As I staggered into the hospital, the doors barely shutting behind us, my legs felt like they might give out any second. The adrenaline was starting to wear off, leaving only exhaustion and pain in its wake. I was half-collapsing against the wall when two figures appeared in front of me, both armed to the teeth and ready for a fight.
The first girl stepped forward. She had long, free-flowing blonde hair, bright and full of energy despite the chaos raging outside. She was fit, her body showing the athleticism of someone who's always on the move. Her curvy figure were noticeable under the tactical vest she wore, which was loaded with spare magazines and gear. In each hand, she carried an MP5 submachine gun, the barrels still hot from recent use.
"Name's Cassidy," she said, flashing a grin that felt way too carefree for the situation we were in. "But you can call me Cass. You guys picked a hell of a time to show up. We're getting swarmed out there."
Before I could respond, the other girl spoke up. Her long dark brown hair was tied back in a neat braid that ran down her back, and there was something commanding about the way she carried herself. She was tall, with a strong, athletic build that matched her serious expression. She had huge melons that were less noticeable under her own vest, more practical than Cassidy's. In her hands was a hunting rifle, the stock worn from use but clearly well-maintained.
"Kaya," she said simply, giving me a nod. "We'll get you to safety, but we need to move fast. The zombies are everywhere."
I swallowed hard, nodding in return. "I'm Jake," I managed, still trying to catch my breath. "This is Emma," I added, nodding toward the little girl who was still clutching my hand.
Cass whistled, glancing down at Emma with a bit of sympathy in her eyes. "You made it through that shitstorm out there with a kid? Damn. Respect, man."
Before I could answer, a new voice entered the fray. A white-haired nurse rushed toward us, her long, silky white hair bouncing with each hurried step. She was petite, her flat chest barely noticeable beneath her loose-fitting scrubs, but there was a gentleness in her eyes that contrasted with the harsh environment we were in.
"I'll take her," the nurse said, her voice soft but urgent as she approached Emma. She knelt down, meeting Emma's eyes with a comforting smile. "My name's Hazuki. You're safe now, sweetheart. I'm going to take you to the medical room, okay?"
Emma hesitated for a second, her eyes darting back to me, fear still evident in her gaze.
I squeezed her hand gently. "Go with her, Emma. I'll be right here."
After a beat, Emma nodded and let Hazuki take her hand. The nurse stood up, giving me a reassuring nod before leading Emma down the hallway.
Once they were out of sight, I let out a long breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. My whole body sagged with relief, but the reality of the situation hit me again like a freight train. Zombies were closing in outside, and it was only a matter of time before the hospital was overrun.
I turned back to Cass and Kaya. "What's the plan?" I asked, my voice hoarse.
Cass exchanged a glance with Kaya before answering. "We've got a few barricades set up, but they're not gonna hold forever. The zombies keep coming in waves. We've already lost a few people trying to keep them out."
Kaya nodded grimly. "We're running low on ammo too. The hospital's supposed to be a safe zone, but it's turning into a damn death trap."
My stomach tightened at her words. "How bad is it?"
Cass smirked, but there was no humor in it. "Bad enough that I hope you know how to shoot, 'cause we're all gonna need to pull our weight soon."
I glanced down at the katana strapped to my side. "I've got this," I said, not entirely confident, but it was the only weapon I had.
Kaya raised an eyebrow. "A sword? In a zombie apocalypse? You really are something."
Before I could respond, another loud crash echoed from outside, followed by the unmistakable sound of more gunfire.
"Shit!" Cass cursed, immediately gripping her MP5s tighter. "They're getting closer."
Kaya nodded, already turning toward the nearest window, her rifle raised as she scanned the outside. "We've got to hold them off as long as we can. The hospital's all we've got right now."
I took a deep breath, feeling the tension in the room rise with each passing second. "What do you need me to do?"
Cass grinned, that carefree attitude somehow still hanging on despite the dire situation. "Just don't get eaten. That's step one."
She motioned for me to follow her toward one of the barricades near the entrance. I could hear the distant growls of zombies outside, growing louder with each second.
As we reached the barricade, Cass glanced over at me. "You ever used one of these?" she asked, holding out one of her MP5s.
I shook my head. "Never."
"Figures," she muttered. "Stick with the sword for now. Just don't let 'em get too close, okay?"
I nodded, gripping the hilt of my katana tightly. This is insane, I thought. But it's the only shot we've got.
Kaya was already posted by one of the windows, her rifle trained on the approaching horde. "We need to buy time for the others to reinforce the back entrances," she said, her voice calm despite the chaos. "Once they're secured, we'll fall back to the second floor."
Cass nodded. "Sounds like a plan. Let's hope these assholes don't breach before then."
Outside, the howls of the zombies grew louder, more frantic. I could see them now, shambling toward the hospital in droves, their decaying bodies illuminated by the flickering streetlights. There had to be at least fifty of them, maybe more.
I swallowed hard, my grip tightening on the katana. "Here we go," I muttered under my breath, bracing myself for the worst.
Cass glanced over at me, smirking despite the tension. "Welcome to Banff, Jake."
Q: Do you remember these characters from the prequel?