I didn't care about that. I just wanted to get out of there, and find a safe place. I drove the truck, and headed for the exit. I hoped that the zombies were still distracted by the music, and that we could escape without any trouble. I hoped that we could survive this nightmare.
The students quickly piled into the truck,
the zombies that still haven't go to the speaker was noticed them as they drive their way though the gates. and they drove off towards the pharmacy where their car was parked.
We arrived where our pickup truck got parked
"Steff, go to the pickup truck and lead us! Hurry!" I said, Steff didn't waste time and quickly get in the pickup truck.
As soon as she got in the truck, she stepped on the gas. She sped away from the school, hoping to leave the zombies behind. We're following her, But as we we're driving, the music suddenly stopped, catching the attention of the nearby zombies. They turned their heads, and saw us. They started to chase after us, their grotesque hands reaching for the vehicle.
I navigated through the labyrinth of streets, trying to find a way out. The zombies closed in, grabbing onto the truck, but the students inside fought valiantly to keep them at bay. They used their weapons and their fists, pushing and kicking the zombies off. While the military used their guns. They screamed and cursed, but they didn't give up.
Finally, we reached the gas station, and came to a stop.
We got out of the truck, and checked our surroundings. The gas station was deserted as we were the one who looted it. There were empty cans and bottles, and some blood stains. It has been like that since we looted it. We didn't see any zombies, but we didn't let our guard down.
We were exhausted from the ordeal, but we didn't have much time to rest. I called for a brief break, and gathered the survivors around me. I had to make them understand the situation, and the rules.
"If any of you want to join us, you must follow my orders," I announced, my voice carrying the weight of responsibility. "If I tell you to kill someone, you do it. We're in a fight for survival, and we can't afford to be naïve."
One of the military the same girl who talk to me ealier among the survivors objected, her voice filled with conviction. "I can't allow that. We can't resort to killing each other. Our duty is to protect the civilians, not harm them."
I felt a surge of anger, and frustration. She was living in a fantasy, not realizing the harsh reality. She was clinging to her ideals, but they were useless in this world. I had to make her see the truth.
I walked towards her, and pointed my gun at her head. She flinched, but didn't say a word. She looked at me with fear, and defiance.
"What a shame, to be killed here... the world has already changed," I said coldly. "What civilians and soldiers? If you were in danger, wouldn't you fight for your life? Now that I'm pointing this gun at your head, you're a soldier yourself, aren't you? Save yourself then. Can't do that?"
She didn't mutter a word, just stared at me with wide eyes. I smirked, and said, "Figured."
I lowered my gun, and continued, "Are you really just going to wait for the soldiers to save you? That's just a fantasy. Wake up already... will you?"
The old soldier, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes, intervened. He was the captain of the rescue team, and he had bowed to me before. He said, "Calm down, kid. What he said is true. You can't expect much from the military. It's survival of the fittest now, but that doesn't mean you have to kill someone to survive. At times like this, we should extend our hands to help each other in need."
The class president, her voice calm and composed, chimed in, seeking a compromise. "What are you going to do, Souta? Will you build a safe base for everyone?"
I shook my head, and said, "No, that's not my intention. Building a base means protecting the weak, but some of the weak become greedy and endanger everyone. We can't afford that could I? I'm not the military like those guys, I won't protect civilians, you have the responsibility to protect yourself"
The class president's curiosity piqued, she pressed for an explanation. "Then what is your plan then?"
I looked at another girl, who had been hiding behind the others. She was the one who had pushed a boy earlier, to save herself from the zombies. I had seen her do it, and I had remembered her face. I walked towards her, my voice taking on a more chilling tone.
"Am I right?" I asked her, confronting her.
The girl stammered, her voice shaking. "W-w-what are you talking about? You can't kill people just because you want to!"
I smiled, and said, "Oho~, what's this? So when you pushed the boy earlier, isn't that killing?"
"W-w-what push! I never pushed anyone!" the girl protested, desperation in her voice.
