They gathered around the kitchen table—what was left of it, anyway.
Someone had pushed it against the door during the initial panic. Now they dragged it back, the legs scraping across the floor, and sat down. Vikram had found a map of Niraya in a drawer. He spread it out, smoothing the creases with his palm.
"Here." Samir pointed to a spot on the east side. "Vaishali District. My sister's apartment building. About nine kilometers from here."
"Nine kilometers through hell," Taj muttered, adjusting his cracked glasses. "Fantastic."
"We're not walking it." Reyan leaned forward, tapping the map. "This building has basement parking. Level B2. My car's down there. Silver Honda. If we can reach it, we drive straight to your sister."
"If it still works," Vikram said. "If the battery isn't dead. If the basement isn't packed with infected."
"If, if, if." Reyan's voice had an edge to it. "We deal with problems when they show up. Right now, the plan's simple: reach the basement, get the car, drive to Samir's sister. Then we figure out how to get out of the city before the military locks it down completely."
"Assuming there even is a military response," Taj said quietly. "We haven't heard helicopters in hours. No jets. Nothing."
No one had an answer for that.
Silence hung heavy over the table.
"The basement's only two floors down," Reyan continued, tracing the route with his finger. "We take the stairs. Not the elevator—never the elevator. We clear each floor as we go. Once we're in the parking garage, we move fast. Get to the car, get it started, and drive out the main ramp."
"And if the ramp's blocked?" Samir asked.
"Then we ram through whatever's blocking it." Reyan's tone was flat. Matter-of-fact. "Or we find another exit. But sitting here playing devil's advocate won't save your sister."
Samir nodded slowly. "You're right. Sorry."
"We leave in an hour," Reyan said, looking around the table. "Use the time. Gather supplies. Weapons. Water. Whatever you can carry without weighing yourself down. Vikram, you're still with us?"
"Wouldn't miss it." Vikram's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Like I said. Waiting to die isn't much of a life."
"Good." Reyan stood. "My daughter stays here. We barricade the door from outside and—"
"No."
Everyone turned.
His daughter stood in the doorway, rabbit clutched to her chest. Her voice was small but firm.
"I'm coming with you."
"Baby, it's too dangerous—"
"If you leave me here and don't come back, I'll be alone." Her eyes were wet but she didn't cry. "I don't want to be alone anymore, Papa. Please."
Reyan felt something crack inside his chest.
He looked at the others. Samir shrugged helplessly. Taj nodded slowly. Vikram said nothing, just watched.
"Okay," Reyan said finally. The word felt like swallowing glass. "Okay. But you stay close to me. Always. Within arm's reach. And if I tell you to run, you run. No questions. Understand?"
She nodded solemnly.
"Alright then." Reyan felt the weight of too many promises settling on his shoulders. "Let's get ready. Long day ahead."
They spent the next hour preparing.
Kitchen knives wrapped in dish towels. A hammer. Samir's steel pipe. Taj found a crowbar behind the water heater. Vikram still had his knife. Reyan had his blade and the fire extinguisher—crude, but it had weight.
They filled bottles with water from the tap while it still ran. Grabbed whatever food wouldn't spoil—crackers, canned beans, a half-empty jar of peanut butter.
Reyan's daughter packed her own small backpack. Granola bars. Her rabbit. A photo of Priya she'd taken from the bedroom.
He pretended not to see her slip it in.
Reyan caught his reflection in the bathroom mirror while washing blood from his hands.
He barely recognized himself.
Gaunt face. Hollow eyes. Blood still crusted in his hair from yesterday. Bruises blooming purple along his jaw.
This is what you are now, his reflection seemed to say. This is what survival looks like.
He splashed cold water on his face. Gripped the sink until his knuckles went white.
Then grabbed his knife and went to join the others.
They were going to find Samir's sister. They were going to get that car. They were going to survive. Even if it meant becoming monsters themselves.