As the world teetered on the brink of oblivion, reports spread of England's authorities unleashing nuclear weaponry upon nations overrun by the relentless march of the undead.

"I dismissed the notion as mere conjecture until the horrifying moment when a nuclear explosion illuminated the sky, casting an eerie glow as a corpse gnawed at my flesh, consuming me alive."

As the movie played on your phone, the title "Zombie" flashed onto the screen accompanied by a lively pop soundtrack."

Amidst the bustling traffic and swirling gusts of wind, you were suddenly jolted by the blast of a bus horn, as you sat near the driver's side...

"Ah, we're on the highway."

The guy next to you called out to you. "Yo, Sam! Wake up, we're almost at college."

"Oh, I'll get off the bus last. You go ahead."

"Shut your crap and move your ass! We've got that psycho Thermodynamics professor for the first period. You really wanna mess with him this early?"

“Ok I'm coming!”

"See that guy? That's Trident. He's been after my step-sister, trying to bribe me for info about her. But the truth is, he's just a total asshole."

You and Trident got off the bus and hurried to your class.

While you were passing by the volleyball court, which lay along the route to your class block, you heard a man shouting your name.

You paused for a moment and glanced to your right side.

"YO, SAM!!" He's sprinting toward you.

The man is six feet tall, boasting tan skin and a strong physique. He wears a mask over his face, along with sports shorts and a jersey.

"He's the Volleyball Club president. What does he want with me?"

"What's up, bro? What do you need from me?"

"Hey, Sam! We're a player short for the team, and with district competitions just around the corner, I was thinking, would you be interested in joining us?"

"Thanks for considering me. Let me take some time to think about it, and I'll give you my answer during lunch."

"Alright, bro."

After having that conversation, you resumed walking with Trident and eventually reached the class just before the thermodynamics professor.

The Thermodynamics professor entered the room wearing a mask, a necessary precaution due to a virus that had spread three weeks prior.

The professor began speaking.

"After three weeks of being cooped up, I hope none of you have forgotten how to read. As you all know, I don't like to waste class time, but even the principal himself insists we address this virus situation."

"You've likely heard enough about it from social media and the news, so I'll keep it brief."

"The virus that spread three weeks ago is a type of flu, so for the next few weeks, it's imperative that we all wear face masks."

"Secondly, it's crucial to maintain a significant distance between individuals."

"Now, open your textbooks," the professor commanded brusquely, clearly uninterested in any further discussion on the matter.

The morning classes proceeded as usual, and soon it was time for the lunch break to begin.

As you packed your things, you couldn't shake off the feeling that you weren't in the mood to play volleyball. You thought to yourself, "I'll just drag the team down if I play with them now. I'll have to say no." With that decision made, you leave the class.

"Yo, Sam," Trident called out to you as you were walking out of the classroom.

He sat among the girls, his right hand resting on one of their shoulders, with his palm positioned near her chest. Meanwhile, his left hand lay on the thigh of a pretty, reserved girl in the class.

She tried her best to move his hand away from her thighs, but he persistently placed it back again.

She was too scared to fight back or even speak up because he was the son of the founder of the college.

You might be thinking that he'll face severe consequences if someone complains with an eyewitness.

The college is prestigious, and the founder is highly respected as a great teacher and human being; he wouldn't tolerate such behavior. However, his doting mother, blinded by her love for him, wouldn't believe anyone's words. If anyone dared to complain against him, they would find themselves thrown out of the college with a tarnished record of misconduct the next day.

"Let's see what kind of nonsense he spouts this time."

Trident began his nonsense, directing it towards the quiet girl while you observed the conversation unfold.

"You know, I actually saved him yesterday from a big accident. A bike almost hit him," Trident boasted, his words directed at the quiet girl, with you listening in.

The quiet and pretty girl, Hina, cast a concerned yet scared glance at you.

"Are you okay, Sam? Did you get injured anywhere?" Hina asked with a mix of concern and fear in her voice.

“She is not just pretty she is kindest girl”

"I'm alright," you replied, reassuring Hina.

Trident interjected, "Who saved him? It was me. There's no way I'd let him get injured. Haha..."

"In reality, he actually pushed me from the footpath while spouting his lame ass jokes. Pulled me back in the nick of a second, but he still almost killed me,"

"Yeah, you saved me. Guys, you continue. I have to go to the volleyball club," you announced, acknowledging Trident's intervention before excusing yourself.

Before you could leave the class, Trident stopped you and asked, "Would you like to swap your place with me?"

"Well, okay. I still need to tell them what I think, so I'm going," you responded before heading out.

As you began walking outside of your class, Trident called out to you again.

"Put in a word for me,"

“Well I will.”

You went and informed the volleyball president of your disinterest, recommending Trident in your place. However, they showed no interest in him.

You scanned the volleyball field, but your step sister was nowhere to be found.

"Where has she gone?" you wondered aloud, perplexed by your stepsister's absence.

You made your way to your class floor, your thoughts still preoccupied with her whereabouts.

"Where did Nita go? She didn't come to class, and she's not at the volleyball clubhouse either. Where has she gone? Maybe she's eating her lunch on the rooftop as she always does."

As you returned to your class and began eating your lunch, a thought struck your mind.

You muttered to yourself, pondering, "Why does the college feel so lifeless today? The usually jovial peon is oddly quiet, the girls who usually fill the hallways with chatter are absent, and even the class clown seems lost in thought. What could be the reason?"

You finished your lunch and headed to the washroom, finding it completely empty.

As you washed your hands and adjusted your hair, a sudden gust of wind from the side window slammed the restroom's main door shut out of nowhere.

….You dried your hands and opened the door, only to be confronted by a bizarre creature resembling a human man, its entire face peeled off, revealing the nose bone protruding from the flesh. The sight of blood pouring from its face sent a shiver down your spine and made your blood pressure rise….

Out of sheer survival instinct or the fear of imminent death, you managed to lift your hand in those few seconds of time.

"Something is not right. This will definitely kill me. I should throw this punch. Throw it, please! My body, don't fail me. Put the right hand right in that peeled-out face."

It all unfolded in just three seconds. You pulled your hand back as far as possible, while the Monstrous creature's hands were almost reaching for your neck and chest.

