An hour later.
Morning ca slowly over the Bayshore Residential Resort 1 building.
The first light of the sun rose from the east, spilling across the coastline and reflecting off the glass of the building.
Adrian stood near the rooftop parapet.
Below him, the streets were quiet again. A few infected wandered between abandoned cars, but none had approached the building since the fighting earlier.
Behind him, the rooftop had beco a temporary gathering place.
The civilians they had rescued from Okada were sitting near the stairwell structure. So leaned against the walls. Others rested on the concrete floor.
Chandrika and her three friends were sitting together nearby.
They looked exhausted but calr than before.
Adrian rubbed his eyes briefly as he felt sleepy after their rescue operation earlier. Even though the operation had just been like two hours ago, it felt like he was fighting all night.
But now that the situation has cald down and the building is secured, it’s ti for him to move the survivors down so that the helicopters can land.
Adrian straightened from the parapet and turned back toward the group.
Most of the survivors were still resting where they had sat earlier.
So had fallen asleep against the wall. Others sat quietly, staring at the skyline.
Adrian walked toward them.
"Alright," he said.
Several heads turned.
"We’re moving."
The survivors slowly stood up, stretching stiff legs after sitting on the concrete for hours.
"The building has been cleared," Adrian continued. "At least the floors we need."
Chandrika pushed her glasses up as she stood.
"So we can go inside now?"
"Yes."
Adrian gestured toward the stairwell door.
"We’re moving you to the upper floors. There are vacant rooms there where you can rest."
One of the mothers holding a child nodded in relief.
"Finally," she murmured.
Adrian looked toward the sky.
The two Black Hawks were still circling above the building, their rotors faintly audible in the distance.
Once the rooftop was clear, they could land again.
Ryan stepped out of the stairwell a mont later, wiping his hands on a rag.
"Lobby’s cleared," he said. "Entrances sealed."
Mason and Noah followed behind him.
"You good to move them down?" Ryan asked.
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
Ryan looked at the civilians.
"Alright everyone," he said. "Form a line."
The group began gathering near the stairwell door.
Chandrika helped one of the older won stand while her friends guided a child closer to the group.
Adrian opened the stairwell door.
"Slowly," he said. "Stay together."
The survivors began descending the stairs.
Ryan and Mason led them down first while Noah stayed near the back to make sure no one got left behind.
The rooftop slowly emptied as the civilians disappeared into the stairwell.
Within a few minutes, only Adrian and Ryan remained on the roof.
Ryan looked up at the sky.
"Alright," he said.
He grabbed the radio from his vest.
"Black Hawk One, rooftop is clear. You’re good to land."
"Copy," the pilot answered.
Monts later, the sound of the rotors grew louder.
The first helicopter began descending toward the roof.
anwhile, Adrian escorted Chandrika down to her parent’s unit along with her three friends.
They arrived at the unit where Marco was already waiting near the doorway.
The mont he saw Chandrika step into the hallway, his expression changed.
"Chandrika!"
She imdiately recognized his voice.
"Dad!"
She hurried forward and wrapped her arms around him.
Marco held her tightly, one hand on the back of her head as if making sure she was really there.
"You’re safe," he said quietly.
Chandrika nodded against his shoulder.
"I’m okay."
Her three friends stood a few steps behind, watching the reunion quietly.
Marco finally released her and looked her over quickly.
"You’re not hurt?"
"No," Chandrika said.
Marco exhaled in relief.
Then his eyes moved toward Adrian.
He straightened and stepped forward.
"Thank you," he said.
Adrian shrugged slightly.
"It’s nothing."
Marco shook his head.
"No. It’s not nothing. You brought her back here."
Adrian didn’t respond to that. He simply leaned slightly against the hallway wall.
Marco looked down the corridor and saw her friends.
"So those are your friends that you were stuck with in Okada?"
Chandrika nodded.
"Yes," Chandrika said. "We were together when everything started getting worse there."
Her friends gave small nods.
Marco glanced at them and gave a polite nod in return.
"Thank you for staying with her," he said.
One of the girls waved her hand slightly.
"We were all just trying to survive."
Marco looked back at Adrian again.
"Co inside," Marco said after a mont, stepping aside from the doorway.
Chandrika nodded and gently guided her three friends toward the unit.
The apartnt door was already open. The living room inside was dim but quiet. A few bags and supplies were stacked near the wall, and the curtains had been partly drawn over the windows.
The girls stepped inside first.
Adrian followed a mont later.
The mont he crossed the doorway, a woman quickly stood from the couch.
She looked at Chandrika for half a second.
Then she rushed forward.
"Chandrika!"
"Mom!"
They embraced tightly.
The woman held her daughter’s face with both hands as if checking every part of her.
"You’re safe... oh my God, you’re safe."
"I’m okay, Mom," Chandrika said softly.
The woman hugged her again, this ti longer.
Marco closed the door behind them.
Liza finally released her daughter and looked past her.
Her eyes landed on Adrian.
"Oh Adrian! Thank you! Thank you so much for bringing back my daughter!"
Liza rushed up to him and hugged him like Chandrika.
Adrian was touched by the gesture and returned the hug. "No problem, I’m glad that she’s still there when we arrive. Well, I’m happy that your family has reunited."
"Yes, it’s all thanks to you. Without you, we don’t know where we would be in this world. We owe you a great debt. I’ll pay it back in the future."
"No, please, it’s fine really. Though can I use the bedroom? I need to check sothing?"
"Check? What are you going to check?"
Adrian couldn’t simply say the rewards he had received by killing hundreds of zombies and so mutated zombies.
"Stuffs," Adrian simply answered, and that convinced her.
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