HOTDR Chapter 14: Demise in the Dead
Last we saw of Rika…
Tajima: Good shooting, sir. You seem to be more on point than usual.
Rika: Oh please, Tajima. I'm always at the top of my game.
Tajima: So, boss? What do you think we should do after we're done here?
Rika: I'm heading out soon to find my little brother and his friends. So I won't be here for the fall of this airport. You're more than welcome to come along with me.
Tajima: Since you put it like that, yeah. I'll tag along.
Rika: Good. We should get back inside soon. Captain-
Gunshots rang out from within the airport, two of them. The gunshots brought Rika and Tajima to their feet.
Rodack: Sir! Please, put the gun down! We don't want to hurt you!
Rika: Naoko, was it?
Rodack: Just call me Rodack, ma'am.
Rika: The airport is lost…
Rodack: C-Captain!
Rika: Hm? You coming along?
Rodack: Are you sure it's a good idea to leave the airport?
Rika: Your men back there can handle the situation, am I wrong?
Tajima: A Stealth B-90? What are one of those things doing around here?
As the bomber flew away, it dropped an object that seemed to look like a very small teardrop. Once the teardrop shaped item landed on the airport, it detonated. It completely obliterated the airport, sending it up in a fiery blaze and sending building debris in every direction.
Rodack: NO!
Rika: What the hell are they doing!?
General: My higher-ups decided that the airport was a hot zone. A lost cause.
Rodack: So you bombed it?!
General: Calm down, son. It had to be done. We couldn't risk-
Rodack: No General! My men were in that airport! My FRIENDS were in that airport! You know what? FUCK YOU!
Opening Theme Song: I'm Still Breathing by Maon Kurosaki
Captain Rika Minami, Captain Rodack and Lieutenant Tajima were just arriving to the shoreline and noticed that there were no infected around them along the road ahead. Tajima gently guided the motor boat to the sand and stopped with half of the boat on land. Rika was the first off the boat and Tajima followed. Rodack, still stressed and depressed about his fallen unit, slowly picked himself up and planted his feet on the sand. Rika pulled out her phone and dialed up Kiba. With her phone to her ear, she shifted her eyes left and right, looking out for "them" and unzipped her vest again to feel the slight breeze in the heat. Once she got no answer, only a voicemail, she hung up the phone.
Rika (thinking): Dammit… Where are you, Kiba?
Tajima: Who you calling, Rika?
Rika: Trying to reach my brother. I need to know where he is. Last time I spoke to him, the call went out before I could find out where they were.
Tajima: Well, I suppose all we can do is search around and hope to get lucky until we get a call back.
Rika: Oh please. You have a better chance of getting in bed with me than getting a call back from him. He never answers his phone.
Tajima: Wait, what?
Rika: What?
Tajima: What did you just say?
Rika: That he never answers his phone?
Tajima: No, no. You said something about me in bed with you.
Rika: Are you kidding? I didn't say anything like that, sport.
Tajima: Oh bullshit! I heard it!
Rodack: Try to keep your voice down Tajima. We don't want to draw them in.
Tajima: Oh. Yeah, you're right.
Rika: Listen, Rodack. I understand that you're upset about your squad, but-
Rodack: I'm not upset. Just disappointed that I let General Yuramura trick me for so many years.
Rika: What do you mean?
Rodack: He issued a kill order on us and 6 dozen civilians. That let's me know that he never thought of us as anything more than expendable.
Rika: Yeah, you're right about that. Pardon my French, but that guy's an asshole. He rubbed me wrong from the day I met him.
Tajima: That wasn't French.
Rika: Shut it, Tajima. We need to get a move on. The sooner we get looking, the sooner we find him.
Tajima: It's 90 degrees out here and we don't have a car. What do you plan on doing?
Rika smiled. The three found an abandoned sedan and Rika managed to hotwire it to start after about 15 minutes. Tajima and Rodack had a parameter set while she was hot wiring the car.
Tajima: Holy hell dammit. You got it to work?
Rika: Of course. Are you doubting my abilities again, Tajima?
Tajima: Of course not! I was just saying. I'm surprised that you're not rusty after all this time.
Rika: Nice save. Rodack, let's go.
Rodack was zoning out and staring off into the distance.
Rika: Rodack?
Rodack (snapping out of his trance): Yes, ma'am?
Rika: Time to move, kid.
