Chapter 14 - [14] Pandemonium in the dark

We made our way down to the underground parking lot, about a third of the group from the library trailing behind us. The stairwell was narrow and suffocating, the sound of shuffling feet and nervous whispers echoing off the walls. By the time we reached the bottom, the heavy, musty air hit us like a wave.And then, there was nothing but pitch black."Fk," Kenji muttered as he clicked on his flashlight, the beam slicing through the darkness. "This place is like a damn tomb."I flicked mine on, scanning the rows of cars. "Keep your lights on and stay close. We don't know what's down here."The others in our group followed suit, turning on their flashlights or using the dim glow of their phone screens to see. The underground parking lot felt like a labyrinth, shadows stretching long and eerie against the walls. There was no sound except for the shuffle of feet and the occasional nervous cough.Suddenly, a loud beep pierced the silence.My heart jumped to my throat as I whipped around. Someone had hit the key fob for their car, and the sound of the car unlocking echoed like a gunshot."Who the fk did that?" Malcolm hissed, his voice sharp with fear."Sorry!" someone called out from the back, their voice shaky. "I didn't mean to—"But it was too late. My pulse was already racing, and the tension was unbearable. We all stood frozen, listening for any sign of movement. That's when I saw them—the long shadows descending from the exit ramp. There were at least half a dozen, maybe more, creeping toward us in the dim light."Zombies!" someone screamed, their voice shrill with terror.Pandemonium erupted.People bolted in every direction, their flashlights jerking wildly as they ran. The beams of light swung across the parking lot in erratic patterns, casting chaotic shadows on the walls. Someone bumped into me hard, knocking my flashlight from my hand. It clattered to the ground and rolled into the darkness."Shit!" I yelled as I was knocked off my feet, hitting the concrete with a thud. The wind was knocked out of me, and I struggled to get up, but the panic around me was too much. Bodies were crashing into each other as everyone tried to flee in a blind frenzy."Go! Go!" Raul shouted, his voice barely audible over the chaos.I scrambled to my knees, my hands frantically searching for my flashlight in the darkness. I couldn't see anything, just the terrifying sound of screams, running feet, and the unmistakable low growl of the undead closing in.A car engine roared to life nearby, its headlights flicking on and cutting through the sea of darkness. The sudden burst of light made my heart pound as I squinted against it. The car peeled out, racing toward the exit, and in the glare of the headlights, I saw it—a figure running, desperate to escape. They didn't make it.The car didn't stop.The person hit the windshield with a sickening thud, their body crumpling against the glass. For a moment, I thought the driver would stop, but they didn't. They just kept going, accelerating as the person was thrown to the side like a rag doll. The car's tires screeched as it sped toward the exit, leaving a trail of panic in its wake."Holy fuck!" I gasped, pushing myself to my feet.More cars were coming to life now. Keys beeped, engines revved, and headlights flashed on one after another. People were desperate, scrambling to get inside vehicles, trying to escape. The parking lot had turned into absolute chaos, the sound of cars honking, tires screeching, and the relentless screams of terror filling the air.Someone bumped into me again, nearly knocking me over as they sprinted toward a nearby car. I turned, trying to find my friends in the madness, but all I could see were shadows and blinding lights."Jake!" Kenji's voice called out from somewhere to my left. "Over here!"I stumbled toward the sound, ducking as another car roared past me, narrowly missing my shoulder. I could barely see anything, but I finally spotted Kenji waving his flashlight in my direction. Raul and Ethan were with him, huddled against the side of a parked van, trying to stay out of the stampede."I lost my flashlight," I said, my voice hoarse."Fk your flashlight, we need to get out of here!" Kenji shouted, pulling me behind the van as another car screeched by."What the hell are we supposed to do?" Ethan panted, his eyes wide with panic. "We're trapped down here!"Raul looked over at the ramp leading to the exit, his face grim. "We need to wait for a break in the cars. If we can get past them, we can make it to the street."Another car engine roared to life nearby, its headlights blinding as it sped toward the exit. The driver was honking frantically, swerving to avoid the fleeing students. I saw someone else get knocked down, the car skidding as it barely missed running them over. The scene was turning into a nightmare."We'll get run over!" Ethan said, shaking his head."Not if we time it right," Raul insisted, his voice firm. "We stick together, move fast, and—"Before he could finish, the growling sound got louder. Shadows moved toward us from the far side of the parking lot. They were closer now—shambling, stumbling figures, their eyes empty, their mouths hanging open in unnatural hunger. More zombies."Oh shit," Kenji breathed. "We don't have time."I glanced toward the exit ramp, cars still rushing past, and then back at the oncoming horde. We were caught between the two, and I had no idea what was worse: getting trampled by panicked students or torn apart by zombies."We run," I said, adrenaline surging through me. "We run for the ramp, and we don't stop."Kenji nodded, his knuckles white as he gripped his flashlight. "Let's do it.""Now!" I shouted, and we bolted.I could hear the growls behind us, the footsteps of the undead shuffling closer. We ran toward the ramp, weaving between parked cars and dodging the headlights of those speeding past. My heart was racing, and every muscle in my body screamed for me to keep moving, not to look back.I didn't know if we'd make it out, but we couldn't stay here. Not in this darkness. Not with them closing in.Q: What would you do in this situation?