After deciding to head back to the room, they slowly made their way down the corridor. The silence in the hallway felt heavier than before, every step echoing like a warning.
They reached the door.
Leon raised his hand and knocked twice.
Knock… Knock…
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
The door creaked open on its own.
Both of them instinctively tightened their grip on their weapons.
Their eyes immediately landed on the dead body of the zombie girl lying inside. The dried blood around her made the whole scene even more unsettling. Just a few steps away from that corpse, the girl and the three boys were still sleeping like nothing had happened.
John clicked his tongue in irritation.
"Man, these idiots don't even have the basic brains to shut a damn door. If even one zombie had wandered in, they'd be completely screwed."
Leon let out a quiet breath, scanning the room one more time before stepping inside.
"Leave them for now. Babysitting isn't our job." he said calmly, pushing the door shut and locking it from inside.
"First, we check the other floors for food… then we come back and figure out what to do with them."
John nodded, though his expression still showed annoyance.
After picking up the fireman's axe they had left behind earlier, the two of them made their way toward the staircase and started climbing up to the second floor.
The moment they reached, a faint groaning sound echoed through the corridor.
Zombies.
A few of them.
Not a horde—but enough to make things dangerous.
John swallowed nervously.
"You take left… I'll take right."
Leon didn't reply. He simply tightened his grip on the axe and moved forward.
The first zombie staggered toward him, arms stretched, mouth wide open.
Leon hesitated for a split second—
Then swung.
The axe buried itself into the zombie's neck with a sickening crunch.
His hands trembled.
But he didn't stop.
Another one came.
Then another.
By the time they were done, both of them were breathing heavily, their arms shaking—not from exhaustion, but from the reality of what they had just done.
John wiped his forehead.
"Damn… I don't think I'm ever getting used to this."
Leon exhaled slowly.
"You don't have to get used to it. You just have to survive it."
They continued walking through the hallway, stepping over lifeless bodies.
That's when—
They heard voices.
Faint… but clear.
Coming from one of the classrooms.
Both of them exchanged a glance.
Leon walked ahead and knocked firmly on the door.
"We're not infected. Open up." John added, his tone loud but controlled.
There was a pause.
Then hurried footsteps.
The door opened just a little—
And then suddenly it was pulled wide open, and both of them were dragged inside.
The door slammed shut behind them.
Leon looked up—
And froze.
She was there.
Naina Kapoor.
The same girl he had liked for so long… the same girl he never had the courage to confess to. Exams came, things got messy, egos clashed, distance grew—and eventually, silence. She blocked him. He ignored her.
And just like that, everything ended.
Or at least… that's what he thought.
Now she stood right in front of him.
Alive.
Real.
Looking straight into his eyes.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then—
"Who are you two? I've never seen you in this school before." one of the teachers asked, stepping forward cautiously.
John immediately took over.
"We're from another school. We came here to give the exams." he said, then pointed at Leon,
"And he's my friend, Leon. We found a few more students hiding on the first floor."
The teacher's expression softened slightly.
Leon finally broke eye contact and looked around the room.
"Why are there only girls here?" he asked.
"Where are the boys?"
"They're in another classroom," the teacher replied.
John frowned.
"You seriously think splitting everyone up like that is safe?"
The teacher hesitated before answering.
"It's not ideal… but it's the only option. Otherwise, things might get uncomfortable."
Leon ran a hand through his hair, clearly not convinced.
"Yeah, and getting eaten alive isn't uncomfortable, right?" he muttered under his breath.
The room went quiet.
Trying to change the topic, Leon spoke again.
"Is there any food here?"
One of the girls shook her head.
"No… we haven't eaten anything for hours."
John sighed deeply.
"Perfect. Starving and surrounded by zombies. What a combo."
Leon looked toward the door, thinking.
Then he turned back.
"Looks like the cafeteria is our only option."
Murmurs spread across the room.
Fear.
Hesitation.
No one wanted to move.
Leon crossed his arms.
"Anyone willing to come with us?"
Silence.
Then slowly—
A hand went up.
Leon's eyes widened slightly.
It was Naina.