The three loaded themselves into the car with Rika driving and Tajima laying across the back seat. Rodack was in the passenger seat staring out through the window.
Rika: Tajima.
Tajima: What's up?
Rika: Try calling my brother again please.
She reached her hand back and held out her phone to Tajima. He took the phone and began scanning through it trying to find Kiba's number. He decided to be nosey and went through her pictures while he was at it.
Tajima: Wow, Rika.
Rika: Hm?
Tajima: You look really good in a bathing suit.
Rika: What?
He was looking at pictures of her trip to America while she was on the beach with her friend.
Tajima: Who's the blonde with you? She's got an oversized chest.
Rika: That's Shizuka. She's my best friend on the planet earth.
Tajima: Well, she's definitely got some… assets worth mentioning.
Rika: Will you quit going through my pictures? Don't blame me when you see something you don't want to.
Tajima: Pfft, are you serious? What would I not want to see in your phone?
He scrolled through a few more pictures until he found one that made his eyes grow wide.
Tajima: WHOA! RIKA!? WHO'S COCK IS THIS?!
Rika: I told you.
Tajima: What the fuck?!
Rika: I warned you.
Tajima: Why is there a picture of a DICK?!
Rika: That's an actor's penis. You can scroll through and see my ex's in there somewhere.
Tajima: UHH?! FUCK that. What's your brother's name?
Rika: It'll be listed as Stratocaster Extravagant Hotness.
Tajima: What now?
Rika: Don't blame me. That's what he put his name as. I'm just too lazy to change it.
Tajima: Good christ. Why can't he just have a normal name.
Rodack: Be careful through here. We just passed one of "them". There could be more.
Rika: Roger that.
As she was driving, she began to noticed that she was passing by more and more of "them" along the side of the roads. She realized that they must've been getting close to the main part of town as that is where the most people are. She knows that they travel in groups towards noise, so they must've heard something that rallied them together.
Rika: Hold on, Tajima.
Tajima: Huh?
She made a sharp right turn and made Tajima slam his face against the back window.
Tajima: Slow down, Rika!
Rika: Can't do that. I'm trying to find someone.
Tajima: Yeah, well don't get us killed in the process!
Rodack: He's right. Maybe you should decelerate, Captain.
Tajima: My God, why do they give Asian women driver's licenses.
Rika: I think someone just reduced their chances with me.
Tajima: Damn.
Rika was driving down a street that seemed to be less crowded than the others. She made a left turn and noticed there was a group of three of "them" wandering down the middle of the road. Instead of hitting them, she decided to try to get around them and drove slightly to the right of the road. As she avoided them, her back right tired dipped down into a sewer hole and popped on impact when it drove over it. The popped tire caused the vehicle to slide sideways down the road.
Tajima: Rika! What happened?!
Rika: One of the tires are gone! I can't get control of it!
Rodack: Hold on!
The side of the car, on Rodack's side, slammed into the traffic light post causing an abrupt stop.
Kiba (distant): Rika…
Rika heard her brother's voice in a very faint tone and tried looking around for him. All around her was black and she saw one beam of light behind her. It was a door that was cracked open and she began walking towards it. She pushed the door open and saw that she was in the middle of the road in front of their house but still didn't see Kiba.
Kiba (distant, yet closer than last time): Rika…
Rika: Where are you, Kiba? I can't see you.
She looked around the neighborhood and saw that everyone was frozen in place. There was a child and his dog running in the front yard of her neighbor's house but completely still as if frozen in time. She looked up and saw a flock of birds in a V-shaped formation completely frozen as well.
Rika: Hm? What happened to everything?
Momosuke: Rika…
She turned around and saw that Momosuke had his back to her. His appearance in whatever world she was in surprised her.
Rika: Momosuke-kun? What happened? Everything is frozen.
He didn't answer and just stood with his back to her as if completely ignoring her. She thought that he, too, was frozen in time along with her surrounding. She stepped to him and as soon as she touched his shoulder, he turned around and his face frightened her. One of his eyes were gouged out and his cheek was completely missing, revealing his teeth and jaw structure. He was bleeding from his mouth, nose and eyes and was in tattered clothing.
Rika: Momosuke-kun! What happened to you?!
Kiba: Rika…
Rika: Kiba?!
