"Thanks, Devin!" replied Talia. Rather than beaming with pride though, Devin just tossed his light, chocolate-mousse brown hair aside again and stared down at Raine below him. He didn't really like taking acknowledgement from those who just crushed everyone into order.
Talia commanded, "Everyone get to your positions! Archers: To the bell tower! Melees, to the front! Those with guns, stay behind and do NOT fire until the melee retreats!"
Raine's breath began to quicken as did her heart rate too. She couldn't stop trembling as if she was playing a mafia game. She watched as the measly number of kids picked up their weapons. Talia began breaking up bantering Marie away from Candi, for a little Candi wanted and one of the swords in Raine's backpack, which she donated. Unfortunately, Candi was obviously too fragile to be part of the melee, so she was forced to submit to Talia's demands.
Just as the three bickering girls broke apart, Devin, the boy who first warned them, shouted, "Here they come from the far left!"
The archers began to fire their frail, wooden arrows at the oncoming beasts. The eerie creatures had an abnormal speed to them. Their hungry, beady red eyes staring into their souls. They were dressed in a wide variety of clothing, but their twisted faces showed that this was definitely not a welcoming swarm. Some growling, mindless zombies had sun-hats on, as others still had their baseball mitts on. A few were in pajamas, next to a couple with outfits perfect for cosplay. Their joyful, bright outfits almost made them even scarier.
Raine shivered with uneasiness as the autumn breeze picked up chunks of leaves. "Why did I have to land here in my summer outfit instead of my winter ones?" she thought glumly as she watched the others charge forward. She felt a pang of guilt that she couldn't do much to help in her condition.
Cyndi, Eve, and Talia the melee he began to advance, as the newcomer, Fern hung back with her semi-automatic along with Candi in her edgy outfit, looking on enviously. Melody, meanwhile, attempted to talk her out of her bad mood while Raine stayed back as the new healer. Raine patted her special duckling, which Candi and Eve, wished to call Turtle or Mr. Tizzle.
All of the sudden, Eve cried out in pain as a creature of snuck up on her from behind, and rammed at her collarbone with his yellow bicycle helmet! Her usual, laughing self just toppled and both figures landed on Cyndi who yelped and stumbled over a jagged rock.
Raine jumped to her feet, ready to assist, but fell back down. She'd forgotten about her inability to walk. "Go, Ducky," she ordered, feeling useless herself.
"Fallback!" cried Talia as Cyndi dragged Eve away. Cyndi, herself, hugged one side of her chest where her kidney lay with one arm, as she dragged Eve with the other over the dying grass. Eve was still swinging her katana madly at the zombies in a refusal to retreat. Talia roundhouse-kicked one zombie in a swimsuit before she took Eve by the legs, and guided her to the bell tower with Cyndi.
Rapid gunfire began to sound zombies as the melee entered the bell tower. Zombies began exploding limb from limb before despawning, rather than leaving a scarlet trail behind to Raine's relief. Ducky was trailing the melee as Melody cheered at this horrible time, "It's time to kick some zombie butt!" Fern grinned at this as she reloaded her gun. Raine began crawling and hobbling over to the bell tower as the wave of traumatizing creatures began to clear out.
As Raine listened to the slow, rhythmic pattern of her hands dragging her forward, someone from above abruptly shouted, "Look out!"
Raine turned around and stared at the oncoming zombie that snuck up from behind her. Her movement's pace instantly quickened, but against the slick mud and prickly grass, it was no use. The gunners had their weapons pointed towards the creature, but were too afraid to shoot, for the two were too close together, and it was very likely that could hit the wrong person. The archers had paralyzed expressions, for they could do nothing, since they had run out of arrows, and the melee was too far away.
Raine screamed and kicked herself up into a standing position, but collapsed back down instantaneously. She wished she hadn't done that, for now she twisted her ankle on the foot that she was used to. She could do nothing but try and scramble away helplessly, as tears brimmed uncontrollably. No one could help her without hurting her. It felt like running in a nightmare, where every step you took would just drag you back, as if some force was pulling you back like quicksand or a treadmill. Raine attempted to leap up the hill, but fell into a large puddle and was soon rubbing her eyes to keep the water out, but only got dirt particles in her eyes and on her eyelashes. Her eyes blinked several times in extreme pain, while Raine felt hot tears stream down her cheeks.
"Why did I not get a weapon for myself?" Raine questioned angrily. She was going to die in a game?! This must've been what Fern wanted to ask: How would they get out anyway? Raine staggered, adding to everyone's horror. She turned around crossed her arms in an X shape in a feeble attempt to defend herself. She huffed and braced herself for her moment of death almost willingly and without hope.