In the noon the rays of the sun caressed Jim's face as he made his final preparations and he met with the rest of the group as they had planned the day before.

Today is the day when they could hopefully find other survivors. A supermarket was one of the few places people would hide in as it provided enough food and water for days if not weeks.

Additionally, it was an especially good option since it provided shelter and enough space for a rather large group of people. The supermarket Jim and his group wanted to go to was not the biggest but was more than enough to provide shelter for a few dozen people.

Their plan was already set and they left the school behind. The distance they had to travel should have been only twenty minutes but it took them over two hours just to make it there. Similar to yesterday the streets were swarmed with all kinds of mutants. Many of them were birds, which made the journey especially annoying.

The only good thing about this was that they didn’t encounter another rank two and that they cleared more of the surroundings of the school. With Charlotte in their group, the birds were also less annoying. She often wasn’t able to hit them, but scaring them off was more than sufficient.

The group didn’t know for how long the surroundings would be safe after they cleared them from the mutants, but considering that they were not infinite it should take at least a few days before new mutants roamed the streets.

A way bigger problem than the number of mutants was their rank. After killing so many mutants on their way Jim noticed a problem. He wasn’t getting nearly enough energy for his third transformation.

Now that they knew more about this transformation and were actually looking out for the feeling of absorbing the energy Jim was getting better at determining the amount he got. After he was so close to the death of the rank two dog he was now able to compare it to the ones of the first rank.

Compared to even the fragment he absorbed from the dog, the mutants he killed on the way to the supermarket were not comparable. He of course still felt an increase and was even getting a feeling for how much energy he needed to reach his third transformation.

The problem was that the first rank was not getting nearly enough energy to get him anywhere near rank three. He wasn’t sure but he guessed that he would have to kill dozens if not over a hundred mutants of the first rank just to reach the next rank.

This wasn’t really a problem as the mutants had the same problem, but it was still weird how much harder it was to reach the third rank compared to the second.

They also used this journey to work on their teamwork and their skills. Jim tried to stay more on the passive side and only interfere in emergencies to let the others familiarize themself with fighting. After the fighting yesterday Jim knew that he was the best regarding skills.

That thinking was not bragging but just a clear observation of their situation. It was true that Jim was rather the troublemaker in the past and he was not unfamiliar with a good fistfight or a quarrel with sticks.

Jim never really realized it before but he had a talent for fighting. In modern days you rarely had to protect yourself and only in this new dangerous situation began Jim’s hidden talent to shine.

Realizing this Jim thought that it was best to let the others gain more fighting experience, while it was still somewhat safe. From the progression of the situation, it seemed that in only a few days, many more rank two mutants were going to be in the city.

He also tried to stay as far from the corpses as he could so he would absorb the least energy. The others should try to reach rank two before anything else.

While he stayed behind and was less active Jim had more freedom and time to observe the mutants. He knew well that information was more important than anything else and being able to identify a threat and knowing its weakness was crucial for their survival.

After the first transformation, every animal improved in various aspects, but mostly their size was affected. The base of their weaknesses and strengths stayed often the same or were very similar.

The animals didn’t change their race or something, they were just strengthened. This meant that the two most important factors to determine the strength of a mutant were their rank and their species.

Further observation, probing, and knowing the animal beforehand were of course very useful. They also had to improve their battle awareness, dodging, blocking, and swordplay, as these were all things they had to improve on if they wanted to survive.

Carefully observing everything he saw and trying to find the best solution for each animal, Jim didn’t even notice how fast the time passed and they reached their destination; the supermarket.

Observing the vicinity the group was almost sure there were people in the supermarket, as the windows were covered with planks and not a single mutant could be seen around the supermarket.

Getting closer they knocked on the front door. In the past, this was an automatic door but resembled now more of a makeshift wooden door than anything else.

After knocking the group could hear startled whispers from the other side. Full of new hope Charlotte was the first one to speak, “Hello, is someone there?”

The whispers continued in higher density this time and they could hear some ruckus inside. Furthermore was Jim sure he just saw eyes peek through the slits of the planks. After a while, they heard more activity on the other door, as it was opened and the group could finally see inside the supermarket.

Like everywhere else the power supply was damaged and most of the lights in the supermarket didn’t work.

