The crimson glow of emergency lights flickered to life, casting an eerie ambiance that enveloped us in a shroud of uncertainty. Despite the illumination, shadows danced menacingly, obscuring the truth lurking in the darkness. Panic surged within me, a relentless tide threatening to engulf my rational thoughts as I struggled to comprehend the unfolding nightmare. My gaze darted to her silhouette, a faint azure emanating from beneath her clothing, betraying the sinister transformation creeping over her.

Drawing nearer, I discerned the spectral tendrils of veins, their ethereal hue pulsating ominously, weaving a tale of dread déjà vu. This hue, this haunting blue, it stirred a chilling recognition deep within me, dredging up memories best left forgotten.

The pressure of my hands on the wound elicited another sharp hiss from her lips, her body jerking involuntarily from the pain. "We have to stop the bleeding," I uttered, feeling the warmth of her blood seeping through my palms.

Amidst the panic, echoes of the man's words reverberated in my mind- were they the dead? Was this the end of the world unfolding before our eyes? Frantically, I scanned our confined metal sanctuary, searching for a glimmer of hope. A dormant camera perched in the corner caught my eye, its disconnected wires dangling listlessly, a symbol of our isolation.

Releasing my pressure, I reached for my phone in a desperate bid for connection, only to find my pocket empty. Putting the pieces together, I must have lost it during when the man knocked me down the ground.

Examining my blood-stained hand glistening in the glow of the emergency lights, I could see bits of blue glow emanating in it. In the stark absence of color, the red light offered no solace, masking the true gravity of our situation.

As her words quivered, my focus shifted from our dire situation to her limp form on the ground. "I don't want to die," she admitted, her voice fraught with fear sealing her fate with every syllable.

"You won't," I assured, maintain pressure back on her wound. My eyes flickered to the eerie blue glow pulsating beneath her skin, amplified by the surrounding crimson aura, creating a haunting yet mesmerizing sight.

Guiding her hands to her injury, I instructed, "Apply pressure here," releasing my grip to try and find a way out for both of us.

Before I could rise, she grabs my arm. "Promise me something," she whispered as her grip tightens.

"Anything," I replied with a weak smile, trying to hold it together for both of us.

With a shaky breath, she confessed, "If I... change. Don't let me."

Suppressing a shiver at the thought of taking another life, especially my friends, I wrestled with the unsettling notion.

"We'll both make it out of this," I vowed, dispelling the grim thoughts as I rose to my feet, searching for an escape route.

I stretched my arms upwards, straining to reach the roof's edge in a desperate attempt to dislodge one of the square panels. Frustration gnawed at me as my fingertips fell short, unable to grasp the metal. A futile effort as I attempted to hoist myself onto the metal railing, only to find my balance slipping away, thwarting my ascent.

With intermittent glances back at Becky, who remained motionless, steadfastly applying pressure to her wound, I felt the weight of urgency pressing upon me.

Turning my attention to the elevator doors, my fingers traced along the small gap between them. I wedged my fingers into the slit, leveraging my body to gain traction. Slowly, the doors yielded to my persistence inching open to reveal a dimly lit floor above. The elevator had halted at an unknown level, affording me a narrow gap to get through.

Balancing precariously on my tiptoes, I peered into the darkness beyond the yawning chasm. The absence of light offered no clues to what lay ahead, leaving me to rely on my other senses. Straining my ears for any sign of life or movement. "I can't see a thing," I muttered, an uneasy feeling creeping over me in the oppressive darkness.

"Here," Becky's voice broke through the silence.

Turning, I caught sight of her phone, its illuminating pale glow shining against her blood-streaked hands. Relief washed over me as I reached for it and scrolled through her contacts, desperate to find my mother's number.

"I tried," She murmured softly, each word punctuated by labored breaths, her awareness of my intentions evident in her voice.

The name 'Danielle, Cam's Mom' flashed on the screen, and I pressed it with a surge of hope, praying for a connection. But as the silent stretched on, my heart sank with each fruitless ring. Dialing again, in a pure state of denial, my hands shook with the same outcome.

The unknown fate of my mother held a nervous feeling that loomed over me like a storm cloud. Closing my eyes fighting back tears that would cause me to crumble right then and there, I pushed aside my emotions.

Switching on Becky's phone light, I directed its beam not the darkness beyond the obsidian gap, revealing only the murky expanse of the awful puke green floors.

Moving to assist Becky to her feet, her pained scream pierced the air. "I can't," she gasped, releasing my grip.

As the weight of my inability to lift her alone settled in, a heavy feeling gripped my heart. There has to be someone out there to help get her out. "I'm going to find some help." I say, determination hardening in my voice. "I'll be back."

Leaving her side, I stood on my toes, firmly grasping on the floor. Propelling myself upward, leveraging my arms while my feet anchored against the door's edges for stability. Slipping through the narrow gap, I emerged unscathed, albeit slightly disheveled.

