aside, Abraham!"
Abraham stepped back, clearing the way. Rick swung the axe hard at the door.
"Anastasia, step away from the door!" Rick warned.
From behind the door, Anastasia and Rachel moved away, their bodies shaking in the intense heat.
Rick continued to strike the door with all his might. The smoke was starting to surround them, and the fire's heat became unbearable.
With one final swing, the door finally broke down. Behind it, Anastasia and Rachel appeared, their faces covered in grime and exhaustion.
"Anastasia!" Abraham shouted, running towards his daughter.
"Dad!" Anastasia cried, throwing herself into his arms.
Abraham hugged her tightly, relief flooding through him despite the injuries covering his body. Anastasia sobbed uncontrollably, burying her face in his chest.
"Dad... are you okay?" Her voice trembled, her cries still audible.
Abraham gently stroked Anastasia's head, holding back tears. "I'm sorry, Anastasia... I'm sorry for making you worry."
Abraham's gaze shifted to Rachel, his eyes filled with unspoken meaning. It was their second meeting, but the situation was far more dire than before.
"Dad, this is Sister Rachel," Anastasia's small voice broke the silence, wiping the tears from her cheek with the back of her hand. "She's the one who saved me from the bad guys."
Upon hearing this, Abraham let out a long sigh, as if releasing the emotional weight that had built up inside him. Slowly, he stood and approached Rachel.
"Thank you," he said softly, sincerely, gripping Rachel's hands tightly. His tired yet grateful eyes spoke more than words ever could.
Rachel smiled faintly, hiding the exhaustion behind her expression. But before the moment could last, a rumble from the floor below shook the rooftop. The fire was rapidly consuming the building's structure, creating large cracks that threatened their existence.
"Abraham," Rick called firmly from the other side of the rooftop. "We need to go now! This building won't hold much longer!"
Abraham nodded quickly, snapping back to reality. He grabbed Anastasia's small hand with one hand and Rachel's with the other. Together, they started running toward the emergency staircase, trying to escape the crumbling building.
Just as they were about to reach the stairs, a loud noise shattered the atmosphere.
Bang!
A gunshot rang out, piercing through the roar of the fire and the collapsing debris.
Rachel froze for a moment, her body stiffening. She fell to the floor, blood oozing from a wound in her stomach. Her hands trembled as she tried to hold the wound, her breath coming in short gasps. Abraham immediately ran toward her, his face filled with panic.
"Rachel!" Abraham cried, kneeling beside her as he tried to check her condition.
"Heh... heh... heh..." A raspy laugh echoed from behind the shattered door. A dark figure stepped closer, growing clearer to reveal Sergei—his old enemy. Sergei's body was covered in burns and bruises from the previous fight, but his eyes still burned with an unrelenting hatred.
"Abraham... did you think you could just leave me behind?" His voice was low, threatening, and cold like a knife stabbing through the air.
"Sergei!" Abraham shouted, anger and long-held revenge mixing in his voice. His fist clenched tightly, but his mind was focused on Rachel and Anastasia behind him.
Rick, who was on the other side of the rooftop, moved quickly. Instinctively, he threw the axe in his hand at Sergei. But Sergei deftly dodged, causing the axe to hit the wall behind him.
Seizing the opportunity, Abraham sprang into action, charging at Sergei. With all his remaining strength, he delivered a powerful kick to Sergei's body, sending him crashing into the wall. The gun Sergei had been holding slipped from his hand and fell to the floor below.
"Sergei, this is the end!" Rick shouted, charging forward with the intent to finish Sergei off on the spot. But before he could get closer, Sergei calmly removed his military jacket.
What was revealed beneath it left everyone speechless. A belt full of bombs wrapped around Sergei's body, with a red trigger in the center of his chest.
"Come closer if you dare," Sergei said with a sinister grin, his eyes wild but full of victory.
Abraham and Rick froze in place, their bodies rigid. They knew that one wrong move could end everything. Sergei was in control; if they approached to attack, the bomb would explode, destroying them all along with Rachel, Anastasia, and the crumbling building.
Abraham clenched his jaw, his eyes fixed on Sergei. His mind raced, searching for a way out. Behind him, Rachel lay with weak breaths, while Anastasia hugged Rachel tightly, her tears flowing without end.
"Sergei, you won't survive this!" Rick shouted loudly, trying to buy some time.
"Survival?" Sergei laughed harshly, his voice ringing out amidst the roar of the fire. "I've been dead for a long time, Rick. But if I die, I'll make sure you all come with me!"
Sergei took a heavy step forward, a cruel smile on his face. His right hand tightly gripped the detonator, ready to destroy everything. The air on the rooftop became suffocating, as if time itself had stopped.
"Goodbye, everyone," Sergei said coldly, his laughter echoing among the flames and rubble. "See you in hell."
As Sergei raised his hand, preparing to press the button, Abraham lunged forward without hesitation. His strong hand grabbed Sergei's arm, trying to stop his thumb from pressing the detonator.
Rick, not wanting to fall behind, attacked from the other side. With a precise kick, he struck Sergei's knee, causing him to lose his balance. Sergei staggered, but with trained survival instincts, he spun and delivered a counter-kick that struck Rick in the chest, sending him flying backward.
But Abraham didn't let the momentum slip away. He punched Sergei in the head with full force, knocking his old enemy backward.
"Rick! Don't hit his chest!" Abraham shouted a warning. The bomb on Sergei's body was a serious threat, and one wrong hit could mean the end.
