《All-In: A bet against the end》 A Changing World "Come on, come on... just one more run," Adam Sciver muttered, his fingers drumming anxiously against the stained surface of his desk. The dim glow of his second-hand laptop flickered, barely keeping up with the live cricket stream. His breath hitched as the bowler charged forward, the batsman poised¡ªone strike could turn everything around. Then, disaster. "No, no, no! Damn it!" The Batsman misjudged the ball and went for a swing early , missing the ball. The batsman was clean bowled. His team had lost. And with it, Adam too lost his bet. Adam shot up, his chair scraping against the tiled floor. His gut twisted. His last few hundred bucks were all gone. The balance in his bank account were now not more than $50.12. That was all he had left. For a long moment, he stood motionless, his chest rising and falling in short, ragged breaths. A hand ran through his messy brown hair, fingers gripping at his scalp. "I should have cashed out early" he spoke. "Why always me?" But he didn¡¯t. He never did. The thrill of the gamble and the high of a win, it kept him coming back. Until now. Silence settled over the room, broken only by the distant honking of cars outside his cramped one-room flat. The place was a disaster. Packets of packaged foods, empty cans, and half-eaten takeout containers were gathered around the table and his bed. He was living off of his parents , who paid for the flat. "Alright, time to get serious," Adam mumbled, grabbing his phone. He ignored the unread messages from Josh , probably asking to go clubbing again. Josh was a social butterfly whereas Adam did not like going out that much. He went straight to a gig site. Dog walking, food delivery, warehouse stocking. Nothing exciting. But excitement wasn¡¯t an option anymore. As he scrolled, a breaking news notification came up. "URGENT: Unidentified viral outbreak reported at EverGene Research Facility. Authorities urge citizens to stay indoors. Further updates to follow." Adam frowned, tapping the notification. A grainy live stream loaded. A breathless reporter stood outside EverGene¡¯s massive facility, wind blowing her hair as sirens went on in the background. Behind her, flashing red lights illuminated the sleek glass building, casting eerie reflections on the pavement. "Authorities have locked down EverGene¡¯s virology wing after an unexpected containment breach. Details remain scarce, but unconfirmed reports suggest several staff members have fallen ill following exposure to an unknown pathogen." Adam switched tabs. Another news site. Then another. ¡°Outbreak spreads in Drayford and Velmora. Rising cases. Unconfirmed fatalities. Government considers quarantine measures.¡± He exhaled sharply. "Great. Must be another flu scare." He''d seen this before. Media frenzy. Panic buying. Supermarkets running out of toilet paper. Give it a few weeks, and everything would go back to normal. Pushing the thought aside, he scrolled back to his job listings. Whatever this was, it wasn¡¯t his problem. At least not yet. His stomach growled, reminding him that worrying about the news wouldn¡¯t fill his fridge. He grabbed his jacket and stepped outside for a stroll. The streets looked the same as ever, normal. If there was anything to be scared of, people sure weren¡¯t showing it. As he walked past a row of small shops, his eyes landed on a board outside a convenience store: HELP WANTED ¨C PART-TIME SALES CLERK ¨C GOOD PAY He stopped in his tracks, staring at the sign. His first instinct was to keep walking , he¡¯d never seen himself as the type to work behind a register. A year ago, he had bigger plans, better ambitions. But that version of him felt like someone else now, someone who hadn¡¯t made one bad bet after another. Adam let out a slow breath. "Well, looks like my luck isn¡¯t completely rotten." He stepped inside. The cool air inside the convenience store smelled of instant noodles and disinfectant. A television mounted on the wall above the counter played the news, the red banner at the bottom flashing urgent updates about the outbreak. Behind the counter, a middle-aged man, likely in his forties, leaned forward with his elbows on the surface, watching the screen intently. His face was lined with worry, his dark hair showing streaks of gray . As Adam stepped inside, the man¡¯s gaze shifted from the news to him. "How may I help you?" the man asked, his voice steady but lacking the usual enthusiasm of a shopkeeper. Adam walked up to the counter, slipping his hands into his pockets. "I saw the hiring sign outside. I wanted to ask about the job and the payment." The man straightened up slightly, his eyes scanning Adam briefly before nodding. "You''re looking for work? Well, it''s a part-time gig, but the pay is decent for what it is. I give fair wages, fifteen an hour. You up for it?" If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Fifteen