You thought to yourself, "This is the hardest and strongest punch of my life, a punch that will determine my fate."

You threw the punch, landing it squarely on the exposed nose bone. The force of your blow sent the monstrous creature stumbling back, causing it to lose its footing and stumble.

You immediately slammed the door shut and bolted it, sealing yourself safely inside.

"What was that thing?" you wondered aloud, your heart still racing from the encounter.

"Huh... huh..." you heard a noise, and soon it turned into multiple noises. "What are those noises?"

"Aaarrroooohhh…" The sound reverberated through the hallway, followed by the haunting voices of death, the desperate cries of your classmates, and the occasional gunfire as they fought to survive. Amidst the chaos, you couldn't help but wonder, "Is this what they call despair? Haha..."

After being overwhelmed by the weight of death, your mind begins to unravel. A smile creeps onto your face, but it's overshadowed by the tears of fear streaming down your cheeks. Your bladder betrays you, urine leaking out uncontrollably, and your legs shake uncontrollably, unable to find stability amidst the chaos.

"No... This is it. I'm going to die. I'll definitely die the moment I step out of this washroom," you mutter, the echoes of cries and zombie howls still reverberating in your ears. "Haha... Do I die like this, with no food and the constant fear of that thing breaking down this door?"

Your phone suddenly rang, its sound startling you so much that you jumped in fear, accidentally hit your head on the wall.

"Shit. My head. Who's messaging me now?"

"Damn spam messages at this hour," you curse under your breath, rubbing your sore head.

As you unlocked your phone, you took a moment to steady yourself. After a deep breath, you opened the gallery and began scrolling, navigating back to the early days of your phone's history. With each swipe, you found comfort in the familiar memories, despite the lingering fear.

After stumbling upon a cringy picture "I'm Just a cringe in my 11th and 12th classes, hah!" you couldn't help but chuckle out of embarrassment.

You scrolled through all the photos and came across a group picture of you, your mom, your stepfather, and sister—the first time you met Arya and Nita.

In that moment, a thought struck you: "Wait, Nita is outside among them?" Your mood shifted from fear to that of a protective brother.

"She's a pain in the ass, but that doesn't mean I'll leave her to die,"

"Staying here won't solve anything either. What if no one comes to save me? What if that thing breaks in?"

After getting your shit together, you remembered, "Ah... fuck! I shit my underwear." Feeling embarrassed for a sec, you cleaned your pants and threw away the damn underwear. After washing your face, you leaned against the sink, muttering to yourself, "Just stay fucking alert, and you can reach the rooftop."

"HUH!" You sighed and glanced around the restroom, spotting some metal pipes and fittings. Memories flooded back – just a month ago, boys from this floor had filed a complaint about rusted toilet sink pipes and water leakage.

But they had begun repairs the day before the lockdown. "I still have luck on my side," you muttered, a hint of relief in your voice. You seized the longest pipe you could find, longer than your arm, and connected it with pipe fittings on both ends.

You swung the pipe three times, steeling yourself for what lay ahead. "I'm ready," you affirmed, your determination unwavering. Pressing your ear against the door, you strained to listen for the sounds of those things. Though you could still hear them, the howls seemed to have softened compared to before.

You slowly opened the door and stepped outside, only to be greeted by a scene of sheer horror. The walls of the hallway were painted in pure red. People are into savages, feasting on one another. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood, reminiscent of a butcher shop. The entire hallway was littered with lifeless bodies, a grim reminder of the chaos that had unfolded.

"This is just like volleyball," you muttered to yourself, drawing upon the lessons of the game. "Power, senses, and staying alert. The main thing is don't hesitate even for a second, otherwise you'll end up like them."

"It's just like those games," you muttered, the realization sinking in as you surveyed the gruesome scene before you. "People eating people, and the dead becoming like them, devouring each other. They're... zombies."

You stood by the stairs leading to the fourth floor, mentally preparing yourself for the journey to the rooftop

“You Can do it Sam.”

Three zombies began to advance towards you from different directions. The one furthest away was coming straight at you, while the closest one approached from the right. Another undead figure emerged from a narrow hallway on your left, making it the second closest to you.

"Time for my courage test," you gritted through clenched teeth as you swung the pipe. The impact was sickeningly satisfying as it connected with the zombie's legs, causing it to stumble. With a swift follow-up strike, you aimed for its head, delivering a brutal finishing blow. The end of the pipe embedded itself deep into the zombie's skull, a gruesome sight that made bile rise in your throat. Despite the horror, you knew that any lapse in concentration could spell your demise in this deadly game

As you pulled the pipe from the skull, a sickening cascade of blood erupted, followed by the grotesque sight of brain matter oozing out.

Without a moment's hesitation, you dashed towards the zombie on your right, your only thought of survival. With a swift, brutal strike, you smashed its head, ending its undead existence in a single blow.

"Two down!" you exclaimed, adrenaline coursing through your veins as you faced the third zombie. Despite your heightened awareness, it caught you off guard. Reacting instinctively, you raised the pipe to block its lunge, stopping it at the neck.

"Damn it," you cursed under your breath, muscles straining against the undead force. "I thought these moments felt familiar, but they're so unpredictable. This one's stronger than I expected. Is this how it all ends?"

You heard a soft voice shouting as someone rushed towards you, "AAAAHHH!" In a flash, they struck the zombie on the head with what looked like a cement brick. The impact stunned the zombie, momentarily halting its advance.

As the zombie staggered, you took immediate action, forcefully pushing it aside before delivering the final, decisive blow to its head. With a sickening thud, the zombie's skull shattered into three jagged pieces, sending a spray of blood in all directions, drenching you in its vile essence.

The gruesome scene before you was too much to bear, and your stomach rebelled, convulsing as you retched violently over the lifeless body. Even amidst the chaos of your sickness, your eyes locked onto a familiar figure to your right. "HINA!"

You struggle to hold back the nausea, but it overwhelms you, spewing out in front of her. "Blerrrgghh..!" After a while, the vomiting subsides.

While you were recovering, she hurried to the women's restroom and returned with a bottle of water, offering it to you. After rinsing your mouth and face, you sheepishly apologized, "I'm sorry about that."

