Chapter 1: The End

Night time is starting to cover the city of Angeles in Pampanga. Yet, the streets are more filled with lives as the party goers, and night owls start to come out of their caves and live the best of their lives. Around Sto. Rosario, there lives a man in an apartment named Leo. He is about to come out of his cave as well, but not to live the best of his life--- but it is to achieve it.

"Finally!!! The day I've been craving for is here!" As Leo shouted when he came out.

Today marks his last day to render his resignation to his BPO company and bid goodbye to the tiring work hour, and stressed environment. The toxicity that binded him in that company for 3 years had made him come to realize what he has missed--- enjoyment and life fulfillment.

As he went outside, compared to normal workers, he was filled with joy since he knows that this is the day that the chains of such work would fall off his arms and he could then embrace that unlimited hours of sleep whenever he wants to.

While he was preparing his motorcycle, he had these thoughts of going to his friends and catching up with them. Since he hasn't been able to join them as he joined the company. They always say that BPO companies are dead-end jobs, or promotion is easy. Well, that's for themselves to find out, but Leo's workplace is somehow toxic. He had a lot of initiatives before yet none have bothered to offer him a promotion, nor has he passed one due to "tenure-requirements." Thus, one huge influence that made him decide to leave the company which he stayed for 3 years.

As he started traveling, he saw a man walking very slowly and coughing on the sidewalk of the road. He noticed like the man somehow needed medical attention, but Leo was quite hesitant so he ignored him and continued to work.

"He might have something contagious, better be safe than sorry I guess. Sorry, mister, I'd love to help but I'm afraid others should help you for now." such thoughts that Leo mentioned to himself.

As usual, he has logged in to the company's attendance system, went to his work area and prepared the setup to be ready for his shift. Since he is always an hour or two early, he uses his time to set up updates and trackers which he provided to others. Yet, since it's his last day of the job, he just decided to leave it be and play some games to waste time.

His shift usually starts at 10'o clock in the evening. When the time for his work started, he did his usual things at work. His first short break has come. Leo stays at their floor and watches the night life of others outside the windows. As if he says to himself that his life would be with those people anytime soon.

As he watches through the Window, he somehow notices something burning nearby his apartment. He felt something wrong and had the urge to go there immediately until an announcement had been given within the floor.

Leo was surprised as there are no scheduled announcement or event in the company. "I'm about to leave the company, please don't tell me you'll be giving better compensation now," as Leo was mixed with emotions as well because of it.

After a few seconds, the announcement started with silence and you can hear someone stating "Are you sure this is real?"

Then, the announcement commenced, "Good evening, before we proceed, we would like to have everyone as calm as possible. Most may not be aware of what's happening outside but we are here to guide you---"

The scenario changes back to the man whom Leo saw was walking very slowly. That man was able to come to a nearby restaurant + bar where a lot of people have gathered.

***

It is 8:30 PM.

THE SICK MAN joined the crowd who were having a party, taking their shots and enjoying their best lives. Until the sick man suddenly bumped into a drunk party goer. This drunk person was mad at him and pushed him back until the sick man fell and he suddenly started vomiting until he went unconscious. The drunkard was quite nervous and started going near him and checking his pulse. He then asked for someone if they knew CPR.

A man approached him and he did it to the sick man. Yet, with his best, the sick man did not wake up. The drunkard was scared as he thought that he had killed somebody and started blaming the sick man himself for what happened.

The guy who knows CPR tried to calm him down. A woman came near as well to the corpse as she tried to check him. It is to no avail that there is no longer a pulse present. The drunkard then turned the opposite way as he does not want to see the face of the person who died because of him.

As they were all distracted by the drunkard, a twitching movement happened from the sick man which others did not notice. At one point, as the drunkard turned his back, he was dumbfounded as the corpse suddenly rose from the ground. The guy who knows CPR then slowly turned his head and as the predator had its prey, the sick man pounced and bit him. As the woman nearby screamed loudly, the corpse immediately changed its target to her. She was grabbed and bitten from her feet but was able to escape.

The CPR guy somehow went unconscious from the loss of blood and the impact of the bite. The drunkard started panicking and the whole crowd was distraught. It was a feast for the corpse as it was a cat where its prey were like mice moving towards him. One bite after another, and then the drunkard came back and tried to save the CPR guy. When the woman, some guests and the drunkard were able to get into a small room, they started thinking of ways to escape along with the CPR Guy.

While all of them were planning, being anxious and afraid of what was happening, they didn't notice the bitten woman turning slowly. They tried to get everything they use as a shield and weapon to try to fight them, but an office room only has little equipment useful for combat. They then started barricading the windows and entrance of the room.

