The plan was simple but risky — they would cross the small river outside the school building. The main bridge was too exposed, crawling with zombies. Any attempt to cross it would be suicidal.Jack distributed their makeshift weapons: a few knives and some steel pens. Crude but deadly in desperate hands."Remember," Jack said in a low, serious voice, "go for a kill with the first strike. If you get infected, it's over."The group nodded grimly.They crept cautiously out of the classroom, sticking close to the wall as they made their way toward the windows. May was visibly shaken, her face pale and tense. Blood-streaked walls and mangled bodies littering the corridors were sights she'd never imagined witnessing. Tom held her hand tightly, trying to offer some form of comfort.As they neared the window where they planned to jump down, they spotted movement — a small figure among the corpses.A child.The boy looked no older than ten, probably a teacher's kid who had been caught in the chaos. He lay trembling on the floor, his eyes wide with terror. Despite the horror around him, he wasn't crying; perhaps he'd cried himself out already.Tom hesitated, glancing back at Jack, who shook his head subtly. Saving the boy was a risk they couldn't afford.But Tom's resolve hardened. He knelt beside the child and whispered softly, "Don't be afraid. I'll get you out of here."The boy nodded, his expression shifting from fear to faint hope. Tom lifted him onto his back, adjusting his grip."We need to move," Jack urged in a hushed but urgent tone.They pressed forward, dodging the strewn bodies and the occasional zombie that snarled from a distance. Every step was a gamble with death.Finally, they reached the window. Jack was the first to jump down, landing silently on the soft grass below. He motioned for the others. Tom carefully handed the boy down before following with May.The night was cold, and the faint moonlight glinted off the surface of the river ahead. Jack scanned the area, confirming it was clear of threats."Let's go," he whispered.They crept along the riverbank, their movements slow and deliberate to avoid making noise. The air was thick with tension; even the wind seemed to hold its breath.May's grip on Tom's hand tightened, her fear palpable."Don't worry," Jack assured her quietly. "We'll make it across."When they reached the river's edge, the water glimmered under the pale moonlight. It looked deceptively calm but was undoubtedly frigid."We jump in on three," Jack said, his voice steady. "One… two… three!"They plunged into the icy water. The cold bit into their skin, stealing their breath, but survival instinct drove them forward."Keep moving!" Jack urged, his voice cutting through the splashing water.The current tugged at them, but they pushed on, teeth clenched against the numbing cold. Tom held the boy tightly as he swam, his determination unyielding.Finally, they reached the other side, clawing their way up the muddy bank. Gasping for breath, they collapsed momentarily on the grass.May was trembling, her face flushed with exhaustion. "I... I couldn't have made it without you," she managed between breaths.Tom patted her shoulder with a reassuring smile. "We're in this together. Don't forget that."Jack scanned the area. They were safe — for now. The river had bought them precious time and distance from the horrors behind."We need to keep moving," Jack said, his voice firm but encouraging. "The lab isn't far. That's where we regroup and fight back."They exchanged determined glances, fear replaced by a flicker of hope.Together, they pushed forward into the night, driven by the will to survive and protect one another.
4o