Chapter 57: Survival of the fittest

The day had not started great in any way. Be it the restlessness that stirred Izaya's bones, or the fact that Shizuo remained unconscious, Izaya felt as though the world was against him. Maybe this was the karma everyone was talking about.

He had probably accumulated a shit ton over the years.

And yet, right now at least, Karisawa seemed to battle his bad luck with her positivity.

Plate having been shoved aside Izaya glanced down into the store.

A loud noise coming from a few streets afar had caught the creatures' attention and they had slowly started to fuck off.

By now only one of them was lurking around, repeatedly slamming its head into the shop window as it didn't seem to understand how to get out.

Karisawa held her breath as Izaya lowered himself down into the store. Quiet as the wind he approached the zombie- It was funny, really.

He had had panic attacks because of these creatures days ago and yet right now the only emotion he felt was incredible calmth.

Was it because Shizuo wasn't there? Because he had to get his act together? Or maybe because of Karisawa? Her eyes flickered around in fear as she looked out for any unseen danger that might be out for her temporary companion.

It was oddly reassuring. Almost made Izaya want to comfort her and tell her she was safe with him.

Because that's what she was, wasn't she?

Grasping the wooden plank of a cupboard, Izaya brought it forth without any noise. Silent, like a snake attacking from the tips of a tree, Izaya brought it down on the creature's neck.

The sickening sound of bones cracking and flesh ripping filled the air as a couple sprinkles of blood met his cheek.

The zombie didn't give off any noise as it fell. Of course.

Why would it?

Izaya felt himself oddly thrown back in time, to a moment where he had been filled with hope and despair in a paradoxical way.

They shared an odd resemblance somehow.

Karisawa and his sister that is.

A smile somehow sneaked its way onto his lips as he shook his head.

Too much had changed since then. He had.

"You can come down," he called quietly, addressing the fearful pair of eyes glancing down from above. An odd sense of confidence spread through his veins like a wildfire as Karisawa let herself drop onto the cupboard.

This time things would end differently.

"... are you sure they are gone?" she whispered, quickly sneaking up to the store front to glance down the road. It looked as though nothing had ever happened in the city as none of the creatures remained present.

"You haven't interacted a lot with them have you?" The question seemed to have hit a sore spot as Karisawa grew silent. Fingers absentmindedly fumbling with a strain of hair she nodded.

"Not really...Kadota always watched out for us and when we met Shinra, you know… it was just too easy to forget."

Made sense. With Celty nearby they had close to nothing to worry about. It was easy to forget just how fucked up their surroundings had become when presented false peace.

"Have you killed any of them?" Another unsettling question.

Izaya was aware he came across as cold and cruel by picking at obvious wounds, but he had to know what he was working with. Similarly to how he had gauged Shizuo's sanity when they decided to team up.

Unlike him Karisawa seemed at least unlikely to punch him in his face.

"Once," she said, the word sounding heavy as iron. "It bit Yumasaki." Unlike Shizuo who had tried to ignore the matter of killing his brother entirely, guilt and sadness reflected in Karisawa's eyes. "I know how to do it."

Acceptance.

That's what it was.

Feeling his body relax, Izaya nodded. She was no danger. Funny how a girl full of optimism and gentleness stomached killing a person better than Shizuo did.

"Alright, please don't make any noise when we walk back," Izaya ended the topic and Karisawa seemed more than glad.

"I know."

The streets were unsettlingly clear. Izaya didn't like seeing zombies of course, no one with a sane mindset would, but knowing where they were and what they were doing was more assuring than expecting them around every corner.

Their stroll towards the grocery store had been a short one, and so it didn't take long for them to steer onto the road that led to the local school.

The sun showered every single spot in the streets creating dark shadows where it couldn't reach and Izaya warily watched each one of them.

Karisawa was more of a free spirit- seeing the outlines of the school in the distance joy drew to her expression.

They had made it.

They had gotten the band aids and medication that Izaya had hidden, without any casualties.

Izaya watched Karisawa as she skipped a few steps on her way. The sun was still shining brightly- and yet…

Why was it that he just couldn't seem to shake this anxious feeling?

