Maya realized that she has spend too much time finding the way out and when she found out that the outside was fill with zombies scattered around, not like in the building where they conquer the classroom making their nest and quietly wait for the prey. Fortunately, she managed to hide herself between the flower beds and the walls behind her so none of them can sense her.
The building that Lica reside was not far from her hiding place but she must across the road before she can get over there but it seems impossible with the zombies roaming the entire road.
'What to do?' Maya bite her pale lips while her eyes darted around when suddenly her face lit up. She took a small pebble a bit bigger than her thumb and...Clang!
The pebble hit the trash can that far from where she was hiding.
Seeing the zombies scrambled towards the sound means that her intuition was right again. She noticed it earlier back when she faced with those thing at the corridor. They have poor eyesight but sensitive hearing and she just take a gamble with a small rock.
This time the fortune goddess were on her side. She successfully made her way through a horde of zombies rushing towards the sound she had just make and entered the backdoor without breaking a sweat. Surely, inside of this building was also in the same state as the building she come from. She affirm that those zombies lacked intelligent but it's seem the ones that roamed outside and the ones in hiding was a bit different as if there might be the difference between them.
Like a little mouse hiding from the cat, Maya carefully explored every corner of the corridor. Sometimes, there was a crowd of zombies gnawing on bones, with crushed meat and blood scattered haphazardly on the floor. Seeing this, Maya would immediately take a detour. She felt no need to waste energy facing those who had not yet threatened her safety. Out of the blue, there was a desperate wail along the corridor, followed by the familiar roaring of zombies and the scream of a man?
'Wait, why it's getting near?'
The words that left unspoken become the answer when she saw two boys no.. two grown-up boys rushing towards her..no .. they are running because of those things chasing them!
'Damn!' Talk about saving energy.
Both of the boys also saw the unfamiliar girl and wanted to shout for her to run away but they realized that in front of the girl there were also zombies that were busily eating and were now aware of their presence.
It was not long for them to realize that they were trapped in the middle.
And Maya, for the first time felt anger bubbling up in her heart. She looked toward the zombies. There was six of them, three in front of her and the other three behind the boys. Perfect.
Without waiting the zombies to strike first, Maya rushed towards the nearest zombies in front her in incredible speed and lift the baseball bat before hitting the head of one of the zombies.
Their head was as hard as rock but it not invulnerable. Her prowess comes when she felt the adrenaline rush inside her give no fear instead make her expecting the result in destroying something deprive from her way..
With the display of her prowess in killing the zombies, the zombies fell with a shattered head showing the gruesome ash-grey brain mixed with dark red blood. But in the third hit, the baseball bat in her hand also become wreck. The only weapon she had become useless.
Now what does she need to do? use her hand? Hell no. Even if her face was now dirty with the zombies's blood and brain matter but she refuse dirtying her hands by breaking the zombies head.
She might as well run ahead since there was no more any obstacles in front of her. But she quickly erased her thought when thinking about her poor sense of direction. She glare at the boys behind. Since they are in this building, they might know about Lica, thus Maya decide to lend them a hand while suppressing the irritation in heart.
Both of the boys already reach in front of her while catching their breath. When they are running just now, they saw how this petite girl rush towards the zombies. They thought this is the last time they'll see her but unexpectedly, the same girl with the clumsy ferociousness kill the three zombies in one stroke. The sight seems a lie until they reach towards the said girl. Instead of fear, what they saw was a hidden anger?
Yes, in fact Maya felt angry seeing each of them had a better weapon than her and yet they run away and leading her towards danger.
"You...'' Before one on of the boys could continue his sentence, Maya interrupted.
"Do you want to live?" Her voice is small and yet sounded cold and sharp. Her eyes felt empty and calm like a frozen lake.
Maya don't wait for the answer and point at the direction behind them. The zombies was now getting near towards them and they might make it if they start running again but for how long? If they keep getting chased and trapped like that again, can they escape for the second time?
Seeing they hesitating, Maya rolled her eyes in silence before said;
"Hand me the axe and I'll finish them off. There something I need your help with.."
It sound easy for her. What's that? finish them off? Is she an iron man?
Nevertheless, the scene when she kills off the zombies earlier was not a fake. They don't have to running again. For now.
Upon receiving the weapon, her tranquil eyes suddenly changed the moment she wielded the axe.
