Shards of glass exploded into the air like a rain of lethal crystals, their sharp edges catching the pale light of the corridor’s neon bulbs. Blood-drenched bodies spilled into the second-floor hallway.They trampled one another. They shoved and clawed. Not a single whimper of pain escaped them as thick shards of glass pierced their bare soles."Run, Daniel! Run, damn it!" Xavier screamed directly into his ear."Don't turn around, Xavier," Daniel said, his voice dropping to a chill. His jaw set. "Keep facing forward. Fall back slowly.""Are you insane? They're in our hallway!""If you turn around, you create a blind spot behind you." Daniel stepped backward with measured, precise strides, his eyes scanning the advancing threats. "Keep your balance. Maintain our retreat formation.""To hell with the formation! We're going to get eaten alive!""Control your panic. Loud, scraping footsteps will only draw them faster."Daniel continued to lead their retreat, forcing raw logic to suppress h

The classroom window cracked open lengthwise, Becca’s mangled face pressed flush against the fractures. Her mouth gaped silently, fresh blood dripping from her chin to stain the outer surface of the glass."Xavier," Daniel whispered, his voice incredibly sharp. His eyes never wavered from the window. "The metal filing cabinet in the corner. We need to block their view right now."Xavier swallowed hard and gave a rigid nod. "Got it, man."The two of them crept toward the corner of the classroom. Daniel gripped the left side of the cabinet while Xavier held the right. They had to move this heavy piece of furniture without making a single scraping sound against the floor."Lift the bottom just a bit," Daniel commanded softly. "One, two, three."The muscles in Daniel’s arms strained. They lifted the filing cabinet two inches off the tiled floor, cold sweat pouring down Xavier’s temples. They sidestepped with agonizing caution.They slammed the back of the cabinet flush against the glass wi

Xavier’s backup phone glowed a brilliant blue atop the fruit juice counter, its constant flashing slicing through the dense darkness of the ground-floor cafeteria. The illumination emitted no mechanical ringtone, yet the visual flare was enough to disrupt the movement of the deformed creatures nearby.Dozens of tilted heads began to turn in jerky, mechanical movements toward the light source.Daniel narrowed his eyes from the gap in the upstairs classroom curtain. The vertical distance between the balcony and the juice stand was only about a dozen meters. His mind immediately began running incredibly complex mathematical simulations. Route blind spots, monster mass density, and the secondary infection risk factor swirled rapidly through his thoughts."Your phone is lighting up down there," Daniel reported quietly, breaking the silence of the room.Xavier bounded off the floor instantly, his feet tripping over a desk leg in his panic. He pressed his face flat against the windowpane next

The mechanical click bounced wildly against the walls of the outer corridor.Daniel froze, holding his breath. He pressed his ear flat against the wood. Ten seconds bled into the darkness without a response from the hallway. No abnormal footsteps echoed. The auditory creatures outside had failed to register the tiny trigger.Daniel pushed the classroom door open slowly, the metal hinges letting out a faint whine.The second-floor air rushed in immediately, sweeping across their faces. The temperature outside the classroom was significantly colder, driven by the night wind howling through shattered windows. The sharp, metallic stench of rust mixed with dense ammonia assaulted their nostrils. The odor of death was so thick it felt as though it coated the roofs of their mouths.Bianca clamped her hands over her mouth and nose, her stomach churning violently against the nausea.Daniel turned his head, locking eyes with the remaining members of his team."Take off your shoes," Daniel whispe

Daniel laid flat against the filthy concrete of the balcony. His clothes were soaked with sweat and the fine night drizzle. His eyes scanned the horrific scene below with tactical precision.The campus central cafeteria was expansive. Usually, the space was filled with student laughter and the scent of hot food. Tonight, it had been transformed into a nauseating open slaughterhouse.Over fifty figures stood frozen among the ruins of shattered tables and chairs. They did not move. They simply stood with their heads bowed. The auditory creatures down there were blending with the darkness, waiting for a mechanical trigger to sound.In the center of the sea of monsters, Xavier’s phone screen pulsed with a constant glow atop the fruit juice counter."The battery is at five percent, Daniel," Xavier panted, crawling close to Daniel's side. "If the screen dies, I'll never find the phone in the dark. I have to go down now.""The calculation of your maneuverability down there does not reach ten