Chapter 71 — Beneath a Sky That Promised No Tomorrow
It was morning.
The clock had already passed ten.
Golden sunlight poured across the world, its warm rays spreading over buildings, streets, railway tracks, and everything that remained beneath the sky. The sun had driven away the darkness of the night, but the world itself had become darker than ever.
Everywhere, there were zombies.
Some of them were falling from the upper floors of buildings, their bodies crashing onto the streets below. The sight was horrifying enough to fill any living person's heart with terror.
Several trains raced along the railway tracks, their carriages filled with zombies. Their movements were chaotic and unnatural, while the sound of the trains echoed through the ruined city.
Blood was everywhere.
Bodies lay scattered across the streets, many of them badly mutilated after being attacked by the zombies. Some were missing their heads, some had lost limbs, while others were barely recognizable anymore.
They looked as though wild beasts had torn them apart.
A number of zombie-like bodies lay motionless on the ground, their remains already beginning to decay. The terrible smell of decomposition had spread through the air, mixing with the smoke, dust, and stench of the ruined city.
Yet, despite everything...
On the rooftop of the school stood a small group of survivors.
They were surrounded by the same terrifying world, but they still carried one thing inside their hearts—
Hope.
Hope that someone would come.
Hope that the rescue team would find them.
Hope that they would survive.
For now, that hope was the only thing keeping them standing.
---
Everyone had finally woken up and stepped out of the storage room.
Jacob had distributed slices of bread and bottles of orange juice among them. They ate quietly, desperately trying to satisfy their hunger and regain some of the energy their exhausted bodies had lost.
Afterward, everyone settled down across the rooftop.
Some sat with their backs against the surrounding walls, while others remained standing, looking out over the school grounds and the city beyond.
On the right side of the rooftop, Sana, Afra, Mary, and Leena sat together near the wall.
Mary was still holding a piece of bread in one hand. Near her feet sat a half-finished bottle of orange juice.
For a while, none of them spoke.
The wind gently moved through their hair and clothes. Far below, the sounds of the infected world occasionally reached the rooftop.
But up there, for a brief moment, there was silence.
Then Leena finally broke it.
She turned toward Mary with a curious smile.
"Mary, tell us something. How did you and Jackson meet for the first time?"
She paused for a moment before adding teasingly,
"And how did he propose to you?"
Mary's expression softened.
A faint smile appeared on her lips as memories she had almost forgotten began returning to her.
Those moments belonged to a different life.
A life before the virus.
A life when her biggest problems had been school, late arrivals, arguments, and Jackson's endless teasing.
For several seconds, Mary simply stared ahead at nothing in particular, a dreamy smile resting on her face.
Then she began.
"It happened one day when I was extremely late for school. By the time I reached the school, the main gate had already been locked."
Leena, Afra, and Sana listened attentively.
"So," Mary continued, "I went around to the back of the school and climbed onto the wall."
She gave a small, embarrassed laugh.
"From the outside, the wall didn't look that high. But once I climbed up, I realized how terribly wrong I had been."
Mary shuddered at the memory.
"It was much higher than I thought. If I jumped, I was almost certain I would break at least one bone."
She paused.
"So I just sat there, completely terrified, with absolutely no idea what to do."
A small smile returned to her face.
"Then I saw Jackson."
---
Back then, Jackson had been the school's head boy.
He had gone toward the storage room to lock it when he noticed Mary sitting helplessly on the wall.
"He looked at me and came closer. Then, instead of helping me, he looked up at me and said..."
Mary narrowed her eyes, imitating Jackson's expression.
"Why are you climbing the wall like a monkey?"
Leena immediately covered her mouth to suppress a laugh.
Mary continued.
"I became furious."
She crossed her arms dramatically.
"I shouted, 'What did you just call me?....
Did you just call me a monkey? .....Then you are a frog'"
The girls around her laughed.
Mary shook her head.
"And Jackson looked annoyed and said, 'Did you just call me a frog? You monkey! Fine. I'm not helping you anymore.'"
Mary paused dramatically.
"And then he started walking away."
The smile on her face disappeared for a moment as she remembered what happened next.
"I was angry. Really angry."
She looked down.
"But for some reason... I suddenly felt like crying."
Her voice became softer.
"So I started crying and called after him."
Mary imitated her younger self's desperate voice.
"Don't leave me like this. Please... help me!"
Leena's expression softened.
Mary continued.
"He stopped."
She smiled faintly.
"Then he turned around."
For a moment, Mary seemed to see that old scene right in front of her.
"I remember the look in his eyes. There was something strange in them."
She lowered her voice.
"Something that felt like sympathy."
Mary smiled.
"I was crying, while he just stood there completely still, staring at me."
Then she laughed quietly.