Was he growing paranoid because of that religious group? Because they had assaulted them in a moment where neither Shizuo nor Izaya had seen it coming?

Maybe, maybe not.

But something was wrong.

Shizuo would have probably laughed at his explanation, but right now he could call it nothing but a hunch. A gut feeling.

Grasping Karisawa's arm he startled her slightly as he held her back in her steps.

"Wait." His voice was lowered and Karisawa's body tensed.

Izaya felt weird, crazy even as there was no obvious danger nearby- and yet-

Turning her head around the girl looked out for any possible danger, with no result.

Voice equally quiet she whispered back, "What did you see?"

What indeed.

A very good question.

They were in the middle of an empty street. All zombies were gone as they had steered into the direction of the honking car. The sun was shining bright and the shops arranged left and right on the street were equally quiet.

Izaya sighed as he shook his head.

He really had become too paranoid.

"Forget it, I-"

And suddenly it moved.

In the corner of his eyes he could see it.

A shadow.

Just in front of a store whose ceiling created a spot for it to hide.

One of the true monsters. A nightly creature.

Body instantly growing tense Karisawa followed Izaya's gaze and it was as though someone had wiped all sanity off her face.

Lurking with sluggish movement the creature craned its neck. Its neck twisted and its shoulders popped as it opened its mouth only to close it again.

It wanted to eat them.

And it saw them.

Izaya was very much aware that compared to the usual zombies lurking around these creatures had actually regained their sight, but god heavens he would have loved to have been spared of that knowledge.

But he was glad to own a different set of intel as the creature remained where it was.

It was trapped.

Sitting in the shadow of the shop it kept crawling forth only to hiss as soon as the bright sun's rays touched its skin. Seeing as the ceiling probing forth from above was only so small the only way the monster could take was back into the shop. Izaya knew that of course and his stance relaxed a little.

But Karisawa didn't.

Taking an instinctive step back she stared at the monster.

"What is that-" her voice came choked as fear disturbed the sound. Ah, so she had never seen one of them before.

How lucky.

"A mutation," Izaya sighed, "Fast, strong and dangerous." Bewildered, Karisawa turned her head to look at Izaya and he quickly continued. "They can't step into sunlight." She was obviously afraid of that creature suddenly moving and coming to get them.

But not like this.

The shadow was cut off very clearly. "Never been this happy that the sun is shining so bright," Izaya mumbled, more to himself than to Karisawa to be fair.

But what now?

Sure, Karisawa and him were safe, but they couldn't let this creature lurk around this close to the school. Even with the doors closed, the idea that this thing might enter the building at night shot stabs of unwanted fear down Izaya's spine.

No.

They had to get rid of it.

But how?

"Izaya-" Karisawa called quietly as the raven approached the creature slightly. He was nowhere near any danger as there were a few meters in between the creature and him.

That damn bastard was looking at him. Eyes rotten and jaw falling apart it reached out with molded hands. Its head was turning in various directions at high pace only creating a much more uncanny sight.

Looking at the ground, back at Izaya, the shadow and the building it almost seemed to be … thinking.

Feeling the familiar hint of lead fill his guts, Izaya backed off again.

No. They couldn't kill it. Not Karisawa and him on their own that is.

They needed weapons. Possibly a bit of help from the others.

It would be good to show them these creatures as well. Since Karisawa had never faced one before Izaya heavily doubted Shinra and the others had either.

"Karisawa let's-" but Izaya choked halfway on his words.

The ceiling.

Above the creature- it had come loose and a part tumbled down towards the creature.

In an instinctive leap the monster jumped to the side- into the sun. A scream tore from its jaw as it dashed further- back into the shadow of another building.

A moment of utter confusion reflected in both faces. In the creature's and in Izaya's as the nightly monster's head turned and a smile spread up all the way to its ears.

No.

Understanding the situation way faster than Karisawa could, Izaya pulled her arm harshly as he dashed off.

Shadows- he had to find shadows.

But just as Izaya was looking for them, the creature was now too.

All of a sudden Izaya wasn't so glad anymore about the gleaming sun, as the shadows were clear, dark and easy to spot.

