Jackie finished the story, taking a long sip of water. Lenz sat across from him, his face pale with shock. "So… Furio actually killed someone?" he asked, his voice low and hesitant.
Jackie nodded, his expression grim. "Yeah. He did."
Lenz leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "What happened to the body?"
"Mother Charmine buried it," Jackie said, his tone matter-of-fact. "She didn't tell the guards anything. Didn't want trouble for the orphanage."
Lenz shook his head, still processing everything. "So… did the gang just accept the boss dying like that?"
Jackie shrugged. "Ramsey and Furio lied to them. Told everyone John died in a fight with a rival gang. As far as I know, they bought it. And since Furio was the right-hand man, he took over as leader pretty quick."
Lenz let out a low whistle, leaning back in his chair. "Damn. That's… Fucked up."
Jackie nodded again, his face unreadable. "Yeah. It was."
The door to the kitchen swung open, startling everyone inside. Mother Charmine stood in the doorway, her face flushed and her breathing heavy. Behind her were Henry, Anna, and Bart, all looking exhausted and shaken.
"We made it," Mother Charmine said, her voice trembling but relieved. "But it was too close."
Henry stepped forward, his face pale. "The infected… they were everywhere. We barely got out."
Anna nodded, her hands still shaking. "We ran as fast as we could. Bart found a shortcut , or we wouldn't have made it."
Bart, leaned against the wall for support.
The kitchen fell silent, the weight of their narrow escape settling over everyone. Jackie and Lenz exchanged glances.
Lenz and Jackie breathed a sigh of relief as Mother Charmine and the others entered the kitchen. Jackie smiled weakly. "Glad you guys made it."
Mother Charmine scanned the room, her expression shifting to concern. "Lenz," she said, her voice gentle but urgent, "where's Ted?"
Lenz froze, his mind racing. He hadn't prepared for this question. "I… I…" he stammered, his voice faltering.
Jackie stepped in quickly, his tone calm but firm. "We lost him on our way here. Don't worry—he might've made it somewhere safe." He glanced at Lenz, who was visibly sweating, and gave him a subtle nod.
Mother Charmine's face softened, though her worry was still evident. "Then let's pray for his safety," she said quietly.
Jackie turned to the others, trying to lighten the mood. "C'mon, guys. There's enough food for everyone." They began eating the fruits, but Mother Charmine sat quietly, her appetite gone.
Jackie sat down beside Mother Charmine, his voice soft but sincere. "Look, Mother… I've been thinking about how I should apologize. My attitude toward you was harsh, and I'm sorry for that. But you need to understand—I didn't have a choice."
Mother Charmine chuckled briefly, her eyes warm as she turned to him. "Oh, you poor Jackie," she said, her tone gentle. "Did you know you were always my favorite child?"
Jackie was taken aback, his eyes widening in surprise. "What?"
She smiled, her gaze distant as she reminisced. "Remember that time you 'accidentally' broke a piece of the cabinet?"
Jackie laughed, the memory bringing a faint smile to his face. "Yeah, I remember. You were so pissed about it. It was an expensive piece."
Mother Charmine nodded, her smile widening. "I was furious at first. But when I found out why you did it, I couldn't stay mad." She paused, her voice softening. "I followed you that day, curious about what you were up to. And what I saw… it made my heart ease."
Jackie's expression shifted, his curiosity piqued. "What did you see?"
"I saw you," she said, her eyes glistening with emotion. "You had found little birds that had fallen from their nest. You broke that cabinet to build them a little home, to keep them safe and warm. I watched you work so carefully, so gently… and I knew then that you had a beautiful heart."
Jackie looked down, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Mother… you always knew I wasn't a believer."
She reached out, placing a hand on his. "I know. But I also know how kind and selfless you can be. Just like I forgave you for that cabinet, I forgive you for the book as well."
Jackie's throat tightened, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. For the first time in a long while, he felt a weight lift from his shoulders. "Thank you, Mother," he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion.
Mother Charmine smiled, her hand giving his a gentle squeeze.
---
Lenz sat against the wall, his eyes distant as he lost himself in thought. Anna approached quietly, sitting down beside him. "So… your name is Lenz, huh?" she asked, her voice tentative.
Lenz glanced at her. She had black hair and a face dotted with pimples, her expression curious but cautious. "Yeah," he said flatly.
Anna hesitated, then continued. "Can I ask you something?" Her eyes drifted to his silver-white hair, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Lenz sighed, slightly annoyed at the interruption. "Sure. Why not?"
