Soham stepped out of the car, the downpour soaking his hair and clothes almost instantly. The sky was a dark tapestry of clouds, heavy and interwoven, casting a gloomy shadow over the scene. The boys got out and followed Soham. Raindrops pattered rhythmically on the ground as they approached a dilapidated house at the end of the street.

Soham strode purposefully to the front door, pushing it open without hesitation. The door creaked loudly, protesting the intrusion. Avyan and the others exchanged uneasy glances before trailing in after him. Inside, the air was musty, filled with the scent of damp wood and neglect.

An old man with a long white beard sat in a dimly lit corner. The room's only source of light came from a flickering lantern on the floor, its glow casting eerie shadows on the walls adorned with firearms. The man's hoop earring caught Avyan's eye, its crystalline surface reflecting a kaleidoscope of colours. He shifted uncomfortably, the dazzling light momentarily blinding him.

The old man, seated in front of a cluttered mini bar, sipped from a fancy glass. His eyes were weary but alert, taking in the newcomers with a hint of curiosity. His nails were old and yellow, his skin wrinkled like parchment. The place was a mess—clothes strewn everywhere, a lantern toppled over, a painting stained with cranberry juice, and food rotting on the table. It was clear he lived alone.

"Welcome," the old man rasped, his voice a low, tired growl. Soham walked over and sat beside him, their interaction betraying a history fraught with tension. The old man acknowledged him with a slow nod and reached for another glass. He dropped a large, chunky ice cube into it, the sound echoing in the silent room.

"What'll be your poison?" he asked, his eyes never leaving Soham's face.

Soham glanced around, taking in the disarray, a contemplative look on his face. "Oh, scotch is fine," he replied, lighting a cigarette with practiced ease. The flicker of the lighter briefly illuminated his face, revealing a hint of tension in his eyes.

The old man poured the amber liquid into the glass and handed it to Soham. Avyan and the others watched silently, unsure of what to say or do. The old man's gaze shifted to them, his expression unreadable.

"Your friends?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah," Soham replied, taking a slow drag from his cigarette. "They're with me."

The old man grunted in acknowledgment, turning his attention back to his drink, "Been a while since I had company."

Soham nodded, taking a sip of his scotch, "What do you know Caleb?"

Caleb chuckled, a dry, mirthless sound. He took another sip of his drink, his eyes distant. "I told them not to go south but men of Zeesham just as obstinate as him" he muttered, almost to himself.

Avyan's eyes narrowed as he listened carefully. Ishan edged closer, straining to catch every word, while Anirudh, without a second thought, picked up the bottle of scotch from the table and took a long swig directly from it. Caleb shot him a sidelong glance but didn't say anything about it.

The old man continued, his voice tinged with regret. "A resident's wife went missing. He said she had gone south to pick some vegetables from their farm, but she never returned. I warned them not to go that way. It's a pretty vacant area, not a soul around for miles, but Yuvi didn't listen to me. He took the team there. That boy never listens. I always told you to not let him be in the lead." Caleb's gaze turned even more distant, as if he were seeing the events unfold again in his mind. "That's the last I heard of him."

Soham's expression grew more serious. "What do you think happened to them?" he asked, leaning in closer.

Caleb shrugged, a heavy sadness in his eyes. "Who knows? That place... it's strange. It had been vacated for long but it wasn't dangerous up until now"

Ishan, unable to contain his curiosity, asked, "What makes the south so dangerous now?"

Caleb sighed, "I think there is a huge colony of undead there right now, waiting for the right time. I haven't yet informed the crowd. They are already pretty scared. This might cause panic and distress."

Anirudh lowered the bottle, a sceptical look on his face. "They are mindless, how come they are waiting?"

