Chapter 8 - Arena of the Dead
The next day in the cell block.
Dank concrete. Musty air. Decrepit walls. Only the iron balls remain pristine and functional. The survivors are corralled into two cells, separated by men and women.
In one cell, Takashi sits on the floor, slouched against the wall, nursing the bandaged gunshot wound on his torso. Kohta paces back and forth, wavering between looking for an escape or at least processing one.
In the cell next door, Rei and Shizuka sit slouched against the wall. Rika leans against the bars, observing the guards. Saya sits on the bed, twiddling her thumbs, lost in concentration. Saeko performs stretches in the corner, keeping herself limber and prepared for the inevitable fight.
There's no one else in the cells next to them, almost like Shido did them a courtesy of reserving the whole cell block just for them. Not that it'll make much difference, what with all the perverted prisoners still out in the other blocks, salivating on the endowed, female newcomers.
Two days to reach Funagawa Port.
Everyone is silent. They're trapped in this hellhole. With only two days left, they won't make it to the port in time. The cure has been wasted on Shido. And worst of all, Arisu and Mato are still missing, all alone out there with the undead.
It's over. They've lost.
Shizuka feels her eyes getting wet, but she quickly wipes them away. She's been strong this far, and she won't give up now. But then she notices Rei trembling next to her, and the tears that won't stop spilling from her eyes.
"Rei," says Shizuka.
"My mom and dad are alive," says Rei. "And I was so close to seeing them again."
Shizuka quickly hugs Rei before she bursts into tears. As Rei softly weeps in her arms, all the others can do is just listen to her soft cries.
"I'm sorry," says Takashi.
Everyone glances his way.
"This is all my fault," he says. "The cure is gone, and we're stuck here-"
"No, Takashi," says Rika. "You played the only card you could. Nobody blames you for that. And we ALL decided to go to the port. Besides, if anyone's at fault, it's that douchebag Shido."
"She's right," says Saeko. "And if anyone should be apologizing...it's me."
"Saeko?" asks Takashi.
"Takashi," says Saeko. "After Tsunoda shot you…I got tunnel vision and tried to kill him." She looks to the other women in the cell. "You all saw a side of me I thought I buried long ago. But it returned like a bad dream, and it's only gotten worse ever since all this started."
She takes a moment before choosing her next words.
"It may not be safe to travel with me anymore."
…
"It's okay, Saeko," says Rei, smiling and wiping her tears. "To be honest, I wish I had sliced off that asshole's arm myself."
"Rei," says Saeko.
"I agree," chimes in Rika. "I mean, if it were Shizuka who got shot, I would've taken his head off."
"Oh, Rika," says Shizuka, surprisingly moved by her wife's statement. "Wait, you're not implying you want me to get shot, are you?"
Her pouty question makes the others chuckle, somehow bringing levity to their dire circumstances.
"Anyway, Saeko, it's all good," says Kohta. "You're still our comrade, so stay our comrade."
"I don't really understand it, but honestly, I don't care," says Saya. "Just watch it the next time you unleash your inner monster. I'd rather not be in the war path when you do."
"We all have a dark side, Saeko," says Takashi. "Yours is what saved me back when we were trapped at the shrine. I trust you'll use it to save us again when the time comes."
"Takashi, everyone," says Saeko, smiling to herself. "Thank you."
…
"Alright," says Takashi, standing up and looking out through the bars. "We need to get out of this shithole."
"And find Arisu and Mato," says Rei, somberly. "They're out there all alone."
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In the woods outside the prison.
Arisu, Mato and Zero sleep up in a tree. The branches they rest on are wide enough for their legs, and their backs lean against the trunk. Mato sleeps on one branch, and Arisu, with Zero on her lap, sleeps on the adjacent branch.
A ghastly moaning sound stirs all three of them awake. Arisu quickly puts her finger to her lips, gesturing them to remain quiet. Mato nods his head in compliance. Then they slowly look down, and see a single zombie wandering on the forest floor.
The hair on Zero's back furrows upwards, and he begins to growl. Arisu quickly covers his mouth to quell the noise.
"Zero, shh," she whispers.
The zombie stops for a second, alerted by the sound. Up above, the unarmed children hold their breath, silently praying for a miracle. A few seconds pass, and the zombie lingers away, out of the trees and towards the prison. Arisu and Mato sigh with relief.
The instant the zombie appears on the road next to the overturned bus-
BANG!
Arisu and Mato almost jump out of their seats, and Zero nearly yelps. They watch the zombie drop dead, with its head blown clean off by a sniper on the prison watchtower.
Arisu stares at the zombie out on the road, watching its coagulated blood ooze out of its head and pool on the hot sand. She trembles, and starts to cry. Zero whimpers, and licks her face in comfort. She laughs, and pets him with gratitude.
Mato reaches over and touches her shoulder. "Arisu…"
"We have to get Takashi and the others out of there," says Arisu. "They'd do the same for us, and I am NOT leaving them."
"Arisu," he starts.
"They're still alive, Mato," she interrupts. "I know they are."
"Arisu," he says, grabbing her shoulders, surprising her. "You're right. We have to get them out, and we will."
"Mato…" she replies, not expecting him to agree with her.
He smiles. "We'll get them out together. Then we'll all keep going to the port, together."
Zero barks, cheered on by his determination.
Arisu smiles back, equally determined. "Right."
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Back inside the cell block.
"So how are we gonna escape?" asks Kohta. "This place is a fortress. There's gotta be at least a hundred bad guys in here, all armed to the teeth."
"We don't have a choice," says Saeko. "With only two days to reach the port, we can't afford to waste any more time here."
"That doesn't matter now," says Rika.
"Rika?" asks Shizuka, taken aback.
"What do you mean it doesn't matter now?" asks Saya.
"Even if we escape this place, we can forget about the rendezvous," says Rika. "The deal was to deliver the cure, and the helicopter would deliver us to Hawaii. Without it, we can forget about hitching a ride. I'm sorry, but...I don't think any of you will be seeing your families again."
The grim statement hits everyone like a freight train.
"Then we bring Shido with us," exclaims Takashi.
