[The 1st day of the outbreak - 8:00 PM, Lecture Hall I, Faculty of Medicine]

"Now it must be dark outside, class president."

Gemini leaned his head out the window to assess the situation. The school grounds were now engulfed in a dense, pitch-black night. Only the streetlights remained lit, serving as guiding beacons along the main paths of the Medicine Faculty.

Normally, at this time of day, there would be no trace of students here. The school became eerily quiet, with the only sound being the symphony of cicadas on summer nights; along with the streetlights and the flickering glow of fireflies, it truly was a romantic scene. Gemini had heard that the water fountain area of the faculty grounds attracted many couples during this time of year.

But everything had changed now. "That thing" appeared everywhere, occasionally emitting growls that transformed the scenery entirely. The sweet scent of jasmine and the gentle breeze that once filled the air were replaced by a foul odor and a cold chill that made them shiver. It seemed as though it had become a playground for death itself. Any careless action would cost one's own life.

Gemini felt that the moment had come. He handed each person a glow bracelet. Curious, Mark asked, "Ai' Gem, why are you giving us these? Are we going to a concert or something?"

"Don't joke around," Gemini replied, his voice tense and serious. "I found these in the storage room next to the lecture hall. They're probably leftover items from the camping trip in the first semester."

"So how is this going to help us?" Mark asked, intrigued. He looked at the glow bracelet on his wrist, wondering how such a simple device could save them from the horror outside. 

"To avoid attracting that thing's attention, we'll keep the lights off and stay in the shadows. These bracelets will only glow enough for us to see each other, not enough for it to notice us."

"I get it now. This will ensure that we don't get lost," Mark nodded, impressed by his friend's ingenuity. "You always amaze me with your clever ideas, even though I already know you're a genius."

"Everyone, hurry up and put them on. We don't have much time left." Gemini urged them. He checked his watch and saw that they had only a few minutes before the next horde of zombies would shuffle by their window. 

Everyone quickly snapped on their glow bracelets. They gave each other a final glance, a silent pep talk, before setting off on their mission. They had to scavenge for food and drinks and bring them back to the lecture hall, where the rest of the survivors were holed up.

Gemini had chosen three people to accompany him on this mission: Mark, Mick and Milk. Mark was his best friend and a brave fighter. He could handle any weapon and was always ready to protect his friends. 

Despite being a game addict, Mick was a smart and resourceful guy. He had a good sense of direction and could navigate the campus easily. 

Milk was the only girl in their group and a strong woman. She was skillful in martial arts and could take down any zombie with her bare hands. She also had a sharp eye for spotting danger and a quick mind for making decisions. Gemini trusted them with his life and hoped they would make it back safely.

According to the plan, Gemini would be the first to climb down with the scouting mission. Mark would be the last, responsible for guarding the rear of the team. As the weakest member in term of strength, Mick was honored with the position in the middle of the formation, after Milk.

The rope made from the stage curtain had been carefully designed to ensure easy climbing. Every 10 inches, there was a overhand knot that formed a foothold, arranged in a staggered pattern. It was like creating a ladder with ropes. Unexpectedly, the survival skills taught during the university camping trip proved to be useful in the end.

With a deep breath, Gemini positioned himself at the window. A mix of excitement and fear coursed through his veins as he felt the crisp and refreshing night air against his skin. The distant chirping of crickets echoed in the darkness, creating a soothing contrast to his pounding heart.

He braced himself and began his descent, feeling the rope dig into his palms as he carefully maneuvered himself downward. Each knot served as a guide, providing a stable foothold for his descent.

As he descended further, flickering and dancing, shadows created an illusion of movement in the corner of his vision. The faint crackle of electricity from the streetlights mingled with the occasional hushed whispers carried by the wind made the world around him transform into a spine-chilling scene.

Gemini scanned his surroundings as he landed. No monsters in sight. He relaxed his shoulders and raised his right hand with the glow bracelet, signaling the others to descend. Within 10 minutes, they all completed the first phase of the mission.

