As Rio and Elaine sprinted toward the two-story house along the chaotic street, the sound of brutal violence filled the air. An infected man, having just finished viciously beating and biting a victim, caught sight of them. His bloodshot eyes locked onto them, and with a guttural screech, he stood up, saliva dripping from his mouth. The infected charged after them, driven by a violent, uncontrollable urge.
Elaine's heart pounded in her chest as she heard the growl and the heavy, thudding footsteps behind them. She risked a glance over her shoulder, her breath catching in her throat when she saw the infected closing in.
"Rio, infected!" she cried out, panic seizing her voice.
"Shit!" Rio cursed under his breath. "Get to the door!" He released Elaine's arm, practically shoving her forward in his urgency.
Elaine stumbled but quickly regained her footing, racing toward the front door of the house. Rio, meanwhile, turned to face the oncoming threat, his heart hammering in his chest. As the infected barreled toward him, Rio swung his backpack with all his strength, the heavy impact smashing into the man’s face. The infected staggered and tumbled onto the road, giving Rio the precious seconds he needed.
"Come on!" Elaine shouted, her voice trembling as she held the door wide open, her eyes wide with fear. "Hurry, Rio!"
"Fuck," Rio muttered under his breath as he sprinted toward the door, adrenaline surging through his veins. His pulse pounded in his ears, drowning out everything but the sound of the infected scrambling to its feet, rage and violence propelling it forward. "He's fast!"
Just as Rio reached the doorstep, the infected lunged, its fingers almost grazing his back. Elaine slammed the door shut with a forceful push, but the infected crashed into it with a terrifying strength, its body slamming against the wood with enough force to shake the entire doorframe.
"He's trying to get in!" Elaine cried out, her voice laced with panic. She pressed her back against the door, straining to keep it closed. Her feet slid on the floor, the sheer force of the infected's assault threatening to overpower her. "I can't hold it—help me!"
Without hesitation, Rio threw himself against the door, adding his weight to hers. Their combined strength barely kept the door from bursting open, and for a long, agonizing moment, it felt like the infected might break through. The sound of the infected's furious grunts and the sharp, splintering groan of the door filled the small space.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they managed to slam the door shut with a sickening thud as the infected's body crashed against it one last time. Their hands, slick with sweat, fumbled to turn the deadbolt, securing the lock with trembling fingers. They pushed the button on the doorknob, sealing the final lock as the infected pounded on the other side, its screams of frustration echoing through the house, each shriek more chilling than the last.
Elaine staggered back from the door, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she tried to catch her breath. Her eyes were wide with fear, her body trembling from the exertion. Rio moved quickly through the house, his breathing ragged, checking every window and back door, ensuring there was no other way for the infected to break in. Each creak of the floorboards under his feet made him wince, his nerves stretched to the breaking point.
"Is it… is it going to break through?" Elaine whispered, her voice shaking as she gripped the box cutter tightly, the razor glinting in the dim light.
Rio shook his head, trying to project a calm he didn’t quite feel. "I don’t think so. We just need to stay quiet. Maybe it’ll leave us alone."
They huddled together in the dark, the air between them thick with tension. The only sound was the furious pounding on the door, a relentless assault that seemed to go on forever. Elaine’s breath hitched with every impact, her knuckles white as she clutched the box cutter. She leaned slightly into Rio, seeking comfort in his presence, and he felt the slight tremor in her frame.
But then, just as suddenly as it had started, the banging stopped. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by their labored breathing. Elaine’s wide eyes met Rio’s, both of them frozen in place, their expressions a mix of terror and desperate hope.
The infected let out one final, blood-curdling screech before something outside caught its attention. The sound of its footsteps receded, drawn away by the chaos in the streets. The silence that fell afterward was almost unbearable, thick with the echoes of their fear.
...
"I think he's gone now… that was a close one," Elaine whispered, her voice trembling as she tried to steady her breath. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, the adrenaline that had kept her on edge now ebbing away, leaving her hands slightly shaky. She leaned against the wall, trying to calm herself. "He was so fast. It’s like he was burning every bit of energy he had just to get to us."
"Yeah," Rio replied, his voice carrying the weight of exhaustion. He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the tension in his muscles slowly start to release. "Those infected have nothing left except the drive to spread the virus. He’s probably off chasing someone else now." He exhaled deeply, leaning against the wall beside her, his mind still racing but his body beginning to relax.
They cautiously moved through the house, every creak of the floorboards beneath their feet making them flinch. Their nerves were taut, the silence almost as unnerving as the chaos outside. "The house looks empty," Elaine observed quietly, her eyes scanning the dimly lit rooms as they ventured deeper inside, every shadow a potential threat.
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"The residents must have evacuated when everything went to hell," Rio speculated, his voice hushed. His gaze swept over the remnants of a once normal life—family photos, scattered belongings, and furniture that seemed eerily untouched. "But we can’t be too sure. Last time I thought a place was safe, I ran into an infected elderly couple and their caretaker." His grip tightened around the kitchen knife, the blade still stained with the dried blood of the old man he had to put down. The memory sent a shiver through him, a grim reminder that safety was an illusion.
As they wandered into the kitchen, Elaine’s eyes caught on something that felt out of place amid the fear and uncertainty—a basket of mangoes, untouched and perfectly ripe. For a moment, the sight was so surreal that she almost forgot where they were. "Hey, look, they have a basket of mangoes," she said, her voice tinged with a rare note of relief. The normalcy of the fruit felt like a brief escape from the nightmare they were living. "Can we… eat them?" she asked, already reaching out to pick one up, the hope in her eyes impossible to miss.