"No need to apologize," she reassured you with a gentle smile. "I've seen worse than that."

"Yeah, you did. By the way, where were you all this time? Are you okay? Did they bite you?"

"See? I'm still in one piece. That lunatic went on a rampage, taking out half the class in a fit of fear. When I spotted an opening, I dragged him and a few others to safety and we hunkered down in the women's bathroom for a good two hours."

"You saved that moron Trident, even after all he's done to you."

"I did it on a whim. He might be a beast, but I refuse to stoop to his level, especially not against one of our own."

"I never expected someone as kind and innocent as Hina to speak like that. What could have changed in just a few hours?" The shock was palpable, but it also left a lingering sense of sadness.

"I'm relieved to see you're alright," you said, pausing for a moment before continuing, "I have to get to the rooftop. I need to find Nita."

"She might have turned into one of those..." she said reluctantly.

You replied to her angrily, “STOP!” but then softened your tone. “I need to find her, sorry. I gotta go,"

As you rushed upstairs, Hina's soft voice reached you. "Whatever happens, I'm waiting for you," she called out, her words echoing in the corridor behind you.

You continued your ascent without looking back or acknowledging her words.

"There are 8 floors in this block, and I’m only on the 3rd floor. Just 5 more floors to go. I hope she's up there, safe and sound."

You encountered a few more zombies on the 4th floor, but you managed to evade them and crush their heads.

As soon as you stepped onto the fifth floor, a woman's desperate cry for help echoed through the corridor, "HELP…!"

The zombies scattered throughout the floor suddenly spring to life, surrounding you in an instant. "Shit. There are so many of them. More than 20 zombies."

You fend off four advancing zombies, your stamina dwindling with each blow. "Damn it," you curse under your breath, irritation mounting at the sudden cry reverberating through the building. "Who the hell's making noise now? Just three floors left to reach the rooftop."

You heard footsteps approaching from the floor above. "More of these coming down?" you muttered, grappling with the zombie. Suddenly, a voice pierced through the chaos, "Hold it steady, boss." You turned to see a figure wielding what appeared to be a gun. With precise aim, he fired, striking the zombie's head dead-on. As the creature crumpled to the side, you noticed a nail embedded in its skull. Without missing a beat, the newcomer dispatched the remaining zombies with expert marksmanship. "Take down the ones close to you," he instructed, his voice resolute. "Aim for the head."

You swiftly dispatched the zombies closest to you, leaving only three remaining. Suddenly, one of them began sprinting toward you. Both you and the boy from the stairs were taken aback, witnessing an undead creature running for the first time.

You stood your ground as the zombie charged towards you, its gaping mouth hungry for flesh. Without hesitation, you drove the metal pipe straight into its maw. The pipe pierced through with a sickening squelch, emerging from the other side, coated in brain matter and blood,

In the chaos, you lost your footing and stumbled backward, hitting the ground hard. Meanwhile, the stranger efficiently eliminated the remaining two zombies with precise shots to their heads. As you struggled to recover, you noticed nails embedded in the zombies' skulls,

"A nail!" you exclaimed, surprised to see a zombie brought down by such a simple object. The man who saved you approached, offering you a hand. "Are you okay, boss?"

You took his hand to get up and replied, “Thanks brother you saved my ass.” He is chubby and close to your shoulder height, glasses and curtains hairstyle.

He initiated the conversation, saying, "Hi boss, do you know me? We share the Engineering Graphics class." You acknowledged, "Yes, you're Anh from Class B."

You exchanged a serious glance before he broached the topic. "Before we go our separate ways, how about we lend them a hand?"

“Absolutely.”

As you both approached the classroom where the shouts were coming from, you ran through the zombies you had destroyed earlier. Anh shot the zombies banging on the door while you rushed to open it. However, upon entering, you were greeted by an alarming sight: more zombies and 3 girls huddled in a corner, using study tables as barricades to protect themselves.

You took down the zombies one by one while he covered your back. Together, you managed to defeat almost all of them in the class, except for one. This remaining zombie was built like a tyrant, with a six-foot-tall, fully muscular body, and it wore a uniform similar to that of bouncers.

Anh tried his nail gun, but it didn’t work on this particular zombie like it did on the others. As you observed the situation, an idea struck you. "This zombie moves slowly, but its reach is significantly better. One grab and it's game over," you remarked to Anh, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a safe distance. "But compared to other zombies, this one seems to be stumbling while walking." Your eyes scanned the room, and then an idea hit you. Turning to Anh, you said, "I have an idea. Let's use the tables."

"Grab the table at the other end, quickly!" You seized the opposite end of the table. "Now, charge forward as fast as you can, brother!"

"Let's aim for those legs, Anh," you instructed, both of you swinging the table with all your might at the zombie's lower limbs. The creature stumbled forward. Without hesitation, Anh and you hurled the table at the zombie, then swiftly followed up with a shot from Anh's nail gun to the back of its head. Seizing the opportunity, you swung the metal pipe with force, crushing the creature's skull and sending blood splattering across the floor.

"Nice teamwork, boss," Anh remarked, a grin breaking through the tension on his face.

"We were just lucky," you replied with a nod, relief evident in your voice.

girls were shocked by the sight of it but they stopped there shouting, you and him went to them and said, “It is alright now, you guys can get up from there”

Anh's voice suddenly shifted to a high-pitched, almost comical tone as his attention was caught by one of the girls among the group. She had a pale complexion, a round face, and an overall figure that resembled that of a professional model.

He exclaimed, "You're the idol 'RENA'! The news said you were on vacation!"

Rena replied, "This is my vacation. Spending time with my friends is one of the best vacations for me, but it was ruined."

You pondered whether Rena's demeanor was a result of her Idol charm or genuine affection for her friends. Observing the fear in her eyes amidst the chaos, you mused, "Maybe she is telling the truth."

Anh replied instantly, "Sorry, I forgot the gravity of our situation and asked you something unnecessary. Please, get up."

The girls rose to their feet, their voices trembling slightly as they asked, "Could you take us to the safe room? We saw a message on the school WhatsApp group saying it's a secure place to hide."

