Chapter 7: The First to Fall

The group slipped out of the doors of Medrano, crouching low as they moved through the hallway. 

As they neared the end of the corridor, approaching the open space leading to the chapel stairs, a sudden noise made them freeze.

A door creaked open.

From LS 207, a figure emerged, a student, who seems to have just woken up. He stepped out and was confused by the creature that stood awkwardly still looking down, 

Arthur's breath hitched. He instinctively opened his mouth to call out—

John was faster. He clamped a hand over Arthur's arm, shaking his head sharply. His eyes burned with urgency. Stay quiet.

Arthur's fists clenched, but he held back.

The student took another step forward, his bag slung over his shoulder, glancing left and right as if searching for something. As he headed toward the stairs, passing by the creature, it suddenly attacked. 

The creature moved sluggishly, its body swaying unnaturally, but its right arm lashed out with sudden speed, clamping onto the student's arm.

The student froze for a split second, his face contorting in shock and terror.

Then, he let out a startled yell, yanking at his trapped arm.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the hallway.

The creature didn't react to his words—it only tightened its grip, its fingers digging into his skin. The student struggled harder, panic rising in his eyes as he tried to shake it off.

From their crouched position, the group tensed.

"Damn it," John muttered under his breath.

After a brief tug-of-war between the creature and the student's arm, the student gritted his teeth and swung his free hand upward in a desperate uppercut. His fist connected with the creature's jaw with a dull crack, sending it stumbling backward.

For a moment, it looked like he had won, but the creature's grip didn't loosen. Instead, as it fell, it yanked the student down with it.

He crashed to the floor with a grunt, his back hitting the tiles hard. The creature, though momentarily dazed, was still latched onto his arm. 

The creature lurched forward, its jaws snapping down onto the student's arm.

A sharp, guttural scream tore from his throat as pain shot through him. "Shit!" He gritted his teeth, his face twisted in agony.

With a surge of adrenaline, he forced himself to his feet, yanking his arm back. Blood smeared his sleeve, but he had no time to check the wound. Fury and desperation took over as he raised his foot and stomped down hard on the creature's chest, right near where its heart should be.

The impact sent a sickening crunch through the air. The creature twitched, its grip finally loosening. Without hesitation, the student wrenched free and bolted, sprinting toward the stairs.

He didn't look back. He just ran.

For a brief moment, the creature lay still, its body sprawled awkwardly on the cold tiles.

Then, with a slow, jerking motion, it began to rise. Its arms trembled as it pushed itself off the ground, its movements more sluggish than before. Its posture was worse now—its shoulders slumped even lower, its head hanging as if its neck could barely support the weight.

A faint, raspy sound escaped its throat, almost like a wheeze. Though it had been weakened, it wasn't down for good.

Miguel clenched his jaw. "It's still moving."

The ROTC officer narrowed his eyes. "Then we finish it. Move in—now."