Zane
My heart was racing so fast because, in the end, I got scratched by the infected person—and it wasn't even a small scratch. Blood had come out of it.
I covered the scratch on my arm with my other hand, while holding the table lamp with my injured one. Vien came running out too.
"Hungry! Hungry!" The infected person kept repeating the same word again and again before suddenly charging at me at full speed.
I swung the table lamp at him, but it didn't hurt him at all. Instead, he snatched it from my hand and threw it to the ground.
Still, I was ready to fight, but then I noticed something strange happening to him. His body started to twist and creak before he suddenly stopped moving. Vien stood beside me, holding a frying pan in his hand.
The next second, the infected man came running toward us again—but before he could reach, he fell to the ground.
I turned and saw Viktor standing at the door, a gun in his hand, pointing straight at the infected man. Thick black blood started oozing out of the man's body as he twitched uncontrollably.
Viktor stood there calmly, holding the gun like it was just another part of his daily routine.
Then Black rushed inside, tied the infected man with a rope, and wrapped him in a plastic sheet like he was already a dead body.
Viktor's eyes met mine. He quickly rushed inside and grabbed both my shoulders.
"Zane! Your arm?" he said, checking my wound. He made me sit down on the sofa and cleaned it carefully before applying ointment and bandaging it.
"It's not hurting, is it?" he asked.
I shook my head. It wasn't hurting that much anymore. Nilo and Nico stood close to me, their small hands resting on my arms.
"Kids, I'm fine. Don't worry about me," I reassured them gently.
"Zane, this scratch is from an infected person, but don't worry. I've applied ointment and covered it properly," Viktor said.
His words should've comforted me, but fear crept into my chest.
What if I get infected? What will happen to my kids if I die?
I don't want to hurt them... and I don't want to leave them alone in this world either.
"Zane, we're not safe here," Viktor said.
"I already checked with Adam and Black. The infected have entered the building, and others are starting to get infected too. We need to leave right now."
What!? Viktor went to check all that—and now the infected are inside? Then where will we go? It's not like the outside world is safe either. There's no safe place anymore.
"Viktor, do you know any other safe places?" I asked.
He extended his hand and patted Nilo and Nico's heads. Just then, I realized Adam hadn't come back yet, and Black had gone out with the infected body.
Didn't Viktor just say it's dangerous in this building? Then why are Black and Adam still out there?
"I don't know," Viktor admitted.
"But since the government announced a lockdown, people have been leaving their homes and heading east. That's where most of them are going—and the infected too. So, we'll go west."
I stared at him. "Is this a joke? What if we encounter those infected people? They can even talk now, and if they hide their skin, we won't recognize them."
I had a point—it was dangerous to go outside. But staying inside wasn't safe either, especially with my two sons here.
"Zane, try to understand," Viktor said calmly. "If we stay here and the groceries run out—and later, if the power and water go too—what will we do? We'll be trapped forever. It's better to leave while we still have a chance."
Hearing that, I also started to feel that staying wasn't a good idea anymore. Just then, Adam and Black rushed back inside. Wait—was the door open this whole time?
Why didn't Vien close it? When I looked at him, he gave me a worried, slightly angry look.
As Adam entered, Rio ran straight to him. He looked worried about me too.
Viktor stood up and nodded at me.
"Everyone, listen. This place isn't safe anymore. We're leaving now," Viktor announced, grabbing everyone's attention.
"Zane, pack everything important from your apartment and mine," Viktor instructed.
I quickly stood up and went to the bedroom. Nilo and Nico followed behind me. Vien was about to come too, but Viktor stopped him, and he went instead to Viktor's apartment with Adam, Rio, and Black, closing the door behind them.
When we entered the bedroom, I noticed the bandage still wrapped around Viktor's old wound. Both kids climbed onto the bed, and Viktor sat down beside them—then suddenly viktor lay down. Seeing that, the kids also lay down beside him in the exact same position. I wanted to laugh… but I was too annoyed.
Viktor wasn't helping at all and was just acting lazy.
I opened the wardrobe, took out my big backpack, and packed the kids' bags first—stuffing them with clothes and other essentials. Then I added a few of my things.
When I came out of the bedroom, my eyes went straight to the main door—it was closed. Still, I couldn't shake the memory of that infected man rushing in earlier.
If Viktor hadn't saved me, I would've died for sure.
I wanted to ask Viktor about his gun, but I already knew—he was in the mafia, after all. Of course, he'd have one.
I checked the kitchen and packed everything edible into a bag, along with a few knives for protection.
When I was done, I noticed Viktor had already fallen asleep—and so had the kids. The three of them were lying on their backs, one hand tucked inside their shirts, resting on their stomachs.
Why do they look so alike… like father and son? When I'm their real father.
"Am I that handsome that you can't take your eyes off my face?"
At his teasing words, I quickly looked away. Viktor sat up with a smirk, and I glared at him from the corner of my eye, just enough to see his expression.
"Who was looking at you? I wasn't," I said quickly, trying to turn the situation around—though, truthfully, I had been looking at him.
"Okay, if you say so. But you're also allowed to touch me while you're looking," he replied smoothly.
I stared at him for a second before leaving the room, pretending I didn't hear that.
Just then, I remembered—the guest room had a balcony.
From there, I could look outside and see the situation clearly.
I quickly went into the guest room, but the moment I stepped onto the balcony… my steps froze.