The winds blew through my hair, bringing that pleasant feeling of summer. It would have been nice if the smell of smoke and the stench of the dead didn't overpower it. I found myself wishing for a helmet to block it all out.
I was currently on the motorcycle with Rei driving. If anyone saw us from afar and ignored the chaotic scene, they would probably find it funny: a man 20 centimeters taller being carried by a high school girl.
The city of Tokonosu, which was normally a monotonous sight, was almost unrecognizable at the moment. He could still remember the day he bought that set of suits at that "Draky-Shop"... Wait, Draky-Shop?
That clothing store we just passed was on the west side of the city, while the police station was on the east side. That was problematic.
"Miyamoto-san?" I called out to the girl, but she didn't hear me, seeming focused.
With a sigh, I had no choice. With my left hand, I pinched the girl's waist, and she grunted in pain in response.
"What the hell, Azazel-sensei!" She cursed without a second thought as she suddenly stopped the motorcycle in the middle of the street.
Well, at least my goal was achieved.
"Miyamoto-san, I don't want to judge you, but I have to ask... Do you happen to know the way to our destination?" Azazel asked straightforwardly. He needed to be gentle with the girl; it wasn't in his plans to have a confrontation, no matter how indirect it might be.
"Aren't we going the right way?" The girl simply returned the question.
"No... We're actually going the opposite way." Azazel replied with a sigh.
Azazel scratched his head, realizing he had made a mistake by not checking the correct direction before they set off. He looked around, trying to orient himself in the chaotic city while trying to maintain composure in the situation.
"Ah, I see. Well, don't worry, we can turn around and take the right path." Azazel replied, trying to sound confident despite feeling a tinge of irritation settling in his mind.
Rei looked at him with an incredulous expression. "You're kidding, right? We're almost out of gas, how are we going to turn back?"
"I wouldn't need to if you looked where the hell you're going..." I thought.
Azazel rubbed his neck, trying to think of a quick solution to the problem. "Well, actually... In this place, the nearest gas station is quite far. Maybe it's better if we try to find a place to take shelter and figure out a solution." he admitted, trying to be realistic in the difficult situation.
Rei sighed resignedly. "Great. So where do we go now?"
Azazel looked around, searching for some place that could offer temporary shelter. But honestly, he didn't like the idea. This was a commercial street, and it was not bustling at all at the moment. He didn't even want to think about what could be in the shops.
Then, amidst his thoughts, he had an idea. "If we keep going ahead, we'll soon reach a small housing complex. We might be able to get shelter with the residents there and maybe some gas if we're lucky. We better go soon; it'll be dark soon." Azazel said.
Rei nodded. "Sounds like a plan. Let's go then." The girl agreed with the suggestion almost immediately, without much thought.
So they set off for their new destination...
( With Rei )
They had arrived at the complex, just as Sensei had said, to her satisfaction. Honestly, she felt relieved after making such a stupid mistake and having no sense of direction... But from a certain point, she felt satisfied. Azazel-sensei didn't judge her or berate her mistake; he simply solved it. If it were Takashi, he'd probably still be yelling at her for this failure...
But why was she comparing them anyway? Azazel-sensei was a respectable man, while Takashi was impulsive and often intolerant of mistakes.
Of course, she didn't mean to say he was a bad person, far from it, especially after Hisashi. If it weren't for him, she probably wouldn't even be here. Takashi was a dear friend... But ever since he put Shido on that bus, it made her want to shake him until he came to his senses. Did he not see Shido for what he was?
It was for reasons like this, this problem with that boy, that made her distance herself from him, that damn lack of common sense.
Rei sighed and refocused on the real world; she was parking the motorcycle on a corner.
The neighborhood where they were was traditional, the houses were of a more rustic model, and with luck or bad luck, there would be people at home.
"Here, Azazel-sensei." I handed the keys to the man; I didn't have pockets since I was still in the school uniform, which was certainly not designed for a Zombie Apocalypse.
"Ah, right!" The man seemed a little tired and absent-minded.
Azazel took the keys with a nod, thanking Rei with a comforting smile. "Thank you, Miyamoto-san. Let's take a look around here and see if we can find a safe place to shelter."
