The tension in the air was thick, almost suffocating, but I knew that wouldn't save us. We needed to run, and fast. I held onto Bansee's hand as tightly as I could, keeping an eye on Blossom and Ruth too. The horde of zombies behind us was growing, closing in with every step. I could hear their ragged breathing and the unsettling shuffle of decaying feet. The sound grew louder and louder, and I knew they were getting closer.

I reached the door first, adrenaline pumping through me. Without hesitation, I yanked it open and pushed Bansee inside. I quickly dragged the other two girls in as well, slamming the door shut and locking the heavy metal gate. The loud clang echoed down the empty hallway, the only barrier between us and the nightmare outside.

The zombies, relentless as ever, were immediately at the door, pounding against it, their moans echoing through the building. The sound was like a twisted chorus, haunting and constant.

The girls were terrified, pale-faced and breathing heavily. They huddled together, their bodies pressed close in fear. I didn't waste time. I had to make sure we were safe, even for a moment. I scanned the building quickly and found a room that looked secure. I checked it over, making sure there was no way for the zombies to crawl in.

I motioned for the girls to follow me. They hesitated, unsure if they should trust me, but they quickly realized that staying with me was better than facing the zombies outside. We slipped into the room, and I locked the door behind us.

But it didn't take long for me to notice something else. The girls weren't just afraid of the undead outside; they were afraid of me. They sat close together, huddling like I was the real threat. I could see it in their eyes, the suspicion, the worry. Maybe they thought I'd take advantage of the situation, that I'd do something to them while they were vulnerable.

I won't lie, part of me understood why they thought that. After everything Bansee had put me through, the idea of revenge had crossed my mind more times than I wanted to admit. I could get my revenge on Bansee right now. The chance was right there in front of me. It would be easy. No one would ever know. Maybe it would bring me some peace-if there's any peace left in a world like this.

Time seemed to freeze for a moment.

Then she appeared-The voice I've talked with before. She showed up again, her pink aura swirling around her. She looked at me with those familiar, knowing eyes.

"And after that?" she asked, her voice soft but firm.

I stared at her. "After what?"

"After you get your revenge. Would you really find your peace?"

I scoffed, feeling my frustration boil over. "Of course, I would. That's what I've been trying to do for months now. I finally have a chance to end this curse."

She stepped closer to me, her presence calming but also unsettling. "You won't find peace, Dhruv. Not the kind you're looking for. You may think revenge will give you closure, but that peace will be temporary. It'll be swallowed up by guilt, and that guilt will stay with you forever. That curse will be far worse than the one you're dealing with now."

She stood right in front of me, her pink aura shimmering in the dim light, almost too soft for the chaos surrounding us. Her eyes locked on mine, calm but piercing.

"I've told you before, Dhruv," she said, her voice like a whisper in my mind, yet louder than everything around us."Don't do something you'll regret for the rest of your life."

She wasn't real-just a figment of my imagination. An illusion, a product of the twisted version of Bansee I'd created in my head. But her words still hit me like a punch to the gut.

"I'm just an image," she continued, her expression soft but unyielding. "But the real her? She's right there. Flesh and blood. Make the right choice, Dhruv. Before it's too late."

Her words hung in the air, like an ultimatum. My hands clenched into fists, my heartbeat hammering in my ears. The real Bansee-the one I loved and hated in equal measure-was just a few feet away, facing her own nightmare. I could feel the pull of both versions of her-the one I wanted her to be, and the one she truly was.

But which one deserved saving? Which one deserved anything from me?

"Make the right choice." Her voice echoed in my mind, relentless.

But what if the right choice meant tearing everything apart? What if it meant losing myself completely?

She leaned in, brushing her lips against mine in a soft kiss, and then, just like that, she faded away, leaving me standing there in the silence.

I turned my gaze back to Bansee. Her face was wet with tears, and they fell quietly, one by one, onto the cold floor. Despite everything she had done to me, a part of me still cared for her. Maybe it was a small part, buried deep, but it was there. I hated her for the pain she caused, but I couldn't deny the complicated feelings I had for her. A wave of guilt hit me, softening the anger I held onto for so long.