Finally seeing inside they couldn’t conceal their shock. They saw a woman in her forties with blue eyes resembling sapphires, curly, thick, blond hair, and a beautiful necklace wrapped around her neck. It had a charming silver chain, from which a beautiful blue stone hung, resembling her eye color.

The stone could be even mistaken for a real sapphire, but Jim knew better that it was fake. In fact, everyone in the group knew this person. This was their art teacher Miss Flora.

Behind Flora, they could see about fifty other students which was the reason for their surprise. Jim knew almost no one from them by name and recognized only a few by their face. He wasn't really the most socializing guy and was more introverted.

Before even one of them could speak Jim saw how Charlotte rushed past them with tears welling up in her eyes.

She sprinted to a girl with light green eyes, straight brown hair, and a striking birthmark under her right eye. It was on the right side of her eye and even if small, was a striking feature for Jim.

“Emma! You are alive! I thought I would never see you again.”

Charlotte and Emma fell into a heartwarming embrace and soon Emma also couldn’t hold her tears back. Jim could understand Charlotte’s feeling all too well after the thing she just witnessed not long ago.

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Nobody liked to point it out or think too much about it but the corpses the group found alone on the way to the supermarket were horrifying.

They were more comfortable with looking at them, compared to the day before, and took the occasional glance to make sure it was nobody they knew. Every time Jim looked at a corpse he had the same thought: Please don’t be my family, please just be someone else.

Even if it is very unlikely that his family would be near the supermarket. The fear was always there. He thankfully didn’t find any of his family members, Charlotte on the other hand…

She found one of her friends lying on one of the roads. They just finished a fight and like everywhere some corpses were lying around the road.

Every corpse had some sort of brutal wound like misaligned limbs, some lost organs, or the various slash marks from one of the mutants. Between the many corpses lay a girl with shoulder-length brown hair.

Her left arm and head were completely misaligned, she had scratch wounds all over her legs and a horrifying bite wound on the neck which almost completely served it.

Only a few strands of flesh barely held the head to its body. Judging by the wound you could often imagine how the person died. This was such an example.

Most likely the girl was running away in a frenzy like everyone else. Suddenly something tears through the flesh of your leg. You fall down and try to support your body with your left arm, but the force was too big, breaking your arm.

You turn around and frantically scramble away from the mutant while desperately trying to keep it away with your legs. For your enemy, this was nothing more than a helpless struggle, while it just wore you down with more slashes on the leg.

After some time you lose power and the animal sees the chance and directly jumps at your neck. Next, you see the mutant horribly close, while its fangs sink into your tender flesh. Before you could even react the dog was already shaking your body like some toy.

You feel how your strength is slowly leaving your body, your vision turns blurry, you have a last thought and everything turns black…

Before Jim could think more about this horrifying encounter Charlotte spoke again, “Emma what happened to you all? Where are the rest of the teachers?”

Taking some time to calm down from the reunion with Charlotte, Emma began to recount the events before they got to the supermarket.

“After this bright light faded away everyone was confused and couldn’t make sense of the situation. For us, the first few minutes were pretty normal. Our Teacher calmed us down and led us outside following normal protocol.

Our classroom was thankfully near the emergency exit so we could leave without much trouble. After getting out we saw from below a huge hawk flapping its wings in a furry in your classroom. I was shocked and wanted to help you, but before I could do anything I heard screams...

At first only from one side then two and then it seemed like everyone was screaming, soon after we heard the sound of… slaughter. I don’t really know who was the first to run but after seeing someone die from a shadow nearby all hell broke loose.

I didn't know what to do so I just started running with the rest. It was like a huge wave of humans where everyone was swept in. The teachers couldn't control the situation and after getting down the mountain it was.. i-it was just getting worse.”

Emma looked with an unfocused and frightened expression into the distance. Charlotte looked worriedly at Emma.

“Are you alright?”

Being torn out from her thoughts Emma she shook her head to regain some clarity. “I’m fine, I just don’t want to think about.. this slaughter. You must have seen all the corpses so I don’t really have to explain what happened.

I don't know how to describe the scene or why most of us ran in the same direction, probably just because everyone was going with the wave, but we soon reached the supermarket.

After getting here we just started to barricade the doors and windows. Afterward, we just panicked, some screamed desperately, while others cowered somewhere in fear. Most of us couldn't make sense of the situation.”