We surveyed the surroundings, cautious. The houses seemed quiet at first glance, but the presence of zombies in the nearby street alerted us to the possibility of imminent danger.
I mentally counted, estimating approximately eight undead scattered along the street, each wandering aimlessly.
"Look, Miyamoto-san." Azazel whispered, drawing my attention to the zombies. "They're spaced apart. We can handle them. Do you think we should eliminate them so we can enter one of the houses?"
The idea of having my opinion considered by Azazel brought a comforting warmth to my chest. I felt valued, as if my skills and perceptions were recognized.
"I think so." I replied, agreeing with his suggestion. "But I don't think using your gun is a good idea. It might attract more zombies and draw attention to us."
Azazel nodded, putting a finger to his lips in a silent gesture of agreement. "You're smart, Miyamoto-san. The noise from the gun could cause more problems than solutions. We should be cautious."
His praise caught me off guard, and I felt my cheeks flush with the compliment. "Thank you, Azazel-Sensei." I murmured, feeling a bit more confident.
I gathered my courage, looking at him with determination. "I think I can handle them if you attract their attention by making noise." I proposed, hoping my plan would be accepted.
Azazel seemed thoughtful for a moment, evaluating my proposal. Finally, he nodded with an encouraging smile. "It's risky, but if you think you can. Let's try it that way. I trust you, but if you think it's too much, don't hesitate to run. I prefer you alive."
The feeling of having my plan accepted by Azazel further increased my confidence, along with him considering my safety. With a determined nod, I prepared for the battle about to begin. Holding tightly to the improvised bat that had become my weapon, I watched Azazel beside me, ready to put our strategy into action. We wouldn't just confront the zombies; we would lure them into an ambush using noise as bait.
Azazel shared a determined look with me before we started. He took the lead, preparing to create the necessary noise to attract the undead, while I moved silently, ready to act when the time was right.
Azazel brought the motorcycle closer and with the key in the ignition, he honked, creating a loud noise loud enough to catch the zombies' attention. Quickly, they began to approach, drawn by the sound, unaware of the trap we had prepared.
With the zombies getting closer, I stayed focused, waiting for the right moment to act. They were blind, driven only by sound. When the first one came within our reach, I stealthily advanced from behind, delivering a precise blow with my bat, crushing the undead's skull without making a sound.
Azazel continued to make noise, keeping the zombies distracted while I continued to attack them stealthily. One by one, they fell, unable to perceive the threat until it was too late.
The scene was a silent dance of death and destruction, each blow struck with deadly precision. Azazel continued to keep the zombies occupied with his noise, while I mercilessly eliminated each one of them.
As the battle raged on, my heart pounded in my chest, but I maintained my determination. Our strategy was working perfectly, and I was determined to ensure our victory.
Finally, the zombies were defeated, silence settling over the scene. I breathed deeply, feeling a wave of relief and gratitude as I looked at Azazel by my side.
"We did it." I murmured, my voice filled with emotion and exhaustion.
Azazel nodded, a tired smile forming on his lips. "Yes, we did. You were amazing, Miyamoto-san. Your skill and determination were essential to our victory."
I blushed and smiled back, feeling a sense of accomplishment and gratitude. "Thank you, Azazel-sensei. Together, we are unbeatable." On impulse, I hugged him.
The hug I gave Azazel was a gesture of gratitude and relief, but as soon as my arms wrapped around his body, I realized the situation was awkward and uncomfortable. He tensed for a moment, as if not used to displays of affection, and I quickly pulled away, feeling my cheeks flush.
"Sorry, I... I shouldn't have done that." I murmured, feeling embarrassed by my own impulsiveness.
Azazel seemed a bit surprised by the gesture, but soon regained his usual composure. "It's okay, Miyamoto-san. It was a moment of emotion. You don't need to apologize."
Still, the atmosphere between us had changed, and I felt uncomfortable with the situation. I avoided his gaze, feeling embarrassed for acting impulsively.
"Let's... let's check the houses." I quickly suggested, eager to change the subject and return to normalcy between us.
Azazel nodded, seeming to relieve the tension in the air. "Yes, that's a good idea. Let's see if we can find a safe place to shelter."
With a sigh of relief, we moved away from each other and turned our attention back to the task at hand.
