The dawn crept in slowly, casting a pale, weak light through the cracks in the boarded-up windows. The stale air inside the room grew heavier, thicker with every breath.
Daigo sat on the mattress, restless. His legs bounced anxiously, his arms wrapped protectively around Selia, who was still dozing lightly against him.
"We can't stay here," Daigo muttered under his breath.
"Why?" Talen asked, sitting cross-legged nearby, picking idly at a loose thread on the blanket.
"We have to move on," Daigo said, his voice tense, urgent.
Talen frowned, glancing around the crowded room. "Daigo, I really don't understand you sometimes. It's better to stay with survivors than roam around out there like headless chickens. You saw it. It's hell outside."
Daigo knew he was right.In theory.But the people here—the way they watched them, the way no one spoke, the hollow emptiness in their eyes—it all screamed that this place wasn't safety.It was a waiting room for something worse.
Before Daigo could answer, the door creaked open and Elic entered, balancing a tray of food containers. She moved quietly, mechanically, handing out portions to the survivors without so much as a glance.
When she reached them, she placed two tins on the floor and, without breaking stride, brushed a small piece of folded paper against Daigo's hand.
She gave him a brief look—empty and unreadable—then turned away, moving on.
Daigo unfolded the paper cautiously under the blanket.A single word stared back at him, scribbled hastily:
"Run."
Before he could even process it, an old man across the room came hobbling toward them, his movements urgent and reckless.
"What's written there?" the old man demanded, his voice low but fierce.
Talen stiffened beside Daigo. They exchanged a sharp look, silent panic flashing between them.
The old man narrowed his eyes. "Is it 'run'?" he pressed.
Their hesitation was answer enough.
"I knew it!" the old man spat, his face twisted in anger and despair. He glanced fearfully toward the door, then leaned in closer.
"What do you mean?" Daigo whispered, clutching the note tighter.
The old man's voice dropped to a harsh rasp."That woman—Elic—she gives everyone that same chit. She tells you to run, makes you think there's hope, but she never helps. No one ever makes it out after getting that note."
Daigo's stomach twisted.
"Why? Why would she do that?" he asked, his voice a harsh whisper.
The old man's expression crumpled. "Because we're bait," he said bitterly. "Everyone on this floor—every single one of us—we're bait."
Talen's face went pale. "Bait? For what?"
The old man chuckled dryly, a broken sound."For the monsters outside," he said
"For monsters?" Talen echoed, his voice hollow with disbelief.
"Yeah," the old man rasped, his gaze flickering toward the door as if afraid someone might overhear. "They take us out, one by one, and use us to lure those monsters away. We're not survivors to them—we're bait."
From near the cracked window, a man leaning against the sill scoffed loudly.
"Stop scaring the new ones, old man," he said, his mouth curling into a smirk. "You're losing it."
The old man snapped toward him, his face red with fury.
"I'm not mad! I've been trying to tell all of you! Can't you see? Our enemy isn't just outside—it's inside too, playing with us!"
"Someone shut him up already!" another man growled from the back of the room.
But the old man wasn't deterred. He stepped forward, voice rising with desperation."If we stay here, we'll rot to death! We have to get out before it's too late!"
"Come on, old fool," a woman hissed, hurling an apple at him. It hit him square in the chest, but he hardly flinched.
Suddenly, the door burst open.Two men entered, rifles slung aggressively in their hands, their faces like stone. Without a word, they seized the old man by the arms.
"No! Listen to me! Listen—!" the old man screamed, his voice quickly fading as they dragged him out, the heavy door slamming shut behind them.
A heavy silence swallowed the room.
Talen stared after them, shaken. "What... what the hell was that?" he whispered.
Selia, now fully awake from the commotion, whimpered softly."Papa," she said, her small arms reaching out.
Daigo immediately scooped her into his embrace, cradling her close."Don't be afraid, papa's here," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
Selia tugged at his shirt, her eyes wide and pleading. "Papa... Mama? Is Mama okay?"
Daigo felt something sharp twist inside his chest. He hugged her tighter, willing his voice to stay steady."Yeah, sweetie. Mama's just fine," he said softly, even though he knew he was lying.
Trying to distract her, Daigo picked up the food container and handed it to her."Here, eat something, alright?"
Selia nodded quietly, nibbling on the food with small, hesitant bites.
As Daigo tried to steady himself, a voice spoke up from beside their mattress."So... she's your daughter, huh?"
Daigo looked up.A young man sat cross-legged nearby, a half-eaten biscuit in his hand. His brown hair was messy, and despite the dark circles under his eyes, he managed a crooked smile.
"You look too young to be a dad," the young man added, chuckling lightly.
"Daigo got married early," Talen said before Daigo could answer, flashing a teasing grin.
"Ah, I see." The young man leaned back on his elbows, still grinning."Name's Verlain," he said, offering a small wave.
"And that old man's not mad... at least, that's what I think," Verlain said quietly.
Daigo turned to him, frowning. "What do you mean?"
Verlain shrugged, sitting back down on his thin mattress, pulling the ragged blanket over his legs.
"Before Jorin's group took over this place, that old man was the only survivor alive here," he said. "He's been here longer than anyone else. Maybe he's lost a bit of his mind... but he knows things. Things we don't." Verlain's eyes flicked to the door warily. "It's up to you whether you believe it or not."
With that, Verlain stretched out, turning away and closing his eyes, leaving Daigo more confused than before.
Daigo stared down at Selia eating. He tightened his grip around her tiny frame and stood up.
"Where are you going?" Talen asked, raising his head.
"Out," Daigo said firmly, brushing past him.
Talen cursed under his breath but scrambled to his feet."Fine. I'm coming with you."
They moved quickly, descending the cracked stairwell. From the second floor, they heard screaming—muffled but unmistakable. Daigo hesitated for a moment, but then shook it off. He couldn't afford to get involved. Not now.
They pressed onward, reaching the first floor, the crumbling lobby of the once grand building. A man stepped into their path, blocking the exit. His smile was lazy, almost mocking.
"Where do you two think you're going?" he asked, twirling a broken piece of rebar in his hand.
"We want to get out," Daigo said sharply, trying to shoulder past him.
The man didn't stop them, only laughed as they brushed by.But outside, in the broken courtyard, their path was blocked again—this time by a gathering crowd.
Elic was there among them, her face unreadable.
And then a voice called out sharply, "Daigo!"
He froze, turning around.
Jorin was there, standing tall with several armed men behind him.
But how did he know Daigo's name? Daigo had never told him. And with no working internet, no devices, no technology running on these broken floors... There was no way he could have known.
Daigo's skin crawled with unease.
"We want to leave," Daigo said, forcing calm into his voice. "We have the right to."
Jorin's expression remained carefully sympathetic."But why? Outside is too dangerous," Jorin said. "You have a child. You should think carefully."
"This is our decision," Daigo shot back. "We want real protection. Military protection."
The crowd murmured at his words, and someone scoffed loudly from the side.
"Military?" a rough voice said.
Daigo turned to see a man step forward—a deep, ugly scar carved from his brow down to his cheek. His eye was dead and clouded.
"You want military protection?" the man sneered. He jabbed a finger at his own scar. "I was military. Our base got blasted to hell. There's no one coming to save us. No government, no soldiers. We're alone."
A heavy silence fell over the courtyard.
Daigo felt Selia tremble in his arms.
Alone.
They were completely, utterly alone.