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Leader's POV

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We bolted through the narrow streets of the deserted town, the growls and snarls of the infected snapping at our heels. My legs burned with every step, lungs on fire, but I couldn't stop-not yet. The camp was gone. Everything we worked for had been torn apart in an instant. The infected had found a way in-somehow. We weren't ready.

The memories of our home, the faces of those we lost... they weighed on me, but there was no time to dwell on it. All that mattered now was getting away, staying alive. It was just us, and we had to keep moving forward.

"Up there!" I shouted, my voice raw as I pointed toward a two-story building. The ladder leaning against its side was our only hope.

I glanced back-too many. Too close. No time. "Move! Now!"

They scrambled up one by one, hands slipping on the rickety metal rungs. Each second felt like an eternity as I stood at the base, gripping my weapon, ready to fend off the first infected that got too close. The sound of their guttural growls grew louder, closer.

"Go, go!" I barked, shoving the last of them upward before climbing after. The ladder groaned under my weight, but I didn't stop. My heart pounded in my ears as I hauled myself onto the roof and yanked the ladder up.

A second later, the infected reached where it had been, their clawed hands swiping at empty air. Two of them crashed into each other, tumbling to the ground with sickening cracks, but the others kept circling below, snarling, searching.

We collapsed onto the roof, gasping for breath. I scanned the group, my chest heaving. "Everyone... okay?" My voice came out rough, barely above a whisper.

A few nodded, too winded to speak. One sat near the edge, cradling their arm. "Just a scrape," they muttered, avoiding my eyes.

I crouched beside them, tugging their sleeve up to check. A shallow cut-nothing serious. Yet. Infection could come from more than just the virus out here. "Keep it clean," I said, tying a strip of cloth from my pack around it.

The roof creaked underfoot as I stood, pacing toward the edge. Below, the infected clawed and moaned for a while before losing interest and shuffling away into the dark. I didn't relax. Not yet.

The evening air was thick with the smell of decay, the remnants of the world we once knew hanging like a heavy fog. We had barely made it up here, my legs burning from the sprint. Every breath felt ragged as I leaned against the rough concrete edge of the roof, staring down at the empty streets below.

"Catch your breath first," I said, my voice surprisingly steady despite the adrenaline that still surged through my veins. The last thing I wanted was for us to make any rash decisions after running from the infected. "We'll talk in a minute."

I could feel their presence around me-each one of them catching their breath, trying to steady their nerves after what had just happened. The climb up here was the closest we'd been to being caught. We barely outran them, and I could hear the faint growls still echoing in the distance. For now, we were safe. But we both knew the safety wouldn't last long. The clock was always ticking, even if you couldn't hear it.

Jungkook was the first to break the silence. His chest rose and fell as he caught his breath, and I saw the flicker of exhaustion behind his eyes. The run had taken more out of him than he cared to admit, but that was the thing with him-he never showed how much he was hurting, even when it was obvious. His youthful enthusiasm had been replaced by something more tempered now, something that knew the cost of survival.

I shifted my gaze to Jin, who stood nearby, wiping his forehead with his sleeve. Always the one to make a joke, to lighten the mood when things got tough. But even he couldn't hide the toll this world had taken on him. His once carefree demeanor had hardened, but I still saw that glimmer of hope in him. The one who kept our morale up when everything else seemed to fall apart.

Hoseok and Taehyung were next to me, both leaning against the crumbling brick of the rooftop, taking deep, steady breaths. Hoseok's usual energy was muted, but his sharp eyes never missed anything. He was always aware, always watching. Taehyung, on the other hand, had his gaze set far off into the horizon, as if searching for something beyond the ruins of the city. I knew what he was looking for-something, anything, to remind him of the world before all this.

Yoongi didn't seem as winded as the rest of us. He was always the one who stayed calm in the chaos. His katana was sheathed at his side, and I could almost hear the silent rhythm of his thoughts as he surveyed the surroundings. The rest of us might be fighting to keep it together, but Yoongi had already accepted the reality of our situation. There was no running from it anymore.

Jimin and Taehyung took their positions without needing to be told. Jimin had his eyes trained on the street below, his hand resting on the rifle slung over his shoulder, while Taehyung stood slightly to the side, scanning the rooftops and alleyways. The both of them were always the first to jump into action when things got tense. They were our eyes and ears, always alert, always watching.

