Zero turned into a vampire, he stood up, his belly filled with hunger, searching for a human to feed on. He was as ruthless as other vampires, with his swords at the ready. He was running, trying to find a human to feed on.
Milan and Scarlet reached the 10th floor, walking down the corridor. Suddenly, they saw Liam at the end of the corridor, feeding off a woman.
"What the...? He's a giant," Milan said.
James stood up and faced them, growling.
"And he's pissed," Scarlet spoke, taking out her swords.
"Are you up for the fight?" Scarlet asked Milan.
"I'd like to sit this one out," Milan spoke.
"Bastard," Scarlet said, running towards James.
She reached him, but received a huge kick, sending her flying back, landing at Milan's feet.
"What kind of vampire fights back and is stronger like that?" Scarlet asked, getting up.
James was coming for them. Milan helped her up, and they both stood, holding their swords, preparing to fight him.
"Go for the legs, I'll go for the head," Milan said.
They started running towards him. Scarlet slid down, heading for his legs, slaying him harder and harder while rounding him. Milan jumped to gain speed from the wall and headed towards him with his sword. As he reached him, he stabbed him hard in the chest. James fell down.
Milan removed his sword from James's chest, and Scarlet stood up, taking back her swords.
"Nice teamwork," Scarlet spoke.
Milan was looking at James's name tag.
"He was a nurse here," Milan said.
While they were standing, looking at him, James's wound started closing up, and his body began to heal.
"What the...?" Scarlet spoke.
James opened his eyes and kicked them both hard, sending them flying into the wall.
James stood up. Scarlet broke her shoulder, and Milan walked to her.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"You have to reattach my shoulder, please," Scarlet replied.
Milan held her firmly and reattached her shoulder. Scarlet shouted, and Milan covered her mouth.
"Stay down," Milan spoke, standing up to face James.
He ran towards him, avoiding James's punch, and tried to slay him. James saw it coming and held Milan's sword, breaking it into two pieces. Then, he grabbed Milan, choking him and lifting him off the ground.
Scarlet was still down, feeling dizzy, and her vision was slowly fading.
Suddenly, Milan's eyes changed to dark again. He broke James's hand and hit him so hard that James flew across the room, crashing into the wall.
Milan rushed to him and held him down, hitting him repeatedly. Milan had become stronger than James. He grabbed James's head and smashed it into pieces.
James died.
Milan walked back to Scarlet, who was still dizzy. He picked her up, and she fainted.
Zero appeared at the mini hall where they had been camping earlier. He was smelling fresh blood inside the hall and hurried inside, searching for a human. Instead, he saw a beaker containing blood on the table and walked towards it. He took it and drank it quickly.
After a few minutes, he became weak, fell to the ground, and started coughing up blood. He collapsed and fainted.
The vans were on the road, moving. The last van contained Ayanna, Leyla, Dr. Patel, Marcus driving, and Alex.
Ayanna was staring at Alex.
"How did it happen?" Ayanna asked Alex.
"What are you talking about?"
"I want to know how you managed to see him turning into a vampire."
"Just like that. I ran to the corridors and saw vampires biting him," Alex replied.
"How many vampires?" Ayanna asked, her eyes narrowing.
"Five of them. They held him so tight. He shouted for me to go away and leave him," Alex said.
"Lies. It takes more than seven vampires to take down Zero. You either left him to die or blocked his way off. I know him very well," Ayanna spoke, her voice filled with accusation.
Dr. Patel and Leyla exchanged worried glances. Marcus watched Alex through the mirror.
"You think I did something on purpose?" Alex asked, his tone defensive.
"We all know you hated him because he was the only one strong enough to stand against you and your dictatorship," Ayanna shouted.
Alex held his gun, pointing it at her.
"You think I'm afraid of the gun?" Ayanna said, facing him with eyes filled with anger.
"Shut up, Ayanna," Alex warned.
"Or what? You're going to pull the trigger? I dare you to do it," Ayanna challenged.
Marcus stopped the van, got out, and opened the back door. The other vans kept driving.
Everyone was quiet, looking at him.
"Get out," Marcus told Alex.
"What? Now you're going to drop me off just like that?" Alex spoke, slowly getting off.
"I don't like traitors, especially people like you, who think only of themselves," Marcus said.
"In a world like this, there's no one to be trusted. Mark my words, everyone. You're on it," Alex said, walking away.
Marcus closed the door and drove away.
Alex looked back. "I'll find you, and you'll pay for this," he spoke angrily, walking away into the darkness alone.
Scarlet slowly opened her eyes and saw Milan standing, looking at her.
"How long have I been out?" she asked, trying to get up.
"20 minutes," Milan replied.
"What happened? Where's the vampire?" Scarlet asked.
"He died. I think the darkness took over me again, and I killed it," Milan said.
Scarlet stood up.
"We have to go," she said.
They got out of the room and kept walking. They saw a trail of blood.
"It's fresh blood," Scarlet said, kneeling down to examine it.
"So, it might be a human," Milan spoke.
"Let's follow the tracks," Scarlet said.
They started following the trail, which led them to a mini hall. They opened the doors and saw a man lying down. It was Zero.
Milan recognized him.
"Wait, I know him," Milan said, wanting to wake him up.
Scarlet stopped him.
"Wait, look. He's bitten. He might be a vampire by now," she said, looking at the biting marks on his hands.
Scarlet took out her swords, ready to kill him. Suddenly, Zero coughed, waking up. He saw Milan and a woman.
"I know you," Zero spoke.
Milan and Scarlet were quiet, looking at him.
Minutes later, they were all quiet. Zero was sitting down, clearing his mind.
"So, you said you remember me?" Milan asked, drawing Zero's attention.
"What happened here? What happened to you?" Milan asked.
"I don't know where to start," Zero replied.
"Start with my sister, Ayanna. Do you know her?" Milan asked.
"I know her. I remember everything," Zero said.
"Did you see her after the rising?" Milan asked eagerly.
"She was with us, the survivors. We went back to her operating quarters and woke her up. She was with us, fighting together. She spoke of you all the time," Zero explained, handing Milan a letter from Ayanna.
Milan took it and started reading it.
( Hey, I hope you're still alive and fighting. I just want to let you know that I'm fine. We've managed to find some survivors, and they're heading to the countryside. If by chance you come and don't find me here, just know that I'm waiting for you there. I met this person, Zero. I don't know if you remember him from the elevator, but he's a good man, and he said he'll keep me safe until we find each other. I trust him because he's saved my life more than twice. I hope you bring my teddy with you. More love, Ayanna)
Milan was pleased, seeing that.
"So, what happened to you? You were bitten, but why aren't you a vampire?" Scarlet asked Zero.
Milan stared at him.
"I don't know. I'm still confused, but I remember being a vampire - the growls, the hunger, the eagerness to feed on blood. I remember it all," Zero said.
"So, you mean to say you were bitten, turned into a vampire, and then turned back human? How can that be possible?" Scarlet asked, puzzled.
"Wait, Scarlet, do you think he might be the person you were looking for?" Milan asked.
Scarlet looked closer at Zero.
"I don't think so. I might have sensed him," she replied.
"What are you guys talking about?" Zero asked, confused.
"Tell me something, Zero. You weren't sick when I met you in the elevator, nor did you come to see a patient, given your condition. Why did you come to the hospital?" Milan asked.
Zero was quiet, looking at them, unsure of what to say.