HOTDR Chapter 4: The Leap Of Faith
Takashi: Shizuka-sensei! Punch it!
She started up the bus and put it in gear. But in front of her was far too many to mow over. So instead, she went in reverse and took out the school fence. The shock from the collision caused everyone to fall to a seat. She continued to go in reverse until she had enough space to do a complete 180 degree turn and leave the school for good.
Kiba: Well… Least there's no school tomorrow.
Momosuke: Not now, Kiba.
Kiba: Too early?
Momosuke: Just a bit.
Ms. Shizuka continued down the street, Japanese Cherry Blossom petals fluttering in the cool, spring wind.
Nurse Shizuka was driving randomly through the city. Everywhere she looked was one of "them" wandering around. It seemed endless; at every intersection was one of the undead. She even had to hit a few of them because they were in her way.
Ms. Shizuka: Where are we going? They're everywhere!
Takashi: We need supplies. Anyone have any ideas?
Momosuke: We could stop at one of our houses for supplies.
Kiba: We could go to my place. My sister isn't home, but I don't think she'd mind under these conditions.
Momosuke: Not a bad idea for once.
Kiba: Ah, shut up.
Saeko: Is everyone alright?
Kohta: No complaints here. Except… I am a little hungry.
Saya: My god, you're disgusting.
Kohta: Hey! I'm a big guy and we tend to stress eat!
Rei: No arguing guys. That's the last thing we need right now.
Kiba: You're right. Ms. Shizuka, I live right here in Tokonosu City. Do you remember the way to our house?
Ms. Shizuka: Hm… Let me think…
Momosuke looked back at Lars who was sitting in a seat by himself in the middle of the bus. He was gazing out of the window, seeming to be lost in his own world. Momosuke approached him and sat in the seat next to him.
Momosuke: You doing alright, man?
Lars just continued to look out through the window and daydream.
Momosuke: If there's something you want to talk about, just let one of us know. We're all here for each other.
Saya overheard Momosuke talking to Lars.
Saya (thinking): There he goes again… Being that kind hearted person in a time like this. Even back then when he ran into me and knocked me over. He was so kind to me and I was so mean. But he didn't let that bother him. He reminds me so much of…
Saya looks to Takashi.
Saya (thinking): Hm…
Saeko: Kiba, why do you suggest we go to your house?
Kiba: Because we have military funding. The military pays for most of our groceries. We have more than enough to go around for everyone.
Takashi: Seems like a good idea to me.
Ms. Shizuka: Ah ha! I remember where he lives!
Takashi: Took ya that long, Shizuka-sensei?
Ms. Shizuka: Hey! I may be a little slower than most people, but it came to me eventually!
Takashi: Yeah, I'll give you that.
Momosuke walked to the front of the bus with Takashi and Nurse Shizuka.
Momosuke: Takashi.
Takashi: Hm? Yeah?
Momosuke: I never got to thank you for help us out back there. Thank you.
Takashi: Don't mention it. I didn't want anyone living to be stuck in that Hell-hole.
Kohta: Whoa! Look at that!
Everyone went to the right side of the bus and looked out through the window. They looked just in time to see a car flipping down the street, doing barrel rolls. The cause; uncertain. Nurse Shizuka slammed on breaks and let the tumbling car pass and smash into a parked car along the road.
Kiba: Whoa! What the hell caused that?!
Kohta: Not sure. All I saw was a car flipping down the street.
Saya: We should keep moving. I'd rather not get mowed down by cars that can do cartwheels.
Ms. Shizuka: Yes.
She put the bus in gear and drove off down the road. Momosuke sat next to Saya and Takashi sat next to Rei. Saeko was sitting alone and Kiba sat next to her. Lars remained seated in his seat. Kohta walked to the center of the bus and sat down near the window. He leaned his head against the window and closed his eyes for a nap.
Saya: So… Momosuke.
Momosuke: Hm? What is it, Takagi?
Saya: Thank you for standing up with Kohta and saving me.
Momosuke: Are you kidding me? You don't have to thank me for that. I wasn't about to sit around and let you die.