I let the silence hang for a moment longer, each of us gathering our strength.

The sun dipped below the horizon as we hauled ourselves onto the roof of the two-story building. My chest heaved, my legs burned, but we made it. That was all that mattered. The infected wouldn't be able to climb up here-not easily, at least.

I straightened up, forcing myself to focus. "Alright, listen up." My voice cut through the silence. Everyone's eyes turned to me. "This building looks safe for now, but we need to make sure. The last thing we need is a nasty surprise while we sleep."

No one argued. They knew the drill.

"Jungkook, Yoongi, Jimin-you're checking the ground floor. Focus on the gate, windows, and any potential weak spots. See if there's anything useful while you're at it."

Jungkook nodded, already adjusting his bag. Jimin shot a glance at Yoongi, who was silent as usual, but his grip on his katana tightened.

"Jin, Taehyung-you're taking the first floor. Check the rooms, look for supplies, and make sure it's clear."

"What about you and hobi?" Jin asked, his tone light but curious.

"We'll stay up here. Someone needs to keep watch," I replied. "If you run into trouble, signal immediately. We'll come running."

Taehyung raised an eyebrow. "What's the signal?"

I smirked faintly. "You'll think of something loud enough if it comes to that."

Jimin shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Let's hope we don't need one."

---

Author's POV

---

The group descended the stairs cautiously, weapons drawn and eyes scanning every corner.

Ground Floor (Jungkook, Yoongi, and Jimin)

Jungkook led the way, his grip on the crowbar firm. The hallway was narrow, its walls peeling from years of neglect. Every step echoed, the sound amplified in the silence.

"Smells stale," Jimin whispered.

"Better than rot," Yoongi replied, his voice barely audible. "Still, don't assume it's clear."

The first door led to a small storage room. Jungkook shoved it open, the hinges creaking ominously. Inside, shelves lined the walls, most of them empty. A few rusted tools lay scattered across the floor.

"Anything?" Jimin asked, peering over his shoulder.

Jungkook shook his head. "Just junk."

The second room was a kitchen. Yoongi entered first, his katana ready. The counters were coated in grime, and the air smelled faintly of mildew. A faint growl echoed from the far side of the room. Jimin's eyes darted to the source. A Stalker had emerged from behind the refrigerator.

"Watch out!" Jimin shouted.

---

First Floor (Jin and Taehyung)

Taehyung pushed open the first door, stepping cautiously into what had once been a drawing room. Now, it was a shadow of its former self. Sofas and chairs were overturned, their fabric torn and stained with dark patches that might have been blood. Faint streaks painted the walls, leading to a smear near the window.

A faint scraping noise caught their attention. Taehyung turned sharply, his spear at the ready. In the far corner of the room, a lone stalker clawed at the wall, its movements jerky and erratic.

"Stay quiet," Jin hissed, gesturing for Taehyung to follow his lead.

The stalker didn't notice them at first, its senses dulled by the stale air. Jin crept forward, his knife in hand, and plunged it into the back of the stalker's head before it could react.

"Only one?" Taehyung muttered, exhaling sharply.

"Better one than a dozen," Jin replied. His eyes scanned the room again, as if expecting more.

The hallway of the first floor was dim, the fading sunlight barely filtering through cracks in the old walls. Jin led the way, flashlight flickering as it swept across the chipped paint and warped wooden doors. Taehyung trailed closely, his spear ready.

"Feels...off," Taehyung muttered.

"Quiet's good than noise," Jin replied, his voice calm, though his grip on the flashlight tightened.

They reached the second room-a small office. The door creaked open on rusted hinges, revealing overturned desks and scattered papers. A faint, musty smell hung in the air, but nothing screamed immediate. Jin's eyes narrowed as he stepped inside, his boots crunching over broken glass.

"Check the windows," Jin ordered.

Taehyung nodded, moving to the far side of the room. The glass of one window was completely shattered, jagged shards clinging stubbornly to the frame. Beyond it, the night cast eerie shadows across the abandoned street.

"Looks clear," Taehyung began, but the words died in his throat.

As a low, guttural snarl came from the corner of the room. Taehyung spun, his spear raised just as a Stalker emerged from behind an overturned desk, its movements jerky and unnatural.

