The rain poured heavily, a relentless torrent that seemed to mirror Anirudh's inner turmoil. The sky was dark, almost black, with clouds so dense they swallowed any hint of light. Thunder rumbled in the distance, a mournful accompaniment to the chaos surrounding them.

Anirudh stood there, his strong façade crumbling, as tears he couldn't control slid down his cheeks. The loss weighed heavily on him, a suffocating guilt constricting his chest. He blamed himself for not acting quickly enough. As one friend after another fell, the weight of it all pressed down on him, his head bowed in grief, his eyes wide with disbelief. The reality of the situation was too harsh to accept. He had lost too many loved ones already, each loss a scar on his heart, and now he faced the possibility of losing another right before his eyes when he might have been able to save him.

Anirudh was a man known for his resilience, his strength a beacon for others in times of despair. Yet now, his spirit was fractured. He stared blankly ahead, his head bowed, eyes wide with disbelief and sorrow. The rain mingled with his tears, the cold droplets a cruel reminder of the life ebbing away in front of him.

Soham, sensing the gravity of the moment, stepped forward with a firm but gentle tone, "Anirudh, step back." His voice cut through the despair, clear and commanding, "I'll do it."

But Anirudh was trapped in a vortex of his own making. The sounds of the zombies, the relentless rain, and even Soham's voice were muted. All he could hear was the erratic pounding of his own heart, a relentless drumbeat of panic and grief.

A firm hand gripped his shoulder, jolting him back to the present. He looked up, eyes wide with shock, to see Ishan standing there, a confident smile playing on his lips. "Come on, dude," Ishan said, his voice a lifeline. "I'm not going down that easily."

Joy surged through Anirudh as he leapt to his feet, his arms wrapping tightly around Ishan. He pulled back slightly to examine Ishan's neck, searching for the tell-tale bite marks. Relief washed over him as he saw none. He glanced back at the decapitated zombie and realized that its teeth had failed to penetrate Ishan's toughened skin, a testament to his rigorous training regime. The blood splattered was from the zombie's own gums, unable to break through what felt like rock.

Anirudh wiped his eyes, a faint smile of relief breaking through his grief. "I'm glad," he said, his voice shaky but sincere.

Ishan's smile faded as he replied, "But it's not over yet."

Soham joined them, his mind already working on their next move. "If Ishan is invulnerable to zombie bites, that's a huge advantage," he mused.

Ishan's eyes lit up with an idea. "If that's true, why don't I lead the charge? The zombies can latch onto me, but they won't be able to bite. You guys can take them down from behind."

Soham frowned, pacing as he considered the plan. "No, it's too risky. We don't know the extent of your durability, and the number of zombies is too high to experiment. We need a better strategy." He continued pacing, his mind racing for a solution.

Outside the tower, Avyan watched the horde of zombies with mounting dread. The sheer number of them made his heart race with fear for his friends' safety. He paced around the car nervously, torn between staying safe and rushing to help. The old axe in his hand felt inadequate against the overwhelming odds.

"Should I go and give them a hand from outside?" he muttered to himself, the rain drenching him as he walked faster, "I could probably take on some zombies from behind. But that would put me at very high risk. I cannot fend off zombies with just this old axe.", he looked down, his hands holding the old and rusty axe.

He remembered how confident and aggressive he had been back at the campus, armed and supported by others. He did not fear since he knew he can fend off zombies using guns. But here, he was alone. His anxiety grew, his pacing quickening with each passing second. "No, Soham is experienced. Ishan and Anirudh are also leagues above an average human. They'll be fine.", he stopped at a brink, "I should go help them."

He opened the car door and called out to Maya, "Stay here and keep the doors locked. Here are the keys. If there's an emergency, start the car and drive around in circles around the tower. We'll be back very soon." Maya, trembling in fear, burst into tears. Avyan couldn't look back; he had to move forward. As he ran, he heard a low-pitched scream behind him. He turned and saw two zombies at Maya's window, trying to break in.

