"Don't move."

Yaryu stares at her reflection in the glass, a shadowy figure lurking behind her. She makes out the woman—a short figure with curly brown hair. Pink lipstick contrasts her dark skin, but it's her sharp blue eyes that cut through the gloom.

"Are you a doctor?' Yaryu asks, recognizing the scrubs.

"Quiet." The woman's voice is low, edged with control. A cold knife presses against Yaryu's neck, the sting of metal followed by the trickle of blood. "I'll ask the questions. Who are you?"

"I mean no harm. Please, if you are a doctor." Yaryu tilts her head toward the sofa where Anaki lies. "Please, he needs help."

"That's for me to decide." The woman steps back, keeping the knife on Yaryu. Her eyes flick to the unconscious boy. She crouches, narrowing her gaze as she inspects Anaki. "What happened to—"

The woman tumbles back dodging Yaryu's fist. The punch grazes her wrist instead, sending the knife clattering under a nearby desk.

She deflects the next hit, raising her arms to shield herself. But Yaryu's punch forces her to the floor.

"Stop!" the woman cries, throwing her hands up. The blows cease. Cautiously, she peeks through her fingers to find Yaryu standing over her, holding the fallen knife, blade pointed down.

"Sit." Yaryu orders, motioning to the sofa.

The woman hesitates, her gaze darting from the knife to Yaryu's face. Slowly she sits on the edge of the couch. Her breathing is ragged, but her voice remains defiant. "I wasn't going to hurt him."

"I know." Yaryu scans the lobby. Large, empty with many waiting areas separated with thin glass from the gambling quarters. The whirring of the machines barely reaches her ears over the pounding noise outside. A large chandelier above casts fragmented light particles like a magic orb. She walks by Anaki, scanning the woman. "Who are you?"

"Teresa." Her accent sharpens the word. She adjusts her rounded glasses, pink nail polish glinting under the pendant. "So, Yaryu, are you going to kill me now?"

Yaryu tightens her grip on the knife but shakes her head. Can she trust Teresa? This woman had a knife to her throat moments ago. But the way Teresa looks at Anaki, she let down her guard to help him, it seems genuine. I have no choice.

"Can you help him?" Yaryu asks, her voice sharp but tinged with desperation.

Teresa blinks, surprised by the shift. Teresa bites her lip, glancing at the unconscious boy and then back at Yaryu. Her hands tremble as she leans over Anaki. Part of her wants to walk away and leave them to fend for themselves. She's done enough for strangers. But if there's one thing she fears more than the undead, it's abandoning a child in need.

"I'll try," she mutters under her breath, her hands steadying as she begins to work on the wound. She feels his damp skin, checking his pulse and the reopened wound on his head. "Who treated him before?" Teresa asks, pulling back.

"I don't know." Yaryu lowers the knife, her voice softening.

"You put him in that state?"

"What?" Yaryu almost fumbled over her words from shock, "I would never—What made you think that?"

Teresa holds up her arms, the loose sleeves slide down, exposing bruises from Yaryu's earlier attacks. "I can see you're good at hurting people."

"I had no choice," Yaryu says, guilt flashing across her face. She looks away, glancing toward the barricaded doors.

"I'm sorry, self-defense. Last time I didn't, I nearly became zombie food."

Teresa exhales, "he needs rest." She pulls up her sleeves, "whoever bandaged him did a good job, but the wound opened up again. He'll need more than that soon."

She gestures at the counter, "there has to be a first aid there, pass it over."

Yaryu pulls the bag out and watches as Teresa gently changes Ankai's wound. Dabbing off the fresh blood from the dried.

"Thank you." Yaryu murmurs.

Teresa's crystalline eyes scan Yaryu from head to toe. "So. What name do you go by?"

"I... call me Yaryu." She sits near Anaki, watching him stir, her gaze sharp. "Is this place safe?"

"If you came here thinking that then you must be insane." Teresa adjusts the watch on her wrist. "But it is the best shot you've got till morning."

"What happens tomorrow?"