Speeding up itself the creature let off a gurgling screech as it gave chase- from one shadow to the next, every time it touched the light it screamed in pain, only to grunt pleased as soon as it entered another dark spot.

It had learned- what Izaya ought to be his own fantastic interpretation was actually nothing but the bitter and horrifying truth.

This monster had just learned that stepping into the sunlight was painful, but not deadly as long as it kept the time spent in it short.

What kind of intelligence did it gather? Was it instinct like animals owned? Or was it something way worse- capable of transmitting information to the other nightly creatures to gather as a group…?

Dozens of thoughts raced through Izaya's mind as he dashed through the streets- and suddenly they were there.

At the plaza.

And the two realized just where all the other zombies had disappeared to.

There was a car. Having crashed into the fontaine in the middle of the plaza it was the reason the zombies had retracted from the shop earlier. Deafeningly loud the sound of its honk tore through the streets.

Karisawa turned her head- but they couldn't retreat- the nightly creature was at the sides, following from shadow to shadow- and Izaya realized with dread that it was going to catch up. Time was on its side.

Once the sun started to set it would know where to strike-

And so Izaya moved- right towards the zombies.

A hand quickly covered Karisawa's mouth as she had been about to protest. Holding his breath Izaya advanced- away from the nightly creature.

Coming to a halt at the very edge of the shadow the monster seemed to realize that it had temporarily run out of shadows to use.

The sun was everywhere- especially in the center of the plaza- the direction Izaya was heading into.

Swallowing hard, Izaya held his breath as he advanced- He had to move carefully. Bumping once into these creatures would be fatal. Compared to the monsters they were warm.

Pulling Karisawa closer as she threatened to touch one of the zombies he shortly paused. Her breath just sounded so loud to his ears even though he knew she was being quiet.

Adrenaline pumped in his ears-

They had managed to get away from the nightly creature, but what now? There was no way to go.

The plaza was filled with sunlight, yes, but also with zombies. The sides were no option as the monster had realized it could catch up to them by jumping from one shadow to the next-

What were they supposed to do?

Just what-

With dread Izaya realized they were checkmate. Time was against them.

The sun would start to set in an hour- the zombies would eventually bump into them, and then it would be over- either by the monster's hands or by these infected people's hands.

Feeling his sanity slip just slightly, a soft smile forced its way onto Izaya's lips. This was it, right? After all this time, after having held out for so long with Shizuo, after everything they had been through.

It was funny, right?

It really was!

All their efforts- all the victims, the deaths they had seen, the terror, and for what? For-

And suddenly it screamed.

Swallowing Izaya turned to look towards the nightly creature.

Funny.

It looked as frustrated as Izaya felt.

Had it yelled out of anger? Because it couldn't get to them? Why did they even kill? What good did it bring them? Izaya closed his eyes for a moment.

What good did it do to kill them?

A bump to his shoulder was what startled Izaya from his thoughts and he quickly turned to hiss at Karisawa- except it hadn't been her.

A zombie.

He hadn't seen it coming, hadn't heard it approach through the deafening noise of the honking car.

Hah.

It was over.

That zombie must have realized he was humane. In a second he would be a dead blotch of flesh on the ground. His guts would get sprawled everywhere. His insides would get dragged to the fontaine. Hey, maybe his blood would color the water pink.

Closing his eyes Izaya's body tensed as he prepared himself for the unreal amount of hands and teeth that would meet his body-

Instead he felt a shove.

And another.

Another.

Eyes snapping back open, Izaya looked at the zombies. One after the other- they ran. As fast as they could, jaws open and screeching, they ran right into Karisawa and Izaya's direction- only to pass by, almost shoving the two aside in their way.

They… had no interest in them?

A terrifying scream ripped the sky and Izaya turned around to look towards the nightly creature.

A creature that was now being ripped apart by the zombies. They didn't bite it, they didn't bite it, they just tore at its limbs, at its flesh- Gurgling sounds of zombies dying as the nightly creature used its tremendous strength to kill a few resounded through the air, but the zombies didn't stop.

Like a moth drawn into a flame they proceeded to attack the nightly creature.

They had to run.

Izaya and Karisawa that is.

