Shai's eyes darted to his friends. They hadn't noticed. He pulled the trigger. Headshot. Maybe his eyes had deceived him. An infected fell. From beside him gunfire sang in chorus with his own as the others joined. More infected fell and yet more appeared, moving closer.

A helicopter appeared, spraying the hoard with bullets.

"I think that's our signal to retreat!" Fabian yelled above the noise.

The group did that. They ran toward the trucks while keeping an eye behind.

The sound of the helicopter suddenly changed and the gunfire ceased.

Shai turned just in time to see the craft tipping to the side. It spun out of control and then, to the horror of the watching teens, crashed into a building before exploding into flames.

The group froze.

"How..." Even as the words left Lake's mouth, the others already knew. There was only one thing on the mainland that could take down a helicopter.

Shai saw another blur out of the corner of his eyes and he instantly knew. There had been no mistake before. The presence of the hoard should have given it away. He have known, and yet it still made his blood freeze.

Asumi must have seen it too. "Run!" she yelled.

No one questioned, no one hesitated. The teens turned and sprinted, all thoughts of fighting fleeing their minds as they retreated.

They rounded the corner only to be embraced by screaming and gunfire.

Before them were the trucks. Armed men and women were turning, shooting in all directions, seemingly into thin air. Another scream and a women went flying, her gun dropping. A man re-loaded and lifted when he froze. A giant gash appeared in his neck. His hand went to it and he opened his mouth to scream. Nothing but a gurgle came out as he dropped to the frozen ground.

To the right, one of the helicopters was taking off. It was piled full of men and women who had crowded in. It lifted off, leaving those below behind without a second thought.

"No way." Lake breathed as they took in the scene. Behind them, the hoard continued to advance.

"Why are they here?" Fabian asked as he lifted his gun. He shot a look behind at the approaching hoard.

A hoard is slow, but in numbers it can be effective. Shai's eyes scanned the area. If it had only been the hoard they would have been fine. They use them to hunt... With infectors present the outcome of the battle was already decided.

"Yuji!" Asumi screamed as she looked around. Her gun was lowered as she ran right toward the chaos. "Yuji!"

Fabian swore under his breath before bounding after her.

"Idiots!" Lake called from where he had been shooting at the hoard.

Shai's eyes darted to the second helicopter to which soldiers were running. It began to take off, the pilot refusing to wait for any more. A growl behind made Shai turn. The infected were upon them. He lifted his gun and shot the first. It fell. Reaching out, he grabbed a grenade hanging from his friend's belt. The pin was pulled and he threw it. It landed right in the middle of the growing hoard.

"Let's go!"

Shai was already moving but Lake fired one more shot before turning. The grenade exploded as the two boys joined the chaos, running through it at full sprint. Another blur. Shai refused to look. Heart pounding and blood flowing with adrenaline, he dodged a body that lay on the ground.

To the left there was another blur. A woman stared in shock at a wound on her arm where a chunk of flesh was torn. Her eyes rolled back and she began to twitch, the virus already in her veins. The screaming had increased as the hoard descended on the wounded. Guns were firing but they were quickly being taken out by the blur. Few were bit by the blur and Shai knew why.

They bite you, you turn. If they're hungry, they either kill to eat by slicing...or let the hoard take care of bringing you down. The cruel truth flashed through his mind.

Shai didn't take another moment to dwell on it. His eyes were on his two friends who were ahead. Asumi was still yelling her brother's name as she ran around frantically. Fabian was covering her, shooting at anything that moved and didn't look human.

And then he saw it. The blur. Shai make the lunge. He tackled Asumi to the ground. A brush of air, the feeling of death. And then it was gone.

"Let me go!" Asumi struggled.

Shai rolled off her. No sooner was he sitting that he lifted his gun and shot one of the hoard. He froze momentarily as he saw they were all around.

"We have to go!" Lake yelled as he and Fabian released a spray of bullets.

"I'm not leaving Yuji!"

Shai was on his feet. A growl. He turned and smashed his gun into an infected. Fabian backed him up by shooting it right after. Black liquid splattered. Shai's gloved hand shot out, blocking its path to his face.

