Dan awoke agasp, debating wether this had all been a dream induced by the mani all nighters for his finals, yet the soft snores of Eli and Mia snapped him awake, he looked around looking for jade, only to find her sleeping on his shoulders, they had accidentally fallen asleep while keeping watch, he smiled lightly at her sleeping face even with her fiery red hair drenched on her face it made her look quite cute.
Dan looked away shaking away useless thoughts while checking his stats
Daniel Hunter
Age: 18
Level: 6
XP: 0/3200
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Class: ???
Health: 10/10
Strength: 11/12
Agility: 12/12
Endurance: 10/10
Intelligence: 12/12
Unspent points: 0
I levelled up when I killed Mark, Dan thought darkly, his mind drifting back to the cold-blooded moment. He glanced again at Jade's sleeping face resting on his shoulder.
I shouldn't blame myself, right? he muttered quietly, vowing to protect those around him—the strangers who had already earned a place in his heart.
Add 1 point to strength and 1 to agility Dan thought and instantly he felt his muscles growing stronger and more agile
This slow but noticeable change made Jade wake up and realising that she had fallen asleep made her blush in shame
Jade: sorry I didn't realise I was so tired I'm truly sorry
Dan smiled at her and thought about teasing her a bit but seeing her panicked face he gave up and said
Dan: Don't worry calm down, I overslept too, just barely woken up
Jade realising that it wasn't only her mistake took a sigh of relief before smiling a little
Dan: sleep a bit more, there should be an hour or so before we need to wake up the others to start our day.
Even Tho she was yawning, she shook her head
Jade: I'm okay, I'll stay with you, what's your plans for now?
Dan stood up from the bed and said with a grin
Dan: Make breakfast
Jade nodded seriously and stood up to help
Using some of the stuff they found on the fridge they made eggs and bacon for all 4 of them with some toasted bread on the side and some avocados on the side. A very calorie dense breakfast but necessary since they would have a very big day ahead
Mia and Eli eventually woke up not long after everything was done and smelling the food made them realise how hungry they were due to the stress and everything happening they had not eaten in over 10 hours and spending so much energy fighting had definitely taken its tool on them
Mia: Morning
Eli: Morning
Dan: morning
Jade: morning
They all silently ate together sharing a familiarity that can only be built based on life and death
They finished eating in comfortable silence. Dan wiped his hands on a rag and looked up.
"So, here's the plan. I'll close the door at reception. It's risky, but someone needs to do it."
Jade's green eyes flickered with concern. "Are you sure? You don't have to do it alone."
Dan shook his head, smiling softly. "I'm the fastest. I'll make it."
She hesitated, then said quietly, "Just… be careful, okay?"
Dan nodded. "I will. And you'll watch my back, right?"
Jade gave a small but firm nod. "Always."
Mia and Eli exchanged looks but said nothing, trusting Dan's decision.
Dan stood up, spear in hand. "Alright, let's get going."
Jade glanced at him once more before following the group, silently hoping he'd come back safe.
Dan stopped and said, "Hey, did you guys open your beginner packs yet? You get them when you level up."
Mia blinked. "Oh, no—I totally forgot."
Eli nodded. "Same here. I guess I was too caught up in everything."
Jade shrugged. "Me too. Let's open them now."
They pulled out the packs and tore them open.
Mia's eyes lit up when she saw the small, well-crafted spear inside. She lifted it carefully. "This is way better than my old makeshift one."
Eli grinned as he hefted a solid hammer. "Finally, something that feels right for me."
Jade pulled out a pair of twin daggers, their blades sharp and balanced. She gave a small smile. "These will work perfectly."
Dan nodded approvingly. "Alright, Mia with the spear, Eli with the hammer, and Jade with the twin daggers. You guys are set."
Mia flexed her grip on the spear. "Ready when you are."
Jade twirled her daggers lightly. But said nothing
Eli adjusted his glasses and gave a confident nod. "Let's move."
Dan smiled, feeling the team ready. "Okay, time to go."
The group moved toward the nearby closet, still cautious but hopeful. Dan pushed the door open, revealing a small storage space cluttered with old supplies.
Eli immediately started rummaging through the shelves. "Wait, hey! I found something."
He pulled out a couple of walkie-talkie radios, surprisingly intact.
Dan's face lit up. "Perfect. We can use these to stay in contact during the plan. No more shouting or risking attracting unwanted attention."
Mia carefully took one and examined it. "This could make all the difference."
Jade nodded, checking her daggers but clearly appreciating the radios. "We'll split into pairs, right? We can keep in touch without losing track of each other."
Eli grinned. "Exactly. I'll go with Mia, and Jade, take one and be careful Dan."
Dan clipped one radio to his belt. "Good. Once we're in position, we'll coordinate our moves through these. If anything goes wrong, we'll know immediately."
Mia smiled slightly. "Alright. Let's get ready and move out."
Jade gave Dan a brief look, concern flickering in her green eyes, before saying "be careful"
With radios in hand and weapons ready, the group steeled themselves for what lay ahead.
Mia, Eli, and Jade took the stairwell Dan had used earlier—the side known to have quite a few infected. Dan headed toward the reception doors at the other stairwell.
The double doors at reception were their last stronghold to keep the infected outside from flooding in.
As Dan approached, the sounds of the fight ahead—the snarls, the crashing of bodies—grew louder. He tightened his grip on the machete, his plan clear: once the infected were drawn toward Mia, Eli, and Jade, he'd quickly slip behind the reception doors, lock them with the metal pipe wedged tightly into the handles, and cut off the horde's access to the building.
Meanwhile, down the stairwell, Mia, Eli, and Jade braced themselves. The infected poured in like a tide.
Mia thrust her spear, impaling an infected lunging for Eli.
Eli swung his hammer in arcs, crushing bone and smashing heads.
Jade stabbed enemies, her twin daggers slashing through decayed flesh with deadly precision.
The infected were relentless, snarling, biting, clawing—but the trio fought fiercely.
Mia (gritting her teeth): "They just keep coming!"
Eli: "We can't let them flank us! Keep close!"
Jade spun, narrowly dodging a snapping jaw, but a claw grazed her arm, almost drawing blood.
Jade (hissing): "Almost got me!"
Her breath quickened as more infected closed in.
Up the hall, Dan moved with silent speed. The reception doors stood ahead, the double doors heavy but not locked.
In a flash, he wedged the metal pipe into the handles, securing the entrance.
A guttural roar erupted behind him as the infected from outside pounded against the sealed metal doors, desperate to get in.
Dan glanced back. The metal pipe held, the doors trembling but standing firm.
Now with the infected outside contained, Dan turned and sprinted toward Mia, Eli, and Jade, their fight raging in the narrow stairwell.
Mia stabbed fiercely, her spear steady even as exhaustion set in.
Eli's hammer cracked skulls with brutal efficiency.
Jade's twin daggers danced, but suddenly, a claw caught her dagger. She stumbled, caught in the grasp of an infected holding her against the wall .
Mia and Eli were both overwhelmed, their attention completely taken up by the infected pressing in on them. Mia gripped her spear tightly, blocking strike after strike but unable to break free from the horde closing in. Eli swung his hammer with all his strength, holding the attackers at bay, but the sheer number made it impossible for him to help Jade at that moment.
Jade's green eyes suddenly widened in terror as an infected pinned her tiny frame against the wall Its jaw inches from her throat
Jade's eyes widened in terror as the breath of death fell upon her.