Saya: I know that. But I'm just glad you did. I know I can be a little blunt at times, and rude even-
Momosuke (thinking): Yeah… No kidding.
Saya: That's why I'm thanking you. Even though I was mean to you, you didn't turn your back on me.
Momosuke: I told you. It was nothing.
Saya: Oh dammit! Will you just accept the damn appreciation!
Momosuke: Okay, okay! You're welcome.
Saya: Sheesh. I swear, that damn humbleness of yours is gonna tick me off.
Momosuke: Sorry.
Saya: Huh?
Saya looked at Momosuke and he was looking down with a blank stare. For a reason unknown to him, his classmate, Naoma, crossed his mind again.
Momosuke (thinking): I shouldn't have left her alone… It's my fault she didn't make it. I can't make that same mistake again. Especially with anyone else that's close to me.
He looked Saya in the eyes.
Saya: Are you alright?
Momosuke: Yeah. I'll be alright. It's just… been a long day is all.
Takashi: Shizuka-sensei, are we taking Onbetsu Bridge?
Ms. Shizuka: Yes. It's the only way to get to Rika and Kiba's house.
Rei: That's a pretty busy bridge on a daily basis. Is that the best idea?
Saya: Not unless we're swimming across the water.
Takashi: Yeah. Let's try the bridge. I'm sure there's traffic because everyone is evacuating the city, but hopefully it isn't too bad.
Momosuke: Only one way to find out, right?
Takashi: I guess so.
Nurse Shizuka continued on route to Onbetsu Bridge and once it was in sight, they saw that there was traffic overflowing and they couldn't even get to the actual bridge itself. They were stuck about 40 cars away from the bridge and traffic wasn't moving. The sun was setting and they had to get to Rika and Kiba's house… soon. Even though there was a green light to go, the traffic sat stagnant. Kiba stood up and walked to the front of the bus and saw the traffic.
Kiba: Are you fucking kidding me? This many people trying to go through Onbetsu Bridge? There has to be another way.
Ms. Shizuka: I'm afraid there isn't… We either have to wait in traffic or go by foot.
Rei: Walk the bridge by foot?
Ms. Shizuka looked back to her and nodded.
Ms. Shizuka: Even if there was another way, we're boxed in by traffic. The only way to go is straight. We can't back up or go around.
Kiba hurried to the back of the bus and looked to see for himself. All he could see were cars lined up, one after another down the road. It seemed never-ending.
Kiba (thinking): There's no way this is forreal…
Saya: We might have to walk. It's already 5:30 and we're not even close to the bridge.
Ms. Shizuka pulled the bus over to the side of the road when traffic finally moved a few inches. She opened the bus doors and stood up.
Ms. Shizuka: Well, kids! Looks like we're walking!
Momosuke: Walking the bridge huh? Hopefully this goes well.
Takashi: Someone wake up Kohta.
Kiba looked back to see Kohta snoring in his seat. Kiba goes really close to Kohta's face and said his name.
Kiba: Hey… Hey, Kohta. Wake up.
But nothing. Kohta continued to snore loudly.
Kiba: Hey!
Kiba cocked back his right hand and slapped Kohta on the cheek, sending ripples along his face.
Kohta: OWWW! What the heck man!
Kiba: Well, you didn't wake up.
Kohta: So you slapped me?!
Kiba: Yep.
Kohta: Why you…
Saya: Oh suck it up, Kohta. Just be grateful he slapped you and I didn't.
Kohta: What's the big idea anyway? Are we across the bridge?
Takashi: No. We're gonna have to walk it.
Kohta: Whaaa?!
Momosuke: You know? Walking? With your legs?
Kohta (thinking; terrified): B-But… I hate walking! It's so much stress on my buns and thighs!
Saya: You got a problem with walking once in a while, fat ass?
Kohta: Hey! I'm not fat! Just… fluffy.
Saya: Yeah, yeah.
Takashi: Geez, I swear she's mean to every living thing.
Rei: Yeah, tell me about it.
