Night Search

Night.

The building is dark.

A weak flashlight moves through the hallway.

Lian, Kiera, and Daren walk slowly downstairs.

Kiera: How much food do we have left?

Lian: Not enough.

Daren: Then we find more.

They reach the first floor.

Lian: There should be a small store here.

They move carefully and push the door open.

Inside, shelves are still filled with food.

Kiera: Finally…

Daren: Take only what we need.

They collect cans and water bottles.

Lian: This should last a few days.

Daren: If nothing goes wrong.

A small television behind the counter flickers.

Lian: Wait…

The screen turns on.

TV: This is an emergency broadcast.

Kiera: Turn it up.

TV Reporter: Authorities have confirmed a biological outbreak.

TV Reporter: The condition is now identified as "Dryvoid."

Lian: Dryvoid…?

TV Reporter: Symptoms include severe pain and extreme cold sensations.

TV Reporter: Infected individuals may become violent and unstable.

The screen glitches.

Kiera: They're infected people.

A distant growl echoes outside.

Kiera: We should go back.

Daren: Now.

They grab the supplies and move quickly.

Back in the building, they walk through the dark hallway.

Lian suddenly stops.

Lian: Wait.

A figure moves at the end of the corridor.

Then another.

And another.

Lian: Zombies…

Daren: Don't move.

The figures walk slowly, their bodies stiff and unnatural.

They pass the corridor.

After a few moments, the hallway is quiet again.

Daren: Let's go.

They return upstairs.

Kiera: We found food.

Relief spreads across the room.

Lian: But we saw something else.

Daren: A broadcast.

Everyone listens.

Lian: This thing… it has a name.

Lian: Dryvoid.

Silence.

Serin holds her baby tightly.

Serin: Dryvoid…

A distant noise echoes somewhere in the building.

Kiera: Did you hear that?

Daren: Turn off the lights.

Darkness fills the room.

The footsteps stop outside.

The baby suddenly cries.

Baby: Waaah!

No one moves.