Indecision paralyzed him for a moment. He remembered Soham's earlier words, "And please take my orders seriously." Trusting Soham's experience, he decided to go back and save Maya, betting everything on his friend's guidance. With determination, he rushed back, ready to fight for her life and theirs.

He shouted loudly from afar, catching the attention of the undead. Their heads snapped towards him, eyes glazed with hunger, and they came rushing towards him with a terrifying urgency. Their hands stretched out, ready to grab him by the neck and tear him to pieces.

Avyan's heart pounded in his chest, but he steeled himself, ready for the fight. As the first zombie lunged at him, he bent down swiftly, dodging its grasp. With a swift and powerful motion, he slammed the axe into the back of the second zombie. The creature dropped to the ground with a guttural moan. However, to Avyan's dismay, the axe wouldn't come out of its shoulder.

The shoulder was bleeding intensely, the dark, thick blood mingling with the rainwater and washing away almost instantly. Avyan struggled to free the axe, his muscles straining, but it was lodged too firmly. Panic began to rise in his chest as more zombies approached, their guttural growls and the sound of shuffling feet growing louder.

His loud roar echoed through the rain-soaked streets, catching the attention of other zombies at the tower's entrance. They turned and began to run towards their new target, their movements quick and unnervingly coordinated.

The first zombie he had dodged came back at him, relentless in its pursuit. With his axe gone, Avyan scanned his surroundings desperately. He spotted a bush at the corner of the street and sprinted towards it, jumping over it with a desperate leap. From the backseat of the car, Maya watched him, her eyes wide with fear and nervousness. As Avyan disappeared behind the bush, the zombies began to close in. Trembling, she picked up the keys and moved to the driver's seat, sweat dripping down her face as she started the car, "We all are going to die. I have to save myself. My husband must be waiting. My kids must be crying. I have to get back to them"

The zombie limped towards the bush, dragging one of its broken legs. Just as it reached the edge, Avyan sprang up, a broken brick clutched in his hand. He smashed the brick into the zombie's head, and it crumpled to the ground. Without hesitation, Avyan jumped on top of it, repeatedly hitting its head with the brick until it stopped moving. The scene was gruesome; blood covered his hands and the ground, the zombie's brain separated into pieces, motionless and scattered.

Breathing heavily, Avyan stood up, but to his horror, he saw a large horde of zombies coming towards him from the tower. His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to think of a plan.

Suddenly, the sound of a vehicle's engine roared to life. Avyan turned to see Maya driving the car, but instead of circling around the tower, she was speeding away from the scene. Panic surged through him as he shouted, "Maya, stop!" She heard him but, overwhelmed with guilt, turned her head away. She accelerated, crashing into several zombies on the road. At her high speed, one of the zombies broke through the windshield and clawed its way inside. She slammed on the brakes, causing the car to drift and crash into a nearby building.

The zombies quickly surrounded the car, breaking through the windows. Avyan watched in helpless horror as they pulled Maya from the vehicle, tearing her apart. One last time, she looked towards Avyan and whispered, "I am sorry". Her screams pierced the night, and then there was silence.

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A crushing sense of guilt engulfed Avyan. He had failed to save another life. Disappointment and self-loathing consumed him. "I am weak. I am a burden. Because of me, someone lost their life," he thought, sinking to his knees. The rain mingled with the blood on his hands, washing away the physical evidence of his struggle but leaving the emotional scars raw and open.

The zombies, drawn by his despair and the fresh scent of blood, started to approach. Their growls and the sound of shuffling feet filled the air. Avyan looked up, seeing the horde closing in, but he felt numb. Different thoughts cluttered his mind, paralyzing him with grief and regret. He remained on the ground, waiting for the inevitable, his spirit broken by the weight of his failures. Due to anger on himself and his failures, Avyan whispered, "I deserve to", he took a pause. Anger culminated inside him and he shouted with all his might, "DIE!!"

