Outside the clinic, the soldiers rushed out of the cars once more and started firing at the zombies that were on the verge of breaking through the school gate.
"They're about to break out," Sylas said, locking the car door securely behind him ans without hesitation, Sylas raised his gun and joined the others in shooting down the relentless horde of zombies.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The zombies at the front dropped one after another, but it wasn't enough. The number of zombies was overwhelming and they started to step onto the fallen zombies and pressed against the school gate.
Crack!
The metal gate became loose and was on the verge of breaking.
"They're about to come out," the soldier near Sylas said with a shiver in his voice.
"Everyone, get in the car first," one of the soldiers suggested.
"No, we can't get in the car! To leave this place, we have to pass by that high school. The other route is blocked ahead," another soldier replied in a heavy tone.
"We have to leave and find a safe place first. Quick, hurry!" Sylas said urgently as he opened the car door and carried Dylan out.
Crack! Dang!
With a deafening crash, the metal gate finally fell down, and the zombies inside began pouring out in a frenzied rush.
Major Kyle, who had just exited the clinic carrying Leo, took one look at the grim situation and immediately ordered. "Everyone, to the left alley! There's a mansion there—we can hide inside. Shuan, clear the way. Also some of you cover me and Sylas. Those at the back, throw obstacles in their path. Move, quickly!"
"Yes, Sir!" the soldiers responded in unison, swiftly heading toward the left alley. Major Kyle and Sylas carried the two unconscious men in the middle of the group, shielded by the team on all sides.
Bang!
Shuan led the way, firing constantly and taking down zombies blocking their path. The soldiers at the rear grabbed anything they could find—trash cans, crates, and debris—hurling them into the street to slow the advancing horde, creating obstacles on the way.
Shuan shot down zombies as he rushed ahead, his sharp eyes constantly scanning the surroundings ahead. Then he spotted a pile of wooden planks and old cupboards stacked on the side of the alley.
"Soldiers at the back, use those planks and cupboards! Throw them behind us to block the way!" Shuan shouted.
Just as the words left his mouth, a zombie suddenly burst out from his left, emerging from a dilapidated house.
"F...ck!" Shuan cursed, using the butt of his assault rifle to smash the zombie back. The soldiers behind him immediately fired a shot killing the zombie before it could get up.
"Stay sharp, everyone!" Shuan warned in a firm tone as he continued to led the way.
Meanwhile, Sylas and Major Kyle, carrying the unconscious men, remained well-protected in the middle of the group. Despite this, they stayed vigilant, their senses on high alert as they ran.
"There's a horde of zombies ahead, Major," Shuan's voice rang out, dousing the team's spirits like a bucket of cold water.
Major Kyle's expression darkened, his sharp eyes immediately scanning their surroundings.
They had managed to put some distance between themselves and the zombies at the rear, but stopping to deal with the horde ahead would only make things worse. The sound of their commotion would inevitably draw more zombies, and the ones behind them would eventually catch up.
"So many zombies have already come out of the high school. I'm afraid it won't be long before they surround us," Sylas said grimly, his expression ugly.
"Major, the zombies at the back will take time to catch up," one of the soldiers at the rear interjected. "The obstacles we've placed are slowing them down, and with their low intelligence, they might not necessarily keep chasing us if we stay out of their sight and doesn't make sound."
"Let's hide inside one of the houses and stay low for now," Major Kyle said after a brief deliberation.
Shuan quickly took the lead, guiding the team toward one of the houses on the side of the alley. They entered cautiously and moved upstairs, keeping their weapons ready as they scanned for any threats.
"There are no zombies inside."
"Everything is clear," the soldiers at the front reported promptly.
Major Kyle and Sylas carefully laid Dylan and Leo on the floor, immediately checking their conditions.
"Major, what happened to Leo?" Sylas asked, glancing at Leo, who, like Dylan, appeared to be merely asleep.
The concern wasn't Sylas's alone—several other soldiers gathered around, their faces filled with worry.
"I'm not sure," Major Kyle replied, his tone heavy. "When we entered the clinic basement to look for him, we found him lying unconscious on the floor."
Sylas looked at Dylan and Leo, a bold guess forming in his mind. "Major, don't you think they seem... peaceful, as if they're just sleeping?" he asked.
Several other soldiers murmured in agreement, voicing similar thoughts.
Major Kyle sat down on a stool in the room, his expression thoughtful. "If I'm not mistaken, it seems we humans are mutating as well," he began, his tone heavy with contemplation. "With the zombie apocalypse, the world has plunged into chaos, and humanity's survival is hanging by a thread. Perhaps it's the universe—or some unseen force—trying to balance the scales, giving humanity a fighting chance by making some of us stronger."
He glanced at Dylan. "Dylan appears to have mutated—or rather, awakened—an ability. That superhuman strength we saw earlier is proof of it. As for Leo, I'm not sure yet. He could also be mutating or awakening his own ability."
Major Kyle's gaze hardened with resolve. "That's why we have to protect them and figure out more about what's happening once we're back in the safe zone. If my assumption is correct, people like them—those with abilities—might just become the hope for humanity's survival."
Everyone looked at the two unconscious people inside the room with hope and envy. If what Major Kyle said is true then, there is a hope for humanity in this apocalypse.