Chereads / Undead Nation / Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: The Veteran

Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: The Veteran

Setting: Mumbai city, Lokhandwala, Star Tower Apartments

Day: Friday (6th January 2021)

(Blood Splatters)

Zombie:Hhrrehhrhhhhgh!!!

(Zombie drops dead)

Ranveer(Thinking): What?! I am not dead?

Sniper: Hey you!! What the hell are you doing down there? Run fast reach the 6th floor of my block.

Ranveer(Thinking): Did that person save me?! Why though? Who is he??

Sniper: Hey are you deaf?? Look behind you they are coming!!

Ranveer(Thinking): What??!!

(Ranveer looks behind)

(Zombies run towards him)

Ranveer(Thinking): Oh crap! The zombies must have been attracted to the gunshot.

(Ranveer starts running)

Zombies: Aaaaaaaagckh!!!!! Grrrrraaaaagckh!!!!

Ranveer(Thinking): God damn it!!!!! I don't know why that person saved me but listening to him was the best option I had. He told me to reach  the 6th floor.

(Ranveer starts climbing up the stairs)

Zombies: Aaaaaaaarrrrgckh!!!! Grrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaagckh!!!!

Ranveer(Thinking): Damn!!!!! These creatures are behind me.

(Ranveer reaches the 6th floor)

Ranveer(Thinking): Yes!!! Finally, I am here.

Zombies: Aaaaaaaagckh!! Grrrrrrrraaaagckh!

Ranveer(Thinking): Oh shit! That door is closed...now what???!!!!

(The door opens)

Sniper: Duckkk!!!!

(Sniper takes out a gun)

Ranveer(Thinking): Oh crap!!!

(Ranveer ducks)

(Sniper shoots!!!)

Sound Fx: Dhooofff!!! Dhooooffff!!!

Zombies: Grrrrrrrrraaaaagckhhh!!! Hrrrrrrrraaaaagckh!!!!!

(Zombies drop dead)

Sniper: Get in fast!!!

(Ranveer gets inside)

(Sniper closes the door)

Sound Fx: Dhaamm!!

Ranveer(Thinking): Thank God I am still alive.

Sniper: Hey kid...

(Ranveer turns around)

(Sniper points the gun at Ranveer)

Ranveer: Huh??!!

Sniper: Remove the helmet and put your hands up.

Ranveer(Thinking): Oh no!!! Is this man going to kill me??!!

(Ranveer removes the helmet)

(Sniper looks at Ranveer)

Sniper: By any chance are you Dilip Rathod's younger son.

Ranveer(Thinking): Huh! Does he know my father?? Who is he??

Ranveer: How do you know my father?

Sniper: So I was right.

(Sniper puts the gun down)

Sniper: My name is Anurag Chaudhary,  your father and I are good friends.

Ranveer: What??!! Have we ever met sir??

Sniper: We did when you were 3 years old. It's no wonder that you forgot about me.

Ranveer: Oh I am so sorry.

Anurag: Wait why were you outside your house?

Ranveer: Well you see...I have run out of food and I needed to eat.

Anurag: Where is your family, are they still in the house?

Ranveer: No! They left for Delhi a day before this whole mess.

Anurag: What??!! So you are living alone?

Ranveer: Yeah...

Anurag: I see...

Ranveer: Sir why do you have a gun??

Anurag: Huh!

Ranveer(Thinking): What the hell am I asking??

Anurag: Oh!! You see I used to be in the military therefore, I have a license to keep guns.

Ranveer: I see.

Anurag: Kid, have you ever swung a sword before?

Ranveer: Well no sir, this was my first time.

Anurag(Thinking): What?! That should not be the case. The way he was able to cut through those creatures so easily and precisely I thought that this kid for sure had learned how to handle a blade. Is he lying to me? No why would he, besides it looks as if he is being honest.

Anurag: I see.

Anurag: Well I guess you are lucky that you found me as I have a months worth of food.

Ranveer: Really?

Anurag: Of course we can survive for a month here.

Ranveer: That's amazing, thank Go-

Anurag: But not more than that.

Anurag: we will eventually have to leave this place.

Ranveer: I am well aware but sir, can you not connect with the rescue team?

Anurag: The rescue team?

Ranveer: Yeah I mean the country is under a national emergency, won't there be a rescue team for us?

Anurag: Kid forget about any rescue.

Ranveer: Huh!

Ranveer(Thinking): What? What does he mean by that?

Anurag: There is a high chance that there will be no rescue team coming four us.

Ranveer: What? What do you mean by that?

Anurag: It has been a week since this hell started did you even see  one rescue helicopter in the sky?

Ranveer: Huh?!

Ranveer(Thinking): He is right I have not heard of any helicopter neither have I seen it in the sky. Then now what? What the hell am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to survive?

(Ranveer lowers his head in despair)

Anurag: Don't worry that much.

Ranveer: Huh?!

(Ranveer looks up)

Anurag: I mean we still have weapons and a months worth of food we can think of a strategy to survive you know.

Ranveer(Thinking): He is right, I should not be disheartened so soon.

Anurag: I guess I will have to start your training today.

Ranveer(Thinking): Training?

Ranveer: What do you mean by that sir?

Anurag: You see we only have a month now and, to be honest, the way you are right now you will not be able to survive this ordeal. Not even for two days more.

Ranveer: What?

Anurag: And so in this one month I will teach you how to use a gun, I will teach you how to use a knife and also I will teach you kickboxing. I will teach you how to survive in this hellhole.

Ranveer: I see, but will I be able to learn all of this in a month?

Anurag: That depends on you.

Anurag(Thinking): To be honest I don't know if this boy will be able to learn these things in a month but from what I have seen so far this kid should be a martial prodigy and be capable enough. Even so, it could have just been a fluke, but now is not the time to think that. For his sake, I hope that what I saw him doing with his sword was not a fluke.

Anurag: Alright kid, are you ready?

Ranveer(Thinking): I don't know if I will be able to learn everything he tries to teach me, but if it would help me survive this hellhole then...I am ready to do it.

Ranveer: Yes!

Anurag: Alright then, let's begin!

To be continued...