She turned around and saw that Kiba was standing behind her, facing her. His face was badly contorted and his left arm was snapped at the elbow with the bone sticking out through his forearm. He had his head tilted to the right as blood flowed from his mouth and onto his shirt.
Kiba: Rika…
Tajima: Rika!
She began to wake up and saw that Rodack and Tajima were fighting off an oncoming horde that was nearby and heard the bang of the car wreck. The two were standing in front of the car wreck firing off rounds into the dead's foreheads, neutralizing them.
Rodack: Captain Minami! Are you alright?
Rika: Huh…? Um… Yeah. I think so.
Tajima: You hit your head on the window and it knocked you out. Do you think you can walk?
Rika: Yeah.
She opened her car door and planted her left foot down. She tried to push herself out of the car with her right foot and felt a sharp pain go through her entire leg, causing her to fall to the pavement.
Tajima: Cover me, Rodack.
Rodack: Roger that. Laying down cover fire.
Tajima: Yeah, yeah. Just shoot. Rika?
Rika: My right leg.
Tajima: Don't tell me it's broken.
Rika: No, I can feel it alright. I can't put pressure on it though.
Tajima: Come here.
He put her right arm over his shoulder and picked her up. She began leaning on him while using her left leg only to stand on. She had her right leg bent at a 135 degree angle to keep pressure off of it (she's bending her knee slightly backwards to keep pressure off of that leg). Tajima took her rifle and slung it by the strap over his shoulder.
Rodack: How are you holding up, Captain?
Rika: I don't know. Maybe a fracture? Or just a sprain. I don't know yet.
Tajima: There's got to be a hospital or something nearby. We need medkits.
Rodack: We'll have to worry about that later. We need to get off of this road!
The three began moving towards the sidewalk as Rodack covered the group. Once they reached the four-way intersection, Tajima and Rodack noticed a large group was coming from their left and decided to go straight.
Rika: There. Get to that bookstore.
Tajima: Are you sure that's a good idea?
Rika: They're slow… and blind. As long as we're quiet, they won't notice us.
Rodack: You heard her.
Rodack walked over to the bookstore entrance and kicked the door open at the handle, breaking the lock mechanism. He went in first and aimed his gun left and right to view the store.
Rodack: Clear.
Tajima: Come on.
Rika was letting out short grunts and groans of pain from her leg and Tajima helped her to a table and sat her on the top of it.
Tajima: You know, all jokes aside. You have a pretty sexy moan.
Rika: Shut up, Tajima.
Tajima: Just thought you should know.
Rodack and Tajima grabbed a second table and pushed it against the door, blocking it. Tajima went over to Rika and sat her gun next to her with the barrel aimed at the ceiling.
Tajima: Let's have a look at that leg.
Rika: Be careful. I'll shoot you if you hurt me.
Tajima: You don't have to worry about that. I like my life as of right now.
He untied her boot and took it off. He then rolled up her pant leg and saw that her leg was badly bruised and began to swell.
Tajima: What hurts the most?
Rika: My knee. I tried pushing off with my right leg in the car and a sharp pain went through my leg from my knee.
Rodack: It could be dislocated.
Rika: That's great. Just what I need.
Tajima began rubbing her leg gently and began lightly putting pressure around her knee. The gentle pushes made her flinch several times.
Rika: What are you doing?
Tajima: Testing your reflexes. No torn ACL since you can still move it. It is pretty much dislocated though. We need ice for the swelling and we need to get her meds. Steroids would help right about now.
Rodack: Where are we going to find that?
Tajima: There has to be a place close. There has to be.
Tajima began gently rubbing her calves and upper thigh once again.
Tajima: How does that feel?
Rika: No pain in those areas. Just when I step down.
Tajima: I don't mean the pain, Rika.
Rika: Oh. Aren't you so smooth.
Tajima: I try to be.
Rika (playfully): You're an idiot Tajima.
Tajima: That may be true, but I'm your idiot, Captain.
Rika shook her head and looked towards the doors and saw that the horde was passing them by through the window.
Tajima: I recommend that you let me carry you instead of you putting any pressure on that leg.
Rika: You know what? I forgot that you were in training to be a Field Medic. What happened to that?
Tajima: I found it hard to believe that being a Field Medic was fun. It does interest me, but I'd rather not die in a warzone.
Rika: Fair enough.
Rodack: What a coward…
Tajima: Excuse me?
Rodack: You heard me, Lieutenant. I said that you are a coward for not wanting to be in a warzone.