"What?" asks Rei. "Takashi, you can't be serious."
"The cure isn't gone, you guys," says Takashi. "It's actively coursing through that douchebag's veins. So if we take him with us to the port, surely, the doctors in Hawaii can extract his blood, and use it to produce a new vaccine or something. Couldn't they, Miss Rika?"
Everyone looks to Rika, putting her on the spot.
"Well," she says. "That's not…entirely…impossible."
"Well, there we are," declares Takashi.
Saeko brings her hand under her chin. "So we grab Shido, get the fuck outta here, find Arisu and Mato, and make our way to the port within two days."
"Don't make it sound too easy," snarks Saya.
"We're gonna need a new set of wheels," notes Rei.
"Well, this is a prison," says Kohta. "There's gotta be at least ONE working transport shuttle in the garage."
"Then we'll have to grab one on top of grabbing Shido," says Rika.
"Um, sounds simple enough, right?" says Shizuka, desperately trying to make light of the situation.
"Oh, yeah," jests Saya. "Hey, while we're at it, maybe we can start a jazzercise class for the fat prisoners."
"Takagi," starts Kohta.
CLANG-CLANG-CLANG.
Someone banging on the bars ruins the moment; it's Tsunoda, with Miku, Taniuchi and Kawamoto behind him. With his arm cut off, he now wears a gauntlet with a protruding blade. He bangs his new toy against the bars, stirring everyone in their cells onto their feet.
"Hey, shut up, fresh meat," he says. "Don't want you getting too comfortable before what happens next."
Takashi approaches the bars, staring daggers at Tsunoda and his harem.
"What the fuck do YOU want?" he asks.
"To put another bullet in your ass, Komuro, and maybe my fat dick in there while I'm at it," says Tsunoda. "But right now, it's not you or your chubby friend I'm here for." He turns his attention to the five female survivors. With one look from his perverted face, they all know what he's thinking, and it brings them disgust. "Ladies," he says, futilely putting on a charming-guy-routine. "I can spare you from a gruesome death in the Pit. Instead of ending up like your shitbag boyfriends here, how 'bout you all join my harem? You'll be safe, alive, well cared for, VERY well cared for, hehe, and you won't have to worry about any of the other prisoners getting handsy-"
"Keep dreaming, scumbag," hisses Saya.
Tsunoda glares at her. One look at the other girls, and it's clear none of them will accept his offer.
Rei stares him and the girls down. "How can you all just stand there? How can you possibly follow a madman like Shido?"
"Save your breath, tits," replies Tsunoda. "It's too late to convert any of us to your so-called side. All we have to do is whatever Mr. Shido says, and in exchange, he gives us anything we want."
"Wh-what about your families?" asks Shizuka. "They could still be out there, alive, waiting for you."
Tsunoda howls with laughter while his three girls snicker in unison.
"You serious?" asks Tsunoda. "If any of us encountered our families again, we'd feed them to the dead ourselves."
Rika shakes her head; she's known these people far less than Takashi and the others have, and she already despises them.
Tsunoda continues. "The four of us, hell, everyone in this prison…you think any of us wanna go back to our old, boring-as-shit lives? No, this, this right here, right now, it ain't the end of the world. It's the beginning of the real one. The free world."
Takashi and Kohta trade glares; Saeko and the girls do the same. It's obvious to them that there's no changing their minds nor saving their souls. Everyone in the prison, working for Shido, is too far gone. Takashi and his friends are on their own.
"Again, what the fuck do you want?" asks Saeko.
Tsunoda raises his gauntlet and saunters up to the female cell, eyeballing Saeko. "First, I want both your hands in exchange for you taking my masturbating one." He points his bladed arm at Rei. "And I haven't forgotten about how you knocked me around on the bus back when we escaped the school. So your hands are next."
"Why not just kill us here and now?" hisses Rei.
"And lose the chance of expanding my harem?" teases Tsunoda, making Rei and the others cringe in disgust. Tsunoda continues. "To be honest, I don't give a fuck if you disagree. I can always just force you into my harem." He turns his attention to his girls. "You don't mind, do ya, girls?"
The girl in the center, Miku Yuuki, speaks up. "Of course not, Tsunoda." The other two girls throw up peace signs, also in agreement.
Saya stomps forward, and slams her foot against the bars, frightening the three girls. "Why would any of you submit to this filthy waste? How stupid can you possibly be?"
"T-Tsunoda keeps us safe," replies Miku, regaining her nerve. "As long as he does that, our bodies are his."
"Th-that's right," says Taniuchi. "Besides, the new world's gonna need repopulating anyway, so it's only logical."
"Y-yeah," says Kawamoto. "Actually, I just live for the thrill of sex. Tsunoda's amazing, but I really don't care who it's with," she says, giving Kohta a seductive wink, which makes him reluctantly blush, and infuriates Saya.
Takashi shakes his head at Tsunoda and the girls. "You're even worse than the zombies, you know that?"
With that, Tsunoda storms across to the men's cell, shoots his good arm through the bars, seizes Takashi by the collar, yanks him closer until their faces are inches apart, and levels his arm-blade to Takashi's eye.
"Takashi!" worries Rei, grabbing the bars.
Kohta's about to step forward to help, but Takashi holds up his arm, gesturing him to stay back. Even with a sharp blade poised at his eyeball, he doesn't flinch; he just stares Tsunoda down.
Tsunoda gestures to Saeko, Rei and Saya in the adjacent cell. "You've got three hot pieces of ass of your own gunning for YOUR shriveled dick, Komuro. You're really not one to talk about MY harem, are you?"
"Damn, your breath smells like ass," quips Takashi.
Kohta and the others watch the standoff with bated breath.
"You know, it's you I want revenge on the most, Komuro," says Tsunoda. "I still hate your fucking guts."
"And I still don't know who the fuck you are or what the fuck I did," replies Takashi. "And I could give a rat's ass about either."
Tsunoda inches his arm-blade even closer to Takashi's pupil. "You listen to me, you little shit-"
In a flash, Takashi grips Tsunoda's arm and yanks him forward, smashing Tsunoda's face against the bars. Tsunoda wails, releases Takashi, backs away and clutches his bleeding nose. Once again, his girls are on him.