"You die." Teresa replies flat.

A loud bang jolts Yaryu on her feet, she looks around. The colorful machines, the extravagant ornaments, the trashed register. No infected or hostile person. She looks down at Teresa, "what do you mean die?"

"I don't know myself that's why I am here." Teresa pulls out a worn map, frayed at the edges, with red markings scrawled across it. She hesitates, tapping the map. "These were the evacuation centers."

Yaryu's eyes flick to the lines, her stomach tightening. "Survivors?"

Teresa shakes her head, her voice grim. "No. Not anymore." She grips the edge of the map, tearing at it absentmindedly. "It was safe for a while—three days, maybe. But people lost it. Some mutated. Gained powers you wouldn't believe." She glances away, her voice dropping lower. "And the zombies? They weren't the worst part. We were abandoned. Used."

Yaryu narrows her eyes. "Used by who?"

Teresa exhales, looking off into the distance. "Whoever wanted to survive." Her eyes fall to the floor, "a number of us managed to work together but then a week ago people started to go missing. It all led here."

Crow must've found out something. Yayru's eyes flick to Anaki, his face still pale.

"Did you come here alone?" She shifts back to Teresa. The doctor shakes her head, "it was supposed to be a road trip. Who knew zombies would joins us."

"Tell me bout it." Yaryu exhales equally tired by the turn of events.

"I am a doctor, surgeon to be more specific. I work abroad." Teresa leans back on the sofa, "What about you stranger, what happened to you before all this?"

"I lost the children I was in charge of." Yaryu exhales, her words heavy in her throat, "I wanted to take them to safety but I lost them all. Now I'm going in circles, trying to survive, to protect. Hoping there will be someone decent out there to help. But so far, I have been shot at and abandoned to be zombie-grub."

"Children?" Teresa mutters, lost in her thoughts.

"That's right. I am a grade-school teacher. Was, before all this." She gestures at the neglectful world.

"Oh." Teresa stands brushing her bangs aside, "You must be exhausted. Lucky for you, I searched most of this casino and the first floor seems to be abandoned, not even the zombies bother coming here."

"Not anymore." Yaryu winces at the pounding sound outside. "I put you in danger. I'm sorry."

"Not like you could help it. Here." Teresa leads her into a corridor lit with orange-hue lamps and furnished with a soft red carpet. Its walls were wooden planks that smelled like fresh jasmine. "This way. You'll be safe for the night, but leave before sunrise."

"It's very fancy here." Yaryu follows Teresa to the end of the hall.

"You are in the only casino in the city." Teresa said, opening a door to a lavish room, opulent enough for royalty. Golden ceramic floors gleam beneath chandeliers, and luxurious redwood furniture adorn every corner, casting the space in an almost surreal glow. Luxurious silken curtains cascade elegantly over the expansive terrace.

"This is... whoa," Yaryu murmurs, stepping inside.

"Enjoy it while you can," Teresa says. "Tomorrow... well, who knows? It's been twenty-four hours since the last person disappeared."

Yaryu blinks, the weight of Teresa's words sinking in. "What do you mean?"

Teresa gives a tired shrug, shutting the door behind herself.

Yaryu stands at the edge of the lavish room, her heart racing. The silk curtains rustle softly, and the distant groans of the undead scratch her spine. She looks back at Anaki, resting on the bed, and pulls the blankets around him.

"What do we do now?" She mumbles. With her energy replenished her mind is wide awake.

She turns to inspect the room, thoughts of recent events racing back and forth—zombies, betrayals, and the fear of losing those she cares about. The children are still missing. Crow said that they are in danger.

The door creaks open, and Yaryu spins around, knife gripped tightly in her hand. Teresa steps inside, with a tray of fruits and canned goods.

"Yaryu," she says, raising her hands in a gesture of peace. "We need to talk."

"What do you need?"

Teresa closes the door behind her. She rubs her neck, anxiety clear in her posture. "I need your help. Whoever is behind these disappearances might come here next. We have to prepare."

