Untouched by the Outbreak

Ryo sat on the edge of his bed, the glow of his smartphone casting an eerie light over his face. The silence of his apartment pressed in on him, amplifying the faint hum of his phone. He took a deep breath, bracing himself for whatever he might uncover as he navigated through his phone's apps, hoping to find some explanation for the strange events.

First, he opened the news app, expecting headlines that would explain the deserted streets and the eerie stillness that had replaced the city's usual bustle. The app loaded sluggishly, each moment stretching out as his heart pounded in his chest. Finally, the screen refreshed, revealing a cascade of articles.

"Global Zombie Outbreak: World in Chaos" read the top headline. Ryo's eyes widened in shock as he tapped on the article, his mind racing. The article described a rapid and deadly virus that had swept through the world, turning people into mindless, flesh-eating zombies. Governments worldwide had declared states of emergency, and chaos reigned in major cities.

Images accompanied the text: streets eerily empty, hospitals overwhelmed with patients, and officials in hazmat suits. Ryo's mind flashed back to the research facility, the injection, and the subsequent fever. A cold dread settled over him, but he pushed it aside. The outbreak seemed unrelated to his recent medical trial. This was something far bigger and more terrifying.

He continued reading, the article detailing how the virus had first been reported in several countries simultaneously. The symptoms began with a high fever, body aches, and severe fatigue, but quickly escalated to violent, zombie-like behavior. The virus had a devastating mortality rate, but instead of killing, it reanimated the infected as zombies.

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Ryo's stomach churned as he read about the lockdown measures. Cities around the world had been effectively sealed off, with no one allowed to enter or leave. Military checkpoints had been established, and anyone caught outside was at risk of being attacked by zombies. The implications of the outbreak were immense, explaining the deserted streets and abandoned stores.

Desperate for more information, Ryo switched to social media. He scrolled through posts, each one a snapshot of the chaos that had ensued. People shared their fears, their losses, and their struggles to survive in the new reality. Some posts contained videos of frantic evacuations, empty grocery stores, and makeshift fortresses where survivors tried to hold out against the undead.

One video in particular caught Ryo's attention. It showed a group of people in a crowded hospital, their faces masks of fear and despair. A voiceover explained that the virus was highly contagious and that medical resources were stretched to the breaking point. The video cut to scenes of empty streets, echoing the desolation Ryo had witnessed firsthand.

As he continued to browse, Ryo's phone buzzed with notifications. He opened his messaging app, finding a backlog of messages from friends and family, their concern growing with each unanswered text. His fingers hovered over the screen, guilt and sorrow welling up as he read their desperate pleas for contact. But then he realized—the most recent messages were dated several days ago.

No one had contacted him in the past few days.

One message stood out from the rest, sent by his childhood friend, Yuki. "Ryo, where are you? The world's in chaos. Are you safe? Please, if you get this, let me know you're okay." Ryo's throat tightened as he read the message. He hadn't considered how his sudden disappearance would have affected those who cared about him.

He quickly typed a response, his fingers shaking slightly. "Yuki, I'm okay. Just saw your message. What's happening? Where are you?" He hit send, hoping for a quick reply. As he waited, he continued to sift through the digital debris of the past week, each piece of information adding to the picture of a world transformed by the outbreak.

A few minutes later, Ryo realized there was no new response from Yuki. He switched back to the news app, looking for updates, but there was nothing after day 6. The lack of new information was unnerving. What had happened to the news stations? Were they overrun too?

Determined to uncover the truth, Ryo decided to start by revisiting the research facility. He needed answers, and the facility held the key. He quickly gathered a few essentials, stuffing them into a backpack: bottled water, some food, a flashlight, and a small first aid kit.

As he prepared to leave, a sense of resolve washed over him. The city outside was a far cry from the one he knew, but Ryo was determined to navigate this new reality and find out what had happened. His journey was just beginning, and he knew it would be fraught with danger and uncertainty.

But armed with the knowledge he had gleaned, and the support of friends like Yuki, he was ready to face whatever lay ahead.

Taking one last look around his apartment, Ryo steeled himself for the task ahead. He opened the door and stepped out into the silent hallway, the weight of his mission heavy on his shoulders. The world had changed, but so had he.

And as he descended the stairs and emerged into the morning light, Ryo knew he was ready to confront the unknown, driven by a newfound determination to uncover the truth and survive in this altered world.