The dimly lit corridors of the building cast an unsettling aura, their shadows swallowing the faint glimmers of light seeping through some of the cracks underneath the doors. Fumbling for my phone through the gloom, I scanned my surroundings, the stark contrast between darkness and light delineating the vast hallway. With the feeble glow from the phone guiding my way, I forged ahead, my senses attuned to the slightest sound. Opting for a brighter path, I see a large beam of sunlight stream through the far end.

Suddenly, a distant scream pierced the silence from the direction I intended to go. Without hesitation, I veered right, passing rows of closed doors as the hall stretched endlessly before.

As I approached the corner, the hallway ahead stretched like an endless abyss, devouring any hint of light except for the faint beam emanating from the phone. My hand trembled as I swept the darkness, hoping to discern any movement in its depths. Walking down the path slowly as my body clung to the wall.

A sharp gasp escaped my lips as the light revealed a chilling sight: streaks of blood painted a grim narrative along the walls and floor, leading toward the staircase. Each step forward felt like plunging deeper into a nightmare.

Without anything to protect me, I advanced cautiously along the bloodstained path, praying there would be no lurking threat. Every sense heightened as I cast anxious glances over my shoulder, straining to catch anything lurking in the shadows.

Nearing a partially open door, light spilled out through the crack, beckoning me forward. With a slow push of the door, sunlight blinded my sight as my eyes adjusted. Overlooking someone's place, tattered curtains fluttered like wounded birds by the open window. Broken dishes and sprawled objects bore scars of a violent struggle.

My mind raced, torn between the urge to explore the room for anything that would help me and the instinct to flee from the scene of carnage.

Stepping inside, I made sure to avoid the maze of objects that lay on the floor. Despite the familiarity of the space, its blueprint just like every other unit in the building, offered little solace as my eyes searched around.

I quietly scoured the room for anything that could aid in freeing Becky from the clutches of the malfunctioning trap box. Yet, my search yielded only empty-handed frustration.

As my gaze wandered to the kitchen, a glint of steel caught my eye- a large kitchen knife gleamed on the countertop. Grasping it, the cold handle felt light and airy.

My heart lurched as I turned, confronted by a pair of chilling blue glowing eyes and gaping maw. Panic seized within, her body lunging forward, forcing me against the counter. The knife slipped from my hand, clattering to the floor in a discordant echo.

Desperation fueled my actions as I fought with the young girl who looked to be my age, her neck and shirt covered in blood. Our struggle sent us crashing to the kitchen floor back first knocking the air out of me with her relentless assault on top.

Her teeth, mere inches from sinking into my flesh as my hands couldn't get a good hold on her slippery neck. With a swift maneuver, I twisted my body, using my foot to push her back, creating a small buffer between us. Scrambling beneath a table, her frantic attempt to grab me sent a shock wave of adrenaline. I pushed a nearby chair, using it as a makeshift barricade to buy myself precious seconds.

My eyes darted around the room, searching desperately for a lifeline. There, on the floor behind her, lay the same knife I had wielded moments before. Ignoring the scrape of her nails against my clothing, I edged my way to the opposite side of the table, just out of her reach. With a burst of adrenaline, I leaped over her, snatching the knife in one fluid motion.

Not thinking twice, I swung my arm around, the blade connecting with a sickening thud against her temple. I winced as her eyes glazed over, her body collapsing atop me. The glowing blue liquid oozed out from the wound followed by the rotting egg stench that assaulted my senses before.

I fought against the weight pining me down, her inert form heavy. Her strange blood leaked across my chest, a chilling reminder of the violence that had happened. As I lay there, a sense of disbelief washed over me, grappling with the reality of what I had once again been forced to do.

Before I could gather my thoughts, a cacophony of screeching sounds shattered the uneasy calm, slicing through the air with primal urgency. The noise drew closer, emanating from beyond the gaping doorway. Desperate, I struggled to dislodge her lifeless body, my gaze fixed on the entrance, silently praying that no more of them would breach inside.

With a final heave, I managed to extricate myself from beneath her, staggering to my feet from a puddle of blue and red. Hastily, I lunged for the door, the slick surface threating to send me sprawling. I slammed the door shut, bolting it with a resounding click.

Yet, the respite was short-lived. The relentless pounding of fists against wood reverberated through the room, the shrill shrieks of the undead echoing in my ears. Pressing my back against the door, I braced myself against the onslaught, the assault intensifying with each passing moment. The chorus of clamor outside hinted at a multitude of assailants, their fervent cries merging into a discordant symphony of terror.

I slouched wearily against the surface, my frame laden with the weight of exhaustion and despondency. The burden of my anguish pressed down upon me, quenching any vestige of hope that dared to flicker within. What remained of purpose in getting to my brother felt out of reach. His destiny shrouded in ambiguity, gnawing at my frayed nerves.

My gaze descended, tracing the sinuous path of cerulean liquid intermingling with the crimson stains upon my extremities. Each droplet bore silent witness to the horrors I have beheld, the lives rent asunder, and the unfamiliar countenances now forever emmeshed within the tapestry of my tragedy.

My attention pivoted to the prone figure before me, the shine of the bade still lodged within her cranium serving as a stark memento of the life I had extinguished. Did she, too, have someone awaiting her return? A familial bond shattered by the merciless grip of this infernal nightmare. The ponderous weight of these unanswered queries threatened to unravel the breakable fabric of my sanity.

