Chereads / Undead Nation / Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Fateful Encounter

Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Fateful Encounter

Setting: Mumbai city, Lokhandwala, Star Tower Apartments

Day: Saturday(7th February 2021)

(Ranveer opens his eyes)

Ranveer (Thinking): Is it morning?

(Ranveer looks at a clock)

Ranveer: Damn its noon.

Ranveer: I should first clean myself up.

(Ranveer Gets up from his bed and walks towards the washroom)

(Ranveer opens the washroom door and removes his clothes and opens the shower)

(Ranveer stands below the shower)

Ranveer (Thinking): I can't believe I was just crying yesterday. I guess the old man would've laughed at me if he was able to see me.

(Ranveer closes the shower and wraps a towel on his waist)

Ranveer (Thinking): I've already wasted a lot of time. I need to get food today itself and leave this place as soon as possible.

(Ranveer wears his jacket and pants)

Ranveer: Now then the only thing left is the bag and the utility belt.

(Ranveer wears the utility belt and starts filling it with guns and bullets and knives)

Ranveer (Thinking): I am lucky that there are still bullets in the old man's house otherwise getting out of here would've just been a dream. Even so, I cannot carry the M8 Barret(Sniper Rifle) he used.

(Ranveer fills the entire utility belt and then looks at the gun that Anurag gave him)

(Ranveer picks up the gun and then looks towards the ceiling)

Ranveer: So this was your favourite gun huh?! Thank you, sir. I promise I won't let you down this time.

Ranveer (Thinking): This gun is a Desert Eagle 357 magnum that means it should've different bullets from these Glocks. (Guns)

(Ranveer looks for the bullets of the Desert Eagle)

(Ranveer walks towards Anurag's room and looks for the bullets)

(Ranveer finds a box and opens it)

Ranveer: Found them.

Ranveer (Thinking): There are about 5 magazines here and there are 8 bullets in each, so a total of about 40 rounds. Let's add the Glock. I've loaded the two Glocks with a magazine each. Now I only have two more magazines. Each magazine has about 17 rounds. That means 68 rounds. A total of 108 bullets. Zombies in the complex are estimated to be about 200+. I guess this will have to do.

(Ranveer loads the gun Anurag gave him and keeps its magazine inside the utility belt)

Ranveer (Thinking): I must scout the area before heading out.

(Ranveer removes the drone from charging)

Ranveer: You've always helped me out. Do the same today.

(The drone starts flying)

(The drone starts flying outside the window)

.......

(Ranveer looks at the screen attached to the remote control)

Ranveer: Damn!

Ranveer (Thinking): These zombies are more clustered towards the front gate that is near the grocery store.

(Ranveer calls the drone back)

(The drone lands on Ranveer's hand)

Ranveer (Thinking): I need to do something about that cluster.

........

(Ranveer thinking)

(Ranveer gets an idea)

Ranveer (Thinking): These creatures are attracted to sound so if I apply some of my old tactics then I would be able to get through them but I cannot go there and set up the speaker and my phone it's too risky. Maybe...if I use the drone it might work. Even so, I do not know how much weight it can handle.

(Ranveer attaches the Bluetooth speaker and the phone on the drone)

Ranveer: Let's see if this works.

(Ranveer starts flying the drone)

(The drone starts flying without a hitch)

(Ranveer lightly smirks)

Ranveer (Thinking): This! This will work.

Ranveer (Thinking): That means I will have to sacrifice the drone and my mobile. Since my phone is not able to connect to the outside world I guess it's fine. If Sameer finds out that I used his precious gift for this. He would be so mad.

(Ranveer smiles a bit more)

Ranveer: Well it can't be helped.

(Ranveer connects his phone to the speaker)

Speaker: Bluetooth connected!

Ranveer: No it's time for some music.

(Ranveer plays his favourite music playlist)

Sound Fx: 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

(The drone starts flying outside the window)

(The drone lands on a car)

Sound Fx:🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

(Ranveer starts to tie wraps on his hands and starts tying the knives with a nylon rope)

(Zombies attracted to the sound start running towards the speaker in the opposite direction)

Zombies: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggkkkkkkkkhhhhhh!!!!!!

