𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄: 𝐒𝟏 - Chapter 6: Bitten

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Dhammawitaya School Rooftop – 11:19 a.m.

The sun was a pale blur behind the storm clouds. Humidity clung to everyone’s skin. The rooftop was quieter now, the adrenaline fading—but the fear never left.

They sat in a circle, catching their breath, checking wounds, rationing what little they had. Nobody spoke much. No one dared.

Sol’s eyes kept flicking to Rin, watching how he held his side. His shirt was torn, blood staining the fabric. He hadn’t said anything, but he was favoring it.

“You okay?” Sol asked.

Rin gave him a lazy smirk. “You worried about me again, princess?”

Sol frowned. “You’re bleeding.”

“I’ve bled worse.”

Sol leaned closer. “Let me see.”

“Why?”

“Because I care, dumbass.”

That shut Rin up for a second.

Then, slowly, he lifted his shirt.

The gash on his side was deep—clawed through flesh, angry and dark. Not a bite. But not clean either.

Sol reached out gently. “This needs to be cleaned.”

“You offering to give me a sponge bath?”

“Shut up,” Sol muttered, cheeks pink.

Tae came over with the last of the water and some gauze Mew had scavenged earlier. Sol got to work, cleaning the wound.

Rin winced but stayed still.

Tae watched quietly. “You two are... close now.”

Sol didn’t answer.

Rin just smirked. “Jealous?”

Tae gave a tight smile. “Not even a little.”

But something flickered behind his eyes.

---

11:35 a.m.

Eli stood by the edge of the rooftop, eyes scanning the schoolyard below. From up here, the infected looked like ants—twitching, pacing, waiting.

He spoke without turning.

“They’re gathering.”

Jet walked up beside him. “You can sense that?”

“I don’t know how,” Eli said quietly. “But I feel them. Like they’re tugging at something inside me.”

Jet looked uneasy. “You sure you’re not—”

“I’m not turning,” Eli said sharply.

Jet raised his hands. “Didn’t say you were. Just... you’re not exactly normal.”

Eli gave a sad smile. “None of us are anymore.”

Downstairs, the infected had started moving again.

Toward the gym wing.

---

12:02 p.m. – Gym Hallway

Mew led Rin and Sol through the dark gym building, down a long corridor toward the old equipment storage.

“This place gives me the creeps,” Sol muttered.

“It should,” Mew said. “They found a teacher dead here last semester. Heart attack. He was locked inside for two days.”

Sol blinked. “That’s comforting.”

“I try.”

Rin’s knife was drawn. Every creak in the building made them tense. They were almost at the storage room when—

A sound.

Snarling.

Running.

Three infected.

They came fast.

“MOVE!” Rin shouted, shoving Sol behind him!

Mew slammed the storage door open.

“Inside! Now!”

They dove in. Rin slammed the door and braced it with a metal beam.

Breathing hard.

Trapped.

“Great,” Rin muttered. “Just like last time.”

Sol looked around. Bats. Gloves. Helmets. And... a crossbow?

“Holy shit,” Mew whispered, grabbing it. “Didn’t think this school had budget for this.”

Sol looked at Rin. “You okay?”

Rin didn’t answer.

He was staring at his hand.

Blood.

But not from his side.

From his wrist.

A bite.

---

12:10 p.m.

“I didn’t feel it,” Rin whispered.

Sol froze.

“What?”

Rin didn’t look at him. “When I tackled the last one… it must’ve gotten me. I didn’t feel it until now.”

He held up his sleeve.

The teeth marks were clear.

Sol backed up, shaking his head. “No. No no no no—”

“I’m not turning yet,” Rin said quickly. “It might take time. Hours. Maybe—maybe I’m like Eli.”

Sol was already crying. “You idiot. Why didn’t you say anything?!”

“Because I knew you'd react like this.”

“Of course I’m reacting like this! You’re—you’re you!”

“I’m not dead yet, Sol,” Rin said, grabbing his arm.

Sol pulled away. “Don’t touch me! I—I can’t—”

“Sol—”

“No! You can’t just die on me! Not now. Not when—”

“Sol.”

The room was spinning.

Sol turned away, tears falling fast.

Mew stood by the door, silent.

Then she walked over, gave Rin a look, and said:

“We’re not losing anyone. Not yet. When we get back to the rooftop, we lie.”

Sol stared. “What?”

“We don’t tell the others. Not until we have a plan.”

Rin looked at her. “Why are you helping me?”

“Because you protect him,” Mew said, glancing at Sol. “And if he dies, I’m next.”

---

12:28 p.m. – Rooftop

They returned with supplies.

Everyone cheered.

Tae hugged Sol before realizing Rin had his arm slung protectively around him again.

“Good haul,” Jet said, digging through the weapons.

Eli stared at Rin for a long moment.

Sol caught it. “What is it?”

Eli said nothing.

But his eyes had flicked to Rin’s wrist.

Then to Sol.

Then, slowly...

He looked away.

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