Limbs regaining their will to live Izaya quickly tugged at Karisawa's arm as he ran towards a nearby building. Shadows were everywhere, but with the nightly creature trapped by zombies they had nothing to fear.

A fire ladder was Izaya's destination and he quickly lunged upwards to grasp the lowest step.

Reaching down he pulled Karisawa up as well and they quickly advanced to the roof.

Disbelieving, relieved and downright confused, Izaya caught a shuddering breath as he looked down the building.

The nightly creature was dead.

He could see it from above.

It had been torn to shreds and the zombies dispersed.

Just what-

"...what was that?" Karisawa asked, finishing Izaya's thoughts with a shaking voice.

"They are learning-" Izaya whispered-

"What?" Karisawa asked, a forced smile on her lips as her knees gave out. "What kind of stupid nightmare is this?" Hands meeting the ground she hung her head low. "How is anyone supposed to keep going when they just…" she faded out.

Looking down at the building Izaya swallowed.

What they had witnessed just now- it couldn't be worse and yet it was good too. The nightly creatures, they were capable of learning. That meant it was only a matter of time until they understood how to move during the day. Until they learned to use pieces of rubbish hovering above their heads to escape the sun. It was only a matter of time until they learned how to open doors. How to twist knobs.

And yet what they had just seen was also good.

Because that creature was dead.

The zombies killed nightly creatures.

Why?

"We have to tell everyone. The school might not be the safest hideout anymore." Karisawa suddenly announced, pushing herself up from the ground. Izaya froze at the suggestion.

"Don't."

She couldn't-

Leaving the school was an option for Shinra and the rest maybe, but not for Shizuo! Moving him could prove fatal- and now after seeing that they weren't safe in daylight they wouldn't be taking someone with them that slowed them down.

They were going to ditch Shizuo.

Karisawa seemed to reach the same conclusion as he eyes furrowed to a bitter frown.

"Izaya- If one if these things enters school then-"

"Give him a day!" Izaya knew she was right- it wasn't safe to stay at that school anymore. Once another of the nightly creatures learned what this previous one had it would be over-

"They might come for us tonight!" Karisawa urged.

Izaya clicked his tongue. "Then leave Shinra here-" At least, if he stayed he could look after Shizuo. Izaya would find a way to keep them safe. He would-

But Karisawa wasn't up for it.

"Kadota is still injured, we need him-"

"So does Shizuo!"

Her expression told Izaya that she didn't do this out of spite. She didn't want to leave Shizuo behind either and yet- she was going to do just that right?

And suddenly a deep black hole opened in Izaya's chest as all emotions ceased existing.

He had to kill her.

A human.

Now.

Before she could tell anyone-

His gaze grew hard and his body tensed to an unnatural degree.

That's right.

It was Shizuo's only chance. She had to remain quiet.

It would be easy too, she had no idea how to defend herself. She didn't even have a weapon at her side.

Izaya had killed so many zombies. He always had a knife in his pocket just like at this very moment.

Just one stab. He could act as if he would agree with her and once she turned-

"Izaya?" Karisawa whispered- and suddenly Izaya felt as though someone had punched him in his guts.

Realization of what he had just considered doing connected to the sense of reason in his brain and a hint of heavy nausea overwhelmed him.

Just- what was he thinking?

This wasn't what he wanted.

Was he a monster too?

Did he seriously just think of-

Swallowing hard, Izaya closed his eyes as he let the knife that had slipped into his palm disappear in his coat once more.

Eyes pained he whispered, "What if it were Yumasaki?"

Karisawa flinched at the name.

Right.

He had turned into a zombie and she had had to kill him. He had been a close friend of hers.

Guilt and a sense of understanding replaced her fear and she closed her eyes.

"... alright." Izaya's body relaxed. "...until he wakes up," She hesitated, "Or when he…"

"He will live."

to be continued~

FINALLY

I'm sorry I took so god damn long to update xD I had this chapter half written sitting there in the corner looking at me, but I somehow didn't get to finish it xDDDD I will make sure to keep updating weekly again haha 3

Same for SnS and SD, next week I will be udpating them both at the very least xD

With that being said I hope you liked this chapter and see you next Saturday! xD