"Why is your hair like that?" she asked, reaching out to touch it. "Is it silver? Or white?"
Lenz jerked his head away, his glare sharp. "I don't think it concerns you what I look like or why I look like this," he snapped. "If you've got nothing to do, I suggest you leave so I can get some rest."
Anna flinched, her face flushing with embarrassment. She stood up quickly, muttering under her breath, "Okay, asshole. God, I was just curious, that's all." She walked to the other side of the room, her shoulders stiff with irritation.
Lenz leaned back against the wall, his expression hardening as he returned to his thoughts.
Henry, Jackie, and Mother Charmine huddled together, discussing their escape plan. Henry crossed his arms, his tone grim. "The infected are everywhere. Going downstairs is basically a death wish."
Jackie nodded, his expression serious. "Our best bet is to climb down the balcony using some kind of rope. It's our only option."
Mother Charmine chimed in, her voice calm but urgent. "There's rope in the storage room, but it's across the hall from here."
Anna, who had been listening, jumped into the conversation. "So… someone should go get it?"
Bart, sitting in the corner, winced as he rubbed his ankle. "I hurt my ankle. Leave me out of this."
All eyes shifted to Henry, who looked surprised and defensive. "Oh, so you want *me* to risk my life here?" he said, his voice rising.
Jackie shrugged, his tone matter-of-fact. "I mean, you're the one with the gang background, right? You've got the skills for this."
Henry's eyes widened, his face flushing with shock and frustration. "How… how do you even know that?"
Jackie smirked slightly. "Well, I've known Ramsey for a long time. I figured you'd know him too."
Henry groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, whatever," he muttered, clearly annoyed but resigned. He opened the door, pausing as Anna called out, her voice soft but sincere. "Be careful. You're kind of our only hope of survival."
Henry blushed, his irritation fading slightly. "Yeah… I better be hearing 'thank you' from all of you when I get back," he said, trying to sound confident. He closed the door behind him, leaving the group in tense silence.
---
Lenz's eyes fluttered open, his vision blurry as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. He was lying on a soft, luxurious seat, the kind made of expensive leather that felt smooth against his skin. The wagon was unlike anything he had ever seen—ornate, polished, and clearly meant for someone of high status. His heart began to race as he sat up, his mind struggling to piece together how he had ended up here.
He glanced around, his eyes landing on a small opening that offered a view of the outside. Through it, he could see the back of the driver, cloaked in a dark hood. Lenz's brow furrowed as he tried to call out, his voice hoarse and weak. "Hey! Where are we going? What's going on?"
The driver didn't respond. Not a word, not a movement. It was as if Lenz hadn't spoken at all.
A chill ran down Lenz's spine as he stared at the driver's back. There was something eerily familiar about the figure, something that made his stomach twist with unease. He couldn't place it, but the feeling gnawed at him, growing stronger with every passing second.
The wagon rattled along, the sound of hooves against the ground echoing in the silence. Lenz turned his attention to the window, peering out into the darkness. There was nothing—no stars, no moon, no landmarks. Just an endless void of black that seemed to stretch on forever.
Panic began to set in. Lenz's breathing quickened, his hands gripping the edge of the seat. "What is this?" he muttered to himself, his voice trembling. "I should be escaping with the others. What's happening? Where am I?"
The driver remained silent, the wagon continuing its steady, unrelenting pace. Lenz felt a crushing sense of isolation, as if the world outside no longer existed. He was alone—completely and utterly alone.
Lenz's voice cracked as he begged, "Stop! Please, stop! I don't want to go forward—whatever's waiting for me, I don't want to see it!" His hands trembled as he gripped the edge of the seat, his knuckles white. The wagon rattled on, the sound of hooves against the ground echoing like a death march.
Desperate, Lenz leaned forward, his eyes darting to the driver's cloaked figure. That's when he saw it—blood. Dark, glistening streaks of it dripping from the driver's clothes, pooling on the floor of the wagon and seeping into the cracks. The metallic stench filled the air, making Lenz gag. His breath hitched as his gaze traveled upward, his heart pounding in his chest.
The driver turned slightly, and Lenz froze. His blood ran cold. The hood shifted, revealing a face he knew all too well. "Ted?" Lenz whispered, his voice shaking. "No… it can't be you."
The driver turned fully, and Lenz's scream caught in his throat. Ted's face was a grotesque mask of horror—blood oozed from his eyes, his mouth, his nose, streaming down his pale, lifeless skin. His lips twisted into a sickening smile, revealing teeth stained crimson. The flesh on his face began to melt, sliding off in thick, wet chunks, exposing the bone beneath.