"I'm heading to the rooftop. If you want, I can help you get there, but don't get your hopes up too high," you offered.

The girls nodded in agreement with your suggestion, and you turned to Anh for confirmation.

"What do you want to do, bro?"

"I'm heading to the ground floor, boss. I've got an idea, but I don't want to raise false hopes. Still, I hope we meet again."

You replied, "Yeah, let's hope for that.”

As you all dashed towards the stairs, you turned to Anh and inquired, "What's the situation upstairs, bro?"

"I came from the 7th floor," Anh responded, his voice tense. "There are fewer zombies there, but stay quiet. You’ll reach the safe room without any problems."

"Based on what you said, then the entire ground floor is filled with those zombies," you remarked as you all reached the stairs.

"Don't worry, boss. I'll figure something out. If you have the idea of heading to the ground floor, knock three times on the staff room door," Anh reassured you.

"Could you do me a favor, brother? There's this girl named Hina on the 3rd floor, they're hiding in the girls' washroom. Can you help them out?"

“Is she your girlfriend?”

"Nothing like that, she saved me. I just want her to be safe."

"I'll see what I can do."

"Appreciate it, bro," you nodded to Anh. With a brief exchange of farewells,  you and the girls headed upstairs while Anh went downstairs.

"Just as Anh mentioned, there are only a few zombies on the 6th floor," you reminded Rena. "It's going to take us roughly 15 to 20 minutes to reach the safe room from here." Curiosity gnawed at you as you asked girls, "How the hell zombies managed to get into the locked classroom? What actually happened inside?"

One of the girls responded to your question, "The big guy you both stopped in the classroom is the reason it all happened."

Then Rena started explaining without missing a single detail, "When it all started, the whole class panicked. I don’t know about other classes, but in our class, not even one of us turned into one of them."

"However, with these creatures running rampant throughout the corridors, one guy risked his life and closed the door," Rena continued, her voice trembling with fear. "Despite the door being pushed by more than four zombies, we thought we were saved."

"After a couple of minutes, we heard a knock on the door calling my name, ‘Miss Rena’. It was my bodyguard who had come to save me," Rena recounted, her voice heavy with emotion. "The whole class was against opening the door, fearing the worst. But they trusted my judgment and let him in. When he came inside, blood was pouring from his right calf, and we treated his wound. Initially, he seemed fine. He instructed us to stay safe by hiding behind tables and staying in the corners."

"Out of nowhere, he started vomiting blood, crying, and moaning. We didn't know what to do," Rena's voice wavered as she recounted the horrifying events. "Suddenly, he jumped at the people closest to him and began to eat them. The ones who were eaten came back to life and started attacking my other classmates. It all happened so quickly... it was over in just a few minutes." Rena's tears flowed freely as she relived the traumatic memory.

"I'm the reason they all turned into those things... I'm the reason they all died," Rena's voice cracked with guilt as she collapsed to the ground. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably as she realized the weight of her words. Knowing that her voice could attract more of those creatures, she desperately covered her mouth with both hands, trying to stifle her sobs. Not a single sound escaped from her .

Her friends surrounded her, offering words of comfort and support until her sobs gradually subsided. With a deep breath, Rena managed to regain some composure. "I'm sorry for breaking down like that... I know I don't even deserve to be with you all now, but please, still help me," she pleaded, her voice filled with remorse and desperation.

“SLAP…”

One of her friends slapped and said “it was their problem to listen to your every word like you’re some kind of angel, It was their fault” all girls are crying “It was their fault not yours.”

One of her friends, overwhelmed by emotion, reached out and slapped Rena firmly, her voice laced with frustration and sorrow. "It wasn't your responsibility to bear, Rena," she admonished sharply. "They chose to follow your lead like you were some kind of angel. It was their mistake, not yours." Tears streamed down the faces of all the girls as they shared in their collective grief. "It was their fault, not yours," they repeated, offering solace in their shared pain.

You gave them some space, keeping watch over them until finally, the silence fell over the group. "Ready to move?" you inquired, prompting them to start walking towards the safe room.While walking alongside Rena, you couldn't help but see her differently. Despite her global fame and seemingly unattainable aura, in this dire moment, she appeared just like any other girl. It dawned on you that her happiness was restricted by corporate greed, much like everyone else's.

You voiced your thoughts aloud, "The world we knew must be dead by now!" Rena somberly replied, "Yes, it is."

Finally, after all that, you reached the safe house and knocked on the door. To your dismay, the one who opened it was none other than one of the most manipulative and detestable professors in the entire college.

He was in his mid-30s, slim, of good height, wearing glasses and sporting a flow haircut. His name was Slyde. With his low bass voice, he called out to us, "Come in, students." Rena and her friends entered the safe house, with Rena being the last. As she looked back at you, she surprisingly asked, "Why aren't you coming in?"

"I've already told you, I'm going to the rooftop," you replied. 

"But it's dangerous out there, and there's a chance the one you're searching for..." Rena began to argue.

You stopped her mid-sentence and sarcastically asked, "What are you worrying about me for? I'm the luckiest guy, THE WORLD POPULAR 'RENA', the Idol worrying about me haha. See Rena, the world we know is not there anymore."

"You worry about you and your friends, and I'll worry about me and mine. Goodbye, IDOL RENA."

Slyde added a word while you were talking to Rena, "That was a good analogy, we care about ourselves, you should remember that MISS RENA.” You didn’t waste a moment and punched him in the face. All the professors and other students in the safe room were shocked as blood trickled from his nose. “If you want another punch, then talk back. No words. Who are you going to call now? The minister? Commissioner? Police? Suck up, shithead.” His face burned with anger, but he couldn't do anything.

You sprinted towards the stairs, smashing every zombie in your path. With each strike, you felt a surge of satisfaction, especially after landing a blow on that bastard.

"Thanks to him, I had to take Mathematics-1 three times. I have no idea what his problem was, but I'm feeling pretty satisfied now, hehe."

You stand at the stairs, whispering softly, "Please, Nita, stay safe."

You pause for a moment, pondering, "I hope Rena and her friends will be alright."

You ran upstairs, sidestepping every zombie you encountered along the way. When you reached the rooftop door, you were relieved to see it closed, with no signs of blood or bodies nearby.

