The mall echoed with the groans of zombies as Shihab fired his last bullet, dropping a decaying creature just feet from a group of terrified civilians. The Peace Seekers had secured most of the building, but the zombies kept coming.
The zombie's skull exploded in a burst of rotten flesh as Shihab's bullet found its mark. The creature collapsed just inches from the family he was protecting. A man grabbed Shihab's arm, tears streaming down his face.
"Thank you! May Allah bless you!"
Shihab barely had time to nod before a familiar blue glow appeared in his vision. The words materialized before him, hovering in the air like a phantom screen:
[LEVEL UP!]
[Current Level: 11
New Weapon Unlocked: Tactical Shotgun]
Shihab blinked as the heavy weight of a sleek black shotgun suddenly appeared slung across his back. His fingers tingled as they brushed against the cold metal.
__
"Reloading!" Shihab shouted to Rana as he ducked behind a shattered storefront. That's when he heard it - laughter. Not from his team, but from inside the jewelry store.
Cautiously, Shihab peered through the broken display window. His blood ran cold.
Ayham - his younger brother stood amidst glittering shards of glass, stuffing gold chains into his pockets while two gang members kept watch. One of them smashed a glass case with the butt of his pistol, sending diamonds scattering across the floor.
Shihab's hands trembled with rage as he stepped inside. "Ayham?"
His brother spun around, eyes widening in shock. For a brief moment, Shihab saw the little boy who used to follow him everywhere. Then the sneer returned.
"Shihab? What are you doing here?" Ayham recovered quickly, "Shihab? Bro where have you been! Just in time. You can join our crew, we're the strongest in town now, and they pay well."
"You're robbing jewelry? While people are dying out there?" Shihab's voice shook with fury.
Ayham shrugged, pocketing a Rolex. "Qasim needs funds to rebuild the city. Since the government lost control he decided to step up and clean up the mess. Consider this... Our funds for the clean up project."
"He's a gangster! You seriously believe he cares about the city!" Shihab hissed.
" You left our family in danger!" Shihab grabbed his brother by the collar. "And you're playing gangster?"
Ayham's face hardened. "You left first, big brother. Don't act all high and mighty now."
The words stung, but Shihab had heard enough. His fist connected with Ayham's jaw, sending his brother crashing into a display case. Glass shattered as Ayham slid to the floor.
"You're coming with me," Shihab growled, hauling his dazed brother to his feet.
"In your dreams!" Ayham spat blood, struggling weakly.
A sudden crash made them both turn. The zombies had broken through the mall's main doors. Dozens of rotting figures shambled toward the sounds of conflict.
Shihab didn't hesitate. He dragged his resisting brother toward the emergency exit, where the Peace Seekers were evacuating civilians.
"You'll thank me later," Shihab muttered as Ayham continued to curse and struggle.
"Leave me alone!" Ayham screamed, but his protests grew weaker as they neared safety. The sight of children being ushered to protection seemed to finally give him pause.
Rana raised an eyebrow at the new arrival. "Friend of yours?"
"Family," Shihab said grimly, tightening his grip on his brother's arm. "Unfortunately."
As they pushed through the exit doors, Ayham's struggles ceased. His eyes locked onto the two children clutching each other in fear. For the first time since their reunion, Shihab saw something like shame cross his brother's face.
The battle for Ayham's soul had only just begun.
The safehouse was quiet, the only sound was the distant groans of zombies outside the reinforced walls. Shihab sat on an old crate, cleaning his newly acquired shotgun, when Ayham stormed in, his face still bruised from their earlier fight.
"You happy now?" Ayham spat, throwing his jacket onto the floor. "You got to play the hero again, drag me around like a damn child. What do you want, a medal?"
Shihab didn't look up, his fingers tightening around the cleaning rag. "I want you to stop acting like a stupid brat. I've done everything in my power to make sure this exact thing won't happen, I sacrificed my future so you don't have to!"
"Oh, here we go!" Ayham threw his hands up. "Saint Shihab, the martyr who sacrificed everything for his poor, helpless family. Well, news flash I never asked you to drop out of school. I never asked you to work yourself to the bone. So stop with the guilt trips and the victim card!"
Shihab's jaw clenched. He set the shotgun down slowly, his voice dangerously low. "You think I regret it? You think I'm sitting here crying about what I lost?" He stood, his eyes burning. "I did what I had to do, and I'd do it again. But you? You had a future. You had a chance. And you threw it all away to play gangster with Qasim?"
"I don't need you to lecture me!" Ayham snapped. "You're not my mom or dad, so stop pretending!"
Something in Shihab snapped.
He lunged, grabbing Ayham by the collar and slamming him against the wall. "Then stop acting like a child!" His fist connected with Ayham's stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Ayham gasped, swinging wildly, but Shihab dodged and shoved him to the ground.
Before he could throw another punch, Karam stepped between them, arms raised. "Alright, break it up!"
Ayham coughed, wiping blood from his lip. "No, let's do this!"
Karam rolled his eyes. "Knock it off you're already beaten, you're all talk and no action. You know you can't beat him, yet you keep running your mouth. Why? Just to get punched again?"
Karima, leaning against the doorway, smirked. "When I argue with Karam, he throws an insult and runs before I can hit him. That's the smart thing to do."
Karam shot her a glare. "Traitor."
The tension in the room broke as the others chuckled. Even Ayham let out a reluctant snort, though he still glared at Shihab.
Shihab exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Just... stop being an idiot, Ayham."
Ayham wiped his mouth, he muttered under his breath mimicking his brother in a mocking way, "Just stop being an idiot ayham!"
For now, the fight was over. But the war between brothers was far from finished.