(click)

As they cautiously traversed the decrepit canteen, the oppressive darkness seemed to swallow their every step. It was not the first time stepping in the darkness had tarnished their sense of security but this canteen boasted of a unique sinister aura. The air was thick with the stench of decay, a foul mixture of rotten food and stagnant moisture. Anirudh's flashlight revealed the grim reality of their surroundings - walls adorned with peeling paint, windows obscured by layers of grime, and tables scattered haphazardly like forgotten relics of a bygone era. The eerie silence was punctuated only by the occasional creaking of old furniture and the unsettling crackling of food crumbs beneath their feet.

"Stay alert, this place gives me the creeps," Avyan muttered, his grip tightening on his Glock.

Akash nodded, his eyes darting nervously around the shadowy corners. "We should have brought more firepower," he whispered.

"We shouldn't have come here, man. This place is cursed," Akash muttered, his voice barely audible over the ominous silence.

"Just keep moving. We'll be out of here soon," Avyan replied, his voice strained with tension.

"We make do with what we have. Let's head upstairs, it might be safer," Anirudh suggested, his voice tinged with unease.

As they reached the first floor, their worst nightmares materialized before their eyes. The once bustling dining area was now a chilling sight - rows of dormant zombies, their pallid skin and lifeless eyes sending shivers down the boys' spines. The dormant army of zombies lay in wait, their pallid faces illuminated by the dim glow of Anirudh's flashlight. Akash's breath hitched as he saw the grotesque figures, their rotting flesh and lifeless eyes staring blankly ahead.

Everyone took a step back in fear of what they saw. Akash tripped and fell as he stepped back but fortunately was caught by Avyan midway during the fall.

"We have to go back, there's no way we can take them on," Akash exclaimed, panic creeping into his voice.

Avyan shook his head, his jaw set in determination. "We need to get out of here, now."

Before they could react, Akash stumbled over a loose floorboard, the loud clatter echoing through the silent canteen like a death knell. The zombies stirred, their movements sluggish yet filled with an insatiable hunger.

"Shit, they're waking up! Run!" Avyan shouted, adrenaline fuelling his every movement.

"Run!" Anirudh shouted, his heart pounding in his chest.

The chase was a frenzied blur of terror and adrenaline. The boys stumbled and fell, their panicked breaths mingling with the guttural moans of the pursuing undead. Bullets flew wildly, some finding their mark and sending splatters of blood and gore into the air while others missed in the chaos. Akash's heart pounded in his chest as he sprinted alongside his friends, the relentless pursuit of the undead only a few steps behind.

"We can't keep this up! They're gaining on us!" Anirudh yelled, his voice tinged with fear.

Akash felt a searing pain shoot through his leg, a sharp cry escaping his lips as he stumbled, blood staining the floor beneath him. His leg was cut open from the side of the calves, blood flowing out like a steam of water out of his leg to the ground which marked their path of escape. Although, at this point of time, Akash felt nothing but just adrenaline pumping through his veins which allowed him to rush as the zombies closed the distance. The horde was huge, they ran and tripped over causing a huge collapsing wave of zombies that slowed them down for a while. The zombies running from the back came and tripped over along with the others forming a mountain of undead lying and trying to get up but getting pushed back down by other zombies eventually stopping a large part of horde momentarily. This gave a moment of introspection to the group. Avyan and Anirudh rushed to Akash's side, their faces etched with concern. Akash collapsed to the ground, the pain finally got to him which caused him to shout aggressively.

"We have to keep moving, Akash! You can do this!" Avyan urged, pulling Akash to his feet.

Anirudh provided cover fire, his shots ringing out in the confined space as he fought to keep the advancing horde at bay. The canteen echoed with the sounds of chaos - screams, gunshots, and the guttural moans of the undead blending into a symphony of horror. Anirudh's hammer was in full action, wavering left to right. The metallic silver colour was no longer visible. A dark coat of red covered the weapon which was pounding one brain to other, opening the heads of the zombies that were escaping the giant mountain of undead.

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"We're almost there, just a little farther!" Anirudh shouted, determination burning in his eyes.

With renewed resolve, they pushed forward, their bodies fuelled by adrenaline and sheer willpower. The exit loomed ahead like a beacon of hope, the sunlight streaming through the open door a welcome sight after the darkness that had consumed them.

Just before exiting through the main gate, Avyan who pushed Akash out of the gate gets grabbed by the foot by one of the zombies. Avyan trips and falls down. The zombie climbs over Avyan's chest in an attempt to bite his head off.