You called out loudly, "Nita, are you okay? Open the door." But there was no response, causing concern to grow within you.

You exerted all your strength as you banged on the door, only to be met with the sight of a zombie that bore a striking resemblance to someone you know.

"LACHE!" The undead figure before you was none other than your biological father. Stunned, you held your breath for a few seconds, then took a deep breath and charged straight at him, delivering a flying kick that sent him stumbling to the ground. As you assumed a defensive stance, a familiar voice filled with sorrow and pain called out your name, "SAM!"

Your sister lay in the basketball cage, her leg bleeding profusely, yet her face bore a bright smile. Shocked to see her in such a state, tears filled your eyes as you ran towards her. Without hesitation, you reached out and grabbed both of her hands, pulling her into a tight embrace as tears streamed down your cheeks.

With a faint smile, she spoke softly, "If only Mom and Dad hadn't fallen for each other, or if we had confessed our feelings before they made us siblings, maybe we wouldn't have grown apart, even while living under the same roof."

As she hugged you tightly, tears streaming down her face, she whispered, "I love you, I LOVE YOU, Sam." You couldn't hold back your tears either.

"I love you, Nita, I love you so much," you repeated, your voice choked with emotion. "But first, let's get you up. We need to treat your leg."

She shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "No, Sam, it's over for me. I tried to escape, but he got me. I've seen what happens to those who get bitten." Despite her tears, a faint smile crossed her lips. "At least I'm still conscious until I see you. Please, just kiss me, Sam."

You kissed for a while, and with tears in her eyes, you gathered your courage and asked, "Bite me, let’s die together." She refused and slapped you, her anger evident as she exclaimed, "Do you think I will let you become one of them? Nah, never."

You asked, "Then what about you?" She responded, her voice tinged with sorrow, "Then you put me down. To reach this point, you've likely had to dispatch countless others who turned into... that. So, just treat me like one of them. End me."

You responded firmly, "No, I can't do it."

She erupted in frustration. "Then what? You want me to turn into one of them and slaughter our parents, friends, our family? Do you think they'd be happy with the idea of us becoming like them, wandering around, feeding on corpses?" She began to vomit blood, her voice wavering. "KILL... me... please..." She writhed in pain, struggling against herself.

You spoke through tears, your voice quivering with emotion, "I can't... I just can't..." The terror that once gripped you in the presence of those creatures had vanished, leaving your mind numb and empty. "Take me with you, Nita..."

Just a few minutes before, after Sam left the Safe room.

The safe room is filled with food and some papers, likely midterm exam papers. There's also a 3rd-year chemistry professor holding a shotgun, though it appears to be unloaded. The professors all wear expressions of disgust on their faces.

The professors and some students were berating Sam for two reasons.

He is being criticized for being rude and disrespectful towards elders.

He seems to view the situation outside as a game, finding enjoyment in smashing zombies. He's perceived as a psycho for his behavior.

Rena can't tolerate the disparaging remarks about Sam, especially when it's suggested that he's just a psycho enjoying smashing zombies for fun.

Rena muttered, "You're all acting like you've seen everything out there."

One of the professors raised his voice, "You think we didn't see anything? We've seen more than you."

Rena couldn't hold back anymore. "Who on earth saved us? Was it you? You! We were just inches away from death, and he came to save us even without knowing who we are."

“You're all calling him a psycho for taking pleasure in killing those things, but then why is he so keen on saving someone close to him?”

"Do any of you actually know what's happening out there?" She yelled with all her might.

The professor with the shotgun responded, "An idol spouting some random bullshit after seeing a bit of blood. So what? People eating people, that's it. Just shut your mouth and wait a few days. There will be a cure, and everything will be fine."

One of Rena's friends, named Lara, is the same age as Rena. She has long hair, is taller than Rena, and has a well-built body.

She stood up and began to roam around the safe room, as if searching for something. "It's pointless to talk to them, Rena," she remarked. "These people are just the type who don't care about their families, children, or even their own parents. Look at them, all feeling relieved just because those things won't come in."

The professor with the shotgun shouted, "Do you know how much I want to meet my son, my wife? THEY ARE MY EVERYTHING."

Lara shouted back while she simultaneously searched for something. "How can you all judge someone for trying to save someone they care about? Calling him a psycho? If you truly value your family, you should understand the pain of wanting to reunite with someone he loves." Silence fell over the room after Lara's impassioned words. Professor Slyde exchanged a concerned glance with her, sensing the potential repercussions on his authority in the room.

Lara found a box full of shotgun shells, forcefully pulled the shotgun from the professor who was holding it, and loaded it with shotgun shells. Everyone was surprised that she could handle a shotgun. "Why wasn't the shotgun loaded, sir? Do you actually know how to use it?"

The students cast disapproving glances at him, recalling his words from just an hour ago: "You know what, your professor is an expert in handling guns and it is loaded, so I will handle this gun."

Most of the students appeared to have lost trust in all the professors, little by little, as they witnessed their true nature.

Slyde saw this as the opportune moment to bolster his standing in the room. "You can't deceive us, Professor. I entrusted you with the leadership role, only to discover that you're incapable of handling a gun. You misrepresented yourself to win the students' favor. Shame on you, sir."

Slyde silently urged himself, "One more push." Then, addressing the group, he proclaimed, "We require a leader who embodies openness, understanding, strong social standing, and, crucially, reliability. As many of you are aware, I played a pivotal role in saving all of us. If you believe I can continue to ensure our safety, please raise your hands and select me as your leader."

All the students, along with several professors, raised their hands in approval of Slyde as their leader.

Thank you for the clarification. In that case, we can adjust the wording accordingly:

Slyde chuckled before replying, "Democracy reigns. For those who didn't raise their hands, you're welcome to exit this room, or you're welcome not to heed my words." He paused briefly, adjusting his glasses, then added with a sinister undertone, "Just don't come in my way."

He glanced at Lara and requested, "Hand me that shotgun, Miss Lara."

She remained silent, turning to her friends and inquiring, "Do we really need to stay here? I have a shotgun, and according to Anh, both the 6th and 7th floors have fewer zombies. If we head to the rooftop and reunite with Sam, I'm confident he'll assist us. What do you both think?" Rena responded, "Yeah, he definitely will."

