The air inside the apartment was thick with tension. The only sounds were Takeshi's unsteady breathing and the distant, inhuman wails that echoed through the ruined city.
Riko remained by the window, watching the creatures below. Their movements were nothing like before. They were faster, more erratic—some sprinted on two legs, others crawled on all fours like rabid animals. Their glowing eyes flickered in the dark, scanning their surroundings and searching.
Takeshi backed away from the window, keeping his voice low. "What the hell is this?Their behavior changed completely. They were slow and dull before, but now they're moving like rabid animals. I wouldn't believe these were the same creatures from earlier today." Breathing out and putting his back against the Wall he said in a disbeleveing voice
"This is… This is like some horror game shit."
Riko finally pulled away from the window, his expression unreadable. "It seems as if their hunting"
Takeshi swallowed. "You think they know we're here?"
"I doubt it" Riko said while moving to the door, testing the lock. It was old, rusted, but still functional. "But that doesn't mean they won't find us. We need to reinforce this."
Takeshi ran a hand through his hair. "Shit, man. I wasn't planning on having a roommate in the apocalypse."
"Enough talk and help me move that dresser Quickly"
"Alright"
As they worked, another wail cut through the night, closer this time.
Takeshi stiffened while holding the dresser. "…That one sounded way too close." He said in a low tone
"Listen and keep quiet the less sound we make the better" as they finished positioning the dresser and Riko scanned the room. He relised that the only way in or out now was the window—and he wasn't planning on jumping unless absolutely necessary.
Takeshi exhaled and sat against the wall. "Okay. So, what now?"
Riko crouched near the window again, keeping his voice low. "We wait. See how they move and try to hide though the night"
Takeshi gave a humorless chuckle. "Great. Love this plan. Just sit here and hope the nightmare monsters don't decide to check in."
"If you got a better idea feel free to voice it" Riko was clearly annoyed by the disrespect on his plans
"Nope i got none we'll go with your plan" takeshi sighted and just peeked out the window.
Down on the street, the creatures were moving strangely. Some darted between alleyways, sniffing the ground. Others ran, then stopped suddenly, twitching, as if sensing something unseen.
Then, Riko noticed something.
One of the creatures—the largest one—stood in the center of the street, completely still. The others moved around it, but none got too close. It was different. Its posture was straight, its head tilted slightly as if listening.
" is that the leader? No it's more as if it's trying to track something or someone"
Riko's grip on the rusted pipe tightened.
This thing wasn't just mindlessly hunting. It was directing an army.
Takeshi must have noticed too. "…That one. In the middle. You see it?"
Riko nodded.
Takeshi's voice dropped lower. "It's just… standing there."
Then, suddenly, the thing snapped its head upward.
Right at them.
Riko reacted instantly. He grabbed Takeshi and pulled him back from the window just as a horrific screech tore through the silence.
The creatures below exploded into motion.
Takeshi cursed, scrambling backward. "What the fuck?!"
Riko didn't waste time answering. He could hear them moving. Their footsteps slamming against pavement, claws scraping against metal, bodies slamming into walls—they were coming.
And they where Fast.
Riko's mind worked quickly. The door was barricaded, but if they were strong enough, they'd break through. The window was an escape route, but it was risky.
Then—
BANG.
The sound came from below. The floor beneath them trembled slightly.
Takeshi's face went pale. "They're inside."
Riko moved to the door, placing a hand against it. He could feel the vibrations of something moving fast—slamming through walls, breaking furniture.
More than one.
"They're searching." Riko's voice was quiet enough just for Takeshi to hear.
Takeshi wasn't as composed. He grabbed his rusted pipe, holding it like a lifeline. "If they get up here, we're fucked."
Riko glanced toward the window. "Then we don't let them."
Takeshi's eyes widened. "You wanna fight those things? Are you insane?"
Riko didn't answer immediately. His thoughts were sharp and calculating.
He'd fought in worse conditions. He'd taken on enemies in tight spaces fighting outnumbered. The key was control—dictate the battle before the enemy did and your chanses of survival increase.
But these things weren't human.
He needed to be sure.
BANG.
This time, the sound came from the stairs.
They were coming up.
Riko exhaled slowly. "If we don't stop them here, they'll trap us."
Takeshi looked toward the door, then back at Riko. He swallowed hard. "Okay. Okay. Fine. Fuck it. What's the plan?"
Riko moved fast. "We take position. We don't fight all at once. We funnel them."
Takeshi hesitated, then nodded. "Right. Funnel. Yeah. Okay." He took a deep breath, gripping his weapon tighter. "I really fucking hate this, man."
Riko ignored him. He focused.
Footsteps. Fast. Uneven. Then—scraping.
Something was crawling up the walls outside.
Riko's eyes snapped to the window.
A clawed hand gripped the ledge.
He moved instantly.
Riko swung the pipe with brutal precision, slamming it against the creature's hand. A sickening crack echoed as it let out a shriek, losing its grip and plummeting back down while making the others beneath it fall aswell.
Takeshi jumped at the sound. "Holy shit—"
Riko didn't let him finish. "They can climb."
Takeshi went pale. "We're dead."
Riko turned back to the door. The footsteps had stopped.
The creatures were waiting.
Testing them.
"They're smart now too." Riko wanted to curse but in the end exhaled slowly and commanding takeshi to "Stay quiet."
Takeshi nodded, his breathing shallow.
Then—
Silence.
Seconds passed. Nothing.
Then, the door handle turned.
Slowly.
Riko's grip on the pipe tightened.
Takeshi raised his weapon.
The door didn't open.
Then, something slammed into it.
Hard.
The dresser shuddered. The wood creaked.
Another slam.
Takeshi flinched. "That's not gonna hold."
Riko's mind worked fast. The creatures didn't know exactly where they were. If they stayed silent—
CRACK.
The dresser snapped in half as something ripped through it.
Takeshi shouted, stumbling backward.
Riko moved.
The creature burst through, its grotesque, twisted body lunging forward. Riko swung the pipe, aiming for the skull.
A sickening crunch. The creature staggered but didn't fall.
Its glowing eyes locked onto Riko.
It snarled.
Riko adjusted his stance, keeping his movements sharp. "Not as fragile as I thought."
Takeshi, behind him, panicked. "Dude, hit it again!"
The creature lunged.
Riko sidestepped, bringing the pipe down on its knee. The leg snapped at an unnatural angle, sending it falling to the floor.
But it didn't stop.
Takeshi stabbed his pipe through its skull.
The creature twitched trying to move it's hands up to tear his flesh however because of the damage it took it was awfuly slow.
Then—it went still.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then—
More footsteps could be heard moving towards their location fast.
Riko exhaled, wiping blood from his pipe. They weren't done.
Takeshi panted. "They just keep coming."
Riko glanced toward the window. We need an exit immidietly.
Takeshi followed his gaze. "Oh, hell no."
Riko didn't give him a choice. "Move."
The next creature slammed into the doorframe.
They didn't wait.
Riko grabbed the ledge—and climbed.
Takeshi cursed but followed.
As they disappeared onto the rooftop, the creatures poured into the room.
However they were too late.
The city stretched out before them—dark, ruined, and crawling with death and despair.