Saeko: Let's not waste time. We should get going before nightfall.
She was the first one off the bus. Nurse Shizuka followed, then Rei. Momosuke and Takashi looked back at Lars who was still looking at through the window, daydreaming. The two approached him.
Momosuke: Hey… Lars… Are you there, buddy?
Takashi: Come on. We're heading across the bridge by foot.
Lars looked at them with a blank expression on his face.
Lars: If we go across the bridge… what is there waiting for us?
Momosuke: What do you mean? Kiba's house. Safety.
Lars: But for how long?
Takashi: I'm not understanding…
Lars: This world now… It's not safe… You saw for yourself. The school… It's gone. Lost to those things… What about the rest of the world?
Takashi: I… I don't know.
Lars: How do we know it's safe? We don't. So what's the point of running and hiding?
Momosuke: Lars… what's wrong man? Are you feeling alright? You barely talk and now that you do, you're a total downer.
Lars: We need to be careful if we're crossing the bridge. No matter where we go, they'll be coming for us. They don't stop, so we need to make sure we don't either.
He stood up and walked past Momosuke and Takashi, exiting the bus. Saya and Kiba were also in shock from his outburst. Momosuke looked back at Kiba.
Kiba: I swear, I didn't say anything to piss him off.
Momosuke: Hm… A part of me thinks the guys right. But the other wants to punch him in the face because it sounds like he's lost hope. I don't know how long this infection is going to last, but I'm not about to give up. Not as long as I have people that care about me and people that I care about.
Kiba: Agreed. I don't care how hellish it gets. You know I'm not one to give up.
Momosuke and Kiba bumped fists.
Takashi (thinking): Hmph. If I didn't know any better I'd think these two were brothers.
Everyone exited the bus and with Lars walking ahead of the pack, they all pressed forward; everyone that had a weapon was carrying it in hand.
The police had already began setting up roadblocks and barricades, the cause of the traffic jam and the reason cars have been sitting still for more than 4 hours. The group was walking along a sidewalk on the bridge the resembled a sidewalk that would normally be in a neighborhood. As they were walking, Saya's hand brushed against Momosuke's hand and she instantly pulled her hand away; blushing and looking away quickly. Saeko was walking next to Kiba and Takashi and Rei was next to Ms. Shizuka and Kohta. Lars was still walking ahead of the group by himself.
Kiba (to Takashi): What was that about on the bus?
Takashi: I'm not exactly sure… He's such a quiet guy. Maybe the situation finally made him release that bottled up anger.
Kiba: Well, definitely better out than in. Keeping that anger built up inside isn't good.
Takashi: Yeah… Especially in a guy that strong. I was there that day.
Kiba: Hm?
Takashi: The day he knocked that one guy unconscious with a dodgeball.
Kiba: Oh yeah. It was pretty crazy.
Takashi: I've never seen a guy get flattened by a dodgeball like that before. I mean, any harder and I think he would of killed the guy.
Saeko: I think you're being a little dramatic, Takashi.
Takashi: Oh yeah?
Saeko: Killing him with a dodgeball? Unlikely. Unconscious? Most definitely.
Kiba: No, I'm pretty sure that kid was near death.
Takashi: My point is… If Lars can knock somebody out cold with a dodgeball… imagine what he could do with a real weapon.
Takashi looked at Lars who was walking with his hands by his side, and his head focused forward.
Takashi: I'm just saying… We should definitely watch him.
Saeko looked at him and nodded. It was true that Lars nearly put that high schooler in a coma with a dodgeball.
Takashi: I wonder if that kid ever recovered.
Kiba: No, he's dead. I told you, that dodgeball ended his existence.
Takashi: I'd believe you if you weren't so passive about it.
Suddenly, Lars stopped in front of them. He held up his hand as if indicating everyone to stop. Takashi, Saeko and Kiba stopped first, then the others.
Lars: Something isn't right.
Momosuke: Hm? He's right… Look at the cars.