The third friend, shorter than Rena, named Ginny, sported Harry Potter glasses, had a cute body and face, and wore a skirt and shirt, epitomizing the total nerd type.

She responded to Lara's question, "But how do we get out of here? He's standing there and seems to have no intentions of moving aside."

Lara replied to him with a smirk, "Move aside, Slyde. We want to get out of here."

Slyde retorted with an arrogant expression, licking his lips before speaking, "You may leave without issue, but the gun stays here."

Lara packed some water bottles, papers, and shotgun shell boxes into a bag, then slung the bag over her shoulder. She pointed the gun straight at Slyde's face.

She said to him while covering her friends with her giant body, “Open up, or face the consequences.” When one of the professors attempted to grab her, she swiftly delivered a flying kick and resumed her stance, aiming straight at his head. “Don’t push me to become a killer, Slyde.”

Slyde slowly opened the door, and with Ginny, Rena, and Lara covering them, they left the safe room. The girls were scared, but they refused to return to that eerie cult room.

Rena and Lara possess athletic abilities, enabling them to confront the zombies once they overcome their fear. However, Ginny, more inclined towards indoor activities and lacking in athleticism, relies on Rena and Lara for protection as they advance forward.

Lara excels in sports and holds a black belt in karate. Additionally, she has received training in firearm usage. Her large physique also gives her an advantage, allowing her to fend off zombies before they even come close to her.

In contrast, Rena is physically fit but lacks combat skills. Nevertheless, she does her best to evade zombies if they approach her.

Finally, they reached the rooftop stairs, maintaining their previous formation: Lara at the back, Ginny in the middle, and Rena at the front. As they slowly climbed the stairs, they suddenly heard a man's voice calling out the name "Nita..." accompanied by moans of pain, reminiscent of when Rena's bodyguard turned into a zombie.

The trio rushed to the rooftop and witnessed a zombie crawling towards Sam, who seemed to have lost all hope, spreading his arms as if accepting his fate.

Lara instructed Rena to move himself to Sam's left side, and Ginny to go after Rena closely. Taking charge, Lara approached the zombie, swiftly striking it with the shotgun handle, shattering its head. Blood splattered over Sam and Lara as the zombie’s head collapsed.

Sam, his heart heavy at the sight of Nita, turned to Lara with a pained expression and asked, "Why did you stop her?"

Lara responded, "To save you."

Sam's frustration was evident in his reply, "I didn't ask you to save me."

With a solemn expression, Lara said, "I'm sorry, but we need you."

Sam, his eyes filled with tears, expressed, "So, you want me to protect you all. I'm just desperate. You think I'm some kind of brave guy who jumps in to save people when trouble arises."

"When I'm face-to-face with them for the first time, I damn near shit my pants and cry like it's the end of the world. Until she crosses my mind, I'm just a weakling, hiding behind a door with the hope of someone coming to rescue me."

"All my desperate attempts to see her and hope that she is alive, but she is like this now," he sighed, his tone weighted with sorrow and resignation.

You laughed endlessly and said with a chuckle. "Maybe you should find someone who isn't a coward like me, always hoping for the best. I'm sorry, but I can't protect you."

Your phone chimed with a notification: "Mom voice message."

Your spirits lifted at the sound of the message tone. Without hesitation, you unlocked your phone and played the voice message.

You lowered the volume and played the voice message.

"Hi Sam, it's Mom. I wanted to let you know that I'll be traveling to America for a few days for a company project. I'm sending you this voice message since I know you're in class."

"One, take care of your sister. Two, stay safe, and don’t fight with her, just for these three days, my sweet boy," your mother's voice continued. 

You paused the message for a second to wipe your tears, regaining composure as a faint smile graced your lips upon hearing your mother's voice. 

You resumed the voice message.

"I had a talk with Lache, he has changed a lot, Sam," your mother's voice continued. "He says he wants to meet us once again. What do you think? Should we meet him?"

Suddenly, amidst the message, you heard zombie sounds. Your mother's voice turned panicked. "Who are you?" she shouted for help. "Someone help me, Arya, help me…"

Afterward, all you heard were bone-cracking and flesh-tearing sounds.

The voice message ended abruptly, leaving you stunned and horrified by what you had just heard.

You repeatedly tried calling your mom's number, but each time, you received the same message: 

"The number you're trying to reach is currently unreachable." 

Despite your attempts, you couldn't establish a connection.

Rena, Ginny, and Lara looked at you with concerned expressions as you stood there, completely overwhelmed and lost in your thoughts. It was evident that you were struggling to maintain composure, your mind consumed by grief and totally devastated.

Your response was a continuous, uncontrollable laughter as you stood up and looked at the three girls. With a loud laugh, you exclaimed, "My mom died, my sister died, that guy over there is my father, he died. Haha..."

You moved slowly, as if drained of life, towards the railings. "What's left for me to live for? I've lost everything. DoI die if I jump from the rooftop?"

Lara sprinted as fast as she could, reaching you just in time to grab hold and prevent you from leaping off the rooftop. Startled, you snapped back and punched her in the chest. "Why are you stopping me?" you demanded, your voice edged with frustration and confusion.

She held her chest, coughing slightly, and replied, "We need you, Sam." Her voice was strained, but firm.

You shouted, "I DON'T NEED YOU!" The words rang out with raw emotion, filled with anger and despair.

You gazed at the sky, tears streaming down your face without restraint. "My mom, dad, sister, my love... everyone's gone. I don't have a reason to keep fighting," you choked out between sobs. "Just leave me... I won't be of any use to you all. Find someone else," you pleaded, before collapsing to the ground where you stood. "Please... just leave me."

As Lara walked towards you and lifted you up, your head was close to her ear.

You collapsed once again, but Lara lifted you up once more. As you collapsed again, she lifted you for the third time. This time, with frustration evident, she held you with just one hand and delivered a slap. Still, there was no response from you. In a last-ditch effort, she punched you, but there was still no reaction.

She continued to hold you with one hand, gently lifting your face with her right hand. With a tender gesture, she kissed you. The warmth of her touch brought you back from your thoughts, snapping you out of your daze.

