Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Warning:
This chapter contains slightly disturbing descriptions of gore that might be uncomfortable for certain readers. Please read at your own discretion.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As Jared and Louis walked along the hallway of the third floor, the sound of their footsteps echoed loudly. Despite having the lockdown for weeks, Jared could never shake the feeling of anxiety and isolation whenever he walked the hallways of the facility. Not another soul in sight- be it a doctor, orderly, or patient.
‘Speaking of patients…’
“Louis,” Jared turned and called out to his friend.
Instead of answering, Louis merely clicked his tongue in annoyance and stared silently at Jared.
‘Uh… I know that look…’
Jared sighed.
“Lou-”
“Yes? How can I help you, Jared?” Louis asked in a sing-song manner to which Jared rolled his eyes.
“I was wondering…”
“Mm-hm?”
“How come I haven’t seen the patients in a while? Have the scheduled walks changed? I can help you guys if you-”
“No, it’s okay. Samatha said that she’s everything under control. It seems that a number of the patients have fallen ill. Must have been some flu bug going around before the lockdown.”
“Oh? That’s strange… They should have recovered by now…”
“Yes, but Samantha said that the condition is persisting- and in some cases, worsening. I did try to help attend to a person but she insisted that it was no ordeal for her, so I left her to it… Besides,” Louis whispered and gave a mischievous smile, “If I were to catch whatever those guys have, I might not be able to see you in a long while~”
“I… Hah… When are you ever going to take things seriously?” Jared huffed as the boys continued to walk toward the recreational area.
“But Jared,” Louis turned to face Jared and walked backward, “I’m always serious. There’s a sincere intention behind my every word… I just say it with a smile~”
“Hah… What will I ever do with you?” Jared muttered under his breath.
Louis chuckled and was about to say something when the boys heard a muffled feminine voice.
“...We need to tell the others!”
“...listen to me. You can’t-”
The voices seem to be coming from the recreational area. Jared and Louis shared a glance before moving forward.
As the boys drew closer to the door, the words became louder and more coherent.
“No! There must be a way, right? We need to tell-”
Without wasting another moment, Louis burst into the room and spoke loudly.
“Need to tell what?” Louis asked.
The owners of the voices were none other than Clara and Adam who jumped in surprise at Louis’ sudden appearance. Between the two siblings, it was Adam who regained composure first.
“Ahem… We saw a person out there,” Adam answered as he towards the window.
“What? Let me see,” Louis rushed towards the window and Jared followed suit.
“The person what right there… Huh?” Adam gasped and moved so close to the window that he was practically pressed against it.
“What is it?” Clara asked in curiosity as she too looked out the window, “Wait… That person is gone! We only looked away for a split second. There’s no way we could have lost sight of that person. They were walking very slowly…”
Louis just looked at the siblings with an eyebrow raised.
“Look! We weren’t imagining it! We both saw that person!” Adam insisted.
“Well, if that’s true th-”
“It is true!” Adam half-yelled.
“Yes, ‘true’,” Louis emphasized sarcastically and raised his voice slightly when Adam started to say something in rebuttal, “Anyway, we need to search all floors to make sure that there isn’t a breach.”
“Breach? Wait… Aren’t we going to let that person in?” Clara asked.
“No, we can’t, and there’s no safe way for that person to enter the facility without also allowing the zombies to follow suit,” Louis replied.
“But-”
Adam placed a hand on Clara’s shoulder.
“Clara, he’s right. We can’t let that person in,” Adam explained.
“But why? …If that’s what you guys are agreeing to, why are we searching the entire premises for?” Clara asked.
“...To survive,” Jared answered quietly.
“What? I don’t-”
“Clara, if that person forces their way into the facility, it means that there is a breach. What’s to say that a zombie won’t enter through that same entry point? And even if the entry point was immediately sealed, what’s to say that the person isn’t already infected? Remember, a person doesn’t instantaneously turn into a zombie upon getting infected. It takes time…” Louis explained.There was silence within the small group for a minute.
“...How long?” Clara finally asked.
Louis glanced briefly at Jared before answering.
“About 10 minutes.”
Jared nodded at Louis’ statement.
“Yes, we saw it happen to the people on the first floor.”
“Then…” Clara bit at her bottom lip before continuing in a quieter tone, “What happens if that person really succeeded in entering? What do we do then?”
“Obviously, we’ll k-” but Jared interrupted Louis mid-sentence.
