The table had turned into a small battlefield of laughter, clinking cutlery, and half-serious arguments.
Aisha leaned back in her chair, spinning her fork between her fingers like it was a weapon. "I'm telling you, if it came down to survival, I'd last the longest. No question."
Corvin didn't even look up from adjusting the position of his glass by a few precise millimeters. "Statistically unlikely. You act before thinking. That reduces long-term survivability."
"Thinking is overrated," Aisha shot back instantly. "Action wins."
Marco raised both hands, already smiling like he'd been waiting for this exact moment. "Ah, the eternal duel. Brain versus brawn. Place your bets, everyone."
"Neither," Mei Lin said quietly, lifting her cup. "The one who adapts wins."
Dimitri gave a small approving nod, though he didn't join the conversation. He was watching, cataloging, as always.
Chase hummed under his breath, tapping a rhythm against the table with his knuckles. "I'd say whoever doesn't panic wins. Panic ruins everything."
Astrid, who had been carefully unwrapping her napkin, glanced up. "People panic because they're scared. You can't just decide not to be."
"You can train it out," Chase replied, still tapping.
Priya leaned forward dramatically, one hand pressed to her chest. "Excuse me, but clearly I would survive the longest."
Aisha snorted. "You?"
"Yes, me," Priya said, flipping her hair back with exaggerated flair. "I would simply charm my way through every dangerous situation. Villains would hesitate. Monsters would be confused."
"Monsters?" Marco laughed. "That's your strategy?"
"It's a very solid strategy," Priya insisted. "Confuse the enemy. Works every time."
Corvin finally looked up. "What if the monsters were Zombies? Will you charm them to leave you alone?"
"Wow," Priya said flatly. "Way to ruin the fantasy."
The food arrived just in time to interrupt the debate, plates sliding across the table, the smell of spices and warmth settling the chaos into something softer. For a few minutes, conversation melted into the simple comfort of eating.
Aisha immediately stole a piece from Marco.
"Hey—" he started.
"You weren't eating it," she said.
"I was about to!"
"Too slow."
Chase laughed quietly. Astrid shook her head but smiled. Even Mei Lin's lips curved slightly.
It was easy. Light. The kind of moment that felt like it could stretch on forever.
Priya had just taken a bite when her phone buzzed against the table.
She frowned, glancing down. "Rosaline?" she muttered, surprised. "That's random."
"The military friend?" Marco asked.
"Yeah," Priya said, already swiping to answer. "She never calls unless—"
She lifted the phone to her ear. "Hello? Rosaline?"
There was a brief crackle of static. Then a voice, tense and low.
"Priya. Are you alright?"
Priya blinked, thrown off by the urgency. "Uh… yeah? I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"
A pause. Not silence exactly. More like someone choosing their words very carefully.
"Good," Rosaline said. "It hasn't reached you yet."
The words landed strangely, like a sentence missing its center.
Priya straightened slightly. "What hasn't—"
"Listen to me," Rosaline cut in, sharper now. "You need to start preparing. Stock up on supplies. Food, water, anything essential. Stay inside as much as you can."
Priya let out a small, confused laugh. "Okay, wait. What's going on? You're scaring me."
Across the table, Aisha noticed the shift first. Her chewing slowed. Marco's eyes flicked toward Priya, reading her expression.
"Rosaline," Priya pressed, her voice losing its playful edge. "What happened?"
There was another pause. Longer this time. In the background, Priya could hear faint noise. Voices. Movement. Something distant and chaotic.
Then Rosaline spoke again, quieter.
"The trend," she said. "It's real."
Priya's brow furrowed. "What trend?"
"The viral outbreak," Rosaline replied.
The words felt unreal. Like something from a headline you scroll past without thinking.
Priya opened her mouth, ready to ask another question, but—
"Stay safe," Rosaline added quickly.
And then the call cut.
The line went dead.
Priya stared at her phone for a second longer, as if waiting for it to correct itself.
It didn't.