"What's going on? Why are you doing this?" you pushed her back, a mix of confusion and frustration in your voice. "Are you trying to seduce me now?"

She responded with an embarrassed yet endearing expression. "Yes, and I love you," she confessed, her eyes filled with sincerity and affection.

You stood there, bewildered and confused by Lara's confession. Ginny, overwhelmed, hid her face with both hands, while Rena stood by, utterly shocked by the unexpected turn of events.

"I'm not saying this out of pity," Lara continued, her voice trembling with sincerity. "From the moment you arrived in class and did your best to save us, even in those dire circumstances, I couldn't help but fall for you. And when you mentioned you were looking for your friend, it made me respect you even more. But I never had the courage to speak up because I was terrified. You gave me strength during this dark time. By the time I wanted to ask you, you had already left."

"Once again, you're standing right in front of me," Lara expressed, her voice filled with affection. "This time, there's no way I'll let you slip away again. I'm not asking you to forget everything, but please remember that a woman is happy simply because you exist."

Overwhelmed by everything unfolding before you, you found yourself at a loss for words. Tears streamed down your cheeks as emotions flooded your senses.

Your first love lay on the floor, her head split in two, a horrifying sight to behold. Amidst the chaos, the perpetrator dared to propose to you. As confusion and horror consumed you, a voice message delivered the devastating news of your mother's passing. Adding to the turmoil, your biological father, now a zombie, crawled slowly towards you, each movement heightening your sense of dread.

"Your first love lay on the floor, her head split in two, a horrifying sight to behold. Amidst the chaos, the one who broke her head proposed to you. As confusion and horror consumed you, the voice message you received ended with the mournful sound of your mother's death. Adding to the turmoil, your biological father, now a zombie, crawled slowly towards you, each movement heightening your sense of dread."

You walked back and leaned on the railings, a bitter chuckle escaping your lips. "What timing you've got," you remarked with a mixture of disbelief and frustration. "You managed to drain every ounce of courage I had left to jump, with that kiss. You're Playing unfair and a woman who claims to be happy just because I exist? Stop with the lies."

Rena raised her voice, but it cracked, and tears flowed from her eyes. "I'm so relieved that you're alive," she choked out, her words laden with emotion. "Thanks to you, the three of us are still here. We're here for you, and you can count on us for support, mentally and emotionally. Please, choose to live with us."

Ginny spoke through her tears, her voice trembling with emotion. "Thank you, Sam. Please, choose to live."

You slowly sank to the ground, leaning against the railing, your head bowed, and your gaze fixed on your lap. Tears streamed down your cheeks as you uttered softly, "Please don't give hope to this coward."

The three girls approached you, each wrapping you in a tight embrace, their warmth and comfort enveloping you. In unison, they spoke softly, their voices filled with reassurance, 

"We won't leave you."

Bonus Story: Anh Survival

Just a few hours before the zombie breakout, Anh, a second-year mechanical student, was enjoying himself in the Automotive lab class. He was occupied with creating a nail pressure gun.

Slyde called out Anh's name and made fun of him, saying, "Here we go, Anh! The mad scientist in his own little world.”

The entire class burst into laughter, and Anh, feeling embarrassed, stood up and asked, "Sorry sir, what was the question?”

Someone from the class retorted, "NO one asked you a question, fatty.”

Anh laughed off the comment along with the rest of the class.

Amidst all the laughter, the bell rang, signaling the start of the lunch break.

The teasing was harmless, just light-hearted jokes without any harm done to anyone.

While Anh was attempting to eat lunch, a couple called him, both appearing to be around his age. The guy stood at 6 feet tall, with a well-trained physique, while the girl, with long blue hair, plenty of makeup, and dressed in trendy attire, stood at around 5.5 feet tall.

Setting his lunch aside, Anh walked over to them.

The guy instructed Anh to follow him, calling him "fatty." Despite knowing them, Anh complied and followed. He was aware that they were part of the bullying group in the second year, known for targeting even the tougher students from the third and fourth years just for fun.

Anh felt a surge of fear and muttered to himself, "Are they going to beat me up again today?" He had been a victim of bullying for the past six months.

They led him to an empty classroom in B block on the 7th floor, which was undergoing renovation. Inside the room were three other guys, and they immediately began to beat Anh mercilessly, targeting any part of his body, including his balls.

The woman with blue hair shouted at him, "How dare you look at cleavage in the classroom!”

Anh attempted to respond, "I didn't—" but was interrupted by a kick to his balls.

Anh, clutching his crotch, collapsed to the floor in agony, tears streaming down his face. The bullies showed no mercy, continuing to kick him all over his body. To add insult to injury, the woman with blue hair spat on him once they finally ceased their assault.

They laughed in his face, hurling insults, and even the professors who passed by the classroom didn't make an attempt to help him.

After a while, he was thrown out of the room, and the boys who had assaulted him ordered him to strip off his pants and underwear and stand guard outside. Reluctantly, he complied.

Anh muttered to himself, "I've wished countless times over the past 6 months that if my family had more connections in the government, I could easily request a transfer from this place.”

"People believe money can fix everything. I come from a well-off YouTube family with plenty of resources. When my parents found out I was being bullied, they attempted to reach out to the authorities. However, upon discovering that the perpetrator had connections to a government official, they were unable to take any action. They even tried to purchase a transfer certificate from the college, but the bully warned the college founder, preventing them from issuing it to me.”

"Some people in the college are unaware of the bullying, but it escalated to the point where lives were lost. A female lecturer tragically passed away, ostensibly by suicide after enduring mental torment from these freaks.”

"I studied tirelessly, harder than anyone else, to get to this point, even though my mom and dad told me I didn't have to do all this, that just making videos was enough.”

"But I..." he said between sobs.

Anh overheard voices coming from the room, "You know what? I missed your long, thick cock for three weeks. Shove it deep inside my sweet, tight pussy," she moaned with a higher pitch voice.

"How does it feel?" the bully asked the woman. She responded, "I missed this sensation. Maintain the pace. Fuck, kiss me.”

