We have three days. That's the plan. Survive for seventy-two hours, signal the military, and hope someone spots the SOS from the roof. It's not much, but it's something.
As the others begin to disperse after the meeting, I walk up to Aditya.
"Hey, Aditya. Listen to me for a second."
He turns his head slightly. "What do you want?"
Still cold. Still distant. That's just him. But I know he'll hear me out. That's enough.
"I think I'm getting too old," I say.
Aditya blinks. "And why do you think so?"
I shrug. "I don't know. Ever since our military internship, I've had this idea stuck in my head—that I need to get stronger. Strong enough to protect everyone, to carry everything. But now... even with the plans working, something feels off. Like I'm on the edge of giving up."
"What nonsense are you spitting?"
"Don't you think so too? Who are we, Aditya? What are we really doing? Humanity was nearly wiped out, and here we are—facing the same thing again. No future, no certainty, just repeating history. Maybe we should've died with the rest in the first wave. Maybe we're just ghosts who haven't realized it yet. Anyway… the reason I came to you is because I have a favor to ask."
He raises an eyebrow. "What favor?"
"If I'm not around anymore… take care of the others. Make sure they escape safely."
Aditya doesn't even flinch. "No, sorry. That burden? It's yours. You chose it six months ago. As for me, I've got my own path. When we get out of here, I'm going my own way. You can handle them."
A wry smile tugs at my lips. "So this will be the last time we fight side by side, huh? Since you rejected my favor, I guess I can't even think about dying now."
"It's on you—to die or not. I won't be crying at your funeral," he says, then adds, "And don't forget about her. She hates you more than anyone else here admires you. You can't leave her behind, right?"
I don't answer. I don't need to.
Just then, Amrit shows up. "Jay's ready with the plan. He asked for both of you."
We follow him back inside.
---
The room we enter has a hand-drawn map of the campus spread across the table. Jay and Purnima stand over it, deep in discussion. Jay waves us over.
"So, what's the plan?" Snehil asks from the corner, half-lounging like he just woke up from another nap.
Jay points at the map. "We're splitting into two teams again. One goes to the cafeteria to collect food rations. The other heads to the chemistry lab to prepare the suppressant drugs."
Purnima chimes in, "Jay and I will take the lab. We'll need one more person with us—someone who can handle zombies if we run into any. As for the food team, Snehil and Amrit are necessary. Now Samarth, Aditya—you two decide where you're going."
"I think Aditya should go with you," I say, nodding toward Jay and Purnima. "He'll be more useful in the lab team. I'll help Amrit with the food run."
Aditya simply replies, "You're the leader chosen for our batch. I've got no objections."
I nod. "Then it's settled. Jay, Purnima—you figure out the entry for the lab. Amrit and I will get to the cafeteria through the roof. It connects directly to our hostel block. Snehil can drop a rope from above, and we'll haul up enough ration packs for a week."
Just as we're wrapping up, a voice cuts through the air like a blade.
"Wait a minute. Who said Samarth is the leader of our batch? I'm part of this batch too, and I sure as hell don't accept him as my leader. Why would anyone choose a murderer to lead them?"
Anaaya.
Her words drip with venom, but her hatred toward me is older than today. Probably justified, too.
"Anaaya, this isn't the time to argue," Snehil says quickly. "And we've already told you—Samarth is not a murderer."
She scoffs. "Really? That's your story now? He didn't kill just one person—he killed two. I saw it with my own eyes. Anyone defending him is as guilty as he is. And I won't tolerate this!"
With that, she turns and storms out. For the record, she hadn't been in the classroom when the attack started—she'd escaped on her own.
Purnima glances at me, offering a gentle smile. "Hey, don't take her words seriously. She says this almost every day."
"I'm good," I say, brushing it off. "No time for that now. It's already 3 p.m. We've got a long evening ahead."