an hour. Adam did some quick mental math. It wasn¡¯t a fortune, but it was enough to keep him afloat. "Sounds fair. When can I start?" The man extended his hand. "Name¡¯s Ron. And if you¡¯re ready, you can start immediately." Adam hesitated for just a second before shaking his hand. "Adam Sciver. Alright, I¡¯m in. What do I need to do?" Ron walked him around the store, explaining the basics - stocking shelves, handling the register, keeping the place clean. Nothing too complicated, just repetitive. Adam listened attentively, making mental notes. He wasn¡¯t thrilled about the work, but at least it paid. The hours passed faster than he had expected. The store had a slow but steady number of customers, most of whom looked preoccupied, probably because of the growing news about the outbreak. Even Ron kept sneaking glances at the TV every time the updates played. At some point, a customer spoke, "This thing''s getting worse, huh?" while handing Adam a crumpled bill. Adam nodded absently. "Yeah, guess so." He didn¡¯t think much of it. Finally, his shift ended. Ron counted the cash from the till and handed Adam his first-day pay. "Good work today, kid. Same time tomorrow if you¡¯re still up for it." Adam pocketed the money and gave Ron a casual salute. "See you then." Stepping out into the night, he exhaled, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment. It had been a while since he earned money that didn¡¯t rely on luck, or his parents. His stomach rumbled, reminding him of his next destination. He needed food. His mind immediately went to a small food stall a few blocks away. The place was nothing fancy, but it had decent food at dirt-cheap prices. When he got there, the vendor, an old man with a thick moustache, was packing up for the night. "One last order?" Adam asked, pulling out a few bills. The man smiled, but it felt thinner than usual. "You¡¯re in luck. Got just enough left for one more plate." Adam took his food- a steaming plate of stir-fried noodles with beans and vegetables and started his walk home. The streets were quieter than usual. Maybe it was just his imagination, but the air felt heavier. A few stores had closed earlier than expected, their shutters down, lights off. Usually, even late at night, the city had life, cars honking, people loitering outside bars, music drifting from open windows. Tonight, everything felt silent. Halfway home, he passed a bus stop where two men stood waiting. Their voices were hushed, but as Adam walked by, he caught snippets of their conversation. "...something about the military being called in..." "...could be another government cover-up..." Adam frowned but kept walking. Back at his apartment, he sat on his couch, eating while checking his phone. Out of curiosity, he pulled up the news again. What he saw made his stomach twist. More than half the population of Drayford has died. Velmora reports increasing fatalities. Government orders emergency lockdowns. Adam¡¯s chewing slowed. He scrolled further. Videos of empty streets, abandoned cars, and medical personnel in full hazmat suits carrying bodies into vans filled his screen. Something was wrong , very wrong. Before he could process it, sirens blared outside his apartment. A robotic voice echoed through the streets. "Attention citizens! Stay inside your homes! Do not go outside until further notice!" Adam set down his food, his hands suddenly cold. He got up and peeked through the blinds. Police cars and military vehicles patrolled the streets. Officers with megaphones repeated the warning. There were no further details. No explanation of symptoms. No statement on how the victims had died. He leaned against the window, swallowing hard. "Damn¡­ this is big. Will I live?" He didn''t have an answer. Adam sat in his dimly lit apartment, the remains of his meal still on the table. The sirens outside had died down. He grabbed his phone and scrolled through news updates about the outbreak. Most official sources were still vague, repeating the same warnings: Stay indoors. Avoid contact with the infected. Further details to come. Frustrated, he switched to social media. That¡¯s when he saw it- a trending post by a well known Metuber, "ZedRiot," who had allegedly streamed the initial breakout at EverGene. His post was filled with a mix of panic and fear. The caption read: "They don¡¯t want you to see this. Watch this before they take it down!" Curious, Adam clicked on the link. The stream recording opened to a shaky handheld view of EverGene¡¯s front gates. Alarms blared in the background as scientists in hazmat suits ran in all directions. Then the camera panned to a horrifying sight, a man in a lab coat clutching his stomach, suddenly convulsing and collapsing to the ground. People screamed, backing away. But then, the body twitched. Slowly, unnaturally, it rose. His head jerked up, his eyes milky