These zombies were like a pro sports team, all about that teamwork and packing some serious smarts. Finnley caught sight of Jake tearing it up in a frenzy. Last time they clashed, Finnley had sent him packing, but now the dude was back, clearly holding a grudge.
"Man, these zombies remember stuff?"
Finnley's face scrunched up in confusion.
"Yo, Mr. Finnley, check this out!"
One of his guards, eyes popping, pointed down.
In the middle of the undead mob, there was this young guy in a crisp white shirt, looking way too clean and chill for this nightmare.
His face was blank, just watching the chaos like he was at a movie.
"Is this dude for real or what?"
Finnley was stumped. Post-apocalypse, seeing someone that clean was like spotting a unicorn.
"Shoot that guy, now!"
Finnley snapped.
The guard swung his rifle around, and it spit fire as he unloaded.
But Zane just stood there, cool as you please.
A weird red glow flicked in his eyes.
The bullets? They just whizzed right through him, hitting the dirt.
"No way!"
Finnley couldn't believe his eyes, this was getting way too creepy!
As his guards kept dropping like flies, their firepower was dying down.
On one side of the wall, the zombies were stacking up, making a gruesome ladder and climbing over.
"Roar—"
They were all in beast mode, tearing into anyone they caught.
Several guards got knocked down and were history in seconds.
The rest of the crew was freaking out, total panic mode.
"The wall's gonna fall! Everyone, back to the safe house, stat!"
Finnley was barking orders now.
The guards didn't need telling twice, they bolted, firing off shots to cover their retreat.
But Zoe was on another level. Her claws were dripping red, and she looked like she was having the time of her life.
Watching the humans run just pumped her up more. She blitzed through them, a blur of motion, dropping five or six in seconds.
"This chick's the queen of quick!"
Finnley realized as he sparked up his hands, flames swirling.
He had to stop her, or his team was toast.
With a flick of his wrist, he sent two fireballs her way. Zoe dodged with a leap.
"Boom! Boom!"
The fireballs exploded, throwing up a wall of fire.
The guards used the chance to fall back behind the flames into the buildings.
Finnley scanned the chaos and spotted Zane, just strolling through the horde.
"Hiss..."
He didn't stick around, jumping off the wall to get inside.
Zane was a mystery, his powers unclear.
Now that the wall was breached, Zane walked towards the building, not rushing, curious about the humans' strength.
His zombie king vibe was fierce, but it only lasted five minutes at full throttle.
He didn't want to rush and risk a mess.
After the clash, the guard count in the prison had dropped from over a hundred to less than forty.
Zane, barely scratched, led the zombie army straight in. Jake was right behind him, grinning like it was his birthday.
Revenge, at last...
You bullied me!
Inside the prison, Finnley and others had constructed a safe house, made entirely of ten-centimeter-thick alloy, including the roof and the floor, with no vulnerabilities and extremely sturdy.
Only the front wall had several fist-sized holes.
These were gun ports, allowing them to shoot outside, and also serve"Phew—"
Everyone inside the safe house finally let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Man, these zombies are no joke!"
"Right? They ain't like the usual brain-eaters we deal with!"
"Come on, you ever seen a zombie pack heat before?"
"Dude, you wouldn't believe it, but a zombie nearly got me with a machete earlier..."
"These creeps are leveling up way too fast!"
"....."
The guards let out a heavy sigh.
But Zane's front-runners were already on their tail. They looked fierce, clawing at the walls and roaring non-stop, but the alloy walls were too thick, and the zombies just couldn't bust through.
"Hit up HQ on the satellite phone, we need backup. We're cool for now, but we can't be sitting ducks here," Finnley commanded.
"Roger that."
One of the guards quickly responded.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Just then, Jake bulldozed through several walls, charging right up to the front of the safe house.
Seeing his foes holed up in what he saw as a 'turtle shell,' he was super ticked off and started pounding with his massive fists.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The safe house shook on repeat, but the alloy walls held strong, and Jake couldn't break through.
"Ha! Nice try, big guy, can't get in, huh?" Finnley taunted, not sweating it. This safe house was built to take on mega mutant beasts or powerhouse zombie kings.
"Roar! Roar! Roar—Darn humans!" Jake was steaming, roaring over and over in frustration.
Finnley sized up the situation, figuring someone as brute as Jake couldn't possibly be running this sophisticated zombie crew. The brains behind it had to be someone else...
Definitely... that squeaky-clean young dude!
He was pondering this when suddenly, all the zombies outside went dead silent. It was like a rowdy classroom going mute when the teacher steps in.
"Huh? What's up?"
"Why'd they suddenly shut up?"
"These zombies... so weird!"
"..."
The sudden silence was totally weird. Since the Apocalypse, nothing like this had ever happened.
The zombies stood neatly in their spots, then, unbelievably, they parted ways, making a clear path.
"This...."
Everyone was even more stunned, having never seen such behavior from the zombies.
Then.
A young figure slowly walked from a distance.
Zoe and Nathan, flanking him one on each side, their ranks clear as day.
"Mr. Finnley, these zombies are too weird!" one of the underlings exclaimed, seriously spooked.
Finnley's eyes were locked on, his heart racing.
"It's cool, they can't get in anyway. We'll just chill till help arrives," he reassured.
"Mm."
His crew nodded, feeling a bit more at ease.
Given the strength of the safe house, not even a missile could blow it open.
So there was really no need to sweat about the zombies breaking in.
"Come on! Darn zombies, come in and take a bite, why don't ya?"
"Yeah! Trying to play mind games, think you're all that!"
"Darn it, my bro got chomped by one of you."
"....."
Several guards, feeling the pressure lift and having witnessed too many gruesome scenes, felt secure for the moment and wanted to blow off some steam.
Even aiming at the gun ports, they fired off a round outside.
But just as the gunfire sparked.
The figure of Zane suddenly vanished...