I'm so stupid. Yaryu sobs running downtown, her lungs were burning but not as much as her eyes. Shattered buildings loomed around her, smoke and flames casting an eerie glow. Undead figures shuffled aimlessly among the wreckage. If she stopped, they would notice her immediately. Her only choice was to keep running, pushing through the relentless, chaotic destruction. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. She cursed her naive self, I should've sat in the van quietly. Anaki trusted me and I ruined everything.

She couldn't run anymore. Her feet come to a halt and the muscle strain shot itself up her thighs. She bends forth trying to catch her breath. The menacing glower of an infected figure sent a jolt of fear through her. She frantically searched for a weapon, but there was nothing within reach. More undead were closing in, she was standing exposed in the middle of the main road. All her escape routes were blocked.

"I am sorry sis, I couldn't protect your son." She sobs surrounded by this dreary darkness. All of Anaki's efforts to get her out alive were wasted and she knew he tried his hardest, those bags under his eyes were painful to notice at his young age.

"I hope you make it alive." She shuts her eyes. A bright light burnt her eye lids, opening them she gasps mesmerized by the bright sunrise. It's warm light spreads throughout the ruined city, she could see everything. The destruction and chaos, the debris and shredded corpses but her mind was engrossed by the beautiful sight of the yearned sunrise. After the three day nightmare seeing that warm and gentle rays she couldn't help but let it embrace her whole. At least she'll die with the warmth of the day.

"Miss Yaryu!"

She jolts awake, at the horizon there was little desperate Anaki running breathless towards her, he was far away but she could see him as clear as day. His little body worn and tired from this exhaustive mission. If she dies now, he'll be their next victim. This thought sends an electrifying urge through her nerves and her feet sprints, I won't allow it! Her fangs dig deep into her lips, I am their guardian, I won't die! I will protect them all!

But this was all in vain, she is but a mere mortal going against mother nature's wrath. What chance does she stand against these monsters? A single bite is enough for her fate to be decided. Her mind was fixed on the warm rays of sunlight blindly sprayed over the physical forms. The soothing warmth gently embracing like a maiden of divinity. Nothing can touch light. Yaryu doesn't blink, she raced through the sea of the undead, through the biological matter, through all that stood between her and the child she has to protect. Fast, steady, and light-headed. Until at last her body comes to halt next to the child.

What happened? She looks back, astonished at how she had covered meters of distance in a split second. Her body trembled, but she was unharmed, despite having run past an unimaginable number of undead. Did she even pass by them or through them? She stares down at her hands, still in disbelief. "What was that?-"

"This isn't the time!" Anaki grabs her hand and pulls her, "we have to go back now!"

She ran alongside him, his small hand gripping hers tightly. Did I become light? The sensation of moving so swiftly, of almost gliding past the undead, felt surreal. It was stranger that Anaki had accepted this miracle so readily. Who are you?

Exhaustion couldn't even begin to describe the state of their oxygen-depleted lungs. Up front, Anaki led acutely studying the way, his eyes scanning every road, moving body, and sign. He took a sharp turn, gasping as he spotted a familiar building. "We made it to the station!" he exclaimed.

Despite being drenched from their frantic escape, Miss Yaryu expected to feel the cold, much like the chill in the little hand gripping hers. Instead, her body was abnormally warm, and the exhaustion that had gripped her seemed to ebb away. It felt as if a hidden reserve of energy was flowing into her, replenishing her tired muscles. Tears welled up in her eyes as she saw the van still parked where she had left it

Anaki slams open its door scaring the life out of the children and hops in shutting it, Miss Yaryu next to him. Orion bends forth relieved and confused, "what the hell happened?"

"What else?" Anaki was breathless but he spoke the truth for once feeling more relieved than guilty, "a miracle."

"Why does Ankai get to leave the van and not us?" Ross pokes his head over Orion, "woah, what happened to you guys? Did you run a marathon?"

Orion shrugs off his large build, "I am reaching my limit because of him."

Anaki nodded, still trying to catch his breath from their frantic escape. "Give me a minute," he said, his voice labored. "Miss, are you feeling better?"

She nods still marveling at how her body felt almost rejuvenated, "I am feeling one hundred percent."

"Good, cause we have to tighten our seat belts and crash into that." He points at the stations entrance. "What?" Orion and Miss Yaryu ask baffled.

"Do it." Anaki straps himself. Miss Yaryu wasted no time; she climbed to the back and tightened every child's seatbelt. "Hold on tight, and make sure not to bite your tongues. We're going on a wild ride, okay?"

"Oh yeah!" Ross grins excitedly seated. "Now we are talking!"

"Ross, behave," she said firmly. "Everyone is safe, right?"

"Yes," the children replied with innocent enthusiasm, their trust warming her anxious heart.

"We're actually doing this?" Orion muttered in disbelief, fumbling with Eli's seatbelt. His aunt took her seat and fastened her own straps, glancing back at the children through the rearview mirror. "Ready?" she asks, her voice steady despite her racing heart.

Their young voices set her foot smashing against the accelerator. The van roared to life, surging forward with full power straight at the entrance. Metal debris pierced through the glass panels, crashing violently into the station. The van skidded and barreled down the chaotic stairs. Miss Yaryu couldn't tell what she crashed through. Its path was a blur of shattered glass, twisted iron poles, and possibly even bodies. She slams the brakes, coming to a halt just inches from the edge, the van teetered on the brink almost about to roll down onto the train tracks.

Breathless she looks back, at the screaming children, half excited the other half scared out of their wits. "Everyone okay?" She asks and their aflutter squeals confirmed her pointless fear. She nods grappling the wheel, clearly more affected by the crazy turn of events, "okay, okay. Good. Let's take a breather, yeah?"