white. And then he lunged at the nearest person. The stream chat was a warzone. User_0932: "FAKE. CGI is getting better these days." GamerKing42: "Nah, this looks too real. The way he moves¡­ bro, that¡¯s not normal." Sara_LuvsCats: "Zombies aren¡¯t real. Chill." MetubeModerator: "This video is under review for violating community guidelines." Adam¡¯s stomach twisted. Zombies? No way. But the clip didn¡¯t look staged. The panic in the scientist¡¯s eyes, the sheer chaos - it felt real. He checked the comments. Some people were claiming they had seen similar reports in Velmora, the other outbreak city. Others swore this was just government fear-mongering. But the fact remained that half of Drayford¡¯s population was already gone. And no one was explaining why. A cold shiver ran down his spine. If this is real¡­ what the hell am I supposed to do? Then, outside his window, the sirens started again. Adam¡¯s hands trembled as he scrolled through the never-ending flood of posts and comments. The internet was in chaos. Official news channels were still withholding details, repeating the same warnings about an "unidentified pathogen," but social media was telling a different story. The virus wasn¡¯t just contained in Drayford or Velmora anymore. Reports were coming in from all over the country¡ªhordes of infected moving from city to city, entire districts falling silent overnight. Then, the worst update yet. BREAKING: First cases of infection confirmed in Kessport. Citizens are advised to stay indoors. Curfew enforced until further notice. Adam panicked. They''re here? Already?! He clicked on a local news report. A grainy phone video showed a street just a few blocks away. People were running - no, sprinting for their lives as a group of figures staggered behind them. At first, Adam thought they were just injured or drunk. But then he saw how they moved. Jerky, unnatural, relentless. A scream rang out in the video as one of the figures tackled a man to the ground, sinking its teeth into his shoulder. Blood splattered onto the pavement. The person filming screamed and ran, the footage shaking wildly before cutting off. Adam slammed his phone down, his heart pounding. "Dammit¡­ this can¡¯t be happening." He turned to his window, looking out at the streets below. For now, everything seemed normal. But for how long? The sirens outside wailed again, and this time, a voice blared over a loudspeaker: "This is an emergency broadcast. Citizens of Kessport, return to your homes immediately. The city is now under lockdown. Do not come out at any cost. Authorities will provide further instructions." Adam sat on the edge of his bed, his laptop screen flickering in the dim light. The emergency broadcast had ended, leaving an unsettling silence in the air. Outside, the distant sound of sirens echoed through the empty streets, accompanied by the occasional muffled voice on a loudspeaker. Survival against the odds He tapped his fingers against his knee, his mind racing. Okay. Think. What¡¯s the situation? The virus wasn¡¯t just some regular outbreak anymore. If the reports and that insane livestream were to be believed, people weren¡¯t just dying. Some were coming back from the dead. Zombies! The word felt ridiculous in his head, but there was no other way to describe what he had seen in that grainy, shaky footage. The Metuber¡¯s panicked breathing, the eerie silence of the research facility, and then the bodies moving. Yet, people in the chat had called it fake. CGI. A publicity stunt. But the death toll was climbing. Adam exhaled, rubbing his temples. Panic wouldn¡¯t help. Survival would. He stood and surveyed his small apartment. A third-floor unit better than street level, but far from secure. Only one entrance: the front door. His window overlooked the street, directly across from the convenience store where he had just started working. No fire escape. No back door. If something or someone tried to break in, he was screwed. Step 1: Secure the Apartment He locked the door and pressed his ear against it. Silence. For now. The bookshelf was his heaviest piece of furniture. He dug his fingers under its edges and dragged it toward the door. Not perfect, but enough to slow down anyone or anything trying to force their way in. He took a step back, his pulse steady but quick. Step 2: Check Supplies He opened his cabinets, laying out his entire stock on the counter: Adam frowned. If he rationed carefully, this might last four days, five at best. But what then? Would the lockdown lift? Would authorities step in? Or would things spiral further? No use of panicking. One problem at a time. Step 3: Find a Weapon for Self-Defence He wasn¡¯t a fighter. Never had been. But if people really were turning into¡­ things, he needed something to defend himself. The kitchen knife was an obvious choice. He picked it up, testing its weight. Sharp, but too short. If