Early in the morning, in the hall, Ayanna was sitting alone at the table, looking outside the window. She was gazing at the vampires down below, running here and there, hungry and searching for people to feed. Zero slowly approached her.
"I said I wanted to be alone," she spoke.
"You've had your time since yesterday; people have finished preparing. You should too, because we leave in 15 minutes. We have to make it to the cafeteria by afternoon," Zero said as Ayanna remained quiet. He turned away and wanted to walk away.
"Do you think he might still be alive out there?" Ayanna asked him.
"I don't really know; the streets are filled with vampires by now. Maybe he is alive, or maybe he is not. If you leave a note and leave this place, if he makes it here, then he will know exactly where to find you." Ayanna took a paper and a pen and started writing down a message to her brother.
Doctor Patel was with Leyla, still experimenting on the blood samples. She placed the samples into three beakers: sample A, B, and C. A contained Ayanna's blood, B contained Zero's blood, and C contained vampire blood. She took the C sample and combined it with A and B. As they waited to see if the results would come out positive, sample B's blood changed into dark black. It meant the vampire's blood was stronger than Zero's blood. The whole beaker was filled with black blood. Sample A, which consisted of Ayanna's blood, was still half red and half black. They were waiting for it. If the beaker turned red, then Ayanna's blood was the cure. Suddenly, the blood started changing; the vampire's blood was taking over slowly until the whole beaker turned into black blood.
"This is a waste of time," Dr. Patel spoke.
"Guys, we're ready, and we have to go," Zero showed up. Dr. Patel packed the other blood samples in her bag and left the beakers on the table. A few minutes later, they all gathered together and formed a group. Zero was giving instructions.
"Okay, guys, we'll all go at once. We'll be very careful and slow. Alex will be at the back; Ayanna and I will lead the front. We have to be there as soon as possible. Before we go out that door, please make sure you don't carry anything that would attract the vampires. If you have any wounds, make sure you see Dr. Patel and close the wound with bandages because vampires can smell fresh blood from a distance. Get prepared, and we leave in 5." Everyone agreed. Dr. Patel returned to her experiment and saw that all the blood was black.
Later on, they opened the door and started walking outside. The moment they closed the door, in the beaker, sample A, which contained Ayanna's blood, changed from dark blood to pure red blood. That meant Ayanna's blood was the cure, but no one was there to see.
Ayanna and Zero were leading; others followed. Dr. Patel was holding Ben's hand, and Leyla was holding Zara. They were moving very quietly. Alex was at the back, on the lookout, holding his gun and keeping a sharp eye.
They passed by the cooler fridge and saw lots of vampires standing, trying to get into the other room. They were behind them. Zero stopped them.
"It's hard to pass against them. That is the only way," Ayanna told Zero. Everyone was quiet, shaking in fear, looking at him.
"I have an idea. I will lead them away. Everyone stand behind the wall and hide. Once all of them chase after me, go. Don't wait for me," Zero slowly murmured to them.
"What about you?" Ayanna asked him.
Zero was looking at her eyes. He couldn't hold himself, so he kissed her.
"I will find another way to come to you," Zero spoke. Ayanna nodded. Zero showed up behind the vampires.
"Hey!!!" he shouted. Vampires turned to face him.
"You guys hungry?" Zero spoke while running away; vampires started chasing him. Others were standing on the wall, trying to hide. Zero ran as fast as he could, trying to clear the way for others.
The vampires disappeared.
"Okay, let's go now," Ayanna spoke as she tried to help them walk ahead on the road. They managed to walk away, heading down the stairs, entering the cafeteria's corridor. They all saw the door as they kept on walking. They reached the door; Ayanna started knocking slowly. The door was opened; Marcus and Ivory opened it, wearing their flame suits with their masks.
"Get inside now," Marcus shouted. They all walked inside, and the door was locked. They were told to stand in front of all of them. Marcus and Ivory removed their flame suits.
"Where is Zero?" Marcus asked. Ayanna explained.
"So you made it too?" Marcus spoke, looking at Alex.
"You wanted me to die."
"Who are these?"
"This is Dr. Patel, Leyla, Emma," Ayanna started introducing them. Marcus was focusing on Dr. Patel.
"So, Doc, tell me you have an idea of what the hell is going on?"
"No, I don't, but I am working on a way to find a cure for this disease."
"You will fill me in later. For now, make sure you eat and rest because tonight will be a big night," Marcus spoke while walking away. Ivory assisted them.
Zero was still running, trying to get away from the vampires. He ran to the operating room and walked inside to hide. The vampires were banging on the door.