Tajima: Hey, fuck you man. Just because I don't want to die prematurely, I'm a coward?
Rodack: Let's not forget that I outrank you, Lieutenant.
Rika: And let's not forget that I outrank you. I won't have you talking to my men that way, am I clear Junior Captain?
Rodack looked at Tajima with a disgusted looked and then looked away from them both.
Rodack: Yes, Senior Captain.
Rika: And let's cut the rank crap. Out here, we're just three survivors. Rank isn't worth anything anymore. So don't act like you have superiority over others.
Rodack: Yes, Captain.
Rika: My name is Rika.
Rodack: Yes... Rika.
Tajima: Thanks Rika.
Rika: Don't thank me. Now keep rubbing my leg. That actually felt good.
Tajima: Magic word?
Rika: I'll shoot you?
Tajima: Bingo.
COMMERCIAL BREAK - HOTDR - HIGHSCHOOL OF THE DEAD REVAMPED
Tajima put her boot back on after massaging her leg for maybe 15 minutes. Rodack was sitting on the counter at the front of the bookstore and hasn't said a word since the little squabble earlier.
Rika: We shouldn't sit around for too much longer. We're going to need food if we want to have the strength to keep moving.
Tajima: You're not going anywhere on that leg, missy.
Rika: I'm fine enough to move. That's why I have you here.
Tajima: Ah. Aren't I so dependable?
Rika: Uh huh… Sure. I saw a corner store up the street a few blocks. We could stop there for food and come back.
Tajima: You're sure you don't want to stay and rest?
Rika: Rest is for squares. Let's go.
Rodack and Tajima moved the table out of the way and Rodack went out first. He got on one knee and aimed his rifle down the street while barely peeking around the corner. Tajima did the same from his side of the door and the two cleared it.
Tajima: Clear.
Rodack: Clear.
Tajima: Come on, Rika.
Rika: I need your help, Tajima.
He went over to her and put her right arm over his shoulder and helped her to her feet. Rodack led the group down the street and Tajima and Rika followed close behind him. They reached the corner store that Rika mentioned and saw that there were a few of "them" roaming around it. Rodack knocked on the door to draw them over in their direction and when one got close enough, he stabbed it in the forehead with his knife. The second one followed clumsily behind the first one and he stabbed that one too.
Rika: Nice job, Rodack. Drawing them out like that.
He ignored her and walked in while aiming his gun around.
Tajima (whispering to Rika): Someone's still angry as hell.
Rika (whispering): Stop.
The two followed him in and Rika pulled the door closed behind them. Tajima let Rika rest again the counter in the front of the store while he and Rodack searched around for food. The place was already raided once, so there was limited supplies around. Tajima grabbed a grocery bag and started loading it full of snacks for the group. Rodack continued to do a clean sweep through the store when he heard a settle knocking from a door to his left. It was a repetitive knock that was not rhythmic by any means. He slowly twisted the doorknob and as soon as it clicked, it slung open. A dozen of the infected began pouring into the store.
Rodack: Multiple contacts!
Tajima: Rika!
Rodack began firing rounds into the infected and putting them down one by one, but they were overpowering him and his semi-automatic weapon. He ran out of bullets in the magazine and had to reload, so backed away from the horde. Tajima dropped the bag of snacks and ran over to her, quickly helping her limp to the outside. Rodack followed behind them and closed the door, keeping the undead in.
Tajima: Shit…
Rika: We gotta go.
Rodack turned around and saw that there was a rather large horde approaching from the south.
Rodack: How?! I thought we took care of that and let them pass?!
Tajima: They must've came in waves. This is probably the horde that heard it and was too far away at the time. And they just reached us.
One of the infected fell through the glass door to the corner store and fell on Rika's back, bringing her and Tajima to the ground. It went for a bite out of Rika's neck but Tajima punched it in the face and pushed it off of Rika. A second one fell on top of them and sunk it's teeth into Tajima's left hand, taking a part of his hand and pinky finger away in one chomp.
Tajima: Ahh! Fuck!
Rika: Tajima!
Rodack: Dammit!
Rodack kicked it in the face and away from Tajima before blowing it's head off. Rodack then began gunning down the undead that were trying to get through the shattered door.
Tajima: Shit… They got me.
Rika: No… No, Tajima! You're okay!