The sounds of slurping and skin hitting made Anh nauseous. "Why has my life turned out this way?" he wondered, still hearing the moans of the woman and even her climax voice saying, "You’re the best fuck than my boyfriend." They both kissed, the slurping noise echoing in Anh's ears, but suddenly there was a change in the atmosphere, and both of them fell silent. This was the first time it had happened since Anh had been bullied for the past 6 months.

Amidst the chaos of the noisy college, with students running and shouting, Anh hears peculiar roars and moans in the distance.

Suddenly, the door was violently banged from inside, startling Anh. As he peered through the window into the room, he was met with a horrifying sight: the blue-haired woman, her face torn apart, revealing only flesh and bones beneath.

Anh screamed in terror, and the zombies inside the room were immediately alerted by the noise.

Anh grabbed his pants and dashed towards the right block of 7 floors, only to realize along the way that he was running without pants.

He was fortunate that few students frequented the left block of the 7th floor, as it was still under renovation. Hastily, he slipped into one of the vacant classrooms and hastily put on his pants.

As he emerged from the classroom, he caught a whiff of an unusual scent, one he couldn't quite identify. Intrigued and somewhat apprehensive, he followed his nose to its source, only to stumble upon a horrifying sight: a person devouring another human being.

Without hesitation, Anh bolted away from the scene, his heart pounding with fear. Despite his terror, he didn't dare make a sound as he fled, his instincts screaming at him to get as far away from the gruesome sight as possible. 

With a hint of desperation, Anh dashed towards the Automotive lab room, a flicker of an idea forming in his mind. Drawing on his knowledge from gaming, he concocted a daring plan, hoping against hope that it would save him.

Anh muttered to himself as he hurried towards the lab, "People eating people, and people getting eaten, waking up like mindless drones to devour others. It's like something out of a zombie game.”

"If everything goes according to the game, then their weak point must be the brain. It's better to try than to die without doing anything. Yeah, that nail gun will come in handy. Just please, don't let them spot me," Anh muttered to himself, hoping his makeshift weapon would be enough to fend off the zombies.

Anh swiftly entered the lab room, grabbed the nail gun, two walkie-talkies, and their receiver from his bench. As he made his way to the exit, Professor Slyde, along with several other professors and students, rushed towards the stairs.

Slyde noticed Anh and remarked, "You're fat, so don't follow us and become a burden while you're being eaten by those things. If you insist on following us, you're on your own."

Every student and professor was gripped by fear as they witnessed the chaos unfolding around them.

Anh stepped forward, determined to test whether his theory would hold true. Three zombies were approaching the group, and everyone stood frozen in fear.

Anh held the nail gun with a grip as firm as if he were wielding an AK-47. He loaded a nail and took aim at the head of the middle zombie.

The nail found its mark with precision, striking the zombie's head squarely. Despite the lack of any audible sound, the effect was immediate. The zombie staggered forward for two more steps before collapsing to the ground. The sight left everyone present stunned and bewildered.

Anh, feeling emboldened, muttered to himself, "I can survive this hell." He swiftly took down the remaining two zombies with his nail gun. Looking at the stunned onlookers, especially Slyde, he declared confidently,

"If you want, I can lead you all downstairs without getting bitten," Anh declared boldly. "This 'fatty' is offering to save your sorry asses. Need my help, Mr. Slyde?"

Slyde's face twisted with anger, but he found himself unable to speak or take action in the face of Anh's unexpected competence. With a strained voice, he conceded, "Anh, who would have thought your crappy inventions would come in handy. Please, lead the way."

Anh assisted them all in reaching the safe room, ensuring their safety. 

They all entered the safe room, and as the door closed behind them, Anh was lost in thought, considering all the possibilities and formulating a plan. It took him two hours of careful consideration to understand his surroundings and come to a conclusion.

He stood up and walked toward the door.

Slyde stopped Anh just as he was about to open the door. "Where do you think you're going, Anh?"

"I'm heading to the ground floor. It's based on my observation," Anh explained. "Those creatures seem to react to sound. They all congregated on the ground floor, probably because of the loud noises we've been hearing. And down there, the echo amplifies the noise. If multiple voices shout at the same time, it'll create even more noise, attracting more zombies." 

"I want to use that sound to drive them out of our block. Then we can figure out how to leave the college safely," Anh elaborated.

Slyde glared at Anh and remarked sharply, "Don't get cocky just because you killed 10 zombies. Shut your mouth and get back inside."

Anh retrieved a walkie-talkie from his pocket and placed it in Slyde's hand. "I don't want to die without at least trying something," he stated with determination. "And if I can lead away more zombies from the ground floor, I'll use this to communicate with you, since phones won't work in the safe room." With a final look at Slyde, he hurried towards the stairs leading to the 6th floor.

Afterword

"Hi everyone, this is NPC. What did you think of the first chapter of “Undead”?

The concept for this zombie story began a year ago, with the MC being an ordinary guy attempting to survive. After overcoming his fear, the entire college is surrounded, prompting him to venture to the rooftop to uncover the truth."

I have a couple of ideas in mind. One possibility is that the MC ends up becoming a zombie themselves. Another intriguing twist could be that the MC inadvertently triggers the zombie outbreak.

"After considering various ideas, I decided to stick with a character-driven approach for the first chapter. The focus will be on the MC's journey of overcoming obstacles and facing his own downfall, while also exploring the perspectives of the girls who care about him.”

I plan to expand this story into a global threat, addressing themes such as survival, the realities of human nature under extreme circumstances, governmental actions and policies, as well as exploring adult themes. Additionally, I intend to introduce more zombies and delve deeper into the concept of the zombie virus itself.

I understand that your time is valuable, so I'll keep it brief. Let me share a few important points with you before we wrap up.

The first chapter will be available to everyone for free. However, starting from the second chapter, you'll need to become a patron or subscribe to my Subscriberstar for monthly updates and access to new chapter releases of this story.

You'll have the opportunity to read this story for free every three months. However, by subscribing to my payment models, you can support me and gain access to new chapters sooner than the rest of the readers.

I'd like to extend my gratitude to CNSAM for their invaluable assistance with world and zombie ideas.

Finally, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all the readers. Please consider sharing this story with your friends and everyone you know.

This is NPC, and I look forward to seeing you again in the Chapter 2 Afterword.