Ray and Thea didn't waste any more time.
Staying in the HIV ward felt pointless now. If there were survivors, they wouldn't be sitting around waiting, they'd be hiding… or definitely trying to escape.
So the two stepped out.
The moment they entered the hallway, the state of the hospital became even clearer.
Desks were overturned, chairs scattered across the floor, and hospital beds had been dragged out of rooms in a desperate rush. Bottles of drugs, syringes, and broken equipment littered the ground, crunching softly beneath their steps.
It was chaos… pure chaos.
Yet strangely, there were no ghouls in sight.
They moved cautiously, checking room after room as they made their way from one floor to another. Everywhere looked the same: abandoned, disarrayed, but empty.
"If I had to guess," Ray said as they reached another stairwell, "everyone rushed downstairs when the attacks started."
Thea nodded. "Yeah… if they thought they could escape, that's the first place they'd go."
Ray didn't respond immediately, but the thought lingered in his mind.
If everyone went down… then whatever was down there wasn't something they wanted to face just yet.
They could just take the elevator down to the first floor, but who knows what awaits them there. Besides, Ray has other plans he need to complete before leaving.
They reached the next floor and continued their search, opening doors one after another.
Empty.
Empty.
After a while, Thea exhaled softly. "There's no one here…"
Ray was about to agree when he suddenly stopped.
"…Wait."
Thea turned to him instantly.
He raised a hand, signaling her to stay quiet. His head tilted slightly as he focused. With his enhanced senses, he could hear it. A faint sound of movement.
"The restroom," he whispered.
Thea's expression sharpened, and she nodded.
Together, they moved carefully toward the source, their footsteps light as they approached the restroom area.
One by one, they checked the stall doors, until eventually, they got to the last one.
Ray reached out to open the door, but before he could, it burst open.
"Ahhh!!!"
A woman lunged at them, swinging a wooden stick with all her strength.
Ray reacted instantly. His hand shot forward, catching the stick mid-air before it could land. The impact stopped completely, as if it had hit a wall.
The woman froze, her eyes wide in shock.
"Calm down," Ray said firmly, holding the stick in place. "We're not here to hurt you."
Her breathing was uneven, her hands trembling slightly as she stared at him.
In a world like this, anyone could be a threat. And trusting someone could be the last mistake you make.
Ray slowly released his grip on the wooden stick, raising his hands slightly to show he meant no harm.
"We've been stuck on the upper floors," he said calmly. "We're trying to figure out what's going on. Where did all the ghouls go?"
The woman didn't answer. Instead, her gaze shifted past him… and locked onto Thea.
There was a brief pause.
"Give me your earrings," she said flatly.
Thea blinked, caught off guard. "Why?"
"Just give me."
Her tone didn't change. It held no explanation nor hesitation.
Thea frowned slightly, then glanced at Ray. He didn't say anything, but his expression told her it was okay.
After a moment, she sighed and removed her earrings, handing them over.
The woman took them without a word.
"Thanks," she said, slipping them into the pocket of her jeans. "These won't go to waste."
Ray narrowed his eyes slightly, but didn't comment.
Instead, he shifted the conversation back. "Do you plan on leaving this place?"
The woman shrugged lightly. "If you're thinking of using the elevator, forget it. That's a quick way to get yourself killed."
"I figured," Ray replied. "That's why we've been using the stairs."
She gave a small nod, as if approving.
"You should head to the ninth floor," she added. "There are people hiding there. It's the safest spot in the building right now."
Ray didn't immediately accept that.
"Then why aren't you there?" he asked, his tone carrying a hint of suspicion.
The woman smirked faintly.
"I don't like crowds," she said. "And I prefer moving around freely. Besides…" she turned slightly, glancing back at them, "I can take care of myself."
There was a quiet confidence in her voice.
"Lucky for you," she continued, already heading toward the exit, "I'm going there now. If you want, you can tag along."
Ray and Thea exchanged a quick glance. Neither of them fully trusted her. But right now, she was the only lead they had. Without another word, they followed.
They continued down the stairs in silence, their footsteps echoing faintly with each level they passed.
Eventually, they reached the ninth floor. The door creaked open. And the moment they stepped in, the atmosphere changed completely.
The floor was filled with people… Patients in hospital gowns, nurses still in uniform, family members huddled together in corners; everyone looked exhausted, shaken, but alive.
But before Ray, Thea, and the woman could take another step forward, someone blocked their path.
A young man with red hair stepped forward, a baseball bat resting casually on his shoulder. Behind him stood two others, both watching closely, clearly backing him up.
The scent of his perfume filled Ray's sensitive nose. To others it didn't smell that much, but he could perceive it so well.
At first, his expression was blank. Then suddenly, He smiled.
"Welcome," he said, his tone friendly, almost reassuring. "Glad to see you made it here in one piece."
He tapped the bat lightly against his shoulder.
"Name's Red. I've taken it upon myself to keep everyone here safe until we figure out a way out."
Ray didn't say anything, but his eyes stayed sharp.
"Before you join us," Red continued, "we need to make sure you're clean. No bites or infections."
"It is reasonable." Ray replied, and Red just smiled in return. The two men beside him stepped forward immediately.
The inspection didn't take long.
Since Ray's shoulder was completely healed… with no trace of the bite remaining. Thea's arm was also the same; the wound from earlier had vanished without a single mark left behind.
The men stepped back and nodded to Red.
"They're good."
Red's smile widened slightly. "Then welcome."
As they moved further in, his gaze lingered on Ray's outfit.
"I see you're a doctor here," he said, nodding toward the white coat.
"Yeah," he replied. "Name's Ray."
"Doctor Ray!" a voice suddenly called out from behind Red.
He turned as he watched a man in scrubs pushed his way forward through the crowd.
Recognition hit instantly.
"Dr. Pete," Ray said.
Pete stopped a few steps away, staring at him. But something was off. His expression wasn't relief. It was of confusion, mixed with disbelief. Even Red seemed to notice this.
Pete hesitated, unconsciously keeping his distance.
"How…?" he muttered, his eyes scanning Ray from head to toe. "How are you…?"