"…Priya?" Astrid's voice was gentle, cautious.
Priya lowered the phone slowly. "She said…" Her voice faltered, then steadied. "She said there's some kind of outbreak."
Aisha leaned forward immediately. "Outbreak? Like what?"
"She didn't explain properly," Priya said. "Just that it's real. And that it hasn't reached us yet."
Corvin's expression sharpened. "Define 'it.'"
"I don't know!" Priya snapped, more shaken than she meant to sound. "She just told me to hoard supplies and stay inside."
Silence settled over the table, heavy and unfamiliar.
Marco broke it first, softer now. "Could it be exaggerated? Rumors spread fast."
Dimitri finally spoke, his voice measured. "Not from someone in active service."
Mei Lin's gaze dropped briefly to the table, thinking. Calculating.
Chase's rhythm had stopped entirely.
Aisha pushed her plate aside. "We just barely survived an outbreak. Now we have to deal with another?"
Corvin was already pulling out his phone. "There should be something about it on the internet."
Astrid looked between all of them, unease creeping into her expression. "This could be nothing…"
But even she didn't sound convinced.
Priya sat very still, Rosaline's words echoing in her head.
It hasn't reached you yet.
The laughter from moments ago felt like it belonged to a different room. A different day.
Something had shifted.
And none of them knew how big that shift really was.
The table didn't recover its warmth. It fractured.
"What do you mean 'viral outbreak'?" Aisha demanded, leaning forward, palms flat against the table like she was ready to spring into action. "That could mean anything."
"It didn't sound like 'anything,'" Priya shot back, still gripping her phone. "She sounded—" she searched for the word, "—serious. Not joking. Not dramatic. Just… serious."
Marco tilted his head, trying to steady the rising tension. "People in high-stress jobs can overreact sometimes. Maybe it's contained already. Maybe she's just being cautious."
Dimitri shook his head once. "Military personnel do not call civilians to 'hoard supplies' over nothing."
"Unless," Aisha cut in, "it's a prank. You said she's your friend. Maybe she's messing with you."
Priya gave her a look. "Rosaline does not 'mess' with people. She once corrected my grammar during a birthday party. She is not that kind of person."
Chase leaned back slightly, arms crossed now, the earlier rhythm gone. "Still… if it was that serious, wouldn't we know? There'd be alerts, news, something loud and unavoidable."
Astrid nodded quickly, latching onto that. "Exactly. Governments don't just stay quiet during something like that. There would be warnings, precautions… hospitals preparing, people being told to stay indoors."
Her voice carried a fragile hope, like she was building a logical wall against something she didn't want to believe.
All eyes turned to Corvin.
He had gone very still, phone in hand, screen glowing against his face. His brows were drawn together, not in confusion, but in calculation.
"I don't know why there hasn't been an announcement," he said finally.
Not dismissive. Not reassuring.
Just honest.
That honesty made the air heavier.
"But," he continued, lifting his gaze to meet each of theirs in turn, "lack of information doesn't equal lack of danger. Systems fail. Delays happen. Or information is being controlled."
"That's comforting," Aisha muttered.
"It's realistic," Corvin replied. "And right now, realism matters more than comfort."
Priya exhaled slowly, running a hand through her hair. "So what are you saying? We just… panic-buy noodles and hide in our rooms?"
"I'm saying," Corvin said, calm but firm, "we prepare. Not panic. Prepare. If this is nothing, we lose a few hours and some money. If it's real…" He didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.
The table fell quiet again, tension coiling tighter.
And then—
A sound tore through the air.
Low at first. A distant thudding, like a heartbeat amplified through metal.
Everyone froze.
The sound grew louder, heavier, pressing against the space around them.
Chase was the first to turn. "Is that—"
"A helicopter," Mei Lin said, already standing.
The group pushed their chairs back almost in unison, drawn toward the source like gravity had shifted direction.
Outside, the air churned.
A military helicopter descended toward the campus, blades slicing the sky into frantic pieces. Dust and loose leaves spiraled violently as it lowered, heading straight for the professors' residential quarters.
