Day 4
19:00
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Didn't do much today. I wasn't in the right state of mind. Still a bit lost.
But I've strengthened my resolve—if I want to survive, I need to change. Evolve.
And I will. For sure.
Tomorrow, I'll go back to the 12th floor. I didn't think to check the door last time—maybe it's open.
Or maybe... someone's still alive in there?
And if I can't enter, I'll move on to another floor.
Today i just meditated, cleaned up and looked at the world burn on my terrace.
Day 5
8:42
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I'm ready to go back outside.
I check the peephole, open the door.
Nothing.
I head down to the 12th floor. The two corpses are still there—rotting, melting into the floor.
The smell is unbearable, but I guess I need to get used to it. The sight, too. I force myself to look—
I need to train myself to stay calm in front of the dead. I won't have time to panic when I'm outnumbered.
I snap back to reality and approach the door.
It's locked.
Sigh
Is every apartment going to be locked?
"Wait a minute…"
I get on one knee and, conflicted, loot the body.
The first one—her skull looks fused with the wall.
I find a phone, an ID, and a car key. I glance at the ID.
Alize Kiurmav
"...Sorry."
I drop the ID and take the phone—might work as a flashlight. I pocket the car key too. Could be useful later.
I search the second body. Another phone. More keys.
My face lights up. One of the keys fits the door.
I celebrate silently. Can't make a sound.
Should I open it now? Or send the drone?
No—can't waste time. Supplies aren't unlimited, and if the key's here, it should be empty anyway.
I have to take the risk.
I open the door. No noise. No smell of blood.
I move slowly. Silently. Ready to strike.
I check every inch of the apartment.
Finally, I reach the terrace and let out a breath.
No one's here.
I hurry back to the door, close it, lock it.
"Time to loot."
In the kitchen—barely any food. Enough for three days.
With everything I have now, that makes a total of seven days without rationing.
The living room has some magazines and a pair of glasses. Nothing useful.
In the bathroom, I grab every bit of medicine and bandages I can find.
I take the opportunity to switch out the bandage on my scratch.
I'm not dead, so… maybe a scratch isn't enough to infect?
Maybe I got too little of the virus to turn—and maybe I'm building immunity?
That would be good.
Would've been pathetic to die in a one-on-one against a zombie over a little scratch.
Not epic at all.
I head to the bedroom. Same layout as mine. I check the dresser—grab another iron bar.
"Nice. Backup weapon secured. Losing one in a panic, like on Day 3, could be fatal."
I also find an external battery. Good—I'll be able to use my phone a little more.
Where my desk is… it's another room here.
"Were they roommates?"
An Xbox. Some books.
Sigh
I want to play so bad.
But I just take a few books that look interesting.
So:
A bit of food, some books, a backup weapon, and a lot of medical supplies.
I've bought myself another week.
I pack everything into a grocery bag and head back.
Before going up, I glance at my watch.
11:00
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It's still quite early, in the afternoon i will go yet again a floor lower, to the 11th floor.
I remember who the tenant is here i met her quite often it's a beautiful woman about my age, I'd say 25 maybe?
14:00
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After a decent meal, i get out and start to go down before the 11th-floor door.
I put my ear against the door, i can't hear anything.
I open the door and check the corridor
There is nothing
I let out a sigh of relief, here it's safe.
I go to the door and try to open it, it's closed.
"Of course, it's closed... I was really lucky with the 12th floor one"
I turnaround and suddenly i hear the sound of someone unlocking the door.
Then i saw her, she looked rough. Dark circles under her eyes. Her brown hair, usually neat, was a tangled mess, falling past her shoulders.
It must have been hard...
I look at her with pity and
With a shy and almost silent voice, she said hi, caught me by the clothes, and got me in.
"Sorry, i did this but its not so safe to talk outside so i brought you in, is it ok with you?"
-"That's.. alright"
"My name is Lana and you?"
I said in a timid voice, as i was quite intimidated.
-"It's.. Alex."
-"Are you alright Lana?"
She looked at me with a face so cold i was frozen taking a step back.
She breathes in and says:
"Is anyone alright in the world?
She took a shaky breath.
What do you think? Do you think some people are happy at this very moment?"
"They're all gone. My co-workers. My friends. My family…"
Tears well up
"Almost everyone is dead"
Furiously she screams at me "How the fuck can i be alright you bastard !!"
I, flustered just looked at her while she vented her anger, and sadness on me.
When she finished she cried a little and wiped her tears.
-"I am sorry i was too insensitive i just asked without thinking"
"No i am sorry i vented on you when it's not even your fault, but thank you i feel a little better now."
She smiled at me.
I in a shy voice say at a low volume.
"Ha Ha it's nothing"
She invites me to sit on the sofa. And she then starts to narrate her story from before day 1.
She was an office lady but on this day she took a leave of absence and stayed inside watching TV. She saw the emergency messages. She saw the recording of people eating each other. She heard her mom die on the phone.
-"It must have been hard... sorry"
She looked me in the eyes and started to cry again.
Shit. Did I say something wrong again?
Hmm?
That's odd she is smiling and crying at the same time.
She smiled through the tears.
Not the kind of smile you give when you're happy.
Just… grateful.
Is that a normal reaction? I didn't cry ever since the outbreak. Not even once. What does it say about me?
But at least i am not a mess.
Is it cold to prefer to be strong than to crumble before disaster?
After a while she resume and wake me up:
"To tell this out loud has lifted a weight off my shoulder thank you"
"And you tell me your story please i am curious as to how you got there"
-"I live on the 14th floor and i was inside when it happened, i am trying to go down by visiting each floor one by one, you are the only person alive i saw in a week."
"But isn't it dangerous outside?"
-"Yes it is, i encountered 2 zombies but i killed them, it was quite messy but i survived."
"That's impressive"
-"They were only 2 but outside there are thousands of them"
"Still it's amazing"
While scratching the back of my head and a little bit embarrassed i answer
-"Thank you haha"
-"I will give you some information to survive in case you don't know: first scratch don't infect you, second aim at the head and three don't get bitten.
"I have some information too, there is a military camp that was installed in the outskirts of the city"
-"!"
I flinch
-"Really? That's good but we can't go there anyway, and military camp always fall in movies and the people get stuck in it because the defence are too tight"
"Yes... If you say so."
-"How are you in supply?"
"I still have about 2 days of food so it's concerning for me, and you?"
-"I have a week worth"
-"How about we live together, human became the ruling species of the planet by being together sticking together."
"Ok sure, i think it a good idea and loneliness is unbearable. We'll need more supplies thought , with us two we have about 5 days of food"
-"Yes, we should search the building together.
I'll help you pack up"
An hour later
"I'm ready. Let's go."
"Take the iron bar in your dresser. I'll take the lead."
Her first time outside since the outbreak. I can sense her unease.
"Don't worry. No zombies. I've already cleared this route."
We head upstairs. No trouble. No threats.
"You can take my bedroom—I'll sleep on the sofa."
"No, no. I'll take the sofa. You stay in your room. I'm a guest after all."
"If you want. Good night."