"Hyung!" Taehyung shouted.

---

On the Roof

RM scanned the streets from his perch on the roof. The town was eerily quiet, the only sound the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. Behind him, Hoseok paced nervously.

"You think they'll find anything?" Hoseok asked, glancing toward the stairwell.

"They'll find something," RM replied. "Even if it's just peace of mind."

"Let's hope so," Hoseok muttered, gripping his knife tighter.

---

"Watch out!"

Yoongi reacted instantly, his katana slicing through the air. The Stalker lunged, but Yoongi sidestepped, the blade landing cleanly across its chest. The creature staggered back but was quickly finished off by another swift strike to its skull.

"That was too close," Jimin said, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Yoongi checked the cabinets quickly, pulling out a half-full water bottle and a can of peaches.

"Not bad," he muttered, tossing them into his bag.

"Let's keep moving," Jungkook said, gripping his crowbar tighter.

As they turned toward the main hallway again, Jimin froze, his eyes darting toward a broken window at the end of the corridor. A faint growl drifted through the shattered glass, sending a chill down his spine.

"Window," he hissed, pointing. "If they smell us, they'll find a way in."

Jungkook nodded, and they quickly moved to the window. The broken glass was scattered on the floor, but the Stalker had not yet noticed them. The creature clawed at the wall, its head jerking as it tried to detect movement.

Jimin reacted first, grabbing a nearby piece of wood and wedging it against the broken glass to block the opening. Jungkook swung his crowbar, knocking the Stalker's head back before it could turn and notice them. The Stalker collapsed, twitching before it went still.

"Two," Jungkook muttered.

"Check the others," Yoongi said. "If one's open, more could be too."

---

"Hyung!"

Jin reacted instantly, dropping the flashlight and pulling his knife. The Stalker lunged, but Taehyung sidestepped, thrusting his spear into its side. The creature screeched, clawing at the weapon as Jin moved in, plunging his knife into its skull with practiced precision.

The Stalker collapsed in a heap, its body twitching before going still. Taehyung yanked his spear free, his breathing ragged.

"Too close," Jin muttered, wiping his blade on a torn curtain.

But the silence was short-lived. From the hallway, another snarl echoed, followed by the unmistakable sound of shuffling feet.

"More?" Taehyung asked, his voice tight.

"Stay close," Jin ordered, grabbing the flashlight and leading them into the corridor.

---

As they moved down the hallway, Jungkook led them toward a closet, the door slightly ajar. He motioned for the others to hang back as he cautiously nudged it open.

The moment it creaked, four Stalkers lunged out, snarling.

The first one lunged directly at Jungkook, its clawed hands reaching for him. With a sharp intake of breath, he sidestepped the attack and swung his crowbar in a brutal arc. The blow connected with its skull, sending the creature staggering but not down. The Stalker hissed and came at him again, forcing Jungkook to dodge its erratic swings. With a determined growl, he drove the crowbar into the creature's head with all his strength, finally putting it down.

Yoongi faced two Stalkers. His katana flashed as he slashed through the arm of the first, then followed up with a clean strike to its neck. Before the second could pounce, he sidestepped and drove his blade through its jaw, finishing it in one fluid motion.

The fourth Stalker launched itself at Jimin, knocking him into the sharp edge of a broken shelf. A jagged piece of wood scraped his side, tearing through his jacket. Jimin hissed in pain but didn't falter. He slashed at the creature's chest, driving it back, then buried his knife into its temple, the Stalker collapsing at his feet.

"Jimin?" Jungkook called, glancing over.

"I'm fine," Jimin said, pressing a hand to his side.

Jungkook glanced back, his eyes narrowing as he saw Jimin clutching his arm. "You're hit?"

"It's nothing," Jimin said, waving him off. Blood seeped from the wound, but it was a minor cut compared to what could have happened.

Yoongi stepped over the fallen Stalkers, his expression stern. "You need to be more careful. These things aren't like the usual ones."

Jimin gave a weak smirk, shaking his arm out. "I handled it, didn't I?"

"Barely," Jungkook muttered, handing him a strip of cloth from his bag. "Wrap that up before it gets worse."

"Thanks, eomma," Jimin quipped, though he took the cloth arm.