"That's not normal," Marco said under his breath.
"No," Dimitri agreed. "It is not."
They didn't need to discuss it.
They ran.
Priya hastily tapped her student card against the payment terminal on the way out, barely waiting for the confirmation beep before sprinting after the others.
By the time they reached the edge of the professors' housing complex, the helicopter had landed.
Soldiers were already moving.
Fast. Efficient. Controlled.
And in the center of it—
"Professor Alex…" Astrid whispered.
Professor Alex stood near the entrance of his unit, flanked by two armed personnel. His usually composed appearance had cracks in it now. His hair, always neatly combed, was slightly disheveled. His glasses sat crooked on his nose as he spoke urgently to one of the officers.
Beside him, his wife clutched a small bag, her face pale. Their young son held tightly onto her hand, wide-eyed and silent.
"He's being evacuated," Marco said, disbelief creeping into his voice.
"Of course he is," Dimitri murmured.
They all knew who Professor Alex was.
Not just a lecturer.
He was one of the leading figures in Virology, a name that appeared in international journals, conferences, and research panels. His work on viral mutation patterns and outbreak containment strategies had been referenced globally. Governments consulted people like him when things went wrong.
Very wrong.
And now the military was pulling him out.
Fast.
No ceremony. No delay.
A soldier guided Alex and his family toward the helicopter. Alex turned briefly, scanning the area, his eyes sharp despite the tension.
For a split second, his gaze passed over the group.
There was recognition there.
And something else.
Urgency.
Then he was ushered inside.
The helicopter roared louder, lifting off almost immediately after they boarded, rising into the sky and vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.
The dust settled slowly.
Silence followed.
Not the comfortable kind.
The kind that leaves a ringing in your ears.
Corvin watched the empty sky for a moment longer than the others.
Then he spoke.
"That confirms it."
No one argued or joked.
No one even questioned him this time.
Priya swallowed. "So… it's real."
"Yes," Corvin said.
Aisha crossed her arms, jaw tightening. "Alright. Then what's the move?"
Corvin turned to face them fully now, his voice steady, grounded.
"We gather supplies. Essentials first. Food, water, medical basics. Anything that increases our ability to stay inside for an extended period."
Astrid nodded, though fear lingered in her eyes. "And then?"
"Then," Corvin said, "we wait it out."
Chase exhaled slowly. "Wait what out?"
Corvin's gaze flicked briefly toward where the helicopter had disappeared.
"For whatever comes next."
The campus transformed into a quiet frenzy.
Not chaos. Not yet.
But something close to it, like a stage holding its breath before the curtain tears open.
They split up without needing to say it aloud.
"Meet back at the dorm," Corvin had said, already halfway turning toward the hardware section of the campus store.
And then they scattered.
Corvin moved with mechanical focus, gathering tools as if assembling a system only he understood. Wrenches, screwdrivers, nails, screws in multiple sizes, duct tape, rope, compact toolkits, then more. His basket grew heavy with preparation rather than comfort.
Aisha cleared shelves with relentless efficiency. Canned food, energy bars, water packs, ready-to-eat snacks, anything that required little to no preparation. Chase joined her, adding dried foods and grains, building volume and endurance into their supplies.
Marco and Chase moved between sections, less aggressive but no less purposeful. Bottled water, instant meals, packaged foods, things that could be prepared quickly and shared easily. His choices leaned toward practicality, filling in gaps others overlooked.
Mei Lin worked differently. Where Aisha built a mountain, Mei Lin built balance. Rice, salt, oil, preserved vegetables, essentials that could stretch over time. Every item chosen with quiet calculation.
Astrid lingered in the pharmacy aisle for only a moment before beginning. Painkillers, fever reducers, antiseptics, bandages. Her selections were careful, measured, covering as many possibilities as she could without excess.
Dimitri took no chances. Disinfectants, sanitizers, alcohol wipes, sprays, gloves. If it reduced contamination, it went into his cart. His collection leaned toward control, toward prevention.
