While we were moving through the hallways towards our exit point called the bus garage, we came across some infected. There were 11 of them.
And David's group, as per intended, were the very first people to fight them. They were doing great, as expected of school athletes. Well, that was until...
"Watch out!"
"Aaah!"
SMASH!
I swung my bat with full force towards an infected who was trying to grab David's friend from behind. He was too busy trying to kill the one in front of him to worry about the one behind him.
It was a good thing I was here to save him, otherwise, he'd be a goner.
"Thanks!"
David's friend said sincerely as he used his javelin to push the infected he was fighting against into a wall. Before the infected could even react, the boy took this chance to ram the javelin into it's left eye.
Which was a good spot too, since the eyes are one of the most delicate organs in the human body. One strong thrust there and you can pierce the eye socket and stab into the brain, effectively, killing a person or in this case, an infected.
As for the other infected, it was quickly taken care of by Faith. She took out it's kneecaps, causing it to fall to the floor before using her bat to beat it's head in.
Good job Faith!
"Aaah!"
As I was silently giving my praises to Faith, the infected I hit earlier started moaning. Turning my attention to it, I saw it slouched against the wall with a heavily bloodied mouth and nose. And every time it let out a moan, blood flowed from it's mouth along with bits and pieces of teeth!
Seeing it like this, I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for it. Can it feel pain? Is it in agony right now? Sigh, no matter how much I tell myself that they're no longer human, I can't help but think of this.
"Sigh, maybe I should've gotten a javelin instead?"
Pushing such complicated thoughts aside for the time being, I readjust my grip on the bat and walk towards the slouching infected and unleash a powerful strike towards its head.
SMASH!
And just to make sure it was dead, I gave it another.
SMASH!
After double tapping the infected with two strong strikes to the head, I looked back at my group.
"Everyone okay?"
I scanned over each and every person as I asked this. Although they're not injured to the point of not being able to wield a weapon, a few of them have some pretty bad cuts and gashes.
I'm worried that their wounds might open up and bleed. Which in turn could attract infected over. I don't want that to happen.
"Yeah, we're alright."
A student from my group said. And seeing that no one's wounds had opened, I give a nod of acknowledgement.
"Let's keep moving everyone, it's pushing sundown. No one wants to wander around here in pitch black right? "
David said while glancing at his phone as he stood in front of everyone. I agree, even though I don't have my phone anymore, I can tell from my internal clock that it's probably around five or six o'clock. In other words, in about an hour or so there's not gonna be any sunlight left.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go! Come on! We can't have Big Si- err, President Yang and the others wait on us."
With a very enthusiastic voice, I said aloud to everyone.
I'm not going through a house of horrors again! Hell no! F*ck that!
============
15 minutes later...
So far so good, we haven't come across any infected for the time being. And not taking this short respite for granted, I look towards Faith who was quietly messing with her wrist bracelet. It was a silver one that had the name 'Trina' engraved in capital letters on it along with small charms such as hearts and stars. A nice one in my opinion.
"Is that thing important to you?"
I asked in a low voice. She's been fiddling with it for a while now so it aroused my curiosity of wanting to know the story behind it.
Her attention still on the bracelet, Faith shows a soft and endearing smile before saying.
"It's a gift from my girlfriend."
"Girlfriend?"
"Yeah, got a problem with a girl loving another girl?"
Within her words, there was a hint of ferociousness. Fearing that she might take me as a homophobic due to my surprisement, I quickly shake my head and say quickly.
"No, I don't have a problem with it. Love has no boundaries, no matter the race or gender, you can love who you want to love. I have no say over it."
"Whoa, I never expected someone like you to say something so romantic! You should never judge a book by its cover, huh?"
Putting on an overly dramatic full of surprise, Faith jokingly pokes fun at me.
"Okay, I'll stop messing with you. I got this bracelet from my girlfriend Tania. It was a gift for our anniversary five months ago. She bought me one and I bought her one. We got matching pairs."
"Now look who's acting all romantic. Buying each other presents and stuff."
"Oh, shut up."
"D-Desmond, can you come up here for a second?"
All of a sudden, David's called out to me. His voice was solemn and serious. Leaving the bewildered Faith where she was, I left my group and went towards David's. They were in the next hallway around the corner.
"..."
The words 'what's wrong' got stuck in my mouth. What I'm seeing right now is straight up horrific!
On the floor, covered in green bloodstained paper, were the bodies of our former schoolmates and teachers!
After taking a couple of moments to compose myself after seeing such a scene, I turn my head towards the pale face David and say.
"We have to think President Yang for covering them up. Otherwise, what we'd be seeing right now would be something a whole lot more gruesome."
"...Agreed."
David manages to say with much difficulty. His eyes are filled with fear. They same went for Sara and the others as well. They were terrified, me included. My back is covered in cold sweat and I'm trying my best to keep my shaking to a minimum.
But despite this fear, we got to go on. It's too late to go back now. Therefore, in order to continue, I try to break Sara and the others out of their daze.
However, just before I get the chance to...
"T-Trina?"
I heard Faith's shaky voice coming from behind me.