Zeke stood at the edge of the rooftop, his eyes scanning the school's west wall — a narrow alley ran alongside the boundary. The south side was swarming with monsters, but the west still seemed safe.
"West wall is clear," Zeke said, his voice cold but focused. "South is jammed with monsters, but we've got a window to get out. If we wait, we're stuck."
Dhruv looked down over the edge of the rooftop.
It was a long way to the ground.
"But how are we supposed to get down from here?" he asked.
Zeke opened his bag. Inside was a military-grade grappling wire system.
"One at a time. No noise. No panic."
---
Rooftop Descent
The first team: Sive, Kashyap, and Om. Zeke helped them into their harnesses, tightening the straps. Fear flickered in their eyes.
Sive trembled slightly. "Zeke… what if I fall?"
Zeke looked straight into her eyes. "Then I'll catch you. But you won't fall."
One by one, he guided them down.
The descent was smooth — silent and steady.
---
Monster Alert
From a dark corner below, a low growl echoed. Some of the monsters on the south side had stirred. One of them began shifting toward the west.
Zeke reacted instantly. "Move faster! Time's running out!"
One by one, everyone made it down.
Now only Dhruv and Zeke remained on the rooftop.
Zeke placed a hand on Dhruv's shoulder. "It's time to be a leader. Everyone's looking at you now."
Dhruv asked, "What about you?"
Zeke gave a faint smile. "I'm the last one."
Dhruv made his descent — safe and clean.
Now only Zeke stood on the rooftop.
Behind him, a monster began climbing up the wall toward the roof.
Zeke didn't waste even a second.
He drew his sword, rushed toward it with blinding speed — and sliced its head clean off.
---
Underground Parking Lot
Dhruv looked around. "This building has an underground parking lot. Maybe there's a car."
They moved down slowly. Fear lingered — but they kept it under control.
No one knew what the next turn would bring.
Once they reached the parking area, Zeke split the group into two teams.
With him were Kashyap and Sive.
Dhruv took Om.
Dhruv and Om started searching for vehicles, checking every corner.
Then Om's eyes caught a strange glow.
Something shining — almost pulling him toward it.
"Om?" Dhruv turned. Om was gone.
---
Om's Encounter
Om kept moving forward — like something was calling him.
In front of him, something glowed.
He didn't stop.
As if in a trance.
He reached out and touched it.
Suddenly, something cracked in his mind.
In the darkness — he saw a boy running.
It was him.
But the memories were different.
Full of hatred. A burning need for revenge.
A voice echoed in his ears:
"Just a little further… I'm right there. Waiting for you."
Before anything more could happen, Dhruv grabbed him and shook him hard.
"Om! What are you doing? Wake up!"
Om opened his eyes.
The glowing object was gone.
Only darkness remained.
---
Om: "Did you see anyone here?"
Dhruv: "There was no one. Just you — and me."
Om stayed silent, but his face said it all.
He had felt something — deeply.
"Maybe... déjà vu…" he whispered.
Then, something flashed before his eyes — a vision.
A strange place.
Calm. Silent. Like paradise.
A holy river flowing ahead.
Then the water turned blood red.
Om snapped out of it. Everything looked normal again.
But his eyes...
Held a strange new light.
As if a door had opened inside him.
---
Chapter End
What lay ahead wasn't just monsters.
It was something else.
---