Julian remained standing silently in the corner of the classroom, his eyes blank as chaos erupted around him. His mind was focused, carefully arranging a plan to escape. He knew the opportunity would come; he just needed to wait patiently.
But that plan shattered in an instant.
Someone grabbed his arm, hard.
"Julian!" a voice called urgently. "Come on, let’s join Erwin’s group, hurry!"
Julian turned quickly and saw the face of his closest friend, Gary Alvine. The one who had always stood beside him back when the world was still normal, especially during their late-night gaming sessions. Gary’s dark brown hair was messy, his hoodie stained with someone else’s blood. Fear filled his eyes, but the will to survive burned stronger.
Julian frowned. "I’m not joining Erwin’s group, Gary. I’m going with the bait group."
Gary looked stunned. "Are you insane? That’s suicide! It’s crawling with zombies out there, Jul!"
"I know," Julian replied calmly. "But I have my own plan."
Gary tightened his grip. "No way, bro. I’m not letting you die like that. Come with me. Now."
Before Julian could argue, a sharp voice cut through the room.
"HEY! YOU TWO! HURRY UP AND GET IN FORMATION! STOP SLACKING!" Veronica’s commanding voice echoed across the classroom.
Gary turned quickly, bowing slightly. "Sorry, Veronica!"
And without getting a chance to fight back, Julian was pulled into Erwin’s group. He let out a quiet sigh.
"Damn it, Gary... you ruined my plan. But fine. I’ll wait for the next opportunity."
Erwin turned to face the group, his expression stern and authoritative. "Is everyone ready?"
The students looked at one another. Some gripped mop handles or broken broomsticks, their hands trembling. No one gave a confident answer.
Erwin didn’t wait. "Group A, move out now. Make as much noise as you can."
Faris’s team, their faces filled with tension and dread, slowly opened the door. They began banging on the walls, slamming sticks on the ground, trying to draw attention. The distant roars of the undead began to rise, accompanied by heavy footsteps and savage growls.
Julian simply watched in silence.
Living bait. They were really being used as pawns.
Faris and the others ran off, their voices fading into the halls, now consumed by the cries of the undead. Erwin smiled.
"Our class president really came through."
Then he turned quickly. "Group B, move out! Head for the cafeteria!"
They rushed into the hallway, wading through pools of blood and scattered limbs. Along the way, several zombies emerged from abandoned classrooms. Erwin shouted immediately, "Hold them off! Fight if you have to!"
Some students hesitantly swung brooms and makeshift weapons. As usual, Julian stayed near the back. His eyes stayed alert, his body still, conserving energy and waiting for an opening.
After taking down two zombies, they turned down the corridor that led to the cafeteria. That was when a faint voice called from one of the rooms—the administration office.
"Help... someone, please help..."
Julian turned his head and saw a girl he knew well. Not because they were close, but because everyone in school knew her. Her beauty resembled that of a teen drama actress. Pale skin, large dark brown eyes glistening with tears, and silky blue hair that curled gracefully.
Clarissa Evangeline. The school’s golden girl.
Her uniform was torn, yet her gentle smile remained despite a visible wound on her thigh.
"I’m still alive... please... help me..."
Erwin stepped forward, putting on a fake look of sympathy. "We’ll help. You’re safe now."
Clarissa nodded, tears falling. "T-Thank you..."
Other students immediately gathered around her.
"Clarissa! Are you okay?" "You’re hurt!" "Don’t panic... we’ll figure this out..."
But then, a hesitant voice broke the sympathy.
"Hey... that wound. That’s... that’s a bite, isn’t it?"
Clarissa froze. "I-It’s not deep... I... I swear..."
"You might turn into a zombie!" someone shouted. "You could infect us!"
The mood shifted instantly. Concern turned to suspicion. To fear. Clarissa hugged her knees, sobbing.
"I... I haven’t changed yet... I’m not a zombie..."
Julian watched it all, expressionless.
Humans. They change so quickly. In crisis, fear turns compassion into cruelty.
Erwin stepped forward again.
"Sorry, Clarissa. I can’t let you stay with us. It’s too risky."
Clarissa crawled forward, her knees shaking. "Please... don’t leave me..."
Erwin took a breath, then an idea lit up in his eyes.
"I have a solution. Before you turn... help us. Be a decoy. At least that way, you can save lives."
"What?!"
Veronica suddenly stepped in. "Great idea. But... she shouldn’t be alone."
The room went silent.
Veronica turned, a smug smile on her face. "We need one more person."
Her eyes landed on Julian.
"What about you, Julian?"
She crossed her arms, chin lifted high. Her long blonde hair fell in perfect waves despite the chaos, and her voice still carried an air of superiority.
"Julian’s been quiet this whole time," she said, her voice ringing through the now-silent room.
"He hasn’t done anything, hasn’t helped anyone. Just following us around."
She looked around at the other students. "Doesn’t that make him a burden?"
Whispers started to spread.
"Yeah, he just stood there." "He didn’t fight back when we were attacked." "We could all die because of one useless person..."
Julian remained still, his posture straight, eyes empty. He didn’t respond. He knew saying anything would only make things worse.
’Saying something now would only give them more reason to hate. They needed a target. And I’m the perfect one.’
He slowly turned to look at Gary—his only friend here. But Gary looked away. His eyes couldn’t meet Julian’s. He said nothing.
’So that’s your answer, Gary. You’re only a friend when things are easy, huh?’
Erwin stepped forward, his voice loud and cold. "Veronica’s right. I don’t need a burden on my team."
He stared Julian down. "From now on, you’ll be a decoy. Along with Clarissa."
Clarissa froze. "Wait... I-I haven’t turned! I—"
But her voice was drowned by the heaviness in the room.
Then, for the first time since all this began, Julian spoke.
His face stayed calm, but his tone was ice-cold. His eyes burned with the rage he had been holding back.
"I’ll remember everything. Your faces. Your voices. How you treated someone just because he stayed quiet. When this world truly falls apart... I’ll come back. And when that day comes—I’ll be the one who judges you."
Silence. Even Erwin didn’t speak right away. He simply stared, his brow twitching.
Then Julian reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
He tapped the screen and tossed it into the center of Erwin’s group.
From the phone, loud music blared—an intense, pounding beat loud enough to attract every bloodthirsty creature nearby.
"WHAT THE HELL—" Veronica screamed.
But Julian was already moving. He grabbed Clarissa’s hand without a word and pulled her through the side door, left slightly ajar.
"J-Julian... why are you helping me...?" Clarissa whispered, breathless as she ran behind him.
Julian gave a simple answer.
"Just shut up and follow me."
Meanwhile...
The music kept echoing through the halls. In the distance, the groans of the undead grew louder. Then came the sounds of dragging feet. Many of them. Terrifying.
Erwin turned toward the door. "Damn it! They’re coming this way!"
"RUN!" someone shouted.
"SHIT! JULIAN BROUGHT THE ZOMBIES TO US!"
Erwin clenched his fists, his face hardening. "FIND THEM! DON’T LET THEM ESCAPE!"
But Julian and Clarissa were already gone. Only a dim hallway remained behind them, smeared with blood and flickering lights. And behind Erwin...
The horde was closing in. Their growls filled the air like a death song.