To the First Floor

"Should I open the door?" I asked Jazmen, clutching a sturdy rod in my hand.

Jazmen's eyes were filled with determination as she nodded in agreement. "Slowly, don't make any noise," she cautioned, standing close behind me with an unusual iron stand typically used for lab equipment.

I nodded and eased open the laboratory door, which had remained sealed for the past 24 hours. As the door creaked open, the putrid stench of decay wafted through the air.

Upon peeking out, I was met with the sight of the same zombies, aimlessly shuffling about, emitting intermittent moans and grunts. Their tree-like regeneration was unmistakable as they bumped into walls and objects in the hallway, sustaining injuries that quickly healed through their unusual organic growths.

With a bag slung over my back, containing a diary, essential equipment, food, and other necessities, I stepped out. Jazmen, too, had her own bag, stocked with chemicals, her share of provisions, and glass flasks, which might come in handy for distracting the zombies if needed.

I gestured towards the fire alarm beside the lab door, signaling my intention to Jazmen. I stood guard, vigilant for any zombies attempting to encroach on our space. However, through some strange stroke of luck, none seemed interested in our presence, as though they had grown accustomed to the solitude of their existence.

Jazmen, despite being barefoot, reached the fire alarm and carefully removed the lid before activating it. The resulting blaring alarms set off a chaotic frenzy among the zombies. Alarms were now echoing on all three floors and at both ends of the stairways, leaving the undead bewildered and unsure of where to go amid the deafening cacophony.

I was confident that this alarm would serve as a signal to any survivors nearby. However, our predicament escalated when we noticed the zombies gathering at both ends of the corridor, effectively blocking our path to the stairwell.

Faced with this dire situation, I recalled the unconventional route I had used to move from the third floor to the second. "Jazmen... remember how I got here? I mentioned jumping from the third to the second floor. It seems that's our only option to go down now," I explained, my eyes reflecting my deep concern as I glanced at the overwhelming number of zombies guarding the stairwell.

Jazmen hesitated for a moment, her brow furrowing with worry. "I guess... you're right. It seems like the only way," she finally responded, assessing the groups of zombies on both sides and then nodding in agreement.

"Should we go for it, then?" I inquired, my eyes betraying my hope that Jazmen would agree, despite my lingering worry. I had lost my girlfriend to a similar plan, which made me apprehensive. Yet, I knew Jazmen's researcher nature and her determination to unravel the mysteries of this pandemic made her more fearless and resolute than Su could ever be. She had a stronger will to survive.

"You know, you're looking rather dashing right now," Jazmen commented, reaching for my hand just as a strange sensation, almost like a spidey sense, sent a shiver down my spine.

At that very moment, I saw a zombie lunging at Jazmen from behind, evidently alerted by our conversation. Reacting instinctively, I pushed Jazmen out of harm's way, causing her to stumble as I thrust my rod into the relentless zombie.

The rod penetrated the creature slightly but then became lodged. I signaled urgently for Jazmen to jump to the eaves, and she complied swiftly. Another zombie joined the fray, but I managed to fend it off by withdrawing the rod and delivering a crushing blow to its head.

However, this brief distraction allowed the first zombie to regain its composure and advance toward me. I retreated only to find myself cornered by a wall, surrounded by four zombies, their hungry mouths closing in.

The persistent tingling sensation in my mind seemed like an alarm, guiding me instinctively toward the approaching danger. Yet, facing four zombies simultaneously was a battle no ordinary person could endure.

I swung the rod with all my might, striking one of the zombies in the head and sending it sprawling to the ground. The others closed in, their fingers reaching for me, teeth gnashing hungrily.

My heart raced as I fought back, driven by sheer desperation. I struck another zombie, managing to push it away momentarily. However, the relentless onslaught continued, and I felt the searing pain of their bites breaking through my defenses.

Biting back my own screams of agony, I knew I couldn't hold them off much longer. My vision blurred, and my strength waned as the relentless zombies closed in for the final, fatal strikes.

Just then, Jazmen's voice pierced through the chaos. "Apex!" she cried out, her voice filled with a mixture of fear, anguish, and determination.

With my last reserves of strength, I pushed away from the wall and lunged towards the railing leading to the eaves. I felt their fingers graze my clothing, but I managed to clear the barrier, landing on the eaves with a thud.

---

From there, I glanced back at Jazmen, her face a canvas of anxiety, distress, concern, worry, and a hint of fear. She understood that my fate was sealed, and her fear was unavoidable. After spending the past five days together, day and night, the realization that we were parting forever was crushing.

Despite my injuries, I struggled to convey the gravity of our situation. "You have to go, this isn't a safe place anymore," I urged, my bloodied mouth speaking with difficulty.

Jazmen looked back at me, her voice trembling. "What if there are no survivors on the first floor? What will I do then?"

"Be practical, as you've always been, Jazmen. Go on. I can't make it, but you can. Find others, survive, just like we planned. I believe in you," I said, my face smeared with blood, as the red liquid began to spill from my mouth.

Jazmen nodded, her voice choked with emotion. She recognized the limited time left for me and the urgency of her departure. She positioned herself on the corner of the eaves, preparing to jump. With great effort, I joined her, assisting her descent. I held onto her wrist as she positioned herself, ensuring her safe passage before she leaped.

In that fleeting moment, we shared a final, lingering smile. With unwavering determination in her eyes, she jumped down, leaving me alone on the precipice of transformation.