Hero

Lenz stared at the axe in his hands, the polished oak handle smooth against his calloused palms. The blade gleamed in the lantern light, reflecting the faces of his friends—Paulie, grinning like he'd just pulled off the heist of the century; Jackie, adjusting his glasses with a rare smile; and Mother Charmine, her stern expression softened by a flicker of pride. Even Luke, the fluffy white dog, wagged his tail as if he understood the significance of the moment.

Lenz's throat tightened. He blinked hard, trying to push back the tears that threatened to spill over. He wasn't used to this—being the center of attention, being cared for like this. He turned away, pretending to examine the axe more closely, but his voice betrayed him. "You guys… you didn't have to do this."

Paulie stepped forward, clapping a hand on Lenz's shoulder. "Of course we did. You've been cutting wood with that stupid stone tool for years. It's about time you got something decent."

Lenz laughed, a shaky sound that caught in his chest. "Yeah, well, now I'll have to figure out how to use this thing without chopping my foot off."

Jackie rolled his eyes, but there was warmth in his voice. "Knowing you, that's a real possibility. Maybe we should've gotten you a helmet instead."

"Hey," Lenz protested, turning to face them fully now, "I'll have you know I'm a master woodcutter. This axe is just going to make me unstoppable."

Mother Charmine cleared her throat, her hands clasped in front of her. "Let's hope you use it wisely, Lenz. And not just for chopping wood." Her tone was stern, but there was a glint of humor in her eyes.

Lenz nodded, his expression softening. "Thank you, Mother Charmine. For… everything."

She waved a hand dismissively, but Lenz could see the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "Don't get sentimental on me now. You're still late for morning prayers."

The group laughed, the sound echoing in the dimly lit hallway. For a moment, the weight of the world outside seemed to fade away. It was just them, together, and for the first time in a long time, Lenz felt like he belonged.

---

The market was alive with energy, a chaotic symphony of sights, sounds, and smells. Vendors called out to passersby, their stalls overflowing with colorful fruits, fresh bread, and handmade trinkets. The air was thick with the scent of spices, roasted meats, and the occasional whiff of livestock from the nearby pens. Children darted between the stalls, their laughter ringing out as they played games of tag. Merchants haggled with customers, their voices rising and falling in a rhythmic back-and-forth.

Lenz and Paulie weaved through the crowd, their eyes scanning the bustling scene. Paulie suddenly stopped, his face lighting up. "There she is!" he said, pointing to the far end of the market.

Lenz followed his gaze and spotted Lili. She was dressed in a flowing gown that stood out against the more muted tones of the market, her red hair catching the sunlight. She waved at Paulie, a bright smile on her face, before turning and disappearing into the crowd, clearly signaling for him to follow.

Paulie grinned, his excitement palpable. "Oh, that's her! I'll catch up with you later, Lenz!" Without waiting for a response, he took off, weaving through the crowd with surprising speed.

Lenz groaned, annoyed. "Wait, Paulie! You can't just—" But Paulie was already gone, swallowed up by the sea of people. Lenz sighed, muttering under his breath, "Great. Just leave me here."

As he tried to follow, he quickly found himself caught in the middle of the crowd. A vendor bumped into him, spilling a basket of apples. A group of children ran past, nearly knocking him over. Lenz groaned again, louder this time. "Of course. Why did I even agree to this?"

Just as he was about to give up and find a quieter spot to wait, something caught his eye. A figure moved in the corner of his vision—someone familiar, though he couldn't quite place them. The person was weaving through the crowd with purpose, their face obscured by a hood. Lenz's instincts kicked in, and he felt a sudden surge of suspicion. *Who is that? And why do I feel like I've seen them before?*

Without a second thought, Lenz turned and started following the figure, pushing through the crowd with determination. Paulie and Lili were forgotten for the moment. Whoever this was, they were up to something—and Lenz wasn't about to let them slip away.

---

Lenz pushed through the crowd, his eyes locked on the hooded figure. The person moved quickly, but Lenz was determined not to lose them. Just as he was closing the gap, the figure bumped into a vendor, knocking over a stack of crates. In that moment of chaos, the hood slipped back, revealing a round, flushed face that Lenz recognized immediately.

"Joe?" Lenz muttered under his breath, his suspicion turning to anger. He hurried forward, shoving people aside, and grabbed Joe by the collar, slamming him to the ground. The crowd around them gasped, but no one stepped in to help. In a place like Libiya, fights were common, and most people preferred to mind their own business.