"Tsunoda!" worries Miku.
"Oh, your poor nose," says Taniuchi.
"Lean forward," instructs Kawamoto. "Let the blood flow out. If you lean back, it'll clog and you'll choke."
Kohta grins and trades a fist-bump with Takashi. "Nice one."
Rei and the girls smile, relieved and impressed to see Takashi's nerve.
Tsunoda shoves the girls away and stares Takashi down like a mad bull, blood oozing from his broken nose. "Oh, that fucking does it," he says, stomping back towards the cell, fishing out the keys from his pocket.
"Tsunoda!" calls out a voice.
Everyone looks down the hall, and sees Jin Tenya, one of Shido's four elite bodyguards, marching towards the cells.
"Fuck off, Jin," says Tsunoda. "This ain't none of your business."
"Mr. Shido ordered they'd be thrown into the Pit," says Jin. "All of them, alive and in one piece. Or do you wanna go tell him otherwise?"
Tsunoda stares Jin down with the same hostility he showed Takashi. A moment later, Tsunoda relents with a grunt, shoves the keys into Jin's chest, and aims his arm-blade at the survivors. "Fuck it," he says. "Whatever I do to you, the Pit will do far worse. Let's go, babes. I need a tissue, and an orgy."
As he walks off holding his bleeding nose, the three girls follow him.
"Hell yeah," says Miku.
"I'm down," agrees Taniuchi.
"Oh, you're gonna be," teases Kawamoto.
Shizuka watches them disappear down the hall. "How vile. To think, those were once my students."
Takashi and the others turn their attention to Jin, who pockets the keys.
"And what do YOU want?" asks Takashi.
Jin waits for Tsunoda and the girls to exit the cell block. Then he looks around, confirming that there's no one else around.
He eyeballs Takashi. "Is it true?"
"What?" asks Takashi.
"What you said about Hawaii being a quarantined sanctuary," replies Jin. "Is it true?"
Takashi and the others adjust themselves, realizing what Jin is really asking them, and the opportunity he may be presenting them.
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Hidden in the bushes by the tree line, Arisu, Mato and Zero scope out the prison. They spot at least three sentries; one on each watchtower, and a third on a helipad where a helicopter idles.
The prison is surrounded by a barb-wired perimeter fence. Every several yards, a different zombie lays dead in front of the fence, gunned down from trying to get in.
"So how we do get in?" asks Mato. "Maybe we should wait till nighttime."
"No. Takashi and the others could be in trouble by then," says Arisu. "Besides, there's only two days to get to the port. We can't wait any longer."
"But how do we...Zero?" asks Mato.
It only just occurs to both of them that Zero is gone. They glance around with worry, and then react with fright when they see him scampering straight towards the prison fence, out in the open.
"Zero," says Arisu, standing up to go after him, but Mato quickly stops her.
"Hey, boys, check it out," yells out the sentry on the nearest watchtower. "We got ourselves a snoopy."
Zero bounds for the fence, and like most dogs, begins digging.
The sentry on the second watchtower cackles. "Little guy's trying to break INTO the big house. Well, sorry, pooch. No pets allowed." Then he raises his rifle, and fires.
The dirt nearest Zero explodes out of the grass. The frightened dog abandons the fence, and flees back to the woods. Arisu and Mato are in shock as they watch him run.
"Two brewskies to whoever nails Fido," calls out the sentry on the helipad.
All three sentries fire their rifles at Zero. He zigzags on the ground, barely avoiding shot after shot coming his way. Just as he makes it to the tree line, a final shot nearly takes his tail off. He disappears into the bushes, out of sight and danger of the sentries.
"Guess I'm keeping those cans," laughs the third sentry.
Zero jumps safely back into the arms of Arisu.
"Oh, Zero," she whimpers, relieved he's safe.
Mato smiles, and pets the dog. Then he notices something by the fence. "Hey, look."
Both kids stare ahead at the spot under the fence where Zero dug. They trade looks, both getting the same idea.
Arisu kisses Zero's head. "Good boy."
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Back in the cell block, Jin stands before the locked-up survivors.
"I asked you if it was true," says Jin.
"So what if it is?" asks Rika.
Jin reaches into his inner coat pocket, and fishes out a polaroid photograph. He steps closer to the bars of both cells, and holds up the photo for all of them to see.
The photo displays Jin and a young man smiling at the camera, with their arms around each other's shoulders. Jin wears casual clothes, and the young man wears an army uniform. He's buff, redheaded, and the spitting image of a younger Jin. They stand in the decorated living room of an apartment unit, where a banner reading "Welcome Home, Yuji!" hangs across the ceiling.
"My son, Yuji," explains Jin. "He was stationed in Honolulu when everything went to hell."
Takashi and the others react in disbelief, realizing where Jin is going with this.
"I don't know if he's still alive, but…" starts Jin. While he maybe a criminal, he's still a father. And like any loving parent, he begins to crack under the thought of losing his child. He returns the photo into his coat, and regains his stern composure. "I can help you escape. In exchange, you'll take me with you to Hawaii. You'll take me to my son."
…
"No," replies Saeko.
"Saeko," says Shizuka.
"You're a prisoner, and a part of Shido's inner circle," says Saeko. "There's nothing you can say that we can trust."
"She's right. You stood by and did nothing when that mohawked asshole almost raped my wife," hisses Rika, causing Shizuka to lower her head. "You seriously expect us to bargain with you?"
"Say we believe you," says Saya. "Even if you're telling the truth, and your son really does just happen to be in Hawaii, how do we know this isn't some sort of trap?"
"What would I have to gain from deceiving you?" asks Jin.
"Information," replies Kohta. "Shido obviously put you up to this. If you think you can trick us into telling you more about the cure, forget it, man. When that douchebag used it on himself, that really was the last of it."
"Hang on, you guys," says Rei.
"You're right," says Jin. Then he prostrates himself before the group, surprising them. "Miss Marikawa, I am deeply sorry for not taking action to protect you. And I am sorry for standing by while Shido wasted the cure on himself. I know you don't know me, you've no reason to trust me, and I've no right to ask anything of any of you. But I beg of you…Yuji…my boy…he's all I have left. Please."