I sighed, my voice low and tired. "Don't worry, I'm more concerned about the zombies outside than whatever's between us."

Bansee didn't respond, but the tears kept falling. Blossom and Ruth sat quietly, still watching me, unsure of what to say. The tension in the room wasn't gone, but it had shifted. We were all just trying to survive now, not just the undead, but ourselves.

I saw Blossom scrolling through her phone, typing something, and it reminded me-I hadn't checked my battery. I fished out my phone and saw it: 50% charge. Not bad for now, but I know how these things go. One minute you're fine, the next, the power's gone, and there's no way to charge anything. I'd need to find a charger before that happens.

Missed calls from Mom. Crap. I'd forgotten how scared she gets with stuff like this. I've always been into horror-movies, anime, video games, you name it. But my mom? She couldn't handle even a glimpse of those things. One time, I was playing a zombie game, and she heard the moaning and growling. Freaked her out so bad, she asked me to turn the volume down every single time after that, or she'd start going on about how she'd have a heart attack.

I can't waste any more time. I dialed her number and pressed the phone to my ear. Come on, Mom, pick up. Is she okay? My heart raced as the phone rang... and rang... and rang. Why isn't she answering?

Finally, she picked up. The wave of relief I felt was immediate, though I could hear the fear in her voice. "Son, are you safe? Where are you? What's happening? They're showing zombies on the news! I'm Terrified."

I tried to sound calm, though my mind was racing. "I'm okay for now, Mom. Listen to me carefully, alright? Close all the doors and windows, and cover them with something dark so no one can see inside. And whatever happens, do not look outside. Got it?"

"But what about your father? Your sister? They're not answering my calls," she replied, fear creeping in even more.

I took a deep breath. "I'll call them after this, okay? If I hear anything, I'll let you know. For now, text them-maybe they'll see it and call you back."

"But, son-" she started, but I cut her off.

"Mom, just listen. Take everything out of the box bed and lay some clothes inside it. You need a place to hide. Grab whatever snacks you can and stay put. If the zombies break in-which I don't think they will-stay quiet. Do not scream. Whatever happens, don't make a sound."

Suddenly, the line went dead. What the Fuck? I dialed her number again, but it cut off. I tried my old man's number. Nothing. My sister's. Still nothing. Each failed call sent another wave of frustration through me. What the fuck was happening?

In my anger, I accidentally punched the window, the glass rattling loudly. Instantly, all three girls-Bansee, Blossom, and Ruth-turned and shot me sharp looks. They were sitting in the front of the room, and I was in the back. I could almost hear the faint groaning of zombies just outside the building, getting closer.

I clenched my fists, taking a deep breath, trying to regain control. Losing it wasn't going to help anyone right now.

I watched them-Blossom, Bansee, Ruth-each of them desperately trying to get through to someone on their phones, but from the looks on their faces, I knew they weren't having any luck. They were just as stuck as I was. I could see the disappointment and fear settling in.

Blossom exchanged glances with Bansee and Riya, whispering something I couldn't hear. They were clearly frustrated, but I didn't care enough to focus on what they were saying. My mind was somewhere else, trying to process how quickly everything had gone to hell.

I sat in the back, zoning out, letting my thoughts spiral. Too much was happening at once. I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the world was falling apart. I barely noticed when Blossom finally looked at me, her voice soft and hesitant.

"What will we do?" she asked, almost like she wasn't sure I'd have an answer.

I looked up, meeting her eyes. They were full of expectation, as if I was supposed to know what to do. Like I had some plan, some way to get us out of this mess. But I wasn't in the mood to be anyone's savior.

I blinked, more out of reflex than anything, and repeated the question under my breath, "What will we do?" Not really directed at her, but at myself, and I didn't have an answer. Hell, I didn't even know where to begin.

But Blossom's eyes stayed on me, as if she was waiting for something-anything-to give them hope. Her voice broke through again, this time more insistent, like I was the last option they had left for survival.