Her eyes once again filled with savageness mixed with excitement. Something that the boys can't see from a distance.
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In the enclosed hall in the middle of the two buildings, there was students, school workers and teachers who survived the disaster that happened just a few hours ago but it is undeniable that many lives were lost by unknown entities.
"How Mr. Kim? is there any news?" The principal asked with hoarse voice. When all this thing started, the teachers that are freed from their schedule was having a meeting when suddenly the security alarm sounded. The people including him thought there was a fire going on and as was once practiced, they rushed into the hall. But the incident he thought gonna be bad was more than meet the eyes.
"Nothing sir. The line is busy and it seems that the internet signal and media connection was cut off. We can't get any news let alone seek help from outside." Mr. Kim said with helplessness.
The principal rubbed his temple. Help from outside can come later, for now with supplies they manage to get their hand in time and the sturdy wall and door that no way for the creatures to break in. Here, he was now in the safest place in school that the survivor seek refuge, meanwhile, some of his students...no...many of his students was now trapped outside this safe building and that what makes him felt blame worthy.
It's fine if they know about this place. They still have hope but for those who don't? what more they can expect to survive when there was no hope left?
Before the principal almost lost his sanity because of his cowardice , Mr. Kim suddenly let out the voice of excitement. "Sir! sir! we get the signal! we got the signal!.."
The hope sometimes arrive late but it still better than nothing.
"Conn..connect..Connect to the broadcasting system! Now!" The principal's eyes was now like a crystal threatening to fall.
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"Test..test..test..1..2..3..Hello and good evening to all of the families in City A, Academy High School. My childs and my friends...."
Kris put his index finger near his mouth, signaling his friends to stay put. They still has a long way towards the hall.
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"I am Arnold Clark, your head principal in this school. Today we faced something unexpected that bring disorder in our peaceful community. It's caused a disaster that involved many lives and the reason was....unknown. We had no information since the media and the internet connection was cut off for a few hours and only can be connected now..."
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"Everything that's happened, I will let you all hear the news from the media after this. But for now, for those who... fo..for those who loses their lives..please..please...please forgive me for being a coward. Forgive this teacher, forgive this father for being....useless...I'm sorry..I'm really am...sorry...."
They no longer argue. They don't share their mind but each of their hand was clenched tightly as if they formed a prayer. Yes, they are pray, this time not only for their wellbeing but also for their family and friends, dead or alive. Lica too, bowed her head with crystal tears wetting her pale cheek. 'Please god, anything but my family.'
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Crack!
The axe lodged firmly in the zombie's skull. The zombie's eerily pale pupils and chapped skin were mere centimeters away from her. Warm dark blood and brain matter splattered all over her face the rotten smell of zombie innards diffused across the corridor. She wiped her face with her sleeve. Not minding it getting dirtier.
'Is it over?' Maya thought so but the broadcasting continued again.
'Oh never mind.'
She scanned around her and find no more zombies before she step inside the empty classroom that the boys are in hiding. Yes, they are in hiding while letting a girl fighting alone with the monster. 'Let just exchange our gender then.'
Feeling the unfamiliar girl gives them side glance, the boys smile sheepishly and pretend to hear the broadcast. Maya shrugged her shoulder. She can deal with them later but now she also want to know the information that the principal got.
''For those who survived and still standing amidst the chaos, you all also...I'm begging you to please stay alive and be careful. There was still left a spark of hope for you all. Please come here. At the hall, we will be waiting for you."
The silence once again engulf around them. Only the roaring of the zombies that agitated with the broadcaster just now was heard all over the school. Some of the students that in the middle of escaping was safe because of the broadcasting.
A few moment in silence, the broadcasting started again but this time coming from outside.
'This breaking news! One prevailing phenomenon involves humans mutating and invading the country today less than fives hours. For those who stay at home, please do not go out for your safety. For those outside, please hide and use anything as a weapon to protect yourself. From the information we got from the military base, this incident was due to an unknown virus spreading and the world are facing the same issue. Therefore, please avoid drinking tap water. We also got the news that the virus would spread through the bite of mutated human. So please avoid confronting them as well. Last but not least, in order to maintain the orderly system, the military base have agreed with the government and build the survivor base in City Z. No matter how far you are, you're always welcomed. There's hope..'