something got close enough for him to use it, he was already in trouble. Digging through storage boxes, he found a metal rod from his broken chair. He gripped it tightly, giving it a few test swings. Not bad. He also had a cricket bat which can now be used to fend off those creatures. Not ideal, but better than nothing. Step 4: Gather Information Adam sat back down, reopening news sites, survival forums, and emergency guides. He needed to know what to expect. If you''re stuck inside, conserve energy. Don¡¯t waste food. Keep quiet to avoid attracting attention. Barricade your doors. If you have a fire escape, keep it as a last resort. Stay away from hospitals and police stations - they¡¯ll be overrun first. That last one made his stomach twist. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. A sudden ping jolted him out of his thoughts. His phone screen lit up with a message from Josh: "Bro, where are you? It¡¯s bad, man. They¡¯re not human. If you¡¯re safe, STAY THERE. Don¡¯t come out." Adam¡¯s blood ran cold. He tightened his grip on his phone, rereading the message. Josh never panicked like this. The plan was simple for now: Stay inside. Stay quiet. Stay alive. But deep down, he knew - this was only the beginning. Adam lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His apartment was eerily quiet, save for the distant wail of sirens and the occasional hum of the city beyond his window. He had done all he could - secured the doors, checked his supplies, and even found a few makeshift weapons. His body begged for rest, exhaustion creeping in after hours of tension, but his mind refused to settle. He turned on his side, shutting his eyes, willing himself to sleep. Then, he heard it. A scream. Not the kind from a horror movie. Not a panicked cry for help. This was raw, primal, full of terror. Adam''s eyes shot open. His breath caught in his throat as another scream rang out, then another¡ªcloser this time. Heart pounding, he sat up and crept toward the window, carefully peeling back the curtain just enough to peek through. The streets, once still and empty, were now filled with figures. They staggered in the dim glow of streetlights, their movements were unnatural. Their clothes were torn, some covered in dark, wet stains. A woman limped forward, her arm bent at an impossible angle, yet she didn¡¯t seem to notice. Another figure, a man in a security uniform, stumbled toward a parked car, slamming his head against the hood as if confused. Adam¡¯s grip tightened on the curtain. They¡¯re real. He watched in frozen horror as a man sprinted out of a nearby alley, breathless, his arms pumping as fast as they could. He didn¡¯t get far. One of the creatures jumped the man, catching his leg in an instant. The man fell, screaming, trying to crawl away. More zombies swarmed him, their fingers clawing at his skin, dragging him down. The screams cut off. Adam snapped the curtain shut, his pulse hammering in his ears. This isn¡¯t happening. This isn¡¯t happening. If there was any silver lining, it was that these things weren¡¯t fast. They shuffled, stumbled, but they weren¡¯t fast. But sleep? That was out of the question. His hands were shaking as he walked to the kitchen, opening a pack of instant coffee. He dumped the powder into a mug and poured water from one of his bottles, stirring it with the back of his spoon. He took a sip, the bitter taste grounding him. "I need to stay awake. This isn¡¯t the time to drift off." He sat by his barricaded door, gripping the metal rod he had found earlier. Outside, the screams had faded. But he knew, without a doubt that this was only the beginning. Adam sat in silence, gripping his coffee mug tasting the bitter liquid going down his throat. The weight of what he had just seen pressed against his chest, his heartbeat a steady drum of anxiety. They¡¯re real. They¡¯re out there. And they weren¡¯t alone. A sudden burst of rapid gunfire shattered the uneasy quiet outside. Adam flinched, nearly dropping his mug. He went back to the window, careful to stay hidden behind the curtain. Down below, a convoy of military vehicles had rolled into the street. Soldiers in full gear spread out, forming a perimeter. The creatures turned toward them, drawn by the noise. Then, the gunfire began. Bullets tore into the pale figures, jerking their bodies back as they staggered under the assault. Some collapsed, limbs twitching, but to Adam¡¯s horror, many kept moving. A soldier shouted something, voice muffled by his helmet. Another raised a rifle and fired in short, controlled bursts, aiming for the chest, the limbs - anywhere that could slow them down. It wasn¡¯t enough. One of the creatures, a man in a torn hoodie, lunged at a soldier. A single bullet blew half his jaw off, but he didn¡¯t stop. His fingers closed around the soldier¡¯s vest, dragging him down. Adam clenched his jaw as another gunshot rang