Caleb's eyes snapped to Anirudh, "We don't yet know what these creatures of hell are capable off. I also know that Zeesham knows about the fungi's origin. He is keeping it a secret. He's a bastard and liar, I knew it from the start. If he keeps that little secret of his to himself, we'll be in much more trouble. We'll not know what it is and what it is capable of?", he pointed his finger towards Soham, "And I know you very well too, I know you will still go south. Even if I tell you all the people are dead. If you go south, you better be prepared for what you might find."

The room fell silent, the weight of Caleb's words sinking in. Soham took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. "You haven't changed a bit"

Caleb filled his glass again and turned his face away.

Avyan, Ishan, and Anirudh exchanged uneasy glances. The reality of their situation was starting to set in. This journey would be more dangerous than they had anticipated, but turning back was not an option. Soham got up and started to leave, "We're done here"

The boys and Soham got back into the car, the weight of their conversation with Caleb still lingering in the air. Avyan broke the silence, his curiosity piqued. "Who was that man?"

Soham sighed, running a hand through his damp hair. "He was our ally. He worked with us from the start. Although he is old and grumpy, he is a very trusted man. He left the palace some time ago and now lives here in isolation."

The boys nodded, absorbing this information. As Soham started the car, he added, almost as an afterthought, "He is also Zeesham's father."

The statement landed like a bombshell. Everyone turned to Soham, their expressions a mix of shock and confusion. Anirudh's mind raced. "The father of a monarch in such a condition. Why did this happen? Why did he leave the palace?"

Avyan's eyes widened as he made the connection. "Exactly, I thought I saw those earrings somewhere. Zeesham also wears the same one in his right ear."

The car rumbled to life, and Soham pulled away from the house, the windshield wipers working furiously against the relentless rain. "It's a long story," Soham said, his voice tinged with regret. "Zeesham and his father, Caleb, had a falling out some time ago. Caleb was once a respected advisor in the palace, but something happened that drove them apart. Caleb chose to leave and live in isolation."

Anirudh frowned, trying to piece together the fragments of the story. "What could have happened to cause such a rift?"

Soham shook his head. "It's not my place to say. Some things are better left unsaid, at least until the time is right. What matters now is that Caleb is willing to help us."

Avyan leaned back in his seat, his mind replaying the encounter with Caleb. "Do you think we can trust him?"

Soham nodded firmly. "Yes, we can. Caleb may be gruff and reclusive, but his loyalty is unwavering. If he says he'll help, he will."

The car fell into a contemplative silence, each of them lost in their thoughts. The rain continued to batter the windows, a relentless reminder of the storm they were driving into—both literally and figuratively.

As they sped down the winding road, the boys couldn't help but feel a mixture of anticipation and dread. The mysteries of the south loomed ahead, and with Caleb's warnings still fresh in their minds, they knew they had to be prepared for anything.

"Whatever happens," Soham said, breaking the silence, "just use what you've learnt during training"

Ishan and Anirudh nodded in agreement, their resolve strengthening. Meanwhile Avyan was disappointed and regretting due to the way his training had been going on. He felt that he was useless in front of the rest of them. They were stepping into the unknown where danger lurked in bulk.

They drove south quickly, the car slicing through the darkness. The roads were barely lit, and the buildings were mostly low and unremarkable, except for one large broadcasting tower that loomed over the landscape like a sentinel. The wide road was flanked by tall grass and dense bushes, giving the impression that a zombie could leap out at any moment.

Soham drove slowly, scanning their surroundings with a keen eye. Ishan had his window open, savoring the cool rain. Suddenly, he shouted, "Stop!!"

Soham slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a bumpy stop. "What happened?" he asked urgently.

Ishan didn't answer immediately. He threw open his door and jumped out of the car, heading toward the broadcasting tower they had just passed. The rest of the group quickly followed suit. Soham popped the trunk and pulled out a large, bulky black bag.

"Hey, where are you running to?" Anirudh shouted after Ishan.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"I just heard a scream," Ishan replied, his voice frantic as he increased his pace. Anirudh hurried to catch up, with Avyan close behind. Soham brought up the rear, the heavy bag slung over his shoulder.

