While waiting for a few minutes, they discovered that the ring was made of nanoparticles—something that could actually store objects.
"The map… how the hell do we store it again?" John muttered.
"How should I know? I just said 'map' and it popped out." Leon replied, staring at the ring like it owed him answers.
"Then try saying something like 'store the map' or whatever."
Leon nodded slightly.
"Store the map."
Nothing happened.
They tried a few more commands, different words, even changing their tone—but still nothing.
Just as they were about to give up, John grabbed the map and pressed it against the ring.
The silver liquid oozed out again, swallowing the map whole.
They both froze.
"…So you gotta touch the item to the ring." John said slowly.
"Yeah… looks like it ain't voice-controlled, it's touch-based."
Leon exhaled.
"Alright, enough experimenting. Let's get to the infirmary… this pain's getting worse."
They moved carefully and made their way out. Luckily, no zombies crossed their path.
Inside the infirmary, they shut the door behind them.
Doc had trained Leon well—how to treat wounds, dress injuries—so the process was quick and efficient.
Leon grabbed some painkillers, swallowed them dry, then chugged water right after.
A clean 10-liter water gallon sat in the corner.
They looked at it… then at the ring.
Without a word, Leon touched it.
Gone.
Stored.
"Damn… this thing's broken-level useful." John smirked.
They decided to head upstairs to look for food.
The moment they stepped onto the first floor, they spotted zombies stumbling around.
Both froze.
Then slowly… silently… they moved.
Step by step, breath held, muscles tight.
They reached a nearby classroom.
Leon tried the door.
Locked.
Suddenly—
Click.
The door opened from inside, and they were pulled in.
Five people.
Two girls. Three boys.
Tension filled the room instantly.
The boy who opened the door stepped forward, eyes sharp.
"You two… those things bite you?" he asked coldly.
"Nah. We're clean." John replied without hesitation.
The girls visibly relaxed. The other two boys let out quiet sighs.
"You got food?" another boy asked quickly.
"You're from this school, right? Then you must know where the food storage is."
Leon leaned against the wall.
"There's a cafeteria. One building ahead."
He paused, then added—
"But yeah… if you feel like gambling your life, go ahead."
John scoffed, glancing around.
"Why the hell is this school so damn big?"
Then his eyes narrowed slightly.
He leaned closer to Leon and whispered—
"That girl… look at her sleeve. She's hiding something. I'm telling you—something's off."
Leon followed his gaze.
Blood.
Soaked into her sleeve.
"Yeah… that ain't normal."
Leon stepped forward slowly.
"Hey… show me your hand."
The girl shook her head immediately.
"No. I won't."
Leon didn't wait.
He grabbed her wrist and pulled her sleeve up.
A bite mark.
Fresh.
The room froze.
The girl struggled.
The boy who opened the door rushed forward—
—but suddenly his world flipped.
John had him pinned in a clean hand lock.
"Stay down." John growled.
The guy struggled, but it was useless. Both Leon and John knew exactly what they were doing.
Meanwhile—
The girl's eyes turned cloudy.
Blood seeped from them.
Leon let go and stepped back.
Too late.
She lunged.
Leon grabbed a book and shoved it into her mouth, blocking her bite.
"John! Don't let her scratch you—this shit spreads! Grab that table and smash her!"
John didn't hesitate.
He dragged a table and slammed it into her.
She crashed to the floor.
Before she could get up, he flipped the table over her, pinning her down.
She struggled violently.
Leon stood there—hands shaking.
A pencil in his grip.
"Leon… what the hell are you doing? Help me!" John shouted.
Leon stepped forward.
One breath.
Two.
Then—
He drove the pencil straight into her eye.
Silence.
Her body went limp.
Leon dropped to his knees, gasping.
The pencil remained lodged in her skull.
John stared at him.
Shock. Fear. Understanding.
Suddenly—
"John! Behind you!" Leon shouted.
No hesitation.
John grabbed another pencil, spun around, and drove it down—again and again—into the skull of the girl behind him.
Blood splattered.
His hands trembled.
Neither of them spoke.
But they both understood now.
To live… they had to kill.
Leon stood up slowly and walked toward John.
He extended his hand.
John grabbed it.
They pulled each other up.
Their eyes met.
Guilt.
Fear.
And something darker… settling in.
They left the room.
The corridor was empty.
They found another classroom and decided to rest.
A few hours. That's all they needed.
John spoke quietly—
"What we did… that was messed up, Leon."
Leon leaned back against the wall, staring at the ceiling.
"Yeah… it was."
A pause.
Then—
"But we did what we had to. And hey…" he let out a dry chuckle,
"If hell's waiting for us… we'll go there together."
John exhaled.
"Yeah… together."
Doc had taught them breathing techniques—efficient ones.
Twelve hours of rest… compressed into two.
When they woke up, their minds were sharper. Bodies steadier.
They drank water.
Stood up.
And without saying much—
They decided to go back.