Arjun didn't move for a long time.
Even after the footsteps faded, the corridor fell silent again, the screams outside blended back into the distant chaos of the city.
He just stood there.
Listening,
Waiting.
Trying to convince himself that what he heard was real.
A voice.
Not a scream, Not a groan, Not that broken, unnatural sound he had begun to recognize.
A human voice.
"You freeze, you die."
The words replayed in his mind.
Short. Calm. Certain.
Whoever it was… they weren't panicking.
They weren't running blindly like everyone else.
They knew what they were doing.
Arjun looked at the door.
The wood was cracked now, splintered near the handle where the thing had slammed into it. Thin lines stretched across its surface like fractures in glass.
It wouldn't survive another attack.
Not like that.
His grip tightened around the metal rod.
You can't stay here.
The thought came quietly—but firmly.
This apartment had felt safe just hours ago.
Now it felt like a trap.
One door.
No backup,
No escape.
If something broke through—
It would be over.
Another distant scream echoed through the building, Closer than before.
Followed by that same low, guttural sound.
Arjun exhaled slowly.
Decision made.
He moved quickly.
Not rushing—but not hesitating either.
He grabbed a small backpack from his room and stuffed it with whatever he could find without making noise.
A bottle of water, Some leftover snacks, A small flashlight.
His phone charger—useless now, but he took it anyway.
His hands moved automatically, his mind still racing ahead.
What if there are more outside?
What if that voice was a trap?
What if—
He stopped.
Closed his eyes for a second.
Breathed.
Thinking too much would get him killed.
He had already learned that.
He approached the door again.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Every step measured.
He leaned closer, Listened.
Nothing.
No breathing.
No scratching.
No movement.
Just silence.
Arjun reached for the lock.
Paused.
His hand trembled slightly.
Once you open it… there's no going back.
He knew that.
He felt it.
This was the moment everything changed.
The lock clicked.
Soft.
But loud enough to make his heart jump.
He froze again.
Waited.
Nothing.
Slowly—
He pushed the door open.
The corridor was dark.
Almost completely.
Only a faint emergency light flickered at the far end, casting weak shadows that stretched unnaturally across the walls.
The air smelled worse out here.
Rotten.
Heavy.
Like something had been left to decay.
Arjun stepped out.
Quiet.
Careful.
The metal rod still clenched tightly in his hand.
The door creaked softly behind him as he closed it.
The sound felt too loud.
Too exposed.
He winced.
Then froze.
A body lay on the floor.
Just a few feet away.
Arjun's breath caught in his throat.
It was the same one.
The one that had been outside his door.
Or what was left of it.
Its head was crushed.
Caved in on one side.
Dark blood pooled beneath it, spreading slowly across the floor.
One arm was twisted unnaturally behind its back.
The other still stretched toward his door.
Like it had been reaching for him.
Even at the end.
Arjun swallowed hard.
His grip tightened.
That could have been you.
"Don't stare too long."
The voice came from behind him.
Calm.
Sharp.
Arjun spun instantly, raising the metal rod.
A figure stood at the end of the corridor.
Partially hidden in shadow.
Then—
She stepped forward.
She looked around his age.
Maybe a little younger.
Her hair was tied back tightly, messy but practical. Her clothes were simple—dark, worn, and clearly chosen for movement, not style.
But it wasn't her appearance that caught his attention.
It was her posture.
Balanced.
Ready.
Like she expected danger at any second—and knew exactly how to deal with it.
In her hand—
A metal pipe.
Stained dark at one end.
Arjun lowered his weapon slightly.
"You…" he said, still catching his breath. "You were outside?"
She nodded once.
"You were about to die."
Not rude.
Not emotional.
Just a fact.
Arjun glanced back at the body.
"You killed it?"
Another nod.
"It was making too much noise."
He blinked.
"That's your concern?"
Now she looked at him properly.
And for the first time, there was a hint of something in her expression.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Disappointment.
"You're still thinking like it's normal," she said. "It's not."
Arjun didn't respond.
Because he didn't have one.
She walked past him casually, stepping over the body without a second glance.
"You alone?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Good."
Arjun frowned slightly. "Good?"
"Less noise. Less risk."
She moved toward the staircase at the end of the corridor, scanning the surroundings with quick, practiced movements.
Arjun hesitated.
Then followed.
"Wait—what's your name?" he asked.
She stopped briefly.
Didn't turn.
"Meera."
Then added—
"If you slow down, you die."
Arjun almost let out a dry laugh.
The same line.
Same tone.
She wasn't trying to sound tough.
She believed it.
They reached the staircase.
The door was slightly open.
Darkness beyond.
Meera paused.
Raised her hand slightly.
Signaling him to stop.
Arjun froze instantly.
She listened.
Head tilted slightly.
Focused.
Then—
A faint sound drifted upward from below.
Dragging.
Slow.
Unsteady.
Meera exhaled quietly.
"They're inside the building," she whispered.
Arjun felt his chest tighten again.
"How many?"
She glanced at him.
"Enough."
Before he could ask anything else—
A sudden noise echoed from below.
A loud crash.
Followed by a scream.
Then multiple voices.
Then—
That sound.
Low.
Hungry.
Coming closer.
Meera stepped back instantly.
"Not this way," she said.
Then she turned—
And grabbed Arjun's arm.
"Move."
No hesitation.
No warning.
Just action.
They ran, Down the corridor, Past the broken lights, Past the body.
Toward the opposite end of the building.
Arjun's heart pounded as their footsteps echoed around them.
Behind them—
Something moved.
Fast.
The sounds multiplied.
More than one.
Maybe many.
"Faster!" Meera snapped.
"I am—!" Arjun shot back, breathless.
"No—you're not."
She pushed ahead, reaching a door at the far end.
Locked.
She didn't stop.
Kicked it.
Once.
Twice—
It burst open.
"Inside!"
They rushed in.
Meera slammed the door shut behind them and shoved a broken table against it.
The impact echoed as something hit the other side almost immediately.
Arjun staggered back, gasping for air.
"What—what are they doing?!" he asked.
"Learning," Meera replied quietly.
The word hung in the air.
Heavy.
Wrong.
The banging grew louder.
More aggressive.
More coordinated.
Not random.
Not mindless.
Arjun looked at the door.
Then at her.
"What are they?" he whispered.
Meera met his gaze.
And for the first time—
There was something close to fear in her eyes.
"I don't know," she said.
Then added—
"But they're not stopping."
The door shook violently.
Wood cracked.
Dust fell from the frame.
Time was running out.
Again.
Meera turned.
Scanning the room quickly.
"There," she pointed.
A window.
Half broken.
Just big enough.
She looked at Arjun.
"You ready to jump?"
Arjun stared at her.
Then at the window.
Then back at the door—
As it began to splinter.
There was no time left to think.
Only to choose.
Outside—
The night waited.
And it was far worse than either of them imagined.