As they walked, Avyan took the opportunity to talk to Soham. "Hey, I was wondering, how do you guys run cars? I mean, where do you get the fuel?"

Soham looked momentarily confused by the question. "We gathered it over time from abandoned gas stations, but our supply is limited. Only a few people are allowed to operate vehicles."

"Oh, I understand," Avyan replied. "It was bothering me for a while. I had to get it off my mind, or it would distract me the entire time."

Soham nodded. "This is the same reason why I only brought melee weapons now. Bullets are limited, and now that Raezi has challenged us, we're saving them up."

Avyan's eyes widened in shock. "So even though we're going into dangerous territory, you chose not to bring our most valuable weapon?"

Soham laughed lightly. "Trust me, we'll be fine."

Distracted, Avyan bumped into Ishan, who had suddenly stopped. Ishan pointed ahead. "The sound came from here," he said, his voice tense.

They all paused, listening intently. The broadcasting tower loomed closer, its structure imposing and eerie in the dim light. The wind whistled through the tall grass, and for a moment, everything was still. Then, a faint, desperate scream pierced the air.

"Did you hear that?" Anirudh whispered, his eyes wide with fear.

"Yes," Soham replied, his voice steady but grim. "Stay close and be ready for anything."

They moved cautiously, their footsteps barely audible over the sound of the rain. As they approached the base of the broadcasting tower, they could see a faint light flickering inside a small, decrepit building adjacent to the tower.

Soham motioned for them to stop. "Wait here," he instructed. "I'll go check it out."

"Are you sure?" Avyan asked, concern evident in his voice.

Soham nodded. "Just stay alert."

With that, Soham crept towards the building, his movements silent and precise. The rest of the group watched anxiously, their senses heightened by the adrenaline coursing through their veins. The flickering light inside the building grew brighter as Soham got closer. Glass pieces crackled as he walked over them. The place was a mess. The building was old. Broken and rotten furniture covered the front of the house. Soham walked cautiously, navigating through the furniture as leaves under his foot rustled. Rain made it hard to hear discrete sounds. He peered through a cracked window and saw a figure huddled on the floor, tied up and struggling.

"It's someone!" he whispered back to the group. "Come on, we need to get them out."

The boys rushed to join Soham, and together, they forced the door open. Inside, they found a young woman, her face streaked with tears and dirt. She looked up at them with a mix of fear and relief.

"Please, help me," she begged, her voice hoarse.

"We're here to help," Soham reassured her, quickly cutting through the ropes that bound her. "You're safe now."

As they freed her, the woman clung to Soham, trembling. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"What's your name?" Ishan asked gently.

"Maya," she replied, her eyes darting nervously around the room. "I was taken by... something. I don't know what it was, but it wasn't human."

Avyan asked frantically, "Was it a zombie?"

Maya shook her head, her voice trembling. "No, I don't think so." Tears began to spill from her eyes. "I'm sorry. It's just that I was so scared that I fainted and couldn't see anything."

Ishan gently reassured her, "Don't cry. You are safe now. We won't let anything happen to you."

They headed out, moving towards the car to leave, but as they passed in front of the tower, Ishan caught a glimpse of a shadow darting across the reception area inside the dark building. Without thinking, he quickly ran inside.

"Wait, was that Ishan?" Avyan exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief. "He moved so fast, I couldn't even see him rushing inside!"

Soham shouted angrily, "Wait here, Ishan!" but Ishan had already disappeared into the building. Frustration and concern etched across his face, Soham muttered, "Ah, this was not the plan. Shit, shit, shit." He scratched his head and started opening up the bulky black bag he had brought.

"Anirudh, you come with me. We'll get Ishan. Avyan, you get back to the car and keep this woman safe. There's a axe in the trunk, use it if needed. And please take my orders seriously", Soham instructed, his voice firm.