"What the hell is this?" He was stuck, and the room was surrounded by vampires at every door. Suddenly, he saw James again, coming very angrily, growling.
"What the... Fuck!!?" James kicked the door so hard and broke it; vampires started running inside. Zero took out his swords and started slaying them. They were too many; he was slaying while avoiding them and jumping from one place to another. James was standing outside, waiting. He was a little different from other vampires; he was smart. Zero managed to kill them all. James walked inside; Zero was tired.
"I thought I killed you, you son of a bitch," Zero shouted. James growled and started running towards him. Zero avoided him and turned on his back, trying to slay his head off. James turned with a huge punch at him. Zero fell down outside, bleeding from his nose and mouth.
"The bastard is strong," he whispered while trying to get up. James picked up a chair and threw it at him. He hit him hard on the chest; Zero fell again and hit himself on the wall while dropping his swords. James was slowly walking to him; he stood up and picked his sword.
"I don't remember you being that strong," James smiled.
Zero was looking at him while preparing to attack.
"Yeah, you better work on that smile of yours, dude, it sucks," Zero said. James was carrying another chair; Zero ran fast to him with his swords, going for his head. When he reached him, James avoided him, punched him hard on the stomach, carried him, and threw him outside the wall very hard. Zero fell for the third time at the same position. This time, he was bleeding rapidly from the mouth too.
(Growling sounds from distance approaches fast) It was vampires; they sensed the fresh blood dropping. Zero took his swords and put them back.
"See you in the third round, big man. I will come back for you; make sure you don't die," Zero ran off.
That evening, Marcus and his people were packing things and moving them to the vans, getting ready to leave. They were busy. Ayanna followed Marcus.
"We have to wait for Zero."
"Look, beauty, if your boyfriend doesn't make it in 15 minutes, we're gone. End of discussion," Ayanna was worried.
"Where are you, Zero?" Marcus was sending his people inside the vans. Ayanna, Leyla, Dr. Patel, and their team were waiting for Zero. Marcus walked to them.
"Guys, it's time; we have to go now. This is our only window." They were surprised. They all walked inside the van.
"Can we please wait just 5 more minutes?" Ayanna was asking Marcus.
"I will go and look for him; just give me 5 minutes," Alex spoke; everyone was looking at him.
"I will go with you," Ayanna said.
"No, I will be fast alone. Wait for me; just five minutes," Marcus nodded.
"Five minutes, and we're out." Alex walked off the van and went out to the corridors to look for Zero.
On the other side of the hospital, Scarlet and Milan walked inside through the main door.
"The hospital's a mess," Scarlet spoke.
"We have to hurry; I know the way. Follow me," Milan said, walking lead.
Zero was running fast, heading to the cafeteria. They met up with Alex on the corridor.
"What are you doing here?" Zero asked him.
"Looking for you; everyone is in the van already. We were waiting for you."
"And you ran here to find me? Wow, I'm impressed. Come on, let's go," Zero spoke, wanting to walk away. Alex stood in his way.
"That's the problem, Zero." Zero was shocked, looking at him.
"What is going on?" he asked curiously. Alex punched him hard on the face. Zero was fighting back; he wasn't that strong. Alex beat him up so bad. Zero fell down, tired
Alex held Zero's head hard and pushed him against the wall. He took out his gun and moved it closer to Zero's left ear, aiming at the roof.
"Do it, finish me, you traitor. Otherwise, I will come back and kill you," Zero spoke.
Alex started laughing.
"This is for me," he said, pulling the trigger on both of Zero's ears, aiming upwards. The sound was deafening, and Zero's ears rang in agony.
Scarlet and Milan heard the gunshot and started walking towards the sound. Marcus and the others in the van heard it too.
Zero was feeling dizzy due to the sounds, and his vision started to blur. Vampires, attracted by the noise and the scent of blood, started walking towards him. Zero tried to fight back, but he was weakened.
Alex smashed Zero's face into the glass nearby, and some of the glass shards scratched his face. Alex started running away, leaving Zero to fend for himself.
Vampires reached Zero, snatching him and starting to bite him. They surrounded him, their eyes glowing with hunger. Alex smiled and left, running back to the vans.
"We have to go now," he said, trying to sound concerned.
"Where is Zero?" Ayanna asked, her voice panicked.
"He couldn't make it. I'm so sorry. I looked everywhere I could," Alex lied, his expression convincing.
"Go now," Marcus ordered, and the vans started moving away. Ayanna was fighting, trying to get out, but Alex held her down tight.
"No! Please!" she screamed, but it was too late. The vans drove away, leaving Zero to his fate.