07 - The Unexplained Agony and the Unbreakable Bond
------Music Room No.1, Faculty of Music - 12AM ------
As Fourth strummed his guitar, the sound-proof room filled with his music. He played with skill and grace, weaving a beautiful melody. He closed his eyes and sang from his soul. His voice was captivating, echoing in the room.
Captain, his loyal friend, sat beside him, listening intently and occasionally tapping his foot to the rhythm. He had always admired Fourth's musical talent and charismatic presence. Seeing Fourth captivate the room with his performance filled him with a sense of pride.
As the last notes of the song faded away, the room erupted in applause. The classmates who had gathered to listen showered Fourth with compliments and expressions of awe. The girls blushed and giggled among themselves, while the boys offered him nods of respect. It was not uncommon for Fourth to attract attention due to his charm and good looks, but he had always remained humble and focused on his music.
Captain, who had been observing the interactions, leaned closer to Fourth and whispered, "Ai' Fourth, looks like you have quite the fan club. They can't help but be captivated by your talent and charisma."
Fourth chuckled softly and replied, "It's always nice to have someone appreciate my music."
Captain sighed, a hint of annoyance tugging at his expression. "That's not what I mean."
Curious, Fourth raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "So, what do you mean then?"
A fleeting exasperation passed over Captain's face before he chose his words carefully. "What I mean is, have you ever considered letting someone into your life on a deeper level? Perhaps it's time for you to explore the possibility of dating."
Fourth's eyebrows shot up in surprise, the thought clearly catching him off guard. "Dating?"
Captain, feeling a tinge of frustration, reclined in his chair and crossed his arms. "Because it's evident to everyone except you," he began, his voice emphasizing his point, "that there are people who are not only drawn to your music but also to the person behind it."
Captain leaned forward, his gaze sweeping across the room, and gestured towards the boys and girls who couldn't help but steal glances at Fourth "Look around you! You have admirers who see more than just your talent—they see your captivating presence and genuine character. It's about time you start acknowledging the potential for a romantic relationship."
Fourth couldn't help but laugh softly as he answered Captain's persistent inquiry. His voice was laced with amusement and a hint of defiance. "Captain, I know you mean well, but right now, music is my priority. And in case you're wondering, I already have someone in mind."
As he spoke, he thought of the handsome boy who had captivated him. He couldn't deny the attraction he felt for Gemini, the charming boy who had crossed his path recently. They had clicked instantly. There was a spark between them, but Fourth wanted to savor the slow burn of their connection before sharing it with Captain.
Captain's eyes widened in surprise. "You have someone in mind? Who is it?"
He looked at Fourth with a mix of curiosity, worry and happy, as if he could read his mind. He was about to pry more when Fourth's attention was diverted by a new arrival. Satang, a fellow student known for his amazing guitar skills, approached him with a friendly smile on his face. He extended his hand in a gesture of respect.
"Hey, you must be Fourth. I'm Satang," he said, his voice full of genuine admiration. "I've heard you play the guitar and sing, and I have to say, you're phenomenal."
"Thank you. That's very kind of you." Fourth smiled back at the good looking stranger. "But I don't think I'm better than anyone else."
"Don't be modest." Satang said. "Look, I've been writing some original songs, and I think we could make a great team. How about we join forces and start a band together?"
The offer intrigued Fourth. He was always open to collaborating with someone who shared his passion for music. He was about to ask for more details when the peaceful atmosphere of the music room was shattered by the sudden opening of the door. A male student burst in, looking like he had just escaped from hell. His clothes were torn and dirty, and his eyes were wide with terror.
As the newcomer drew everyone's attention, Fourth felt a sudden, searing pain in his temples. He clutched his head and staggered, his vision blurring. He was barely aware of Captain's arm around his shoulder, steadying him.
"Ai' Fourth! Are you okay? That headache again?" Captain asked, his voice laced with worry. He looked around, hoping no one would notice Fourth's distress.
Fourth grimaced and tried to breathe through the throbbing. He felt a cold sweat on his forehead and a ringing in his ears. "Yes, it's the same one," he said, his voice tight. "But it's worse than ever."