Only now did Jim realize that some of the people in the supermarket were still trembling like bushes in a storm. They huddled into a ball and mumbled words only they could understand.

Before Emma could continue Flora joined in the conversation while fumbling with her necklace. “Originally a few other teachers were together with me but they went to the police stations to get help or at least some weapons, but they didn't return yet. They should have been back by now.

I'm also happy to see that you are all doing well, but can you please explain how you got here and why you have… swords?”

Hearing this Jim realized yet again how lucky they were. They could have died so many times in the past one and a half days that he lost count and didn’t even want to think about what could have happened.

After realizing the problem at hand Jim started explaining their own situation and what they had found out. He first started by recounting the events that lead up to this point and also explained everything they knew about this transformation and what effects it had on them and the animals.

Jim finished after about ten minutes, his summarization. He told them how the school was a safer place and they should just transfer the food and water from the supermarket. Hearing this most were hesitating.

They just fled from school yesterday and were not yet ready to return to this place of nightmares. They of course didn’t really have another option and started to reluctantly gather everything that could be of use.

Miss Flora wrote a note for the other teachers, explaining the situation in case they returned. With this finished Jim, Jake, Chirs, Clay, and Charlotte made their way, with a group of about fifty students and one teacher, back to the school.

The biggest problem was that there were not nearly enough people to defend the students or give them weapons. They already cleared the way so there shouldn't be too many mutants and they decided to go in the front in their usual formation.

Jim was at the tip of the formation to his right was Clay and to his left was Chris, behind him, was Jake, and after him followed Charlotte. They didn't want somebody to die. So they began their journey back and like Jim hoped, didn't meet any mutants other than a single bird which Charlotte swiftly scared off.

They were about halfway done when he was stopped by Clay. Turning around he asked, “What is it?” With a serious face, Clay replied, “Something is wrong. I don’t know exactly what but isn’t it too quiet even for the mutants?”

Thinking about it, Jim realized that it was indeed weird. They even encountered multiple mutants on their way back from the museum. As the group stopped moving the students grew confused and anxious from the sudden halt.

Clay tried to hear something but the students were muttering to themself and he couldn’t concentrate."Silence! Don't speak and don't move, something isn't right."

He closed his eyes and grew more and more concerned. Jim and the rest were already ready with their drawn weapons. Concentrating Clay slowly realized something; didn’t the rustle of the leaves sound quite weird?

He suddenly shot his eyes open and looked up at the trees. They were currently traversing through a park just like they previously did. As Jim saw Clay’s eyes grow big he followed his gaze.

Taking a close look Jim’s eyes widened in shock as he soon realized that something that at first looked like bark, was in reality fur. Quickly looking around he realized that they were encircled and without further wait he sprinted to the other student-

"RUN!"

Too late. Multiple shadows jumped from the trees. They looked like humanoid creatures, with brown fur and were each equipped with a stone in their hands.

They landed on the shoulders of the students, toppling them to the ground. Before realizing what really happened…

*Bam*

They were hit with a rock again and again before...

*THRUK*

A shrill creaking sound resounded as the skull of the students was cracked, while their faces were carved in and shadows laughed on top of them.

Over a dozen apes sprung from the trees to assault the group. One of them landed on the shoulders of Miss Flora which could hold her balance somehow.

She tried grabbing the ape and throwing it away but before she could get a hold of him she was jerked behind.

The ape started choking her with her own necklace. Surprised by the sudden force around her neck she stumbled a few steps back trying to grab the ape.

The ape avoided every attempt skillfully before increasing the strength of his choke. Finally losing her balance the teacher fell on her butt while she was still trying to grab the ape.

Slowly her movement became more sluggish. Panic and shock were written all over her face, as she looked with a pleading gaze toward Jim who was rushing in her direction. Before reaching her the teacher lost all strength and her arms slowly slumped down.

Making a few more choking noises her vision became more and more blurry, and shortly after everything went black. The last remaining light in her eyes faded and only her dull sapphire blue eyes remained looking in the direction of Jim.

The Ape finally let go of the necklace and the teacher's body fell over like a crumbling cardhouse. Lying on the road, lifeless.

The ape started laughing and drumming on his chest to demonstrate his strength. At this moment something snapped in Jim.