Chapter 15

In the soft light of the early dawn, the survivors assembled. As they gathered, their faces hidden behind masks of stony stillness, there was an air of dismal resignation. As the de facto leader, Sato took a hard and determined stand in front of them.

Hands cuffed behind their backs, Kenji and Ren were led onward. With their eyes fixated on the ground and refusing to look up at their once allies, both men stood rigidly upright.

With a heavy, deep voice, Sato stated, "This is how it must be."

The survivors formed a loose circle around the two men. Despite the chill of the morning air, beads of sweat dotted Kenji and Ren's brows, their eyes darting about nervously as they searched for a sympathetic face in the crowd. But there was none to be found.

Sato placed his palm on the door doorknob, his jaw set in serious determination. "You know what you've done. You will not be invited back. This is your last chance for survival. "Don't waste it."

With a rusty creak, the door swung open, revealing the harsh, cruel outer world. The sun had yet to rise beyond the horizon, leaving the area in a murky darkness.

Kai moved forward, his eyes gleaming with steel intent. "Go," he hissed, his tone low and deadly. "And don't come back."

Ren and Kenji limped onward, their feet dragging uncomfortably across the dew-soaked ground.

Ren's eyes, once sparkling with the energy, now burned with betrayal. He turned, flashing a final, steely look at his former companions, his words dripping with hate. "You'll all regret this," he snarled, his teeth clenched in rage. "This is not the end."

The words hung in the air, looming over the survivors like a real threat. Sato's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing, instead standing aside and giving Kenji and Ren a brief signal to go.

Ren turned and went away, his steps heavy and deliberate. Kenji walked alongside him with the same deliberate gait, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

The survivors, now fewer in number, must deal with the revelation of Kenji and Ren's betrayal. However, the world beyond the walls is just as dangerous and the Yomigaeri remain a major threat. With each passing day, the weight of their circumstances becomes heavier on their shoulders, like a building storm.

Nonetheless, life within the abandoned hospital must continue. The survivors must continue to forage for supplies, hone their fighting skills, and prepare for the unavoidable time when they must confront the horrors beyond the hospital gates.

Sato, in his stoic way, sought to ease their fears. "We must not let this moment define us," he said, his voice echoing through the abandoned hallways. "The Yomigaeri are the enemy. Not each other. We must stay strong, for the good of our group."

Sato's comments became more meaningful to the survivors with time. They redoubled their efforts, exercising harder, scavenging more, and remained cautious against the Yomigaeri menace. However, a sensation of disquiet persisted beneath the surface.

Mai, the young girl at the center of Kenji's betrayal, struggled the most. Her nights where still plagued by nightmares of that night.

Mai often found solace in the rooftop garden, a small patch of green amidst the concrete and steel. Here, she could escape the whispers and the judgment, if only for a while. One morning, as she tended to the fragile plants, Sato joined her.

"You shouldn't be out here alone," he said gently, his presence both comforting and authoritative.

Mai looked up, her eyes shadowed with fatigue. "I needed some peace," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sato nodded, understanding. "You know, what happened with Kenji and Ren wasn't your fault. The choices they made were their own."

"I know," Mai said, though her voice wavered with uncertainty. "But I still feel responsible. I trusted them."

"Trust is a difficult thing to come by these days," Sato said, his eyes scanning the horizon. "But it's also something we can't afford to lose. We need each other, now more than ever."

As the days stretched into weeks, the survivors found themselves in a holding pattern, not quite comfortable with the status quo, but unable to escape the confines of their makeshift fortress.

And then, one day, everything changed.

A scream pierced the air, shrill and desperate. The survivors looked around, their eyes wide with alarm.

"That came from the basement!" Mai cried, her heart pounding in her chest. "It was coming from the basement!"

Without hesitation, Sato bolted for the stairs, the others close on his heels.

Kanoe's eyes were wide with fear, her gaze locked on the looming figure that towered over Nana's lifeless boy. It was Jack, Kenji's friend, a man who had been quiet and seemingly unremarkable up until this moment.

His clothes were stained with blood, his hands loosely clenched around a bloody machete. His eyes were filled with bewilderment

"Jack?" Sato said, his voice tense with disbelief. "What have you done?"

Jack didn't respond, his eyes darting between the survivors like a caged animal. His grip loosened even more on the machete as it slid from his hands to the floor, its blade glinting with a fresh coat of blood.

Mai's breath caught in her throat. "Nana..." she whispered, her eyes welling with tears. The body laid on the floor , barely recognizable. Her once lively face was now pale and twisted in a mask of agony, her skin marred by deep gashes and punctures.

"You did this," Jack hissed, his voice suddenly loud and feral. "You ruined everything!"

Mai gasped, her mouth falling open in shock. She wanted to protest, to deny the accusation, but the words died on her lips.

Jack lunged at her picking up the machete, his eyes blazing with an unholy light. Sato sprang into action, parrying the blow with his own blade.

"Enough!" Sato bellowed, his voice echoing through the underground chamber. "Jack, drop the weapon. Now."

As Sato and Jack's blades clashed in the dim basement, a wave of dread swept over the survivors. In the span of a few heartbeats, their sanctuary had been shattered, their trust broken, and their lives were once again hanging in the balance.

This was only the beginning.