No one could sleep through the night. Unlike ordinary zombies, the screams echoing outside weren't just terrifying—they seemed to be part of a calculated tactic. Arden sat in the old science lab inside the school, studying the map in his hand, thinking about the roads and possibilities.
"These creatures are evolving," Kyra said quietly as she approached him. "They spread fear with their screams, then wait. If we panic and rush out, the trap works."
"In military camps, we called that psychological pressure," Arden nodded. "But we won't panic."
As the first light of morning cast a gray hue over the school, the group gathered once again. Tom tried to lighten the leftover tension from the night with a joke:
"Are these zombies or vampires? They roam around at night and disappear during the day."
Nina was busy trying to fix the radio in her hands, while Mia organized the medicine and bandages she found in the school infirmary. Everyone had the same question in their minds: how close were these new zombies, and what would they do next?
Arden spoke, bearing the weight of his leadership: "Today, we're clearing every room in this school. We'll check every point of entry. We're going to turn this place into a fortress."
They started with the ground floor. Many of the classroom doors were broken—some had been occupied by zombies, others just abandoned. Then they moved upstairs. On the top floor, in one of the laboratories, they found a very old security system. Nina couldn't believe her eyes.
"This system might still be active. Its battery isn't fully drained. If we give it a bit of power, the motion sensors could work."
Tom examined the electrical system and reconnected some of the wires. Nina linked it with a power source she had, and the system powered up.
"It's working… motion detectors are active. If someone approaches, we'll know," she said, smiling.
At that moment, a glimmer of hope lit up in everyone's eyes. Security was being reestablished. Zombies could no longer sneak up on them silently. But that joy didn't last long.
As night approached, the motion detector signaled activity. Everyone took positions. Arden and Kyra silently slipped into the hallway, heading toward the direction indicated by the system. But what they saw was far from what they expected.
A child. About 12 years old, dressed in a torn school uniform, trembling with fear and huddled against the wall. His eyes were full of terror.
"Lower your weapons and approach slowly," Arden instructed.
Kyra crouched down. "What's your name?"
The child remained silent for a while before whispering: "Leo."
Arden looked at Kyra and nodded. They brought Leo inside and gave him something warm. Mia checked his wounds—just minor scrapes, and overall he was in good condition.
"My family... we were at school. There was an attack. I ran. Then... then I lost everyone," Leo said, his voice shaking.
Arden turned to the rest of the group. "Leo stays. He's one of us now."
That night felt like the beginning of a new chapter. Survival was no longer the only goal—they had to form a community. Security systems, shelter, food storage—and now a child. Every new member brought new responsibility.
Arden looked out the window. The silence had returned, but its meaning had changed. Now, that silence carried a trace of hope.