Tajima: No… I'm not. Once you're bit, that's it Rika. You know that.
Rika: Dammit, Tajima! Why did you save me?! I didn't need you to do that!
Tajima: What? Come on, I'd never let one of those things touch you.
Rika (crying): You're such an idiot…
Rodack: What are we doing, guys?
Tajima: Take Rika somewhere safe. I don't want anything to happen to her. She means too much to me.
Rika: Tajima…
Tajima: Go. You don't want to linger around for too long. I'll hold them off for you.
Rodack: Roger that.
Rodack picked up Rika and put her on his shoulder and slung her weapon by the strap over his shoulder.
Rika: RODACK! Put me down RIGHT NOW!
Rodack: Negative, Captain. Can't do that.
Rika: Tajima!
He began trotting away with her on his shoulder as she was struggling to get free to help Tajima. Tajima, who was still lying on the ground, smiled at her as Rodack carried her off. He stood and looked at his hand; or at least what's left of it.
Tajima (thinking): I can't fucking believe I let myself get bit. Well, I'm not gonna turn. That's for sure.
He reached into his pouch and pulled out a hand grenade. As he did, he was bit a second time on his left shoulder from behind; the last of them from the corner store creeped up behind him and got one last bite in. He yanked his shoulder away from the jaws of the undead and elbowed it, causing it to fall. He pulled out his pistol and fired a round into its head. He turned around and saw that the horde was no more than 20 yards away
Tajima: You fuckers like eating huh? Is that what you want? Food?
The oncoming horde grew closer and he pulled the pin out of the grenade and held down the safety clip.
Tajima (thinking): Rika… Please stay safe. I don't care what you have to do… but survive.
He looked ahead and cracked his neck left and right without using his hands.
Tajima: Well here I am you fuckers! Take a bite outta this!
He charged forward and shoulder charged his way into the crowd.
Rika: Rodack! I'm not going to tell you again! Let me go-
The two heard an explosion around the corner from them. Rika's heart sank into her stomach and then back up to her chest. Tears began rolling down her face and all she could do was lay on Rodack's shoulder and try to fight back those tears. Rodack stopped and looked back for a moment before continuing on.
Rodack (thinking): Seems I was wrong about you, Lieutenant Tajima. You aren't a coward after all. Rest in peace… hero.
Rika (thinking): Tajima… I'll never forget you. Thank you.
After carrying Rika for about a half of a mile while she thought about what just happened, she began to collect herself. She looked around and noticed that she and Rodack were away from danger.
Rika: Rodack, put me down. I want to walk.
He gently set her down and put her right arm over his shoulder as support. The two began walking together awkwardly without talking for a few minutes.
Rodack: Captain… I apologize for what I said to Tajima.
Rika: Don't apologize to me. You should've apologized to him.
Rodack: Hm… Yeah… I know…
Rika: And do me a favor. Don't talk to me about him. Please and thank you.
Rodack: Understood.
Rika was in a weird place at the moment. One of her most trusted friends and possible lover was just killed by the undead. She was trying to think of ways to deal with such an incident, but nothing seemed to be working in her favor. It's just one of those things that she's going to have to get over on her own. The two travel on foot a little further along the sidewalk until they began hearing music from a short distance away. Once they reached the peak of the short hill, Rika and Rodack saw a large group of people.
Rika: Is that…?
Momosuke nudged Kiba on the arm and pointed in Rika's direction. Kiba's eyes grew wide and he sprinted full speed towards her.
Kiba: Rika!
Rika: Whoa, wait!
Kiba gained momentum from running and jumped at Rika. Rodack put his open palm in front of Rika and Kiba ran chest first into his sturdy hand. He knocked the wind out of him and fell to the ground.
Momosuke: Hey!
Momosuke dropped his bow and ran over to Rika and Rodack with Takashi's baseball bat in hand.
Saya: Momo-kun! Wait!
Takashi: Momosuke!
Rika: Momosuke, stop it.
He froze in his tracks.
Rika: It's okay. He was just making sure Kiba didn't hurt me more.
Momosuke: Oh… What's wrong?
Rika: My knee. I think it's dislocated.
Momosuke helped Kiba up.
Momosuke: Damn. Well, we're heading to Gansho Hospital. Do you want to head over with us?
Rika: That would be fantastic actually. Where is it?
Momosuke: Just behind these trees.