Lenz pinned Joe to the ground, his voice low and dangerous. "What are you doing here? Is Furio up to something?"

Joe's eyes widened in panic, and he stammered, "I-I don't know what you're talking about!"

Lenz tightened his grip, his face inches from Joe's. "Don't lie to me. I know you're working for Furio. What's the plan?"

Joe hesitated, but the look in Lenz's eyes made it clear he wasn't getting out of this without answering. "Alright, alright! Furio… he's planning to capture Lili. He thinks if he hurts her, Paulie will come running, and he can take him out for good."

Lenz's blood ran cold. "That prick!" he snarled, releasing Joe and standing up. Without another word, he turned and started running, weaving through the crowd with desperate urgency. He had to get to Paulie and Lili before it was too late.

---

Lenz sprinted through the crowded market, his heart pounding in his chest. "Paulie!" he shouted, his voice barely audible over the noise of the bustling crowd. He pushed past vendors, dodged carts, and ignored the angry shouts of people he bumped into. His mind raced faster than his feet. *If Furio's after Lili, Paulie's walking right into a trap. I have to find them before it's too late.*

He turned down a narrow alley, hoping it would be a shortcut. The air was damp, and the walls closed in on either side, but Lenz didn't slow down. "Paulie!" he called again, his voice echoing off the brick walls. No response. *Where the hell are they?*

His thoughts spiraled as he ran. *Why didn't I see this coming? Furio's been planning this for who knows how long. And Joe—that idiot—he's just a pawn in all of this. But if Furio hurts Lili… Paulie will never forgive himself. And neither will I.*

Lenz burst out of the alley and into another crowded street. He scanned the area frantically, his eyes darting from face to face. No sign of Paulie or Lili. He cursed under his breath and took off again, this time heading toward the quieter side streets where fewer people would notice a confrontation.

As he ran, his mind kept racing. *What if I'm too late? What if Furio's already got them? No, I can't think like that. I have to keep going. I have to find them.*

He turned another corner, his lungs burning, and finally spotted a flash of red hair in the distance. Lili. She was standing near the entrance of another alley, looking around nervously. Paulie was nowhere in sight.

"Lili!" Lenz shouted, his voice hoarse. She turned, her eyes wide with surprise, but before she could respond, a figure stepped out of the shadows behind her. Furio.

Lenz's heart dropped. He was too late.

---

Furio walked in, a twisted smile on his face. "Well, well. To think we didn't even need to do the hard work of luring them here."

Lili stood her ground, though her voice trembled. "Who the hell are you? Where's my guard?"

Lenz sprinted toward her, but he was too late. In one swift motion, Furio grabbed Lili and pressed a knife to her throat. "Woah, woah now," he said, his voice calm but menacing. "You don't want her to die here, right?"

Lenz skidded to a stop, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. He raised his hands, trying to appear non-threatening. "Furio, where's Paulie?"

As if on cue, a body slammed to the ground nearby. It was Paulie, beaten and bloodied, gasping for air. Lenz's eyes darted to the figure stepping out of the shadows—Ramsey. His hands were tucked casually in his pockets, his expression unreadable. Lenz's mind raced. *Ramsey? How?* He'd never seen Ramsey fight before. The guy was lean, and always seemed to avoid confrontation. But the way he moved now—confident, deliberate—sent a chill down Lenz's spine.

Paulie tried to push himself up, his voice weak but filled with rage. "Furio… I'll fucking kill you…"

Before he could get to his feet, Ramsey kicked him back down, his voice eerily calm. "Don't try anything, Paulie. It'll all be over soon."

Lenz's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. He glanced at Lili, her face pale with fear, tears welling in her eyes as she struggled against Furio's grip. The knife glinted dangerously close to her throat. Lenz's heart pounded as he tried to think of a way out.

"Look, Furio," Lenz began, his voice steady despite the panic rising in his chest. "If it's about money, I can—"

"It's not about that, you fucking idiot!" Furio shouted, cutting him off. His calm demeanor shattered, replaced by a wild, almost manic energy. "You know it was my plan to do this someday. Nowadays, in the streets, you have to earn yourself and make a name. The best way? Kill the people who got us into the life we have now!" He paused, his grip tightening on Lili as she winced. "I'll become the hero of this place, Lenz. This is only the beginning."

Lenz's eyes flicked to Paulie, still struggling on the ground, then back to Furio. "And why do you care so much about these people anyway?" Furio sneered. "What do they mean to you? Huh? They're just rich brats who look down on us. They don't care about you. They dont care about any of us."