Together, they continued their relentless attacks on Sergei's head and legs. Kicks and punches rained down on his body, weakening him little by little. With a powerful knee strike, Abraham landed the final blow to Sergei's head. Sergei's body flew back, crashing through the wall and falling into the burning building.
Fueled by anger, Abraham tried to chase after him to ensure Sergei was truly dead this time. But Rick held him back with a firm grip on his arm.
"Abraham, we don't have time!" Rick urged urgently. "This place is coming down, and the creatures will be here soon!"
Abraham paused, his face still full of rage, but he nodded. Reason returned to him, and he realized that Rachel and Anastasia's safety was more important than revenge.
Abraham knelt beside Rachel, still injured but trying to remain strong. "Come on," he said, lifting Rachel onto his back.
Rick scooped up Anastasia, holding her tightly. Together, they began descending the emergency staircase as quickly as possible.
The building began to shake violently. Debris fell around them, and the heat from the fire grew suffocating. Amid the chaos, the distant sound of rumbling grew louder, drawing nearer.
"They're close!" Rick said, panting.
"Keep running!" Abraham called, his steps quick despite the weight on his back.
After reaching the ground floor, Abraham, Rick, Rachel, and Anastasia ran with all their might toward the building across the street. Their goal was clear: survive the oncoming assault of the black creatures, the shadowy fog that seemed to swallow the light.
Behind them, a horde of creatures with strange movements swarmed the half-collapsed hospital. They moved swiftly, filling the air with terrifying growls, making the horror feel more real.
Suddenly, a loud voice echoed from the hospital's rooftop.
"Abrahhhaam!!!"
Abraham stopped, looking back. On the hospital's roof, Sergei stood, his body covered in wounds, his face a mix of rage and madness.
"Don't ever think this is over!" Sergei shouted, his voice cutting through the fire and rubble.
Abraham clenched his fists, his eyes locked on Sergei, standing at the edge of destruction. Slowly, he raised his left hand, revealing the detonator he had taken from Sergei moments earlier.
"No," Abraham muttered, his voice low but resolute. "It's all over."
Without hesitation, he pressed the detonator's button.
In an instant, a tremendous explosion shook the air. The hospital was instantly destroyed, flames soaring high into the sky, accompanied by dust and debris flying everywhere. The explosion engulfed Sergei and all the horrors within the building.
Abraham watched the destruction, his eyes betraying a bitter sense of relief. "An eye for an eye," he muttered softly. "But I gave back twice as much, Sergei."
A few days after the hospital incident, the atmosphere in Rick's modest home by the river felt quieter. Yet, the shadow of the tragedy still lingered over them.
Abraham carefully opened the door to a room. Inside, Rachel lay on the bed, a white bandage wrapped around her wounded abdomen. Her face was pale, but there was a glimmer of calm in her eyes.
"I brought you medicine and porridge," Abraham said gently as he walked closer.
Rachel nodded slightly, a faint smile crossing her face. "Thank you."
Abraham placed the tray on the small table next to the bed. He sat in the wooden chair near Rachel, looking at her for a moment before speaking, "I've said it several times, but I think I need to say it again: thank you."
Rachel only smiled, but her gaze was empty. "It's nothing," she whispered, "I did it for myself."
Abraham studied Rachel's face, sensing that there was something she was hiding behind her small smile. However, he chose not to force her to talk. "Alright, I'll play with Anastasia for a while," he said softly before leaving the room.
In the front yard, Rick was playing catch with Anastasia. Their laughter filled the air, creating a moment that almost felt normal.
"Throw it again, Anastasia! Now try to throw it harder!" Rick called playfully.
"Uncle Rick is cheating! How can Anastasia throw harder? Her arms are small!" Anastasia pouted, trying her best to throw the ball.
From a distance, Abraham watched them, and a small smile appeared on his face. He felt relieved to see Anastasia laughing and enjoying her childhood, despite the world around her being in ruins.
When Anastasia noticed Abraham's presence, she immediately ran toward him. "Daddy!" she shouted with joy, leaping into his arms. Abraham lifted her high before carrying her.
"Good morning, War Hero," Rick teased with a light laugh.
"Don't call me that," Abraham replied with a small smile, causing Rick to laugh louder.
"So, where are you with your work?" Abraham asked. "Come on, I'll show you," Rick replied enthusiastically.
They walked to an old shed that had once been Abraham's prison. Rick proudly pulled back a black cloth covering something inside.
"Tadaa!" Rick exclaimed, revealing a repaired van.
Abraham stepped closer, amazed by Rick's handiwork. "You're amazing, Rick," he said with admiration, but his expression turned confused. "But… why is the paint pink?"
Rick grinned widely, glancing at Anastasia, who stood next to him with a cheerful smile. "Anastasia and I painted it!" he said proudly.
Abraham shook his head with a smile, while Rick and Anastasia laughed at his reaction.
"So, when are we leaving?" Rick asked, turning serious again.
Abraham looked toward the horizon, his face growing serious. "We need to leave the city soon. Food and medicine are running out. Plus, the rumbling sounds are getting more frequent. This city is no longer safe."
Rick nodded. "Alright. But, have you decided where we're going?"
Abraham looked at Rick firmly. "Moscow."
There was a moment of silence. The word carried both hope and a great challenge. They knew the journey to Moscow wouldn't be easy. But in that city, they believed there would be a new chance for life.
With Rachel still recovering, the pink van had now become their symbol of hope—a departure toward a better future, even though the world they left behind had turned into ruins.