Sia: "Oh! Thumb. Yes, we should try the right thumb or index finger first. People usually use those."
Arjun and Ahmad exchanged a quick glance, then looked at the zombie struggling on the floor.
Ahmad: "Should we bring him here?"
Arjun: "We can't take the locker to him…" (disappointed)
While everyone searched the room, Vijay stood silently in a corner, looking pale.
Arjun and Ahmad slowly approached the zombie. They checked his fingers — surprisingly intact, not broken or torn. Sharing a hesitant nod, they grabbed the zombie and dragged him closer to the cupboard, but froze before lifting his hands.
Sia: "Just pull him up!"
Arjun and Ahmad lifted the zombie by his arms as he kicked violently, trying to break free. Sia quickly grabbed his legs to hold him steady. Lily stepped forward, stretched the zombie's hand toward the digital locker, and pressed his index finger first.
Declined.
She tried his thumb next.
Accepted.
The locker clicked open.
Everyone exhaled in relief as they dropped the zombie and pulled the locker door wide. Inside were several phones, files, and important documents scattered together. They hurriedly searched through them.
Sia found her phone first, then Lily, then Ahmad, and finally Arjun. They tried switching them on one by one — but Lily's was completely dead. Sia's battery was barely at 30%. Ahmad's didn't turn on at all.
Arjun quickly pulled a charger from his bag, rushed to the switchboard, and plugged his phone in. It powered on… but no network. No messages. No calls. Nothing.
And then—
Vijay suddenly collapsed to his knees and threw up a thick, white vomit.
Ahmad dropped his phone on the table and rushed toward Vijay. Arjun followed quickly, while Sia and Lily slowly approached, confused and worried.
Vijay's hand was red, scraped as if he had been scratching it for a long time.
Ahmad: "Vijay?! Vijay?! What happened?"
Vijay kept coughing violently—until blood spilled out of his mouth.
Arjun: "Are you suffering from any disease?" (concerned, thinking it could be lung cancer)
Vijay weakly shook his head no.
Sia: "Give him some water!"
Lily quickly handed over the bottle she had taken from Arjun's bag.
Arjun: "Thank you."
He opened it, but before he could give it—Vijay collapsed, unconscious.
Ahmad: "Give water fast! His pulse is dropping!"
He checked Vijay's wrist. Arjun sprinkled water on Vijay's face until, after a moment, Vijay's eyes slowly opened.
Arjun: "He opened his eyes!" (relieved)
But Ahmad froze. His face changed.
He let go of Vijay's hand and pulled Arjun back.
Arjun: "What? What's wrong?"
Ahmad: (terrified) "His… his pulse has already stopped."
Sia: "What?! You must've checked wrong."
She stepped forward to check, but Lily grabbed her arm and pulled her back sharply.
Sia: "What?!"
Lily shook her head urgently, fear in her eyes. She reached for the gun in her pocket and aimed at Vijay, finger trembling on the trigger.
Sia: "No, Lily!"
She snatched the gun away, signing quickly.
Arjun stared at Vijay.
Arjun: "Vi… Vijay?" (voice shaking)