Lenz clenched his fists, his mind racing. He couldn't let Furio hurt Lili. He couldn't let Paulie down. But with Ramsey standing guard and Furio's knife at Lili's throat, his options were slim. He needed to buy time. He needed to think.

The tension in the air was suffocating, every second stretching into an eternity. Lenz's voice cracked as he shouted, "WAIT, Furio… wait! I understand how you feel, Its all because of your mother right? How she ruined your life, but...Don't you remember what you said to all of us that day?"

Furio froze, the knife trembling slightly in his hand. His eyes flickered, as if a flood of memories had suddenly rushed back to him. He opened his mouth to respond, his expression wavering between rage and something softer, something buried deep beneath years of bitterness and pain.

But before he could speak, the world exploded into chaos.

---

A deafening *crash* shattered the silence. The sound of breaking glass erupted from above, sharp and jarring. Everyone flinched, their heads snapping upward as shards of glass rained down from the second floor of the house next to them. The sunlight glinted off the falling fragments, scattering light like a macabre kaleidoscope.

And then—something fell.

A body.

It plummeted from the broken window, twisting unnaturally in the air before slamming into the ground with a sickening *thud*. The impact was visceral, the sound of bones cracking against the cobblestones echoing through the square. The figure lay motionless, face down, limbs splayed at grotesque angles.

For a moment, time seemed to stop.

Lili let out a strangled scream, her voice cutting through the stunned silence. Furio's grip on her loosened, his knife hand dropping slightly as he stared at the scene in disbelief. Ramsey, who had been standing calmly moments earlier, now took a step back, his voice low but sharp. "What the fuck just happened?"

Paulie, still on the ground, groaned as he tried to push himself up, his bloodied face twisted in confusion and pain. "What… what the hell is going on?" he rasped, his voice barely audible.

Furio's voice broke the silence, shaky and uncertain. "He… fell?" he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. His grip on Lili slackened completely now, his focus entirely on the horrifying scene before him.

The figure's grotesque face tilted upward, its one bloodshot eye locking onto Lenz while the other remained swollen shut, the skin around it a deep, mottled purple. Blood dripped steadily from its crushed nose and torn lips, pooling beneath its shattered body. Its jaw hung loose, clicking unnaturally as it tried to form words, but no sound came out—only a wet, guttural growl that sent shivers down Lenz's spine.

Then, with a sickening *crack*, the figure's head snapped upright, its neck twisting back into place. The swollen eye burst open, revealing a pitch-black void where the iris and whites should have been. Both eyes were now completely black, like two bottomless pits, devoid of any humanity. The figure's broken limbs began to move, bones grinding and popping as they realigned themselves with unnatural precision.

Lenz stumbled back,But the figure didn't stop. Its arms, bent and twisted, snapped back into place with a series of wet, crunching sounds. Its legs, shattered and mangled, straightened as if pulled by invisible strings. The figure rose to its feet, its movements jerky and unnatural, like a marionette controlled by some unseen force.

Furio's breath hitched. His grip on Lili tightened for a moment, but then, for the first time in his life, he felt something he had never known before—true, unrelenting fear. His hand trembled, the knife slipping from his fingers and clattering to the ground. The sound echoed through the square, sharp and final. Furio didn't even notice it was gone. His eyes were locked on the figure, his face pale, his usual bravado shattered.

"What… what the hell is that thing?" Furio whispered, his voice barely audible, his tone stripped of its usual arrogance. He took a step back, his body instinctively moving away from the horror before him.

Ramsey, who had always been calm and composed, now stood frozen, his face a mask of disbelief. His hands, usually tucked casually in his pockets, hung limply at his sides. "This… this isn't possible," he muttered, his voice low but filled with unease.

Paulie, still on the ground, tried to push himself up, his bloodied face twisted in pain and confusion. "Lenz… what do we do?" he rasped, his voice weak but desperate.

Lili, freed from Furio's grip, stumbled back, her hands clutching her throat as she stared at the figure in horror. Tears streamed down her face, but she made no sound, too terrified to even scream.

The figure took a step forward, its movements jerky and unnatural. Its black eyes locked onto Lenz, and it let out a low, guttural growl that seemed to vibrate through the ground. Its head tilted to one side, then snapped back into place with a sharp *crack*. Blood dripped from its torn lips as it took another step, its broken body now fully upright, its presence radiating an unnatural, terrifying energy.