Avyan's heartbeat quickened, a mix of nerves and adrenaline surging through him. He thought, "Anirudh, Ishan, Soham, they all are way stronger than me. I can't stay alone in such a place, let alone be responsible for someone's safety", but all he did was nod. Holding Maya by the hand, he began running towards the car.

Soham pulled out his long, green and black curved katana from the bag, its blade gleaming even in the dim light. He handed Anirudh a giant metal hammer, its weight and size a stark contrast to the sleek katana. They shared a determined look and rushed inside the building after Ishan.

The interior of the building was dimly lit, shadows flickering ominously as Soham and Anirudh moved cautiously through the halls. The sound of their footsteps echoed, heightening their senses. They could hear faint noises, possibly Ishan's hurried steps, or maybe something else lurking in the darkness.

Meanwhile, Avyan and Maya reached the car. Avyan opened the door and quickly ushered Maya inside. His hands were shaking slightly, but he tried to stay calm for her sake. "Stay here. Lock the doors," he instructed, his voice steady despite the anxiety coursing through him.

Maya nodded, her eyes wide with fear but trusting Avyan's instructions. He took a deep breath and picked up the axe from the trunk, it was old and a bit rusty, seemed like a backup tool. He stood guard outside the car, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger. His feet trembled in fear. He did not fear these creatures earlier but his friend's growth has made him insecure. He thinks very low of him now.

Inside the building, Soham and Anirudh advanced, their weapons at the ready. They found Ishan in a small room on the first floor, standing over a figure cowering in the corner. It was another young woman, clearly terrified. She was bruised and blood was flowing out vigorously from her abdomen. She covered herself with a shawl as everyone entered.

"Ishan, what the hell are you doing?" Soham demanded, his voice a harsh whisper.

"I saw her shadow running," Ishan explained, not taking his eyes off the trembling figure. "I had to see if she needed help."

Soham sighed, his frustration giving way to understanding. "Alright, let's get her out of here. But you need to understand, you do not do things on your own. You follow my orders."

Anirudh kept a vigilant watch as Ishan helped the young woman to her feet. "Can you walk?" Ishan asked gently.

She nodded weakly. "Yes, I think so"

"Good. Let's move," Soham said. They made their way back to the ground floor, the tension palpable as they kept an eye out for any threats.

As they walked toward the exit, Anirudh's senses spiked. He felt a horrifying presence behind him and instinctively turned. In the split second it took to blink, he was suddenly splattered with blood.

He looked around, disoriented, and saw the beheaded body of a zombie collapsing to the floor. Behind him, Soham stood in a finishing stance, his katana glistening with fresh blood. Soham's white jacket still as clean as before. The sheer speed and precision of Soham's movements left Anirudh stunned.

Soham, breathing steadily, wiped the blood from his blade and sheathed it smoothly. "Are you alright?" he asked, his eyes scanning Anirudh for any signs of injury.

Anirudh nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah, I'm fine. I should have been careful"

Soham tightened his grip on the katana, "Stay alert. This isn't over yet. I feel we're surrounded"

Anirudh and Ishan got serious after this, and the three of them took their stances, forming a protective triangle around the women. The building seemed to shudder from above, and the ground trembled beneath their feet, adding to the tension.

The woman, scared to death, cried out, "Let's just make a run towards the exit!" Without waiting for a response, she broke free from the protective circle and dashed towards the exit.

"Wait!" Ishan shouted, but it was too late.

Just as she was about to escape the building, a forceful hand yanked her back. She stumbled and fell, her eyes widening in terror as zombies began to emerge from the shadows near the exit, their grotesque forms lunging toward her.

She raised her head, her eyes filled with dread, only to see Ishan standing tall. He had been the one to pull her back from danger. With a powerful swing of his hammer, Anirudh sent several zombies flying, their bodies crashing into the walls.