Back inside the control room, Anirudh heard a faint rumbling outside their room. Curiosity piqued, he strained to listen as the sound of footsteps seemed to disintegrate into nothingness. His heart pounded in his chest, the uncertainty gnawing at him. Slowly, he moved towards the gate, his hand gripping the doorknob. He glanced back for one last confirmation from Soham, who stood poised, katana raised above his head, eyes sharp with focus. The nod from Soham was subtle but reassuring, a silent promise of protection.

Anirudh's fingers trembled slightly as he gently rotated the doorknob, opening the gate swiftly and silently. He peeked outside, scanning the dimly lit hallway. The tension was palpable; every shadow seemed menacing, every flicker of light a potential threat. Finding no evidence of the undead, he pushed the door open and stepped out, with Soham and Ishan close behind, their presence a comfort. Ishan whispered, his voice barely audible over the rain, "Where the hell did they go? Did they just disintegrate into thin air?"

Soham paused midway, tilting his head slightly. His heightened senses were an enigma to the others. "Wait! I can hear them," he said, his voice steady. Anirudh and Ishan exchanged bewildered glances; the rain's disturbance masked any sound for them. Soham continued, "There are zombies down on the ground floor, blocking the exit. However, there are fewer than before. I'm sure we can easily kill them off. This is our best chance."

Anirudh and Ishan followed Soham's lead as they ran down the stairs. Anirudh's grip tightened around his hammer, his resolve hardening. In the left corridor, he saw three zombies. Without hesitation, he swung his hammer with brutal force, shattering their skulls. Blood splattered on the walls, painting gruesome scenes, but he felt no remorse, only a grim satisfaction. He smashed the skull of another approaching zombie, the impact reverberating up his arm. Blood and brain matter splattered his clothes, but he didn't flinch.

Soham kept clearing their front as the zombies approached them in the stairs. His strength, endurance and speed shocked the both of them, He cut their heads only with swift precision and immaculate speed. Each swing of his katana was precise, each movement fluid and deadly. He decapitated zombies with ease, his focus unwavering. Ishan whispered into Anirudh's ear, "I knew he was very smart and far more experienced than us. But now I think he is far superior in physical capabilities as well."

Anirudh watched Soham closely. He realized that even though his main perk was his speed and agility but even then, Soham clearly and easily outclassed him without even trying. Despite his own agility and speed, Soham's prowess was on another level. He smirks, "Good, means we can get even stronger than this," determination lacing his words.

As they reached the ground floor, they encountered a massive horde of zombies. The undead turned and lumbered toward them. The scene was haunting, tens and hundreds of zombies charging at the boys. The ground floor reeked of rotting flesh, the smell amplified by the moisture in the air. Ishan covered his nose in disgust. The oppressive atmosphere weighed heavily on them, but they braced themselves, knowing they couldn't clear out zombies at this scale. Their hearts raced, their limbs went cold, goosebumps prickling their skin.

Soham bent down, taking a deep breath. Then, he unleashed his full speed, blitzing through the horde with immense velocity. He moved like a lightning bolt, a blur of motion and deadly precision. His speed was unlike anything Anirudh and Ishan had ever seen. He jolted out of their sight in the blink of an eye, leaving a trail of decapitated zombies in his wake.

Anirudh and Ishan followed the path Soham cleared, admiration and awe in their minds. Ishan punched through any incoming zombies from the back, his fists like sledgehammers. Anirudh efficiently killed many on his own, his hammer a blur of deadly force. One zombie leaped at Anirudh unnoticed, but his enhanced reflexes kicked in. Using another zombie as leverage, he rotated in mid-air, using his momentum to decapitate both zombies simultaneously.

Ishan quickly appreciated him, "I didn't ever think that out of everyone, you'd get so much physically stronger. Your forte was speed, but you've increased your strength a lot. Jumping in mid-air while carrying that heavy hammer is no easy feat."

Anirudh smiled, feeling a surge of pride. During their conversation, they swiftly exited the entrance, thanks to the path Soham had cleared. Outside, they saw that Soham had killed all the zombies near the entrance while blitzing through. Anirudh was shocked, his goosebumps increased even further. "A single man, taking out hundreds of zombies, alone, at once. I was wrong. He is not only superior. I am nowhere near him."

