Chapter 10: Silence Before the Storm
The gymnasium was filled with people.
But it did not feel alive.
Fear had taken over everything.
Students and teachers sat scattered across the basketball court and the spectator stands, their bodies trembling, their clothes soaked, their faces pale.
Some hugged themselves tightly, trying to fight off the cold.
Others stared blankly into space.
A few cried silently.
The world had ended too suddenly.
Too cruelly.
"Do you think… something happened to them?"
A soft, trembling voice broke the silence.
A petite girl sat curled up, her knees pulled tightly to her chest. Her body shook uncontrollably as she buried her face between her arms.
Next to her, a slightly older girl forced herself to remain calm.
"They'll be fine," she said, though her voice lacked confidence. "Claire is there… you saw how strong she is."
But even as she spoke—
Her hands trembled.
Because deep down—
She didn't believe her own words.
"I'm scared…" the smaller girl whispered, her voice breaking. "Everyone… everyone is dying… I saw it… they turned… they killed each other… I don't want to die…"
Tears streamed down her face.
The older girl bit her lips hard.
Her own eyes reddened.
"I want to go home…" she whispered.
That sentence—
Spread like a virus.
"I want to see my parents…"
"I want this to stop…"
"I don't want to die…"
The entire gymnasium was filled with quiet despair.
Even the teachers—
Were helpless.
Meanwhile…
Ash moved alone.
He had no interest in comforting anyone.
No interest in meaningless emotions.
Survival—
Came first.
Everything else—
Was secondary.
Inside the cafeteria, the air was cold and damp.
The broken windows allowed rain to seep in, and the sound of distant thunder echoed faintly.
Ash stood in silence, looking at the bodies of the zombies he had neutralized.
They weren't dead.
But they were no longer a threat.
Efficient.
Clean.
Controlled.
Exactly how he wanted it.
He grabbed several tablecloths and tied them together, forming a large sheet.
One by one—
He dragged the immobilized zombies onto it.
No wasted movement.
No unnecessary force.
Everything precise.
Everything calculated.
Footsteps approached.
Ash didn't stop.
Didn't turn.
He already knew who it was.
Claire.
Ethan.
And the large man with the hammer.
They entered quietly.
But the moment they saw the scene—
They froze.
Zombies lay scattered across the floor.
Broken.
Twisted.
But strangely—
There was very little blood.
Ethan's expression changed slightly.
"How… did you do this?"
Ash didn't answer immediately.
He continued dragging the bodies, his movements steady.
Only after a few seconds did he speak.
"They're not dead."
That answer—
Caught them off guard.
Claire's eyes narrowed slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Ash finally stood up.
His gaze calm.
"They're still alive," he said. "I destroyed their ability to move."
Silence.
The three stared at him.
Trying to process what he just said.
"You…" Ethan hesitated. "You did this… without killing them?"
Ash shrugged slightly.
"I don't like unnecessary mess."
His tone was casual.
But the meaning behind it—
Was not.
Claire's eyes flickered slightly.
She finally understood.
This wasn't brutality.
This was control.
Absolute control.
Ash grabbed the cloth and began dragging the bodies toward the exit.
Even with his strength—
It wasn't easy.
But he didn't stop.
Didn't complain.
Didn't show fatigue.
Step by step—
He moved forward.
The others watched him in silence.
Ethan felt a chill run down his spine.
"This guy…"
He couldn't finish his sentence.
Because he didn't know what to call Ash anymore.
A human?
A monster?
Something in between?
After disposing of the bodies outside, Ash returned.
Ignoring everyone's stares—
He went straight back to the cafeteria.
He raised his hand slightly.
The blood on the floor—
Moved.
Slowly.
Like it was alive.
It gathered together and slid across the surface before being pushed out through the broken window.
The floor—
Clean again.
Ash didn't react.
But his eyes darkened slightly.
This ability…
Was becoming more natural.
Too natural.
Rain continued to pour in through the broken windows.
The cold air made the room uncomfortable.
Ash frowned slightly.
Then—
He moved.
He broke apart tables.
Used the wooden surfaces to block the windows.
Dragged heavy cabinets to secure them.
One by one—
He sealed the room.
Cutting off wind.
Rain.
And danger.
After everything was done—
He locked the door.
Finally—
Silence.
Ash sat down.
For the first time since everything began—
He allowed himself to rest.
Five minutes passed.
Then—
He reached into his bag.
And pulled out his phone.
His hands—
Slightly trembled.
He dialed his mother's number.
Ring…
Ring…
Then—
Nothing.
A mechanical voice.
Out of service.
Ash lowered the phone slowly.
His expression didn't change.
But his grip tightened.
He dialed again.
Another number.
Same result.
The silence in the room grew heavier.
The sound of rain hitting the walls felt louder.
Colder.
More distant.
Ash leaned back in his chair.
His eyes staring at the ceiling.
For the first time—
Doubt appeared.
Not fear of death.
Not fear of monsters.
But—
Fear of loss.
He dialed one last number.
His father.
Ring…
Ring…
Then—
Nothing.
The phone slipped slightly in his hand.
Ash closed his eyes.
His breathing became heavier.
Slower.
Controlled.
But not stable.
Outside—
Thunder roared.
Inside—
Silence consumed everything.
A drop of water fell from the ceiling.
Landing softly on the floor.
Ash opened his eyes.
They were calm.
But different.
Colder.
Deeper.
More distant.
"Then I'll survive."
His voice was low.
Steady.
Absolute.
"If they're alive… I'll find them."
"And if they're not…"
He paused.
His eyes darkened.
"…then I'll make sure nothing like this ever happens again."
A faint red glow flickered deep within his pupils.
Gone in an instant.
At that moment—
Something inside him shifted.
Not fully awakened.
But no longer asleep.
The boy who feared—
Was disappearing.
Slowly.
Silently.
And in his place—
Something else was rising.
Not a hero.
Not a savior.
But something far more dangerous.
A man who would control his fate.
And eventually—
The fate of others.
A man who would control his fate.
And eventually—
The fate of others.
The storm outside raged on.
But within the silence—
A king was being born.