The smell of blood was everywhere.
It clung to the walls, soaked into clothes, and settled in their lungs like a warning.
Zara sat beside Liam, wiping her hands with a scrap of old curtain. The zombie's blood had splattered across her forearms when Mason struck it down. It had dried sticky and dark — and no matter how hard she scrubbed, it didn't feel like it was coming off.
Across the room, Ava was curled up near the door, knees to her chest. She hadn't said a word since the attack.
Ryan stood nearby, keeping his eyes on Mason.
Something about him didn't sit right.
"Is everyone okay?" Mason finally asked.
His voice was calm — too calm.
"Define 'okay,'" Ryan muttered. "We almost died. Again."
One of Mason's companions — a girl with a blood-soaked bandage on her arm — coughed violently, drawing attention. She was pale. Breathing hard. Barely staying conscious.
Zara glanced at Liam. "We can't stay here."
"I know," he said. "We won't."
Mason looked up. "I don't know if there's any place safer than this"
Liam nodded slowly. "Yeah. Second building. Ground floor. East wing. A hidden storage room, it's hidden behind the old utility lockers. Reinforced door, deadbolt on the inside."
Mason grinned slightly. "Sounds like our best bet. How'd you know about that though?"
"Yeah….lets not go into that" Liam said.
"Don't tell me you hooked up in there." Mason said with a grin on his face.
"Bro no ew." Liam said with an embarrassed look on his face.
"Mhm.. okay bro I believe you." Mason added while smirking.
"But it's across the courtyard," Zara cut in. "That means going outside."
Ava finally spoke. "What if more of those things are out there?"
"There are more of them out there," Mason said. "But there are also more coming. The next wave."
"You keep saying that," Ryan snapped. "What the hell do you mean by 'wave?'"
Mason leaned forward. "I told you, this isn't random. The infection spreads in pulses. Coordinated. First wave hit around noon. The second will hit at sunset. That's how it started where I was. That's how it's moving now."
Zara glanced at her watch. 4:42 PM.
Sunset wasn't far.
"I need to use the restroom," Ava suddenly blurted out.
Everyone turned.
"Now?" Ryan asked.
"Sorry I didn't schedule my bladder around the apocalypse," Ava snapped. "Yes. Now."
Zara stood. "I'll go with her."
"No," Mason said quickly. "No one goes alone. And the bathrooms aren't safe."
"I'm not going to pee in a corner while like eleven people watch," Ava said sharply. "Unless you want me to start crying in front of everyone."
Liam sighed and stood. "We'll all move together. Find a nearby restroom. Quick."
They crept down the hallway — silent, tense.
The building was still, but not quiet. Every so often, they'd hear a clatter from above. A shuffle. Something sliding across tile.
Zara stayed close to Ava as they moved.
They found a restroom halfway down the corridor.
"I'll be quick," Ava said, slipping inside.
Zara lingered outside the door. She could hear Ava rustling — then a muffled curse.
Then silence.
"Ava?" she called gently.
A moment later, Ava's voice came out quieter. "Z… it's not just my bladder."
Zara blinked. "What?"
"I'm on my period. It just started. And it's… bad."
Zara sighed. "Okay. Deep breath. Do you have anything?"
"No."
Zara looked at the others, then slipped into the restroom quietly. She reached into her bag and pulled out the soft cotton from a torn undershirt she'd packed during the chaos.
"This'll work for now."
Ava looked up at her with tear-glossed eyes. "You're too good for this world."
"I just don't want blood on my hoodie again," Zara teased.
Even Ava laughed a little.
When they returned, Mason was standing near a shattered window, looking out at the path to the second building.
Zara joined him. "You think we'll make it?"
He looked at her. "You've got guts, I'll give you that."
Zara frowned. "You didn't answer my question."
Mason finally turned to her, something unreadable in his expression.
"No," he said. "But we're going anyway."