Chapter 5: Expedition part 1

I immediately got from the chair and raised my voice:
- "Get out of the school? Are you crazy? There are literal zombies out there, it would be a death sentence for everyone involved!"
- "Listen Monika, there are reasons why we need to do that. We cannot forever stay trapped here waiting for death. I know for a fact, that there are weapons stacked in the P.E. room near the school, including a crossbow used by an archery club, flare gun, practice swords, nunchakus and a few others. Those would be very vital for defending ourselves"
- "Not to mention" Interrupted Michael "That there is crucially a water purification station there. It will be crucial for us when we inevitably run out of water"
- "Okay, but we are just a bunch of high schoolers. We won't survive this. Someone can die during it. How will you feel, Mr Major General, having the death of someone out of us on your conscience?"
- "I am well aware of that fact. Every day we spend there is a threat to our lives, since they may break in at any moment. That's why I want for us to have means to defend ourselves. I will go there, I am not going to force anyone to go with me. I want two volunteers to go there with me. I take full responsibility for everything that happens there, I am not playing on sacrificing anyone's life, a good leader would never do this. Who is going with me?"

Xavier raised his hand:
- "I am willing to go. I am sick of sitting in those claustrophobic walls every day. My entire life I was afraid of living to the fullest extent, but now I feel that this is the moment I want to prove to everyone that I truly lived"
- "Thank you" responded Bernard, laying his hand on Xavier's arm. "It means a lot for me and for everyone in there. In moments like these you recognize who is a coward and who is a man. Anyone else willing to go?"
Students were looking at each other, no one was willing to go. Bernard only sighed when suddenly I shoot up my arm:
- "I will go!"
- "Monika?" said Bernard, looking at me with a surprised look at his face. "But you were against this idea in the first place!"
- "Yes and can't let you go there and die! Someone must help there if anything happens like on the first day, right?"
- "Are you sure you want to go? I don't want to…"
- "Why are you suddenly opposed when I volunteer? Is it because I am a woman and you're afraid I'll get hurt?"
- "Wait, I didn't mean to…, I would never… Alright, you can go. Xavier, Monika, let's meet up on the first floor in 15 minutes. Please take a backpack and everything you need with yourselves"
- "Yes, captain!" said Xavier and walked away. I rolled my eyes and also left the room.

Sayori runned after me and grabbed my shirt:
- "Monika, are you crazy? Do you want to die?"
- "Don't worry Sayori, I am not going to die. I am well capable of defending myself. I will be back there in no time"
- "Are you absolutely sure?"
- "I give you my pinky promise. Have I ever broken my promise?"
- "No, I think so…"
- "You see. Don't worry about me"
- "Please return to us as quickly as possible. How could the Literature Club function without you?" shouted Sayori, hugging me tightly. I hugged her tightly, without saying a word. After a while I saw that Yuri and Natsuki were also there.
- "Kick some zombie asses, Monika! You must write a poem about this at our next club meeting" said Natsuki, laughing.
- "Monika, I want to thank you for accepting me and my weakness" said Yuri "I will be hoping for your success"
I opened my arms and said:
- "Allright, let's have one group hug before!"
Natsuki smiled and hugged both me and Sayori, Yuri joined her shortly afterwards.
After a few minutes I grabbed my backpack and went to the first floor to join Bernard and Xavier. I suddenly remembered the dream I had that night. I felt sick in my stomach and almost wanted to end this journey. I gathered myself and dismissed the fears as just the result of the situation we were in."

When I arrived at the first floor, Bernard and Xavier were standing near an open door, looking down. I shouted to draw their attention:
- "Allright, guys, what is the plan"
- "So, going out of the front door and running through the field would be too dangerous so we decided on another plan instead. We are going to use a line with a hook" He said as he pointed to the device Xavier was holding "to walk to the building and land on its roof".
- "So you plan to walk this entire distance on a line?"
- "Correct. We practiced this during Psychical Education last semester, do you remember? I think we all can do this."
- "Yes, except now if anyone falls they will break their legs and zombies will eat them alive"
- "If you feel so bad about it, you don't need to go"
- "Ohh do not worry about me, I always had straight As from P.E."
- "Allright. Xavier, please throw the line"
- "Yes, general"
- "You know, you don't need to call me general, we're not in army"
- "Yes, leader!" Bernard rolled his eyes, but smiled under his nose.
Xavier started swinging the hook around the window before throwing it with full force at the nearby building. It hit the wall and slipped down. He pulled it out and threw it higher this time. It catched the cornice and it looked stable this time.
- "Good job, now we need to attack the line to the heater so it won't fall"
Without words, Xavier took the line and tied it with a simple knot to the heater. I loudly protested:

- "No, no, no. That's not how you do a good knot. It will collapse quicker than Babel Tower. Lemme do it better"
I untied the line and tied it using much better and sophisticated knot I learned a few years ago from the internet"
- "Well, that looks solid, good job Monika!" praised me Bernard
- "What would you all do without me? Let's go now"
- "I will go first, then Xavier, and then Monika at the end. We will meet at the other end"
He grabbed the line and started walking to the other building. After less than a minute he was on the other side, waving at us. Xavier went second. After walking half the distance he suddenly stopped and looked down:
- "Oh my God, it's so high, I am going to die"
- "Xavier, please don't panic, don't look down, walk towards me" said Bernard
- "What if I fall?"
- "You won't fall if you reach the end! Remember, step after step!"
I felt his nervousness in the air. Finally he went a bit with his hand and after a few steps was on the other part of the gap. Finally it was time for me.
- "Good decision I decided to wear pants instead of a skirt" I said to myself
I grabbed the line confidently with both my hands and started walking. I decided not to look downwards to not get locked like Xavier, however I still heard their noises from below. Finally I was on the other side and grabbed the roof. I started getting up when I suddenly slipped on the hook. The hook fell off and I started falling as well. I screamed to panic and was getting ready to die when I felt Bernard grabbing my hand. Soon Xavier grabbed my second and they both finally dragged me on the roof. Bernard look at the hook which was now several floors below:
- "That was close. Looks like our way out is now gone".