(aaaaahhhhh)

(bang)

Avyan shoots it but it continues to crawl over since the bullet missed the head. He tries to fire another shot but is caught aback as he finds out he has emptied the barrel. He is caught in fear but tries one last time to push the zombie back by his hands. He puts all his remaining strength into one final push but the zombie's raw strength overpowers him and he just slides over a little. Avyan accepts his end and closes his eyes. The zombie finally gets up to his head due to the absence of any resistance and bends over to bite him.

(clangggggg)

"I will not let you die this easily", Anirudh clamps up the hammer to his shoulder. Avyan opens his eyes and sees the zombie beheaded, it's body splattering blood like a fountain from it's neck that covers Avyan's face up. Avyan looks down and sees other zombies running towards them, he stands up, turns and steps out of the gate.

As they burst out into the blinding daylight, Akash felt a surge of relief wash over him. He collapsed on the ground, his breaths ragged and laboured, but alive. Avyan and Anirudh looked back at the entrance, stood guard, their weapons at the ready as the horde of undead stumbled into the sunlight, their grotesque forms writhing in agony. The sunlight greeted them like a bittersweet embrace. First time seeing the sunlight in action, a blood-bath ensued. Their eyes glimmered in hope as they saw the zombies agonizing in pain as their skin burns out in the unforgiving rays. Their skin peels off and falls to the ground where it continues to burn off until nothing but dust remains. Their limbs fall off and several zombies fall to the ground, their skull clearly visible. The air filled with the putrid stench of burning flesh and decay, a haunting reminder of the horrors they had narrowly escaped. Their agonizing and horror shrieks filled Anirudh's heart with joy whereas Avyan felt sorry for the people who are caught in such a condition, on the other hand, Akash is just grateful that he is alive, he lied on the ground, in a natural high, fathoming the beauty of nature.

"This world feels so good, like a delicate symphony of colours and fragrances", Akash says

"Is this what they call 'the runner's high'", Anirudh laughs off at Akash

"Be a little considerate you sadistic fellow, I just saw you laughing, seeing these creatures burning alive. Help Akash out", Avyan says to tease Anirudh

Anirudh turns back and looks down towards Akash, "They deserve to die, they are no longer alive. Whereas, when it comes to you my friend, you look pretty alive to me, let's get you running then, where's my backpack."

The zombies stop coming outside after the first few rows burn to death.

As they caught their breath and surveyed the aftermath, the once foreboding canteen now lay silent and still, a haunting reminder of the horrors they had faced. The reality of their narrow escape just sank in them. The canteen stood as a grim reminder of the horrors they had faced, the bloodstains and bullet casings painting a macabre picture of their ordeal. Avyan wipes the blood off his face and helps Akash using the health-kit along with Anirudh.

"I can't believe this... How did it all go so wrong?" Avyan muttered, his hands trembling slightly as he reloaded his weapon and glanced around with a mix of fear and disbelief.

"I don't like the look of this. Those shadows... they're moving," Anirudh remarked, his voice tinged with unease as he swept his flashlight over the ominous scene, his mind racing with thoughts of past encounters.

"Wait, did you hear that? Something's happening inside those buildings. We might have awoken something far worse than we anticipated. Stay alert!", Avyan replies

Their footsteps thundered against the pavement, the ground seeming to tremble beneath them as if in response to the chaos unleashed. The once-dormant zombies scattered across the campus began to stir, their eerie moans and growls adding to the cacophony of horror.

"We've awoken a nightmare," Akash gasped, his voice barely audible over the rising chorus of undead cries.

Avyan's mind raced with fear and urgency. "We have to get back to the hostel. It's not safe here."

The zombies inside the buildings, once dormant begin to make havoc as a result of the horrifying and loud shrieks of the zombies that just died. This is when the group realizes the real danger. The sheer amount of zombies present around them in the campus is huge. The blood-curdling sound that they produce is enough to tell that their numbers are enormous and much more than what the boys estimated.

"The sun is about to set, we can't handle these swarms if they get out of the buildings. My estimate would we that we got about forty five minutes before sunset. We need to rush back to the hostel.", Avyan looks over to Anirudh and he runs over to the cart to start it. He sits on the driver's seat and pauses. Anirudh slowly turns his head over to Avyan and says, "I think....I dropped the keys somewhere during the chase"

"What? How can you? It's foolish of me, I should have kept the keys with me", Avyan shouts

"Treat, seal and cover Akash's wound fast, we need to run back somehow before we are dead."