Campus of the undead

June 10, 2030

Bang! Bang!

Luke's head snapped toward the door as something—or someone—banged on it with relentless force. His throat tightened, and he swallowed hard as the pounding grew louder, each blow more determined than the last. Slowly, he crept toward the door.

“How many?” Luke whispered.

“Check the window, bro,” Collins hissed back, his voice strained as he leaned heavily against the shaking door.

Luke peeked cautiously through the window, his breath hitching as he caught sight of the chaos outside. No amount of mental preparation could shield him from the grim reality of what he saw. His shoulders sagged, and he shuddered despite himself.

There were five of them—students—now part of the undead. A cold dread settled over him as he realized he recognized three of their faces.

“If someone had told me four days ago that I’d be fighting for my life against zombies, I’d have had them checked for madness at the nearest mental facility,” Luke thought bitterly. His stomach churned as he stared at the door, its frame rattling under the relentless blows.

How did it come to this?

Just four days ago, life had been perfectly normal.

---

Four Days Earlier – June 6, 2030

“Ah… solitude.”

Luke sighed contentedly as he leaned back into the chair, savoring the quiet. He welcomed it—no, he loved it. Most people might shy away from isolation, but not Luke. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he relished the blissful stillness.

There was nothing quite like the feeling of being alone—brooding, reading, listening to music, or drifting off into daydreams. It was just you, your tiny personal world, and infinite possibilities.

“Hey, Lulu! Luke! Earth to Luke!”

A familiar voice shattered his peaceful reverie.

He turned lazily toward the sound, his eyes landing on two brown ones staring back at him, crinkled with concern.

“You’ve barely said a word today,” Mira teased, a smirk playing on her lips. “Spacing out again with that stupid look on your face? Finally lost your marbles?”

Luke didn’t answer immediately. He just stared at her, a single thought in his head.

Good Lord, she’s beautiful.

Luke Princewill, a 300-level Mechanical Engineering student at Eko State University (EKSU), was the picture of a modern Nigerian youth. At 20 years old, he was tall, light-skinned, and undeniably handsome. Born in Lagos to parents of Ondo heritage, he had spent most of his life in the bustling city, even attending school there.

Mirabel—Mira for short—stood in front of him, her arms crossed and a playful gleam in her eyes, waiting expectantly for his reply.

Luke sighed inwardly but met her gaze with a steady stare.

“Well, Mira, Mira, Mira…” he began, repeating her name with exaggerated emphasis. “Unlike you, I prefer the comfort and warm embrace of solitude,” he added, stressing the last word deliberately.

Mira rolled her eyes dramatically, her lips curving into a sarcastic smile.

“Ouch, man. That hurts my feelings,” she retorted, clutching her chest in mock pain. “No wonder you’re so popular with the ladies.”

Without waiting for a reply, she plopped down beside him on the chair, her presence commanding attention even in her teasing demeanor.

Luke shook his head wearily. “Not that I expected it to work anyway,” he muttered under his breath.

Mira smirked, clearly enjoying herself. “You know me too well,” she teased, leaning forward to tug playfully at Luke’s cheeks, attempting to stretch them into a smile. Luke simply stared at her, his expression bemused but slightly amused despite himself.

It was funny to think that just four semesters ago, Luke and Mira had been complete strangers. Now, in Luke’s third year, they had grown close in a way that surprised even him.

You might assume from this that Luke was a gloomy or reserved person. Quite the contrary—Luke was the kind of guy who left a good impression on everyone he met. He was approachable and friendly, the type of person who could easily exchange pleasantries with anyone. But there was always a line he didn’t let people cross. Luke kept everyone at arm’s length, never allowing casual acquaintances to turn into true friendships.

His bond with Mira was the exception.

Their unlikely friendship had begun one afternoon in class, the day Luke stood up for her when no one else would. He couldn’t quite recall what drove him to intervene, but Mira had clung to him ever since, as though declaring him her personal ally in life.

That fateful day, Engineer Akinyemi, the lecturer, was droning on as usual, barely holding the class’s attention. Having apparently covered the topic the day before, he now seemed content to stare out the window, lost in his own thoughts.

“The both of you, stand up!”

The harsh command snapped Luke out of his quiet reverie. He blinked and turned his attention to the lecturer, relieved to realize the outburst wasn’t directed at him. Instead, Engineer Akinyemi’s accusatory finger was aimed at the usual troublemakers of the class: Akin Dennis and Charles Adesanya.

Charles was your typical rich daddy’s boy with a penchant for stirring up trouble. He carried himself with an air of entitlement and a cruel streak that often revealed itself through petty bullying. Akin, on the other hand, was even harder to ignore. As the nephew of Lagos State’s governor, Amos Dennis, he wielded his family name like a weapon.

Physically imposing, Akin had a temper to match his size. He had a booming voice and a condescending way of speaking to others that grated on Luke’s nerves. Luke had never liked him—and never tried to hide it.