Chapter 3
Sylas didn't have time to think how the Undead had gotten entered the locked gate and into his yard. He clutched metal rod in his hand tightly and quietly opened the back door.
Steadily and cautiously he moved toward the Undead, who was standing outside the kitchen's window. The undead was a thin middle-aged man in a tattered and dirty clothes. He was scratching and pounding crazily on the kitchen window. But as Sylas drew closer, the undead slowly turned his head, and his mouth opened, releasing a guttural, indistinct sound.
"Annghnn..."
Before Sylas could react, the Undead lunged at him.
"F...ck!"
Sylas cursed inwardly and immediately swung the metal rod at the Undead with all his strength knocking him to the ground. The undead groaned and soon lay motionless on the ground. Sylas stepped back trembling and prodded it with the rod a few times.
"What the hell?!"
Sylas muttered, his hand trembling around the metal rod. Though he was skilled in self-defense and a trained fighter, he had never killed anyone before.
How did he get inside?
Sylas thought, scanning his surroundings. The gate had been locked securely and there was no way anyone could get inside. Even the walls surrounding the house were about two meters tall.
Sylas suddenly had a thought and immediately walked toward the wall that separated his property from his neighbor's.
Damn it!
Sylas cursed inwardly. I should have been more careful.
Upon closer inspection, he noticed loose bricks in the wall separating the two properties and a hole. His immediate neighbors were out of Pinewood Town and the Undead had entered through their open gate and crawled into his yard through the hole in the wall. As for how the neighbor's gate had been left open, Sylas had no idea because it was closed before.
But one thing Sylas knew was, if his neighbor's gate was left open, he wouldn't be able to stay inside his house in peace. So after a quick scan around the surroundings, Sylas passed through the hole in the wall and stepped into his neighbor's property. Seeing that no one was around, he rushed to the gate and securely closed it. Outside, he could hear distant screams and shouts from nearby houses.
Sylas didn't have time to worry about others at the moment. After closing the gate, he sprinted back to his own house and went to the baseman to searched for some sturdy metal boards, and quickly began patching up the hole. He also reinforced it with heavy cabinets and stones to make sure it was secure. Just as he finished, a suddenly felt a chill ran down his spine.
He immediately spun around, only to see
the Undead he had killed earlier lunging at him again with his twisted head at a grotesque angle and baring its sharp teeth.
"WHAT THE F...K?!"
Sylas shouted in shock. He instinctively lifting his foot and kick the creature away. Then, without hesitation, he grabbed the metal rod he had placed near the wall and swung it at the Undead, which was stubbornly attempting to rise again.
Smash!
The heavy metal rod landed on the undead's head and blood splattered across the ground. Panting heavily Sylas leaned against the wall and slowly slid down to the grass, breathing and gasping heavily.
He had crushed the Undead's skull.
But Sylas was far from being calm. This was his first encounter with something like this,
and his whole body was trembling
uncontrollably. His hands were sweating and shaking as if they weren't his own. The bloody and gory scene was something he had never experienced before. He had read about and imagined about it, but nothing could have prepared him for the raw terror of it.
"Agghhh!"
"Somebody help!"
"There are monsters! They're not human anymore!"
"Officers, help!"
Bang!
The chaotic sounds of screaming, fighting, shouts of people and gunshots broke through the stillness, dragging Sylas back to reality.
His heart was pounding.
He realized that the terror outside was escalating.
The world he knew was falling apart.
Sylas quickly pulled himself together, gripping the metal rod firmly as he stood up.
These Undead were neither alive nor dead. And it seems the only way to truly kill them is by severely damaging their heads. If their head remains intact, they'll just keep getting back up stubbornly.
Amidst the chaos of screaming, shouting, and fighting, Sylas rushed back to his room and peered outside through his window.
As far as he can see the streets and nearby houses now in disarray. The Undead were everywhere, and people were scrambling to defend themselves or flee from it. The police and armed forces seemed to have figured out how to deal kill the undead. They were aiming straight for their heads. With their intervention, the situation was starting to stabilize, but the panic among the people was spiraling out of control. No one could deny it any longer.
The end of the world had arrived, and it was happening now.
Sylas picked up his phone, but there was no signal. He knew communication was
impossible now.
Without wasting any time, he rushed
downstairs and into the basement to grab
some tools. It was growing darker, and he
needed to act quickly. Sylas dug a pit near
the wall and dragged the Undead body he had killed earlier and buried it.
Once the task was done, Sylas took a quick shower and ate a simple dinner. He had no appetite, after what had happened earlier but he forced himself to eat. He didn't know what would happen next. A warm bath and a simple home-cooked meal would soon become luxuries. He knew that when rations ran out and everyone's supplies were exhausted, the real horror would begin.
The sirens of police cars and the distant
sounds of gunshots, screams and shouts echoed through the dark
night. The police with loudspeaker were constantly announcing everyone to stay indoors and avoid being bitten by the Undead.
Another restless night passed by.
January 10, 2025
After a simple breakfast to fill his stomach, Sylas glanced at his dwindling rations and frowned. He could hide in his house for at most four days, but after that, he would have to venture out if he wanted to survive.
The lack of signal left him cut off from the outside world. Sylas had no idea what was happening outside, but one thing he was certain is that the entire world must be in chaos by now.
As he was thinking, Sylas immediately sat up striaght as if thinking of something and he immediately grabbed his phone.
Why didn't I think of this earlier? Sylas muttered.
But soon, he cursed under his breath. "Damn it!"
He tossed his phone aside in frustration and immediately grabbed his car keys, and rushed downstairs. Once outside, rushed towards his car.
Once inside his car, he immediately turned on the FM radio.
Yes! RADIO!
In times like these, the radio was the only reliable source of information when all the means of communication are cut off.
His phone didn't have an in-built FM receiver, so he had to rush to his car.
"...Response Team, I repeat, this is the National Emergency Response Team.
This is an urgent message from the National Emergency Response Team. To all survivors, please listen carefully. I repeat... The government is already establishing safe zones across the country to provide shelter, security, and resources for the survivors.
If you can hear this message, proceed to the nearest safe zone for protection. The safe zones established by government are located at the following locations:
1. [Capital] – [Location: Central Stadium and National University]
2. City A – Location: Grand Rose Garden]
3. City B– Location: District 408
4. City C – Location: National Prison
5. ...
6. ...
Do not panic, these zones are equipped with food medical aid, and emergency support. Travel carefully and avoid unsafe and dangerous areas. If you are unable to travel or move, stay where you are and attempt to signal for rescue. The government is dispatching rescue operation team.
For surviors in smaller and more remote towns, the armed forces will be arranging suitable safe zones within the towns themselves. Try to locate it yourself if you are unaware of it.
Stay strong, stay safe.
Help is on the way."