(Ranveer starts counting till ten while wearing his equipment)

Ranveer: 1...2!

(Ranveer starts walking towards the door with his bag)

(Ranveer starts wearing his shoes)

Ranveer: 3...4!

(Ranveer opens the door and starts walking outside and then closes the door)

Ranveer: 5...6!

(Ranveer starts walking down the stairs)

....

Ranveer: 7...8!

(Ranveer continues to walk down the stairs)

Ranveer: 9!

(Ranveer reaches the ground floor)

Ranveer: 10!

(Ranveer checks the back exit of the block)

Ranveer (Thinking): Good! All the zombies are running in the opposite direction. I can take the front exit.

(Ranveer starts walking towards the front exit of the block)

(Ranveer reaches the front exit)

Ranveer: Sigh! Let's go.

(Ranveer walks out the front exit of the block)

(Ranveer checks his left and his right)

Ranveer (Thinking): A lot of the zombies took the bait and are running in the opposite direction but I knew this plan wasn't full proof.

(Ranveer turns to his right)

(Zombies on the right side)

Zombies: Grrrragckh!!! Rrrrrraaaagckh!!

(Ranveer smirks)

Ranveer: 20 zombies. Right in front of me.

(Ranveer's heart starts beating fast)

Ranveer (Thinking): What?! Why is my heart beating so fast?! Is it because I am scared? No that can't be it. I've fought these dead f***s before. Maybe it's because...

(Ranveer smiles with blood lust)

Ranveer (Thinking): I am excited to exact revenge on these f****rs. For what they did to the old man.

(Ranveer takes out his knives which are connected to the nylon ropes)

(Ranveer starts running towards the zombies)

(Zombies start moving towards)

Zombies: Aaaaarrrgggccckhhh!!!!

Ranveer: I'll kill all of you.

(Ranveer throws both the knives towards the 2 zombies in front of him)

Ranveer: Haah!!

(The knives pierce into the zombies head)

Sound Fx: Blood splatters on the ground.

(Both the zombies drop dead)

Zombie1 and 2: Grrrgckkhh!!

(Ranveer retrieves the knife with the help of the nylon ropes attached to them)

(Ranveer continues to run towards the zombies)

(Ranveer continues to kill the zombies)

Ranveer (Thinking): The speed at which I am killing them is not bad. I've already killed 6 of them but if I had my sword I could've killed them faster than this. If only I had my sword.

(One of the zombies starts running faster towards Ranveer)

Ranveer (Thinking): That zombie is fast. It may be a Burster.

Burster: Aaaarrrrgcccckkkhhh!!!

(Ranveer runs and jumps on top of the burster and removes a Glock from his utility belt which has a silencer connected to it and shoots the Burster in the head)

Sound Fx: Phoooosh!!

Sound Fx: Blood splatters on the ground.

(Ranveer lands on his feet and continues to run towards the front gate of the complex)

(The Burster drops dead)

Burster: Grrrrrrreeegckkhhh!!!!

Ranveer (Thinking): 13 more to go. I guess I will just use the Glock for them.

(Ranveer shoots the other zombies down while running towards the front gate of the complex)

Sound Fx: Blood Splatters all over the ground.

(All zombies drop dead)

Zombies: Grrrreeeegckhh!!

(Ranveer gets some blood on his face)

(Ranveer wipes his face with his hand)

(Ranveer looks at his hand)

Ranveer: Disgusting!

(Ranveer walks out the front gate of the complex)

Ranveer (Thinking): I knew there were no zombies outside the complex but still this sight is unbelievable.

(Ranveer walks towards Dhanyavad Stores)

Ranveer (Thinking): I am lucky that there is a medical shop near the grocery store. In the future, if I need any medicines I could just take them from here.

(Ranveer reaches the Dhanyavad stores entry)

Ranveer (Thinking): I know there were no zombies outside but I should still be careful.

(Ranveer takes out his military knives)

(Ranveer enters Dhanyavad Stores)

....

