The eclipse hadn’t even stretched into its second hour, but the world had already rotted. The streets reeked of burning flesh, and isolation clung to the air like a suffocating fog.

  Anaki had managed to stop his teacher and friends from panicking—barely—but there was no time to let them adjust. The world didn’t wait for the weak.

  If memory served him right, this was only the beginning. First, Heaven’s Wrath. Then, the Eternal Dark. Three nights of suffocating dread—no sun, no stars, only artificial lights and the glow of burning cities.

  Anaki scans the road, where blooming flowers once lined the sidewalks. Now, crushed petals mixed with streaks of blackened blood. A sickly-sweet rot clung to the air, thick enough to taste.

  He nods back at Miss Yaryu, she joins him behind the motel. Her knees were still shaking from fear and the mask she wore barely kept the miasma out of her lungs. It was hard to see in the dark and harder to evade the infected.

  They scurry across the road to the van, parked, waiting. A few days ago its purpose was to drive them back to the school. Back to the life where they had to worry about eating habits and homework. Back when she had to think about the next class or how to guide her students better. Or if she should take the offer her old coach requested.

  Twelve hours ago, she was just a teacher. Now she is a survivor, a guardian of sixteen young children. No backup. No adults to turn to. Just her, a rusting school van, and a seven-year-old who moved through the hell like he'd been born in it.

  Anaki helps her unlock the van doors.

  "There are no infected around here. Looks like you are Mary Lucky, Miss Yaryu." Anaki’s smile eases the tension around her heart, she exhales, "I should be the one leading, not you. I’m the teacher. This… this is shameful."

  "Get used to it. The infected aren’t the only things that have changed.” Anaki scans the area—calm, sure and in control. “This is only the start. Everything we knew—our rules, our history—it’s all dead. Just like them.”

  Yaryu lowers her head. There’ll be more. Of course, there’ll be more. This is only the beginning.

  Anaki opens the door, frowning at the dead driver. He probably had crashed during a panicked escape.

  "Anaki—wait! What if he moves?" Yaryu’s stomach twists at the thought. The corpse slumped against the wheel, mouth slack, eyes open but lifeless. Like it wasn’t done being human yet.

  A better smile paints over Anaki’s face, "this one won't change, it's too late." He grabs the dead man's arm and with her help they carry him out and place his body by the side of the store. Anaki covers the dead soul with a cloth and enters the van, too.

  He sits there, remembering the hundreds he had buried and witnessed over thousands of deaths.

  "Are you alright?" Miss Yaryu's gentle eyes reach out to him. A warmth that was supposed to be whiffed out hours ago still burns.

  He smiles, this is what he has to protect.

  "Don't worry too much, Miss Yaryu." He pulls up the window, "We will all be safe as long as we get to the station."

  "How do you know so much?"

  "I told you, did I not? Sooner or later all your questions will be answered—bear it until then."

  She nods. There is no need to defy it any longer, he already proved that he is well informed.

  He saved her, killed the walking dead. She grabs her belly still nauseous, recalling how a child could stab an adult so mercilessly with a pole, it made her realize how the past is really long gone.

  "We better return faster, I don't think it's a good idea to leave Eli and Orion alone with the others for long."

  Yaryu turns on the vehicle and drives it past the dark alleys. It was hell getting out of the motel to search around for such a large vehicle. There were endless numbers of infected roaming about.

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  She was amazed that he managed to guide her through them all without getting noticed. As if he had prior training, as if he grew up in such a world all his life.

  Whenever they drove by those monsters, her hand would grip the wheel tighter. Her heartbeat would pound so loud she could only feel her exasperated breaths and the cold sweat rolling down her forehead.

  “They are dead—but they work like parasites. Just avoid them as much as you can.” He had warned.

  She glances down at the young child. Small and frail, the little figure is almost swallowed by the oversized clothing draped over his thin frame. The sleeves hang past delicate hands, and the shirt slips off one shoulder, exposing a patch of pale skin. Droopy bangs obscure the child's face, a curtain of hair hiding those mysterious eyes that seem to hold secrets far beyond their years.

  "Miss Yaryu." The little boy looks up at hers, catching her off guard. His gaze piercing despite the disheveled bangs, and the clarity of his voice slices through her surprise.

  "Y-yes?" She felt strangely embarrassed to stutter.

  "We'll get out of this alive."

  She felt her eyes burn, who would have thought the hidden pain that had been strangling her heart could be so easily reassured.

  "That's definite." She brings the van to halt near the entrance of the motel.

  Anaki leaps out, pole in one hand, the other a torch. He whistles, seeing the coast is clear. The covered windows loosen up and Orion was the first out, anxiously he guides the children one by one out.

  The fire raged across the motel yard, crackling like laughter. Shadows danced in the inferno, twisting like figures in agony. The children stood frozen, eyes wide, breaths hitched. The flames didn’t scare them. The screams did.

  “Come on, hurry up.” Yaryu gestures over.

  They sprint to her and she quickly helps them in the van.

  Yaryu presses a finger to her lips. “Shhh… Okay? We don't want the evil zombies to find us.” This sounds more absurd when she says it out loud.

  Ross muffles an excited chuckle and takes the window seat.

