Deadeye

The barricade trembled under the force of whatever was on the other side. Each thud sent vibrations through the furniture stacked against the stairwell. The usual moans and shrieks of the infected were replaced by a guttural, inhuman growl.

Kiran gripped her makeshift spear tightly, her knuckles turning white. "That's… not normal."

Maya took a shaky step back. "Whatever's out there, it's big."

Naira exhaled, steadying himself. He had fought zombies before, but this… this was different. They needed better firepower.

"Stay here," he ordered.

Kiran frowned. "Wait, what? Where the hell are you going?"

Naira turned toward the hallway. "We need something stronger than a crowbar and a mop. There's a security room on the second floor. If we're lucky, we'll find weapons."

Maya hesitated. "But the second floor is where—"

A loud crash interrupted her. The barricade buckled, splinters flying as the wood gave way.

Naira didn't wait. He bolted down the hall, leaping over debris as he reached the staircase leading to the second floor.

The second floor was a mess. Blood-stained carpets, overturned furniture, and half-eaten corpses littered the hallway. The metal door to the security room was slightly open.

Naira approached carefully, gripping his crowbar in one hand. He nudged the door open and peeked inside.

The room was dark except for the flickering screens displaying various parts of the building. Some showed static, others revealed swarming infected on the ground floor.

And there, on the desk…

A gun.

Naira's heart raced.

A Glock 19, fully loaded. Beside it, two extra magazines.

"Jackpot."

Just as he grabbed the weapon, a low snarl came from behind him.

Naira spun around.

An infected security guard lunged, its decayed face contorted in a snarl. Naira barely dodged, crashing into the desk. The zombie swung wildly, its fingers grazing Naira's jacket.

No time.

Naira raised the Glock—and fired.

BANG!

A single, perfect shot to the forehead. The zombie's skull snapped back, and it collapsed instantly.

Smoke curled from the barrel.

Naira lowered the gun, his expression unreadable. "Yeah… this will do."

Back on the third floor, the barricade was barely holding. Kiran and Maya were pushing against it, their faces pale with fear.

"NAIRA, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!" Kiran screamed.

Naira sprinted up the stairs, Glock in hand.

"I'm here."

Maya turned—and her eyes widened. "Is that a—"

CRASH!

The barricade exploded inward, sending debris flying.

And standing in the wreckage…

Was something massive.

A hulking infected, its flesh mutated and bulging with grotesque muscle. Unlike the others, this one didn't shamble. It stood tall, its cloudy eyes filled with something more than hunger.

Predatory intent.

Kiran froze. "What the fuck is that?!"

The mutant snarled—then charged.

Naira didn't hesitate.

He raised the Glock—

BANG!

A perfect shot straight to its left eye.

The infected stumbled, momentarily stunned.

Kiran and Maya gasped.

Naira fired again.

BANG! BANG!

Every shot landed with pinpoint accuracy—head, neck, chest. Each bullet hit dead center, as if guided by instinct.

Maya whispered, "Holy shit…"

The monster reeled, but it wasn't dead.

It roared in frustration, then lunged again.

Naira sidestepped, spinning around as he lined up his final shot.

BANG!

Right between the eyes.

The creature collapsed, its skull bursting open as it hit the floor.

Silence.

Only the smell of gunpowder and blood remained.

Maya and Kiran stared at Naira, their mouths slightly open.

He casually ejected the magazine, checked the remaining rounds, then reloaded with a smooth click.

Kiran blinked. "Dude… what the fuck?"

Maya shook her head. "How did you…?"

Naira smirked, blowing imaginary smoke off the barrel. "What? You think playing FPS games all my life was just for fun?"

Kiran groaned, rubbing her temples. "You mean to tell me… all this time you were some John Wick-level shooter, and I've been carrying your ass in Valorant?!"

Naira shrugged. "Real life has better aim assist."

Maya shook her head in disbelief. "That's not normal, Naira. You didn't miss a single shot."

Before he could answer, a new sound filled the building.

More growls. More footsteps.

Kiran swore. "We made too much noise."

Naira cocked the gun. "Then let's make this quick."

The infected were rushing the stairwell.

Naira took position near the top of the stairs, gun aimed.

Maya and Kiran stood beside him, gripping their makeshift weapons.

"I'll thin them out," Naira said. "You two take out anything that gets close."

Maya nodded. "Got it."

Kiran sighed. "No pressure, right?"

The first zombie reached the top.

BANG!

It dropped instantly.

More came.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Every shot hit its mark. Headshots, every single one.

Kiran and Maya barely had to fight. By the time any infected got close, Naira had already dropped them.

It wasn't just skill. It was like he was built for this.

In just thirty seconds, the stairwell was piled with bodies.

Kiran exhaled. "Jesus Christ, dude."

Maya looked at Naira, her voice almost awed. "Are you… actually human?"

Naira smirked. "Depends who's asking."

Kiran shook her head. "We have to talk about this later."

But before they could celebrate, a new noise sent a chill down their spines.

A slow, heavy stomp.

Then another.

And another.

Coming from above them.

Naira's smirk vanished.

Maya whispered, "There's more?"

A deep, inhuman growl rumbled from the top floor.

Then, a voice. Distorted. Guttural.

"Hu…man…"

Kiran's eyes widened in horror. "Did that just… speak?"

Naira gripped his gun tighter.

Things were about to get much worse.