"If we don't leave, we die!" Lake warned.

"No!" Asumi was back on her feet. She turned but Shai grabbed her arm to stop her from running off.

"Asumi!"

"No!" she yelled.

Shai moved. He shot one of the hoard that came too close. Another blur, another person's screams. Any moment now and one of his friends would be taken.

Another shot and Shai pulled Asumi around so that she was facing him. He lifted a hand to her cheek, forcing her to face him. Her eyes were clouded with panic. The cool, calculating Asumi he knew was gone.

"If we don't move, we die," he told her mercilessly.

Her eyes stared blankly.

"Run now. Come back later." He meant it.

Her eyes cleared.

"Ok?"

A nod.

Shai let go.

His words seemed to have worked, yet perhaps too late as all the hoard was all around them. Asumi lifted her gun and joined in the fire.

Something made Shai whirl. Another blur, another gust of wind. A growl. Shai turned to find himself face to face with the rotting face of one of the hoard.

"Shai!" Lake yelled.

Shai's gun lifted but he knew it would be too late. Hands reached for him, mouth filled with teeth opened.

CRASH.

The creature went flying. A tinted window rolled down from the army truck that had just saved the boy. The canopy on the back was opened, revealing the men and women already crowded inside.

A teenaged girl's face poked out from the driver's seat. "Get in!"

The group didn't hesitate. Lake was the first in. Fabian jumped after him. Shai grabbed a hesitating Asumi and did the same. No sooner were they on than the vehicle was on the move. It plowed through the hoard, tarp and windows open, guns blazing.

Fabian and Shai joined the shooting from the back. It was a miracle, but no blur came for them. A few more lucky soldiers were picked up and then they rounded the corner, leaving the screaming and gunfire behind. They headed away from the city, away from the suburbs, away from the blood bath.

Only when they no longer heard the sounds of battle did those on the back of the car relax. Shai put his gun down and leaned against the edge. The back was filled with teenagers and adults alike. A few were bleeding and Shai's eyes darted around to try find the source of the wounds. He just hoped none were bit.

"I shouldn't have sent him back first," Asumi whispered.

Shai glanced over to see her hugging her gun close. Her hair hung in strands around her face as she stared at the floor.

"I sent him to his death."

Shai lifted a hand to put on her shoulder, yet he pulled it back, opting out of the comforting gesture.

"It wasn't your fault," Fabian murmured. "The area was supposed to empty. They said they cleared it..."

Silence. No one spoke as the vehicle continued.

They left the buildings behind and soon were on open roads. Shai knew where they were going.

The pick-up point. If contact is lost we have twenty four hours. A rescue comes to get any survivors. He leaned back and stared at the blue sky.

Asumi unconsciously huddled closer to him and he felt a shiver rack her body. Shai automatically put an arm around her shoulder. The girl responded by turning her face and hiding it in his chest.

Only now that he had a moment to think did another thought flit through his mind. Did she make it...? His eyes scanned the horizon as he remembered the helicopter that had successfully left. The face of the commander with blonde hair flashed through his mind. He pulled the gun closer.

The sky was growing dark when the vehicle finally climbed a small hill and came to a stop.

The driver door was thrown open.

"This is your captain speaking." A girl stepped out. Her short hair bounced as she turned to the truck of exhausted and battered soldiers. "Firstly. Congratulations on surviving. Secondly." She seemed to not be bothered in the least by the eyes staring wordlessly at her. "You're welcome."

A grown man walked up beside her. He placed a hand on her shoulder and turned to face the group that was slowly getting out of the car.

"There's a bunker below. Rescue should come in..." He shot a glance at his watch. "Twenty two hours." His eyes scanned the group. They narrowed when they landed on a man that lingered in the back. "You." He pointed a finger.

Shai turned his head to shoot a glance at the addressed man that stood next to him. The soldier scooted back, clutching a bloody arm. His eyes were wide with panic. Lake, who stood behind him, nudged him forward. The man stumbled.

