As the biters hobbled menacingly toward Cody and the gang, arms outstretched in a ghastly attempt to grab them, Cody brought down the crowbar with a grunt.
Guts, in a bold move, sprinted ahead of Cody, landing a punch that sent a biter's teeth flying. "NASTY FREAKS!" Guts yelled, delivering another punch that turned a biter's head into a pulpy mess.
Aya seized a biter's jacket and jabbed upward, swiftly dispatching it. Aryton twirled a nailed baseball bat before unleashing a two-part swing, bringing a biter to its knees and then ending its existence with an upward swing.
A biter caught Aryton from behind, prompting a grunt from him. Dogface intervened, yanking the biter off and stomping on its head.
Raven rushed over, offering encouraging pats as he swung his mace, black blood splattering with each impact.
A biter attempted to grab Raven, but he sidestepped, delivering an elbow strike before ending another biter with a powerful downward swing.
Stalker, lurking from the corner, observed the chaotic scene as music blasted. His eyes were fixed on a particular biter, waiting for it to succumb.
Finally, it happened. A zombified Sarge clung to the ledge, growling as he tumbled out of the window. "That's him," Stalker pointed out.
Guts eyed the last remaining biter. Stalker, gazing at his old friend turned foe, shook his head. "He's my friend. Let me handle it," he declared, walking over and drawing his knife.
Sarge, now a threat, lunged at Stalker, attempting to bite him. Cody frowned, his doubts about his parents' whereabouts intensifying.
Zombified Sarge clawed at Stalker, growling menacingly. Stalker, with a sorrowful expression, uttered, "I'm sorry," before driving the knife into the back of Sarge's head. The growling ceased as Stalker lowered Sarge's lifeless form to the ground.
Cody locked eyes with Stalker. "We need to find my parents, now," he demanded, and Aya nodded. Stalker replied, "We'll find something for you guys to climb on."
Cody tilted his head, questioning, "What about the kids that climbed down the very dangerous sheet rope?" attempting to reason his urgency.
Stalker turned to Mr. Peterson, protesting, "Let the two go; they deserve clearance." Guts, speaking for him, patted Aya and Cody. "I'll be right behind you two if you'd like, how about that?"
Cody nodded at Guts. "Make sure we don't fall," he said. Stalker caved in and agreed, "Before any of you climb, I want 4 beds below for a more comforting drop."
Dogface nodded. "We'll help with that; you four go to the second floor," he instructed.
Stalker nodded. "Come with me," he said, leading them to the second floor.
Meanwhile, back at the camp, Mars and Badger sat at the front gates, gazing down the dirt road. Mars, munching on a sandwich, asked, "You remember Beatrice from high school?"
Badger grinned. "Hell yeah, I do. She was nuts," he chuckled. Mars, looking concerned, asked, "Do you think she's alive during all this?"
Badger laughed. "No, she probably died trying to hug a biter or something, thinking it's her friend," he joked. Mars' smile faded as he finished his sandwich. "You do know it's him that attacked us and killed Splinter," Mars revealed.
Badger looked over at Mars. "I know. It's him. It has to be," he responded. Mars, turning to the dirt road, noticed something alarming. "Look at this shit," he tugged at Badger's sleeve, who turned around. Their eyes widened in horror as, from afar, heading up a hill on the dirt road, a horde of biters approached, countless.
Mars urgently turned his head. "LOCKDOWN! LOCKDOWN! HORDE!" he yelled.
Rose's eyes widened as she glanced at the front gates. Bob turned to her. "Gather the kids and hide!" Bob hissed, sprinting towards the gates.
Andy, armed with spears, sprinted over upon hearing the commotion. "We have to defend this place as best as we can," Andy declared.
Badger turned to the others. "The hells Clay and Elaine?" he asked, prompting Mars and Bob to scan the surroundings.
Rose hurried over to the adults. "I got the kids in one cabin, but I can't find Hayden nor Knox," she panicked, and Bob's eyes widened. "We have to find them."
Badger looked at Mars and nodded. "I'll go." He adjusted his tactical belt and helmet.
