"Where?" His voice cracked. He cleared his throat, trying again. "Where am I?"
"Welcome back to the land of the living."
Reyan turned toward the voice. Two figures sat in the dim light of a barricaded office, both familiar.
"Samir?" His voice cracked. "Taj?"
"Surprise," Taj said dryly, giving a lazy wave. One lens of his glasses was shattered but still functional. "Bet you weren't expecting that plot twist."
"You… you saved me. I thought you were at the supply store!"
"We made it to the corner store," Samir said quietly. "Saw a woman get pulled into an alley. Heard her screaming. We ran back here—figured the office was more defendable than the streets.
Taj added, "and found you about to become zombie breakfast."
"You're welcome, by the way. My shoulder still hurts from tackling that thing."
Reyan stared between them, words catching in his throat. "I… I owe you, my life."
"Save it," Samir cut him off. "We're not out yet."
Reality came crashing back. Reyan stood, swaying. "My family. I have to get home, my wife, my daughter"
"Whoa, whoa, slow down." Taj stood, hands raised. "Reyan, it's not that simple."
"What do you mean it's not simple?" Reyan's voice rose, panic, sharpening his words. "I have to get to them. Now. I promised "
"Bro, have you looked outside?" Samir gestured at the door. "The world is hell right now. Those things are everywhere. They'll tear us apart the second we step out there."
"I don't care "
"Well, you should care!" Taj cut in. "Because getting yourself killed helps nobody. Not us, and especially not your family."
"You don't understand."
"We understand perfectly," Samir said. "You want to be the hero. Rush home, save your family, happy ending. But this isn't a movie, Reyan. Out there" He pointed at the door again. "Is a death sentence."
Reyan felt something snap inside him. "You're right," he said, his voice dropping to something cold and dangerous. "You don't understand. Because you don't have families. You don't know what it feels like to know they're out there, scared, alone, waiting for you to keep your promise."
The words hung in the air like a slap.
Samir looked down. Taj's jaw tightened. The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.
"I'm sorry," Reyan said quietly, the anger draining out of him as quickly as it had come. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean."
When Taj spoke again, his voice was softer. "You're right. We don't. Not anymore."
Reyan froze.
"My parents are in Kolkata," Taj continued. "I called them twenty-three times yesterday. Nothing."
"My sister's here in Niraya," Samir added. "Near Vaishali district." His voice broke slightly. "I couldn't reach her."
Guilt crushed Reyan. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have..."
"Forget it," Samir said, meeting his eyes again.
"You're right about one thing. Sitting here won't save anyone. So, here's the question, boss, are we doing this or not?"
Reyan met his gaze. "You'll come with me?"
"Do we look like we have anywhere better to be?" Taj adjusted his cracked glasses. "Besides, somebody needs to make sure you don't get eaten in the first five minutes."
"Besides," Samir added, "maybe we'll find my sister too."
Reyan nodded slowly. "Thank you. Both of you."
"Save it for when we actually survive this." Taj moved to the barricaded door, listening. "We need weapons. Real ones."
They scavenged the office, letter openers, scissors, a fire extinguisher. Samir found a steel pipe; Taj grabbed a hammer. Reyan picked up a heavy stapler.
"A stapler?" Taj raised an eyebrow.
"It's solid. I can throw it."
"You're going to staple a zombie to death?"
"Unless you've got better options."
"Fair point."
They approached the barricaded door. The infected groaned faintly on the other side.
"On three," Samir whispered. "Move the cabinet, stay quiet, no stopping. Ready?"
Taj nodded. Reyan's knuckles turned white around his knife.
"One… two…
"Wait." Taj grabbed Reyan's arm. "Before we do this. Just so you know." He met Reyan's eyes. "Who says we don't have family? We have you, brother. And we're not leaving you behind."
Reyan's throat tightened. He just nodded.
"Three."