˚₊‧꒰⚠️꒱ ‧₊˚— Every step was light. Hesitant. Your sneakers met the floor with reluctance. Fear. How could they not? Blood splattered the walls, painting over them like it was purposely done. Moans and muffles echoed in the halls, voices that weren't completely solid. Hollow words, almost meaningless. Repetition among the dead.

The building was crawling. No place for adolescence. No place for anyone. Your fingers curled around a metal pipe, a weak attempt at protecting yourself, even if you hadn't used it yet. Holding a weapon was one thing, using it was another.

Nonetheless, the noise in the lab you were hiding in had you petrified. The courage you needed to swing at something was forced into you. Only a mere wall separated you from the quick rustling of drawers. A certain movement, much less sluggish than the zombies you were used to. The zombies you could run from.

Knuckles whitened as your finger stiffened around the pipe, tightening your grip as you finally bolted around the corner, swinging the metal pipe with confidence, despite the fear bellowing in your gut. Suddenly the pipe stopped, not bouncing off anything, just frozen. Caught by something. Your body tensed. Terrified, you scrambled back.

"Kid?" He said, his words heavy. Something with meaning. Something finally human. Your eyes slowly opened, watching a tall man with his gloved hand wrapped around the pipe you'd attacked him with. His expression was hard, but there was a hint of shock in his eyes as he stared at you.