"Ai'Gem, which way should we go?" Mark whispered.

"Let's avoid the main path and the corridors. They're too bright due to post lights. We'll cross the faculty's courtyard instead, where the grass will muffle our footsteps."

"Sounds good. It might take longer, but it's safer," Mick agreed.

Gemini nodded and took the lead. They moved stealthily, crouching low and keeping quiet. The courtyard of the medical faculty was shrouded in shadows, making it hard to see anything. The only thing that kept them from getting lost was the faint glow of their bracelets. It was a vital accessory for this mission.

They crossed the courtyard without any trouble. The monster must have left this area, knowing there was no prey here. The only problem was the tall grass and the mosquitoes that swarmed around them. Gemini bit his lips and ignored the itching, afraid to make any sound. It was a small price to pay for safety.

"These mosquitoes are driving me crazy. They've sucked so much of my blood," Mick muttered.

"Stop complaining," Mark retorted, casting a quick glance in Mick's direction. He then closed a distance between him and Gemini and finally voiced his lingering question: "Ai' Gem, why did you leave Pha in the lecture hall with the others?" He asked with a twinge of curiosity and concern. "I know he's been annoying, but isn't it dangerous to let him out of your sight?"

Gemini stopped and turned to face Mark, a mischievous smirk on his lips. His eyes sparkled with determination and a hidden motive. "To tell you the truth," he said, his voice hinting at a calculated scheme, "I left Pha there on purpose. I wanted him to show his true colors. After all, if I want to kick him out, I need a reason and I hope that jerk will give me one while we're gone."

Mark looked puzzled as he digested Gemini's words. He sighed, impressed by the boldness of the plan. "So, you deliberately left him behind, huh?"

Milk, who had been walking with them, heard their conversation and chimed in with a tone of genuine concern. "I agree that Pha needs to go, but it's just too risky. What if he does something so stupid that it puts our classmates in danger?"

Gemini met Milk's eyes, exuding an air of confidence. "I've thought of that too," he said. "That's why I left Prom there as well. I trust Prom to handle things while we're away."

Milk nodded, understanding the gravity of the decision. "Well, I have to admit, it was a very clever move on your part."

---10 minutes later---

"You guys, be quiet for a moment. We've arrived," Gemini whispered, gesturing for everyone to approach and hide behind the trees. They peered out from their hiding spots, observing the open space in front of the canteen of the Medical Faculty.

"It looks like we've been blocked," Milk, the only girl in the group, pointed out. "Class president, what should we do?"

Gemini surveyed the scene and noticed two students, twisted into nightmarish shapes, blocked the entrance. Their bodies were covered in blood, their faces and necks distorted by visible wounds. It was clear that they had endured immense suffering before undergoing this transformation.

Gemini had been observing the monsters from the classroom window all the afternoon and had noticed a peculiar characteristic of these creatures—the gradual fading of their skin color, giving them a pale white complexion reminiscent of people with albinism. The longer the transformation lasted, the more distinct their differences became from ordinary humans.

Examining the skin color of the two male students, Gemini concluded that they had recently undergone the transformation. Although their skin had turned paler, traces of their original complexion remained. Surprisingly, the two creatures appeared almost motionless. Could they be "sleeping"?

"I've never seen them in this stage before," Milk remarked.

"You're right," Mick agreed. "Perhaps they still retain some human instincts. Could they also sleep at night?" Gemini quickly dismissed this notion. While guiding the group's movements, he had spotted other monsters in the vicinity, and none of them exhibited the same stillness. This could potentially be a trap.

"I highly doubt it," Gemini shook his head. "It seems suspicious."

"Well, there's only one way to find out," Mark suggested.

Mark picked up a pebble from the ground and threw it towards the two monsters. The impact shattered the silence of the night, catching the attention of everyone. They anxiously awaited the reaction from the creatures.

