Chapter 6: The Shifting Tide

Part 1: Cracks in the Foundation

The night settled thick and oppressive around the factory, broken only by the faint sound of the infected prowling outside. The Alams were scattered across the dusty hall, each one trying—and failing—to find rest. Though they were together, the weight of survival strained them, each word or movement potentially another fracture in their fragile unity.

Sajid sat in the center of the room, his cricket bat resting across his lap. His usually sharp gaze was clouded as he stared into the distance, lost in thought. The silence was shattered by Khalid, who paced furiously by the makeshift barricade near the entrance.

"This place won't hold," Khalid said abruptly, breaking the fragile calm. He turned to Sajid, his voice rising. "We've been sitting here, hoping for safety like fools. They're gathering out there—we all know it. Are we waiting for them to swarm us?"

"We've had this conversation," Sajid said, his tone steady but cold. "You think I don't see what's out there? You think I don't feel it?"

"Then act," Khalid growled, stepping closer. "The longer we stay, the weaker we get. They'll kill us the second we're too tired to fight."

"Stop it!" Subhana snapped, her voice cutting through the argument like a whip. She held Mehmood close, her trembling fingers brushing through his hair. "Is this how you're going to lead us, Sajid? Arguing while the children hear every word?"

Sajid's gaze flickered to her before narrowing at Khalid. "We're alive because I lead. And we'll stay alive if you do as I say."

"And if we don't?" Khalid countered. His voice was low, sharp.

The tension hung heavy, silence filling the room like a suffocating cloud.

"Enough," Majid said, stepping between them. His voice was even, but his grip on his bat was tight. "Fighting each other won't get us anywhere. We decide together—tonight—what we do next."

"Ammi..." Muhammad's voice interrupted the argument, drawing their attention. He stood near the window, his knife still in hand. "There's something moving out there."

Part 2: A Deadly Discovery

The family rushed to the window, the fragile barricade creaking under the added weight. Outside, shadows danced under the faint moonlight, obscured by plumes of drifting smoke. At first, it was hard to see, but as their eyes adjusted, the threat became clear.

A cluster of infected stood just beyond the perimeter of the factory, their movements erratic but deliberate. Unlike the frenzied hordes the family had faced earlier, these creatures didn't lunge blindly or scrape at the walls. They gathered in small, shifting groups, their milky eyes scanning the factory like predators assessing prey.

"They're watching us," Zaid muttered, gripping his hammer tightly.

"Since when do they watch?" Shawaiz whispered, his voice trembling despite his best efforts to sound calm.

"That's not all," Moiz said from the far side of the room, where he'd checked another window. "They're dragging something."

The group hurried to join him. Through another set of cracked panes, the sight turned their blood cold—several infected were hauling a body by its arms and legs, their jagged claws gripping flesh. The figure was mutilated, barely recognizable, but its slow, jerky spasms revealed the horrifying truth: it was still alive.

"Allah..." Subhana breathed, clutching Mehmood tighter.

"They're playing with it," Aysha said, her voice shaking. "Why? Why would they..."

"They're testing it," Muhammad interrupted, his tone harsh and raw. "They're not just watching us—they're planning."

Part 3: A Splintered Family

Back near the barricades, the family descended into a heated argument. The discovery outside shattered their already fragile unity.

"We can't stay here," Khalid said sharply, addressing everyone this time. "You've seen what they're doing. They're not just wandering anymore. We're outnumbered—and if they get in here, we'll all die."

"I'm not dragging the children into another open street at night!" Subhana said fiercely. She glared at Khalid, her hands still protectively around Mehmood. "If you want to leave, fine. But we're staying until morning."

"Morning won't make a difference," Shazia interjected, pacing with a bloodied chair leg in her hand. "If they break through before sunrise, then what? You want them to die while we pray for daylight?"

"We're not leaving in the dark," Majid said, his voice steady but filled with an edge. "Sajid's right—we stay. For now."

"And how long is for now?" Shawaiz muttered, leaning against the wall. "What are we waiting for, more of them?"

Muhammad slammed his knife onto the table, making everyone jump. "Stop!" he growled, his eyes blazing. "You want to fight each other now? Fine, but do it in the morning. Because if they hear us, this whole thing's over."

Silence fell.

"We need to hold out until dawn," Majid said, taking charge of the moment. "That's the only way."

No one argued further, though the tension was a living thing.

Part 4: The Flood

They spent the night in uneasy vigilance, each family member taking turns keeping watch while the others rested in restless shifts. The moans and growls of the infected grew louder as the hours crept by.

When the sun's faint light began creeping over the horizon, relief flickered across their faces.

"It's morning," Sajid murmured. "We're leaving now. Before it's too—"

The barricade at the rear of the factory exploded inward as infected poured through, their claws raking the ground as they surged forward.

"They found us!" Aysha screamed, pulling Mohid and Afeef close.

"Get the kids!" Majid roared. "Move now!"

Sajid and Khalid rushed toward the breach, their weapons swinging in furious arcs. The infected howled, throwing themselves at the defenders. Blood sprayed, and limbs broke as the family fought to hold the tide.

"Up the stairs!" Shazia yelled, shoving the children toward the second floor. Subhana and Maryam carried the younger ones while Naseem and Aysha stayed behind to protect them.

Muhammad, Zaid, and Shawaiz pushed forward to reinforce the older men. The cousins worked in tandem, their weapons a blur of violent efficiency.

"Get off him!" Shamir screamed as an infected dragged Majid to the ground. He smashed its head with a blow that split its skull. Blood splattered across his face as he yanked Majid to his feet.

The infected were relentless, their snarls deafening, their numbers endless.

"We can't hold this!" Khalid bellowed as a zombie clawed at his arm. He threw it off, but another replaced it immediately.

"We need another way out!" Sajid roared.

As the infected broke through the barricades, the family was forced into retreat, their desperate search for escape leading them toward the roof.