The girls’ aching feet carried them block after block away from the overrun mall. The zombies' frenzied wails gradually faded behind them, leaving only empty streets ringing with silence. As adrenaline seeped away, weariness sank into their bones.

Rounding a last corner, the girls slumped with relief at the sight of a major multi-lane intersection ahead. Wrecked cars littered the area, but no threats lurked in the morning sunlight.

Picking an elevated sedan, Matsui hauled herself onto its trunk with the last of her strength. The others quickly joined her atop the vehicle, too spent to even speak.

Leaning back against the rear window, Matsui let her racing thoughts catch up to reality. Now doubt crept in.

"Do you think..." she began softly, "that the zombies might just die off eventually on their own?" Even voicing that delicate hope aloud felt taboo after all they had endured.

Dorki's reply was gentle but firm. "I am afraid not. The necromantic magic animating them will remain indefinitely unless directly countered." His ears drooped sadly. "The hordes will continue to consume everything unchecked."

From Matsui's other side, Reira uttered a harsh, mirthless laugh. "Of course, they won't conveniently drop dead. We'd never get off that easy." She gestured sharply at the lifeless urban sprawl. "This damn city is massive, and that psycho Revena could be holed up anywhere waiting to snack on us, too!"

Her outburst echoed through the empty intersection. Matsui winced at the thought of traversing block after block of hazards with their adversary's location utterly unknown. How could they fight an enemy they couldn't even find?

"What I really don't get is where the hell the actual military is," Jayla said, voice hushed.

"They're just gonna let zombies take over the capital?" She shook her head. "Feels like we've been completely abandoned."

A somber pall fell over the group. For possibly the first time, the full weight of their desperate circumstances sank in. They were just teenagers tasked with combating an immortal evil and its army of horrors, fully alone.

A distant scream pierced the heavy silence. Down the street, Matsui spotted a middle-aged businessman in a disheveled suit sprinting towards them, pure terror etched across his exhausted features. A mob of zombies rounded the corner behind him, malice glinting in their hollow gazes.

In an instant, the hopelessness strangling Matsui's heart loosened. This man needed them. She could stand against the shadows one more time. Meeting her friends' eyes, she saw dawning resolve reflected.

Without a word exchanged, the girls jumped down, weapons flaming to life in their grips as they charged to intercept the zombies. This was who they were now - the only light protecting the innocent from merciless darkness. And for now, that purpose was enough to sustain them.

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Taking reserves they didn't know remained, their onslaught tore into the mob with renewed, righteous fury. Any fatigue or despair faded before the mission at hand. In mere moments, the threat was gone, leaving only smoke and lingering flames.

Approaching the cowering man slowly, Matsui extended a hand, repeating the words that had given her strength too many times to count now. "Everything will be alright. We won't let them hurt you."

As the businessman took her hand with tears of gratitude, Matsui knew this was just the beginning. Their light only shone brighter against the gathering dark. And she would cling to that light until her last breath before willingly abandoning their beautiful, broken world to evil.

*****

Matsui watched with relief as Takashi reunited tearfully with his family inside their barricaded high-rise apartment. She was grateful they had escorted him back safely before continuing the search for Revena's location.

"Please, you must stay and rest - it's the least we can do to repay you," Takashi implored, face etched with gratitude. Matsui smiled but shook her head firmly.

"We appreciate everything, but our mission out there is too important to delay any longer." She bowed respectfully to the family. "Good luck and stay safe."

Leaving the stronghold behind, the girls pressed onward through lifeless streets stained crimson by the setting sun. Each step took them farther into the decimated heart of the city, and perhaps closer to finally stopping this nightmare.

Rounding a corner, Jayla stumbled over an abandoned moped, triggering its shrieking alarm. The girls jumped at the horrid wailing siren echoing down the corridor of buildings. Matsui whirled around to see zombies already emerging from the shadows and shambling hungrily toward the disturbance.

"Nice going!" Reira shouted over the noise, blasting flames at the approaching horde. But more undead poured from every crevice, their numbers swelling rapidly.

"We can't fight them all, run!" Matsui yelled, freezing the creatures' legs in place to slow them briefly. The girls took off down the street with the mob close behind. Spotting an alley ahead, they ducked into the narrow passageway.

The echoing moans right behind them spurred the girls to climb a rusty fire escape ladder up the side of the high-rise building. Reaching the roof, they finally dared to glance down. The frustrated zombies crowded the alley below before eventually dispersing, denying their prey.

"That… was way too close," Jayla wheezed, hands braced on her knees. But their rooftop vantage provided an ideal perspective of the city. In the distance, Matsui noticed an open-air plaza with cafes, kiosks, and water features. If supplies yet remained, that could be their best option to replenish and take cover as dusk approached.

Traversing the roofline, the girls dropped into the abandoned plaza. Matsui kept watch with weapons ready as Reira and Jayla scavenged the small businesses. To their delight, they found packaged snacks, bottled drinks, and useful tools that had gone untouched in the chaos. Their packs were now heavy. It was time to hunker down for the night.

Choosing an empty cafe with intact windows, the girls finally relaxed, discussing plans for the next day's search over a veritable feast of stale food. After days of unrelenting struggle, Matsui nearly wept at the simple joy of resting her feet while chatting with friends. It all seemed so normal.

Which made the following seconds even more shocking. Blinding pain exploded against the back of Matsui's skull. Fighting unconsciousness, she glimpsed Jayla and Reira slumping forward as shadowy figures approached from behind. Low, sinister laughter echoed around Matsui before she sank into the darkness.