"Do you need the school nurse or something? This isn't normal." Captain said, lowering his voice. He knew Fourth hated to show weakness or cause trouble in public.
"No," Fourth said firmly. "I can handle it. It'll go away soon. Just give me a minute." He closed his eyes and focused on calming his mind. He wondered what was triggering these headaches and what they meant.
As Fourth tried to recover from the headache, the main focus of the people in the room was still the distressed newcomer, who turned out to be Satang's friend. Satang rushed to his side and helped him up, his face full of concern.
"Win! What happened to you? Are you hurt?" Satang asked, checking his friend for injuries.
Win shook his head, his eyes darting around the room. He looked like he had seen a ghost. "No, I'm fine. But we're not safe here. We have to lock the doors. Now!" He shouted, his voice cracking.
Everyone in the room was startled by his words. They exchanged confused glances. What was he talking about? What was going on outside?
"Lock the doors? Why?" Captain asked, his voice calm but firm. He sensed something was very wrong and tried to take control of the situation.
"Because there are zombies out there! Zombies that eat people!" Win cried out, his voice rising in panic. He pointed at the door, as if expecting a horde of undead to burst in any second.
The room fell silent for a moment. Everyone stared at Win, wondering if he had gone mad or if he was playing a sick joke. Zombies? That was impossible. This was not a horror movie. This was real life.
They didn't hear anything outside. No screams, no groans, no footsteps. Nothing but silence. However, the music room was sound-proof, so even if that was the case, they couldn't hear what was happening in the rest of the school. Therefore, what Win said might also true.
One of the students, who didn't believe Win and wanted to prove him wrong, decided to open the door and check for himself. He walked towards the door with a smirk on his face, ignoring Win's pleas and terrified expression.
"Watch this," he said, reaching for the door handle. "There's nothing out there. You're just trying to scare us."
The student turned the doorknob with a smug grin, ready to debunk Win's ridiculous rumors. But as soon as the door opened, a blast of cold air hit him in the face, along with a faint, eerie wail. The student's grin vanished, replaced by a mask of horror.
He stared at something in the dark hallway, his eyes bulging out of their sockets. The other students pushed past him, eager to see what had spooked him. They wished they hadn't.
Through the gloom, they saw shadows darting and twisting. Shapes that looked like humans but moved like animals. Their skin was gray, their eyes empty, and their limbs bent in unnatural ways. The sight of the undead, the walking dead, filled them with dread.
The student who had opened the door backed away into the music room, his face ashen. Fear hung in the air, and the room exploded in a cacophony of screams and shouts.
"They're real! The zombies are real!" someone shrieked, their voice cracking.
The noise and panic inside seemed to attract the attention of the zombies outside. Their moans and footsteps grew louder, and they got closer to the music room. It was as if they were drawn to the sounds of fear and distress.
The students quickly looked for items to block the doors, but it was too late. The first zombie broke through the entrance. Its rotten flesh hung from its bones, and its dead eyes glowed with hunger.
Panic turned into terror as the students fought for their lives. Some used instruments as weapons, swinging guitars and drumsticks with force, while others used their fists to push back the attackers.
In the midst of this horrific nightmare, Fourth's headache became worse and he was about to faint. He felt as if someone was stabbing his brain with a knife. He clutched his head and fell to his knees, groaning.
"Fourth! Fourth, are you okay?" Captain, his best friend, saw him collapse and rushed to his side. He was worried about Fourth, who had been acting strange since they left England. But that was a matter he needed to be worried about later. He had to protect his best friend from the monsters.
He grabbed a guitar and swung it at a zombie that was lunging at Fourth. The guitar hit the zombie's head with a loud crack, sending it flying across the room. Captain hoped it was dead, but he didn't wait to find out. He lifted Fourth up and carried him over his shoulder.
"Come on, Ai' Fourth. Stay with me. We're getting out of here." He said, trying to sound reassuring.
He realized they had to run from the music room, away from the zombies. They couldn't stay there any longer. They had to find a way out of the school, or they would be doomed.
"Where are we going?" Fourth asked weakly, his voice barely audible as he struggled to stay conscious.