Out of everyone… she was the only one who stepped forward.
"I'll go." she said, her voice steady and fearless.
For a moment, Leon just stared at her.
He hadn't expected that.
Not from her.
Not now.
John smirked slightly.
"Well… guess you're not going alone."
Leon snapped out of it, grabbed the car keys from John, and handed him a serious look.
"Stay here. Lock the door. Don't open it unless it's us."
John nodded.
"Don't die out there."
Leon smirked faintly.
"No promises."
And with that, he stepped out—with Naina right behind him.
As they walked through the corridor, Leon couldn't help but glance at her again and again.
Something about her had changed.
She wasn't the same girl he remembered.
There was no fear in her eyes.
Only focus.
Suddenly—
A zombie lunged toward her from the side.
Everything happened in a flash.
Leon stepped in—
SWING!
The axe sliced clean through the zombie's neck, sending its head crashing to the ground.
Silence followed.
Naina didn't scream.
Didn't flinch.
She just looked at him.
"You okay?" Leon asked.
"For now." she replied calmly.
"Let's see how long that lasts."
Leon let out a short breath.
"Yeah… fair enough."
They reached the ground floor.
Leon quickly entered the principal's office and turned on a recorded voice message over the speakers on the first floor.
The sound echoed loudly through the building.
Within seconds—
Distant growls began rising.
The horde was moving toward the noise.
Leon stepped out, grabbed Naina's hand, and ran.
They rushed outside toward the parked car.
He unlocked it and quickly pushed her into the passenger seat.
She immediately pulled her hand away and glared at him.
"First of all—do you even know how to drive?"
"And second—do you even know where the cafeteria is?"
Leon raised an eyebrow.
"Relax. I'm not stupid."
He leaned slightly closer and added—
"And yeah… I know both."
He paused, then smirked.
"Now put your seatbelt on before you start another lecture."
She scoffed but grabbed it anyway.
"You're still annoying."
Leon chuckled.
"Good to know some things haven't changed."
He got into the driver's seat and started the engine.
The car hummed quietly.
Electric.
No noise.
Perfect.
They drove through the campus.
No hordes.
No monsters.
Just silence.
Too much silence.
They reached the cafeteria and parked near a pole.
As soon as they stepped out—
BANG!
A gunshot echoed.
Both of them froze.
Leon immediately grabbed her wrist and pulled her inside.
They hid behind the counter.
Footsteps approached.
Four people entered.
One of them had a gun.
Naina whispered—
"Since when do people here have guns?"
Leon's eyes sharpened.
"The one holding it… he's leading them."
Without wasting another second, Leon moved.
Silently.
Carefully.
He grabbed the first guy from behind, covered his mouth, and slit his throat—lowering the body without making a sound.
Then he advanced.
Using the second man as a shield—
BANG!
The bullet hit the shield.
Leon pushed the body forward, kicked the gun away, jumped, twisted mid-air, and slammed a powerful kick into the shooter's chest.
Before the man could recover—
Leon drove the knife straight into his chest.
The gun slid away—
Landing near the fourth man.
He picked it up instantly and aimed.
"Don't move… or you're dead."
Leon froze.
Time slowed.
Then—
CRASH!
A chair smashed into the man's head.
He dropped instantly.
Leon turned.
Naina stood there, breathing heavily.
"Is he… dead?"
Leon walked up calmly.
"Not yet."
He stabbed the man in the head.
"Now he is."
Naina stared at him—blood splattered across his face.
"Why did you kill them? They didn't even attack us."
Leon looked at her, expression cold.
"You really don't get it, do you?"
He grabbed one of the bodies and turned the arm.
"Look at this tattoo."
She leaned closer.
"They're gangsters. You haven't seen them on the news?"
She stayed silent.
Leon picked up the gun, checking its weight.
Meanwhile, she began collecting food—packets, cans, anything useful.
Leon walked to a water gallon, opened it, checked it, then quietly stored three gallons and the gun inside his ring.
He picked up one remaining gallon and walked back.
Together, they loaded everything into the car.
They got in.
No words.
Just heavy silence.
Then—
Leon started the engine.
And they drove back toward the school.