Rain fell in a thin veil, soft and steady, soaking the alley behind the school. Dim streetlights flickered across puddles. Trash bins spilled over, and somewhere above, a crooked gutter dripped rhythmically, as if counting the seconds they had left.
Ayush leaned against the cold brick wall, his breath shallow, one hand clutching his bruised calf. The rooftop jump had cost him. Rainwater splashed up his legs, but he didn't care. Pain was a luxury. Survival was the priority.
Ananya knelt beside him, fingers gently pressing around the swelling.
"Your leg's swollen," she whispered, eyes scanning the dark for movement. "Can you put weight on it?"
Ayush gritted his teeth, a low hiss escaping his lips. "I'll manage. Just… keep pressure there."
She did, her touch steady despite the fear etched into her face.
Nearby, Lucky sat curled beside a stack of crates, her whole frame trembling. Ayesha crouched in front of her, voice soft.
"Breathe, Lucky. You're safe… for now."
"I thought… I thought I'd never get out," Lucky whispered, tears glistening in the half-light.
"You did. And we're going to keep moving." Ayesha squeezed her shoulder.
Then—screams. Distant, muffled, but real. From inside the school. Everyone flinched. No one spoke.
That night, the rain felt like judgment.We had survived the school. But ahead lay an empty city—its veins clogged with the infected. And no one was coming to save us.
Kartik stepped forward, flashlight in hand, the beam slicing through shadows.
"We stay low. Side streets only," he said. "Main roads are death traps. One wrong turn, we're done."
No one argued. They were already soaked, shaken, and bruised—but alive.
Shivam winced, rubbing his ribs. Dev carried the backpack—glass bottles clinking faintly. Manish checked their six every few steps. Tanya walked stiffly, arms hugging herself. Isha clutched her notebook like scripture. Bhargav held his wrench tight. Sanaa stayed glued to Ananya's side.
The City's Underbelly – Night
They moved single-file, flashlights dimmed. Rain eased to a whisper, and every sound felt amplified—the splash of footsteps, the wheeze of breath, the creak of rusted metal.
"Five blocks to the temple lane," Kartik whispered. "After the medical store, we're halfway to the safehouse."
Ayush limped quietly behind. "Anything we should know?"
Kartik glanced back. "The alley near the temple narrows. Zombies don't move well in tight spaces. We slip past."
Ananya nodded. "Stay close. No noise."
They turned a corner.
An overturned rickshaw lay on its side like a corpse, one wheel still spinning lazily. Shivam stepped over a twisted bicycle frame, spokes like teeth.
"Ghost town," he muttered. "Like everyone vanished overnight."
"Not vanished," Ayesha replied. "Worse. Some turned."
Then—movement.
Behind a dumpster, a hunched figure. A boy—teenage, soaked, pale. Dragging one leg. Groaning.
Dev's voice was a breath. "There's one…"
Kartik raised a hand. "Five… four… three…"
On "one," he tapped Ayush's shoulder. "Move. Now."
They bolted silently across the alley. The boy's dead eyes snapped up. He shuffled forward, sniffing the air.
Ananya froze. "Oh god…"
They flattened against the far wall. The boy stumbled closer, moaning.
"On my mark," Kartik whispered. "Distract."
Dev grabbed a loose brick, hurled it at a metal drum. The clang shattered the quiet. The zombie turned toward it instantly.
"Now."
They slipped around the corner, unseen.
Inside the Stationery Shop – Night
They ducked into an abandoned shop—its shutters half-ripped, floor littered with broken glass. Dust clung to the air. The silence was suffocating.
"Is everyone okay?" Lucky's voice cracked.
Dev counted heads. "Eleven. We're good."
"We can't stop long," Tanya whispered. "They'll hear us."
"No," Kartik agreed. "Next stop: medical store. We move."
Ayush pulled Ananya aside.
"Your hands… they're freezing." He draped his jacket over her shoulders.
She looked up, eyes soft, vulnerable. "Thank you…"
"Focus," he said. "We're almost there."
Service Lane – Near the Temple
The alley narrowed. Old vendor carts lined the path. A small temple stood ahead, doors ajar. Incense smoke curled into the wet air. Strangely… it was peaceful.
"Keep low," Kartik warned.
They moved past wilted offerings and spilled oil. Isha glanced around.
"It's… quiet."
"Too quiet," Ananya whispered.
Then—a sound.
A footstep behind them.
Ayush turned. A zombie child stood near the temple. A schoolbag swung from its back.
Lucky's breath caught. "Another one…"
"Move," Kartik hissed.
They ran. Ananya darted past a fruit cart. The zombie twitched toward her.
Kartik lobbed a stone. It clinked. The zombie followed the sound.
Ananya exhaled, shaking. "That was too close…"
Inside the Medical Store – Night
They pried the rusted door open. Inside: shelves overturned, floor sticky with old blood. Dev found a battered first-aid box—bandages, antiseptic, painkillers.
"This is all we get."
"Wait," Shivam said.
In the corner—a man. Early twenties. Slumped. Breathing ragged. Shirt soaked with blood. A deep gash on his arm glistened.
"He's hurt."
Tanya stepped forward, voice breaking. "We have to help him."
Ayush blocked her. "Not safe. He could turn."
Ananya stood firm. "He's human."
Kartik's voice was grave. "He's convulsing. It's happening. We can't risk it."
Tanya's eyes flooded. "But… he's alone."
Ayesha placed a hand on her shoulder. "We're sorry. We can't help him."
Tanya nodded, tears rolling silently.
They left.
Back in the Alley – Rain Resumes
The group emerged into night again. Hard rain pounded the ground. Their faces were tight. Shadows fell over their youth.
Sometimes survival means making impossible choices.We left him there. Part of me still hears his breathing.
Sweet Shop Shelter – Night
A broken shutter. A dusty interior. Old tins of sweets on shelves.
"We can rest here," Ayesha whispered.
Bhargav dragged burlap sacks to block the entrance.
"There's a stove," Ananya said. "Old bottles too."
Dev found some stale sweets. "Still edible."
Tanya sank to the floor. "I thought we were done for…"
Lucky sat beside her. "Me too. But we made it."
Ayush whispered, "We'll rest. Tomorrow, we move."
They sat in a circle. Rain played a lullaby on the tin roof above.
Later That Night
One flashlight flickered on a crate. Shadows danced across their tired faces.
"Everyone okay?" Kartik asked.
Sanaa's voice was barely a whisper. "What if this never ends?"
Ayush looked to Ananya. "Then we keep surviving. Day by day."
She leaned against him, eyes closed. "As long as we're together."
"This is just the beginning," Kartik said. "We get out of this neighborhood. Together."
Isha pulled out a crumpled paper, voice trembling as she read:
"In shadows deep and nights so long,We hold our hearts and press on strong…"
Her voice cracked. Tanya hummed a sorrowful tune—soft and haunting.
That night, we let the rain wash over us. Cold. Relentless. We fell asleep to each other's breathing and the steady drip of water on tin.No promises of tomorrow.Just the will to keep going.
[EPISODE 3 — END]