Ranveer (Thinking): What?! What is this is there someone on my right? Is it a zombie? No this is a human. He or she is holding a metal pipe. This person is attacking me with the pipe.

(XXXX swings the pipe towards Ranveer)

XXXX: Hyaaaah!

(Ranveer ducks and rolls forward)

(Ranveer looks in front of him)

XXXX: Boss did you miss?

Boss: Shut up! This nimble f****r dodged it.

(Boss Removes his gun and points it at Ranveer)

Boss: Hey you! Stand up.

(Ranveer stands up and looks towards Boss)

Boss (Thinking): This person...

(Ranveer gets surrounded by 2 more people with sticks and Ranveer's sword in their hands)

(Ranveer looks behind)

Ranveer (Thinking): That sword.

The person behind Ranveer: Hey you! Look ahead.

(Ranveer looks forward)

Boss: Hahahaha!!

XXXX: Sir should we call the leader.

(Boss stops laughing)

Boss: Don't he is enjoying those girls in the back. He told me to not disturb him.

Ranveer (Thinking): A leader. That makes five of them with some hostages.

(Another person comes from behind with a rod)

The other person: Boss is this our new prey?

Ranveer (Thinking): Let's make that 6.

Boss: Yes! This person appears to be a teen.

The other person: I see.

Boss (Thinking): This kid is wearing a utility belt and a bag. He must be carrying weapons with him.

Boss: Hey kid! Remove your belt, your bag and give them to me.

(Ranveer looks coldly towards the Boss)

(The Boss gets startled)

Boss (Thinking): This kid! He is not simple.

Boss: What are you looking at punk?! Give me the belt.

Ranveer (Coldly): Honestly, I saw this coming I just can't seem to find a decent person in these times.

Boss: Shut the f**k up! Give me the belt and the bag otherwise, I will shoot you.

Ranveer (Smirks): I know.

(Ranveer removes his belt, his bag and moves forward to give it to the Boss)

Ranveer: Here you go.

(The Boss moves his hand forward to grab the belt and the bag)

(Ranveer smiles with a cold smile)

Ranveer (Whispers): You will all die anyway!

(The boss gets startled)

(Ranveer pulls the Boss' hand towards him)

(Ranveer punches the boss' Adams Apple and takes his gun in his hands)

(The boss falls)

Boss: Coughs!!

(Ranveer points the gun at XXXX and shoots on his right knee)

Sound Fx: Phooosh!!

Sound Fx: Blood splatters on the floor!

XXXX: Aaahh!! It hurts! It hurts!!!

(Other three people get shocked)

Ranveer (With Cold eyes): Stop being annoying.

Boss: Get him! Coughs!!

(Points the gun on the person behind him)

(Ranveer pulls the trigger)

Ranveer (Thinking): It's out of bullets.

(The person behind Ranveer(Enemy 1) swings the metal rod)

Enemy 1: Hyaaah!!

(Enemy 1 hits Ranveer's hand and Ranveer drops the gun, his belt and his bag)

Ranveer: Grrrgckh!

(Ranveer instantly throws a knife that he hides towards Enemy 1)

Ranveer: Haah!

(The knife pierces into Enemy 1's chest)

Enemy 1: Gaaagckh!!

(Enemy 1 drops his weapon on the ground)

(Enemy 1 drops dead)

(Blood starts flowing on the ground)

Enemy 2 (Thinking): This kid! He killed him without any hesitation.

(Ranveer looks towards Enemy 2 and 3 coldly with blood lust)

Enemy 2: You son of a bitch!!

(Enemy 2 unsheathes the sword and swings the sword towards Ranveer)

Enemy 2: Hyah!

(Ranveer dodges and kicks Enemy 3 on the stomach)

Enemy 3: Gaagckh!!

(Enemy 3 gets pushed back between 2 snack shelves)

Enemy 3: You brat!

(Enemy 2 turns and once again swings the sword)

Enemy 2: Hyah!

(Ranveer blocks the sword with his knife and gets pushed back between the snack shelves)

(Enemy 3 swings the metal rod in his hands)

Enemy 3: Take this brat!