As expected, the creatures abruptly opened their eyes and began moving slowly towards the source of the sound. Their earlier stillness had been nothing more than a pretense. It appeared that this was one of their hunting strategies.

"Thank goodness. If we had approached them earlier, we might have fallen into a trap," Mick sighed in relief.

"Can we lure them away with more sound?" Mark proposed. "We have plenty of pebbles here."

Gemini considered the suggestion, squinting as he assessed the situation. "That depends on their level of intelligence."

Thus, they commenced their plan, using sound to lure the creatures away. Initially, it seemed successful as the two monsters followed the intended path. However, after some time, they began to sense something amiss. Confusion filled their eyes as they scanned their surroundings, eventually emitting loud roars into the darkness.

"This is not good. The noise will only attract more of them," Mick voiced his concern.

"We don't have much time," Gemini evaluated the distance. "They have gone far enough. When I count to 3, everyone runs straight to the canteen without stopping."

"1... 2... 3. Run!"

Without hesitation, they sprinted towards the entrance of the canteen. The creatures, with their limited vision, remained unaware of their actions for the time being. As they ran, Gemini could hear distant echoes of roaring, indicating that more creatures were being drawn to the commotion. The situation was becoming increasingly perilous.

Upon reaching the entrance gate of the canteen, Gemini swiftly pulled open the metal sliding door wide enough for everyone to pass through. The screeching sound of the metal caught the attention of the creatures, redirecting their focus. They sprinted towards the noise.

Gemini urged the last person through the narrow opening of the sliding door and quickly slipped inside. Just in the nick of time, he managed to close the door, causing the pursuing creatures to crash into it with a deafening impact. The force of the collision was so intense that the old and worn-out metal door immediately deformed under the pressure.

"Quick, find a spot to hide!" Gemini called out urgently, his voice echoing through the large room.

The canteen was dimly lit, with only a few emergency lights flickering sporadically. The tables and chairs were overturned, evidence of the chaos that had ensued earlier. Everyone scattered, desperately seeking shelter in the limited space available.

Milk spotted a storage room nearby and motioned for the others to follow her. It was a small, cramped space, filled with various supplies and equipment. They squeezed inside, doing their best to remain silent and unseen.

As they huddled together in the darkness, the tension in the air was palpable. The sound of the creatures banging against the canteen door grew louder and more aggressive. Gemini could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he held his breath, hoping they wouldn't be discovered.

Unluckily, the creatures finally got in the canteen and started looking for them. Their keen sense of hearing allowed them to pinpoint the location of any sound, no matter how faint. They moved swiftly and silently, their claws scraping against the floor.

The storage room door was barely visible in the darkness, but they sensed the presence of something behind it. They approached it slowly, preparing to strike. They could hear the muffled sounds of breathing and whispering inside. They licked their lips, anticipating the feast.

Mick was so scared that he was about to make a sound. Gemini quickly used his hand to stop him, covering his mouth and shaking his head. He gestured for him to stay quiet and still. Mick nodded, understanding the danger they were in.

The creatures were inches away from the door, sniffing and scratching. They seemed to sense their fear, and became more excited. They pushed against the door, trying to force it open. The hinges creaked and the lock rattled. The door was about to give in.

When they were about to find their hiding spot, suddenly the speakers on the opposite side of the canteen started playing sounds which lured the creatures away. It was a recording of human voices, laughter and music, creating an illusion of life and activity. The creatures were instantly drawn to the source of the sound, abandoning their previous target.

The speakers switched on and off in different locations, leading the zombies further and further away. Gemini and the others were baffled by this twist of fate. Who or what had turned on the speakers, and for what purpose? Was it a lucky accident, or a deliberate rescue?

Then, a familiar voice came through the speaker nearest to them, making Gemini gasp in shock. He immediately realized the voice. His heart swelled with a mix of relief and gratitude upon hearing it.

"Hey, Gemini. Can you hear me?" 

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