Untouched by the Outbreak

Exhausted from his long walk, Ryo decided to take a break at a nearby abandoned restaurant. He sat down in one of the chairs, pretending to order food even though he knew no one would be there to serve him.

With a mix of sadness and resignation, Ryo started a conversation with the zombies nearby, treating them as friends. "Hey, how's it going?" he asked, his voice reflecting his weariness. "Another day in this crazy world, huh?" He chuckled bitterly, his eyes scanning the mindless creatures shuffling around him.

The zombies, unaware of his words, continued their aimless wandering, their moans and growls providing a somber backdrop to the one-sided conversation. Undeterred by their lack of response, Ryo continued, finding solace in the pretense of company.

Unfazed by his words, the zombies persisted in their mindless routine, their blank stares and sluggish movements only serving to accentuate the isolation that Ryo felt so profoundly. "You know, I've been thinking," he confided, his voice soft and contemplative. "I've been questioning if there's any purpose to all of this."

Ryo inhaled deeply from his cigarette, the smoke swirling around him in the stillness. "I mean, what's the point of enduring if everyone dear to me is gone?" He shook his head, his gaze distant, lost in his thoughts. "Sometimes I wonder if it wouldn't be better to just... surrender."

The zombies, indifferent to his inner turmoil, shuffled aimlessly, their groans and grunts blending with the eerie silence that enveloped the restaurant. "Do you ever feel that way?" Ryo questioned, even though he knew they couldn't comprehend his words. "Do you ever wish for an end to all of this?"

The silence that followed was heavy, punctuated only by the monotonous groans of the undead.

One of the zombies, its clothes tattered and torn, staggered closer, its eyes emitting a faint glow in the dim light. Ryo extended his hand, his fingers hovering just shy of the creature's face. "You know, I've been wandering alone for so long, I'm starting to forget what it's like to have a conversation," he mused, his voice quiet and contemplative.

Ryo's gaze remained fixed on the zombie's glowing eyes, as if searching for something beyond its mindless stare. "You don't judge, you don't demand anything from me... maybe that's not such a bad thing after all," he said, his voice heavy with the weight of his loneliness.

In that moment, the zombie, with its vacant expression and muted groans, offered a strange sense of comfort. It didn't judge, it didn't ask questions, and it didn't expect anything from him. Ryo found a twisted sense of solace in that simplicity, even if it meant finding companionship in the company of the undead.

As the sun started to set, casting long shadows across the deserted restaurant, Ryo's attention turned to the shelves behind the counter. He stood up and began scanning the shelves for any remaining supplies. He found a few cans of food and a bottle of water, a valuable find in this desolate world.

Lighting another cigarette, Ryo sat down again, his eyes never leaving the zombies as he smoked. 'You know, I used to be scared of you,' he confessed, his voice quiet and thoughtful. 'But now, I'm not so sure. You're just... different, that's all.'

The zombies, unaware of his words, continued their mindless wanderings, their moans and shuffling footsteps filling the room. Ryo took a drag from his cigarette, the smoke curling gently in the still air. 'I guess we're all just trying to get by, in our own unique ways,' he mused, a hint of sadness in his voice.

Ryo inhaled deeply from his cigarette, the smoke swirling around him. "I mean, you're not really a threat, are you?" He shook his head, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "Maybe it's us, the living, who are the true monsters."

Unfazed by his words, the zombies persisted in their mindless dance, their movements at odds with the storm raging within Ryo's heart. "I guess we're all just trying to get by, in our own unique ways," he murmured, his voice laced with a newfound understanding.

As he took another drag, his eyes drifted to the fading light outside. The sun was slowly sinking below the horizon, casting an orange hue over the desolate landscape. "Another day gone," he whispered, his voice heavy with the weight of his solitude.

As night fell, the restaurant grew darker, the shadows stretching across the floor. Ryo, lost in his thoughts, continued to smoke, the cigarette burning unnoticed between his fingers. He voiced his fears, his regrets, and the memories that tormented him, his words echoing in the empty space.

"I wish things could go back to the way they were," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I wish I could turn back time and save them." He shook his head, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "But I can't... I can only move forward, alone."

The silence that followed was heavy, punctuated only by the soft hiss of the cigarette's ember. Ryo took one last drag, the tip glowing brightly before he stubbed it out. The restaurant was now enveloped in darkness, the shadows hiding the zombies' mindless movements.

Ryo took one final drag from his cigarette before stubbing it out. "Well, it's getting late," he said, his voice soft and tired. "Time to find a place to rest for the night." He stood up, his eyes never wavering from the zombies as he made his way towards the back of the restaurant.

The zombies, oblivious to his plans, continued their mindless wanderings, their moans and shuffling footsteps echoing in the dimly lit space. Ryo's footsteps echoed softly as he made his way through the restaurant, his eyes scanning the area for a suitable sleeping spot.

Ryo paid no heed to the distance between himself and the zombies as he sought a place to rest. The back of the restaurant was dimly lit, with shadows playing on the walls. He chose a spot in the midst of the zombies, uncaring of their proximity.

Ryo closed his eyes, his body exhausted yet his mind remaining vigilant, attuned to the soft groans and shuffling footsteps of the undead that surrounded him.

He found solace in the company of the undead, an odd sense of safety in their numbers. Their mindless shuffling and muted groans provided a peculiar sense of companionship in the darkness. As he prepared to drift off to sleep, his thoughts turned to the future. What if the helicopter appeared again? What if those responsible for the deaths of Sakura and Aiko returned?

Ryo's eyes snapped open, his body tense once more. He sat up, his gun within easy reach. The helicopter's appearance had been a harbinger of destruction, and he knew he couldn't let his guard down.

His eyes narrowed as he scanned the room, taking in every detail, every shadow, searching for any signs of an impending attack. The zombies, in their oblivious state, posed no real concern to him. It was the humans, with their cunning and destructive capabilities, that posed the true threat.

Ryo's mind raced as he strategized his next moves. He knew that his priority was to remain undetected by the humans who posed a threat. He had to ensure that they couldn't find him, and if they did, he was prepared to use the zombies as a shield. The undead were faster than the humans, and he knew that fact struck fear into their hearts.

His eyes darted around the room, taking note of potential hiding spots and escape routes. He knew that his survival depended on his ability to stay one step ahead of his human adversaries. The zombies, with their mindless shuffling, became an unintended ally in his plan.

Ryo's fingers tightened around his gun, his gaze steely and determined. "If they come for me, they'll have to get through an army of the undead first," he muttered under his breath. "And by the time they do, I'll be long gone."

The zombies, unaware of their role in his strategy, continued their aimless wandering, their groans and shuffling footsteps echoing in the empty restaurant.Ryo's expression hardened, his gaze steely. He made a silent vow, not to the zombies, but to himself. He swore that if any human dared to threaten him, he would show no mercy. Experience tales with m v|l e'm,p y r

His finger remained on the trigger, his body coiled like a spring, ready to unleash a lethal response at the slightest provocation. "If any of them try anything, it'll be the last thing they ever do," he whispered, his voice icy and unwavering. "I won't show them mercy. They took Sakura and Aiko from me, and for that, I will make them pay."

Ryo's eyes narrowed, his gaze intense. "And if they try to come after me... well, they won't be getting any of my blood. I'll make sure of that," he vowed, his voice thick with determination. "They'll regret the day they messed with me."