A Bite

Raiden and Makie had escaped the school. 

After witnessing countless dead bodies and deaths, they had finally escaped from that hell of a school. 

The sun had set down and night came. The lights on the streets turned on. Under those lights, Raiden and Makie walked, holding each other's hands. 

The streets were empty. It was never like this in the past but that particular night had no one on the streets except for Raiden and Makie. 

Those streets had some stains of blood here and there. It could only mean one thing, that Raiden was right. Whatever happened inside the school, had been happening outside too.

Makie was not as scared as she was before. She didn't say a single word and went slowly with Raiden. 

They had taken a risk by going out this late but it was still a lot better than staying in that deadly school.

Their destination was Toshi's house, which was not far away from the school. They silently walked through the streets. The houses in the neighborhood were all shut down, all the gates and windows were closed and there was no sign of light. It looked creepy as if ghosts had taken over the whole area. 

They walked without trying to get anyone's attention. 

At last, they reached their destination. They reached Toshi's house. It was a big old-style house that had a big Dojo on its back side. 

They slid the front door inwards and went in. They walked toward the main door and rang the doorbell. 

"What if he is not home? Or no one else is?" Makie got tensed up at that moment. 

Raiden hadn't thought about that situation, either. 'What if no one is inside?' He was forced to think about it. 'There were no lights inside any houses we had passed by. What if this whole area has been emptied?' 

Makie shook his hand and looked up toward him, "Hey! Why isn't he opening up? Is no one really in there?" 

"I- I don't know!" 

"Should we check? If anyone is in or not?" Makie asked.

"Yeah, why not?" 

"Okay, go check it then."

"Hey! Why is it always me?"

"Why not? Aren't you a man?"

"Now you wanna play the women's card?"

"Oh, come on, it's just a door. Just up it up already!"

"Alright! Alright!" just give me a sec."

Raiden pulled out his hand and grabbed the doorknob. He tried to rotate the doorknob but before he could do so, the doorknob rotated, automatically. 

The door opened up and behind it, stood Toshi. 

A smile appeared on both Raiden and Makie's face after seeing Toshi, and that, in a good condition. 

"The hell are you guys smiling for, standing there? Come, get in!" Toshi said.

"Oh, yeah!" Raiden said, awkwardly. "Let's go, Maki," he dragged Makie inside with him.

"Haven't I told you not to call me Maki?"

They got in. Toshi noticed that they had held each other's hand and he closed the door. 

They went into the hall and sat down on the sofas. It was after a long time that they had relaxed like that. The carpet and sofa had become filthy because of the blood Raiden carried with him. 

Toshi followed them and came by them. "You guys look like a real mess. What the hell happened with you?"

"Don't ask," Raiden took a huge sigh and said, "Just don't ask." He looked Toshi in eyes and shook his head a little.

Toshi looked over at Makie and saw her helpless face, he lowkey understood what had gone through on her. 

He sat down beside them and silently took over that room. 

After a few minutes, Toshi broke the silence. He looked over at Raiden, "So….. about Hatsuhi?"

"Oh. Hmmm. No sign of her."

"Not at all?" Toshi interrupted. 

"No. Ahh. But, I know she escaped. She had to. And, I am sure, she did."

"Yeah," Toshi nodded while looking at Raiden. 

"So, you got any idea what's going on out there?" Raiden asked. 

"No. It's bizarre. I got no explanation for what's happening here. But, whatever it is, it's danger. And, we have got to survive somehow."

"They are like some animals, they can't see, but they will listen and find you out. We are just like prey to them. They will eat us and move on."

"Wait! They can't see?" Toshi asked.

"Yes, I had confirmed it myself. And, it wasn't just one or two guys but everyone was the same."

"That's weird. They truly are like animals, then. They share the same characteristics."

"Yeah." 

"Can I have a cup of water?" Makie interrupted the conversation. 

"Oh, yeah," Toshi said as he stood up to bring the water. 

He went inside the kitchen and took out two water bottles. 

He brought it over to them and they both took one. The water made them feel relaxed even more. They finished their drink and the room again went back to silence.

But, the silence was interrupted as a guy who looked around their age walked inside the room. 

Both Raiden and Makie didn't expect to see him at Toshi's. But, the other guy looked happy after seeing both of them. 

"Holy hell! You guys made it here!" The guy said. 

"Ralf, what are you doing here?" Raiden asked. 

Makie also had the same question in her mind. 

"What do you mean by what I am doing here? Of course, I came here to hide from them just like you." Ralf said.

Ralf was their classmate. He was the same age as them and he had a good personality. He was good friends with most of the class. 

Raiden was both shocked and happy to find out one of his classmates is alive.

"I came here pretty early but you guys are coming this late. Were you still in the school?" Ralf asked.

"Oh, yeah, we barely made it out. It was a total massacre," Raiden said.

"Oh, man. I can totally understand," he grieved. "It was hard for me to get out of the school, too. Just I know how I managed to get out of that shithole." He said as he tried to come closer to them but it was taking quite an effort from him as he was limping. 

"Careful with that leg of yours," Toshi said. 

"Yeah, yeah, don't worry. It hurts just a little." He finally settled down on one of the sofas. 

"What happened to your leg?" Raiden asked, out of curiosity.

"Oh, nothing much. Just one of that guy bit me on the leg."

"They bit you?"

"Yeah."