Hugo stared out the window for a long moment, his grip tightening on the frame. His heart was still pounding, but now it wasn’t just from the explosion—it was from the voice he had heard below. Another survivor.

  He wasn’t alone.

  Closing the window, he exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. That should’ve been good news, but instead, his stomach twisted into knots. People were uable. He had no idea what kind of man lived in that apartment below him, only that he had survived this long. That alo something.

  What if he was aggressive? Hugo had made it this far, only to be taken out by a paranoid neighbor? That would be a hell of a way to go.

  He gnced over at Salem, who was now curled up on the couch, pletely unfazed. "Guess I’m waiting until m," Hugo muttered. There was no point in pushing his luow. He o approach this carefully.

  Sleep didn’t e easy that night. Every time he closed his eyes, he imagihe worst. A crazed old man, ready to put ao anyone who came near him. A bitter recluse who saw everyone as a threat. It was too much to process.

  M arrived too soon, but Hugo had already made his decision. He was going to talk to the neighbor.

  After going through his routine, he geared up, making sure he had his k his side—not to use it, just in case things went south. Then, he made his way downstairs.

  Standing in front of Apartment 201, Hugo took a deep breath and knocked.

  No answer.

  He knocked again, this time a little louder. "Hey, I know you’re in there. I heard you st night. I just want to talk."

  Silence.

  Hugo shifted unfortably. Maybe the guy really wasn’t ied in versation, but it was worth trying. "Look, I’m not looking for trouble. Just figured it’d be good to know each other. We’re the only two people left here."

  A gruff voice finally came from inside. "Fuck off."

  Hugo blinked. Well, that was direct.

  He sighed, running a hand down his face. "Listen, man, I get it. You don’t trust people. I doher. But we’re stuck here. We don’t have to be friends, but we should at least—"

  A deafening bang cut him off.

  Pain exploded in his chest before he eveered what had happehe impaocked him backward, and for a split sed, he felt weightless before crashing onto the floor. His vision blurred, his breath came in ragged gasps, and warmth spread across his torso.

  His hand shakily reached for the wound. Blood. A lot of it.

  The door remained shut. ation. No remorse.

  Hugo choked on his owh, his body growing colder by the sed.

  The st thing he saw was the ceiling, the cracks running through it, before everythi dark.

  Hugo jolted awake, gasping for breath, his hands clutg at his chest in pure panic. He scrambled upright, his heart hammering as he realized where he was.

  His apartment. His couch. Salem stretched zily beside him, oblivious to the sheer ho had just relived.

  "That bastard!" Hugo shouted, his voice raw with anger. "He shot me!"

  Adrenaline surged through him as he swung his legs off the couch, rage boiling over. He wasn’t going to let this slide.

  St out of his apartment, he took the stairs two at a time, his hands ched into fists. He didn’t care about being careful anymore. He was done pying nice.

  He reached Apartment 201 and pounded on the door. "Hey, old man! Open up! You wanna shoot me again? e on, do it to my face this time!"

  Silence.

  Hugo’s patienapped. "You think you’re the only o who matters?! We could help each other, but no—you just sit in there and shoot at people like a damn coward!"

  Another deafening bang echoed through the hall.

  Pain tore through his body. His legs gave out, and he colpsed to the floor. Blood pooled around him, the world spinning violently out of focus.

  As darkness crept in once more, his st thought was bitter and furious.

  That old bastard shot him again.

  Hugo woke with a sharp intake of breath, his body tensing instinctively. The now-familiar sensation of being yanked back from the brink of death left him shaking, disoriented, and filled with frustration.

  He groaned, pressing his hands against his face. "Goddamn it."

  His muscles still burned with phantom pain, his mind rag. Going in hot was clearly the wrong move. He had let his anger get the better of him, and he had paid for it.

  He pushed himself up, exhaling slowly, f himself to think. If he was going to deal with the neighbor, he o be smart about it. Rushing in and yelling wasn’t going to work.

  From now on, he wouldn’t stand in front of that door. He had to assume the old man would shoot first and not ask questions ter. Hugo rubbed his temples, thinking.

  What was the right approach?

  He needed information. If he couldn’t talk to the guy directly, maybe he could observe him, learn his habits. Did he ever leave his apartment? Was there another way to unicate?

  Hugo sat ba the couch, Salem hopping onto his p, tail flig. The cat, at least, didn’t seem ed about their grumpy neighbor.

  "Alright, old man," Hugo muttered, stroking Salem’s fur absentmindedly. "Let’s see what makes you tick."

  This wasn’t over. But ime, he’d be ready.

  Hugo took a deep breath a downstairs for the third time, but this time, he had a pn. He knocked on the door and immediately stepped to the side, pressing himself against the wall o the frame, out of the line of fire.