"Problem is, I don't trust you." Yaryu counters, doubt creeping into her voice. "You showed up with a knife to my throat."

Teresa watches Yaryu, sensing the doubt in her eyes. "I get it," she says, her tone softening. "You don't trust me. I wouldn't either. But if we don't do this, we'll be dead by sunrise."

A smile creeps in. "I'm sorry, self defense. Last time I didn't I was almost shot."

Yaryu chuckles. "What do you suggest?"

"We gather supplies, barricade the door, and wait for morning," Teresa says, glancing at the horde outside. "If they come, we're ready. If they don't, we leave."

Yaryu nods, already moving. "Let's not waste time."

She covers Anaki and makes sure the door is tightly sealed before joining Teresa. Their footsteps echo like a countdown, each step bringing them closer to the haunted lobby. Yaryu rolls up her sleeves, grabbing the abandoned stools from the gambling quarters and sealing the entrances. If its tight enough it will give them a chance to escape from the other end of the casino.

She glances at Teresa, whose face is flushed from exertion, sweat beading on her forehead from pulling the register desk at the door.

"Let me help." She tightens her grip on the makeshift barricade, pulling the furniture with all her strength.

"Thanks." Teresa steps back, staring in awe at her prowess.

"That should hold them for a while," Yaryu mutters, her eyes narrowing as the faint groans of the undead press against the windows. The sight of their decaying hands clawing at the glass sends a shiver down her spine, but she shoves the fear aside. There's no room for it now.

"It won't hold forever, though. We need to be ready if they break through."

Yaryu nods, scanning the room for anything they could use. "What else do we have?"

"Not much," Teresa says, wiping her hands on her pants. "A couple of knives, some canned food, and a few bottles of water. If we ration it, we could hold out for a day or two. But after that..." She trails off, her gaze shifting to the door they just barricaded.

Yaryu doesn't respond. She's already mentally preparing for the worst. "We can't just sit and wait for them to get in. There has to be another way out."

Teresa shakes her head. "The main exits are blocked by the horde, and the back is too risky."

"The back? Then how do we get out?"

"That's because the power is out there and that is where they went missing." Teresa frowns, pain etched in her brows, "It's best to avoid the back. Hopefully they will disperse by daytime, if not then we can move out through the parking lot."

The incident with Mario in the parking lot churns Yaryu's stomach. "Let's keep moving," Yaryu says, grabbing one of the knives and handing it to Teresa. "If they break through, we won't be sitting ducks."

Teresa takes the knife, her fingers wrapping tightly around the handle. "I'm not much for fighting, but I'll do what I can."

"Just make sure you stay alive." Yaryu's voice is firm, her protective instincts kicking in.

They move to the far end of the lobby, searching for any other weak points in their defences. Every creak of the building feels like a warning, every shadow a potential threat.

"We can't trust anything anymore," Yaryu mutters, her eyes darting toward the windows where the undead press harder, their groans growing louder.

Teresa glances at her. "Then this when we sit still and see what destiny holds for us."

Yaryu nods, "thanks, for the help and everything."

Teresa hesitates but then nods, a small smile creaking on the edges of her face. "I'll check on the boy later." She disappears down the hall, leaving Yaryu standing alone in the opulent silence. Something isn't right, but she pushes the thought away. Instead, she focuses on Anaki. But it kept on nagging at her.

Why did Crow come here? Why are people going missing? Is what Teresa saying the truth or is there more? What's keeping her here?

She moves, gently sitting on the bed, studying Anaki. His skin has regained some color, though his clothes are drenched in sweat.

"Anaki?" She reaches out for his forehead, her hand brushing over his bangs, "I'm sorry to leave you alone but I need to make sure we are safe. So."

She picks him up and places him in a nearby closet, padding the space with soft pillows. "Stay here," she whispers. "I'll be back."

She shuts the door softly and steps away, her heart heavy. A faint stir comes from the closet. Yaryu pauses for a moment, her gaze lingering on the door, but the sound fades. Convinced he's safely hidden, she moves silently down the hall.