As his eyes well with light tears, the group becomes even more surprised. Jin isn't putting on an act; he's truly humbling himself and displaying vulnerability before his enemies.
…
"What's your name?" asks Takashi. "And why are you in here?"
Jin wipes his eyes, and stands up. "My name is Jin Tenya. My wife was terminally ill, and I couldn't afford her the proper care. Yuji became a soldier in hopes of earning her the necessary treatment through his medical benefits, but it still wasn't enough. And so…I used Yuji's connections he had with the army, and I…I stole military-grade weapons. And sold them on the black market." He takes a moment before continuing. "Our income was assured, but naturally, the authorities caught onto my transactions. My assets were frozen, and I was incarcerated for life. My wife was left without medical care and…she passed shortly afterwards."
The slightest hint of pity fills the eyes of Takashi and the others.
"I vouched for Yuji, claiming he had no involvement with my crimes," says Jin. "When I was locked up, he returned to Hawaii, and never spoke to me again. I've been in here ever since."
"So you were still locked up when everything happened?" asks Rei. "When Shido came?"
"Yes," replies Jin. "I had all but accepted my fate. To live my life trapped within these walls. Even if I were released, even I escaped, there'd be no place for me to go, especially now with those things wandering around. Even if I found Yuji again, he'd want nothing to do with me. So after the world went to hell, after Shido brought that hell with him, there'd be no meaning in running away, so like a coward, I stayed. And prayed that Yuji was safe."
"Shido brought that hell with him," says Rika. "What does that mean?"
"You're all familiar with him, so you know what he's like," replies Jin. "How he manipulates people into doing his bidding. Naturally, there were many of us who stood against him when he took over the prison. But they were vastly outnumbered by his followers. What Shido did to those people, what he ordered us to do to them…"
Rei and Shizuka cover their mouths. Everyone else reacts the same, only wondering the horrors that Shido inflicted upon the rebels.
"I thought my best chance would be becoming someone Shido trusts, so I did," continues Jin. "I did what I had to to survive."
"And now what? You've suddenly grown a conscience?" asks Saya.
"I'd given up, on everything, until you brought the cure here," replies Jin. "If there's a chance, no matter how small..." he trails off, and recollects himself. "My son is my whole world. I know how to escape these walls, but even if I did, there'd be no way to reach him. Until you all mentioned Hawaii being safe."
Takashi and the others trade looks, still unsure of themselves.
"I was wrong to join Shido," says Jin. "I could care less about him and everyone else in this place. All that matters is finding the only family I have left."
Saeko, Rei, Saya and Kohta mull on his words, knowing they can relate to his situation. Their families are all in Hawaii too, which puts them in the same boat as Jin. And they're just as desperate to reunite with their loved ones.
"Everyone," speaks Shizuka. "What other choice do we have?"
"Shizuka," says Rika.
"There's no time to argue," says Shizuka. "If he's willing to help us, I say we trust him."
…
"Mr. Tenya," says Takashi. "Even if we agree, how exactly would you get us out?"
Before Jin can respond, he notices a group of people coming their way. It's Shido, flanked by his three other bodyguards (including Kai), plus Mohawk and Doc. Takashi and the others stare daggers at them as they approach.
Jin quickly saunters up to Takashi behind the bars, and whispers, "Follow me once I find you."
"Jin," says Tenya.
Jin steps away from the bars, and stands in obedience. "Mr. Shido."
"It's time for today's entertainment," says Shido. Then he focuses on Takashi and the others. "You should all be grateful. Normally, I'd just kill you on the spot or throw you to the men, but instead, I'll give you a fighting chance. Just as the gladiators fought for the people of Rome, you motley crew will fight in the Pit for us."
"What the fuck's the Pit?" asks Takashi.
"You'll find out soon enough, Mr. Komuro," sneers Shido. "Gentlemen, let's get our guests ready for their performance."
The bodyguards raise their guns at the survivors, forcing everyone's hands into the air. Then Mohawk opens the door to the female cell. Rika gets in front of Shizuka, shielding her. Mohawk takes in the endowed women with a perverted gaze.
"Strip," demands Mohawk.
"What?" hisses Saya.
"You heard me," replies Mohawk. "You can take off your clothes yourselves, or we can do it for you. Now strip."
Takashi grabs the bars, coursing with rage. "You sonofabitch!"
BANG!
Shido shoots the bars, forcing Takashi back. Everyone reacts with worry.
"Mr. Komuro," says Shido, aiming at Takashi's head. "Don't make me put another hole in you." Then he gazes at the women, gesturing them to get on with it.
…
Saeko reluctantly unbuttons her blouse. Rei, Saya, Shizuka and Rika follow suit; their expressions range from anger to dismay at the humiliation they endure. Shido, Mohawk and the other men watch in delight. Jin looks away, ashamed. Takashi and Kohta clench their fists, ready to raise hell.
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Back outside the prison.
Hidden under the bushes in the tree line, Arisu, Mato and Zero watch the sentries on the watchtowers with laser-eyed focus.
"Wait," says Arisu.
They watch as both sentries pace back and forth on their respective platforms.
"Wait," repeats Arisu.
For a split second, the two sentries on the towers, and the third on the helipad, look away from the road.
"Now," says Arisu.
Just like that, she, Mato and Zero make a mad dash for the overturned bus, running as fast as their little legs can take them. Zero gets there first, followed by the kids. They take cover behind the bus, out of sight from the sentries, and catch their breath.
"Okay. Good," pants Arisu. She risks a peek around the bus, and can make out the sentries looking back out the road. Then she turns to Mato. "Now we just gotta wait till they look away again, and we'll crawl under the fence where Zero dug."
"But what about the field, Arisu?" asks Mato. "Once we get under the fence and on the other side, they'll see us running on the field towards the door."
Arisu takes another peek. She sees the fence, and the open space where Zero began to dig. But just as Mato said, there's still several yards of dead grass between the fence and the prison walls, and nowhere to take cover. Arisu shakes her head, refusing to admit defeat.
