Hearing that the gate was finally closed by Riku, the other five were invigorated and pushed harder against the stragglers left inside the supermarket. Pipes, machetes, and broom handles struck down with newfound strength, their panic replaced by adrenaline and relief. Riku rejoined the line, M4 tucked into his shoulder, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Miko. She fired methodically, her Glock barking each shot clean and controlled. Together, they swept the floor, until the last corpse twitched and fell still.
Ten minutes passed. No groans, no shuffling, no scratching on glass. Just silence. The silence of survival.
Riku let out a long exhale, lowering his rifle. Beside him, Miko slumped slightly, sweat clinging to her temple despite the bandage. Even the five strangers dropped their weapons and leaned against the shelves, panting like men and women dragged back from the brink of death.