"And I got annoyed because he was just looking at me instead of helping."
She continued in a frustrated tone,
"Why are you staring at me like an owl? Come and help me!"
"Jackson hesitated for a second."
Mary imitated him.
"Ah... yes."
"He finally walked toward the wall and smiled."
Then came the teasing remark that had irritated her even more.
"Looks like you want to become an veterinarian (animal doctor) in the future."
Mary's eyes widened as she recalled her surprise.
"I asked him, 'How did you know that?'"
She smiled.
"And he said, 'So my guess was right. You've been calling me a different animal every time, so I figured...'"
Mary interrupted herself with a laugh.
"Before he could finish, I said, 'Enough with the nonsense. Just help me get down from here!'"
The girls laughed again.
Mary continued.
"Then Jackson stretched out both his arms."
She paused.
"I stared at him in confusion."
Then she imitated her younger self.
"Do you want me to jump?"
"He simply said..."
"Yes."
Mary's eyes widened dramatically.
"I was furious."
"Jump? Are you crazy? If I jump from here, I'm definitely going to break something!"
But Jackson didn't move.
Instead, he looked up at me calmly.
"Trust me. Jump. I promise I won't let anything happen to you."
Mary became quiet for a moment.
Then she said softly,
"I don't know why..."
She smiled.
"But somehow, I believed him."
She continued.
"I said, 'Fine. I'm going to jump. Catch me.'"
Jackson had spread his arms wider.
"Okay. Jump when I count to three."
Mary raised three fingers.
"One..."
She paused.
"Two..."
Another pause.
"Three!"
The moment he said three, Mary closed her eyes and jumped.
Jackson caught her before she could fall.
For a brief moment, everything became still.
Mary found herself safely in his arms.
Jackson looked down at her with a quiet smile.
Then he said softly,
"You can open your eyes now."
Mary slowly opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was Jackson.
He was looking directly at her.
For a few seconds, neither of them said anything.
Mary found herself staring back at him without realizing it.
The world around them seemed to disappear for a moment.
Then Jackson's lips curved into a playful smile.
"Looks like you're starting to enjoy being in my arms."
Mary suddenly realized where she was.
Her face turned red.
She immediately began struggling.
"Put me down!"
Jackson laughed softly.
"You're not even that heavy. I could easily carry you for another hour if you want."
Mary's heart began beating faster.
She glared at him.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Put me down!"
Jackson pretended to think.
"Hmm... Looks like you don't like being carried by me."
Then he smiled mischievously.
"In that case, I could carry you all the way to your classroom. I'm sure you'll love that service."
He began walking.
Mary's eyes widened.
"What?! Are you crazy?!"
She struggled even more.
"I shouldn't have asked you for help! Put me down right now, or you'll regret it!"
Jackson chuckled.
"Honestly, you're already scarier than anyone else."
He finally stopped.
"Fine. I'll put you down."
But just as he was lowering her, he leaned closer and whispered near her ear—
"I love you."
Mary froze.
Her cheeks immediately turned red.
She stared at him in disbelief.
"Does anyone confess their love this suddenly?! Seriously! Now I'm convinced you're actually crazy!"
Jackson smiled.
Then he asked,
"So... how about this offer? Would you like to be my girlfriend?"
Mary's face became even warmer.
Her heart was beating so loudly that she could barely think.
She didn't know what to say.
So she quickly turned around and started walking away.
Then she remembered her bag which she put down before climbing on the wall.
She stopped, turned back, grabbed it, and hurried toward the exit.
Just as she was leaving, Jackson called after her.
"Hey, Mary!"
She stopped.
"Don't say no to my offer, okay?"
Mary turned around in surprise.
"How do you even know my name?"
Jackson smiled.
"You're the only girl who is always late, just like those boys who keep arriving late."
He shrugged.
"I check everyone's IDs when giving warnings. I'm the head boy, after all. That's how I learned your name."
Mary simply stared at him.
Jackson noticed her expression.
A mischievous smile appeared on his face.
"What? Have I become so interesting that you can't stop looking at me?"
Mary immediately looked away.
Her face burning with embarrassment, she hurried out of there and went to her classroom.
---
For the next two days, Jackson didn't mention the proposal.
But on the morning of the third day, while checking Mary's ID, he finally spoke.
"You still haven't given me an answer."
Mary looked at him innocently.
"An answer to what?"
Jackson stared at her.
"What offer?"
Then he smiled.
"Did you really forget? Fine, I'll remind you. Would you be my—"
Mary's eyes widened.
She immediately remembered.
"Shh! Be quiet! Someone will hear you!"
Jackson didn't seem bothered.
"Let them hear."
Mary stared at him.
Jackson's playful expression faded slightly.
"Just tell me why you haven't answered yet."
