Despite seeing that the infected Yuji was almost upon Roanna, Shai's finger didn't pull the trigger.

This scenario was too familiar. His mind transformed the infected below to a larger and more familiar one and Roanna became a younger looking version of himself. He saw himself turn inches before the infected arrived, let out a startled yelp and took a step back only to trip over his own feet. He watched himself crash to the ground with only enough time to raise the gun and bar the figure from clamping his mouth over his neck.

"Wait!" It was Asumi's cry that cleared the image.

Shai blinked as he saw Roanna on the ground below, gun raised as she defended herself against the attacker. Fabian's own weapon was lifted but he seemed unsure of taking the shot, not wanting to hit the wrong one. Asumi was hurrying over, eyes staring from a pale face at the attacker. Her mouth moved, and Shai read the name she said – Yuji.

"Shai!" Fabian yelled as his gun was lifted. His position didn't give him a clear shot.

Roanna fought to keep the infected from her throat. "Take the shot!" The scream was directed at Shai.

"No!" Asumi was walking to the infected. "No!" The walk turned into a run.

Shai's finger was on the trigger and yet it didn't move. He was frozen. He couldn't do it. He couldn't take the shot.

Bang.

The attack ceased. Yuji's corpse jerked. A round hole protruded from his forehead.

A devastating scream came from Asumi as she ran to the small, falling body. She caught it, seeming to lose all fear of the fact that the person she held was infected.

Shai's eyes darted to Fabian. It wasn't him... His gaze returned to the corpse as realization hit him. The shot came from his direction.

His scope took in Asumi as she turned her head in his direction. Her grief-filled eyes stared accusingly and he instantly knew what she was thinking. Shai lifted his head as his mind raced. He looked behind only to be greeted by darkness.

Several growls snapped his attention back to the view below. His eyes returned to the scope and he pivoted it in the direction of the sound. He froze as he saw it. Infected were approaching, but not a mere individual aimlessly ambling - they were coming as a hoard.

Then, through the scope he saw a blur.

"Fabian!" he yelled as his hand moved into his backpack. It clasped a grenade.

Fabian turned to look toward him.

Shai was on his feet. "Hoard!"

Roanna's reaction was instant. She was up and sprinted for the nearest house. Fabian grabbed Asumi, dragging the girl from the lifeless body of her brother. Another blur.

"Please." Shai pulled the pin. He threw the grenade in the direction of the appraoching dead.

Roanna was in the house, door open as she waved at the others. Fabian dragged a stumbling Asumi. Relief filled Shai as he watched them disappear within and the door close.

Shai dropped to the roof and the grenade exploded. Heart pounding, the boy's mind raced. With the infectors here, not even the roof was safe.

Find a room, lock the door. Lay low. The plan flashed through his mind.

He pulled another grenade out. He removed the pin and threw the grenade toward the hoard, hoping it would be enough of a distraction to keep all blurs away from him. Backpack and rifle were slung on his back. He skidded down the edge of the roof at a dangerous speed, knowing there would be an explosion any minute.

Only a quick pause to glance over the edge.

There!

He dropped over, grabbed a hold of the edge of the roof and swung. His feet shattered the glass and he fell through as the next explosion went off. A shock wave hit Shai from behind. He flew through the room.

Something hard stopped his flight. His body crashed into it, shattering something before he dropped like a rag doll. There was a creak and a heavy object fell on top of him.

Silence took over.

A ringing in his ears brought the boy back. Groaning, he crawled out from under the rubble that covered him. It was a broken bookcase. Shai's vision swam. Backpack and rifle were no longer with him. His mind was too fuzzy to take in that fact and the ringing in his ears made it all the more disorientating. He stumbled to his feet, blinking a few times. Through the confusion he realized that the window was shattered.

Move! His mind screamed. He needed to be somewhere with four walls and all points of entry locked.

Somehow he made it to the door. On the first try his hand missed the handle. The second time he got it. It was thrown open and he stumbled into a dark corridor. He crashed into something. Shaking his head, Shai took a step back.

The ringing ceased somewhat as his mind began to clear. He turned and stumbled down the corridor, hands searching for a door as he became aware of a dull ache from one of his legs.

Another step when Shai froze. The air around him seemed to grow colder. He couldn't explain it, but suddenly the stench of his own blood became clear to his nostrils. Along with it was a heavy feeling that there was another presence. Fear was taking over as the realization hit. Something was here. Something had found him.

Out of nowhere something grabbed him. Shai's back hit the wall and an arm was pressed against his throat. His eyes were wide and yet he didn't kick out. Though it was dark, he was able to see enough to know he was staring at a human face. The newcomer lifted a finger to his lips, slowly releasing the pressure on Shai's windpipe.

