VIRUS

SIX

Chapter Six: The Breaking Point

The rooftop community was quiet as the day bled into evening, the sun dipping below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow across the makeshift camp. The survivors huddled around small fires made from scrap wood and metal, cooking what little food they had left and speaking in hushed tones. It felt almost peaceful, despite the ever-present threat that lingered just beyond the barricades.

Dawn sat near the edge of the roof with Holden, their backs against a low wall. She had been keeping to herself for most of the day, her mind heavy with thoughts of the future, of whether they were truly safe here. Holden, sensing her mood, hadn't pushed her to talk, content to sit beside her in silence.

As the sky darkened, a sudden commotion from the entrance broke the stillness. One of the officers who had been out on a supply run, Officer Evans, staggered up the fire escape. He looked disheveled, his uniform torn and bloody. The sight of him set the entire rooftop on edge.

"Evans!" one of the other officers called out, rushing over to help him. "What happened?"

Evans stumbled forward, his breath labored, his face pale. He was sweating profusely, and his eyes had a glassy, distant look that made Dawn's stomach twist with unease.

"I—I got separated from the group," Evans panted, his voice weak. "Got pinned down... I didn't think I'd make it..."

As the others gathered around him, Dawn's eyes caught the faintest glimpse of something on his arm. A tear in his sleeve, blood seeping through it. Her heart dropped.

"Wait," she whispered, her voice trembling. "He's—he's been bitten."

The words hung in the air like a curse. Everyone froze.

Evans' head snapped up, panic flashing across his face. "No, no, it's just a scratch. I'm fine! I just—"

But it was too late. The truth was already written on his skin.

One of the officers backed away, his hand instinctively going to the gun at his hip. "We can't take any chances," he said, his voice shaking. "We've seen this before."

"Wait!" Evans shouted, stumbling back as fear overwhelmed him. "I'm fine, I swear! I'm not turning!"

Dawn's pulse raced as she watched the scene unfold, the panic spreading across the camp like wildfire. People were shouting, arguing about what to do. But it didn't matter. They all knew what was coming.

Karasi stood nearby, watching the chaos with narrowed eyes, her arms crossed. Isabel had been standing a few feet away, her face pale as she processed the horror of the situation. Dawn noticed Isabel take a hesitant step forward, as if unsure whether to help or flee.

And then it happened.

Evans convulsed violently, his body twisting unnaturally as he collapsed to the ground. His eyes rolled back, and for a moment, it looked like he was dead. But then he moved again, his body jerking in a grotesque imitation of life. His head snapped toward the nearest person—Isabel.

"Isabel, run!" Dawn screamed, but she was too far away, her legs frozen in terror.

Isabel barely had time to react as Evans—now a zombie—lunged at her, his rotting hands reaching for her. She stumbled backward, her eyes wide with fear, but the creature was too fast, closing the distance between them in seconds.

But before Evans could reach her, Karasi was there.

With a fierce battle cry, Karasi swung the crowbar she had been holding, smashing it into Evans' head with brutal force. The sound of metal meeting bone was sickening, but Karasi didn't stop. She hit him again, and again, until the zombie crumpled to the ground, its skull caved in, unmoving.

Isabel stared at the scene, her chest heaving with terror and shock. Her glasses had slipped halfway down her nose, her short brown hair matted with sweat. She looked up at Karasi, her brown eyes wide and filled with disbelief.

"Karasi," Isabel started, her voice shaking. "You saved my life."

Karasi wiped the blood from her face, her expression unreadable as she glanced down at the corpse at her feet. "Yeah, you're apart of my team," she muttered, turning away before Isabel could say anything more. "Just because I don't like you, doesn't mean I want you to die."

The rooftop community erupted into chaos. Some people panicked, demanding more checks for bites, while others argued over whether to leave the camp entirely. The officers tried to regain control, but it was clear that something had shifted. The illusion of safety had been shattered, and now, no one knew what to do.

---

That night, the rooftop was eerily quiet. The survivors had retreated to their tents, but the unease lingered, a heavy cloud hanging over the camp. Dawn sat in her tent with Holden, the weight of everything that had happened pressing down on her.

She couldn't stop thinking about Evans, about how quickly everything had spiraled out of control. One moment, they had been safe—or as safe as they could be—and the next, someone had turned right in front of them. Dawn knew they couldn't stay here much longer. The camp wasn't safe anymore.

"We need to leave," she whispered, breaking the silence.

Holden, who had been lying on his back, propped himself up on his elbow and looked at her. "What?"

Dawn sat up, wrapping her arms around her knees as she tried to steady her voice. "We need to leave the rooftop. It's not safe anymore. You saw what happened. If one of us gets bitten... we're all dead."

Holden frowned, his expression hardening. "That was a one-time thing, Dawn. Evans got bit because he wasn't careful. The rest of us—we know how to avoid that."

Dawn shook her head, her chest tightening with frustration. "You don't get it. This place—it's a ticking time bomb. It's only a matter of time before someone else gets bit, or before the barricades fail, or something worse happens. We can't keep pretending like we're safe here."

Holden sat up fully now, his voice rising slightly. "And where do you suggest we go? Out there?" He gestured toward the world beyond the rooftop. "There's nothing out there but zombies and death. At least here, we have shelter. We have food."

"For now," Dawn argued, her voice trembling. "But how long will that last? What happens when the supplies run out, or, again, the barricades fail? We can't wait around for this place to fall apart. We have to be smart."

Holden sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "Dawn, I get that you're scared. I am too. But running isn't the answer. We'd be exposing ourselves to even more danger."

Dawn felt a lump form in her throat, her frustration mixing with fear. "I just don't want to die here, Holden. I don't want to die because we didn't act when we had the chance."

Holden was quiet for a long moment, his eyes searching her face. Finally, he reached out and took her hand, his fingers warm against hers. "I promise," he said quietly, his voice softening, "I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Not here, not anywhere. I'll keep you safe, no matter what."

Dawn's heart fluttered at his words, but she couldn't shake the fear gnawing at her. She wanted to believe him—she needed to believe him—but the world they were living in had a way of tearing apart even the strongest promises.

Still, as Holden pulled her into his arms, holding her close against his chest, Dawn allowed herself a moment of peace. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her cheek was calming, and for a little while, she let herself believe that maybe, just maybe, they could survive this together.

"I'll always keep you safe," Holden murmured into her hair as they lay down, his arms wrapped tightly around her.

Dawn closed her eyes, the exhaustion of the day catching up to her as sleep began to pull her under. In Holden's arms, for the first time in days, she felt a small measure of safety, even if it was fleeting.

But deep down, she knew the world outside wasn't going to let them rest for long.