HIDEOUT

12. Guilt

Evening 5pm

The three friends were banging on the door with all their might, trying to force their way into the house.

But as they heard the phone ringing and a person talking on the other end, they stopped in their tracks.

They realized that the sound of breaking the door could have attracted more zombies towards them.

Ashton suggested that they could somehow persuade the owner of the house to let them in. They had to try, it was their only hope.

As Sophie opened the door, the trio's eyes widened in both shock and relief to see their ex-schoolmate.

The once bubbly and cheerful girl now seemed different, her expression distant and cold. Despite this, they had no other option but to agree to her conditions for survival.

Alex couldn't help but voice his concerns, "I agree that we need food to survive, but are you sure she won't kick us out after we get the food?"

Victor tried to reassure him, "Why are you saying that? She's not like that, she would never do that."

But Alex wasn't convinced, "Hey dude, are you blind? Don't you remember that when we knocked on the door, she didn't open it?"

Victor remembered how Sophie was terrified when she had seen him chopping off the zombie's head, "Maybe she was scared."

But Alex wasn't convinced, "Whatever, but you can't deny the fact that she has definitely changed. Didn't you see how she seemed very cold and distant?"

Sophie returned with the bedding and placed it down. She then asked if they wanted to join Ashton on the terrace to look around.

They both nodded and followed Sophie back to the terrace. From this height, they could easily see the destruction caused by the outbreak. They could also monitor their surroundings to see if there were any zombies outside.

The fresh open air was a welcome relief from the fear of getting attacked.

They all sat there for a while, Ashton recounted what had happened during the match and how they ended up here.

After hearing this, Sophie felt guilty for not opening the door for them earlier and also for keeping that condition. She knew it was necessary, but it weighed heavily on her conscience.