It's been 30 minutes, and the mobile networks are down. I can't get through to my mom, my sister, or my old man. But honestly, I don't really care about him. The guy's scum. If he dies, he dies. I only mentioned him to my mom during the call so she wouldn't panic.

Blossom came over, sitting on the desk in front of me, whispering while glancing at Bansee. "She needs to pee," she said quietly.

I stood up, brushing off the stiffness in my legs. "Close the door. I'll check out the bathroom."

Blossom looked confused. "Hey, I didn't mean for you to actually- I was just asking what we should do."

"I told you what to do," I said flatly, walking toward the door. The cold wind brushed against me as I moved.

Bansee finally spoke up, her voice sharper than I expected. "No, you're not going out there," she said, standing up and walking toward me. "I didn't ask you for any favors, and you don't need to do me any. If something happens, you'll just blame me for it later."  She grabbed my arm, trying to pull me back. "Sit down."

I turned to face her, half-annoyed. "And where exactly are you planning to pee? In the corner? In here? in front of us?"  I gestured around the room. "Look, I'm already suffocating in this damn place, and who knows how long we're going to be stuck here. I'd rather not add the smell of a toilet to the mix. This isn't a favor to you-it's for me."

I stood up again, heading for the door, but Bansee grabbed my arm once more. "You can't go out there! You don't know what's waiting. Besides..."

I cut her off before she could finish. "Look, I've been holding it in too. I'm doing this for myself." I glanced at the others. "Close the door, and don't come outside unless I say so."

"But..." she started, but I didn't wait to hear the rest. I stepped outside and closed the door behind me.

Just before it clicked shut, I noticed Bansee watching me through a slight opening, her eyes following me as I left.

I was walking towards the teachers' bathroom, knowing full well it would be cleaner than the students' one. It's a small comfort, but in a situation like this, hygiene is important. If we're going to be stuck here for a while, I don't want to deal with a dirty bathroom. Hell, I might even need to take a bath soon. Not today, but maybe tomorrow-or whenever help arrives. If help arrives, I corrected myself.

"I don't want to be smelly," I muttered. "I have to do something."

As I made my way past the stairway to the first floor, I heard something-a low, guttural groan. Instantly, I was on edge. I hesitated, listening more carefully. Then came another noise, this time clearer-a banging sound from down the hallway, where the bathroom was. Three other rooms lined the left-hand side of the hallway, and there was an exit door at the very end.

I should check the exit, make sure it's locked. But I need to be careful. That noise... I wasn't sure if there were zombies inside one of the rooms, even though they appeared locked. I needed to know for sure.

Moving slowly, I approached the first door, walking on my tiptoes to avoid making any noise. I reached for the door handle, feeling the tension build inside me. The pressure in my chest tightened as I gently pushed the door open. I hoped it wouldn't creak, but of course, it did. That familiar wooden groan-it sounded like a witch laughing in the distance. My heart raced, my nerves heightened.

The door finally swung open, and to my relief, the classroom was empty. Just the usual setup: white desks, benches, some chalk scattered on the teacher's table. It was a regular classroom, nothing out of the ordinary.

But then I noticed the windows-three in total. One was closed, but the other two were wide open, the curtains billowing as the wind blew in. For a moment, the breeze brought a sense of peace, but that peace quickly evaporated as I caught sight of zombies shambling around outside. Mindless puppets, wandering without purpose.

I couldn't relax just yet. I closed the windows and shut the curtains, blocking the view of the undead outside. Then, carefully, I stepped out of the room, closing the door behind me.

I moved towards the second room, my senses on high alert. Just as I was about to approach the door, something caught my eye-a movement. I froze. There was someone-or something-peeking at me from the next room. Those eyes, staring through the small gap of the door, made my pulse quicken. It wasn't a zombie... or was it?

I steeled myself, my body tense. Whatever was behind that door, I had to be ready.