"There's gotta be a way," she says.
BANG!
A flash of light bursts out of the bus, just a few inches from where Arisu was standing. She hides back around the bus, and covers her mouth to stop herself from screaming. Mato quickly clasps Zero's mouth shut to keep him from barking. Both children remain absolutely still with wide eyes and pale faces. Then they hear the sentries shouting at each other.
"What the hell are you doing, man?" asks Sentry 1.
"Don't go wasting the rounds," scolds Sentry 2.
"I saw something behind the bus," says Sentry 3.
Arisu and Mato trade looks of terror. Whether they run for the fence or back to the tree line, they'll be exposed and shot. And what's worse…
"Oh, no," whispers Mato.
Arisu looks his way, and her face sinks with dread.
A dozen zombies meander their way out of the tree line, alerted by the gunshot. Mato is doing everything he can to restrain and silence Zero. The zombies limp towards the trapped children. Arisu takes Mato's hand, terrified. He puts on a brave face for her, forcing himself to be strong. As the zombies get closer, Arisu and Mato shut their eyes.
"Hey, you guys," calls out another voice.
By the exterior prison door leading out into the fence, a random female inmate with several tattoos steps outside onto the field, calling up to the sentries.
"Mr. Shido's throwing the new meat into the Pit," she says. Then she runs back inside, full of excitement.
The three sentries trade looks, drop their weapons, abandon their posts and make for the prison interior.
"Hell yeah!" shouts Sentry 1.
"About damn time, we got some entertainment!" shouts Sentry 2.
They descend from their watchtowers, bound across the field, and enter the prison. Sentry 3 remains on the helipad. He stares at the zombies near the bus, and then at the bus itself; his gut feeling tells him that someone's back there.
...
A moment later, he shakes off said feeling, and runs inside the prison to watch the show.
Arisu risks another peek around the bus. To her relief, all three sentries are gone; there's no one watching the fence. The coast is clear. "Come on," she says.
She, Mato and Zero flee from the bus just before the zombies can overrun them. They rush to the fence, and dig the rest of the way as fast as they can. The zombies naturally come their way.
"Why'd you think they left?" asks Mato, gesturing to the sentries.
"I don't know," replies Arisu. "Zero, go."
The little pup buries his way under the fence. Arisu turns to Mato.
"Now, you," he says before she gets the chance.
"But-"
"Go!"
Arisu shuffles under the fence, kicking up dirt and nearly getting her clothes ripped under the metal wiring. The second she's on the other side, Mato high-tails it underneath the fence just before the nearest zombie can grab him. The zombies cluster around the fence, futilely clawing at the wiring. Arisu and Mato trade looks of victory, knowing the zombies can't crawl after them.
"Let's go," says Arisu. She, Mato and Zero rush for the prison door.
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The Pit.
What was once the two-story mess hall has been transformed into a gladiatorial arena where people go to die. The first level where the inmates would gather to eat is now just a large space, roughly the size of two UFC arenas; the tables have all been removed; it's just a wet, concrete floor of muck and blood with two gates on opposing sides. A fence has been installed around the room; Shido's followers (prisoners and passersby) swarm the fence like hungry spectators, ready for a good show show. On the second level, where the guards would once keep watch of the inmates during lunch hour, more spectators stand behind an additional, installed fence. The whole of Shido's army is present to watch.
On the second level, Shido appears on a podium, flanked by his three bodyguards, Doc and Mohawk; Jin is nowhere to be seen. Also nearby are his most loyal followers; Tsunoda, Miku, Taniuchi, Kawamoto, Kurokami and Miura.
Shido claps his hands twice, and the spectators quiet down.
"My friends," he projects. "You've all done such good work keeping our home safe and functional. Because of that, you all deserve a reward." The spectators cheer; Shido really does have them in the palm of his hand. He continues, "As you all know, I was once an esteemed, decorated teacher of Fujumi High School. And wouldn't you know it? Our performers today just happen to be my former colleagues. Everyone, please give a round of applause to the Fujumi Survivors!"
On cue, the first gate opens. Takashi and the others are shoved into the pit. Whereas he and Kohta are still fully dressed, the women have all been stripped down to their underwear. Saeko, Rei, Saya, Shizuka and Rika enter the pit, wearing nothing but their bras, panties and shoes. Suffice to say, the sight of the half-naked women throws the entire prison into a carnivorous uproar.
"Bury this precious sight into your image, my friends," speaks Shido. "It may not last very long."
Saya wears her pink undershirt and blue-and-white-striped bottoms; even though she's showing less skin that the other women, she's not any less humiliated or frustrated because of it. Rei wears her pink bra and white bottoms, just as humiliated and frustrated, but also somewhat sad. Rika wears a red top and bottom, maintaining her stoicism as best she can. Also doing her best to act nonchalant is Saeko, wearing her black top and thong, more exposed than the others. But perhaps the most exposed is Shizuka; her purple top can barely hide her enormous bosom, and her purple thong isn't doing her juicy buttocks any favors. The men, and even some women, go absolutely wild at the sight of Shizuka and some even unzip their pants, bringing her to light tears.
Takashi whirls around, shooting murder eyes on both levels at every single spectator as they cheer and holler. Naturally, it's bad enough that they're ogling his female friends, but what's worse, they're looking forward to seeing them all die. Then he glances at Saeko; she's keeping her eyes focused on the other gate, anticipating the horrors about to come through. Though she's trying to be strong, even she can't help but quiver upon being viewed so shamefully in front of so many people.
Takashi clenches his fists and grits his teeth, enraged to see her and the other women subjugated to such humiliation. Having enough, he removes his dark jacket, and tosses it to the floor.
"Bro, what're you…" asks Kohta.
Takashi lifts up his red shirt, and also tosses it aside, standing shirtless (with the bandage still on his side) before everyone in the Pit. Naturally, his actions stir the whole audience into a frenzy. All the female spectators, and even some males, gawk and whistle at the sight of Takashi's lean muscles and toned abs. Even the girls in Tsunoda's harem can't help but ogle and drool, which angers Tsunoda.