Shai instantly understood. His heart pounded. He couldn't put into words the relief at having been found by this stranger, yet at the same time the feeling from before hadn't quite disappeared.

The figure slowly reached down and pulled something from his pocket.

The air got heavier. If Shai would have to explain what exactly he was feeling he would have compared it with death. He heard something rattling and then he was aware of the third presence. His chest felt constricted as it became hard to breathe.

The hand disappeared from his mouth as the newcomer whirled. At the same time light exploded from the flare he held.

Shai's eyes burned at the sudden brightness. Yet the second before he turned his head away he saw shape flash past. A chilling hiss, and then the presence was gone.

All strength left him. The pain in his leg intensified. Shai leaned harder against the wall, using it to support himself as he winced.

A gun was shoved into his hands. "We should leave before it comes back," his rescuer spoke gruffly.

Shai didn't reply. Questions rose in his mind and yet he didn't voice them. The stranger had turned to the staircase, flare still in his hands. With the whole area lit up, Shai was able to make out the chaotic interior of the home they were in.

Deciding it was best to follow, Shai hurried after the other guy. Every step caused the pain in his leg to shoot up, yet he gritted his teeth and did his best to ignore it for the moment.

"They don't like sudden light..." the stranger murmured as he hurriedly led the way down the steps. "If they're not hungry enough they leave. My guess is it's hiding for the moment. We should get as far away as possible before it decides to come back."

Shai followed him to the bottom. He turned the weapons in his hands over. A revolver. It would have to do. "What about others?"

The stranger turned and for the first time Shai was able to make out his features. He didn't look much older than Shai himself. His weathered face was streaked with black. Whether it was soot or paint, Shai couldn't tell.

"Infectors don't usually travel together," he was informed.

"Usually," Shai repeated that problematic word.

Not commenting, the stranger headed for the door. Once outside he threw the flare to the side. He pulled a knife and suddenly tossed it. It hit an infector right in the middle of the forehead.

Shai didn't take time to admire the throw; instead, his eyes scanned the area. A few infected wandered around aimlessly. However, it looked like his grenade had taken the majority out.

"At least the hunting party is disbanded." The newcomer nodded to the other house. "Want to call you friends or leave them behind?"

Shai lifted the revolver and shot another infected. "I don't leave people behind."

"Better be quick. The hunter may be back sooner than we want."

"Fabian!" Shai didn't hesitate. He walked toward the house into which his friends had disappeared.

A moment of silence during which Shai set off another gunshot.

A door cracked open. Roanna peered out.

There weren't any infected in sight.

The door flew open all the way and Asumi stood in the entrance. Her eyes came to rest on Shai. She was out and down the stairs in moments. Shai lowered the gun as she stormed toward him, eyes blazing. No sooner did she come near than she reached out and grabbed his collar.

"Why?" she hissed.

Shai didn't reply and she shook him. Fabian had appeared at the door and watched the scene in silence.

"Why would you shoot!"

"That was me." The stranger stepped forward.

Asumi froze.

"I shot the creature."

The girl turned her rage filled eyes on him. "How dare..."

"It was about to bite your friend."

"That was Yuji!"

"That wasn't human!"

Her grip on Shai disappeared and Asumi's hands dropped. "He was my brother," she whispered.

"No." The stranger was staring at her with no sympathy whatsoever. "That thing stopped being your brother the moment he was turned."

Silence.

Roanna and Fabian came to join the group.

The horizon was slowly lighting up with the winter sun that wouldn't emit any warmth.

"There's an infector nearby. We should get out of here as soon as..." the newcomer began.

"I'm sorry." Roanna's hands crossed over her chest. "But who are you?"

The guy didn't blink. "Mav."

"And you're from...?"

"Left behind after the scavenging attack." He turned to look at the house he and Shai had come from.

Shai's stomach churned. "We should go," he advised.

Fabian paused. "Don't you want to check if–?"

"She's not here."

Fabian nodded. Without another word he turned and headed in the direction they had first come from.

Roanna trotted after him and Mav followed.

"If we take a truck we should be able to make it back with time to spare," Roanna was saying.

Shai paused. He turned to find that Asumi was staring back at the spot where her brother lay. Reaching out, Shai gently clasped her hand in his. He tugged and the girl followed, eyes still behind.

They only came across a few infected. By the time they reached the trucks the sky was already light and the sun peeked over the horizon. Shai shifted as the others began to rush from vehicle to vehicle. He shot a glance behind. A shiver ran up his spine and his grip on the revolver tightened.

They needed to leave as soon as possible.