Azazel looked around again, his expression now more serious and attentive. We surveyed the houses, searching for the best option for shelter. One of the houses seemed more promising than the others. It was a two-story house, with windows protected by bars and a sturdy appearance that indicated resistance against intruders, be they human or zombies.
We approached the chosen house, and Azazel knocked on the door, waiting for a response. The silence that followed was deafening. He tried the doorknob, but the door was locked.
"Well, it seems no one is willing to welcome us with open arms." Azazel commented, his tone revealing a hint of humor to ease the tension.
"Should we go around and try the back door?" I suggested, following his lead.
Azazel agreed, keeping his weapon at the ready as we headed to the back of the house. The backyard was empty and silent, with only the wind whispering through the dead trees.
"Let's stay on guard." he said, casting a serious glance in my direction. "There might be frightened people inside, or even more zombies."
I nodded, gripping my bat firmly as we approached the back door. Azazel took the lead, his gaze sharp for any sign of imminent danger.
We reached the back door, and Azazel tried to turn the knob. Again, it was locked.
"We'll need a plan B." he muttered, thoughtful.
I looked around, trying to find another entrance. I spotted a window on the second floor, partially open. Perhaps it was our chance.
"There!" I pointed, indicating the window. "I can try to climb up and see if I can open it from the inside."
Azazel nodded, and I prepared to climb. Carefully, I scaled the wall until I reached the window. With concentrated effort, I managed to open enough space to enter.
Inside the house, the darkness was almost palpable. I waited for my eyes to adjust to the darkness, revealing a dusty room. There was no sign of life in this place.
"Azazel-sensei, it's safe to come in." I called, hoping he could hear from outside.
The sound of his footsteps echoed in the silence as he entered through the window after me. Together, we explored the house, checking every corner for potential dangers.
"Looks like this place hasn't been cleaned in a long time." observed Azazel, looking around with a grim expression.
I agreed, feeling a strange sensation in the house.
"Let's check the rooms." I suggested, trying to ignore the feeling of discomfort.
Azazel nodded, and together we headed to search the house. The rooms were empty and messy, a sign that whoever lived here had left in a hurry.
"This seems to be the master bedroom." I commented, opening the door to one of the rooms.
Inside, there was an unmade bed and an old wardrobe. Azazel approached the wardrobe, carefully opening the doors. Nothing but a closet with a few clothes inside.
"Doesn't seem like anyone has been here for a long time." he murmured, closing the wardrobe doors.
"I'll check downstairs, in case I find anything useful, call me if you do." Azazel requested, I nodded, and he left the room.
I looked around the room again, next to the bed there was a desk with family photos. It was a couple and a child... What could have happened to them? I tried not to think about it.
In one of the photos, I noticed that the supposed husband was wearing a police uniform... I remembered my parents, where were they at this moment? How were they? An unpleasant feeling began to form within me.
I needed to stay focused to help Azazel-sensei get to the police station and find the others... Wait? Why on earth would I go back to the others with that jerk Shido there?
The heat of the moment seemed to make me not think too clearly about it. I didn't want to go back to those fools; they regretted leaving Shido on that bus right away, and good riddance to them, I didn't care at all... Alright, that was mean, she cared about Takashi, and had some slight consideration for the classmates who helped her, but still, just the thought of Shido made her want to strangle them.
"Miyamoto-san, come down here! I think I found something useful." I heard Azazel's muffled shout from downstairs.
I took a deep breath and sighed. I needed to stay focused and plan my next move.
I went down the stairs and glanced around; there wasn't anything special in the house except for the mess, probably from the residents' quick exit.
"Over here, Miyamoto-san!" I heard him calling me.
Following his voice, I passed by the front door, which had a desk against it. The windows had closed curtains, but Rei believed they weren't made of very reliable material in case of an attack.
I reached my destination when I saw Azazel-sensei standing between an open door. "Look." he said, moving aside to give me a view.
It was a police car, an old model that was used about 5 years ago, but it seemed well-maintained. The main difference from current ones was technical details that Rei couldn't identify.
"This is perfect, with this, we can get rid of the motorcycle and have an added security when driving through the city, the issue is knowing if it's fueled up." Azazel said with an expectant look.