"It's going to be dangerous," Mars tried to protest. Badger shook his head. "It's more dangerous for them. If it gets overrun, we know the backup plan!" Badger sprinted off to the other exit.
Mars reached for him, frowning as he sighed. "He'll be okay. Open the gates. We need to slow them down as fast as possible," Bob spoke.
Rose looked at the group. "I'll help." Andy handed her a spear, leaning the others against the metal walls.
Mars opened the gates, stepping forward, aiming his rifle at the approaching biters and opening fire from afar, causing them to topple one by one as they neared.
Bob aimed his rifle, pulling the trigger as Mars did the same. At a specific line, they maintained a rapid spread of bullets, heads of biters shot out one by one, black blood splattering.
"Soon the sun will set," Mars remarked, looking up at the sky. "It's going to be a long night." Bob reloaded his rifle before firing again.
As night fell, the sounds of gunfire persisted, biters closing in as Bob and Mars backed up. Andy and Rose, armed with spears, prepared for the impending danger.
Badger scanned the woods, calling out for Hayden and Knox. "Hayden! Knox!" he hissed as biters limped towards the camp, drawn to the gunfire. Badger hid behind a tree as biters passed.
Once the biters moved past, he slid down the hill, leaves and branches cracking. He listened to the chirping crickets. "Come on..." his heart raced.
Badger heard banging sounds echoing from afar, glass shattering. Sprinting towards the noise, he found a cabin surrounded by biters being broken into.
"HELP!" Hayden's voice broke out, and Badger pulled out his knife. "I GOT YOU TWO! YOU HEAR ME?!" he yelled as some biters turned their attention towards him.
Elaine and Clay strolled through the forest, the distant gunshots catching their attention. "Sounds like it's coming from home," Clay observed, glancing at Elaine.
"We need to go back." Clay started walking, and Elaine nodded. "Wait for me," she said, following closely behind.
Elaine shifted around as they walked, while Clay analyzed his surroundings. He spotted something moving in the bushes from afar. "What's that?" Clay whispered, more gunshots echoing nearby.
"Maybe a fox. Let's go," Elaine suggested, attempting to walk, but Clay raised his hand. "No. It's not a fox." He eyed the bushes, spotting soldiers covered in camouflage nearby.
"They're soldiers," he hissed. Elaine nodded. "We need to get out of here," she insisted, but Clay shook his head. "No. Let's see what they're up to." Clay got closer, and Elaine reluctantly followed.
"We are clearing them currently," a soldier spoke into the walkie. Clay eavesdropped. "Make sure they also get out safely," a deep voice broke out from the walkie.
"I will let them know, sir." The soldier tweaked with the walkie. "Blackeyes, do you copy?" he spoke. Suddenly, static broke out from behind Clay, the voice repeating.
Clay's eyes widened as he felt a cold, sharp blade press against the back of his neck. There stood Elaine, walkie in hand, pressing the button and responding. "We are to the side, copy," she said as a soldier looked over at them.
"Didn't expect that, Clayboy?" The soldier grinned, recognizing Clay. "Piss off, Doro," Clay growled, feeling the knife against his neck, causing him to gasp.
"There are kids there, Elaine," Clay pleaded, attempting to sway her. "The kids there trusted you!" he hissed.
Elaine stayed silent, and Clay felt the knife's pressure ease. "Elaine, please. Don't kill them. They don't deserve it; they are good people." He then looked at Doro and the soldiers around him.
"You guys are genocidal maniacs," Clay spat aggressively as Doro looked at Elaine, nodding slowly.
Clay teared up, the betrayal hitting him. "I thought you cared about us!" Elaine remained silent as the tension lingered.
A sniffle broke out from Elaine. "I really liked you," she admitted. "It's just the way it has to be." Clay was about to respond when he heard an unclip, the sound of something metal being pulled out.
Clay's eyes widened, tears welling up. "Well—" his last words were cut short as Elaine pulled the trigger, blood splattering as Clay's body thumped to the ground.