"Well, well, well," speaks Shido. "It looks like Mr. Komuro wishes to die all natural with his lady friends."
Rika and Shizuka stare at Takashi with surprise, but also gratitude. Saeko, Rei and Saya react the same, but also flustered; seeing a man as easy on the eyes as Takashi without his shirt makes their cheeks turn rosy. Even though he's not as exposed as they are, they understand what he's trying to do, and appreciate the gesture. He gives them all a smile, and then looks to Kohta.
"You don't have to, man," he says.
"You kidding me? Of course, I do," says Kohta, full of spirit and fire in his eyes.
With that, he strips in half the time it took Takashi, proudly showing off his round belly for all eyes to see. Takashi and the others, especially Saya, marvel at his courage. But the vain spectators boo and laugh, jeering for Kohta to put his clothes back on.
"Mr. Hirano," speaks Shido. "I speak for all of us when I say no one wants to see your lard."
Kohta smiles and flips Shido the birds. Then he twirls around so he doesn't miss giving anyone the finger. "Yeah, that's right," he shouts over the jeering crowd. "Nothing you can say that I haven't heard already. Get a good look, assholes, because I'm fat and I'm proud!"
Takashi and the others smile, impressed by their resident marksman. Kohta makes eye contact with Saya, who hasn't taken her eyes off him, and her cheeks are even rosier than when she saw Takashi undress. She quickly realizes what she's doing, and turns away, embarrassed.
"Enough," speaks Shido, calming the crowd. "You all came for a good show, and a good show you'll get." Then he addresses the survivors. "Combatants, if any of you happen to survive what comes through those gates, I'll give you another chance to join my little family. If you agree, you'll be welcomed with open arms. If you refuse, you'll be returned to the Pit every day until you agree or you die. Join or perish."
"Go to hell!" screams Rei.
A few snickers and "oohs" erupt from the spectators. Refusing to show weakness or let someone defy him, Shido grits his teeth, veins popping from his forehead and slams his fist on the podium.
"You'll regret ever crossing me!" he bellows. "Release the Toxic!"
An alarm chimes out, and the opposite gate slowly begins to open, revealing a dark abyss. Takashi and the others ready themselves; though they've no weapons to use, they can still fight with their fists.
"Shizuka, stay close to me," says Rika.
"O-okay," replies Shizuka.
"Takagi," starts Kohta, stepping in front of her to protect her.
While she clearly appreciates his actions, her tsundere pride gets the better of her. "Oh, come on," she says. "You said it yourself; you don't do close combat."
"Y-yeah, I know, but…" he says, sheepish.
"Circle up," orders Saeko. "We stand back-to-back, and don't let any through. We do whatever we have to hold them off."
"Right," agrees Takashi. "We can get them on the ground, and smash their heads with our feet."
"Takashi," starts Rei.
"It's the only plan we got, Rei," says Takashi. "Now come on, huddle up."
"R-right," replies Rei.
The survivors huddle in a circle, with Saya and Shizuka in the middle. Takashi, Saeko, Rei, Rika and Kohta are stand with their fists raised.
"No matter what comes out that gate, don't break," says Rika. "We stick together, and we'll be fine."
A monstrous roar erupts out of the darkness, filling the spectators with cheer and the survivors with dread. A figure stumbles out of the open gate; it's just another zombie; a random civilian. Another one stumbles out, wearing an orange jumpsuit. Then another two zombies stagger into the arena, both wearing riot gear.
But then, a large shape emerges from the darkness. It's a dozen zombies mashed up together; a super-blob of walking undead flesh fused by what appears to be dry toxic waste. Not only that, but parts of the zombies have been surgically removed so they could all fit together, like a makeshift jigsaw puzzle. The crowd goes wild upon their "champion", the Toxic Zombie.
Takashi and the others gape at the beast in speechless horror as it bellows another nightmarish roar.
"You and your friends wanted to cure the world, Mr. Komuro?" mocks Shido before gesturing to the Toxic Zombie. "THIS is the future of the world!"
Several more zombies linger out of the gate behind the Toxic Zombie. Takashi and the others remain huddled together, doing their best not to break formation. It's the seven of them against twelve zombies plus the Toxic.
"Now, what's a fight without a little music?" speaks Shido. Then he presses a button, and a loud song blasts out over the speakers.
The song "Down with the Sickness" by Disturbed fills the entire prison hall, spurring the crowd into peak cheering.
Takashi looks from his group to the zombies, then to the Toxic, then up at Shido and Tsunoda. He shoots them a look that would stop a man's heart.
000000
Outside the prison, storm clouds gather in the darkening sky. Night begins to fall.
Up on the helipad, a single sentry stands alone, shooting her rifle at the zombies prowling around the fence. She's bored out of her mind, and cracks open a can of beer. The sound of the music and cheering crowd resonates from inside.
"Such bullshit," she hisses, taking a swig. "Everyone's having fun watching the show, and I'm stuck out here with you ugly fucks." Then she takes aim at another zombie.
A sudden hand covers her mouth from behind, and a knife flashes across her throat before she has a chance to blink. Blood gushes out of her neck, and she drops like a puppet without strings. Towering over is Jin; he casually wipes his bloody knife on his coat. He has an RPG strapped around his back. He crouches down, and takes aim at the fence.
"Come and get it," he says aloud.
...
He pulls the trigger and FHHWWIIPPP!
The rocket-propelled grenade screams through the air, hits the dirt beneath the fence and erupts; the explosion takes out a good chunk of the fence and the earth beneath it, showering scorched metal and dirt everywhere.
A few moments pass, and the zombies wander through the breach. A hundred more gradually emerge from the woods, alerted by the explosion. They all begin funneling their way into the prison yard.
Jin watches them enter, satisfied.
000000
Back in the arena.
While everyone enjoys the fight, Tsunoda looks away, thinking he heard something. The enthralled crowd and music are so loud, they drowned out the explosion from outside. Even so, Tsunoda appears as though he may have heard it. Then he returns his focus back to the fight.
Using Takashi's idea, the group sweeps the zombies' legs when they get close, and then smash their decomposed heads apart with their feet. Out of the twelve zombies, they've already killed four; only eight left.