The girl who had been driving, marched forward. She grabbed his arm and moved his hand from the wound.

"Bite," she announced.

All around people shrunk back. Shai stayed where he was, watching the scene in silence. He knew what would come.

The man who had announced the bunker wordlessly pulled out a pistol.

The bit soldier took a step back, head shaking rapidly. He held out his hands before him. "Please. No!"

Two shots were fired in quick succession and the man crumpled to the ground.

"Anyone else?" The man with the gun calmly looked around.

Shai calmly met his gaze.

"Before you enter the bunker we'll do a thorough check." With that the man turned and walked to the shelter.

There were murmurs all around before the group followed.

Asumi stayed where she was, gazing in the direction of the city. It was Fabian that put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her along with the crowd.

After proving they didn't have bite wounds, the group filed into the bunker.

"Name's Paul. Commander Paul to all of you," the man announced as the group passed. "As we are missing our commander, I will be taking over."

Fabian shot a look toward Shai, yet the latter didn't show a reaction.

"I'm sure she got away," Lake murmured as the friends walked to the back of the bunker.

Shai nodded. His eyes turned to the room they had entered. Florescent lights illuminated the otherwise dark interior. The space was narrow with uncomfortable bunks lining either side. At the back was fenced off area containing several weapons and ammunition. Though there was ventilation a musty smell still lingered.

Lake walked over to a box. He pulled open the lid to reveal the water bottles. Grabbing several he began to hand them out to the tired group.

"I never thought we'd have to use one of these places." He gave Shai a bottle. "Always thought it was a waste of supplies setting them up." He leaned back and unscrewed the cap of his bottle. "Guess now I'm on the other side of the fence I'm glad they exist." The water was downed.

Asumi clutched hers in silence.

Shai shot her a glance before opening his own and taking a gulp. His eyes turned to the weapons stashed in the back in a separate fenced off area. Guns, bullets, grenades, flares.

"Get some sleep," Commander Paul suggested to the group.

Asumi's hand tightened on the bottle, crushing it somewhat. Shai reached out a hand and put it on her shoulder. When she looked up he nodded at a bunk nearby. "Rest," he murmured.

Asumi's mouth opened in protest.

"Two hours," Shai beat her to it.

Fabian shot him a questioning look that was left unanswered.

The girl hesitated but then nodded.

Shai was glad she didn't argue. None of them were in a state to go anywhere at the moment. He took another gulp before placing his weapon down on a bench. He sat down next to it, watching as Asumi curled up on bunk.

"You think she's going to be ok?" Lake asked as he joined Shai.

The boy didn't reply.

"I wonder if anyone else made it." Fabian joined the group.

"I'm surprised we did with infectors being there." Lake leaned back. "Guess luck was on our side. I wouldn't test it twice." He closed his eyes. "I wonder what they look like up close."

"Keep wondering. Few have seen one and lived," Fabian replied.

"They say one look into their eyes and you lose it." Lake put a hand behind his head. "How many do you think there were? One...two?"

Shai stared at the water bottle in his hands. Sitting here was giving him time to think. He didn't like that as things he would rather not dwell on tugged at the edge of his thoughts. "Who knows? It could have been only one. Those things never slow down when they're hunting." He put the water bottle down. Closing his eyes he leaned back.

"You think..." Shai felt Lake lean closer. "You think Yuji made it?"

Shai's eyes stayed close. His chances are slim, he thought to himself.

"I hope so..." Fabian trailed off.

There was no reply from Lake, and Shai could only assume the other boy had settled down too. He dozed off with several people murmuring around him, yet all in all the bunker remained relatively quiet.

In the next moment familiar eyes stared at Shai. Familiar and yet foreign. They were bloodshot, all sign of sanity gone. A growl. No way of escape. A mouth opening. A gunshot. Shai jolted awake.

There was a sharp knock at the door and his eyes instantly flew to the entrance.

Commander Paul had gotten to his feet, fingers going to his lips. All around, soldiers sat tensely, some reaching for their weapons. But infected didn't knock.

Another bang, followed by a muffled human voice.

"Open up."