Everyone looked to the cars and saw that nobody was in the cars… no one alive at least. Every car they were near was blood stained and there was no life in sight. Only dead bodies in the cars and along the road.
Takashi (thinking): How did I not notice this before?
Saya (thinking): We were walking right beside the cars and didn't notice they weren't on.
Rei (thinking): How… How is this possible?!
Every car, all the way to the end of the bridge, was vacant. Not a living thing in sight.
Kiba: That's why traffic isn't moving. There's nothing alive up here!
Momosuke: We need to get back and tell the others to turn around and leave!
Saeko: That can't happen!
She pointed to a group of the undead that were slowly, but surely behind them. They weren't close, but if they were to go back they'd run right into them.
Rei: We gotta move!
Takashi (yelling out): Everyone! Run!
Everyone began making a moderate run to the other end of the bridge. After a few seconds, the faint silhouettes of humanoid figures began to appear; Lars stopped again.
Lars: In the front…
Takashi looked a little closer and saw that "they" were coming from the front as well. Before long, they'd be sandwiched in the middle. Front the cars beside them, the undead began to emerge and walk towards them. Takashi readied his bat, Saeko readied her bokken, Rei readied her staff and Momosuke readied his pipe. Kohta was unfortunately out of ammo all together. Lars got in his fighting stance and began taking steps slowly back towards the group of survivors.
Kiba (thinking): Damn… We're gonna get surrounded and I'm still unarmed… Gotta think…
Takashi took a few steps towards the road and bashed in the skull of one of "them" and then he stepped back to the others. One of them got too close and Saeko took its legs out with one swipe. As it hit the ground, she impaled it through the temple.
Ms. Shizuka: W-What are we gonna do?
Saya: Working on it, Doctor Boobs.
Momosuke: I don't know if someone has a plan, but if you do now is the time to share. Haaa!
He swung his metal pipe at one of them and hit it in the face, breaking its lower jaw completely. But it kept coming. After it recovered from the force of Momosuke's blow, it continued to charge. Rei hit it 3 times with her staff and Momosuke delivered the final blow to the back of its head.
Kohta: Ideas are welcome!
Saya: How about we have Momosuke and Takashi in the front and Saeko and Rei in the back. Me, Kohta, Lars and Kiba should be in the middle with Ms. Shizuka and we can run in that formation. Takashi and Momosuke clear a path and Saeko and Rei cover the rear.
Kiba: While that's not a bad idea, it's dangerous as hell. But I've got an idea that's a little better.
Kohta: What is it?
Kiba went towards the road and began running towards the edge of the bridge.
Saya: What are you doing?!
Kiba: You guys gotta trust me on this!
Momosuke: Kiba! Don't!
Kiba jumped off the bridge and went straight down to the water below. Saeko and Momosuke looked over the edge and see him land in the water safely.
Momosuke: Idiot!
Saeko: Got a better idea?
She put one hand on the railing and vaulted over, plunging straight down. Lars got a running start and jumped over the edge, diving down as if diving off of a diving board.
Kohta: Are you guys insane?!
Saya: I am NOT about to jump off of a bridge. I would rather- gah!
Momosuke quickly grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her at the same time as jumping over the railing. Saya was screaming the whole way down.
Kohta: Oh… man…
Takashi: Come on, Kohta. We have to jump now.
Ms. Shizuka: Do we have to?! I'd feel better finding a ladder, or maybe a rope to climb down. Or maybe-
Rei grabbed her by the hair and pulled her over to the railing. Takashi grabbed Kohta by the back of his shirt and pulled him along. The four then jumped together.
Ms. Shizuka (while falling): I didn't agree to this!
Everyone had met the water. Momosuke had Saya grab him around the waist while he swam them to the shoreline. Ms. Shizuka surfaced, but she was kicking in the water because she felt something had her leg. Lars swam over to her, wrapped his arm around her waist and began swimming to the shoreline. Surprising enough, Kohta can swim and he began making his way to shore. Once Kiba made it to the shoreline, he laid on the ground, sprawled out on his back and gasping for breath. Momosuke and Saya were the second to make it to shore, then Saeko and Lars, followed by Takashi, Rei and the others.