"To keep this model maintained, it needs a few spins around the block every few weeks, otherwise the engine starts to wear out faster, probably the tank is full." Rei spoke analytically.
"Really? You seem to know a lot about this." Azazel commented.
"My father is a detective." I said simply, trying to get rid of intrusive thoughts.
"Ah... Of course!" Azazel responded thoughtfully then pointed to the car. "We need to find the keys; I've searched the entire first floor, but nothing so far. Maybe they're on the second floor, but honestly, I'm not very hopeful..." Azazel seemed to want to get to a point.
"Do you think they'd be with the homeowner?" I quickly thought and spoke.
"It's the most likely scenario," Azazel replied.
"But he must be miles away from here..." There was no way the man was still around.
"I disagree, Miyamoto-san, he's close." The Director stated with such certainty that I was taken aback.
"How can you be so sure?" I questioned him.
"I saw some photos, and one of the zombies you killed outside looks exactly like the homeowner's wife, and by the state of things here, he can't be far..." Azazel continued to speak, but it felt like a haze in my head.
What was I doing after all? Worried about a surprise math test while giving my now deceased boyfriend cheat sheets... Then running for my life in a school full of things prepared to eat my head with my childhood crush... And another moment on a bus with one of the worst men ever born...
And not long ago, I was celebrating having killed the former owner of this house and her likely neighbors? What was wrong with me after all?
And also... How many of my classmates did I kill in school?
Rei wondered again, what was wrong with her?
( Azazel's POV )
Several hours had passed since we entered this house. Honestly, being here was far from my plans, but thanks to Rei, they were on the other side of the city from where their destination was.
I felt a huge urge to yell at the girl at that moment, but it wasn't the time or place to lose my head, especially after everything, I needed her, so I had to keep a cool head.
Dealing with the zombies proved to be the right choice; Miyamoto Rei was her own teenage Black Widow in a high school uniform. She calmly killed all those zombies without any remorse and with relative ease, it was good to stay on her good side, I didn't believe for a moment that with a simple wooden bat I could do the same or even something more fatal.
Oh, and there was that celebratory hug after everything... It was super weird, especially because Rei was well developed and had good curves, Jesus, she was hot and my type of girl... But no way was I going to lay a finger on her, I still had my moral ethics! I was a man of principles, no matter if it was the Apocalypse or if her melons were so inviting to squeeze, I would maintain my integrity.
Anyway, exchanging the stupid motorcycle for the police car seemed more viable than chasing after gas at the nearest station or risking it in houses, if there were residents, especially armed ones, they could be violent, it's impressive what fear does to people.
Anyway, since the conversation with Rei in the garage, the girl seemed a bit down, probably tired of this exciting day, it was already dark, I stole a wristwatch, so I knew the time, it was around 7 pm now, I preferred to give her some space to be alone with her thoughts.
My head still hurt, the makeshift bandages that Shizuka had put on my head were still holding, I found some painkillers in the bathroom, it wasn't strong or prescription, but with my luck, it would relieve the pain.
I took off my blood-stained coat, to be honest, the formal wear wasn't inviting to wear at this moment, but there was nothing that fit me at the moment, I could think about a wardrobe change later.
After everything, we were going to spend the night here and race against time tomorrow to get to Takashi and the rest of the group, it was something to be dealt with tomorrow, personally I didn't like the idea of facing any surprises in the darkness with the risk of shooting Rei or her accidentally hitting me... At this moment another problem came up, I was hungry, whatever hurricane passed through this house took almost everything valuable except the police car.
Anyway, we were in the dark house, there was no electricity working at the moment for some reason. For safety's sake, I made an improvised barricade on the stairs and the same with the door of this room where it was just me and Rei.
The girl still remained strange, I felt like I needed to do something to lighten the mood, I sincerely hoped she wasn't worried about me doing anything inappropriate to her since even crouched on the floor she held her bat with her hands, I was sitting on the bed trying to disguise the look I gave her.
With a sigh, I came up with something to approach the girl. "Miyamoto-san, something seems to be bothering you, would you like to share? Is it related to Shido-sensei?" I decided to get straight to the point.
