The iron staircase clanged underfoot with every step, its welded metal treads echoing sharply even through my sneakers.

I had a clear view below. Just as I’d suspected, this stairwell led straight to the hospital’s back entrance. Even better, barely any Zombies lingered there. A lone one or two wandered far beyond the exit, distant and sparse.

I crouched slightly. Though I knew Zombies had sharp hearing, their vision remained uncertain. If their sight was equally sharp… daytime might be far deadlier.

Moving silently, I descended five flights. Corpses littered the steps, but I only paused to confirm they were truly dead before sidestepping them. Even without obstacles, the cautious descent took nearly ten minutes.

At the bottom, the building’s wall pressed against my left. To my right stretched an open garden—completely exposed, nowhere to hide.

After a moment’s thought, I stepped out in plain sight.

The hospital’s back entrance was a narrow passage carved beneath the main building, resembling an underpass. I crept to the doorframe, pressing my back against it. Outside lay only dust-coated cars and empty streets. Nothing else.

After scanning the area and confirming it was clear, I slipped cautiously into the passage, eyes darting around despite its barrenness.

Then—

My gaze snagged on a flickering shadow just beyond the exit.

Instantly, cold sweat drenched my back.

A Zombie!

It wasn’t wandering. It stood facing outward, its back to the passage, less than a meter from me.

So close… Only my constant vigilance saved me. A single misstep inside the passage would’ve sent it lunging straight at me.

Holding my breath, I shifted the military knife in my grip and dropped into a half-crouch, inching closer.

Instantly—I struck!

The knife, reversed in my hand, rose high and plunged downward with brutal force.

*Thud.*

The blade buried to the hilt. The Zombie convulsed violently, collapsing forward without a sound.

I lunged half a step ahead, grabbing its collar to lower the corpse gently. Silence was critical here—especially in this open space. One loud thud could draw every Zombie nearby.

As the body settled on the ground, I wiped my brow and exhaled shakily.

Then I looked up.

A shoe? Two… shoes?!

ZOMBIES!

I snapped my head up. Staring straight into my eyes were two pools of crimson.

***ROOOAR!***

*Damn it!*

The Zombie stood ten meters away. Too far to silence its roar. The sound ripped through the air, answered instantly by echoing growls erupting from all directions.

*Are they communicating?!*

Their cries might be summoning others—the distant roars were closing in fast.

I stood trapped at the hospital’s back entrance, stranded in the middle of a street. Fleeing either way seemed suicidal.

Retreat inside?

No. This was my last chance. If I let them drive me back now, I might never escape again.

My eyes locked onto the first Zombie—the one that had cornered me. A woman. Stiletto heels twisted grotesquely around broken ankles, slowing her lurching charge. She stumbled but kept coming, relentless.

***"Since you’ve come begging for death—I’ll send you to hell!"***

Rage surged. This one had sealed my fate. Teeth gritted, I exploded forward.

***"DIE!"***

*Thud.*

Her clumsy lunge missed easily. My knife drove deep into her skull before she could steady herself.

She crumpled.

And as I turned—

I saw them.

The horde.