Lenz scrambled back, pressing himself against the far wall of the wagon. "Stay away from me!" he screamed, his voice raw with terror. "I didn't do anything wrong! I didn't!"
Ted's head tilted unnaturally, his hollow eyes locking onto Lenz's. When he spoke, his voice was a guttural, echoing whisper, dripping with malice.
"Lenz… look what you've done to me."
Lenz gasped awake, his body drenched in sweat. The nightmare still clung to him—Ted's rotting face, the blood, the wagon. His heart pounded so hard he could feel it in his throat.
Nearby, Jackie was watching him, brow furrowed. "Dude," he said, looking concerned"You okay? You were, like... screaming."
Lenz dragged a hand down his face. "Yeah. Just a nightmare." His voice came out hoarse.
Jackie hesitated, then sat up, "The hell kind of nightmare makes you scream like that?"
Lenz didn't answer right away. The images were still too sharp—too *real*. He swallowed hard. "Forget it."
"Where's Henry?" Lenz said.
"Henry's taking too long. Mother said we should check on him."
Lenz sighed and got to his feet. "Yeah, sure. Let's go."
They walked down the hallway to where Henry was supposed to be. The area was quiet—no infected in sight.
Jackie grabbed the door handle, frowning. "Where is he? Why's this door locked?"
Before he could open it, Henry's voice shouted from behind them, *"Don't! There are infected in there!"*
But it was too late. The door swung open, revealing at least ten of them—mostly kids, some adults—all twisted and snarling.
*"Shit!"* Lenz shoved Jackie aside as one lunged at him. he yelled, "Everyone, RUN!" He kicked an infected in the stomach, sending it stumbling back and blocking the doorway just long enough for them to escape.
They sprinted back down the hallway, the infected's snarls echoing behind them. Lenz could feel the heat of their rotting bodies gaining ground—too close.
Henry reached the door first, throwing it open. "Go, go!" He braced against it as Jackie and Lenz crashed through, then slammed it shut just as the first infected collided with the wood. The impact rattled the frame.
Mother Charmine jerked upright from where she'd been sitting, her face pale. "Dear God—what happened?"
Henry's breath came in sharp bursts. "I got there and the door was already open. I looked inside and—"His voice hitched. "They were eating someone. A kid. His chest."
"His chest?" Jackie's stomach turned.
"Yeah."Henry wiped his mouth, grimacing. "Not just… biting. They were *ripping* into it. Like they were after something specific."
A guttural snarl cut through the air. The door shuddered under another blow—the infected weren't stopping.
Henry spun toward the others. "No time to hide. But I found rope—we can get out through the window."
No arguments. Mother Charmine snatched the coils from his hands, already looping knots. Anna and Jackie lunged to help, fingers flying.
The door shook violently under the weight of the infected—old wood groaning, hinges screaming. Lenz didn't think, just moved .
"Bart! Henry! On me—NOW!"
They threw themselves against the door, shoulders slamming into the rotting wood. No barricade. No weapons. Just their own weight and desperation holding back the tide.
"Shit! They're breaking in!"Bart gritted his teeth as the door bucked against them. A clawed hand shot through the gap, fingers scrabbling at the air.
Lenz dug his heels in. "How much time do you need?!"
"Two minutes!" Jackie's voice was sharp, frantic. Behind them, she and Anna worked the ropes, knots half-formed, fingers slipping.
Henry let out a strangled curse. "Can we even hold for that long?!"
The door lurched again. Lenz felt the wood crack against his spine. "Doesn't matter," he snarled. "You either push like hell right now, or we all end up dead."
Lenz shoved against the door, his arms trembling, sweat pouring down his face. The wood groaned like a dying animal. Next to him, Bart's face was red with strain.
"Goddammit!" Bart spat. "Why the hell are they so strong? They're supposed to be dead!"
Henry twisted his head toward Anna and the others, his voice a ragged shout. "You almost done back there?!"
"Working on it!" Anna snapped, hands flying over the ropes. "Just hold the damn door!"
Lenz's eyes locked onto the hinges—the metal was bending. "They're breaking through—!"
A deafening CRACK cut him off.
Bart roared as he threw his whole weight forward—
—then the door exploded.
Splintered wood and broken hinges crashed down on them, crushing Lenz into the wooden floor. The stench of rotting flesh flooded his nose as snarling filled the air. Under the wreckage, Henry let out a strangled yell.
Somewhere in the chaos, Anna screamed, just pure, terror.
The infected were now inside.