"Tch..." She grunted as furious eyes turned to me... Well, at least she had a less dead expression now.
"You mentioned earlier that they would regret having him? Want to talk about it?" I questioned.
"He's a jerk." she simply said.
"Yeah, he's a detestable guy." I decided to play along with Rei's game, she knew Shido's face and I could use that to my advantage.
She widened her eyes at my words, and by the heavens, they seemed to even sparkle. "You don't like him either, Azazel-sensei?" She asked as if seeking approval.
"I'll just say that I've tried to fire him more times than my fingers can count, and many times just for personal reasons, it's unethical I know, but when it comes to Shido, nothing is fair, for that asshole. Oops, sorry for the language." These words made Rei open a smile.
"Talking about that jerk is a compliment." Rei said with a more humorous tone of voice.
"Yeah... Miyamoto-san, are you worried about your family, right? After seeing the state of this place, this could trigger some things for you. I'm sorry about that." I lied to make her think that this could trigger bad feelings for Rei, after all, her father was a cop with a wife and child, and seeing how it probably ended, Rei felt a similarity.
"I'd rather think they're okay..." Rei spoke to the wind with a sigh.
Azazel forced a smile. "That's good, trust in family isn't bad, I can't say the same for my ex-wife, in fact, I can't wait to meet her to tell my daughter all the mistakes she's made so far." I said with a brief laugh.
"Azazel-sensei has a daughter... I think it's more logical for her to be mad at you for speaking ill of her mother behind her back..." Rei replied.
"What the hell are you? A women's defender." I thought a bit annoyed at the comment "Well, that's what divorce is for, you can speak openly about a wrong choice, if you ever break up with your boyfriend, you'll understand, I bet he must be crying on that bus now without you there." I joked.
"Pff, Takashi is not my boyfriend, he's just a classmate, my boyfriend is Hiya... He's dead." And the humor that had been lifted a bit dropped again.
"I'm sorry for that." Azazel said.
By the heavens, it was hard to deal with teenagers.
The next few minutes were awkward, until Rei looked back at me.
"Azazel-sensei, when we get our transportation, do you plan on meeting with the others, right?" Her voice had a slightly venomous tone.
"That's the plan, right?" I was surprised at her behavior at this moment.
Rei then stood up and approached me with just a few steps, then looked deeply into my eyes. "How about just the two of us going? We don't need the others!" She said with such conviction that it was almost scary.
I was surprised at the girl's thought, was she so stupid as to suggest that? Did she have any idea of the situation outside? Walking alone was suicide, and he needed the others to get to his main destination.
She lowered her head to my height and I could even feel the warmth of her breath and her cheeks slightly flushed. "Azazel-sensei, we're a good team, and if we continue to be just a team, I'll do whatever you want..."
I had only one thought at that moment " Hell!"
( Microbus )
A few hours before nightfall, in a certain police station where the group would meet, a heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by the occasional creaking of the parked microbus outside.
Inside the police station, the few remaining survivors exchanged nervous glances, aware that something was about to happen. The grinding of cadaverous teeth echoed from outside, as if the undead were just waiting for the right moment to attack.
The number of people inside the bus had decreased considerably, leaving only those who were willing to fight to the end. Each of them held their improvised weapons firmly, their eyes constantly scanning the environment for any sign of imminent danger.
And among them, stood out a young man with a bloodied baseball bat resting on his shoulder, as he looked at the dead body of a man in a suit who had his skull crushed. His gaze was somber, filled with determination and a hint of despair. He was the last to board the microbus, his words short and direct to the driver reflected the urgency of the situation.
"Get us out of here. We don't have time to wait for anyone else." he ordered, his voice firm but filled with anxiety. He moved to the deepest part of the bus, ready to face whatever was waiting for them outside.
As the driver started the vehicle, the oppressive silence was replaced by the deafening sound of the engine roaring to life. The microbus began to move slowly, pulling away from the police station and into the darkness of the night, where danger lurked in every shadow, promising an inevitable confrontation.
( To be continued?)
N.A: Possibilities arise, will Azazel-sensei and Rei form a head-smashing duo, or will they return to the group?
By the way, TAKASHI WHAT DID YOU DO!?
Thank you for all the revisions so far, and until the next chapter.