(The rod hits Ranveer's chest and Ranveer hits the snack shelf behind him)

Ranveer: Gaagckh!!

(Enemy 2 swings the sword)

Enemy 2: Hyah!

(Ranveer barely dodges and gets cut on his forearm)

Ranveer: Iiikhh!!

(Ranveer starts bleeding)

Ranveer (Angrily): Return my sword!!

(Enemy 2 swings the sword again)

Enemy 2: Haah!

(Ranveer dodges and cuts Enemy 2's throat)

Sound Fx: Slice!

(Enemy 2 drips dead and Ranveer takes his sword from his hands)

Enemy 3: You Bastard!

(Enemy 3 swings the metal rod while moving forward but Ranveer dodges and gets behind him)

Sound Fx: Photos!

(Enemy 3 gets shot in the chest)

Enemy 3: Boss?!

(Enemy 3 dies)

Boss (Scared): Oh no!

Ranveer (With cold eyes): Nice aim.

(Ranveer pushes Enemy 3's dead body onto the Boss)

(Ranveer throws his knife towards the Boss and it pierces into the boss' skull)

(The Boss dies)

(Ranveer walks towards his belt and his bag)

Ranveer (Thinking): Their Boss tried to use the weapons in the utility belt but too bad I saw it coming.

(Ranveer picks up his belt and bag)

(XXXX crying in pain)

(Ranveer looks towards XXXX coldly)

Ranveer (Coldly): Oh you are alive too?

(Ranveer points his Glock towards XXXX)

XXXX: Please! Please don't!!

(Ranveer shoots)

Sound Fx: Phooosh!

Sound Fx: Blood spills on the ground

(XXXX dies)

Ranveer: I just wasted a bullet. Oh well.

(Ranveer wears his bag and his belt)

Sound Fx: Phooosh!

(Ranveer runs and hides behind a snack shelf)

Ranveer (Thinking): Damn it! I forgot that there was one more person left.

The man that shot the bullet: Oh damn! I missed.

Ranveer (Thinking): That voice!!

The man that shot the bullet: I guess I am still not used to it.

Ranveer (Thinking): That's Ansh!!!

Ansh (Smiling): Right Ranveer?

Ranveer (Angrily): Ansh!! I knew there was some connection between you and this place otherwise how would my sword be here in the first place?

Ansh: How the hell did you even survive?

Ranveer: Don't worry I will tell you everything in a moment.

(Ansh looks around)

Ansh (Thinking): Damn it! He killed 5 of my men. He is skilled but I know what he is like. If I make him realize that he killed people he will start feeling guilty about it and that will give me an opening to shoot him. He has been like this since childhood. If someone tells him what he has done wrong then he would start apologising for it.

Ansh: Do you know what you've done Ranveer? You've killed people. How are you gonna atone for this?

Ranveer (In a worried voice): What?! What do you mean?! I didn't -

Ansh: Yes you did. How does killing them make you any different from them huh?!

Ranveer (In a worried voice): No! No! No! I did it in self-defence.

Ansh: Keep telling yourself tha-

Ranveer (In a cold manner): Is that what you expected me to say?

Ansh: Huh?!

Ranveer (In a cold manner): Hahahaha!!! You seriously thought I was going to say something that ridiculous?!

Ansh (Startled): What are you-

Ranveer (In a cold manner): I might've killed your pimps in self-defence but I am aware that I murdered them and guess what?! The feeling I got from killing them was not any different from the feeling I got after killing a zombie.

Ansh (Thinking and scared): What?! This isn't Ranveer. He was never like this. What the hell happened to him?! Is it because of what I did?!

Ranveer (In a cold manner): Don't worry Ansh. Since you care so much about your pimps. I'll make sure that you see them today itself.

(Ansh gets startled)

Ansh (Scared and angry): You!! You bastard!!! Just because you killed some people and zombies don't think that you're better than everyone else.

Ranveer (In a cold manner): You're right I am not better than everyone else. I am just better than you.

Ansh (Angrily): You!!! If you're better than me then stop hiding and come out.

Ranveer (In a cold manner): I will right now.

