Kairiki

Level 31: A Place Worth Dying For

[The eerie quiet of the high school gym echoed with every creak and shuffle. Hydro and the cheerleaders found themselves inside, hiding behind the stacked bleachers and under the towering basketball hoops. The smell of dust and stale sweat filled the air. Outside, the remnants of their battle and the burning city loomed ominously, but for now, they had some semblance of shelter. Hydro sat on the hardwood floor, still clutching his arm where the zombie had bitten him.]

[His thoughts raced, but he kept his cool, though his arm throbbed, and a faint trickle of blood dripped down his sleeve. The Duffel Bag, Ryomen, noticed first. He tilted his head as he checks up on Hydro, his duffel bag slung over his shoulder.]

RYOMEN: [curious, with a hint of concern] Hydro, you're bleeding...

HYDRO: [trying to act casual, hiding his arm] I know... It's getting serious.

[The other cheerleaders remained seated around them, surprisingly cheerful despite the recent chaos. Their carefree attitude contrasted with Hydro's growing anxiety. He couldn't keep the bite mark hidden forever, but for now, he had to play it cool. He looked up at Juliet, who sat nearest to him, her chainsaw resting idly beside her.]

[Deciding to distract himself, Hydro leaned into his Nardwuar persona again, trying to ease the tension in his own mind by questioning Juliet like a quirky interviewer.]

HYDRO: [smiling, hiding the strain in his voice] So, Juliet, just wondering... you've dealt with a lot of bites, right? Like, it must happen all the time when you're out there with the undead. How do you handle it?

[Juliet perked up, flashing him a bright smile. She seemed genuinely excited to answer, twirling a strand of her blonde hair around her finger as she thought about the question.]

JULIET: [cheerful, thoughtful] Oh, for sure! Bites are pretty common. But we usually just... you know, hack it off. Quick and painless. My boyfriend Nick? Got bit all the time! Chainsaw does wonders for that kind of thing!

[Hydro chuckled nervously. That wasn't quite the answer he was hoping for. He shifted in his seat, feeling the bite sting under his sleeve.]

HYDRO: [nervous, trying to keep the conversation going] Right, right... So, uh, have you ever, like, treated someone without hacking something off? Maybe like... I dunno, bandages or something a bit less extreme?

[Juliet tapped her chin thoughtfully, as if the idea of treating a bite without a chainsaw had never occurred to her. The other cheerleaders giggled, clearly amused by Hydro's questions.]

JULIET: [innocent, thinking hard] Hmm... not really? I mean, once someone's bit, they're pretty much toast, right? The only way to stop it is- [she revved her chainsaw slightly, grinning.] -well, you know!

[Hydro's smile faded for a split second, but he quickly recovered, trying to stay calm as the conversation continued.]

HYDRO: [still trying to stay lighthearted, but uneasy] Right... Of course. So, uh, any tips on staying... unbitten? I mean, just in case, y'know, someone were to-hypothetically-get bit and not want to, uh, lose a limb?

[Juliet tilted her head, looking a little confused at the question but still smiling. She shrugged.]

JULIET: [casual, cheerful] Oh, well... You could always try not to get bit in the first place! But if you do, it's really just a matter of time. Once the infection spreads, it's kind of game over. No offense!