He came out immediately and shut the door behind him.
Walking to the window, he looked down, trying to count how many coaches were still outside.
Arjun (to himself):
"One… two… three…"
Ahmad:
"There are more than fifty! Why are you counting?"
Arjun:
"No one is coming to help us."
Ahmad:
"What?"
Max:
"Don't say that…"
Arjun:
"When we came here, around six coaches were present.
Two went to the hospital the day before yesterday.
Three are down there.
That leaves only one — or maybe he's infected too and hiding somewhere.
No one is here to inform the outside world that we're stuck.
And no athlete has their phone… they took them away."
They all exchanged a disappointed, hopeless look.
Ahmad (sarcastic):
"Bro, let us keep at least one hope alive. You're crushing all of them."
Max:
"Are we really stuck?" (he runs his hands through his hair)
Arjun notices something and grabs Max's hand.
Arjun:
"Why are your sleeves… red?"
Roommate 1:
"Wait— they were clean yesterday. I remember clearly."
Ahmad:
"Me too."
Max (nervous):
"It's just color, guys."
He quickly pulls his hand back.
Roommate 2:
"We don't have any colors here. And you didn't bring your stuff either."
Max freezes.
His breathing changes.
The veins in his eyes start to swell… turning red.
The others step back, terrified.
The cold morning wind slips in from the open window.
Max (voice trembling, falling to his knees):
"Trust me… I won't harm you… please.
I've been here with you for almost twelve hours.
I didn't do anything. Please…"
Arjun (scared):
"Are you… infected?"
Max (crying, head lowered):
"Please trust me…"
The others pity him for a moment.
Roommate 2:
"He's right… he didn't hurt anyone for twelve hours. Maybe we can trust him?"
Ahmad:
"Should we?"
Arjun:
"I don't think we should… not if he's infected."
Roommate 1 still stood near the main door, holding the knob tightly.
Max (voice breaking):
"Please… please… I beg you…
I want to live…"
His bones started to creak unnaturally.
His head tilted down further.
"…I want to win…"
He stood up slowly, still staring at the floor.
Roommate 2 (approaching carefully):
"Hey? Hey…?"
Silence filled the room.
He reached out and gently pushed Max.
Roommate 2:
"Hey… are you listening?"
Max's head snapped sideways like he had no control over his body weight.
He lifted his face — eyes blood-red — and let out a deep, growing grunt.
Then he lunged.
He jumped onto Roommate 2.
Ahmad and Arjun rushed to pull him back while Roommate 1 opened the main door to escape.
The moment he stepped out — a zombie jumped on him and bit him.
Ahmad slammed the door shut and locked it.
Roommate 2:
"AHHHHH–!"
Arjun (pulling Max's shoulders with all his strength):
"Stop shouting!"
With all his effort, Arjun managed to drag Max away as Roommate 2 stumbled back.
Ahmad:
"Arjun! On the count of three, let him go! Trust me!"
Arjun (struggling):
"What are you planning?!"
Ahmad:
"Trust me!"
Ahmad shoved everything off the mini table and grabbed it like a shield.
Ahmad:
"One… two—"
Arjun:
"Ahamd, what are you—?!"
Ahmad:
"THREE!"
Arjun let go and jumped onto the bed.
Ahmad dashed forward with the table held in front of him, blocking Max's bite as Max attacked.
Using the table as a barrier, Ahmad pushed Max toward the window—
and forced him out.
A faint growl echoed and faded.
Then—
THUP.
Silence filled the room again, with only distant zombie growls outside.
They all gasped in fear as Ahmad slowly lowered the table again.
The very first thing Arjun and Ahmad did was check if Roommate 2 was bitten or scratched.