Another comes at Takashi; he grabs it by the arms, and holds it back as it bites for his face. "Just back the fuck off!"
Standing next to him, Rei kicks out the zombie's leg, shattering its knee and forcing it down. Takashi pushes the zombie to floor, raises his foot and splatters the undead fiend all across the pavement. Then he and Rei trade smiles.
Another zombie comes at Kohta. Lacking the leg agility of his friends, he relies on his upper body and psyches himself up like a boxer in the ring. "Alright," he says. "Big pain, coming at ya!" He winds back his fist, and punches the zombie right in the gut, only for his hand to get caught inside the zombie's ribcage. "Oh, ew!" he screeches. Now he's on defense, struggling to hold the zombie back while also trying to get his hand out.
"Kohta!" shrieks Saya.
Her worried scream spurring him into action, Kohta cranes back his head, and headbutts the zombie in the forehead so hard, its head actually peels off its body and hangs off like a Pez dispenser. Everyone stops what they're doing for a second, and marvels at Kohta; he himself can't believe what he just did. Grinning to himself, he bends down, grabs the zombie by the legs, and yanks him onto the ground. "Double pain, baby!" he yells, jumping up and smashing both his feet right onto the zombie's head.
Two more zombies come directly at Rika. She easily knocks them both down with one low kick to their feet. Then she stomps on their heads one at a time, splashing blood all over her bare legs. "Ah, fuck me," she grunts. Then she looks to the Toxic Zombie, which staggers its massive body closer to the group.
Saeko clocks the zombies; only four left in addition to the Toxic. "Let's break off here."
"Wait, Saeko," says Takashi.
She shoots him a confident grin. "Trust me." With that, she breaks from the circle, knocks down one zombie, and digs her heels into its cranium, squishing its brains across the floor.
"She's right," says Rika. "Shizuka, stay behind me." She and Shizuka back up to the other wall, furthest from the Toxic Zombie.
"Takagi," says Kohta, getting in front of her again.
"Okay, fine, you can protect me," says Saya. She and Kohta follow Rika and Shizuka's lead, and start to back up.
But then, Kohta slips on zombie brain matter, and drops onto the floor, slamming his head onto the hard pavement; he's knocked out.
"Hirano!" yells Saya, kneeling down and shaking him up awake. "Hey, come on, wake up."
Takashi sees what happened. "Shit. Saeko, Rei, take care of the others." Then he hurries over to Kohta and Saya.
Saeko goes for two zombies at once. Using her incredible acrobatic skills, she drop-kicks both zombies onto the ground. They both land right next to each other. Saeko vaults through the air, and plants her feet in each of their heads, finishing them.
Rei squares off against the last zombie. As it lunges for her, she sidesteps, grapples the zombie by the arm, and seizes the back of his head. "You fuckers make me sick," she says. Then she releases a battle-cry and slams the zombie's head right against the fence, scaring several of the spectators back. And in an absolutely display of brutality, Rei grabs the zombie's head with both hands, and forces it downwards against the metal fence, shredding everything off its face from flesh to blood. Some of the spectators puke at the sickening sight. Then Rei shoves the zombie down, and smashes its head for good measure. She takes one look at the spectators; none of them speak; they know better than to mess with her. Then Rei stares daggers up at Shido, almost as if to say he's next.
The Toxic Zombie, the only one left, slugs its ways towards the other survivors. Kohta is still out cold on the floor; no matter what Takashi and Saya do, he won't awake. And the Toxic Zombie's only getting closer.
"Help me drag him back," orders Takashi.
"R-right," says Saya.
They both take one of Kohta's arms, and drag him back towards Rika and Shizuka. But with Kohta's weight, they feel themselves heaving to drag him.
"Oh, for fuck's sake," complains Saya.
Suddenly, the Toxic Zombie snatches Kohta by the ankle, and begins dragging him the other. Takashi and Saya are now locked in a tug-of-war, with Kohta as the rope. Rika quickly rushes over, and helps pull Kohta away. None of them can get too close to the Toxic Zombie, or else they'll be snatched too.
"Let him go, you ugly bastard!" shouts Takashi.
Saeko and Rei see what's happening, and trade looks, unsure of what to do. Then Saeko goes for the nearest dead zombie, and grabs its leg.
"Saeko?" asks Rei.
In another sickening display, Saeko uses her foot to snap the zombie's leg right off its body. Then she smiles at Rei. "Gotta work with what you can." She rushes behind the Toxic Zombie, and attacks its back with the zombie leg as though it were a sword.
The Toxic Zombie ignores her futile strikes, and yanks Kohta closer. Even with Takashi, Rika and Saya working together, they strain to pull him back. Shizuka drops to her knees, unable to watch anymore. Saeko keeps attacking the Toxic Zombie from behind, getting angrier and more desperate. Rei watches the whole thing, and then shoots another glare up at Shido.
"Let him go!" screams Saya with tears in her eyes. "Let Kohta go! Somebody, please!"
The entire prison howls with laughter, cheering for Kohta to either be eaten by the Toxic Zombie, or broken in half from the tug-of-war.
Takashi looks at his unconscious friend, and then at the terrifying jaws of the Toxic Zombie. But then, a glint flashes across his eye. He looks away for a second, and that's when he sees something flying through the air.
…
It's a shotgun; his shotgun.
And it lands right next to his feet.
Up above, Shido sees what happened before anyone else, and springs to his feet. "Tsunoda!"
Down below, Takashi glances up and spots Jin on the second level, hidden amongst the crowd. He gives Takashi a thumbs-up.
"Well, alright," says Takashi. "Miss Rika, Saya, hold him."
"Wait, what?" asks Saya.
Rika spots the gun, buries her disbelief, and does as Takashi says, getting a firmer grip on Kohta. "Right, we're on it."
Takashi releases his grip on Kohta, and snatches the shotgun. "Saeko, get outta there!"
From behind, Saeko stops attacking the Toxic Zombie, sees Takashi with the gun, and rolls out of his field of fire.