“We’ll detain that person and see if they’re really infected,” Jared answered, and there was a relieved expression on Clara’s face.
Louis, on the other hand, had an unreadable expression as he looked at Jared quietly.
“So…” Adam started awkwardly, “Shall we split up and check all the floors?”
“No, Jared and Clara will stay here. It’s safer that way,” Louis replied.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea. Jared and the girls can keep each other safe,” Adam agreed.
“No, it’ll just be Jared and Clara… Samantha has already gone back to sleep after staying up all night looking after some sickly patients. Knowing her, she’d have locked her bedroom door, and it’ll take more time to wake her up and have everyone assembled in a spot. We need to search the entire premises as soon as we can.”
“Ah, you have a point there. Okay, it’ll just be you and me,” Adam said to Louis.
Louis simply hummed in agreement. He then grabbed a pair of shears for himself and passed a gardening hoe to Adam. With that, both Adam and Louis left- leaving both Jared and Clara alone in the vast space of the recreational area.
Jared glanced out of the window. The zombies that were gathered just outside of the facility’s fence were still staggering and bumping into each other. There was no sign of any sort of disturbance or change in behavioral patterns.
‘Was it truly a person or figure? It could have been another zombie that was shuffling awkwardly on the side, away from the other zombies…’
“Clara, when you said that figure, was it closer to the treelines or amongst the zombies?” Jared asked.
“Hm… The figure was a couple of feet away from the treelines but wasn’t exactly close to the zombies either…”
“Oh? How close were they?”
“About… this far?” Clara answered as she spread her arms wide.
“That’s quite close… How did the other zombies act when the figure was there?”
“There was no reaction. The zombies were either still shuffling around aimlessly or bumping against the fence…”
“So, no reaction… How was the figure dressed?”
“...In rags… They looked no different than the zombies…” Clara replied hesitantly, “But it really was a person! There’s no way a zombie would’ve moved like that!”
“Moved like what?”
“Like… Hm… You know those spy movies? Like, when the spy is sneaking around?”
“Uh huh?”
“Yeah, it was like that. They were slightly crouched and moved stealthily around the zombies.”
“Wait… Did they walk in front of a zombie?”
“Hm… Yes…?”
“And the zombies didn’t attack?”
“No, there wasn’t any reaction that that person… Wait… Do zombies ignore infected people?”
Jared thought back about the zombies and the infected he had previously faced.
“Not really… The zombies would attack a person for maybe a minute or two and if that person survives the mauling, they would turn into a zombie about 8 minutes later- give or take… During that ‘waiting period’ the zombies would no longer attack that person, so I guess that’s when the person is already considered infected… The outward symptoms only manifest when the change is nearly complete…”
“Oh? What kind of symptoms?”
“The veins would blacken. It’d be very visible when it happens… The infected person would have a seizure and hack out black blood…”
“Black? Oh… No, that person didn’t seem to be infected and the zombies didn’t seem to notice their presence…”
“Strange…” Jared simply mumbled.
‘I know that the zombies rely on their sense of sight. So, for the zombies to remain unresponsive, there must be another reason aside from being infected…’
Jared recalled seeing the zombies inhaling the air before zeroing in on his general direction. Jared’s eyes widened upon realization.
“Sense of smell…”
“What? I don’t understand. What are you talking about?” Clara asked.
‘But that means that person masked their scent… How did they do it?’
“Clara, was there anything else that seemed different with that person?”
“I don’t know… They looked like any other zombie… Well, maybe messier…?”
“What do you mean?”
“Like… Their clothes and hair were disheveled and…”
“And…?”