(Ranveer comes out of his hiding place)

Ansh (Angrily): There you are.

(Ansh points the gun towards Ranveer and Ranveer starts running between the 2 snack shelves)

(Ansh shoots)

Sound Fx: Phoosh!

(Ansh misses)

Ansh (Angrily): Damn it!!

(Ranveer smirks while running)

(Ansh starts shooting through the snack shelf)

Sound Fx: Phooosh!! Phooosh!!!Phooosh!!!!

(Chip packets explode due to the bullets and chips fly in the air and Ranveer continues to run through them)

Ansh (Thinking): Damn it!! I am missing every shot. This nimble bastard. Even so, there is an opening. At the end of the snack shelf. He would have to come through that opening only. He only has that one opening.

(Ansh runs towards that opening and points his gun on that opening)

(Ranveer keeps running towards the opening)

Ansh: Come on...come on

(Ansh sees Ranveer's shadow and sees something in the opening)

Ansh (Angrily): Now you die, bastard.

(Ansh shoots)

Sound Fx: Phoosh!!

(Ansh shoots Ranveer's bag)

(Ansh gets shocked)

Ansh (Thinking): What???!!! That isn't Ranveer.

(Ranveer shoots through the shelf and the bullet pierces through Ansh's arm)

(Ansh drops the gun)

Ansh (In pain): Aaaaaah!!! Aaaah!! It hurts!! It hurts!!!!

(Ranveer runs through the opening)

Ranveer (With cold eyes): Take this.

(Ranveer punches Ansh in the face)

Ansh: Gaaaackh!!

(Ansh falls on the floor)

Ansh (In pain): It hurts!!

(Ansh's tooth breaks and falls on the floor)

Ansh (In pain): You..you broke my tooth!!!

(Ansh looks towards Ranveer)

Ranveer (With cold eyes): Oh don't worry I am going to break much more than this.

(Ranveer removes the zippo that Anurag gave him and starts to continuously open and close the cap)

(Ranveer picks up the gun that Ansh dropped)

Ranveer (with cold eyes): Oh there is some blood on the gun. Oh well, I will clean it when I go back. Thanks for returning it Ansh.

Ansh (In pain): Please let me go Ranveer. We are friends, aren't we?

(Ranveer grabs Ansh's left leg)

Ansh (In pain): What are you doing??

Ranveer (With cold eyes and a smirk): Don't worry you will be at peace soon.

(Ranveer breaks Ansh's leg)

(Ansh is about to shout in pain but Ranveer smashes Ansh's face on the floor)

Ranveer (With cold eyes): Stop shouting you're annoying.

Ansh (In pain): My father won'-

Ranveer (With cold eyes): He will try to kill me won't he? You see Ansh with all the things that have happened to me I have made some rules for the apocalypse. Rule No. 1- If anyone tries to betray me I will not let them see the light of day and Rule No. 2- If anyone threatens me in the slightest I will kill them in the worst way possible. Irrespective of who it is. You know because of you I couldn't even bury the old man's body.

Ansh (With broken teeth and in pain): Please Don't. Forgive me, please!!!

Ranveer (With cold eyes and a smile): Oh well! So long 'friend'.

(Ranveer points the gun towards Ansh and shoots)

Sound Fx: Phoosh!!

(Ansh dies)

Ranveer: Since I am done here I must collect some food and drinks for the coming days.

(Ranveer picks up his bag)

Ranveer: Damn There is a big hole in it. Oh well, it should still work.

(Ranveer starts packing the bag Chip packets and other dry snacks)

Ranveer: I should get some water. If I am right they would be in the back.

(Ranveer goes in the back section and sees a fridge filled with drinks)

Ranveer: Perfect.

(Ranveer goes there and opens the fridge)

(Ranveer hears muffled sounds)

Ranveer: What the hell??

(Ranveer sees three girls on the floor tied with their mouths tied and torn clothes)

Ranveer: Oh no!!!

(Ranveer remembers what the Boss said about the Ansh enjoying himself)

Girls on the floor: Mhmm!!! Mhmmm!!!

(Ranveer closes the zippo cap)

To be continued...