An hour went by, the screams stopped and all they could hear was growling nearby. It is now around 9:45 PM. None of them are confident enough to check outside or to run away from the place.

At one side of the office, a teenage girl saw the small warehouse room in the office room they came in. Little did she know, it was where the woman before had stayed. As the lights were off, she tried to look for the light switches. As she had opened the lights, a corpse staring at her occurred. She was then bitten and killed, she tried to scream but the corpse bit her on her neck where she was unable to give out any voice.

An old man saw her come to the warehouse room but she didn't see her go out so he decided to check her out. As he came in, the woman pounced on her and with the noise, it alerted the other survivors. They saw what happened and fesr came to them. The woman then rushed towards them, and as others tried to beat her head which they've seen in the movies, it isn't as easy as it looked. The woman's head was hard because she's a fresh flesh who was turned. They slowly backed away yet with the noise, it has alerted the other undead outside.

As they were moving away from the woman, they had forgotten about the CPR guy who was already turned and was behind them. With no weapon to avail and no wits to grasp, all have been eaten and turned.

***

RETURNING TO Leo's point of view, the announcement stated, "Good evening, before we proceed, we would like to have everyone as calm as possible. Most may not be aware of what's happening outside but we are here to guide you" --- It is now 11:15 PM

Leo wondered what was happening, and has been feeling really bad. A quick question came to his mind "Would this affect my resignation today?"

He mumbled and was lost in thoughts until he heard from the announcement --- "an apocalypse of the undead is happening and this is not a joke nor a test"

From there, Leo's mind went blank as he is about to face a huge turn for his life.

In the eerie silence of the dimly lit office, Leo anxiously peered through the blinds, watching as the world outside crumbled into chaos. Moans echoed through the hallways, and the once bustling city streets now teemed with the undead. Trapped on the 10th floor, Leo and his fellow office workers huddled together, their fear palpable in the air.

As flickering emergency lights cast long shadows across the room, Leo's mind raced to comprehend the nightmare unfolding. The scent of stale coffee and the distant sounds of distant screams filled the air, blending into an unsettling symphony of survival. Little did Leo know that the mundane office routine would be replaced by a fight for their lives against an unimaginable threat.

"This was supposed to be my greatest day, but this has become a nightmare" he said

Leo's heart pounded as he recalled the frantic rush to the elevators, the desperate hope that the metallic doors would grant them salvation. Panic set in when the elevator buttons remained unresponsive, revealing that the escape route had been severed. With a sinking feeling, Leo and his coworkers raced toward the emergency exits, only to find them clogged with the relentless undead.

"Helppp!!! Arrrghh!!!" as screams covered the exits as the undead tried to force their way in and other workers taken and eaten.

"Quickly! Get the fuck off the exit!" "Get the doors!" "We need something to hold these off!" as different people shouted to secure their survival.

In the chaotic struggle to secure the exits, Leo glimpsed the horrifying reality of his once-normal colleagues now turned into flesh-hungry creatures. The doors swung open, and a chilling moan echoed through the corridor as the dead poured in. Frantically, they tried to slam the doors shut, but the relentless force of the undead pushed back, claiming some of Leo's coworkers in the process.

"Shit! Everyone!! Go to our work area now!" Sarah shouted to guide everyone else but the undead followed them.

As the undead tried to follow them, Leo immediately used one of the tables to use it as a barricade and then he said "Get these tables and stack them so we can barricade this quickly!"

Barely escaping with their lives, the survivors managed to barricade a section of the 10th floor. The makeshift barricade provided a brief respite, but the realization set in - they were trapped, surrounded by the groans of the undead. The once-familiar office floor now transformed into a battleground for survival, with Leo and his colleagues clinging to a fragile hope amid the encroaching darkness.

As the survivors huddled together, Sarah took charge and conducted a headcount, ensuring all 23 of them were present. The diverse group of survivors included Leo's workmates:

1. Emma

2. Carlos

3. Olivia

4. Raj

5. Hannah

6. Javier

7. Zoe

8. Ahmed

9. Mia

10. Ethan and others

With a sense of urgency, they gathered in a circle, their faces etched with worry. Aware that the barricades wouldn't hold forever, they discussed a plan to search for useful equipment within the office space. The looming threat of the undead sensing their presence heightened the need for a silent and strategic approach.

"Listen, I know everyone's shocked and scared but we can't waste time since those things are few steps away from us and between that poorly made barricade. We need a plan ASAP and we need weapons at least" Sarah told the group.

After a meticulous search, they managed to collect some essential resources like canned food and bottled water. However, when it came to finding weapons, their options were limited to improvised tools - pens, scissors, mops, and a handful of serving utensils salvaged from the pantry.