“There were organs hanging out from all sides… but it was too many to all belong to just one person…”
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
Nation 27 CH 20: Unease
Warning:This chapter contains a slight indication of Derealization Disorder that might be uncomfortable for certain readers. Please read at your own discretion.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[About a week later--- 14 October 2021, Thursday][6th floor of the facility--- Doctor Heine’s room…]*Tick**Tick-tock**Tick-tock, tick-tock*The ticking from a clock echoed loudly within the enclosed mint-colored room. All alone and isolated in the room, Jared continued to scribble on a paper he had found in one of the drawers.‘So, by my count, I’ve been in this world for about 127 days… I’ve been in this facility for about three months,’ Jared thought as he drew out a timeline chart.*Tick-tock*‘A lot has happened yet I haven’t been able to make any progress in terms of returning to my own world. Besides…’ Jared paused and tapped his left hand onto his hip. When
Nation 27 CH 21: I’ve Been Losing Time…
Warning:This chapter contains aspects of memory loss and minor descriptions of torture that might be uncomfortable for certain readers. Please read at your own discretion.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[The following day at 8 am--- 15 October 2021, Friday][5th floor of the facility— Jared’s room…]Jared sighed as he lay on the bed.“The sound of a clock ticking had faded over the course of several hours…” he muttered before chuckling bitterly.‘Well, not several hours since it is already the next day…’Jared turned to face a pendulum on the small table by the bedside. Although the novelty was unmoving, he could not help but stare at it in a trance-like manner.‘So, I’m definitely in the game world, right? Otherwise, I wouldn’t be hearing the phantom ticking…’Despite trying numerous times, he still went on to tap at his hip to activate the game manual. His
Nation 27 CH 22: The Change In Demeanor Was Instant
[Louis] The sound of determined footsteps and the loud banging of doors echoed along the second-floor hallway."Where in the world is she? ...There's no way she'll be here, right?" Louis muttered as he checked yet another room. His mood was worsening by the minute.“Oh! Hi, Louis,” a feminine voice called out from a distance.Louis turned and saw both Clara and Adam walking toward him. The siblings were walking from the start of the hallway- the same way he had come from.“Hey,” Louis answered in an almost sheepish-like manner.Clara’s smile widened while Adam raised a brow in response.“So… what brings you both here, to the second floor?” Louis asked.“Nothing really… Adam and I just wanted to explore the rest of the facility.”“I see…”“What about you?” Adam asked.“I’m looking for Sam,” Louis adverted his gaze slightly, “I need to talk to her about something…” he continued almost inaudibly.Clara giggled.“Ah~ Hm… We haven’t seen her at all. Then again, we were mostly on the third
Nation 27 CH 23: He Answered Reluctantly
[A couple of days later--- 17 October 2021, Sunday][4th floor of the facility…][6.03 am][Clara]“Uh… I’m barely awake. Why in the world do I need to wake up this early?” Adam groaned as he stretched and yawned.“Well, there are other things I’d like to do later in the day plus…,” Clara cast a warning glance at her brother who was about to roll his eyes, “There’s no better time in the day to farm than early in the morning.”“But why the sudden need to tend to the garden at such an ungodly hour when there’s nothing ready to be harvested?”“That’s what I thought too until last night~ The radishes should be ready to be harvested either by today or tomorrow!”“What? How is that possible? I remember it taking quite some time to grow back at our house. I think it was about 2 months…? You basically started growing stuff here on the 28th of September and it has been about,” Adam started counting with his fingers, “19 days.”“Hehe~ I know right? By the way, it takes about a month for radishe
Nation 27 CH 24: His Eyes Turned Steely Cold
[20 October 2021, Wednesday…][7.05 pm]The marigold-colored sky soon turned and darkened as the Sun set over the horizon. It was not long before the entire forest was plunged into pitch darkness under the cloudy, moonless sky. The only source of light within the area came from inside a huge facility and the street lamps that stood along a long, narrow road.As the cool evening breeze blew and the leaves in nearby trees rustled, the shuffling of feet can be heard as they seemingly approached these sources of light. Like a moth to a torchlight, who and what can resist the urge to draw closer to the only warmth and light when shrouded in darkness?Then again, given the circumstances, the best place to be would be none other than at the facility. Within its tall fences and sturdy walls, there were sustenance, resources, and comfort. Most importantly, it provided safety from the undead that lurked and stalked persistently beyond the property.Thus, on a night like this for those who stay
Nation 27 CH 25: Proposition
[20 October 2021, Wednesday…][11.13 pm][3rd floor, recreational area…]Faint rasping from cicadas could be heard despite the wide, thick tempered glass windows whose frames have been completely reinforced to prevent any incidents of the facility’s patients breaking through the glass and inevitably hurting themselves. ‘Strange… I don’t remember cicadas still being around during the late summer. Well, it’s practically autumn now, and those insects don’t like the mild and dry climate. In fact, the heat of the summer would have long subsided by now…’ Jared thought to himself as he gazed out of the window from his seat.Although Jared was seated fairly close to the windows, he was unable to fully see the trees. At best, he could see the very top of some of the nearby trees- but that was about it. Being on the third floor in a facility that was located on the highest ground in the entire county, it was difficult to see much unless one were to stand directly at the window.Somewhat curiou
