"Do you think it will work?"
John looked at the copper wires, stretched like threads, intersecting at various angles to create a formidable blockade on the third floor hallway, right below staircase coming from second floor.
The copper wires they had unearthed in the physics lab were astonishingly fine but possessed the potential to slice through anything that exerted sufficient force upon them. To maximize their effectiveness, Kalsie had meticulously strung them at heights corresponding mostly to the neck and chest regions of the Dead Walkers.
If it wasn't for their limited resources, Kalsie would have made these traps on the second floor as well. That would've given them more robust security.
"It should hold up well, but remember, nothing is foolproof. This should provide us with some security," Kalsie reassured John, confirming that the wires were securely fastened and not hanging loosely.
"In any case, we need to act fast. Those monsters are getting closer, and it won't be long before they reach the first floor," John remarked, gazing downward through the railings. The cacophony of falling objects and the menacing growls of the approaching Dead Walkers signaled their imminent arrival on the first floor.
And just as John predicted, they soon breached the first floor in just a matter of minutes.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"GROWLLLL!!!!!"
"Hey! They've made it to the first floor!" John urgently relayed the news to Kalsie.
Kalsie turned to John and said, "I'll strategically position more wire traps along the hallways. You go inform the others to prepare. It's high time we all take action."
John nodded and headed towards the terrace, leaving Kalsie to execute his plan.
One and half hour later.
Tang. Tang. Tang.
"GRWOLL!!!!!!"
"Guys… they are almost here…" Kalsie's voice barely rose above a whisper as he alerted the group to the encroaching Dead Walkers.
The once-impenetrable barricades had crumbled, and the horde was now making its relentless ascent towards the third floor.
Kalsie and others were huddled behind a corner, with a staircase leading to the terrace at their backs and a hallway connecting to the second-floor stairs on their right.
The Dead Walkers soon flooded into the hallway after destroying the barricades, but as anticipated, they immediately found themselves immobilized by the intricate web of wires meticulously laid by Kalsie in the hallway.
Chirr!!
The metallic wires penetrated the monsters as they pressed forward, tearing through their neck and chest regions, delivering swift, gruesome deaths.
"GROWLL!!!!"
The hallway soon became a scene of carnage, drenched in black blood and emanating a nauseating stench. Yet, the group remained resolute, pushing through their revulsion.
"Kalsie, when are we going to use those?" Fred's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"Yeah, I've been waiting for so long!" Jack added eagerly.
They were referring to the Molotov cocktails Bella had crafted for them—a potent weapon they were itching to unleash upon the monsters. Despite their earlier fears and nervousness, the desire to test the Molotovs had now overtaken them.
"We'll use them, but the time isn't right just yet. We need to be cautious because we have limited quantities," Kalsie cautioned, understanding their eagerness. At present, the wires were effectively eliminating the Dead Walkers, albeit at a gradual pace.
However, the wires had their limitations. Even though Kalsie had positioned wires perfectly, the relentless assault of the monsters was putting a lot of strain of the wires.
*ting!*
Immediately, a sharp snapping sound reached their ears, signaling the breakage of one of the wires.
"It's time!" Kalsie gave the signal to unleash the Molotov cocktails before more wires succumbed to the Dead Walkers' assault.
They strode confidently toward the hallway where the Dead Walkers remained immobilized by the crisscrossed wires, their torchlight revealing a gruesome tableau.
The once-white walls were now painted in a repulsive mixture of rotten limbs and black pus, forming a grotesque mosaic. Despite the ghastly sight, they forced themselves to look on, their newfound resilience helping them endure the repulsion.
"Who will be the first four to go?" Kalsie inquired, a grim reminder of their limited Molotov supply necessitating a cautious approach.
"I will!" Fred, Noah, Job, and Jack eagerly volunteered, their hands raised before anyone else could offer. These four had been the most enthusiastic about using the Molotovs from the start.
Kalsie suppressed a smile at their eagerness, handing them a burning torch. They ignited the cloths on the Molotovs and hurled them directly into the midst of the Dead Walkers near the staircase.
"Take this, you monsters!"
Splash Splash Splash Splash
BOOOOOM!!
The chemicals inside the Molotov cocktails erupted into flames, engulfing the Dead Walkers in the middle in a fiery cataclysm that resembled a simultaneous grenade blast.
"Growl!!" The monsters writhed in agony as the intense heat consumed them, reducing them to charred remains because the chemical used burned at an even higher temperature than ordinary fire.
The ensuing conflagration cast a blinding light, halting the advance of the approaching Dead Walkers, who stood frozen in fear of being burned, relieving Kalsie and others.
However, the ordeal was far from over.
The burning bodies emitted an even more noxious odor, but the group had anticipated this and covered their noses with wet cloths, determined to persevere despite the vile stench. However, they were also well aware that they couldn't linger there for an extended period.
"Damn..." Fred exclaimed in awe, his companions sharing his sentiment.
In that moment, they gained newfound understanding of what Kalsie and Wendy had experienced when they set the forest ablaze and couldn't help but feel a hint of envy.
"What?" Kalsie and Wendy, sensing their peculiar expressions, looked at them inquisitively.
"Nothing," they muttered in unison, though their simultaneous response only deepened Kalsie and Wendy's suspicion that they were harboring misgivings.
Ignoring the unspoken thoughts, Kalsie swiftly redirected their focus. "Enough of that! Be prepared for another round! The fire won't last long once the chemicals are consumed, so we need to remain vigilant."
"Yeah, yeah, we know," they chorused, aware of the need for prudence.
"Kalsie... can you lend me one of your Molotovs? I know I just used one, but I can't shake this feeling! I want to use them more. Besides, didn't you have your fun burning that darn forest?" Fred implored, trying to secure another Molotov.
"Wait!! So it was you idiots who lit the forest on fire last night!?" Sylvie exclaimed in astonishment.
"..."