"As long as it’s not fish, I think we’re good," Rio replied, a small smile tugging at his lips as he took one for himself. He began peeling it with his fingers, the sweet scent filling the air, momentarily replacing the stench of fear.
"Thief," Elaine teased, a playful glint in her eyes as she referenced Rio’s RPG class. "You’re eating mangoes that way? Why not slice the cheeks off?" Her tone was light, a welcome contrast to the tension that had gripped them moments before.
"It’s too time-consuming to slice it, and I’ve got blood all over my knife," Rio explained, taking a big bite out of the mango. The sweet juice burst in his mouth, a fleeting but much-needed reminder of something good in a world gone mad. "Think of it like trash loot—discarded by other players but valuable to us right now."
Elaine laughed softly, the sound bringing warmth back into the cold space. The absurdity of their situation hit her then—a basket of mangoes felt like a treasure, a small victory in the midst of all the loss. "Plus HP or SP, I guess," she added with a chuckle, her mood lifting as she savored the taste of the fruit.
As she ate, Rio couldn’t help but notice how messy Elaine was with her mango, the juice and bits of fruit smeared across her mouth and cheeks. The sight made him smile, a genuine, unguarded moment that caught him off guard. He let out a sudden, unexpected giggle.
"What?" Elaine asked, her eyes locking onto his with a mix of confusion and curiosity. She touched her face, realizing what he found so amusing. "Oh. This is the second time you’ve laughed at me while I’m eating," she said with a pout, though the corners of her mouth hinted at a smile. The tension between them eased, replaced by a shared moment of lightness.
They took their time finishing the mangoes, relishing this rare moment of peace as if it were the last they might have. It was their follow-up dessert after the hurried meal back at Elaine’s apartment, a moment of sweetness in a world full of bitterness. Afterward, they washed their sticky hands and faces, the cool water refreshing their tired bodies.
As they prepared to move on, Rio glanced at Elaine, her face still carrying traces of the mango juice she had hastily wiped away. "Let’s go," Rio said, his tone serious once more as he started toward the stairs. He led the way up to the second floor, his steps cautious but determined. Elaine followed closely behind, the tension gradually returning as they ascended.
On the second floor, Rio pushed open the door to the balcony. The outside air hit them, carrying with it the distant sounds of the chaos they had momentarily escaped. Without hesitation, Rio vaulted onto the fence and balanced himself at the edge, his eyes focused on the roof of the neighboring house.
"We’ll be traveling from here," he said to Elaine, his voice steady as he prepared to jump down. The uncertainty of what lay ahead weighed on them both, but they knew they had no choice but to keep moving.
"Are you seriously going to jump? Is it safe?" Elaine's voice trembled as she stared down at the drop, her fear of heights making her heart race.
"There’s no other choice, Elaine," Rio replied, his voice firm yet understanding. "Safe or not, it’s better than being on the streets with all those infected."
Without another word, Rio jumped from the balcony, his body plummeting toward the roof below. He landed with practiced precision, his feet barely making a sound as he absorbed the impact. He quickly looked up, waving to Elaine, his expression calm but insistent.
"Come on down!" Rio called out, his tone encouraging.
"I—I can't, it's too high!" Elaine’s voice quivered as she clung to the fence, her knuckles white. She looked down at Rio, her fear gripping her tightly.
"You can do it," Rio urged, his eyes locked on hers. "Just think of it like you’re about to cut classes from school."
"W—What?! You've done that before?" Elaine exclaimed, her fear momentarily replaced by shock. "Rio, I don’t think I can do this!"
Rio sighed softly, realizing he needed to be more persuasive. "Come on, I promise you won’t get hurt. I’ll catch you, okay?"
Elaine hesitated, her fear warring with her trust in Rio. But the confidence in his voice, the way he stood there, ready to catch her, made her take a deep breath. "Okay," she whispered, more to herself than to him.
With trembling hands, Elaine climbed up the fence and stood at the edge, her legs shaking as she stared down. The world seemed to spin for a moment, but she forced herself to focus on Rio, who was ready below.
"Easy," Rio said, his voice steady and reassuring. "Just step forward, let yourself fall, and get ready to land."
Elaine swallowed hard, her mouth dry. "Here goes..." She whispered, and with a final deep breath, she stepped off the edge, surrendering to gravity.
The moment she left the balcony, fear surged through her, and she let out a scream as she plummeted toward the roof. The wind rushed past her ears, and for a brief second, she felt weightless, completely out of control. But her body instinctively positioned itself for the landing.
Rio, watching her descent, decided to let her land on her own, stepping back at the last second. He knew she could handle it—this was a moment for her to realize her own strength.
Elaine’s feet hit the roof with a soft thud, her knees bending to absorb the shock. She stood there, eyes squeezed shut, bracing for pain that never came. When she finally opened her eyes, Rio was standing in front of her, a proud grin on his face.
"See? I told you, you could do it," Rio said, his tone light but filled with admiration.
Elaine’s relief quickly turned to anger. "Stupid!" she shouted, her voice shaking as much as her legs. She stomped toward him, her fear converting into a frustrated energy. "You promised you’d catch me!" She began to hit him, her fists weak but insistent, while Rio chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender.
"But you landed on your own—no need for me," Rio replied, still grinning. His laughter was infectious, but Elaine’s glare kept it at bay.
"Ugh, you’re so annoying," she muttered, her cheeks flushing, though she couldn’t help but feel a bit proud of herself.
"Let’s go," Rio said, turning serious again. He started to lead the way across the rooftops, the dangerous streets below them filled with the distant sounds of chaos.