Nation 27 CH 26: Completely Gone
[26 October 2021, Tuesday…][9.48 pm][Adam and Clara]“Ouch! That hurts! Can’t you be gentle? After all, I’m your one and only brother!” Adam complained.Clara rolled her eyes.“It’s just a small bruising, so stop whining like a baby. You shouldn’t act so dramatic over something like this when you’ve endured much severe bruisings and injuries over the past few days,” Clara said as she applied salve on a bruise that ran along Adam’s upper arm.Adam grumbled in a low tune that was barely audible.“What is it, brother?”“Nothing…”“Hah… Just tell me. What is it?”“It’s just… I have gotten black belts in a couple of martial arts, but all that feels like child's play after doing hand-to-hand combat training with the ex-military guys. It’s as if I haven’t been cultivating any combative skills despite all my years of training. All those medals I’ve won prove nothing. If there’s an outbreak within the facility tomorrow, I’ll be useless!”Once the bruise on Adam’s arm had been attended to, Cl
Nation 27 CH 27: Perhaps It Is Something More
[Brien][The following day at 1.23 pm --- 27 October 2021, Wednesday…][3rd floor of the facility— recreational area…]“Whoosh~ Haha! You’re too slow, boy!” David taunted as he did light sparring with Adam.Somewhat aggravated, Adam growled and charged at the former military personnel once more.“Aww~ Angry, are you? Boy, if you’re going for multiple rapid punches, you need to exhale in sync with your movements. It’s not all about imagining that your hands are on fire.”Seeing that none of his punches were landing on target, Adam retreated a couple of steps to take a breather. He then pulled up the bottom of his shirt to wipe off the sweat that trailed down his face.“I’m not moving as if my hands are on fire!” Adam retorted.“Yes, you are~ You were doing this,” David demonstrated by flicking his own wrist in the most exaggerated manner possible.“I definitely didn’t do that!” Adam half-yelled despite his cheeks warming up slightly.“Aww~ I was just messing with you. But seriously, tr
Latest Chapter
- Nation 27
CH 48: Fixation 3
Warning: This chapter contains slightly disturbing descriptions of gore and violence that might be uncomfortable for certain readers. Please read at your own discretion.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------[Doctor Heine’s personal perspective and monologue of his thoughts and memory]Ted Kaliosky's words hit me like a sudden punch to the gut, leaving me reeling with a mix of guilt and apprehension. My mind raced as I tried to comprehend the implications of his stern reprimand. What had I done to warrant such direct intervention from the CEO himself?“I... I understand,” I managed to choke out, my voice betraying a hint of unease. “But the situation with Jared... it's more complex than initially anticipated. I believed that swift action was necessary to uncover the
- Nation 27
CH 47: Fixation 2
Warning: This chapter contains disturbing and unhealthy thoughts and actions of manipulation that might be triggering for certain readers. Please read at your own discretion.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------[Doctor Heine’s personal perspective and monologue of his thoughts and memory]Samantha was one of the few people Gemini Enterprise had assigned to pose as staff members and patients at the facility. But of all the people sent, I was closest with Samantha as she was previously my secretary at the Gemini Enterprise laboratory. Moreover, she was a diligent and fiercely strict person- definitely someone worthy of overseeing my schedule and managing the miscellaneous matters that concerned very little of my actual work.Of course, my decision to include her in m
- Nation 27
CH 46: Fixation 1
Warning: This chapter contains disturbing and unhealthy thoughts and actions of manipulation that might be triggering for certain readers. Please read at your own discretion.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------[Doctor Heine’s personal perspective and monologue of his thoughts and memory]As a man of science, I have often been described as one who is indifferent and emotionless – not that that ever bothered me in the very least. Being driven by the desire to acquire more knowledge and curiosity to seek what more that vast universe had to offer that had yet to be discovered by science, I deemed it a waste of time to invest my precious time in matters of the heart. Thus, I've always taken pride in being an objective and rational thinker.My days were consumed by the
- Nation 27
CH 45: He Had An Air Of Refinement About Him That Belied His Sinister Intentions
Warning: This chapter contains disturbing descriptions of gore and unhealthy thoughts of self-harm that might be uncomfortable for certain readers. Please read at your own discretion.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------[Lyra]In the dense thicket of the forest, where sunlight barely pierced through the thick canopy Lyra found herself trapped in a nightmare of constant pain and despair.Every breath she took was a struggle- each inhale was a sharp stab of agony. Her eyes were glazed over with pain and exhaustion. The hike, if it could even be considered as one, was torturous and an incessant test of her endurance to pain. It felt like she was stepping on broken glass shards, except the pain was not limited to just the soles of her feet but radiated throughout her e
- Nation 27
CH 44: Are You Done With This Little Game Of Yours?
