Amid the chaos, Hiro and his friends were enjoying their game of darts, oblivious to the unfolding disaster. They laughed and cheered, the sounds of the celebration still masking the growing panic just beyond their immediate surroundings.
"Nice shot, Hiro!" Sasa exclaimed, clapping her hands as Hiro hit the bullseye. Gin was about to take his turn when a terrified screams pierced the air, sending chills down their spines.
"What was that?" Gin asked, his hand frozen mid-throw.
Hiro's eyes narrowed, and he turned towards the direction of the scream. "Something's wrong. We need to check it out."
The three friends hurried through the bustling crowd, pushing past revelers who were just beginning to sense that something was amiss. The joyous atmosphere had shifted, a palpable tension now hanging in the air. As they neared the source of the disturbance, they saw villagers running in the opposite direction, their faces etched with fear.
"What's going on?" Hiro called out, stopping a fleeing man by the arm.
"It's... it's Pette! He... he attacked someone! He's like a monster!" the man stammered before tearing himself free and continuing his escape.
Hiro, Sasa, and Gin exchanged grim looks and pressed forward. They arrived at the scene to find a circle of horrified villagers, their eyes fixed on the grotesque sight before them. Satto lay motionless on the ground, his neck a bloody ruin, and Pette stood over him, his eyes devoid of humanity, gnashing his teeth at the nearest bystanders.
"Undead.." Sasa whispered, her face pale. "How did this happen?"
"We need to find my grandma,' Hiro said urgently. "She was heading home, but she might still be close by." They pushed through the crowd, scanning the faces for any sign of Laura. The celebration had dissolved into chaos, and the panic was spreading like wildfire. Hiro's heart pounded as he called out for his grandmother.
"Grandma! Grandma, where are you?" Hiro shouted, his voice rising above the noise.
After what felt like an eternity, he spotted her at the edge of the square, near the path leading back to their home. She was trying to calm a group of terrified villagers, her voice steady but urgent.
"Grandma!" Hiro yelled, running towards her. Sasa and Gin followed closely, their expressions filled with relief.
As Hiro reunited with his grandmother, he felt a brief wave of relief wash over him. Laura's face lit up with recognition and concern, her eyes meeting Hiro's with a mixture of joy and worry.
"Hiro! Thank goodness you're here," Laura said, her voice steady despite the chaos around them.
But Hiro's relief turned to horror as he noticed the undead closing in behind Laura. Its eyes were empty, lifeless, and it moved with a grotesque, jerky gait.
"Grandma! Behind you!" Hiro yelled, his voice breaking with urgency.
Laura turned, but it was too late. A vivid flashback of Hiro's childhood appeared in before Laura's eye as the undead lunged at her, its decayed hands gripping her shoulders as it sank its teeth into her neck. Blood spurted, and Laura cried out in pain and surprise. Hiro's heart felt like it had been wrenched from his chest.
"No! Grandma!" Hiro screamed, trying to rush forward, but Sasa and Gin held him back.
"I'm sorry, Hiro," Laura gasped, her voice weak. "Leave me... Sasa, Gin, take him away from me."
"No! No! No!" Hiro cried, struggling against his friends' grip.
"Hiro, we have to go!" Sasa urged, tears streaming down her face as she pulled Hiro away.
"Grandma!" Hiro shouted, reaching out desperately.
Gin, seeing no other option, swiftly knocked Hiro unconscious. Hiro's body went limp, and Gin hoisted him onto his back.
"We have to move, now!" Gin said, his voice firm but shaky.
Sasa nodded, her eyes darting around for any more threats. The village square was descending into chaos, villagers screaming and running as more people turned undead emerged.
"Stay close, Gin. We need to find a safe place," Sasa said, her voice trembling but determined.
The two friends pushed through the panicked crowd, Gin carrying Hiro's limp body as they navigated the chaos. The streets were a blur of terrified faces and the grotesque figures of the undead.
"Psst... Psst..." A whisper cut through the noise.
Sasa turned, her eyes wide with fear and hope. "Who's there?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Hey! You people, can you hear me?" the mysterious voice called out again.
"It's Elder Helga from the village," Gin said, his eyes scanning the area.
"Over here, you lot!" Helga's voice called again, more urgently.
"There she is," Sasa said, spotting the elder near a narrow alley.
They hurried towards Helga, who was beckoning them frantically. "Quickly, get inside!" she urged, holding the door to her stone house open.
"Keep moving!" Gin shouted as they saw a bitten villager convulsing, about to turn into an undead. "We're almost there!"
"Hurry!" Sasa yelled, her voice filled with desperation.
Finally, they reached Helga's refuge. The door slammed shut behind them, cutting off the horrific sounds from outside.
Inside, the atmosphere was tense but calmer. Sasa's parents rushed over, relief evident on their faces.
"Mom, Dad, you're both here," Sasa said, her voice shaky with emotion.
"Yes, Elder Helga asked us to come here earlier this afternoon," Sasa's mother explained, hugging her tightly.
"For what?" Gin asked
Their father replied, "About those thing outside."
"What you know about this?, Why didn't you warn the village?" Gin asked, his voice laced with frustration and confusion.
"We tried, but no one listened," Helga said, her voice heavy with regret. "It seems everyone was too preoccupied with the celebration.
Anyway It's seems you two are tired." Helga said to break the atmosphere.
"Yes, because we've been running since Hiro's..." Sasa's voice trailed off, her eyes glancing at Hiro, who was still unconscious on Gin's back.
"I'm so sorry," Helga said softly. "Everyone, you can go and rest now. The zombies can't destroy nor enter my house; it's made of stone, so you are safe here."
"Okay, Elder," Sasa said, exhaustion clear in her voice.
"Rest now," Helga said gently. "The zombies will die tomorrow.
"What? How?" Sasa asked with a confused face.
"Shhh, you'll attract them." Elder Helga said as she began to explain. "Undead are weak against the sun—combustible, in other words. Tomorrow will be a better day."
Questions amswered, Sasa and Gin, settled down to rest as they exhausted and battered.
Meanwhile, somewhere deep within the dense woods, a chilling and mischievous laugh reverberated through the trees, sending shivers down the spines of those who heard it. "Kekekeke," it cackled ominously. "It's starting. Time to release the more undeads " the voice continued with sinister glee.
Then a wave of shambling, decaying figures emerged from the shadows, their lifeless eyes glinting with malevolent hunger.