I clung tenaciously to the diminutive crucifix suspended securely around my neck, its presence an anchor of faith through the tempest of guilt and contrition that threatened to engulf me. I ensconced it within my grasp, drawing sustenance from its silent benediction.

In the depths of desolation, I drew a tremulous breath and beseeched silently for absolution, entreating that within the stygian embrace that enveloped me, a modicum of clemency might yet be unearthed.

I prayed silently hoping those relentless beasts wouldn't break the door and get inside. Wondering if my mother and brother have been in the same predicament as I am, the outcome far worse than my own had my eyes well up so I squeezed them shut.

Reaching for Becky's phone, I went through her pictures, trying to shut out the deep dark fear trying to cloak over me. Swiping through images I came across some of her and her grandma, there smiles captivating and unaware of what was to come with the blue-eyed devils. As I kept swiping, an image of the girls stopped my fingering from swiping- the one of us at the basketball courts, with my little brother dribbling a basketball in the background.

The feeling of this day felt like it happened yesterday as I remembered we all ditched last period to pick my brother up from school. It was only supposed to be me, but they insisted that Tio had three more sisters to have taken care of him.

As I stared at him, memories flooded my mind- the first time I held him in my arms, he was so little.

Anger ignited within me, my brows furrowing as adrenaline surged though my veins like scorching liquid fire. I was borna and raised in Highbridge, and nothing was going to stop me from getting out of here and getting to my brother.

Getting up, I ran to the room, throwing the timed phone I had set on the bed. Rushing over to the girl's lifeless body, I pulled out the knife that was coated with blue gunk and bits of skull fragments.

My heart pounded a thousand beats per second as I got back to the front door, hand at the doorknob. Swallowing the hesitation building up, I took a deep breath, opening the door as I hid behind it.

Silent anticipation gripped me as I heard the horde of undead storming their way closer. Peering through the edge of the door, I seen three figures darting frantically, their movements erratic as they scoured the area in search of me. Holding my breath, I remained as motionless as the stagnant air, awaiting the telltale sound of the alarm.

A surge of relief washed over as the hallelujah chorus of the alarm came out of the room breaking the tense silence. Yet the triumphant notes were quickly drowned out by the loud lioness screeches causing my knees to nearly buckle. My fingers clenched around the doorknob, seeking solace in its steadfast support.

As the stomping footsteps gradually receded into the distance, I cautiously ventured forth, poking my head out to find the room deserted, the zombies having vanished as swiftly as they had come. With a swift maneuver, I slipped out and quietly closed the door behind me, sealing the monsters in their cadge.

Left with nothing but the darkness enveloping me, I pressed myself against the wall, my hands tracing its rough texture as I navigated my way back to Becky. Time was of the essence, and I couldn't afford to waste another moment. Determination fueled my steps. I was going to get her out one way or another.

As I rounded the corner and turned another hard left, the crimson glow of the elevator's distant lights beckoned me forward. I scanned both sides of the narrow hallway for any signs of movement before rushing over to the dim light that casted on the floor. I dropped to my knees, half my body now submerged the red elevator lights, whispering my friend's name into the open hole.

My eyes darting anxiously around for her, but I couldn't see any movement. Turning my body to put my feet through the pathway, the familiar gut-wrenching screech the blue-eyed devils made, had emanated from the elevator.

Before I could pull my feet out, I felt someone claw at my leg, tearing off a piece of fabric as I pulled my leg away from their tight grip. A scream of sheer panic erupted from my lips. Looking back, her eyes, once warm with familiarity, now glowed blue. Crawling backward, I felt my back touch the other side of the wall as my mind recoiled at the realization- Becky was one of them, a zombie.

The vermillion hue casted her features in a grisly silhouette, her gaping maw snapping open and shut in a grotesque parody of hunger. A wave of numbness washed over me, mingling with the raw ache of sorrow and disbelief that clenched my heart. Witnessing my once vibrant friend reduced to a mindless predator sent a chill down my back.

Tears streamed down my face as stifled the sobs, pressing my hand against my mouth to muffle the sound. I wanted to wake up from the nightmare. But no matter how many times I closed my eyes, she was still there, eyes cold and blue.

Recalling her earlier plea, I steeled myself against the surge of regret that threatened to overwhelm me. I couldn't leave her like this. With a heavy heart, I managed to grasp her flailing arms and pin them down with my knees, giving me full range of her head. Taking the knife with a quick and unsettling motion, I punctured her head, the jagged breach turning my stomach.

Her glowing alien blues dimed low until it glowed no more.

I took out the blade before releasing her limp arms and heard a dull thud echo against the elevator floor. Without warning a bitter taste flooded my mouth, accompanied by the acrid sting of bile clawing its way up my throat. With a gut-wrenching heave, my body convulsed, vomiting out the contents in my stomach.

Wiping my mouth, I had to keep moving forward. I rose slowly leaving behind my fallen friend, a promise is a promise.