Momosuke (breathing heavily): Are you… okay… Saya?
Saya: What the hell were you thinking?! Grabbing me like that and jumping off of a bridge?! Are you insane?!
Momosuke: You're welcome…
Momosuke walked up to Kiba and flopped to the ground. He noticed Kiba's odd breathing pattern.
Momosuke: What the hell's the matter with you?
Kiba (breathing heavily): I think… *huff huff* I shattered… *huff huff* my ribcage. Ow...
Rei: Kiba! Are you serious?! That was the best idea you could think of?
Kiba: I didn't see... anyone else... come up with something better.
Rei: We didn't have time to!
He scratched the back of his hair and shrugged.
Kiba: The way I see it, we're all here... and alive... You're... fucking... welcome.
Momosuke: That was probably the dumbest thing you've ever done.
Kiba: Heh heh… It was either that… or die on a bridge. If you ask me… This is the better option.
Momosuke: Yeah, yeah. Next idea you have, fill us in first.
Kiba: Heh heh.
Takashi: Is everyone okay? Did everybody make it?
Saeko: I'm here.
Rei: I think I'm okay.
Kohta got out of the water and was crawling on his hands and knees, gasping for breath.
Kohta: I need to breathe! Haaaaaa! Too much exercise *huff* for one day! Pheewww!
Momosuke: Damn Kohta… You need to get out more.
Kohta: "Getting out" is what I try to avoid.
Lars began walking up the hill to the road to see if there was any infected nearby. The sun was nearly down completely and Kiba's house was just down the street. Lars looked back and forth and saw minimal undead. They were mainly on the bridge because of the sounds of the honking cars on the other end.
Lars (thinking): We should get going… Daylight is almost up.
Takashi: Is everyone okay to move?
Kiba: Hell… no….
Takashi: Besides Kiba?
Momosuke: Yeah, I'm good.
Saya: We still have unfinished business, Momosuke!
Momosuke: Can we deal with it later? It's been sort of a long day.
Saya: You expect me to get forced into jumping off of a bridge and "deal with it later"? I could've died you know!
Momosuke: But you didn't.
Saya was quiet.
Momosuke: I'd never let anything happen to you. That's why I did what I did. Was it the best idea? Maybe not… But it worked. And we're okay. And that's all that matters.
Saya: Hmph.
She walked away from him. Momosuke inhaled deeply and sighed.
Momosuke (thinking): She sure is a piece of work.
Takashi: Nurse Shizuka. Could you check on Kiba when we get to his house?
Ms. Shizuka: Of course! I'll check on all of you to check for any fractures or wounds.
Takashi: Thank you. Alright, everyone. Let's go.
END CHAPTER 4
NEXT TIME ON HOTDR
Kohta: Another successful getaway!
Kiba: Yeah. You're welcome.
Takashi: That bridge jumping scene was pretty sick. Scary at first, but it paid off for the better.
Rei: I don't think I'm going to be jumping any bridges again any time soon.
Kiba: Agreed! I think I blew my chest out through my back.
Momosuke: Hey. When you jump off of a bridge that's 3 stories high from the water, that happens. Especially if you belly flop like you did.
Kiba: Yeah, yeah.
Saeko: You're lucky to be alive, Kiba-kun.
Saya: The next time Momosuke forces me 3 stories down into a body of water, I'll kill him.
Momosuke: Pfft. How often do you jump off bridges or buildings?
Saya: Shut up! You know what I meant!
Momosuke: No I don't. Could you explain a little bit?
Saya: Grrr!
Momosuke: Eeeshh!
Saya: I'll kick your ass!
Momosuke runs off and she chases him.
Saeko: They're like an odd, married couple.
Kiba: Perfect for each other.
ALL: Next time on Highschool of the Dead Revamped! Peace from the Dead!
Rei: Ah! Finally, a break from the undead.
Saeko: Does that mean I get to take a bath?
Kiba: Oh you have no idea. *wink*