Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56[Brien]
[The following day at 6.06 am --- 30 October 2021, Saturday…]
[5th floor of the facility]
The sounds of footsteps echoed loudly along the long, lonely hallway as the group walked solemnly towards a connecting bridge of the annex building. There were a total of four connecting bridges to the annex building, namely on the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth floors. However, the bridge on the fifth floor was chosen because Brien wanted to get a high vantage point upon entry in order to access the situation.
‘It would have been better if the entry on the sixth floor wasn’t blocked by vending machines and chairs on the other side of the door. I must admit that it’s highly suspicious, but it was a good thing that the heavy, metal door had a glass panel just above the doorknob and allowed us to see what was blocking the door… It would have been a disaster if we unknowingly bulldozed our way through that threshold, causing the machines and chairs to collapse and resultingly attracting the attention of the zombies that lurk within the annex building.’
Not wanting to be distracted over the mystery with a more pressing matter at hand, Brien shook his head and sighed. He then stopped walking and turned to the group walking behind him.
“Okay, are we all clear on the plan?” Brien asked in almost a whisper. The hallway was so quiet that even their breathing could be heard every now and then.
Everyone nodded. It was as if everyone felt unnerved by the foreboding sense the annex building gave off. Based on what Jared and Louis had seen previously, the annex building was filled with zombies. There was nothing else to support their observation as the video footage of the entire property had been corrupted- be it by hand or simply the wears of time.
Thus, the only thing that somewhat supported the boys’ information was the constant moaning and groaning of the undead that could be heard coming from the annex building. So, in every sense of the situation, the group was about to blindly enter what may be a death trap.
‘Despite looking for Boyan, I wouldn’t have allowed Mike and David to come along if Louis hadn’t confirmed that it was safe and volunteered personally to join the search. He may be cunning, but he’s not reckless. I’m sure he either knows something or had some involvement in Boyan’s disappearance, and I’m going to get to the bottom of this. The fact that Louis is willing to enter the annex building should mean that entering should not be dangerous.’
Boyan glanced at Jared who was standing next to Clara and Adam.
‘Since Louis insisted that Jared would be of no help in the annex building and should stay behind with Clara, I should keep my guard up. Louis may be a boy shrouded in suspicion and mystery, but one thing I know for certain is that the boy has an unhealthy obsession towards Jared…’
“Alright. I’ll repeat the plan one more time so that everyone is clear. We need to search for Boyan and Samantha. If there’s no sign of them, we’ll need to retrieve whatever information or clues they may have left behind- in case they were in fact in the annex building at one point in time.”
Brien paused before continuing.
“Jared and Clara will be guarding this entrance in case any trouble arises while the rest of us,” he looked at Mike, David, Louis, and Adam, “will be entering the annex building. Watch each other’s backs, and let’s get in and out as soon as possible. Stay focused and remember, if you get bitten, that’s the end.”
There were soft murmurs of “yes”.
“Okay, one more thing before we enter the annex,” Brien said as Mike placed down a bucket he had been carrying, “I don’t know how long the scent will last once it’s on us, but this liquid we’ve extracted for a couple of decapitated zombies should allow us to search around the annex undetected… Just make sure that none of you make any sound or cut yourself.”
Brien then approached Adam and Louis.
“Leave the heavy lifting to Mike, David, and I. The two of you mustn’t engage in any fight with the zombies. Your first instinct is to run. Only fight if there’s no way of escaping. You boys may have some moves and tricks up your sleeves, but if you’re slowed down and surrounded by a hoard… Nothing can be done in that situation.”
Adam silently gulped while Louis expressionlessly nodded.
It was not long before the locks to the door of the bridge were unbolted and the few non-heavy barricades were removed.
“Let’s go,” Brien said determinedly.
.
.
.
.
.
.
[Annex building]
Despite the lights on the bridge shining brightly, the rest of the building- for as far as the group could see- was dimly lit. Broken glass and debris littered the once-pristine white tiles, along with the evidence of the chaos and horror that had unfolded. Although the blood splatters had long dried up, it was still an unnerving sight to behold- especially when the stains were all over the floor, walls, and ceiling.
As the group ventured deeper into the annex building, the moaning from zombies grew louder. Even so, there was still no sign of the undead.
‘The zombies must be downstairs,’ Brien thought as he leaned close to the balustrade. True enough, there was a horde of zombies gathered at the very bottom floor.
