Ryan couldn’t recall the last time he had been in a high school, much less an abandoned one. They transformed the main lobby, which used to be the locker room, into a lounge. Cream-colored walls covered the spacious halls. The white ceramic floor lost its shine, giving off a dull vibe, but you couldn’t slip and fall from it. Because the windows were blocked off, the area didn't receive any light. Fortunately, there were colorful lights installed on the ceiling to help illuminate the mood and brighten up the place, without having to rely on wasting flashlight batteries.

  The room was spacious, with plenty of area to walk around freely, but not much to do. In the back, rested a red couch, with a gold and black patterned rug right beside it. Ryan had a hunch they took that from the teacher’s lounge or office. There’d be no way those would be in regular student classrooms. A coffee table stood right by the rug and couch, with books stacked on top of it, along with pencils and crayons placed on the side. Those must’ve been from the classrooms upstairs, he thought to himself.

  To his right was a beaded curtain leading to the kitchen. On his left appeared to be a hall stretching out, with several sealed doors to the side. Around the corner of that hallway was a staircase leading to the next floor, complete with signs pointing towards it. The elevator wasn't in operation, so it made sense to take the long but efficient route, especially while avoiding danger. It was their only way to traverse the building.

  Ryan walked over to the couch and took a seat, feeling his butt sink a little in between the cushions. However, it was still soft, especially compared to the hard concrete floor he was used to before. He leaned back and relaxed his muscles, letting the silence soak in. No groans coming from zombies or a sense of dread and fear. Not even the clock above the entrance doors worked like it should and ticked.

  Ryan just watched as Mike, Yuna, Karin, and Taylor came back inside and took turns gathering their stuff. Ryan's feelings of helplessness and uselessness continued to sink in. He appreciated the courtesy but wasn't sure if he was being pitied. Ryan looked down at his hands and clenched them.

  He had this weird feeling hit him deep in his bones and chest; he found it hard to describe. Ryan was so used to working his butt off for hours on end and taking part in countless projects. He even assisted others in their work, whether he liked it or not. He would often get called out for trying to get out of work or taking too many breaks.

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  Ryan never thought he’d take a long break like this, especially with how everyone else around him was moving about and getting stuff done. This didn’t seem right to him. How was he supposed to feel in this scenario? He thought about offering help, but figured it’d be pointless, seeing as they wouldn’t let him overdo it and push himself. Ryan was in no mood to argue. He figured they’d say no and insist he continue to rest up and heal.

  Taylor went to the kitchen to cook dinner, Yuna aided him on the side, Mike did a perimeter check near the entrance, and Karin inspected the boxes in the storage room. Everyone seemed busy.

  Ryan got up from his seat and looked around. He walked over to the hall, his footsteps making a light echo with each step. He checked each of the windows on the doors one by one. Most of them were empty brown cubes, more than likely pilfered from their goods. The ones that didn’t have planks of wood boarded up. Ryan didn’t need to ask why that was the case. He put two and two together.

  On his way back, something caught his eye, prompting him to stop in his tracks. He could spot handwritings carved on the walls. There were some written in a language Ryan didn’t understand, but others he could read perfectly fine. Each message had a short, uplifting quote, ranging from staying positive to not being alone. Ryan took the time to read each of them individually, walking down the hall as he did so.

  He couldn’t help but notice something else, however. In the far back, he glanced at different handwriting, which wasn’t as positive as the rest. It didn’t even have words on it, just lines, or rather, numbers. Ryan placed a hand on the carving. The rough edges contrasted with the soft, childlike whimsy from the other writing and the sandy textures of the walls.

  Was this counting how long it had been since they stayed in this school? Ryan couldn’t imagine how hard it must’ve been for the four of them to survive on their own. Mist formed in his eyes as he let out a deep sigh.

  “Hey, Ryan!” Karin called out to him from across the room. “Dinner’s ready. Come on!”

  Ryan wiped his eyes and turned on a heel. It’d be rude to keep them waiting. His stomach grumbled at the thought of having more food to fill. He ran across the hall and hurried back to the lounge, where everyone waited for him.