Julian tightened the straps on the small medical bag slung over his shoulder. Inside were painkillers, bandages, and antiseptics, anything that might help them survive the next few hours.
In his right hand, he gripped a metal rod he'd salvaged from the infirmary, testing its weight and balance.
Behind him, Clarissa followed closely, her hands faintly glowing with energy, her eyes calm but alert.
Julian glanced back at her. "Ready?"
Clarissa nodded. "Let's do this."
With a deep breath, Julian kicked the door open.
CRASH!
The impact sent one zombie sprawling backward down the hallway. But the noise had already done its damage, more undead turned their heads and began shambling toward them.
"They're coming!" Clarissa shouted.
"Let them!" Julian growled, stepping forward.
He moved like a storm, his metal rod sweeping, striking, stabbing. With every swing, a skull cracked or a jaw was shattered. His movements were precise and controlled, refined like someone who'd trained for this.
Clarissa's eyes widened. "You're… really good at this."
Julian smirked between swings. "Used to take staff classes. Never thought they'd actually save my life."
He noticed something else too. His strength, it was still growing, just slightly. Every strike felt heavier, more natural.
It's the Domination skill… I can feel it reinforcing me.
"Let's move!" he shouted.
They sprinted down the blood-smeared corridor, turning sharply toward the gymnasium storage room.
Clarissa kept her focus, using her telekinesis to push zombies into walls or pin them in place mid-lunge.
Julian would finish them with swift, brutal efficiency.
As they turned another corner, Clarissa shouted over the noise. "Before I was bitten, I called a friend. She was hiding in the gym's storage area. She gave me her location, but after that… nothing."
Julian didn't even hesitate. "Then we're getting her out. End of story."
They fought their way through the last wave, and finally reached the heavy metal doors of the storage room beside the gymnasium. But something was wrong.
"It's locked from the outside," Julian muttered.
"Emma!" Clarissa cried, pounding the door. "Emma, are you in there?! It's me, Clarissa!"
Julian stepped forward, gripping the padlock. With a grunt and one strong jerk, he crushed it with his bare hands, metal snapping like twigs.
They burst into the storage room.
And there she was.
Emma Leigh, Clarissa's closest friend, slumped against the wall, her arms wrapped around her knees. Her eyes were open, but lifeless, staring blankly into the dark.
"E–Emma…?" Clarissa whispered, her voice breaking.
Clarissa stepped forward cautiously, her voice trembling. "Emma…?"
But before she could take another step, Emma snapped, "Don't come any closer!"
Clarissa froze in place, her eyes wide. "Emma… what's wrong?"
Emma slowly turned her head, revealing a fresh bite wound on her neck, dark, red, and still oozing. Clarissa gasped in horror.
Julian stepped in silently, eyes sharp as he observed the injury. "That bite… it's recent. Within the last few hours."
Clarissa's voice cracked. "H-How did it happen?"
Emma looked away, her voice strained and distant. "At first… I was with a group. We got lucky and escaped the first wave of zombies. We made it here. It seemed safe enough… so we waited. Hoped someone would come."
She swallowed hard, fists clenched. "Then another group showed up. They begged us to let them in. So we did. We let them in…"
Her voice faltered.
"One of them had a bite. He tried to hide it, but when someone noticed, everyone panicked. They demanded he be thrown out. But he… he grabbed me. Held a piece of glass to my throat and said it was just a scratch. Begged everyone not to leave him…"
Tears welled in Emma's eyes. "But they did. Every single one of them. They left. Locked the doors behind them. Left me with him."
Clarissa covered her mouth in shock.
Emma's voice was now bitter and broken. "He turned right in front of me… and bit me. But then… he let me go. Like he lost interest. Like I wasn't even worth finishing."
She looked down. "I was so angry… I killed him. Beat his skull in until he stopped moving."
Clarissa's heart shattered. She moved closer and wrapped her arms around her friend, hugging her tightly.
Emma stiffened. "Clarissa, no—get away from me, I might—"
Clarissa interrupted, whispering gently, "It's okay if you bite me. I've already been bitten once."
Emma's body trembled. Slowly, she looked up. "You… you too?"
Clarissa nodded, smiling through her tears. "But it's too early to give up, Emma. Not when we have Julian."
Only now did Emma notice the figure standing silently behind Clarissa. She blinked, confused. "Wait… who is—what do you mean?"
Clarissa pulled away gently and turned toward Julian. "He saved me. He has a skill. He can stop the infection."
Emma looked from Clarissa to Julian, clearly struggling to understand. "Skill…?"
Julian finally spoke, his voice calm but resolute. "Yes."
He took a step forward, his eyes locking onto hers with a sense of purpose. "Let me take over from here."
Clarissa nodded and stepped aside.
Julian knelt beside Emma, placing a hand on the ground to steady himself.
"My skill," he began, "is called Domination. It allows me to suppress and control the virus…. But it only works if the infected has the will to live."
He looked into Emma's teary eyes.
"Clarissa was saved because she wanted to live, desperately."
Emma, shaking and pale, looked at him. "But… me? I—"
Julian leaned in closer. "Do you want to live, Emma?"
The question hung in the air.
Emma's lips trembled. She stared down, fists clenched against her lap. And then the tears came, fast and hard.
"Yes!" she cried. "Please… save me. I don't want to die. I don't want to turn into one of them! Please!"
Julian smiled.
"Sure."
Emma wiped her tears, her voice still shaking. "So… what do I have to do?"
Clarissa stepped forward gently and said, "You have to sex with Julian."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Emma blinked. "What… do you mean by that?"
Clarissa hesitated for a second, then clarified, "Intercourse. The stronger the bond and your will to live, the easier it will be for Julian's skill to dominate the infection."
Emma looked uncertain. "That sounds… insane."
Clarissa tilted her head. "What part of it doesn't make sense to you?"
Emma threw up her hands. "All of it!"
Julian stepped in, his voice calm and grounding. "Emma, breathe. You need to stay calm. Clarissa, can you move the mattress to the floor?"
Clarissa nodded. "Okay."
With a flick of her hand, the mattress floated into the air and gently landed flat on the floor using her telekinesis.
Emma gasped. "Wha—what was that? The mattress just… floated!"
Clarissa turned toward her, a gentle smile on her face. "That's my skill. I told you, Julian's ability helped me awaken this. Do you believe me now?"
Emma stared at her, stunned. "I… kind of do."
But then she shifted uncomfortably. "Still… intercourse with Julian… I don't know. It feels too sudden."
Clarissa playfully grinned. "Oh my gosh, Emma, you're such a pure girl."
Emma flushed. "S–shut up!"
Clarissa giggled. The tension in the room softened for a moment.
Julian, still watching Emma's wound, finally spoke again. "We don't have much time. The virus is spreading fast."
Emma nodded slowly. "I know…"
Julian looked at her with steady eyes. "All I ask is your trust. I'll be gentle. The process might feel strange, but I'll guide you through it."
Emma swallowed her nerves and took a shaky breath. "…Okay."