His voice became sincere.
"If you don't like me, then say it without hesitation. I'll respect your decision."
He paused.
"And I'll wait until you say yes because you truly want to."
Mary went completely still.
For several moments, she could only stare at him.
There was something different in his voice this time.
He wasn't teasing her.
He wasn't trying to embarrass her.
He was simply waiting.
Then Jackson smiled again.
"Looks like you do like me. Otherwise, you wouldn't be looking at me like that."
Mary's face immediately turned red.
She quickly looked around, unable to meet his eyes, and began walking away.
But just as she passed him, Jackson gently caught her hand from behind.
Mary froze.
He held her hand for only a moment before speaking softly.
"I'll wait for your answer."
Mary looked down at his hand.
Her cheeks were burning.
In a trembling voice, she said,
"L-let go of my hand."
Jackson glanced down as if he had only just realized what he was doing.
A faint smile crossed his face.
"I don't want to let go..."
His voice softened.
"But I guess there's nothing else to do in love except wait."
He gently released her hand.
Mary stood there for a moment, embarrassed beyond words.
Then she quickly walked away toward her classroom.
---
Mary finished telling her story.
For a few seconds, none of the girls spoke.
Leena, Afra, and Sana had listened so carefully that it almost felt as though they had been watching the entire memory unfold before their eyes.
Mary smiled.
Then Sana finally broke the silence.
"So what happened after that?"
She tilted her head curiously.
"Did you really say yes that easily?"
Mary laughed.
"Of course not!"
She shook her head.
"I didn't give him an answer for three whole weeks."
The girls immediately reacted.
"Three weeks?!"
Mary nodded proudly.
"Yes. For three weeks, Jackson waited for my answer every day."
She paused.
"And somehow, he even got my phone number from one of my friends."
Mary rolled her eyes.
"He started messaging me constantly."
Leena laughed.
"So what did you do?"
"I blocked his number."
All three girls burst into laughter.
Mary smiled triumphantly.
"But Jackson was apparently ten steps ahead of me."
She shook her head.
"He threw a huge party at his house and invited all of our friends."
Mary's expression became slightly nostalgic.
"I had no idea that my friend Laura was part of his plan. She knew everything."
Mary sighed.
"So she practically dragged me to the party."
She smiled as the memory returned.
"And that evening..."
Her voice softened.
"Under the open sky, beneath a night filled with shining stars, Jackson got down on one knee and proposed to me."
Mary lowered her eyes with a shy smile.
"And that time..."
She paused.
"I couldn't bring myself to say no."
The three girls smiled.
For a few moments, the rooftop became strangely peaceful.
The memory of a normal life lingered among them—a life of school parties, friendships, teasing, proposals, and dreams.
A life that now felt impossibly distant.
Eventually, Mary looked at the other three with a mischievous smile.
"Well, I've told you my love story."
She pointed toward them.
"Now it's your turn."
Then she immediately looked at Leena.
"You first. Come on, Leena. Tell us who you're in love with."
Leena's face instantly turned red.
Mary couldn't resist teasing her.
"Ohhh... look at her! She's blushing!"
She leaned closer.
"Don't tell me you've fallen in love with someone. Come on, Leena. Tell us!"
Leena lowered her gaze shyly.
"But first, promise me you won't tell anyone."
Sana smiled.
"Fine, we promise. Now tell us."
Lina took a small breath.
Then, with her eyes still lowered, she quietly confessed—
"Actually... I think I've fallen in love with Yaram."
For a moment, all three girls stared at her.
Then they exclaimed together,
"Ohhh!"
Mary's eyes widened playfully.
"Wow, Leena! You're much more secretive than I thought."
She grinned.
"Does Yaram know?"
Leena shook her head.
"I don't know."
She hesitated.
"But I feel like he might..."
Mary immediately leaned closer.
"Yes? He might what?"
Leena's voice became even quieter.
"I feel like he might like me too."
Mary smiled.
"Well, if you want my advice, tell him how you feel."
Her smile faded slightly.
"Don't wait too long. Because the circumstances..."
She stopped.
The others understood what she meant.
No one needed an explanation.
They all knew what was waiting outside the rooftop.
The zombies.
The infected.
The blood-covered streets.
The ruined city.
The creatures that wandered through the school building with only one purpose—
to find the living and devour them.
And it wasn't only the school.
The Z Virus was spreading across the entire world with terrifying speed.
The four girls fell silent.
Their smiles slowly disappeared.
For a moment, they simply sat there beneath the bright morning sky, listening to the distant sounds of the infected world.
They had spent a few precious minutes remembering love.
But the world outside was reminding them of something else.
Tomorrow was never guaranteed anymore.
And somewhere beneath that golden sunlight, the world continued to fall apart.
.....