Untouched by the Outbreak

"Ryo! Check this girl," Sachiko said, her tone casual, almost amused as she gestured toward Yumi and her prototype zombies. "The zombies around her are a bit different from the Striders and Brutes, and not like Creepers either."

With a detached calm, Sachiko pulled out her smartphone and began recording the scene. Yumi stared in shock, frozen in place as she watched this woman, who acted like this was just another ordinary day. She couldn't speak, her throat tight with disbelief. Even her prototype zombies, meant to be her shield, now seemed insignificant in the face of whatever was happening here.

Yumi's eyes darted to the man—the one Sachiko had called Ryo—who stood a short distance away. He was just as casual as the woman, lighting up a cigarette and taking a long, slow drag, as if the swarm of deadly zombies around them was nothing to be concerned about. The other woman beside him, equally nonchalant, simply followed his movements.

Yumi finally found her voice, directing her question at the girl in the doctor's coat. "Who are you?"

Sachiko paused, her face reflecting a flicker of confusion. "You don't remember me?" she asked, cocking her head slightly. "I used to work in the research team with your father before all this."

Yumi blinked, her thoughts scrambling to catch up. *What? Research team?* The name of her father, Dr. Kurose, hit her like a blow. The girl in the doctor's coat—Sachiko—had worked with her father? Her mind spun as she tried to piece together the fragmented memories of her father's mysterious research, the events that had led to the outbreak, and the people who had been involved.

Everything around her felt surreal, and Yumi had no idea whether she had just walked into an unexpected connection—or something far more dangerous.

Yumi's instincts kicked in as she commanded her prototype zombies to cover her, hoping for protection. One of the prototypes lunged toward Sachiko, attempting an attack. But before it could even reach her, Yumi watched in disbelief as the prototype was swiftly pinned down with ease by the mysterious girl who had been standing beside Ryo.

Her shock deepened as she got a closer look at the girl. She appeared human—slender, with silky long hair—but her eyes… they were entirely white, void of any life or normality. This was no ordinary girl.

Yumi's breath quickened. Her hand reached for her gun, lifting it shakily, aiming it at Sachiko. But before she could fire, Sachiko smiled calmly, her demeanor still casual, yet somehow cold.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Sachiko warned, her voice gentle yet unnervingly confident, still holding that smile.

Yumi's heart raced as she froze, the weight of her decision pressing on her. She looked around, and her stomach dropped. All her prototype zombies—every single one of them—had been pinned down by the Striders surrounding them, held in place as if they were nothing.

The overwhelming presence of the creatures, the ease with which they subdued her best creations, left Yumi in shock. Her world, already full of chaos and danger, had just become far more terrifying. She had never seen zombies behave this way, nor had she ever encountered people who could control them like this. Something was very, very wrong.

Sachiko's gentle smile never wavered as she calmly addressed Yumi, her tone soft yet authoritative.

"You better put down your weapon now," she said, her voice almost motherly, but with a subtle edge that hinted at the seriousness behind her words. "Little girls like you shouldn't play with guns."

With that, Sachiko slightly parted her doctor's coat, revealing the gun strapped securely inside. The subtle gesture wasn't a threat, but a warning—a clear indication that Sachiko was no stranger to firearms or the dangerous world they lived in.

Yumi's hands trembled, her grip tightening around the gun as she felt the weight of the situation. She glanced between Sachiko's calm expression and the mysterious girl who had just taken down her prototype so effortlessly. The message was clear: resistance would be futile, and any attempt to fight back would only lead to her downfall.

Swallowing hard, Yumi slowly began to lower her weapon, unsure of what would come next but certain that this encounter was far from over.

Sachiko's gentle smile remained as she tilted her head slightly, watching Yumi with calm eyes.

"Put the gun on the floor," Sachiko said softly, her voice still carrying a warmth that made Yumi hesitate. The tension in the air was palpable.

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Yumi, feeling the weight of the situation, slowly crouched down, placing her gun on the cold ground with trembling hands. She raised her arms cautiously, unsure of what would happen next. Her heart pounded in her chest as she saw the man, who Sachiko had called Ryo, casually approaching them.

His strides were calm, but there was an undeniable weight behind them, a presence that made Yumi feel utterly powerless.