Takashi cocks his gun, and blasts the Toxic Zombie, taking off a good chunk of it, but not enough. The gunshot stirs the entire crowd into panic, seeing one of the combatants armed with a gun.
"Get the guns!" yells Shido.
But before anyone can react, more bullets spray across the second level; it's Jin, armed with a machine gun. He guns down everyone in sight. Any time someone rushes at him, he puts two in their chests. Everyone else scatters.
"Jin, you fucking traitor!" yells Shido.
Everyone down in the arena sees what Jin is doing; he's actually helping them escape.
Shido's followers clamor for the nearest door, heading for the armory. But just then, the horde of zombies that Jin let inside floods in through the doorway to greet them. The followers react with fright; within seconds, the zombies are upon them, digging their bony fingers into their flesh, and feasting on their insides. The zombies spread across the entire second level, forcing whoever's left to flee for their lives.
Shido and his inner circle watch the zombies consume their fellow survivors; the realization that their prison has fallen to the dead slowly dawns on them.
One zombie lumbers its way towards the group. Miku, Taniuchi and Kawamoto huddle behind Tsunoda. Kurokami and Miura huddle next to Shido, Doc, Mohawk and the other two bodyguards.
"I've got this," says Kai, stepping forward with his sheathed katana.
The zombie lunges at Kai, and a millisecond later, it drops to the floor, decapitated; Kai sliced its head off and sheathed his sword within the blink of an eye.
Suddenly, bullets spray at them from the other side, courtesy of Jin. Everyone ducks down just in time before they can get shot.
"Mr. Shido, this way," says Kai.
He leads Shido and the others down a corridor to safety. Tsunoda hears another shotgun blast, and glares down at Takashi in the arena. He clearly wants to finish what they started.
"Tsunoda!" calls out Miku, beckoning him to follow.
"Fuck!" yells Tsunoda, slamming his gauntlet against the rail in anger. Then he hurries after the others.
Down in the Pit, Takashi fires another round at the Toxic Zombie's arm; the arm blasts apart, and Kohta is finally free.
"Hell yeah," he says.
Saya and Rika pull Kohta back to safety just as he starts to wake up.
"Huh?" asks Kohta. "What I miss?"
"Hey, kid," calls out Jin.
Everyone looks up. And like Santa Clause tossing presents out of his sleigh onto the houses, Jin drops a number of weapons down into the arena; Rei's bayonet rifle, Saeko's sword, an AK-47, and two Barretta pistols. Rei catches her rifle; Saeko catches her sword; Kohta catches the AK-47, and Rika catches the dual pistols.
"Oh, yeah," says Rika.
Together, Takashi, Rika, Kohta and Rei unleash a barrage of bullets at the Toxic Zombie. They blast every one of the beast's heads apart until it finally collapses.
…
"Oh, wow," says Shizuka, standing next to Rika.
The whole Pit has cleared out of Shido's followers; it's just Jin on the upper level with the zombies, and Takashi's group down below in the arena.
Kohta rubs his belly. "Man, oh, man, that was a close one. Thanks for the help, guys."
"No problem, man," says Takashi.
Saya waltzes right up to Kohta with a blank expression, and says nothing.
"Uh, Takagi?" asks Kohta.
Suddenly, Saya grabs Kohta's face with both hands, and forces her lips onto his, right in front of everyone. Kohta flushes a burnt tomato. Takashi and the others appear speechless and awestruck.
A moment later, Saya releases Kohta, and steps back. She stares at him, blushing and smiling, finally accepting her feelings for him. Kohta blushes, and his nose starts to bleed as he smiles back, giddy with relief.
"Ahem," coughs Takashi, playfully.
"Huh?" gapes Saya, realizing she just kissed a shirtless guy in her underwear for all her closest friends to see. Naturally, her face flushes ever redder, steam erupts from her ears, and she covers herself with her arms. "AAAAAAYYYYYY!"
"Oh, congratulations, you two," says Shizuka.
"Sh-shut up," squeals Saya, embarrassed.
Just then, the sound of undead moaning kills the romantic atmosphere. Everyone spins to see more zombies funneling out of the other gate.
A gunshot from behind; everyone looks back and sees Jin shooting off the lock. Then he opens the main gate. "This way!"
The survivors don't need to be told twice. Together, they hurry out of the Pit.
The zombies fill the arena. Whatever sanctuary the prison provided has now crumbled away. All that's left for Takashi and the others is escape.
Author's Note: Hello, everyone!
As always, thanks again for your patience and support. I didn't realize how long this chapter was going to be. Honestly, it was going to be even longer, what with showing the group escaping the prison. But I loved the idea of an arena so much, I wanted to contain the story to it for now. Also, Kohta x Saya are finally a thing. And I realize I should've mentioned this at first, but as far as outfits go, the characters are all wearing the same clothes they wore starting in Episode 8, after they left Rika's place. The Toxic Zombie was a bit of a lore risk, I know, but I figured the Pit needed something more terrifying than generic zombies.
Now, confession time. I am a perfectionist writer. I refuse to publish anything unless I know it is absolutely perfect beforehand; at least, my definition of perfect. But therein lies the flaw; I spend too much time overwriting a new chapter that months pass by before I finally end up releasing said chapter. So, with that said, I've decided to make it my personal goal, neigh, my mission to publish a new chapter of this fanfic every month. That's thirty days; plenty of time to write and rewrite a chapter to my heart's content. And of course, I can always come back and edit the published chapter later, or fill in new information (so I strongly recommend rereading in case any changes are made).
I wanna finish this story, and again, I'm very grateful to all those readers who've waited and encouraged me to keep going.
Also, I discovered this website called TV Tropes. HOTD has their own page, and even their own list of fanfics. Personally, I would love to see this fanfic posted on the website, and get its own page.
Finally, I'm gonna change the Image of this fanfic every time I publish a new chapter, just as a fun little game to spark up the excitement. Don't worry; the images will be Takashi x Saeko only pics.
Anyway, thanks again, readers. Prison escape chapter arrives next month.
Also, goes without saying, but I don't own the rights to "Down with the Sickness" by Disturbed.
Please don't forget to FAVORITE and LEAVE A REVIEW/PM.