It all happened too fast.
One minute, the girl was limp and fading.
The next—she was screaming.
A broken, blood-soaked scream that didn't sound human anymore.
She sat up in a snap, thrashing violently. The duct tape tore like wet paper.
"HOW?!" Ava gasped, backing away.
Liam stumbled back. "She's stronger!"
Before anyone could react, she lunged. Mason grabbed the nearest chair and slammed it into her, knocking her into the table, but she bounced back — quicker than before. Like she didn't even feel pain.
Ryan tried to stand but staggered, his bitten arm dangling uselessly at his side. "Zara—" he croaked.
Zara rushed to his side and grabbed him just as he collapsed into her arms.
"She's breaking through—MASON!" Liam shouted.
"Forget her, we have to MOVE!" Mason barked, already at the door.
The girl screeched again, her mouth foaming, veins now snaking all the way up her temples.
"Where do we go?!" Ava cried, grabbing a metal tray.
Zara gritted her teeth. "Anywhere but here!"
Mason threw the door open, and all of them burst into the hallway, dragging Ryan between them.
A horrible crash followed — the sound of glass shattering and metal screeching.
"She's following us!" Ava screamed.
Liam looked over his shoulder. "NOPE—RUN!"
They ran down the corridor, Zara and Liam half-carrying Ryan, Ava ahead, Mason in the lead. Their shoes pounded against the floor. Every shadow looked like death. Every corner sounded like it would breathe.
Behind them, the girl screeched again. It echoed — higher, louder, closer.
"I think I see her!" Zara gasped.
"Don't look back!" Liam shouted. "Just GO!"
"I can't—" Ryan panted. "I'm slowing you down—leave me!"
"Shut up!" Zara snapped. "You're not dying here!"
The hallway split. Mason took the left. "This way!" he called out.
Ava skidded after him. "Are you sure?!"
"I KNOW THIS PLACE!" Mason shouted. "Storage room is underground — back of the music block!"
Zara felt her legs scream as they pushed forward. Every breath hurt. Her fingers were numb from gripping Ryan's arm so tightly. His shirt was soaked with sweat and blood.
"I hear more of them!" Ava yelled.
Liam cursed under his breath. "We need to hide — NOW."
They rounded the last corner, and Mason slammed through a rusty door at the end. Inside: stairs. Dark. Cold. Smelling like dust and mold.
"In there!" Mason pointed. "Down!"
They didn't question it.
Zara, Liam, and Ava dragged Ryan down the narrow staircase. Every step felt like it might collapse. The building creaked and groaned — but not as loud as the growls above.
Finally, a small metal door.
Mason shoved it open and flicked a switch. Bare lightbulbs flickered on.
They were in some kind of old music storeroom. Instruments stacked in corners. Broken chairs. Crates and old lockers lined the walls.
Liam bolted the door shut behind them.
Everything fell silent.
For now.
Zara dropped to the ground beside Ryan. His breathing was shallow. His eyes were glassy.
Ava pressed her hands to her head. "That was too close. Way too close."
Liam sat down, drenched in sweat. "We need a plan."
Mason paced. "We need to decide what to do about him."
Zara's head snapped toward him. "Don't."
"He's infected."
"He's Ryan."
"And you saw what the girl turned into," Mason growled. "You want that to happen in here?"
No one replied.
The room was thick with fear. With grief. With things no one wanted to say out loud.
Ryan let out a broken laugh. "Guys… if I turn…"
Zara grabbed his hand.
"No," she whispered. "You're not going to."
But they all knew the truth.
There was no safe place.
Not anymore.