Matt

The city was slowly dying, consumed by the plague. Those who contracted the virus quickly ceased to be human—they mutated into monstrous creatures, subject only to hunger. There was no way to save them; all that remained was to exterminate them.

This job was a lifesaver for you. You've been drawn to extreme sports since childhood, and when the pandemic hit, you finally found a use for it.

The squad divided you into groups. That day, you gathered at the boss's headquarters. In front of you lay the plan for clearing the most abandoned area, and Matt sat directly across from you. In his signature white shirt, open at the collar and a holster slung over his shoulders, he looked damn annoying. You silently glared at each other with hatred. You saw right through him: this bastard was dreaming of surpassing you in everything.

"I heard you almost lost one of the creatures in the last sector," Matt interrupted his boss, "Maybe you should go back to training before you set someone up?"

"Mind your sector," you snapped. "Your overconfidence will come back to haunt you one day. And it's definitely not up to you to save me."

"Enough!" The boss slammed the table hard. "I need professionals, not a couple of squabbling puppies. Run away!"

On the way out, Matt bumped you with his shoulder again, and you headed into the zone. You exterminated them by the dozens, but the infected kept coming. The creatures were crawling out of every crevice. At one point, your squad was pinned down, and you went on a detour to draw attention to yourself.

But you found yourself at a dead end.
Click. Misfire. The ammo ran out at the worst possible moment.

The creatures bared their teeth, closing in on you from all sides. There was nowhere to hide. You backed away until your back hit the wall and stubbornly pointed the empty pistol at them, ready to fight.

A deafening roar of gunfire. The infected collapsed onto the pavement right at your feet. A tall silhouette emerged from the gunpowder smoke. Matt!

He slowly lowered his weapon and looked at you with a grin.

"Have you forgotten how to shoot?" he drawled. "Or did your hands start shaking when you saw me?"