The school's architecture is a contradiction—grand in design, yet riddled with flaws that, in this new world, risk the lives of everyone left within its walls. Built before the outbreak but designated as a Type 2 Safe Zone by the government, it fails one of the most basic structural guidelines: its stairwells are staggered between alternating sides on each floor. Navigating it during a zombie infestation isn't just dangerous—it's a logistical nightmare.
To reach the chemistry lab on the fourth floor, one has to zigzag across the entire building with each level climbed. And worse yet, the entrances themselves are poorly placed. The northern and eastern gates sit on adjacent walls, farthest from the hostel, forcing anyone from the dorms to either loop around or cross open ground. It's a design born from architectural pride, not survival practicality.
Jay, Purnima, and Aditya pause in the shadow of the hostel gate, surveying their path.
"We could trigger the speakers again to lure them off," Jay suggests, referencing the old trick they've used before via the school's central announcement system.
Purnima, without hesitation, shakes her head. "No. Not this time. The building was nearly empty when the auditorium incident happened. Most of the infected are likely pulled toward the girls' dorms or already roaming elsewhere. The density will be lower now—we confront and clear. No need to attract more attention than necessary."
Her reasoning is sound. The undead have long since followed the strongest human scents—where panic once concentrated students, now only silence lingers.
Aditya, silent till now, steps forward with a calm that unsettles the other two. "I'll go in first. Separate from you both. I'll scout each floor quietly. If there are too many of them, I'll fall back—jump from the balcony if I have to. If it's manageable, I'll clear the way."
Jay narrows his eyes. "When did you start making thoughtful decisions?"
Aditya smirks but doesn't return the jest. "Take it as a favor. Or don't. Doesn't matter to me."
"You're still as irritating as ever," Jay mutters.
"Let's focus," Purnima cuts in, brushing past the sarcasm. "Which entrance?"
"The northern one is the farthest," Jay says. "But safer. Eastern side's field-facing—too exposed."
"We can go from the side entrance," Jay adds, glancing toward the route they've used previously.
"I'm heading out first," Aditya says, already walking. "The hostel gate's clear. It's now or never."
"Let's hope Samarth and Amrit have it easier than us," Purnima murmurs, her eyes lingering on Aditya as he disappears into the distance.
But Aditya doesn't take the side entrance.
Something in him tugs against the plan. Maybe it's instinct. Maybe it's the creeping suspicion that something's off. He diverts quietly to the northern entrance, weaving his way along the wall's perimeter. He wants to see the building—test its silence, feel its pulse. The tension in the air isn't just paranoia; it's survival.
The stairwells, as expected, are maddening. Every floor forces him to cross to the opposite side, and the broken symmetry makes him feel like he's caught in a cruel game of spatial puzzles. But his instincts serve him well. The undead are sparse, disorganized, wandering in confusion more than in hunger. He moves through them like a blade—clean, efficient, unstoppable.
By the time he reaches the fourth floor, the halls are cleared, and not a single groan echoes behind him.
He gives a quick signal from the corridor window, and Jay and Purnima emerge from cover, sprinting in coordinated bursts toward the school and entering safely behind him.
In the lab, Jay immediately begins sorting through bottles and ingredients stored on the rusting shelves.
"I'm going to the roof," Aditya says suddenly, already moving toward the door.
"Why—?" Purnima starts, then sighs. "Forget it. You wouldn't explain even if we asked."
"I've found everything you listed," Jay reports from a table strewn with faded labels and dusty equipment.
"How long will it take to make the suppressants?" Aditya asks, already halfway through the door.
"An hour for processing," Purnima replies, "then at least another hour of heating depending on the quality."
Aditya nods once. "I'll be back in about an hour. I'll lock the door from outside to avoid any noise when I return."
"Fine," Jay says without looking up. "Do as you like."
The door clicks shut.
On the rooftop, Aditya steps into the open air and exhales.
It's quiet.
Too quiet.
He moves toward the edge of the terrace, peering across the expanse of campus toward the cafeteria building—and there, below, his eyes widen.
A massive swarm of zombies is converging. Dozens… no, possibly hundreds. They press toward the structure like water around a stone, groaning, crawling, some clawing up the brick in a frenzy.
Aditya's heart skips.
Samarth…
He narrows his eyes, trying to catch a sign—movement, sound, something.
The cafeteria roof is quiet.
Aditya's jaw tightens. If Samarth is there, then he's holding them off. He trusts him—Samarth isn't the type to fall easily. But still…
He doesn't like it.
Not one bit.