Priya approached her task with equal intensity. Personal care became priority. Shampoo, soap, toothpaste, sanitary pads, wet wipes, painkillers, small essentials that maintained normalcy. Then more. And more again. Practicality layered with a quiet defiance against collapse.
They drew attention.
People noticed the volume, the urgency, the intent behind their choices. Some stared. Some whispered. But Corvin, Mei Lin, Priya, and Aisha moved through it without hesitation.
The others felt the weight of those looks, a flicker of self-consciousness trailing behind them.
By the time they regrouped at the dorm building, they carried the shape of preparation with them.
Bags. Boxes. Bottles. Bundles.
They hauled everything up to their shared floor, funneling it into one central room. The space transformed quickly.
Food gathered in one section. Water lined the walls. Medical supplies arranged with care. Cleaning supplies placed with near precision. Corvin's tools occupied a corner of their own, metal edges catching the light like something waiting to be used.
Priya's collection spread wider than expected, filling gaps the others hadn't considered.
Together, the supplies formed more than just stock.
They formed a boundary.
A quiet line drawn between them and whatever was coming.
Outside their little bubble, people had noticed.
The way they moved. The sheer volume of supplies.
Whispers followed them earlier. Side glances. Raised eyebrows.
Corvin hadn't cared.
Mei Lin hadn't even acknowledged it.
Aisha had practically dared people to comment.
Priya had enjoyed it.
But here, now, with everything laid out—
Marco rubbed the back of his neck. "We might have… overdone it."
Astrid nodded faintly. "People were staring."
Chase gave a small, awkward laugh. "Yeah. Felt like we were announcing something."
Dimitri adjusted a row of disinfectants. "Let them stare."
Corvin looked at the supplies. Then at the group.
"If we're wrong," he said, "we look foolish."
He paused.
"If we're right," he added quietly, "this keeps us alive."
That settled it.
No one laughed this time.
They just stood there, surrounded by their preparations—
For a brief moment, things almost felt manageable.
Supplies were stacked. Roles had quietly formed. The chaos had been… organized.
A fragile calm settled over the room like a thin sheet of glass.
Chase had just started tapping a slow rhythm again. Marco leaned against the wall, exhaling. Astrid sat near the medical supplies, double-checking labels out of habit. Even Aisha, for once, wasn't moving.
And then—
The lights snapped.
A harsh red glow flooded the hallway, pulsing like a warning heartbeat.
A split second later, the sirens hit.
Loud. Piercing. Unrelenting.
It wasn't just noise. It invaded the air, drilling into ears, into bones, into thought itself.
"What the—" Aisha clapped her hands over her ears. "That's not normal!"
"It's an emergency system," Corvin said, already on his feet, eyes sharp. "Campus-wide."
The siren cut abruptly.
For half a breath, there was silence.
Then a voice crackled through unseen speakers, mechanical and steady.
"Attention all students and staff."
Every single one of them froze.
"Due to an ongoing health emergency, the campus is entering immediate lockdown."
Astrid's fingers tightened around the edge of the table.
"All individuals are instructed to return to their assigned rooms and remain indoors until further notice."
Marco glanced at the door instinctively, as if it might suddenly become something else.
"Movement across campus is strictly prohibited."
The voice didn't rush. It didn't panic.
That made it worse.
"For essential supplies, a contactless delivery system will be activated. Requests will be fulfilled via drone service."
Priya blinked. "Drones…?"
"Further instructions will follow. Please remain calm and comply with all regulations."
The announcement ended with a soft click.
But the silence it left behind was heavier than the siren.
No one spoke for a few seconds.
Then—
"Well," Aisha said, dropping her hands slowly, "that answers that."
Chase let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "Yeah… that's not a prank."
Marco gave a weak laugh. "No, definitely not."
Astrid looked around at the supplies. At the careful stacks. The medicines. The water.
Her voice came out quieter than usual. "We were right…"
Dimitri adjusted his glasses, gaze distant. "Yes."