Rodack: Let's move out. We need to get steroids in her right now to help her recover.
Kiba: Yeah… Try not to stiff arm her ribcage through her back.
Rika: Kiba, cut it out. He saved me from you diving on me.
Kiba: Well, shit! It's been like 8 months since I've seen you!
Rika: Hey, no bad words. And 8 months? Try 3 weeks brother.
Kiba: Felt like 8 months…
Momosuke: Come on. We've still gotta go to the hospital and clear it out. That's gonna be our new home.
Rika: What happened to our house?
Kiba: Uh… yeah… We'll tell you about that later.
Momosuke, Kiba, Rika and Rodack walked over to the rest of the group. Shizuka's face lit up with excitement at the sight of Rika.
Shizuka: RIKA!
Rika: Hey, Shizuka! How are you?
Shizuka (crying): I'm sooooo happy to see you!
Rika: Oh please don't cry. You know I'll start crying too.
Shizuka: Why are you limping?
Rika: Got in an accident. Nothing serious.
Shizuka: Was that the loud boom we heard?
Rika thought to herself for a brief moment and took a deep breath.
Rika: No. That wasn't it.
Kiba: Well, everyone! This is my sister, Rika. That guy is I don't know.
Rodack: I'm Captain Takeo "Rodack" Naoko. Second Squadron, Bomb Squad.
Takashi: Sup?
Tak: Yo.
Kohta: WHOA! WHAT RIFLE IS THAT?!
Rodack: The AR-15?
Kohta: NICE! Can I touch it?!
Rodack: Can… someone get this guy's leash? Please?
Saya: Kohta! Come over here.
Kohta: Aw man…
He walked back over to the group while holding his head down. Tak patted his back and Takashi shook his head in disappointment. The group began advancing towards the hospital through the trees and meanwhile, Rodack noticed that Totsuka was still playing music aloud for everyone to hear.
Rodack: Hey, kid. Can you turn that off? Noise attracts them.
Totsuka: You think I don't know that?
Rodack: If you know that, then why are playing it?
Totsuka: Because if they were near, they'd be here by now. Any more questions?
Rodack: Is it a trend for you kids to disrespect adults?
Takashi: Look, let me tell you something about us. Nothing against you personally, but rules and regulations aren't our style.
Momosuke: We follow one person, and that's Takashi.
Rei: He's our leader, so you'll just have to get use to it.
Rodack: Are you kidding me? This kid is your leader? Why not the only adult in the group?
Shizuka: I was never big on the leadership role. Too much responsibility… Heh heh.
Saya: If you're going to stay with us, you better get use to having Takashi tell you what to do.
Rodack: You kids are stupid if you think I'm going to let a child order me around. You do what you want, and I'll live on my own.
Rodack walked ahead of the group towards the hospital and Takashi shook his head "no" to Kiba because he saw that Kiba was about to say something. But Takashi didn't want Kiba to get riled up because he was helping Rika walk.
Rika: I get that you guys have something going here, but if Takashi messes up and puts my brother in danger, I'm taking over. The last thing I want is the last of my family dead.
Takashi: I understand that Rika. I don't want anyone dead. We're all family here.
The group caught up to Rodack who was standing in front of the building, maybe 20 yards away from it. He was analyzing it, listening out for any of "them". The revolving doors in the front of the building would prove to be a problem later since there is really no way of stopping the infected, or alive, from getting in.
Takashi: Alright, we need to split up into two teams. One team is going in and the other team is staying out here to guard the hospital. Make sure no one, dead or alive, follows the team inside.
Rika: What are the teams?
Takashi: Well, the team staying outside is going to be bigger than the team going inside. I was thinking six people go inside and the rest stay outside and out of sight.
Rika: Smart. I like it.
Saya: We told you. That's why he's the leader. I just give him my brain power when he's too stupid to think for himself.
Takashi: Wow. Thanks, Takagi. Thanks so much.
Saya: You're welcome.
Takashi: Well, do we have volunteers? Or do we have to draw straws?
Rodack: I'm going in. You kids are going to die without me.
Takashi: Uh huh… Thank you. Anyone else?
Totsuka: I'll head in with you guys. Chie, watch my skateboard.
Chie: I got it.
Takashi: That's okay with me. You're a cool little dude, Totsuka.
Totsuka: I try.
Momosuke: I'll-
He felt Saya lightly squeeze his hand and he looked to see her shaking her head is disagreement.
