The apartment building had become its own world since the apocalypse began.

The military had sealed every exit. Supplies were running low. Fear spread through the halls as quickly as the infectious disease outside. Every knock on a door made residents wonder if it was a neighbor—or someone who had already lost control to the thirst.

Jung Yi-hyun and Yoon Sae-bom sprinted down the hallway after hearing that something had happened inside one of the apartments.

The front door stood wide open.

Yi-hyun reached it first, raising his gun as Sae-bom followed close behind.

The sight inside made them stop.

A police officer lay crumpled near the entrance, breathing weakly. Blood stained his uniform, and one hand clutched the wound in his side as he struggled to stay conscious.

A few feet away, the little boy sat comfortably on the living room floor.

Across from him was Andrew.

He still wore his white mask, hiding the lower half of his face. His posture was relaxed as if nothing unusual had happened. He picked up a toy block and handed it to the child with a calm smile in his eyes.

"Your turn," he said gently.

The little boy laughed and added the block to their tower.

The innocent sound felt completely out of place.

Sae-bom immediately rushed toward the fallen officer, kneeling beside him.

"Officer!"

He winced in pain but managed to open his eyes.

"I'm... okay..."

His breathing was uneven, and blood continued to seep through his fingers.

Yi-hyun never looked away from Andrew