Staff Room

As Hiro approached the source of the noise with Rafael, they discovered a door. The staff room was where the noise seemed to be coming from. Feeling anxious, they paused to assess the situation and held their breath.

"Should we open the door, Hiro?" Rafael whispered.

"I'll just take a peek first," Hiro replied.

With a sense of trepidation, Hiro slowly approached the door, examining whether it could be opened. Carefully turning the doorknob, he slowly peeked inside to see what was happening within the staff room.

And as a small gap formed in the door, the dark scene gradually became clearer inside the staff room. Hiro's eyes widened when he suddenly saw an employee inside, whose appearance had changed drastically. The person's mouth hung open, with violet veins visible on their arms and face, a clear sign of infection. Repeatedly, the infected individual was slamming their head onto the table in the room.

The very first Infector that Hiro saw in his hometown, the place he grew up in, signified that the outbreak had finally reached and taken hold of his familiar surroundings. Immediately, Hiro gently closed the door to prevent any noise that might attract the attention of the Infector inside and disturb their focus.

When Hiro turned around, Rafael immediately asked him, "What did you see inside, and why is the noise still ongoing?"

"I-I saw an Infector inside the room, continuously banging its head on the table," Hiro replied.

Rafael and the others were suddenly shocked upon hearing this, as, similar to Hiro, this was their first encounter with an Infector in the town.

"So, what's the plan? Are we leaving it or killing it?" Rafael asked everyone.

"I don't know, Rafael. Maybe someone has a suggestion," Hiro replied.

The three soldier companions looked at each other, silently communicating with just their eyes, and nodded in unison.

"Um, as a soldier, it might be better if we just kill it, so it won't cause any more disturbance and add more problems here in the market. We can always come back since, to be honest, we haven't gathered that many supplies yet, considering we changed vehicles earlier," replied a soldier named Solo.

Solo is a soldier skilled in technical tasks and serves as their driver. He has a well-built physique, showcasing dedicated training as a soldier. Despite not being very tall, standing at around 5'6", he holds the rank of Private First Class.

The four companions exchanged glances, feeling the gravity of the situation. They communicated as if using telepathic, respectful words. In the end, Rafael approached Hiro.

"Hiro, they're right. We need to kill that Infector for the safety of our other companions. We have to do this properly to avoid being discovered by other potential infectors around us, as there might be others we're not seeing. "

"....Do you have a plan?"

Hiro scratched his head, as if deep in thought, contemplating quickly.

"Yes, I have a plan. First, let's see if this is the only Infector in this market. Second, we'll figure out how to kill it without causing a commotion. We need to be quick and careful," Hiro replied.

Hiro led the four towards the side of the establishment. As they walked, they scanned their surroundings, searching for other doors or paths where potential infectors might be lurking.

Outside, they quickly huddled for a brief discussion before returning to the front of the staff room.

Once they were sure there were no other infectors nearby, they began to strategize on how to kill it without causing a disturbance.

While adjusting their weapons, Hiro suppressed his anxiety and gave the final instructions.

"Here's the plan. Solo, you take the first shot at the Infector. When I open the door, aim directly for the head. Make sure the attack is quick and precise."

".... Are you all ready?"

"Let's go," replied the companions in unison.

With Solo quickly aiming, their plan commenced. Hiro gripped the staff room door, and with a swift motion, opened it slightly. They saw the Infector continuing its frenzied actions, unaware of their approach.

Under the quiet assault, Solo's shot hit the Infector's head swiftly and successfully. It had no chance of getting up. The group quickly followed to ensure there were no other infectors nearby. Despite the early stage of the outbreak, it seemed the spread of the disease was still limited, but this offered no reassurance in their eyes.

Once they were certain the area was secure, their eyes met again. Hiro closed his eyes, offering a brief prayer for the soul of the deceased employee who had now become a victim of the disease.

They could hear a collective sigh of relief from their group, but they knew that this was just part of their trial in this dead world. Hiro looked at his companions.

"We need to leave; we've got what we came for. Let's go."

They walked silently, carrying the goods and other supplies they had gathered, heading towards their vehicle.

While they were sorting through their acquisitions, Hiro noticed the gradual descent of darkness and admired the beauty of the sky as the sun set, signaling the approaching night.

"It's truly mesmerizing to witness such a scene in nature."

"Yes, it gives us a momentary sense of peace within ourselves,"

Rafael said, while acknowledging Hiro's gaze at the sky's beauty.

"Come on, Hiro, let's head back before it gets too dark on the way,"

Rafael urged, expressing concern about potential dangers in the darkening surroundings.

Their journey back to their base was smooth, with no signs of infectors along the path even as the darkness set in.

Major Rodriguez welcomed them at the gate, congratulating them on the successful mission.

"Congratulations, Hiro! You made it back safely, and we've successfully acquired the supplies we need."

"Thank you, Major. Everyone will benefit from this,"

Hiro replied gratefully to the Major, While others carefully collaborated in handling the supplies they retrieved from the vehicle. 

"Ahmm... Hiro, after you're done there, there's something you need to know. Later, after you've had some rest," Major Rodriguez stated with a direct and serious expression.

Hiro nodded, conveying understanding through his response to Major Rodriguez's tone. His companion, Rafael, seemed to speak from behind, "What do we need to know? It sounds like there's a serious problem."