As the pounding on the door grew more frantic, desperation filled the room. Mr. Alex's words hung heavy in the air, reminding us that our survival depended on finding the source of the barrier.
"We need to split up," Mr. Alex said, his voice urgent. "Some of us will search for the source of the barrier, while the others hold off the zombies here."
"But what if we get overrun?" Kaori asked, fear evident in her eyes.
"We'll do everything we can to hold them off," Mr. Alex replied. "But we need to take this chance. It's our only hope."
Reluctantly, we agreed to the plan. Ellis and I volunteered to stay behind and defend the storage room, while Mr. Alex, Kaori, Ayan, and Miu set out to search for answers.
As they slipped out of the room, the sounds of fighting echoed through the halls. Ellis and I braced ourselves, knowing that we were the last line of defense between our friends and the horde of zombies outside.
Hours passed, each minute feeling like an eternity. The pounding on the door never ceased, and we knew it was only a matter of time before the zombies broke through. Ellis and I fought tirelessly, using every weapon at our disposal to keep the creatures at bay.
But as the night wore on, exhaustion began to take its toll. Our arms ached, and our movements grew sluggish. The zombies sensed our weakness, pressing harder against the door with each passing moment.
"We can't hold them off much longer," Ellis said, his voice strained.
"I know," I replied, my heart sinking. "But we have to keep fighting. Our friends are counting on us."
Just then, the door burst open, and the zombies flooded into the room. Ellis and I fought valiantly, but we were quickly overwhelmed. As the creatures closed in, panic surged through me.
But in the chaos, I noticed something strange. Ellis seemed almost too calm, his movements deliberate and precise. And then, in a horrifying moment of realization, it hit me.
Ellis was leading them to us.
"You knew," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the cacophony of screams and snarls.
Ellis met my gaze, his eyes filled with remorse. "I'm sorry," he mouthed, before turning and disappearing into the fray.
Betrayal pierced my heart like a dagger as I fought for my life, surrounded by the undead. Ellis, my friend, had betrayed us all, and now we were paying the price.
As darkness consumed me, I vowed that if I survived this night, Ellis would pay for his treachery. But as the world faded into blackness, I knew that the battle had only just begun.
As the door gave way to the relentless assault of the undead, the room was engulfed in chaos. The stench of decay filled the air, mixing with the metallic tang of blood. Shadows danced on the walls as the flickering lights struggled to illuminate the scene of carnage.
Ellis's betrayal hung heavy in the air, adding a layer of horror to the already dire situation. But amidst the despair, a glimmer of hope remained. Mr. Alex had mentioned a source of power that could strengthen the barrier, a secret hidden within the school's depths.
With the zombies closing in, I knew that our only chance of survival lay in uncovering that secret. As I fought off the relentless onslaught, I racked my brain, trying to remember everything Mr. Alex had said about the school's history.
Then, amidst the chaos, a realization struck me. Mr. Alex had mentioned an old legend about the school, a tale of ancient artifacts that were said to possess incredible power. If we could find those artifacts, we might stand a chance against the horde of zombies.
With renewed determination, I relayed my idea to the group. Mr. Alex's eyes lit up with recognition, and he nodded in agreement. Together, we fought our way through the swarm of undead, searching for any clues that might lead us to the artifacts.
After what felt like an eternity, we stumbled upon an old storeroom hidden in the depths of the school. Inside, we found a collection of dusty tomes and ancient relics, each one more mysterious than the last.
As we pored over the artifacts, a sense of excitement filled the air. We were close to uncovering the school's long-lost secrets, and with them, the key to our survival.
But our moment of triumph was short-lived. As we studied the artifacts, a loud crash echoed through the room, followed by the sound of shuffling footsteps. The zombies had found us, and they were closing in fast.
With no time to lose, we grabbed the artifacts and fled, racing through the darkened corridors of the school. As we ran, I couldn't shake the feeling of dread that gnawed at my insides. We were so close to unlocking the school's secrets, but with the zombies hot on our heels, our journey was far from over.
As we reached the safety of the school's main hall, I glanced back at the horde of undead that pursued us. They were relentless in their pursuit, their twisted forms illuminated by the dim glow of the flickering lights.
But amidst the chaos and fear, a sense of hope burned bright within me. We had uncovered the first piece of the puzzle, and with it, the promise of salvation. The artifacts were our only hope against the darkness that threatened to consume us, and I vowed to do whatever it took to harness their power and protect my friends.