Ishan picked her up effortlessly. "Stay here, you'll be safe," he said, placing her back between the protective stances of Soham, Anirudh, and himself.

As the undead closed in, they moved as a unit, their formation tight. "We need to find a way out, now!" Soham commanded, his eyes scanning for any potential escape routes as a horde of zombies started entering through the entrance.

Looking at the zombies, Anirudh commented, "Still hate their pretty faces", Soham shouted, "Follow me!!"

They rushed through the building, navigating stairs, corridors, and rooms with the zombies in relentless pursuit. The zombies were entering in bulk from the entrance. The air was thick with the sounds of growling, footsteps, and the constant thudding of the undead against the walls.

Anirudh shouted while running up the stairs, "Where did all these come from?"

Soham replied in a hurry, "I think they were waiting for us. This was a trap"

Ishan, keeping his eyes sharp, noticed a small door partially hidden at the end of a corridor. "There! That door. Let's get in" he shouted, pointing.

They fought their way through, Anirudh's used his agility to dodge and strike his hammer, smashing zombie skulls, while Soham's katana sliced through the air with deadly precision. Ishan was carrying the woman on his shoulders since she was not able to keep up with them and strike when necessary, protecting the women at all costs.

Finally, they reached the door. Soham kicked it open, revealing a vast control room bathed in the flickering light of malfunctioning monitors and sparking wires. The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood and the acrid stench of burnt electronics. For a moment, they felt a fleeting sense of relief as the relentless moaning and shuffling of the zombies were muffled by the door Ishan slammed shut behind them.

"What do we do?" Ishan asked, his voice a deep rumble that barely masked his fear.

Soham, scanning the room with a mix of urgency and frustration, muttered, "Oh, what can we do?"

Anirudh, his movements quick and precise, darted to the control panels, his voice strained with worry. "How can we get out? Is Avyan alright?"

Soham snapped, "Let me think!"

In the shadowy corner of the room, the woman who had been with them slowly crumpled to the floor. Her face was a mask of agony, sweat pouring down her as she shivered violently. Her breaths came in ragged, desperate gasps. She lay there, unnoticed by the others, who were too engrossed in their frantic planning to see her suffering. Then, she coughed, a wet, gurgling sound, and black blood spattered from her lips. She began to vomit, the dark fluid pooling around her.

She knew what was happening to her. Resigned to her fate, she prayed silently, her lips moving in a voiceless curse. "You are liars," she thought bitterly. "You promised my safety. Damn you. I hope you die a gruesome death.", she reflected on her actions, "I did everything I could to survive", tears rolled down from her eyes, "I even had to eat my dead friend to stay alive", her body convulsed, her bones cracking and contorting grotesquely. Her fingers twisted, shaking uncontrollably. Her face turned ashen, her eyes wide and lifeless.

Ishan, deep in thought, standing in the middle of the room, was startled when she suddenly lunged at him. Her eyes were wild, her movements erratic. He held his ground, his bulk keeping him steady, but he struggled to push her away. "What are you doing?" he yelled, trying to keep her at arm's length.

Anirudh, swift as a shadow, sprang into action. "She's dead!" he shouted, his voice a sharp warning. Ishan's eyes widened in horror as he saw the bite mark on her shoulder, her shawl falling away in the struggle to reveal the festering wound. He froze, paralyzed by the realization that he had failed to save her.

Before Anirudh could reach them, she sank her teeth into Ishan's neck. Blood sprayed all over her face, and she screamed with a guttural, primal sound. Anirudh grabbed her and threw her aside with a force born of desperation, he shouted in desperation. Soham leapt forward, his blade flashing in the dim light as he cut her down with brutal efficiency.

Anirudh stayed crouched on the ground, his body trembling with shock. His eyes, wide and unseeing, couldn't see Ishan. His mind refused to believe the scene that happened. The room was filled with a heavy, suffocating silence, broken only by the distant, relentless pounding of the undead outside.