Captain surveyed the room, desperately searching for an escape route, but his hopes were dashed. The window loomed too high, the left door barricaded by a horde of relentless zombies, and the right one stubbornly locked. A grim expression settled on his face as he muttered, "I don't know... Anywhere but here."
Frustration surged through Captain as he realized the dire situation they were in. They were trapped, with no apparent means of escape. "Perhaps we can hold them off," he suggested, his voice tinged with desperation.
"With what?" Fourth replied weakly. "A mere guitar? We wouldn't stand a chance against them."
Captain's gaze hardened as he grappled with their limited options. The weight of hopelessness settled upon him, threatening to crush his spirit. "Then what do we do?" he questioned, his voice heavy with defeat.
With a sudden surge of determination, Fourth spoke up, his voice strained. "Try the locked door," he suggested, the relentless ringing in his ears growing increasingly unbearable.
Captain rushed to the locked door and realized it was secured with a passlock. Panic surged through him as he frantically searched for a way to bypass the lock. The zombies were drawing nearer, their relentless moans echoing through the hallway.
He tried to unlock it twice, entering random combinations, but the passcode was incorrect both times. Frustration gnawed at him as he struggled to think clearly under the mounting pressure.
Just as Captain's desperation peaked, Fourth's weak voice broke through the chaos. "Try 1278," he whispered, his eyes fixed on Captain.
Surprised, Captain quickly entered the numbers, not daring to hope. To his amazement, the lock clicked open, and the door swung inward, revealing an escape route.
Captain turned to Fourth, his eyes filled with both relief and confusion. "How did you know the passcode?" he asked, his voice a mixture of curiosity and concern.
Fourth looked at him, his face pale like a ghost. "I... I don't know," he replied, his voice barely audible. "It just came to me. I can't explain it."
Captain didn't have time to dwell on Fourth's unexplained knowledge. He quickly announced that the door was unlocked. The students, fueled by a renewed sense of hope, rushed towards the open door, desperately seeking safety from the encroaching horde of zombies.
With Fourth on his back, Captain made his way through the chaotic scene. Sprinting through the corridors, the group of students could hear the relentless pursuit of the zombies behind them. Their grotesque moans grew louder with each passing moment.
As they ran, Captain felt Fourth's weight dragging him down. The desperate cries of the zombies reverberated through the corridor, fueling their adrenaline-fueled sprint. But Fourth knew he was slowing them down, endangering the entire group.
"Ai' Captain," Fourth whispered, his voice growing weaker by the minute as the mystery headache took its toll on him. "You have to leave me behind. I'll only slow you down further. Save yourself and the others."
Captain slowed down, his grip on Fourth tightening. He looked back at the zombies closing in on them, then at Fourth's pale face. He couldn't decide what to do. "No, I can't do that," he protested, his voice cracking. "You're my best friend. I won't abandon you. I would rather die."
Fourth smiled weakly, touched by Captain's words. He knew Captain cared for him, but he also knew he was a burden. He had to make him understand. "Listen to me, Captain." He spoke firmly. "You have to do this. You have to save yourself and the others. I'll be fine. I promise."
Captain shook his head, refusing to accept Fourth's words. He felt a surge of anger and frustration. "Don't lie to me, Ai' Fourth!" He snapped. "You know you won't be fine. You know they'll get you. How can you ask me to do this?"
Win and Satang, who had been listening to Captain and Fourth's conversation from a distance, exchanged a knowing glance. They had overheard the desperate plea and the heart-wrenching decision Fourth had made. Despite the chaos unfolding around them, they couldn't bear to let their classmates walk into a hopeless situation.
Satang approached Captain, his voice filled with urgency. "Captain, wait! There's another option. We know a safe place nearby where we can hide. It's the radio room on the third floor. It's secure, and the zombies won't be able to reach us there."
Captain's eyes widened with a glimmer of hope, and he turned to Fourth, who was growing increasingly weak on his back and barely conscious. "Fourth, did you hear that? There's a safe place we can go. I don't have to leave you behind."
----New chapter update!! Please remember to vote everyone :) ----
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