Lenz's mind raced. The figure lunged, its grotesque, bloodied body moving with unnatural speed. Lenz's instincts kicked in, and he shouted at the top of his lungs, "RUN!"

Paulie didn't hesitate. He scrambled to his feet, grabbing Lili's hand and yanking her forward. "Come on, move!" he barked, his voice strained with panic. Lili stumbled at first, her legs shaky with fear, but Paulie's grip was firm, pulling her along as they sprinted away from the horrifying scene.

Lenz's eyes darted to Furio and Ramsey, who were already bolting to the left, heading toward the opposite side of the market. "Let's go right! C'mon!" Lenz shouted, gesturing for Paulie and Lili to follow him. The figure, momentarily disoriented after crashing into the wall, let out a guttural snarl, its black eyes locking onto Lenz as it began to push itself off the stone.

Lenz didn't wait. He turned and ran, his heart pounding in his chest, his legs burning with adrenaline. Paulie and Lili were right behind him, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. None of them dared to look back, too terrified to see if the thing was still chasing them. The sound of their footsteps echoed through the narrow streets, mingling with the distant cries of the market and the ever-present, haunting growl of the figure they had left behind.

### Chapter 7: The Escape (continued)

Lili's voice cut through the chaos, desperate but determined. "Marcus, over here!" she shouted, her voice trembling but loud enough to carry over the noise of the bustling market. The guard, a tall, broad-shouldered man clad in chainmail, turned sharply at the sound of her voice. His hand immediately went to the spear strapped to his back, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of Lili, disheveled and pale, flanked by Paulie and Lenz. Without hesitation, he yanked the spear free, leveling it at Paulie, who instinctively raised his hands in surrender.

"Stay back!" Marcus barked, his voice deep and commanding. "Step away from her, now!"

"No, Marcus, wait!" Lili cried, stepping between Paulie and the guard. Her voice was frantic, her hands trembling as she gestured wildly. "They didn't do anything! They saved me! There's something—something horrible back there! A man—no, not a man, a *thing*—it fell from the window, its face was… it was broken, and its eyes… they were black, completely black! It got up, Marcus, it got up and it chased us! It's not human!"

The crowd around them had begun to gather, curious murmurs rippling through the market as people stopped to listen. Marcus's grip on his spear tightened, his eyes flicking from Lili to Paulie and Lenz, then back to her. "What are you talking about, my lady?" he asked, his tone still wary but now tinged with confusion. "A thing? What thing?"

Lili's voice rose, her words spilling out in a frantic rush. "I don't know what it was, but it was alive—or maybe it wasn't, I don't know! It was covered in blood, its bones were broken, but it moved, Marcus! It moved like it wasn't even hurt! It chased us, and—and—" She broke off, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps.

The crowd's murmurs grew louder, some people exchanging uneasy glances, others scoffing in disbelief. But before anyone could say more, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air. It was a woman's scream, high-pitched and filled with terror.

---

The woman's scream tore through the market like a knife, cutting through the noise and chaos. Everyone turned, their eyes widening in horror as they saw the source of the sound. A man—his face pale, his eyes hollow and unfocused—was biting into the woman's arm with a ferocity that was inhuman. Blood sprayed as she struggled, her voice shrill and desperate. "Fred! Stop it! What are you doing?!" she shrieked, her words dissolving into incoherent cries of pain and terror.

The crowd froze for a split second, the scene too surreal to process. Then, like a dam breaking, panic erupted. People began to shout, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of fear. "What's happening?!" "Get away from her!" "Someone help her!" The market, once lively and bustling, descended into chaos as people scrambled to get away from the horrifying sight.

Lenz's mind raced as he watched the scene unfold. His eyes darted to the man—Fred—who was now tearing into the woman's arm with a ravenous hunger. The way he moved, the way he acted—it was eerily familiar. Lenz's stomach churned as he remembered the servant from the Roose family who had behaved the same way just days ago. The pieces clicked into place with terrifying clarity. *It's the virus,* he realized, his blood running cold. *It's spreading.*

Before he could say anything, another sound cut through the chaos—a guttural cry of pain. Lenz turned to see one of the vendors, a middle-aged man with a stall full of fruits, clutch at his chest. His face contorted in agony as he collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing. People nearby backed away, their eyes wide with fear. "What's wrong with him?!" someone shouted.

The vendor's convulsions stopped abruptly. For a moment, he lay still, and the crowd held its breath, hoping it was over. But then, with a jerky, unnatural motion, the vendor pushed himself to his feet. His movements were stiff, his head lolling to one side before snapping upright. His eyes, once filled with life, were now blank and empty, his expression devoid of any humanity.