  "That's all sixteen." Orion was last, holding onto an old pipe. Yaryu grabs it from him, “You are not fighting.”

  He rolls his eyes, as if.

  "Let's go to the station." Anaki and Eli regroup with them.

  “Luckily no infected approached us because of the fire.” Anaki looks back at the yard.

  The flames are gone.

  Oh sh—

  Orion shoves them to the side, shocking them both. He stood hidden by the side of the van, glaring cautiously at the movements of a roaming undead. It was a woman, dressed as a florist. He could tell she was a beauty before her face took a horrific turn of events into that monstrous being, walking with a hole right through her chest. There must have been a cop that fell victim to her.

  He glances back at Anaki, he managed to hide behind a flower pot, Eli had climbed under the bus. Luckily the others are inside the van.

  Yaryu slowly shuts the door. She crouches walking back, if she is noticed it will pounce on her like a savage beast.

  Anaki waves at Yaryu. She doesn’t notice.

  His stomach twists.

  There’s an undead behind her.

  He’s too far. If he moves, the florist-infected will see him. If he shouts, it’s over.

  The corpse shuffles. The moment it turns, Yaryu is dead.

  He bites down on his tongue, forcing himself still. The florist’s rotting hands twitch. Its head lolls to the side as if sensing something. But its attention is locked on him. It lurches closer.

  Yaryu—

  She’s inches from the other infected. If she shifts even a little—

  Clank!

  Anaki flinches. The florist snaps its head in the direction of the sound, sniffing the air.

  Yaryu is gone.

  Where—?

  He spots movement—beneath the van. She had dropped down, pulling Eli under with her, one hand pressed tightly over his mouth to stifle his tears.

  Clank!

  Orion picks up another pebble diverting the dead florist's attention to an empty trash bin, she moans a soul gripping wail and limps to it, too.

  A cold shudder springs in Anaki's heart. What is Orion planning?

  Sparing no second, Orion thrusts his pipe right through her skull. His assault surprises everyone.

  Who knew he'd be the first to adapt like this.

  His pipe pounces right off but he doesn't hesitate to hit it again. Over and over until it crumples like a dead body it's supposed to be.

  Orion drops to the floor vomiting the little food he had forced down his throat earlier, it all went to waste. Trembling hands, sweating forehead and shaky knees, he's become a murderer.

  Wham!

  The second undead drops dead behind him. He scrambles away. He'd forgotten about it. If Anaki didn't step in he would have—

  Anaki stabs his pole right into its skull.

  No hesitation. No regret. He isn't affected at all.

  How?

  His fists clench onto the asphalt.

  Why isn't he afraid, he was always the one afraid.

  "Are you okay?" Anaki and Eli join him, he could see both were too nervous to ask his deed. He nods in response, though his pale face and teary eyes betray his true state.

  Eli gently grabs his trembling hand. "Let's go back together."

  Anaki stood watching the backs of the innocent youths, he knew he couldn't stop them from getting involved. It's just a matter of time until the others learn of the truth, too.

  "If you want."

  They turn and look back at Anaki, bangs dropped over eyes again, he continues, "I will handle the undead. At least until you think you can handle it."

  "What the hell are you talking about?” Orion had made his mind up earlier when Anaki left with Yaryu, if the world is really now a twisted place then he has to prioritize survival. Even if he has to dirty his hands to survive.

  He will contribute however possible if it means he can get to safety alive with his friends and aunt.

  Anaki nods. For now this is enough, it's more than he could have asked for.

  "Orion!” Miss Yaryu's hand clasps her mouth, she was shocked to witness the battered undead and her nephew holding the weapon.

  Orion swallows. Probably not something she'd want to see her only nephew doing.

  "Are you alright?" She kneels before him. He droops then nods, his mind elsewhere. With a heavy sigh and gentle hug, Yaryu gestures at the van, "let's hurry on inside for now."

  She guides Orion with Eli in the back seat, the silence between them assuring. Though there is not much to say, she could tell it had already begun—

  The change that Anaki spoke about.

  She glances back surprised to see the other children were asleep. Did they all faint? She checks Ross’ breathing, stable, calm. Really asleep.

  “Don't worry, that's normal.” Anaki yanks aside Orion's pole. “The air.” He pulls on his mask. “That's what's doing it.”

  She swallows hard and covers her face.

  “It doesn't affect adults as much. So you needn't worry. It's the children they are after.”

  What does that mean? But he was already gone, waiting in the van.

  Anaki takes his seat next to the driver, he knows the roads. During his old life, he had been left walking the wasted lands to the station all by himself. Although it was merely a miracle that he, a seven old all alone, managed to make it there alive, he couldn't erase a single memory.

  Especially those damned adults who used him as bait after luring him into their trap of sweet lies. He had to go through a month of starved survival just to get to the safe base, struggling with roaming undead, provisions and the insecurities of his young mind.

  But now it's different. He is no longer alone, he has Miss Yaryu to trust and the children to protect. He knew he could rely on Orion and Eli, the two are of great help and collaborating without prying unnecessarily.

  This time, he'll make amends.

  This time, they’ll all make it to Black Raven—before the real monsters catch up.