Searching for Soham, Ishan was shocked to see him lying unconscious, leaning against an adjacent building for support. He rushed over, shouting, "Soham!!"

Ishan reached him and supported his head, panic in his voice. "What happened?" he shouted. Soham opened his eyes, weak and barely conscious. "It's nothing. I need some rest after moving at such speeds," he murmured. Before slipping into unconsciousness, he added, "This was the only way out."

The rain continued to pour, a relentless reminder of their dire situation. Anirudh and Ishan exchanged worried glances. They needed to secure the area and find a safe place for Soham to recover. Anirudh and Ishan carefully lifted him, supporting his weight between them. The exhaustion was evident on their faces, but they pushed on, determined to keep their friend safe.

Inside the adjacent building, they found a small room on the ground floor which was relatively untouched by the chaos. It was dry and offered some protection from the elements. They laid Soham down gently, making him as comfortable as possible. They locked the door from outside.

Ishan gasped for breath, his voice strained with urgency as he turned to Anirudh. "What do we do? We're not prepared for this. We came here to check on the soldiers' safety, and now..."

Anirudh's reply was drowned out by a chilling scream that cut through the pounding rain.

"DIE!!"

Anirudh's heart skipped a beat. There was no mistaking that voice—it was Avyan.

Without hesitation, Anirudh and Ishan bolted toward the source of the cry. Anirudh's eyes widened in horror as they reached Avyan's location. He lay surrounded by a horde of ravenous zombies, his spirit seemingly torn from his body. Anirudh left Ishan behind in his rush to reach Avyan, every fibre of his being focused on the task. Ishan put everything he had into his legs, forcing them to overwork, he called out desperately, "Avyan!!"

The zombies closed in around Avyan, but he remained lost in his own world, grappling with a storm of emotions—anger, guilt, and despair. Amidst the chaos, memories of his grandfather surfaced once more: sitting by the river at dawn, sharing sweets.

"So, if something bad happens, I shouldn't give up. I should keep trying to find a way, just like the river?"

"Exactly, and remember, Avyan, sometimes the most difficult challenges teach us the most valuable lessons. They make us stronger and wiser. So, don't be afraid of obstacles. Embrace them as opportunities to grow."

"Snap out of it!!", Anirudh roared. Avyan opened his eyes, his vision pretty clear. He had to survive. He had to endure this pain. He had to become stronger.

He looked at Anirudh in front of him, drenched in blood, an iron rod impaled in his abdomen, swinging his hammer in long waves while blood splattered out of his mouth. Anirudh's face was contorted in pain, yet his eyes blazed with an unyielding fire. Each swing of the hammer sent a zombie reeling, but the toll it was taking on Anirudh was clear. His movements were becoming slower, his breaths more ragged, but still, he fought on, refusing to give in to the encroaching darkness.

He looked at his side, where Ishan lay on the ground, unconscious. Ishan's left foot was swollen like a peach, veins popping out as if they were about to burst. His face was pale, a stark contrast to the vibrant person he once was, and his body was a testament to the brutality of their battles—bruises, cuts, and broken bones marred his skin. Avyan couldn't believe his eyes. He gasped for breath, his chest tightening as the weight of the situation bore down on him. "When did all this happen?" he thought, his mind racing.

Avyan's heart pounded in his chest as he took in the scene. Anirudh, despite his grievous wounds, was still standing, still fighting. The sight was both horrifying and awe-inspiring. How could Anirudh keep going, even with an iron rod through his abdomen? How could he still find the strength to swing that hammer, to fight back the relentless tide of undead?

"How does he do it?" Avyan wondered, feeling a mix of admiration and shame. "How can he keep fighting when he's so close to death? Why am I just standing here, paralyzed by fear?" Avyan's mind flashed back to his own losses, the loved ones taken by the zombies, the countless nights spent in terror and despair. His insecurities and fears had always held him back, chaining him to the ground while others fought and fell around him. But with the newfound motivation by Anirudh and his Grandpa, he stood again.