As the sun set, the city turned into a ghost town once again.
Arden watched the sky from the third-floor window of his apartment. The horizon was covered in a crimson veil, and strange shadows began to stretch between the ruined buildings. Zombies that wandered slow and dumb during the day were transforming into something else at night.
"Night mode is kicking in," he muttered, clenching his teeth. "They're a little faster every night."
He checked his weapon. His M4 rifle was fully loaded, Glock secured at his side. Cold wind seeped through the boarded-up windows, carrying a chill into the darkened room.
He double-checked the barricade on the door. A heavy bookshelf pressed against it, with a table leg wedged underneath. But he still didn't feel safe. The sounds from above — not footsteps, but something heavier — hinted that something was moving across the rooftop.
Arden took a deep breath.
"The worst part of being alone is not being able to confirm anything. Are these noises real... or am I losing my mind?"
He placed the rifle across his lap and sat down on the floor. He opened a can of beans — didn't care about the taste, just needed the calories. That's when he heard the shattering of glass from the window downstairs.
He stood up instantly.
"They started early tonight."
He turned off the light and held his breath.
There were footsteps. But they didn't sound like the usual slow, dragging ones of zombies. These were cautious. Purposeful.
A sound — deep breathing, just beneath the door.
"Human?"
He approached the door with his Glock drawn.
Then a whisper came.
"Are you in there?"
It was a woman's voice. Weak, but mixed with fear and determination.
"Keep your voice down," Arden said quickly. "At night, this place turns into hell."
There was a pause behind the door. Then she spoke again.
"Please… They're following me. I'm begging you… please."
Arden hesitated. It could be a trap. After what he'd seen in the past few weeks, he didn't trust anyone easily. But her voice… it didn't sound fake. And if she was telling the truth, she'd be torn apart in minutes.
"Press your back to the door. Hands up. If you make one wrong move, I'll shoot."
Without a word, she complied. Arden quickly moved the barricade, opened the door with his gun still raised. A slim woman in a black hoodie burst in. Her shirt was covered in blood, but she didn't seem injured. Arden slammed the door shut and pushed the barricade back in place.
"Name?"
"Nina…" she gasped. "I'm a doctor. I swear. I just needed somewhere to hide."
Arden lowered the rifle but didn't holster his pistol.
"Whose blood?"
"I don't know… I fell on a guy while escaping. They were fast… their eyes…"
"Night zombies," Arden muttered. "They're different."
She collapsed in a corner, hugging her knees. She was trembling.
"One of them… he was fast. He ran. He was holding a bone… sharpened like a blade."
"I saw one tear off a woman's arm and tie it to a stick like a saw," Arden said coldly. "Some of them seem to be learning."
A horrifying scream echoed outside, followed by clawing against the walls.
Nina flinched.
"Oh God… oh God… this is real?"
Arden turned off the flashlight. Only moonlight remained in the room.
"Is this your first night out?"
She nodded.
"I escaped the hospital. The other doctors died. No food left. I've been running for days."
He handed her a water bottle.
"Drink. Calm down."
She took a few sips and closed her eyes.
"How long can I stay?"
"I'll decide tomorrow," Arden said flatly. "I can't go out at night. Daylight's safer. If you're telling the truth… and you're really a doctor… that's valuable now. Even a heartbeat matters."
She nodded. "You can test me if you want. I swear I'm real."
That night, screams, crashes, and scraping sounds continued outside. Arden barely slept. Glock in hand, eyes fixed on the door.
When morning came, the city was still foggy, but quiet. The screaming had stopped. The monsters had withdrawn.
Arden turned to Nina.
"Tomorrow, we go out. Food and medicine. The world out there is faster than you. Be ready."
Nina opened her eyes.
"Okay… But thank you. You saved my life."
Arden nodded.
"You're not saved yet. That was just one night."