out, this time from a sidearm at point-blank range. The soldier kicked the corpse off him and scrambled back. More gunfire. More figures falling. But not staying down. One by one, the creatures started to rise again. The ones that had fallen moments ago, missing chunks of flesh, riddled with bullet holes, began to twitch and move. The soldiers weren¡¯t prepared for that. Adam could hear the panic in their shouts, their formations breaking. A retreat order was given. The vehicles roared to life, engines sputtering as they tried to fall back. Then, a scream - one of theirs. A soldier was dragged into the horde, his rifle clattering to the ground. The others didn¡¯t stop. They couldn¡¯t. The last of the vehicles sped off, leaving the bloodied street behind. A cold realization settled over him. If they couldn¡¯t stop it, no one could. Then- BANG. Adam froze. It came from his door. BANG. His fingers tightened around the metal rod. His breath was shallow, every muscle in his body tense. BANG. Was it human? Or was it one of them? Adam didn¡¯t move. He held his breath. Then, a voice ¨C hoarse and desperate. ¡°Open up! Please!¡± Human, a woman. Adam took a single step forward ¨C hesitant and with caution. He wasn¡¯t sure if he was about to let someone in , he did not knew what their intention might . Someone maybe looking to rob someone of their supplies as there was no way one would go outside in these conditions and it was not sure how long the lockdown will go on. Adam looked through his key hole to check if it really was a single person or a group. Friend or Foe? Adam¡¯s breath came slow and measured as he stood motionless, staring at the door. The banging had stopped. The silence stretched, thick and unnatural. His grip tightened around the metal rod in his hands, sweat dampening his palms. Then¡ª A voice. "Please, open up!" It was a woman, trembling and desperate. Adam hesitated. He wasn¡¯t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. The creatures outside looked human too¡ªuntil they didn¡¯t. "I¡ª" the voice cracked, then softened to a pleading whisper. "Adam, it¡¯s me. It¡¯s Emily." His heart skipped. Emily? His neighbor. They weren¡¯t particularly close, but they¡¯d exchanged small talk before¡ªchats in the hallway, shared complaints about rent hikes, a brief conversation about coffee brands at the convenience store. She lived just two doors down. He hadn¡¯t seen her since the lockdown started. Another BANG against the door. "Adam, please! They¡¯re out here! I¡ªI don¡¯t know where else to go!" Adam pressed his ear against the wood, trying to listen past her ragged breathing. The hallway beyond was eerily quiet. Too quiet. No distant moans, no shuffling footsteps. Just her. Is she alone? Adam¡¯s gut churned. If he let her in, he was giving up his biggest advantage¡ªsolitude. Every extra person meant more food to share, more risks to manage, more potential for something to go wrong. But he wasn¡¯t heartless. If their positions were reversed, he¡¯d be begging too. He swallowed. "Are you hurt?" A pause. Then, "N-no. Just let me in!" Another pause. Then, more frantically, "Adam, please! They¡¯ll hear me!" Adam exhaled through his nose. If he waited too long, he¡¯d have a different problem¡ªher panicked voice drawing unwanted attention. He made his decision. Bracing himself, he slowly unlocked the door. The metal click sounded deafening. He opened it a sliver, just enough to see. Emily stood there, wide-eyed, her face streaked with tears and sweat. Her dark brown hair was messy, strands clinging to her forehead. Her clothes¡ªan oversized hoodie and jeans¡ªwere stained with dirt. Her arms trembled as she hugged herself. Behind her, the hallway stretched empty. No monsters. No movement. Just her. "Get in," Adam whispered. She didn¡¯t need to be told twice. She darted inside, brushing past him before he even had a chance to react. Adam shut the door immediately, turning the lock with a swift click. He pressed his back against it, exhaling. "Thank you," Emily gasped, leaning against the wall, her chest heaving. Adam studied her. Up close, she looked worse¡ªlike she hadn¡¯t slept in days. Her hands were shaking, her lips chapped. She had that look in her eyes, the one he¡¯d seen on survivors in movies. The look of someone who had seen things they couldn¡¯t unsee. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. "Are you sure you¡¯re not hurt?" Adam asked again. Emily nodded rapidly, but her breath was still ragged. "I swear. Just¡­ just freaked out. They were so close¡ªone almost grabbed me." Adam¡¯s gaze flickered to her hoodie. No blood. No scratches. If something had grabbed her, she¡¯d fought it off before it did any real damage. "How did you get here?" he asked. Emily swallowed hard. "I¡ªI was hiding in my apartment. I thought I could wait it out. But the power went out last night. My phone battery died. I was running out of food. Then, this morning, I heard screaming. A guy from the floor below¡ªhe tried to run for it. I looked outside, and¡­" Her voice broke. Adam could imagine it. "I saw them tear him apart," she whispered. "There were so many. They were slow, but he tripped. And they just¡­" She made a small, shaky gesture with her hands, as if that explained the horror she had witnessed. She sucked in a breath. "I knew I had to move before they came upstairs. I grabbed my stuff and ran. I was going to knock on the other doors, but¡ª" Her voice hitched. "I saw one. At the end of the hall. Just standing there. Like it was waiting." A chill ran down Adam¡¯s spine. "So I ran here instead," she finished, rubbing her arms. Adam exhaled through his nose, trying to process everything. She wasn¡¯t bitten. She wasn¡¯t bleeding. So why did something feel¡­ off? Emily glanced around his apartment, her eyes darting to the barricaded door and window. "You¡ªuh, you really locked this place down." "Didn¡¯t have much of a choice," Adam muttered. She nodded, slowly rubbing her arms. "Smart." Adam watched her carefully. Something was nagging at him¡ªsome small detail he couldn¡¯t quite place. He replayed her words in his head. She had run straight here. Hadn¡¯t knocked on any other doors. Hadn¡¯t tried any other neighbors. Why? Adam wasn¡¯t the most approachable guy. So why him? A shiver crawled up his spine. Something¡¯s not right. Emily suddenly exhaled, forcing a smile. "I can¡¯t believe you actually let me in. I thought for sure you¡¯d leave me out there." Adam didn¡¯t smile back. He was still watching her. Her pupils were dilated. Her fingers twitched slightly against the hem of her hoodie. Her breathing had steadied¡ªbut her body was still tense, like she was ready to spring into action. "You okay?" Adam asked slowly. Emily blinked, as if startled by the question. "Yeah. Just¡­ tired." She smiled again, but it didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. Adam clenched his jaw. That feeling in his gut wasn¡¯t going away. Something was wrong. Emily was hiding something. But what? His fingers tightened around the metal rod in his hand. He didn¡¯t want to think like that¡ªdidn¡¯t want to start treating people like threats. But that was the world now, wasn¡¯t it? Trusting the wrong person could be just as dangerous as trusting the wrong thing. And right now, Adam wasn¡¯t sure which one Emily was. Adam watched Emily closely as she sat on the worn-out couch in his dimly lit apartment. The tension in the room was thick, her heavy breathing the only sound breaking the silence. Outside, the distant gunfire had died down, replaced by the occasional bloodcurdling scream echoing through the empty streets. "What the hell is happening out there?" Adam finally asked, his voice quieter than intended. Emily ran a trembling hand through her disheveled hair. Her eyes, still wide with panic, darted toward the window before settling back on Adam. "They''re turning, Adam. People are changing. I saw it happen," she whispered, barely able to get the words out. Adam swallowed hard. "Turning? You mean... like those things I saw outside?" She nodded, her hands gripping the fabric of her hoodie. "They¡¯re not human anymore. At least, not in the way we know. I¡ªI was at my place when I heard my neighbor screaming. I thought maybe she was being attacked, so I ran to help. But when I got there, she¡ª" Emily''s voice cracked. "She was eating her husband. Tearing him apart like an animal. And then she turned to me." Adam clenched his fists, his stomach twisting. "How? How does it happen?" Emily¡¯s gaze dropped to her hands. "Bites. Scratches. That¡¯s what they¡¯re saying. I ran into some people before getting here. Some of them had seen it firsthand¡ªsomeone gets bitten, and a few hours later... they¡¯re gone. Their mind, their soul¡ªeverything. And then they turn into those things." Adam felt a chill crawl down his spine. So it was like every horror movie come to life. A single bite, and you were as good as dead. He glanced at Emily again. Her face was pale, a thin layer of sweat glistening on her forehead. Her whole body was trembling. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was from fear, exhaustion, or something else. His eyes narrowed. "Are you okay?" She let out a weak laugh. "Do I look okay?" She sighed, rubbing her temples. "I¡¯ve been running for hours, Adam. I barely made it here. My whole body feels like it''s shutting down." Adam exhaled sharply. "You should rest." Emily nodded, but as soon as she tried to adjust her posture, she let out a soft whimper of pain. Adam tensed. "What is it?" he asked, his voice low. "Nothing. Just a bruise, I think." She waved it off, but Adam wasn''t convinced. His eyes drifted downward, and that¡¯s when he noticed it¡ªblood. A small, dark stain on her jeans, just above her shin. A sinking feeling gripped his chest. "Emily¡­ your leg." Emily froze. Her breathing became uneven, and she instinctively pulled her legs closer to herself. Adam¡¯s heart pounded. "Lift your jeans," he said firmly. She hesitated. "Adam, it''s¡ª" "Lift. Your. Jeans." Emily swallowed hard, her hands shaking as she slowly rolled up the fabric past her knee. Adam felt the breath leave his lungs. There, on her shin, was a wound. Torn skin. Blood smeared around it. His stomach twisted. Was she bitten? High Stakes Adam stared at the wound on Emily¡¯s shin, his heart pounding against his ribs. The blood had already dried in streaks down her leg, but the origin of the injury was still unknown. His hands clenched into fists. Was it a bite? A scrape? Could he risk believing her? Emily¡¯s breathing was uneven, her body slumping slightly against the wall. She was weak. Sweat lined her forehead, and her lips were pale. That wasn¡¯t a good sign. Then, without warning, her body gave out completely. ¡°Shit,¡± Adam muttered as she collapsed onto the floor. His instinct screamed at him to back away. To get as far as possible. But logic fought against his panic. If she was infected, she wouldn¡¯t turn instantly - at least, not from what he had seen . The people outside had taken time to change, though the exact window was still a mystery. Taking a deep breath, Adam grabbed some duct tape from his closet. He worked quickly, wrapping Emily¡¯s wrists together behind the chair and securing her ankles. If she turned, she wouldn¡¯t be able to lunge at him. If she was telling the truth, she¡¯d be pissed-but alive. He moved back, and watched to see any changes such as dark veins forming, like he had seen on the creatures outside. The minutes stretched as he sat there, listening to the distant groans outside. His mind raced. What if she turned while unconscious? What if she was already too far gone? He checked the window again. The street outside was still swarming, the undead moving in erratic, jerky motions. The military was nowhere in sight anymore. Either they retreated¡­ or they were wiped out. The thought sent a shiver down his spine. Adam grabbed his knife from the kitchen counter and sat down in front of Emily, gripping the handle tightly. He needed answers, but first, he needed her to wake up. He couldn¡¯t afford to be caught off guard. After what felt like an eternity, Emily stirred. Her fingers twitched, her eyelids fluttering open. She groaned softly, her confused gaze locking onto his face before she looked down, realizing her current condition. ¡°What the hell?¡± she rasped, struggling weakly. ¡°Why am I tied up?¡± Adam folded his arms, keeping his distance. ¡°You passed out,¡± he said flatly. ¡°And I need to know what happened to your leg before I untie you.¡± Emily¡¯s breathing was shallow, her face tightening with frustration. ¡°Are you serious?¡± He didn¡¯t answer. She sighed, leaning her head back against the chair. ¡°I wasn¡¯t bitten,¡± she muttered. ¡°I was running, then¡­someone shoved me, and I tripped on the pavement. Scraped my leg up bad.¡± His eyes stayed locked on hers, searching for any sign of dishonesty. ¡°And you passed out because¡­?¡± Her lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten anything since yesterday morning. I was working my shift in my office and had a lot of work to do , then by night the world had changed as you know it.¡± That explanation made sense. Adam exhaled slowly, weighing his options. If she was telling the truth, leaving her tied up was cruel. But if she was lying¡­ His gaze flickered to the wound again. Dried blood, but no visible teeth marks. ¡°I swear,¡± Emily whispered, as if reading his mind. ¡°I¡¯m not one of them.¡± He wanted to believe her. God, he wanted to. But hesitation kept him frozen. The silence between them stretched, Adam just looked at her thinking of any reasons to help her without risking his own safety. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Outside, something crashed against metal, followed by an inhuman screech. That brought Adam back to his senses. Adam¡¯s grip tightened on his knife. He needed to make a decision. Now. Adam¡¯s grip tightened around the knife handle, his fingers clammy with sweat. Outside, the distant screeches and the echo of something metallic being overturned sent a chill down his spine. The infected were still out there, prowling and searching. He looked back at Emily, still tied to the chair. Her breaths were slow, controlled, but he could see the slight tremble in her fingers. Fear? Weakness? He wasn¡¯t sure. But uncertainty was a dangerous thing. He needed to be smart about this. If she was infected, time would tell. If she wasn¡¯t, then he had just tied up an innocent person for no reason. But trust? That was a luxury he couldn¡¯t afford. ¡°You¡¯ll stay tied up,¡± he finally said, his voice flat, devoid of emotion. ¡°At least for now.