"Could've been worse," Jungkook muttered, his eyes scanning the hallway for more threats.

"Yeah, but it wasn't," Jimin replied with a faint grin, though the pain was evident in his expression.Yoongi sighed, cleaning his blade on a rag.

They took a moment to breathe, their eyes scanning the surroundings. The silence was thick with anticipation. But Yoongi gave a small nod toward the main entrance.

"Gate's still unsecure," he said

---

The next room-a bedroom-was in slightly better condition. The bedframe stood upright, though the mattress was stained and sagging. A wardrobe leaned precariously to one side, and a cracked mirror hung on the far wall. As Jin moved to the window, a foul, rotting smell started to creep into the air, thick and nauseating. His eyes narrowed, but he pushed the discomfort aside, focusing on the task ahead. The window's glass was intact, but spiderwebbed with cracks that threatened to give way at any moment.

"This one's holding," Jin said, his voice low but calm.

Taehyung nodded, but his eyes caught movement in the reflection of the mirror. A chill ran through him, pointing toward the wardrobe.

"Hyung..." Taehyung whispered suddenly, his voice sharp with urgency. Jin looked over at him, but Taehyung's eyes were fixed on the cracked mirror, where movement caught his attention. His hand instinctively reached for his knife. "Hyung, look!"

Jin's heart skipped a beat as he quickly moved toward the wardrobe, his grip tightening on the handle of his blade. With a swift kick, the warped door creaked open. A heavy, putrid smell hit him like a wall, almost making him gag. It was worse than anything he'd encountered before. Inside the wardrobe, an Ambusher-a creature half-decayed and grotesque-was dragging itself forward. Its movements were slow, but its desperation to attack was unmistakable.

Before Jin could react, the Ambusher hissed and lunged, its twisted limbs scraping the floor with a sickening, dragging sound. Taehyung, startled by the movement, lost his balance and fell hard onto the floor, just a few feet away from the creature. The Ambusher, nearly rotted to the bone, seemed to sense his vulnerability.

"Taehyung!" Jin shouted, eyes widening as the creature moved closer. But there was no time to waste. Jin sidestepped quickly, slashing his knife across the Ambusher's throat. The creature staggered, but didn't fall. It snarled, swinging its half-rotten arms wildly. Taehyung, still on the ground, scrambled back as the creature came at him again.

With another swift motion, Jin thrust his blade into the Ambusher's skull, and the creature collapsed, its body twitching one last time before going still. The smell in the room was unbearable now, the rotting scent filling the air and pressing down on them like a physical weight.

Taehyung slowly got up, wiping the dirt from his hands, his breath ragged from the shock. "I-I wasn't expecting that," he said, his voice shaky but steadying. "That smell... I can't take it."

Jin nodded, his face grim. "We need to leave this room, now." The stench was almost overpowering, clinging to everything in the space. "We'll secure the next room."

They both quickly backed out of the bedroom, trying to leave the suffocating air behind them. The smell followed them into the hallway, but it was still a little better than being trapped in that room.

Taehyung pushed himself ahead and forcing a shaky laugh. "That's three now."

Jin offered him a hand, helping him to his feet. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just a slip," Taehyung replied, his voice steadier now.

Jin sighed, his eyes scanning the room. "They must've gotten in through that broken window in the office. We need to seel it."

"Then let's hurry," Taehyung said.

---

RM leaned against the edge of the rooftop, his eyes scanning the quiet streets below. The tension in the air was palpable. It had been some time since the others had gone inside. Every minute felt longer than the last. Behind him, Hoseok shifted restlessly, glancing at the stairwell every so often.

"You think everything's fine down there?" Hoseok asked, his voice quieter than before, a trace of worry creeping in.

RM didn't turn to look at him. "If they're not back by now, they're either being extra thorough or... something's gone wrong."

Hoseok's grip tightened on his knife. "We should've gone with them."

"We needed someone to keep watch," RM said, his tone even but with an underlying edge. "They'll be back soon."

Hoseok started to pace again, his nerves on edge. "It's been a while. What if-"

"They're fine," RM interrupted, though his gaze didn't leave the street. He had to believe it. "Just a little longer."

The minutes stretched into what felt like hours as RM watched the still streets from the roof. The town was