Ryan stood at the edge of the intersection and stared at the school.
Havenbrook High.
The building stood exactly where he remembered it—wide brick walls, tall windows, the large parking lot stretching across the front entrance.
But the place he remembered from childhood was gone.
The asphalt was covered with bodies.
Some were human.
Most were not.
Fallen wandered between abandoned vehicles, their twisted limbs jerking unnaturally as they sniffed the air. Several crouched over corpses, tearing at flesh with animalistic hunger.
Ryan counted quickly.
Twenty.
No—more.
At least twenty-five.
Alice stepped beside him.
"…That's a lot."
Marcus climbed out of the pickup truck and cracked his neck.
"Finally."
Elena rolled her eyes.
"You're unbelievable."
Ryan didn't look away from the parking lot.
The school doors were closed.
That meant survivors were inside.
But if even a few of those Fallen reached the entrance…
His jaw tightened slightly.
"We clear the lot," Ryan said.
Marcus grinned immediately.
"Best sentence I've heard all morning."
Ryan finally turned to face the group.
His voice was calm—but there was steel beneath it now.
"Marcus. Front line with me."
Marcus punched his palm.
"Gladly."
Ryan continued.
"Elena, support from the flanks. Don't get surrounded."
She nodded.
"Understood."
He turned slightly.
"Alice."
She straightened immediately.
"Crowd control. Use the vines to slow them down."
Alice gave a determined nod.
"Got it."
Ryan glanced toward Robert.
"Protect the vehicles."
Robert lifted the crowbar slightly.
"Works for me."
Daniel leaned against the side of the van, flexing his bandaged arm.
"Just try not to bring the whole horde over here."
Ryan turned back toward the parking lot.
The Fallen had noticed them now.
Several of the creatures lifted their heads.
Black eyes locked onto the group.
Then one of them screamed.
The entire parking lot erupted into motion.
The ground seemed to shake under the sudden rush.
Marcus grinned.
"Showtime."
Ryan moved first.
He stepped off the curb and sprinted forward.
The spear lowered in his hands.
The first Fallen lunged.
Ryan didn't slow down.
Thud.
The tusk spear punched through its skull and ripped free as he passed.
Another creature rushed from between two cars.
Ryan pivoted.
The spear swept across its throat.
Bone cracked.
The body collapsed before it even hit the ground.
Behind him, Marcus roared and charged straight into the swarm.
His fist exploded forward with compressed mana.
Boom.
One Fallen flew backward across a car hood.
Another leapt toward him.
Marcus caught it midair and slammed it into the asphalt.
Elena moved like a blur along the side of the parking lot.
Wind burst beneath her feet as she darted between vehicles.
Her blade flashed once.
Then again.
Two Fallen collapsed without a sound.
Alice planted her feet near the edge of the lot.
Green mana surged from her hands.
The cracked asphalt trembled.
Her arms tensed as the mana surged harder than before.
Vines exploded upward, wrapping around the legs of several charging Fallen.
"Now!"
Marcus didn't hesitate.
He rushed forward and crushed the trapped creatures with brutal punches.
Ryan moved through the chaos like a blade.
No hesitation.
No wasted movement.
The spear struck again.
And again.
Each thrust precise.
Each kill instant.
Inside his mind, Iris spoke softly.
[You're moving faster.]
Ryan stepped past a lunging Fallen and drove the spear through its eye.
I'm not late this time.
A creature leapt onto the hood of a nearby car.
Ryan spun.
The spear flashed upward.
CRUNCH.
The blade pierced straight through the creature's jaw and out the back of its skull.
The corpse slid off the spear and dropped to the pavement.
Marcus laughed from across the lot.
"This is more like it!"
Three Fallen rushed him at once.
Marcus swung hard.
The first punch staggered one.
The second punch crushed another.
The third creature grabbed his shoulder—
Robert stepped in from the side.
The crowbar smashed into the creature's temple.
The Fallen collapsed instantly.
Marcus wiped blood from his face.
"Thanks."
Robert grunted.
"Keep your guard up."
Across the parking lot, Alice struggled to hold back another wave.
Her vines snapped around two Fallen—but a third tore free and rushed her.
Alice stumbled backward.
The creature lunged—
Elena appeared like a gust of wind.
Her blade flashed.
The Fallen dropped at Alice's feet.
Alice exhaled shakily.
"Thanks."
Elena nodded once.
"Stay focused."
Ryan had nearly reached the school entrance now.
Only a handful of Fallen remained.
Ryan exhaled once—
steadying.
The creatures clustered near the doors.
Guarding them.
Ryan's eyes hardened.
He sprinted forward.
One of the Fallen lunged.
Ryan ducked beneath it and drove the spear upward.
Thud.
The creature dropped instantly.
Another rushed him from the side.
Ryan pivoted.
The spear butt slammed into its jaw.
The blade followed an instant later.
The creature collapsed at his feet.
Behind him, Marcus shouted.
"Last ones!"
Ryan didn't look back.
Two Fallen remained.
Both sprinted toward the school doors.
Ryan's spear flashed once.
Thud.
One dropped.
The second reached the steps—
Ryan crossed the distance in two strides.
The spear punched straight through its spine.
The creature collapsed against the entrance.
Silence fell across the parking lot.
Ryan slowly pulled the spear free.
Behind him, the others approached.
Marcus wiped sweat from his forehead.
"Well," he said.
"That was a workout."
Elena scanned the lot carefully.
"All clear."
Alice exhaled in relief.
Daniel leaned against the van.
"Remind me never to park here again."
Ryan stood in front of the school doors.
The spear rested loosely in his hand.
His chest rose and fell slowly.
Then—
The doors unlocked.
A soft click echoed through the silence.
Marcus tilted his head.
"Well that's new."
The doors creaked open.
Several survivors stepped cautiously into the sunlight.
Ryan stepped forward.
Then he stopped.
And for the first time since entering Havenbrook—
Ryan's expression changed.
For the first time—
There was something unguarded in his eyes.
Author's Note:
They made it… but something isn't right.
What do you think Ryan just saw?