¡± Emily didn¡¯t argue. She just closed her eyes briefly, exhaling through her nose. ¡°I get it,¡± she murmured. ¡°I¡¯d probably do the same.¡± That answer almost made him feel guilty. Ignoring the tension in the air, Adam turned to his dwindling supplies. He had maybe three, four days¡¯ worth of food if he rationed carefully. Adding another mouth to feed was risky. But leaving her to starve would be just as cruel. He grabbed an energy bar from the counter, unwrapped it, and held it out. ¡°Eat.¡± Emily blinked at the small offering, then looked up at him, confused. ¡°You sure?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t offer if I wasn¡¯t. I am not a bad person , I am just worried about my safety.¡± With some difficulty due to her bound hands, she leaned forward, taking a bite straight from his hand. Her teeth sank into the bar, and for a moment, the exhaustion on her face lessened. She chewed slowly, savouring every crumb. Adam stepped away, filling a mug with warm water from the kettle he had boiled earlier. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was better than nothing. He pressed the rim against her lips, tilting it carefully so she wouldn¡¯t choke. She drank greedily, letting out a shaky sigh when he pulled it back. ¡°Thanks,¡± she muttered, her voice hoarse. Adam didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he grabbed the bottle of rubbing alcohol from his makeshift first-aid kit. The wound on her shin might have been just a scrape, but infection was still a risk. And if she really wasn¡¯t bitten, she didn¡¯t need to die from something as stupid as an untreated wound. ¡°This is going to sting,¡± he warned. Emily nodded, bracing herself. He poured a generous amount of alcohol onto a cloth and pressed it against the torn skin. She sucked in a sharp breath, her muscles tensing as the burn set in. But she didn¡¯t scream, didn¡¯t even curse, just clenched her jaw and endured it. Adam studied her again. If she was faking, she was damn good at it. Tying off the bandage, he sat back on his heels. ¡°We¡¯ll wait,¡± he said simply. ¡°If you start showing symptoms, I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Emily swallowed hard. ¡°And if I don¡¯t?¡± Adam didn¡¯t answer. Because he still wasn¡¯t sure what he¡¯d do next. Adam sat on the floor, back pressed against the wall, his fingers idly tapping against the metal pipe resting across his lap. His eyes stayed fixed on Emily, who remained tied to the chair, her breathing steady but weak. The bandages around her leg were holding, and she had managed to sip down the warm water he had given her earlier. Still, she hadn''t spoken much since their last exchange, her exhaustion keeping her silent. The outside world had been chaos for hours- screams, the guttural sounds of the infected prowling the streets. But now¡­ now there was nothing. Not a single growl, not a single echo of movement. Just silence. His grip on the pipe tightened. Silence was never a good thing. Emily must have noticed the shift in his expression because she finally spoke, her voice hoarse. ¡°Why do you look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost?¡± He didn¡¯t answer right away. Instead, he pushed himself up and moved toward the window, careful to stay behind the curtain. He shifted the fabric just enough to peek through, his gaze scanning the street below. Nothing. No bodies. No movement. Not even the distant flicker of emergency lights. It was as if the world outside had been swallowed whole. His stomach twisted uncomfortably. The infected weren¡¯t mindless - he had seen them react to sound, to movement, to fresh prey. They wandered, searched, attacked. But now, they were just¡­ gone? Emily cleared her throat, trying to wet her dry lips. ¡°Adam?¡± He turned to her, keeping his voice low. ¡°The streets were filled with them an hour ago. Now it¡¯s dead quiet.¡± She frowned, struggling to sit up straighter against the bindings. ¡°That¡­ that doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t.¡± His instincts screamed at him to stay put. Whatever this was, whatever unnatural calm had settled, it wasn¡¯t normal. It felt like the moment before a predator pounced, the breathless pause before the storm broke. He had seen horror movies, played survival games. Silence was never good. He moved back toward Emily, kneeling beside her chair. ¡°Can you walk?¡± She hesitated, then nodded. ¡°If you untie me, yeah.¡± Adam studied her for a long moment, then exhaled through his nose. ¡°Not yet.¡± Her jaw clenched. ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°I gave you food, water, and I patched up your wound. But you¡¯re still under observation, and I¡¯m not taking any risks.¡± She glared at him but didn¡¯t argue. Maybe she understood. Maybe she felt the same - scared, uncertain, trapped between hope and fear. Not knowing what to do. Not knowing what might kill you.