The light flickered and Wen Rouqing opened her eyes to the musty scent of old paper and sweat.
Her body ached as if it had been thrown carelessly to the ground. She was lying between two overturned library shelves, her cheek pressed to the dusty floor.
The fluorescent bulb above her buzzed faintly, casting long, trembling shadows against the bookshelves.
For a second, she thought it was just another strange dream. Then she heard footsteps, they weren't heavy.They were cautious, too careful for someone simply walking.
She sat up slowly, ignoring the stabbing pain in her lower back. Her fingers brushed a cracked phone by her side.
The screen was shattered, did someone want to call for help? But why?
The windows were barricaded with overturned tables. Bookshelves were pushed against the doors. It wasn't just her hiding here.
A dozen students clustered in the reading area, their voices hushed to near silence. Fear thickened the air like smoke.
Wen Rouqing's eyes scanned their faces. Some were crying quietly. Others were gripping makeshift weapons like mop handles, broken chair legs, metal rulers.
They way the held was as though they were dhama treasures that could increase their lifespan.
All of them looked like they'd seen something they would never forget.
A soft voice spoke near the center of the group.
"Is everyone accounted for?"
Wen Rouqing looked up to see a tall, black haired man. One she recognised immediately.
It was Su Seong, the student council president.
Su Seong stood at the edge of the light, dressed in his pristine blazer with not a single button undone.
His hair was neat, not a strand out of place, and his tone was smooth and polite…too polite even. He smiled as he looked around the group.
"We've sealed all the exits. I don't think they can get in now.." he said gently. "We just have to keep calm. Panicking won't help anyone."
Rouqing narrowed her eyes. His voice was like warm milk.
Soothing,unassuming. But there was something too precise in his words.She watched how no one dared interrupt him.
Wen Rouqing stood up slowly, brushing the dust off her skirt. No one noticed that. They were all too busy watching Su Seong like he was some kind of savior.
But Rouqing had a bad feeling about him. She always had, Wen Rouqing has never liked Su Seong since the first day she saw him, in their freshman orientation.
Suddenly, something buzzed in her ears. At first, she thought it was just the overhead lights again, but then it grew louder, clearer, until it formed into words.
[User identified: Wen Rouqinq.]
Her breath caught, was she still dreaming?
[Primary objective: Survival]
[Secondary objective: Discover the truth. Rewards will be granted based on performance. ]
[Penalties will be issued for failure. This system is bound exclusively to you.]
She blinked, slowly. The voice was calm and emotionless, neither male nor female. It wasn't audible. It was inside her head.
She didn't move. Didn't show anything on her face. If she looked crazy, they'd kick her out of the group. She didn't know why she was chosen, or what this so-called system even was.
But if there was one thing Wen Rouqing understood, it was silence.
If she caused a ruckus she'd either be kicked out or turned into an outcast.
She stepped forward and finally made herself known.
"Does anyone know what's going on?" she asked.
Su Seong turned to face her, then a smile appeared on his lips. As he got to where she saw, Wen Rouqing subconsciously took a step back.
"Wen Rouqing, you're finally awake.." he said casually like he hadn't heard her first question.
Rouqing's eyes narrowed as she stared at the people behind him, they had all lost their ability to speak.
"I asked a question, so I expect an answer.." she pressed.
His smile was so perfect it almost hurt to look at.
"You were in the south wing when the announcement came. You didn't hear it?
"What announcement?" She had a feeling looking through the gap in the barricade would give her all the answers she needed.
"State of emergency, the school's currently on lockdown.." someone else muttered. "It was a military broadcast. Said the infection's spreading. Told everyone to shelter in one place or evacuate to checkpoints. How ironic, right?."
"That was… yesterday.." Su Seong added, clasping his hands behind his back. "You've been out cold all night."
"I see…" Rouqing said softly.
She walked to the window, there was just enough gap for her to take a little peak.
The teaching building came into view and at first glance she thought they were just normal students going about their day until she realized how bloody the place was and how these things moved.
"Zombies.." she muttered. She used to read about them in sci-fi books, never did she think she'd get to experience the real deal.
"Wen Rouqing…" Su Seong repeated kindly. "Do you remember anything before you passed out?"
She looked at him. The question was normal enough, but his eyes watched her like a scientist observing a rat.
Measuring her response. Calculating her every move, all her answers to this man would be lies.
"No…" she lied.
His smile widened. "Well. You're among friends now."
Liar. She thought to herself.
The tension in the room rippled again. One girl wouldn't stop crying softly into her sleeves. A boy with a bruised cheek flinched whenever someone moved.
Another figure lurked near the back, hoodie pulled low. He hadn't spoken once or moved, she was honestly too lazy to give a damn.
Then a sudden noise..
Bang, bang, bang! Pounded from the hallway.
Something slammed into the barricaded door making the books topple.
Screams followed as everyone felt their hearts flip in their chest.
"Don't open it!" the hoodie boy barked, standing abruptly.
"No one will.." Su Seong said, serene as ever. "Stay calm. Panic only leads to mistakes."
"But what if it's someone alive…"
"Don't be stupid, you can hear a desperate human a mile away." He tilted his head, listening. "The cadence is all wrong. That's a crawler."
"How the hell do you know?" a girl asked sharply.