A pause.
Priya hugged her arms slightly. "I kind of wish we weren't."
That landed.
Because it was true.
Relief and dread sat side by side, like two unwelcome guests forced to share a chair.
Corvin looked at the red-lit room, then at each of them.
"We expected something like this," he said. "Lockdown means containment. Containment means it hasn't spread uncontrollably here yet."
"Like COVID," Marco said, nodding slowly. "Early stages. Controlled zones."
"Exactly," Corvin replied.
The word exactly sounded confident.
Maybe a little too confident.
Aisha stretched her shoulders, trying to shake off the tension. "So what, we just… wait it out? Couple of days, binge food, complain about boredom?"
"Something like that," Chase said, though his voice lacked its usual ease.
Astrid hesitated. "We should rest. If this goes on, we'll need energy."
Mei Lin gave a small nod. "Agreed."
There was nothing else to do.
No enemy to see.
No problem to solve.
Just waiting.
One by one, they drifted toward their rooms, the red emergency lights still pulsing faintly in the background like a distant warning that refused to sleep.
They told themselves it was just another outbreak.
Contained. Temporary. Manageable.
Something they had seen before.
Something the world knew how to handle.
And with that fragile belief wrapped around them like a thin blanket—
They tried to sleep.
Unaware—
That something far worse had already stepped onto their campus.
Sleep didn't come easy.
It hovered… then shattered.
A scream tore through the night.
Not loud for attention. Not dramatic.
Raw.
The kind that doesn't perform. The kind that breaks.
Another followed. Then more.
The group snapped awake almost at once, doors opening, footsteps rushing into the shared space.
"What is that?" Astrid whispered, already pale.
They moved to the window like gravity pulled them there.
Outside, the campus was no longer calm.
Students were running. Not walking fast. Not confused.
Running like something was chasing them.
"Move," Chase said, already grabbing his binoculars from his bag. His hands were steady, but his breathing wasn't. He lifted them to his eyes.
At first, it was just chaos.
Then—
"…No," he said under his breath.
"What?" Aisha demanded. "What do you see?"
Chase didn't answer immediately.
He just lowered the binoculars slowly completely in shock.
Corvin took the binoculars from his hand and looked.
And for the first time—
He froze too.
There, under the flickering emergency lights, something moved through the crowd.
It was human.
It had been human.
But now it dragged itself forward in broken, unnatural jerks, like invisible strings were pulling it out of sync. Its head tilted wrong. Its arms hung loose until—suddenly—they didn't.
It lunged.
A student fell.
And the thing—
It bit.
No hesitation. No pause.
Its jaw was slick, dark, glistening.
Blood.
Corvin lowered the binoculars, his expression no longer analytical.
Just certain.
Then from within the crowd, a voice from screamed—
"ZOMBIES!"
The word spread like fire.
Panic exploded.
People scattered in every direction, colliding, falling, trampling over fear itself.
For a fraction of a second, the room forgot how to breathe.
Aisha was already moving, dragging a table with a harsh scrape. "Move!"
Corvin snapped into motion beside her, voice cutting clean. "Doors first. Now."
Mei Lin didn't speak, just shifted, precise, already reinforcing angles.
Marco followed, grabbing whatever he could, hesitation crushed under urgency.
Dimitri didn't move.
He stood rooted, eyes locked on the window, the world outside no longer fitting into anything he understood.
Behind them, Astrid's voice unraveled. "No… no, no, no…" Soft. Repeating. Breaking.
Priya caught her hands. "Hey—hey, look at me. Breathe. Stay with me, okay? Stay here."
Chase hadn't blinked.
"What… is that…" he whispered, like saying it might make it human again.
Another scream outside.
Corvin didn't look back.
"Faster don't let anyone in," Corvin added.
Marco hesitated. "Even—"
"Anyone," Corvin repeated.
The word landed like a locked door.
Because outside—
It was no longer clear who was human.
And who wasn't.