The vendor turned to the nearest person—a young boy who had been helping at the stall—and lunged. His hands clawed at the boy's shoulders, his mouth opening wide as he let out a guttural growl. The boy screamed, trying to pull away, but the vendor's grip was ironclad.

Lenz's heart pounded in his chest as he watched the scene unfold. The virus was spreading, and it was spreading fast. The market was no longer a place of safety—it was a death trap. He turned to Paulie and Lili, his voice urgent. "We need to get out of here—now!"

But before they could move, another scream echoed through the market. Then another. And another. The chaos was spreading like wildfire, the virus consuming everything in its path. Lenz's mind raced, his instincts screaming at him to run, to survive.

---

Lenz grabbed Lili's hand, his voice sharp with urgency. "C'mon, let's go!" But as they tried to push through the crowd, it was impossible. People were fleeing in every direction, their faces twisted with panic. Bodies collided, stalls were overturned, and the air was filled with screams, cries, and the sickening sounds of violence. The market had become a suffocating maze of chaos, with no clear path to escape.

Lili's voice cut through the noise, desperate but determined. "This way!" she shouted, pointing toward a narrow alleyway that snaked between two crumbling buildings. It was a tight squeeze, but it led away from the heart of the market, toward the statue of Sir Alex in the center of town. Without hesitation, Lenz nodded, and they plunged into the alley, Paulie and the guard, Marcus, close behind.

The alley was dim and claustrophobic, the walls pressing in on either side. The sounds of the market grew muffled, but the chaos was far from over. As they ran, glimpses of the surrounding streets flashed through gaps in the buildings. Everywhere they looked, it was the same—pure, unrelenting horror.

A man was pinned to the ground by his own brother, who was tearing into his shoulder with animalistic ferocity. A mother screamed as her child, once innocent and small, lunged at her with blackened eyes and a guttural snarl. A group of townsfolk had cornered a woman who was convulsing on the ground, her body twitching unnaturally before she sprang up, her face twisted into something unrecognizable. The streets were littered with overturned carts, shattered glass, and bodies—some motionless, others writhing in pain or attacking anyone within reach.

The air was thick with smoke, the acrid smell of burning wood and flesh stinging their nostrils. Fires had broken out in several buildings, their flames licking hungrily at the sky. The once-bustling town was now a hellscape, a nightmare brought to life.

Finally, they burst out of the alley and into the town square, where the towering statue of Sir Alex stood. The statue, a symbol of the town's strength and unity, now looked down on a scene of utter devastation. The square was no better than the market. People ran in every direction, their screams echoing off the stone buildings. A horse-drawn cart had overturned, its contents spilled across the cobblestones. The horse itself was thrashing wildly, its eyes rolling back as foam dripped from its mouth.

To their left, a group of infected townsfolk had cornered a family, their black eyes gleaming with unnatural hunger. To their right, a man was beating another with a wooden plank, his face twisted in rage, only to collapse moments later, his body convulsing before he rose again, his eyes hollow and lifeless.

Lenz's chest heaved as he took in the scene, his mind struggling to process the sheer scale of the destruction. "This… this can't be real," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the chaos.

Lili's voice broke through the chaos, her tone firm despite the fear in her eyes. "We need to get to the temple—it's the safest place in town. The walls are high, and the gates are strong. We can hold out there until this… this madness passes."

Paulie nodded, his hand instinctively reaching for Lili's. "She's right. The temple's our best shot. Let's move."

But Lenz's mind was elsewhere. His face paled as he realized something terrible. "What about Jackie?" he said, his voice rising with panic. "He's still at the orphanage! We can't just leave him there!"

Paulie turned to Lenz, his expression grim but steady. He grabbed Lenz by the shoulders, his grip firm. "Listen to me," he said, his voice low but urgent. "We'll look for him later. Right now, we need to focus on getting somewhere safe. If we don't make it, we can't help anyone—not Jackie, not anyone."

Lenz shook his head, his eyes blazing with determination. "No," he said, his voice rising. "I'm not leaving him there. You go to the temple. I'll go get Jackie. I'll meet you at the prayer house."

Paulie's jaw tightened, his frustration evident. "Lenz, don't be stupid! You'll get yourself killed out there!"

But Lenz was already pulling away, his mind made up. "I can't leave him, Paulie. I just can't." He looked at Lili, then back at Paulie, his expression softening for a moment. "Take care of her. I'll find you at the temple."