Momosuke: Ah… I'll stay out here and look out for the girls.
Takashi: Alright, cool.
Kiba: I don't mind going in. Someone is going to have to watch Rika for me, Momosuke?
Momosuke: She's fine with me, bro.
Rika: I'm not a toddler that needs to be looked after, Kiba.
Kiba: Yeah, yeah. I'm not letting you go in there, shattered kneecap. We look out for each other, and you know that.
Rika: Hm… I know.
Saeko: I'll go. I want to help.
Takashi: You're in. Someone like you could really help in this type of quiet situation.
Saeko: Thank you.
Kiba: And I'll watch over her too. I'd never let anything happen to you, Saeko-chan.
He grabbed her hand and looked into her eyes and she started blushing immediately. Saeko looked over to Saya and Rei and the girls looked away like they didn't see anything.
Lars: I'll go with you.
Takashi: That's a fantastic idea. I feel safer with you around, strangely enough.
Lars: That's the first time I've had a guy say that to me.
Takashi: Yeah… It sounds a little weird now that I think about it.
Momosuke: You guys take care of each other in there, okay?
Kiba: Dude, don't worry about us. You just worry about keeping everyone safe out here.
Momosuke: Roger that, Major Jackass.
Kiba: Hey!
Saya: Oh, calm down.
Takashi: Looks like I'm going in too. I can't let my friends go in there without me.
Rei: Wait!
Rei quickly made her way over to Takashi and hugged him tightly.
Takashi (to Rei): What's wrong?
Rei (to Takashi): Don't get hurt. I want you to come back to me in one piece.
Takashi rubbed her hair and kissed her on the cheek. He let her go and then turned around, facing the hospital. He was armed with the Ithaca shotgun, Lars was armed with the baseball bat, of course Saeko had her Katana, Kiba had his sister's Beretta, Totsuka had his aluminum baseball bat and Rodack had his AR-15, multi-mode carbine in hand.
Kohta: Hey, sir?
Rodack: Huh?
Kohta: Can I touch your weapon?! Just once?!
Rodack: I swear, you're the creepiest kid I've ever met.
Momosuke: That's Kohta for ya.
Tak: Hey, good luck guys.
Ame and Rukina: Be safe in there!
Nado: Do you two always have to be in sync?
Alice: Scary onii-chan! Don't get hurt, okay!
Lars: I won't Alice.
He gave her thumbs up and a smile. The group then began going through the revolving glass doors one by one. Once inside, they found themselves in the main lobby with the receptionist desk across from them. There were only two ways they could go, left or right. The interior of the hospital was blackened and dimly lit by the emergency lights scattered periodically throughout the bottom floor.
Lars: This place is huge.
Rodack: We're going to have to split up to cover this place.
Kiba: Let's do this.
To be continued…
END CHAPTER 14
Ending Theme Song: Hoshikuzu no Ring by Asami Imai
NEXT TIME ON HOTDR
Takashi: I can tell that the next chapter is going to get pretty hectic.
Kiba: What's a hexagon?
Takashi: No, Kiba. Hectic. You know, chaotic?
Kiba: I could've sworn you said hexagon.
Momosuke: Hey, is there a reason that Rodack guy is being a douche?
Rika: He's a military type man. And as you can see, being led by a teenager isn't really his style.
Saya: That's no excuse to be an asshole to everyone.
Alice: Hey, scary onii-chan? Who's the big, mean guy right there?
Lars: Someone you don't need to worry about, Alice.
Saeko: I can tell he won't be easy to get along with.
Totsuka: He's just one of those military buffs that thinks he knows everything about everything. I hate people like that.
Rodack: You do realize I'm right here right?
Kiba: Oh hey.
Rei: Next time on Highschool of the Dead Revamped!
ALL: Surprise in the Dead of Night!
Kohta: Oh! Surprise! Is there a birthday cake?!
Momosuke: Kohta, I think you have an eating problem.
Kohta: No I don't! I was just saying!
Saya: Shut it, lard ass.
Kohta: Saya, one day… I'm going to run away. And you're going to miss me!
Saya: I'll pack you a lunch.
Momosuke: Damn, Saya. That was mean.
Saya: Yeah… It was. I didn't mean it, Kohta. Only half of it.
Kohta: Thanks, Takagi. Wait… Hey!