I took a closer look, I could see half of her face peeking through the small gap of the door, and I knew right away-zombies don't hide like that. They don't think; they just attack like mindless monsters, like the ones I'd seen earlier. I started moving toward her slowly, hoping to close the gap. But as soon as I got closer, she slammed the door shut with a loud clang.

"Hey! Are you infected?" I called out, but there was no response. "I'm a survivor, just like you. If you're not infected, then let's talk. There are three more people with me." Still nothing. "Hey, we need to communicate!" I raised my voice, but it was like talking to a wall.

I decided to try a different approach. I pretended to walk away, letting my boots echo down the hall, making it seem like I had left. I waited a few minutes in silence, keeping out of the door's keyhole view.

Then, just as I expected, she cracked the door open again, just a small gap. This time, I wasn't waiting. I lunged forward, shoving the door hard with the palm of my hand. The door creaked wider, but she resisted, pushing back. I kicked the door with force, and it slammed open with a loud boom.

"A shorty?" I muttered under my breath.

She was smaller than Bansee. I couldn't tell her exact height, but she was definitely short. I noticed her ankle was twisted, and there was a fresh cut on her forehead. She winced, touching the wound with a sharp intake of breath.

"Are you okay?" I asked, trying to assess the situation.

She glared at me, clearly irritated and in pain. "Do I look okay?"

Her eyes filling with tears. I didn't know if I'd hit a nerve or if something worse had happened to her.

Before I could press further, a loud banging noise came from the third room. Groaning followed, and the sounds were getting closer. She quickly pulled me inside her room and locked the door behind us.

"Look what you've done!" she hissed at me, almost in a whisper. "Those monsters... they killed him."

Her words caught me off guard. I wasn't expecting zombies so soon, but there was something else in her voice-something more personal.

"Killed him? Killed who?" I asked, but she didn't answer.

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Look, I don't know what happened to you, and I'm not here to dig into your past. But you can't survive alone. Staying locked in these empty rooms will only lead to one thing-death."

The banging outside grew louder, making it hard to concentrate.

"Is the door locked?" I asked her. But she didn't respond.

"Hey, I'm asking you a question. Is the door locked?" Still, no response. She just stared at me blankly, tears brimming in her eyes but refusing to fall.

I was losing patience. Frustrated, I headed toward the door.

"No?" she said, her voice deeper, strained. She tried to pull my hand, but pain shot through her, possibly from her twisted ankle.

"Ahh," she screamed, clutching her arm.

I stared at her, irritated. "Look at what you've done to yourself. This is your own fault for not opening the door earlier. How are you supposed to fight off zombies with your ankle like that? We can't even get to the medical room now."

We sat in silence for a moment. I sighed, trying to keep my frustration in check. "What's your name?"

She remained frozen and silent.

I took a deep breath, and asked her again. "What's your name?"

Still no answers. Did someone superglued her mouth?

My patience was wearing thin. "What do you think you're doing shorty? Wanna Rot here alone? If you want to, I can do that favour for you"

I unhooked the door, about to walk out, when she finally spoke.

"Bansee. My name is Bansee," she said, her voice trembling.

I froze. "Bansee? Seriously?"

The name hit me like a slap. I accidentally shouted, and the groaning from the zombies outside grew louder.

I clamped my hands over my mouth, realizing my mistake, then whispered, "Are you fucking kidding me?"

I was already dealing with one Bansee. Now there's another one?

"Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!" A scream pierced through the air. I know who it was, It was Bansee, the other one.

I bolted out of the room, sprinting towards the stairwell, then I saw her, trapped. A group of zombies had her cornered, their grotesque forms closing in on her. My heart dropped. My chest tightened as one of them grabbed her, dragging her along the floor.

Time slowed. I ran as fast as I could, but every second felt like it was slipping further away. The distance between me and her felt endless, my heart pounding harder with each step. The zombie leaned closer to her, its filthy hands creeping towards her body.

"Don't touch her" I screamed, desperation clawing at my throat.

"Don't you dare! Don't try to bite her!" My voice cracked, but I kept shouting, praying they would stop.

Then, I heard it. The sound of flesh tearing.