Realizing the importance of discretion, they knew that any noise could attract the attention of the undead. The only viable option seemed to be retreating further into the office rooms, even though the prospect of being cornered left them with a chilling sense of vulnerability. The survivors steeled themselves for the challenges ahead, armed with makeshift weapons and a desperate determination to outwit the encroaching horrors outside their fragile haven.

Leo's hand rose in the dimly lit room, signaling the group to huddle together. With a determined look in his eyes, he outlined a plan for a controlled attack against the encroaching undead. Drawing inspiration from the countless zombie movies they had watched, he emphasized the importance of targeting the head, acknowledging its vulnerability despite the grim reality of human skulls being formidable.

Leo said "Let's use those tables to control how those undead would try to get us. If we can lead them one at a time and then take them out."

The survivors pooled their collective knowledge and began strategizing, coordinating their movements to lead the undead away from their makeshift sanctuary. Leo cautioned against relying solely on headshots, urging the group to be agile and resourceful in their approach.

As they prepared for the impending battle, Leo directed the survivors to fortify their last line of defense on the 10th floor. Using the limited resources at hand, they fashioned makeshift weapons from pens, scissors, mops, and utensils, determined to make their stand against the relentless tide of the undead.

The atmosphere in the room shifted, tension gripping each survivor as they confronted the harsh reality of a do-or-die situation. The battle for survival loomed, and the remaining few steeled themselves for the challenges that awaited, knowing that every move they made could be the difference between life and death.

As the survivors contemplated their individual dreams and aspirations, Leo's mind flickered to the unwritten novel he always wanted to pen. Sarah envisioned a gallery showcasing her artwork, while Emma dreamt of opening a bakery. The weight of unfulfilled ambitions pressed on them, urging them to confront the harsh reality they now faced.

The time went backwards during Leo's training. From there, he met Ethan, the very first co-worker he had interacted with. From there on, both of them were always together and always plans on certain projects that help them build up numerous achievements within the company.

"Good luck brother!" Ethan tapped Leo's back when he mentioned to him before about his resignation.

Leo knew that Ethan won't be able to follow him because of his financial situation. Eager to escape poverty, he chained himself to the company.

"Leo...Leo!" as Sarah tried to call out to him.

Reality snapped back, and Sarah, their de facto leader, asked the crucial question. One by one, they affirmed their readiness, their faces a mix of determination and trepidation.

The plan initiated, barricades intentionally brought down to lure the undead inside. The survivors, armed with makeshift weapons, executed the strategy flawlessly, redirecting the path of the zombies and attempting to eliminate them one by one.

Yet, Leo detected a critical flaw - their lack of combat experience. Panic set in as some trembled in fear, losing their weapons amidst the chaos. The undead continued to pour in, and the grim truth unfolded: not everyone possessed the mental fortitude or skill to fight efficiently.

"Leo! These monsters might get us cornered before we kill them all" said Ethan as they were struggling to kill the undead.

"Shit, this plan might fail" as Leo whispered to himself.

In the first 15 minutes, the harsh reality of their situation manifested. Three of their own were consumed by the relentless horde.

the three workers screamed to their date chanting pain and the same words repeatedly "Help me please!"

Leo found himself overwhelmed, grappling with the desperate question of what to do next. The fight for survival had become a brutal test, and the fate of Leo and the remaining survivors hung in the balance.

As Sarah called out for Leo, he snapped back, determined to devise a plan to turn the tide. But he is having trouble doing so because of what he witnessed.

Ethan, the fastest among them, to lead the undead into the pantry, while Leo took cover on the other section of the floor. The plan was clear - rescue Ethan once the horde was successfully trapped.

Leo's shout echoed through the room, rallying the survivors to push back the undead using office tables and chairs. Carlos and Javier took the initiative to repair the destroyed barricade, aiming to fortify their defenses against the relentless onslaught.

The initial phase of the plan unfolded smoothly, but with no word from Ethan, the group faced a dilemma. The office now had two potential paths - through the pantry or the lobby to reach Ethan. The survivors hurriedly debated, torn between the two options.

The group was divided into two teams:

**Lobby Team:**

1. Sarah

2. Olivia

3. Raj

4. Hannah

5. Zoe

6. Mia

7. Ahmed

8. Emma

9. Carlos

10. Javier

**Pantry Team:**

11. Leo

12. Alex

13. Grace

14. Daniel

15. Ava

16. Max

17. Sophia

18. Isaac

19. Gabriel

The survivors split, each team with its mission - the Lobby Team barricading the main entrance, while the Pantry Team ventured to rescue Ethan and eliminate the undead within. With no time to waste, the next phase of their escape plan was set in motion, and the fate of the remaining survivors hung in the balance.

To be continued...