Chapter 9
As they entered the hidden room behind the metal door, their eyes widened at the sight before them. The room was filled with an impressive arsenal of weapons—guns, ammunition, bulletproof vests, and helmets.
"Is this enough?" the girl asked, her eyes filled with anticipation.
"Yeah, thanks. We'll take all of the guns. Amy, let the girl go to the car first, then call the twins," Souta commanded.
"Aye aye!" Amy responded energetically.
With a sense of urgency, they began to gather the loot, putting all the firearms and others inside the bags. Soon after, the twins arrived, joining in the process.
As the clock passed time, the looting was mostly complete, but they realized that the batteries for the speaker had run out. Knowing they needed to make a swift escape, they secured the remaining items and quickly drove away from the town.
However, as they approached the highway, as the road is filled with annoying abandoned cars, causing them to slow down. The sound of approaching zombies grew louder, and the tension in the air heightened.
"I'll use myself as bait," the girl suggested, ready to sacrifice herself.
"What's this? Some kind of movie? Like hell I'll allow that," Souta replied, firm in his refusal.
"Steff, you drive. I'll go to the back and kill them all," Souta declared, taking charge of the situation.
They exchanged positions, with Souta moving to the back of the pickup truck. Looking through the window, he noticed an array of guns at his disposal. Instead of opting for the firearms, he grabbed a grenade.
"Cover your ears!" Souta shouted, preparing to throw the explosive.
He hurled the grenade with precision, its explosion reducing the number of pursuing zombies. The road ahead was now clear, allowing them to accelerate and escape from the horde.
As they continued their journey, Souta used the guns to shoot any lingering zombies that neared their vehicles. Finally, they reached a highway devoid of cars, preventing the undead from catching up.
Feeling a sense of relief, they drove on, taking a moment to rest when midnight arrived. They gathered for dinner, curious to hear the girl's story and understand why she had been locked in the cell.
After their meal, she began recounting her past.
After their meal, she began recounting her past. The fire crackled softly, casting haunting shadows on the walls of the abandoned police station. It had been days since they had seen another living soul, and the world outside had become a desolate wasteland.
She revealed that she had been the chief of police in their town when the apocalypse struck. Initially, they had hoped for a cure and refrained from killing the infected, clinging to the belief that humanity could overcome the darkness that had befallen them. But the situation escalated quickly, and the infection spread like wildfire, consuming everything in its path. It soon became clear that there was no cure, no salvation.
They attempted to defend themselves and the town, but their efforts proved futile against the relentless hordes of undead. The town fell into chaos, with most of the population turning into zombies, their friends, family, and neighbors lost to the relentless scourge.
Taking shelter in the crumbling remains of the police station, they awaited rescue, desperately hoping that someone, somewhere, would come to their aid. But as days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, no help arrived. The world had crumbled, and they were left to fend for themselves, surrounded by death at every turn.
With dwindling supplies and no hope of rescue, they devised a risky plan to make a last-ditch attempt to scavenge for resources at a convenience store. Exhausted and worn, she decided to rest, believing they would wait for her to regain her strength before venturing out together.
However, her teammates, burdened by their bleak reality and the weight of their imminent demise, decided to go ahead without her while she was asleep. When she woke up, she immediately sensed something was wrong. Panic gripped her heart as she noticed that everyone was missing.
Rushing to the convenience store, she found them on their way back to the police station, struggling to fend off the relentless horde of zombies. "What have you done!? I told you to rest, and we'll go in together!" she shouted, her voice filled with desperation and frustration. But they were committed to their decision, unwilling to let her risk her life for them.
One of her colleagues, guilt etched into their face, took her hand and rushed her back to the police station and went straight to the prison "Hey! What are you doing!? Let go of me! Hey!" she protested, but her pleas fell on deaf ears.
Pushing her into a prison cell, they placed all the supplies they had taken from the convenience store inside. "Hey! Open this! This is an order from your Chief! Open this now!" she demanded, hoping to take command of the situation, but her authority had crumbled with the world around her.
"Chief... we're sorry," they said solemnly, tears welling up in their eyes. And one by one, they showed her their bite marks, the unmistakable signs of their impending doom.
The reality crashed down on her like a tidal wave, and she could feel her heart shattering into a million pieces. "No... No! This can't be happening!" she cried out, her voice breaking with anguish.
The distant sound of gunfire that had been their constant companion in this new world gradually fell silent, marking the end of their fight. "Looks like we won't make it," another colleague said, their voice filled with acceptance and resignation.