As Ryo drew closer, Yumi felt a chill run down her spine. His expression was serious, his eyes piercing as he looked down at her, almost as if he could see right through her. She didn't know why, but his mere presence was suffocating. The zombies—brutes, striders, even her own prototypes—seemed irrelevant compared to the man standing before her.

She was terrified.

Ryo stopped just a few steps away from Yumi, casually taking a drag from his cigarette, his gaze never leaving her. For a moment, the world around them seemed to freeze, and all Yumi could do was stand there, feeling the weight of his intimidation wash over her.

Ryo's hand suddenly shot out, grabbing a fistful of Yumi's hair with a tight grip, jerking her head back forcefully. Yumi gasped, her eyes widening in shock as pain seared through her scalp. The casual, distant demeanor he had moments ago was gone, replaced by something far more dangerous. His voice was low and menacing as he leaned in close, his breath hot against her ear.

"Bitch," Ryo growled, his tone dripping with barely-contained fury. "You think you can come here and try to attack my women?" His grip tightened even more, sending sharp jolts of pain through Yumi's body.

Sachiko stood nearby, her expression unchanged—still calm, still smiling softly, almost as if this was nothing out of the ordinary. The eerie contrast between her warmth and Ryo's wrath only made Yumi's fear deepen. The zombies around them, both her prototypes and Ryo's hordes, stood eerily still, as if waiting for Ryo's command, their dark eyes locked on the scene.

Yumi felt tears prickling in her eyes. She had thought her prototypes could protect her, but now she realized just how outmatched she was. Ryo's aura was overwhelming, and the realization that he commanded these terrifying creatures with ease made her blood run cold.

"Please..." Yumi managed to choke out, her voice trembling, "I didn't know... I—"

Ryo's eyes narrowed dangerously as he interrupted her, his voice still low but filled with a cold rage. "I don't care what you didn't know. Next time, you won't be so lucky." He yanked her hair harder, forcing her to look directly into his cold, merciless eyes.

"Now, tell me why you're really here," Ryo demanded, his grip never loosening as he waited for her response.

Yumi's body trembled uncontrollably as she stammered, struggling to find words. She had never felt fear like this—true, paralyzing fear. The man before her was no ordinary survivor, and the creatures under his control were far beyond anything she had encountered. Her prototype zombies, who had easily torn through government soldiers, were now rendered helpless by his horde of Striders and Brutes.

She felt utterly powerless.

Tears streamed down Yumi's face, her sobs soft, almost silent. She didn't dare cry out. Ryo's grip on her hair tightened, sending fresh waves of pain coursing through her scalp. His eyes, cold and unyielding, stared down at her, making it clear he wasn't someone to be trifled with.

Sachiko, noticing the tension escalating, slowly approached Ryo from behind. She wrapped her arms around him gently, pressing her body against his and rubbing his chest soothingly. "Ryo…" Sachiko whispered softly, her voice calm and reassuring, "It's okay... let her go." Her fingers traced slow circles on his chest, trying to bring him back from the edge of his rage.

Ryo's jaw clenched, his eyes still locked on Yumi, but Sachiko's touch began to have its effect. He exhaled sharply, his grip on Yumi's hair loosening just slightly, though he didn't release her completely.

Sachiko continued to speak in a soft, soothing tone. "She's not worth your anger, Ryo. Look at her. She's terrified." Sachiko glanced at Yumi, her eyes filled with a strange mix of pity and amusement. "She's already learned her lesson."

Yumi could barely breathe, her heart racing as she clung to the faint hope that Sachiko's intervention might save her. The intimidating presence of Ryo lingered, but Sachiko's gentle coaxing seemed to be pulling him back from his wrathful impulse.

Ryo's gaze flicked to Sachiko, then back to Yumi. After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke, his voice still firm but slightly less threatening. "You're lucky she's here," he muttered, releasing Yumi's hair with a rough shove, making her stumble backward. "Otherwise, you'd be dead."

Yumi collapsed to her knees, clutching her head and trembling in fear. She dared not look up, still shaken from the encounter.

Sachiko smiled gently, keeping her arms around Ryo as she looked down at Yumi. "Now, little girl," Sachiko said, her tone still soft but laced with an unsettling calm, "you should answer Ryo's question. Why are you really here?"