Ross grumbles leaning forth and vomits. The girls scream in disgust, Eli chuckles and signed. "Gross."

"Oh no, you alright Ross?-Wait, I'll come and help you." Miss Yaryu heads to the back seat checking on the children one by one. Anaki hangs his head over his seat and shuts his eyes, recalling the map he had seen earlier. They have to ride through the tunnel, follow the green tracks and then find the garden. "Black Raven." He exhales, "we have a long way to go to get to them."

He glanced back, it's already the fourth day of their survival and, so far, no one had died. He clenches his pants, troubled by the near loss of Miss Yaryu earlier. The thought of her being so close to danger weighed heavily on him. With the high probability of death looming, he worried that one or more of the children might soon be at risk. He feared that if they started to rebel, it could result to a counter with the undead.

Should he tell them about the infected? But it could be traumatizing for them at the moment. Eli and Orion had struggled to accept this new reality; their nightmares were visibly wearing on their mental and emotional states. He knew they were still adjusting, and breaking the harsh truth might only add to their suffering.

"Everything okay?" Miss Yaryu asks poking her head at the front. He gestures at the tracks, "we have to get the van down there." She gapes at the two meter depth, "down there? We might capsize."

"It's a risk worth taking." He tightens his belt again, "or else we will have to walk beside the infected."

Miss Yaryu lets out a reluctant sigh, "everyone, listen up," she faces the children, "We need to do it once more, yeah?" The girls scream terrified. "Are you planning on getting us killed?" Orion asks rubbing his butt, the van had almost crashed earlier.

"We have no choice," Anaki glances back, "best strap in."

"I seriously hate you." Orion shuts his eyes tight, his aunt chuckles equally anxious and slams her foot against the accelerator again.

"You should be happy we took this route," Anaki said as he freed himself from the tight embrace of his seatbelt. They had successfully crashed down onto the train tracks.

Orion looked up, startled to see Miss Yaryu peeling away the black tape from the window panels. With the obstruction removed, they could finally see beyond the confines of the van. The children's eyes widened in wonder at the ghostly image of the station outside. Scattered belongings and abandoned bags lay strewn across the floor. The platform was eerily empty, and the air was thick with dust. Flickering lights cast erratic shadows, highlighting the damaged infrastructure.

"Woah. Are we in a haunted mansion?" Ross peeks up at the platform, there was a puddle of water dripping. Maybe it was too dark to properly see but he could have sworn the water seemed red in color. Miss Yaryu shuts the driver's door jolting his anxious nerves. She starts the engine, maneuvering the van over the railings. The ride was rough, but the children's discomfort quickly turned to awe as they took in the view, their earlier fears momentarily forgotten.

As she emerged from the tunnel, the vast cityscape unfolded before her. High above the bridge, the sunlight bathed the world in a warm embrace. The towering skyscrapers and the magnificent city below were a breathtaking sight, leaving them spellbound by the sheer scale and beauty of it all.

"This is amazing!" Ross had his face plastered against the window panels. "I didn't know a car could get up here."

"Neither did I." Laura joins him, momentarily forgetting their enmity. Miss Yaryu chuckles in amusement at their innocence. She glimpses down at Anaki, "is it really alright?"

"We have no choice, they will probably start a revolt if they had to stay inside for much longer." He presses the play button and the van is engrossed with music.

"Now we are talking!" Ross pulls Orion's arm, "let's sing, loser."

"I'll decapitate you if you don't let go."

"Orion, Ross. Behave." They take their seats on Miss Yaryu's demand. She sighs relieved to see Anaki doze off. His small figure was weary from exhaustion, this could be the first proper sleep he is getting after all the havoc. "Alright everyone, let's keep the volume to a minimum." She steadies the van's speed, her mind slowly recalling the incident from earlier today. Could it had been an effect of the adrenaline? It is impossible for a human to turn to light. She brushes off this strange thought, right, I must have been tired.

Her hand grips the wheel, tired? She feels refreshed, even after running like crazy earlier on. Ah. Her eyes fall on the sleeping child, could this be one of those 'changes' he had mentioned?

"What's that?" Laura asked, pointing down at the horde of zombies. Yaryu felt a shiver of anxiety as the question stirred unsettling thoughts. She knew that revealing the truth could lead to panic and maybe trauma for the children. Can she keep them calm and lead them safely to the haven Anaki mentioned? It was inevitable that they would encounter the undead eventually. She forced a reassuring smile and continued driving. "Don't you remember what Anaki told you? The world has been taken over by some very bad zombies. That's why we need to get to Sukiyaki-sama and help him, okay?"

"Zombies?" Ross pushes Laura aside, she was peering out at the roaming infected. "Whoa! Miss is right! Look at those nasty things—they really are zombies." Intrigued, the other children gathered around one by one. "Is that alright?" Orion asked.

"It's best we prepare them beforehand," she can't allow careless thinking get any of them in danger again. "Now shall we learn about these zombies?"

The children listened with the same attention they had once given in their peaceful days before the world fell apart. Yaryu continued, "These zombies are dangerous, okay? You can't tame them or get close because they won't die and they will hurt you. Understand?"

They were excited by this game, questions popped up and Yaryu answered with the best of her ability. Orion was bothered by the fact, that to them this seemed like a game. Their curiosity might lead them to approach the undead and get hurt—or worse. Eli pats him, he had a stern look in his eyes, "don't worry too much about it." He signed, "This is better than keeping it a secret."

Orion nods, "yeah, you're right." He exhales, thankfully he has a friend to rely on. Eli smiles relieved to see him calm down. He looks outside down at those horrific creatures of nature and holds his ear.