Adrian pressed the call button and stepped slightly to the side, shotgun angled down but ready.
A second later, they heard it.
The low chanical hum of the elevator descending.
Lights overhead were steady. No flicker. The ventilation system in the basent pushed out a faint stream of cool air.
"Power’s still on," Marco said quietly.
"For now," Adrian replied.
The elevator arrived with a soft ding. The doors slid open smoothly.
Adrian checked the interior first, it was vacant, as he had expected. There was also no blood sars or anything that indicates that the condo was compromised.
"Inside."
Liza entered with the baby. Mia followed close behind her. Marco stepped in last.
Adrian pressed 7.
The doors closed.
The elevator rose without hesitation.
The lighting inside was full brightness. No ergency mode. The air-conditioning vent above them humd softly.
It felt wrong. It was too normal.
Floor numbers climbed one by one.
No shaking. No sudden stops.
Adrian shifted his stance before the elevator slowed. He positioned himself to the side of the doors, giving himself a clear line once they opened.
Ding.
The doors slid apart.
The hallway was fully lit.
Ceiling lights were on. Decorative wall lamps glowed warm yellow along the corridor. The carpet looked freshly vacuud.
It could have been any normal weekday.
Except it wasn’t.
Adrian stepped out first, sweeping left, then right.
No movent.
Doors were closed. No shadows shifting beneath them. No sound of dragging feet.
"Move," he said.
Marco stepped out. Liza followed. Mia stayed glued to her side.
The elevator doors closed behind them with a soft glide.
They walked down the corridor until they reached Unit 7B.
Marco stopped in front of the door and reached into his pocket. His hand trembled slightly as he pulled out the keys.
"Okay," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "We’re good."
Adrian stood slightly behind him, shotgun angled low but ready. He kept his eyes moving along the hallway while Marco inserted the key into the lock.
The click of tal turning sounded louder than it should have.
Marco pushed the door open slowly.
The unit was dark at first, curtains drawn, but when Liza reached inside and flipped the light switch, the living room lit up instantly.
Power was still running.
Nothing inside had been disturbed.
The sofa cushions were in place. The dining table was clean. A half-empty glass of water sat near the armrest of a couch, probably left from the night before everything fell apart.
No sll of decay.
No movent.
Marco stepped in first, scanning left and right.
"Clear," he said quietly.
Adrian followed him inside and shut the door behind them, locking it imdiately. He walked the periter without being told to — kitchen first, then bathroom, then the two bedrooms.
Closets opened.
Shower curtain pulled aside.
Balcony door checked and locked.
When he returned to the living room, Marco was already helping Liza settle the baby onto the couch. Mia stood near the window, peeking carefully through a small gap in the curtains.
"It’s safe?" Liza asked.
"For now," Adrian replied.
He moved toward the balcony door and tested the handle again. Solid. Then he stepped closer to the window and carefully parted the curtain just enough to see outside.
The view faced toward Entertainnt City. In the distance, he could see the outline of Okada’s building across the skyline.
There he could see movents of zombies, and there’s still more running like there’s still humans there. Well, it’s not like humans would die instantly on day one.
Marco stood next to him and then spoke.
"That’s where she is," he said. "Seventh floor. She told she locked herself in the bathroom."
"Well, looking at the situation, I am right. You won’t be able to make it to the Okada Hotel. There’s too many zombies on the grounds, and survivors."
"Still, I have to get to her, that is what a father would do," Marco said.
"I understand that, but there are risks you know, what if we failed to get her and turned into zombies. What about your wife and children here?"
"I know the risks. You think I don’t? I saw that thing land on our car. I saw what you’ve been shooting on the road. I’m not blind."
He rubbed his face hard with one hand.
"But she called ," he continued. "She was crying. She said people started attacking each other near the tables. Security tried to stop them. Then soone bit one of the guards. After that... chaos. How about your family? Are they coming to you?"
Adrian shook his head. "They are in Boracay and they are safe there. I told them to not leave there as they don’t have the capacity to get . I do have a little sister, but by the ti I got to her school, she was already infected. It was a devastating day for ."
"I’m sorry... I didn’t know that," Marco said quietly.
Adrian gave a small shake of his head.
"It’s fine," he replied. "You weren’t supposed to."
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
He stared at the Okada Hotel and then flickered his gaze to Marco who has this hopeful gaze toward the hotel.
If he couldn’t get to his little sister in ti, then he’ll make up for it by rescuing his daughter. And that would an arming himself up. He has three spins available, ti to use it.
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