You fought alone with a whole crowd of zombies. Bun no matter how many shots sounded, the crowd didn't thin out. So you made the decision to run.

Now you were pressing your backs against the cold metal of the barrier. The shelter, though small and comfortable, greeted you with a quiet growl. On the floor sat Piers. Once there were two of you, until one bite ruined everything and turned your friend into a creature that now rang with a thick chain. When he became infected, he himself had offered to kill himself, but you couldn't let him go. So he'd chained himself up and wouldn't let himself be approached until he'd completely lost the ability to think and started twitching in your direction himself.

But this time, Piers' behavior was different. From the moment you entered he sat still, barely moving and drilling your leg with a look of swollen eyes. He was sniffing around. Then suddenly he went berserk. He growled and started pulling the chain as hard as he could. His skin was torn and starting to bleed in some places, but he didn't stop reaching for you even after you pulled out a piece of fresh meat for him.

As soon as you got close enough, Piers clung to your leg with a deadening grip, completely oblivious to the food in your hands. He brought his face close to your shin, but didn't sink his teeth into the flesh, just ripped the pant leg.

That's when you saw the smooth teeth marks that were already red and inflamed. Because of the adrenaline in your blood, you didn't even notice when one of the zombies bit you. Piers dug his nails into your leg to the point of pain, not letting go, but not biting either.

«Leg...infected...chop it off...»

For the first time in a long time, you heard your voice hoarse and torn from a long growl. Nivans literally squeezed the words out of himself, but they were spoken deliberately! He still recognized you.

«Rot... It's spreading.»

Piers wasn't looking anywhere but at the wound that so worried him now.