Link of the Dead II
Chapter 5:
In the city hall, people stood around the main room, trying to cope with what just happened. No one was sure of who died and who survived. Scared little children cried and concerned adults demanded answers from anyone. The mayor and several others moved around the building, shutting the curtains and blocking the view of the terrifying silhouettes that clawed the window. The more time spent, the angrier and more impatient the people grew.
"What's going on?"
"What are those things?"
"Where's my brother?"
"What are we supposed to do now?"
Among the choruses of questions and complaints, the mayor tried to assure the crowd that everything is okay. Link stood on the stage at the back of the room, where Zunari often held his nightly auctions. He called for the crowd's attention and after a minute or so, they gave it to him.
"Listen up, people," began Link, "I know you're all scared, but as long as we're in here, we're safe. Those creatures you saw outside are called Redeads. They are corpses that have risen from the grave. They can't think and they can't feel anything. Their only intention is to consume human flesh. If you are bitten by one, you will transform into one."
Another chorus of complaints and shouts came from the crowd. The mayor tried once again to calm them down.
"I don't know how they got here," Link lied about Tetra for fear that the crowd would accuse him of causing this panic, "But I know how they are very dangerous. and we mustn't let them bite us!"
"What are we supposed to do?" demanded Anton, "Go out and fight them? Or stay here? My wife is expecting our first child, and I'm not risking anything!"
Link looked at Anton's wife, Linda, and saw her stroking her large belly.
"Well," began Link, "Mayor, do you have any way of communicating with the outside world?
"What do you mean?" asked Phil.
"Anything!" said Link, "Anything we can use to contact other islands or passing ships?"
"Unfortunately," began the mayor, "No. If we had anything, I would have used it already."
"Isn't there some kind of beacon?"
"Well," began Phil, "The Windfall lighthouse has an emergency signal that is used to call ships towards the island."
"Great!" said Link.
"Actually, the lighthouse can only be turned on manually, and unless Kreeb, the ligthouse operator, is still alive up there, there is no hope of turning it on."
"Fuck," muttered Link.
"What should we do?" asked Aryll.
"We have to wait it out," said Link, "Maybe, if we're lucky, someone will come..."
"I'm scared, Link..."
For the next few hours, the crowd waited impatiently for something to come along and help them. Hope faded fast from the desperate townsfolk as the night moved on and the sky outside grew pitch black. Many tried to sleep, but were just too worried.
"How long will we have to wait here?" asked Mila.
"That's not what I'm concerned about right now, Mila," said Link, "The real question is: How long can we last here?"
"There aren't many supplies in this building," replied Mila, "Not enough for this many people anyways. But we'll probably run out of air before we die of hunger."
Link looked at the moping crowds that filled up the main room, then looked at his blood-stained hands. He knew he couldn't wait any longer inside. He had to make the announcement...
"Alright, people! Listen up!" Link stood on stage once again, "I know you're all thinking it too, so I'm just gonna say it. We can't stay here anymore, no matter how safe it is!"
"If we go out there," said Phil, "We'll all die!"
"But we'll die if we stay here," said Link, "I don't know about you, but I'd rather die fighting those bastards than sitting around on my ass and praying for a miracle!"
"What do you propose we do?" asked a random person.
Link thought for a moment. He remembered all of his experiences from the Private Oasis.
"Bombs," replied Link, "Redeads are vulnerable to bombs! If we can get to the bomb shop safely, then we can take as many bombs as we need to kill the Redeads once and for all!"
The crowd began talking.
"That is preposterous!" snapped Phil, "You have no hope! No one would ever dare step outside. We are better off in here!"
Link clenched his fist as he stared at Phil.
"Now," Phil continued, "I demand you stay here!"
"No," replied Link coldly, "You can't stop me! And if no one else wants to come, then I'll just fight them all off on my own!"
"WHAT?"
"Count me in," said Aryll, "I don't wanna stay here and do nothing! Let me help you..."
"Aryll..." began Link.
"I wanna help you, too," said Mila, "I swore to avenge my father with my life if anything bad ever happened to him. Let me destroy those creatures!"
"Excellent," said Link.
"Hey! I wanna fight, too!" said Lenzo.
"Yeah," said Anton, "If it means protecting my wife and unborn child, let me come along too!"
"Please!" said Salvatore, "Let me come too! Whenever I kill those things I get a rush...I've never felt so alive!"
Link smiled as many others in the crowd offered to join the fight against the Redeads.
"What are you doing?" demanded the mayor, "This is suicide! You won't survive!"
"Then we'll die trying," said Link, "Now, before we go, we must find something to kill the Redeads, understand?"
Mayor Phillip watched helplessly as the crowd ran around the city hall, taking everything in sight that could be used as a weapon.
"These things make great weapons!" said Salvatore, as he picked up another small fountain idol.
People grabbed everything from metal poles to wooden stakes. Anton even knocked down the coat of arms and pulled out the sword from it. Link managed to find the mayor's armory.
"Perfect..."
Link pulled out a large bow and a quiver of arrows, which he wrapped around his body. Once everyone was ready, they gathered around the main room. At least twenty five people were going out.
"How are we supposed to go out with all those Redeads surrounding the building?" asked Mila.
"There has to be another way out," said Link, "Mayor?"
Phil sighed.
"There's a room upstairs," he began, "There's a door that leads to a high up pathway. It should lead to the street."
"Thank you," said Link.
"Good luck," said Phil.
"If we don't make it," said Link, "Then hang tight. If we have the chance, then we may be able to call for help."
The crowd began to make their way upstairs as the other townspeople watched anxiously.