She tried to deny it, but I knew she was lying. "Don't listen to this man anymore! He's just a liar! I never pushed anyone, right?!" She implored the other students in a panicked frenzy, hoping to find some support.
But no one spoke up for her. They all knew what she had done, and they all despised her. They looked at her with contempt, and disgust.
I pulled out my katana, my resolve firm. I said, "Don't listen to him. He was-" I didn't let her finish. I swiftly swung my katana, slashing her before anyone could react.
Blood splattered on the ground, and the girl fell to the floor. She was dead, and I felt no remorse. She deserved it, for what she had done.
The students erupted into panic, their fear of being the next target palpable.
"What have you done?! She said she didn't do it!" the military girl spoke up, her voice filled with disbelief.
I met her gaze without a flinch. I said, "So? If I said I didn't kill her, doesn't that also mean I didn't do it?"
Shock and confusion swept through the group. The old soldier, who had been observing silently, stepped forward with his wheelchai. He said, "No, he's right. She did push someone when we were being running from those hordes" he confirmed.
"I did see her push someone, but that doesn't mean you can kill her," the class president interjected, her tone calm and composed.
I ignored them, and said, "I want to protect my loved ones from any threats, whether they be zombies or humans. Our mindsets differ. You want to protect the humans from the zombies, but I want to protect my loved ones from the enemy, be it a zombie or a human. You're too naïve, you still don't understand what the human nature is."
We were silent for a while, as we thought about our choices. I knew that having two leaders in a group would cause problems, and I didn't want to deal with that. I decided to make a proposal, and break the silence.
"I have a proposal," I said. "Let them choose which side they want to be on. Two leaders in a group would ruin everything, after all."
The president nodded in agreement, realizing the importance of individual choice. She looked at the students and the civilians, and said, "You heard him. You can choose to follow me, or to follow him. But you have to make up your mind, and stick to it."
The students and the civilians looked at each other, and then at us. They had to decide who they trusted more, and who they thought could keep them alive. Most of them sided with the president, feeling more comfortable with her ideals and her methods. They believed that she could protect them, and that she cared about them.
The five remaining soldiers contemplated their decision. They looked at the president, and then at me. They had to decide who they respected more, and who they thought could lead them. They were torn between their duty and their curiosity.
One of the soldiers asked the old soldier, who was their captain, "Where do we stand, Captain?"
The old soldier chuckled, a mix of admiration and amusement on his face. He said, "As soldiers, we should side with the president, to protect the civilians. But personally, I'm leaning towards Souta's way of thinking."
The other soldiers were confused, and asked, "Why, Captain?"
The old soldier replied, with a glint of mischief in his eyes, "Because his mindset is different, and I appreciate how he thinks. He's not afraid to do what it takes, and he's not bound by any rules. He's a survivor, and a leader."
The soldiers laughed, and said, "You're crazy, Captain. But we respect you."
They aligned themselves with the president, and thanked the old soldier for his guidance. They also thanked me, and said, "We hope to see you again, Souta. You're an interesting guy."
I nodded, and said, "You too, soldiers. You're brave, and loyal."
I made it clear that they wouldn't receive any weapons or the truck, reminding them of the consequences of their choice. I said, "You can keep the bulletproof vests, but you have to give up the guns and the ammo. And you can't use the truck, either. It's ours."
They agreed, and handed over the weapons and the ammo. They also got out of the truck, and said goodbye to us. They said, "Good luck, Souta. And take care of the girls."
I smiled, and said, "Don't worry, I will. And good luck to you, too."
I drove the truck, while Steff took charge of the car. Amy and the president sat with me in the front seats, while Lily and Nana sat with Steff in the back seats. We had our weapons, our supplies, and our vehicles. We were ready to go.
With a final farewell, I wished them good luck, and drove off towards the mountains, leaving the others behind. I hoped that they would survive, and that they would find a safe place. But I also knew that we had different paths, and different goals. We had to follow our own plans.