"Chief... this is our farewell. We knew from the start that the plan was a suicide mission," another whispered, their strength waning as their life force ebbed away.
"That's why we did our best, so that at least you can survive..." tears streamed down their cheeks as they spoke, the weight of their sacrifice almost too much to bear.
"Why... why are you all so selfish," she choked on her words, tears blurring her vision. "You should have stayed with me! We could have found another way, together!"
"Chief! From the bottom of our hearts, with the memories and kindness we received from you, we are... thank you!" they all saluted, their gestures a mix of honor and sorrow.
"Farewell! Chief!" they said in unison before turning away and rushing outside, locking the prison cell from the outside.
Alone and trapped, she pounded on the prison doors, calling out to them in desperation. But her pleas were met with the solemn silence of the world they had left behind. As the last echoes of their footsteps faded, she sank to her knees, broken, and defeated. The weight of the loss was unbearable, and she clutched her heart as if trying to keep it from breaking further.
In the distance, the relentless moans of the undead continued, a chilling reminder of the world's tragic fate. She was now truly alone, the chief of police without a town to protect, surrounded by memories of those she had lost.
And there, in that desolate police station, she wept, mourning not only the loss of her friends and colleagues but also the loss of humanity itself. The tragedy of their sacrifice would forever haunt her, a painful reminder of the world they once knew and the fleeting hope they had held onto until.
After sharing her heartbreaking story, she wept, releasing the emotions she had held inside for so long. Exhausted, she went to sleep, leaving Souta troubled by her tale.
"Tonight, I'll take the watch. You should sleep, Souta," Amy suggested, breaking the silence.
"But..."
"She's right, Souta. You need to rest," Steff added, urging him to comply.
"Alright," Souta relented, settling into a troubled sleep inside the truck while the twins slept in the pickup truck.
At midnight, Souta felt a sensation crawling on his body. Startled, he looked down to see the chief—now Shana—beside him.
"Chief?! What are you doing?" Souta exclaimed, bewildered by her presence.
"Don't call me chief. Call me Shana," she replied, her voice filled with vulnerability.
"I can't... We only met yesterday," Souta responded, unsure of her intentions.
"After the tragic I've been so far, I couldn't resist the man who saved me from salvation" Shana said, her expression saddened.
"This won't do!" Souta then hold her, "I alread have Amy and Steff... I won't do something to betray them!" Souta said with resolve
"If you're worried that much then that doesn't matter, I already have their approval to begin with"
"What!?"
Caught off guard, Souta succumbed to her desires, driven by a mixture of pity and confusion.
Morning arrived, and after breakfast, Souta gathered the courage to reveal the events of the previous night to Amy and Steff.
"Actually, we already knew," Amy said with a mischievous smile.
"We planned it all along," Steff added, her tone teasing.
"What? You planned this? Why?" Souta demanded, feeling betrayed.
"Isn't it alright? You already did it after all," Amy teased, leaving Souta speechless.
"How is this okay with them??? Have they become crazy after all we've been through?" Souta thought to himself
Amy and Steff entered the car, leaving Souta to his thoughts.
Shana, now distant when in the presence of others, acted sweetly when they were alone. Souta couldn't comprehend the shifting dynamic between them.
Nightfall arrived, and they caught a glimpse of their town on the horizon. In just a week, it had transformed significantly, with much of the area cleared of zombies. Their new base was established in the school, where they briefly encountered their old classmates led by the former school president.
"Why don't we join them? Or let them join us?" Shana proposed, curious about their potential alliance.
"Their leader and Souta have different opinions, which could lead to conflicts and problems," Steff explained.
"What's Souta's stance?" Shana inquired.
"He wants to protect his comrades and loved ones and kill any enemies they encounter, whether human or zombie. On the other hand, they prioritize protecting humans and only view zombies as enemies," Amy clarified.
"I agree with Souta's perspective. There will always be humans who are driven by greed, willing to harm others for their own gain," Shana expressed, aligning her beliefs with Souta's.
As they continued their journey, driving towards the mountains, night fell, and they finally arrived at the mansion.
"Welcome back," Jenny greeted them warmly.
"We're back, Jenny!" Amy exclaimed joyfully.
They enjoyed a hearty dinner, discussing their experiences and the loot they had acquired throughout the day. Guns, pistols, bulletproof vests, helmets, handcuffs, radios, and various other supplies were divided among them, ensuring everyone had their share.
The group settled into their new surroundings, ready to face the challenges that lay ahead. Little did they know that their journey was far from over, and greater trials awaited them in the post-apocalyptic world.