‘So, I was right. The boy must have known that it was safe to enter… Either that or all the deaths and zombie plague have finally gotten to me…’
“Brien, should we go down or up a floor to continue the search?” David asked quietly as the group reached a flight of stairs.
“Upstairs. Since that’s the highest floor, we can later work our way down. Besides, if Boyan was ever trapped in this building, he’ll most likely be on the highest vantage point he deems safe.”
“That sounds like Boyan,” David agreed.
‘Yes, if he was stuck in this building, he could have a clue here before escaping,’ Brien thought as he ascended the stairs, ‘Maybe we’ll finally have some idea of his whereabouts-’
Upon reaching the top of the stairs, Brien stopped dead in his tracks.
Adam sucked in a breath audibly.
It was a bloody scene. There were ripped-out guts and a trail of blood leading toward the balustrade. It was as if someone was slaughtered and then dragged over to the balustrade. But what shocked the group even more was that unlike what they had seen earlier, the blood stains looked fresher. The stains were still brownish but not as dark of shades as the ones downstairs.
“No…” Brien murmured.
“What is it?” Mike asked worriedly.
On the side of the wooden furniture, there was a rough carving of a flower with a bloody handprint on it.
“Buttercup,” Brien said sorrowfully.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
[Question time:]
What meaning do you think the flower buttercup carries? Judging by Brien’s reaction, Boyan is most likely dead but what about Samantha? Do you think Boyan was killed by a person or was it simply a zombie attack?
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
Nation 27 CH 31: Clues
[Mike][Highest floor of the annex building]An unknown, chilling silence fell upon the group as Brien continued to stare at the rough carving of a flower on the wooden furniture. Even the usually assertive David watched quietly as their leader continued to grieve. It was the first time in a long while since we’ve seen David in such a loss and despair.‘He has the same expression when we found out that all of our comrades of Sector 4 have perished… Does that mean that Boyan is dead?’The silence continued as the zombies on the bottom floor groaned in unison. A couple of minutes passed before Louis broke the silence within the group.“What is it? Does the flower mean something?” Louis asked.But Brien remained subdued. For a moment longer, he stood somewhat frozen, his eyes still fixated on the craving. Then as if something snapped within him, he abruptly straightened up as his eyes darted around the small space they were standing in.There was a mixture of anger and determination in h
Nation 27 CH 32: Buttercup
[Brien][Sector 8 of Nation 27][Early May--- 3 years ago…]The early morning breeze blew and rustled the leaves in the trees as Brien stepped out of his cottage and into the veranda. As he closed his eyes and relished the cool breeze hitting gently against his face, Brien brought up the cup of hot coffee he was carrying and inhaled its scent deeply.To Brien, there was nothing as delicious as having a freshly brewed cup of pure caffeine on a lazy morning. Moreover, being able to simply enjoy a moment of peace was rare and one he had not been able to have in a very long while.“Mm,” he hummed and smiled slightly as he sipped at his coffee.The leaves rustled again, and Brien’s smile began to fade. The morning was still his to enjoy, and he was adamant to keep it that way.Despite it being a quiet start to the day, he could hear the distant laughter of children as they played with each other. Goats that have strayed relatively closer to his cottage bleated as they grazed the long, gree
Nation 27 CH 33: It Was Like Looking For A Needle In A Haystack
[Jared][Present time][A couple of days later--- 29 October 2021, Friday…][3rd floor of the facility— recreational area…]“Oh my~ Jared, can you please grab that box for me?” Clara asked as she removed some potatoes from the ground. “Sure… You mean that the potatoes are ready now?” Jared asked in surprise.“Hehe~ Yes, the growth rate here is amazing!” Clara chirped as she smiled proudly at Jared.“Yeah… I vaguely remember you saying that the potatoes should be ready after a few months while the other vegetables would be in about 5-6 months. However, all of the vegetables seemed to have grown in less than a month,” Jared observed.“What?! Are you serious???” Adam, who was in the midst of sparring with David a few feet away, half-yelled.“Yes, brother. Are you proud of me?”“Of course I am! To be able to grow vegetables this fast, my sister is a goddess! No! Clara, you’re mother nature incarnat-”THUMP“Ouch! What was that for?!” Adam yelled as he rubbed gently at the soft spot of hi
Nation 27 CH 34: What Is Happening…?