Warning: This chapter contains disturbing descriptions of violence and gore that might be uncomfortable for certain readers. Please read at your own discretion.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------In a once peaceful forest, where birds of varying species chirped cheerily high up in the trees and small, young animals growled playfully as they ran about in glee, there existed a hidden haven untouched by the human presence for decades. Deep within this forest, where sunlight filtered through the dense canopy to dapple the forest floor with shifting patterns of light and shadow, lay a serene and lively playground for wildlife.The ancient trees stood tall and proud, their branches reaching towards the sky like outstretched arms embracing the heavens. Moss clung to thei
- Nation 27
CH 43: How Is That Possible?
[Jared][21 November 2021, Sunday--- Noon]As the group approached the center of the town, the atmosphere became increasingly eerie. The once lively streets now stood still, devoid of any signs of life. The abandoned buildings loomed over them, casting long shadows that seemed to whisper secrets of the town's mysterious past.Not even Brien, the leader of the former military personnel, could shake off the unsettling feeling that tightened his chest. "This doesn't make any sense," he muttered as he glanced at both Mike and David, who also seemed to be at a loss for words.Everyone in the group exchanged nervous glances but continued on their journey, their curiosity overcoming their apprehension. But as they neared the town square, a heavy silence hung in the air. Unlike earlier, the abandoned buildings and houses looked worn down and vegetation have long started to grow along the structures. In only the course of a few months of the zombie infestation, it contradictorily looked like
- Nation 27
CH 42: I Can Make This Work
[21 November 2021, Sunday]The small group moved cautiously through the dense forest, their footsteps muffled by a carpet of fallen leaves. The dark canopy overhead swallowed the feeble light of the moon, casting an eerie glow on the uneven path beneath their feet. Hours of traveling in the oppressive silence and pitch-black darkness had left the group both physically exhausted and mentally drained. Every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig sent shivers down their spines, their senses heightened by the unknown lurking in the shadows.As they trudged on through the silent forest, a sense of isolation enveloped them. The air was thick with an unspoken tension, and each member of the group clutched their makeshift weapons a little tighter. The only sounds that accompanied them were the muted crunch of leaves and the occasional whisper of the wind through the trees.Many hours later, just as their weariness threatened to overwhelm them, the forest seemed to come alive. Birds chirped overhe
- Nation 27
CH 41: A Dreaded Reply
[Jared][18 November 2021, Thursday--- that evening]The flames of the campfire flickered as its embers emitted warmth in the midst of the cool night air. The flames cast a soft glow in the clearing of the forest that was plunged into an almost pitch darkness. The small group was huddled together, their faces illuminated by the flames of the campfire as they awaited for the rabbit stew to cook over the fire. The quiet settled over the group like a heavy blanket. It was not unsettling nor unnerving in any sense, but rather a shared acknowledgment of the challenges that lay ahead. Earlier in the day, there had been scattered conversations as they foraged for supplies or tended to their makeshift shelter. But now, as the darkness enveloped the landscape, a somber mood descended upon the group.Jared glanced at the small group gathered around the fire.David was busy filing off the makeshift spear he had carved out of a long branch earlier that day, while Mike continued to watch over the
- Nation 27
CH 40: Missing A Piece To The Puzzle
[Mike][18 November 2021, Thursday--- the following day]Even though it was the afternoon, the forest was dimly lit by the muted sunlight penetrating the thick canopy of trees. If one wasn't particularly attentive to the time, the day could easily be mistaken for evening. The occasional cool breeze of autumn that swept through the forest only added to the illusion, contributing to the atmospheric ambiguity of the surroundings.Scrape, Scrape, Scrape.Mike looked up towards the canopy of trees. The scant sunlight that managed to filter through the forest canopy resembled twinkling lights as the passing breeze playfully teased the leaves.‘Have I ever felt this calm during these recent weeks we’ve been traversing this dense forest?’“Hm…” David grumbled beside Mike.Scrape, Scrape.Adamant to not look at his grumpy comrade, Mike wiggled slightly away without ever getting up. It was the first time since leaving the facility that he had time to appreciate the intricate pattern that the ca