  "My name is Hugo," he called out calmly. "I live upstairs. I’ve got a amed Salem. I just want to talk."

  Silence.

  "If you don’t want to talk, I get it," Hugo tinued. "But if you need food or water, I’m leaving some here. Ns attached. Just in case."

  Carefully, he set down a water bottle and a small pack of food in front of the door. He g it for a moment, then took a step back.

  "I’ll check baorrow," he added. "No pressure. Take care."

  With that, he turned and walked away, feeling the tension in his shoulders ease just slightly. He had done what he could for now.

  Ba his apartment, he settled into his usual routine, cheg the barricades, maintaining his supplies, and keeping an eye oside world.

  Feeling emboldened, Hugo decided to scout the first floor. As soon as he stepped onto the nding, he froze.

  A massive cluster of zombies turoward him, their vat eyes log onto their meal.

  They screamed and charged.

  Hugo barely had time to react before they were upon him. He swung his bat wildly, the on crag against skulls, but it wasn’t enough. Hands cwed at him, yanking at his arms and legs as he kicked out desperately, sending a few of them stumbling back.

  He spun and bolted toward the stairwell, shoving a zombie aside as he ran. He reached the door, smmed it shut, and threw his weight against it, but the horde was to. The door burst open as the first zombie barreled through.

  With a roar, Hugo swung his bat straight into its head, g it in. The body colpsed, blog the entrance for a brief sed, but the others shoved past it, surging forward.

  Panting, Hugo turned and ran toward Apartment 201, pounding on the door. "Let me in! Please! They’re right behind me!"

  No response.

  His eyes flicked downward.

  The food and water were gone.

  Then the horde was on him.

  They tore into him, pulling him dowh sinking into his flesh. The pain was indescribable. He fought, but there were too many, the sheer weight of them crushing him to the cold flonized screams filled the air, then silence.

  Hugo woke up for the fourth time that day, gasping, his body drenched i. That had been far worse thaing shot. The sensation of being torn apart still lingered in his mind, the memory making his stomach .

  Getting shot? That was quick. Gettien alive? That was a nightmare.

  At least something good had e of it—the old man had taken the food and water. That meant some part of him was willing to accept help, even if he refused to admit it.

  With a groan, Hugo sat up, rubbing his face. He had to do it all ain. Sighing, he grabbed a bottle of water and some food, making his way downstairs. This time, he would introduce himself properly.

  He knocked on the door and quickly stepped to the side, out of the line of fire. Taking a deep breath, he spoke, keeping his voice steady and calm.

  "Hey, I don’t know if you hear me, but my name is Hugo. I live upstairs. Used to be a cook before all this mess started. I’ve been surviving up there, clearing the building out little by little. I have supplies, food, and water, but I know those things won’t st forever."

  He hesitated for a sed before tinuing. "I have a cat too. His name’s Salem. Not much of a talker, but he’s good pany. Figured I’d mention him since he’s the only other living thing I’ve got with me."

  Hugo exhaled slowly. "I don’t know what kind of man you are, and I’m not asking you to be my friend. But we’re both here, in the same building, and that means we’ve got to look out for each other. Or at the very least, not shoot each other."

  He set the bottle of water and food down in front of the door. "I’m leaving this here. Ns attached. If you don’t want it, fine. If you do, that’s fioo. I’ll check baorrow."

  He lingered for a moment, but as expected, there was no respohat was okay. He wasn’t expeg one.

  As he turo head back upstairs, his footsteps echoed in the empty hallway, the silence pressing down on him. Just as he reached the first step, he heard it—a faint creak of hinges.

  His body went rigid.

  For the first time, the neighbor opened his door.

  Hugo didn’t dare turn around too quickly. He knew better than to startle a man who had already shot him twice. Instead, he slowly turned his head just enough to catch a glimpse. The door was only open a crack, the dim light from within casting a sliver of illumination into the darkened hallway.

  A shadow moved behind the door, barely visible. The old man was watg him.

  Hugo swallowed hard, keeping his hands rexed at his sides. "I’ll be baorrow," he repeated, his voice softer this time. "Take care."

  The door remained open for a few more seds before it shut again, the locks clig into pce.

  Hugo let out a slow breath, f himself to remain calm as he made his way back up the stairs. His heart pounded against his ribs, not from fear, but from something else—progress.

  It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

  SpoilerFrom now on I will release 2 chapters a week. On Mondays and Fridays. If you want access to 10 more chapter you go on my Patreon:

  https://patreon./Restartdeadtomorrow?utm_medium=unkno;utm_source=join_link&utm_campaigorshare_creator&utm_tent=copyLink

  I hope you enjoy my story so far! Take care!

  [colpse]