Warning:This chapter contains aspects of memory loss, delusions, and a slight indication of Derealization Disorder that might be uncomfortable for certain readers. Please read at your own discretion.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[Jared] *Tick**Tick-tock**Tick-tock, tick-tock*The ticking from a clock echoed loudly as it pierced deep into Jared’s consciousness.“Jared…”*Tick-tock, tick-tock*‘Why is this voice so familiar?’ Jared thought as awareness began to set in.“It isn’t polite to intentionally disregard and feign ignorance. I know that you’re awake, so let’s halt all these dramatics, shall we?”‘No… This voice…’ Jared felt a chill course through his body, ‘It can’t be…’Jared’s eyes shot wide open, and his eyes almost immediately adjusted to the dimly lit room.“D-Doctor Heine…”“Yes, did you miss me?”It was a nightmare all over again. He was in
Nation 27 CH 35: Where Is Everyone?
[Jared]The facility’s alarms started blaring, and his room was suddenly plunged into pitch darkness.Seconds later, distant shouts and screams could be heard.“What is happeni-”The light in the room was abruptly switched on but the room was now bathed in an eerie, bloodied-red hue.‘The backup generator must have kicked in,’ Jared thought as uneasiness began to grow from within his core, ‘But if it was simply a blackout, I shouldn’t be hearing all the shouting and screams outside…’The emergency light in the room started to flicker, and Jared looked up.‘I should check out what’s happening… It’s definitely not normal to have the alarms on as well,’ Jared looked around the room for anything that could be used as a weapon but there was nothing, he resignedly grabbed a couple of pens that were nearby.Jared started walking toward the door when he spotted a few potatoes that were on the bedside table.‘Hm… I may need this if I do have to escape from this place,’ he then shoved the potat
Nation 27 CH 36: Farewell, My Friend.
Warning:This chapter contains slightly disturbing descriptions of gore that might be uncomfortable for certain readers. Please read at your own discretion.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[Jared]The long hallway which was once filled with blaring sirens and flashes from the emergency light, was momentarily plunged into an eerie silent and pitch darkness. As Jared groped blindly in the dark to find his way toward the balcony of the fourth floor, all he could hear were the thumps of his heart as it frantically beat against his ribcage. Amidst the deafening silence, Jared could hear nothing other than his racing heartbeats and the shuffling of his feet as he cautiously moved closely along the wall on the left side of the hallway. Vaguely, his senses began to play tricks on him in the absence of li
Nation 27 CH 37: Survive Now. Think Later.
[Jared]“Hah… Hah…”Scenes of trees whizzed past in a fury of blur as Jared sprinted as fast as his legs carried him. He paid no mind to the minor sprain he had obtained from jumping the three feet gap between the balcony and a nearby tree, and then clumsily climbing down the sturdy yet rough trunk. It was running as if he was being chased by the hounds of hell.‘Well, not hounds but zombies… But either way, death would come very painfully. I just hope that the others are alright. With the horde of zombies on practically every floor, the others are either already dead or have long escaped.’At that thought, Jared felt his heart throb painfully against his chest as all the air within his body seemed to be sucked out. But Jared simply reasoned that his body was not fit to endure such a burst of energy usage. In fact, the last time he ever did something physical was when there were compulsory PE classes in school.“Hah… Hah…” Jared smiled despite feeling his throat burn.‘I remember not
Nation 27 CH 38: Why has it come to this?
[Jared][Back in the past…]“Hello, everyone. It’s Jared, and this is World Crafter. I know it has been a long while since I’ve last streamed or even uploaded anything online, but my exam is finally over! I’ll start playing more regularly from today onwards!”Jared double-checked on his play settings, before smiling into the camera again.“I caught little snippets of the new mob and biome the game creators have made and I can’t wait to play in a new world… in a beta version, to be exact. Hahaha.”------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[[Super chat]][Welcome back!][Miss you! uwu][Jaredddddd! Glad that you’re back!][The new mobs? Especially The Thing? Ughhh][Bruh… Doesn’t he know that the game creators have beefed up the hostile mobs really high af?][Lmao. I wonder if he’s going to explore the Dark City~][He just returned… There’s no way he’ll immediately go to the Dark City, right?][Why not? Just cheese it by
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