Before Paulie could argue further, Lenz turned and sprinted back into the chaos, his heart pounding as he weaved through the panicked crowds and the growing number of infected. The streets were a blur of screams and desperation—people running in every direction, some clutching loved ones, others collapsing to the ground, their bodies convulsing before rising again with hollow, black eyes. The air was thick with the sounds of growls, cries, and the sickening thuds of bodies hitting the cobblestones.

Paulie watched him go, his fists clenched at his sides. "Damn it, Lenz," he muttered under his breath. Then he turned to Lili, his expression hardening. "Let's move. We'll meet him at the temple."

---

Lenz sprinted through the narrow, winding streets of the town, his heart pounding in his chest. The chaos around him was overwhelming—people screaming, the infected snarling, and the sound of running footsteps echoing off the cobblestones. He dodged around panicked townsfolk, his eyes scanning the path ahead for any sign of danger.

As he turned a corner, two infected lunged at him from the shadows, their black eyes gleaming with unnatural hunger. Lenz skidded to a stop, his breath catching in his throat. One of them reached for him, its fingers clawing at the air. Without thinking, Lenz grabbed a wooden crate from a nearby stall and hurled it at the infected. The crate shattered on impact, knocking the first one backward. The second infected stumbled over the debris, giving Lenz just enough time to dart past them.

He didn't stop to look back. His legs burned as he pushed himself to run faster, his mind focused on one thing: getting to the orphanage. But the streets were a maze of danger. Around the next corner, another infected appeared, its mouth smeared with blood. Lenz veered to the side, grabbing a loose cobblestone from the ground. He threw it with all his strength, hitting the infected square in the chest. It staggered, giving Lenz a chance to slip by.

As he neared the orphanage, the streets grew quieter, but the danger was far from over. A group of three infected blocked his path, their heads snapping toward him as he approached. Lenz's eyes darted around, searching for an escape. He spotted a ladder leaning against a nearby building and made a split-second decision. He bolted toward it, climbing as quickly as he could. The infected reached the base of the ladder just as he pulled himself onto the roof.

Crouching low, Lenz caught his breath, his hands trembling. He could hear the infected below, their guttural growls sending chills down his spine. He scanned the rooftops, spotting a path that would lead him closer to the orphanage. With a deep breath, he stood and began to run, leaping from one roof to the next. The tiles were slippery under his feet, but he didn't dare slow down.

When he reached the edge of the last rooftop, he looked down. The orphanage was just across the street. He hesitated for a moment, then jumped, landing hard on the cobblestones below. Pain shot through his legs, but he forced himself to keep moving. The orphanage door was within sight.

---

Lenz crept closer to the orphanage, his heart pounding so hard he could feel it in his throat. The front yard was a nightmare come to life. Infected swarmed the area, their movements jerky and unnatural as they feasted on the bodies of nuns and others who had tried to flee. The sight made his stomach churn. Just hours ago, these people had been normal—kind, caring, human. Now, their eyes were completely black, their veins bulging and dark like ink spreading under their skin. Their faces were twisted into something unrecognizable, a grotesque mockery of humanity.

Lenz crouched behind a low stone wall, his mind racing. The front door was out of the question—it was swarming with infected. He needed another way in. His eyes scanned the building, landing on a first-floor window just above a stack of crates and barrels. It wasn't much, but it was his only shot.

Taking a deep breath, Lenz darted from his hiding spot, staying low to avoid drawing attention. He reached the crates and began to climb, his movements quick but careful. The wood creaked under his weight, and for a terrifying moment, he thought it might collapse. But he made it to the top, gripping the windowsill and pulling himself up. The window was slightly ajar, and with a grunt, he pushed it open and tumbled inside.

He landed in a dimly lit hallway, his breath coming in ragged gasps. But his relief was short-lived. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he realized the hallway wasn't empty. Dozens of infected shuffled aimlessly, their black eyes glinting in the faint light. Some were hunched over, their mouths stained with blood, while others stood eerily still, their heads twitching as if listening for something.

Lenz froze, his blood running cold. *How could this be?* he thought, his mind struggling to process the sheer number of infected inside the building. The orphanage was supposed to be a safe place, a refuge. Now, it was a death trap.

Before he could move, one of the infected turned its head sharply, its black eyes locking onto him. A low, guttural growl escaped its throat, and suddenly, the entire hallway seemed to come alive. Heads snapped in his direction, and the infected began to move, their movements jerky but unnervingly fast.

And in the matter of seconds, they lunged at him.