Chapter 3: The Journey Begins

A tall man with blonde hair and sunglasses stood on the balcony of an expensive penthouse house on the rooftop of a tall building. He wore a black trench coat and Basel clothing. He smirked as he watched the chaos and panic on the streets below. Legions of fast-running, bloodied creatures resembling humans chased after a squad of terrified soldiers. One of the soldiers stopped running and began to unload all of his ammunition from his assault rifle.

Several of the sprinting undead fell from the assault. The soldier screamed as his firearm continued to spray hailstones of hot lead. Suddenly, the assault rifle clicked as the weapon's magazine ran empty. The soldier panicked to reload his gun but screamed when several rage-filled humans tackled him to the ground. They began to rip and bite the man at incredible speeds. Blood and gore flew through the air as they tore him to pieces. One of the infected yelled at the man's face, and a strong torrent of blood was thrown up by the undead, filling the soldier's mouth with the blood red liquid and bile.

All the undead stood up from the man and followed after the rest of the horde. Eager to catch the remaining survivors. The dead soldier jerked several times and jumped to his feet. His eyes were blood red as he yelled in rage. The soldier turned on his heel and joined the rest of the horde. This was becoming a regular occurrence throughout North America. Heavily populated cities and towns were being swarmed by legions of the undead.

"This is turning out better than we believed." The blonde-haired man said joyfully. The man was Albert Wesker, an accomplished virologist, and employee of the Umbrella Corporation. He turned and looked at an old man watching the hellish landscape. The older man's eyes trembled in horror as he watched a group of the undead rip a woman to pieces. "Don't you think?" Albert said.

"No… this isn't what I wanted." The old man said. The man was Dr. Oswell E. Spencer, an aristocratic British billionaire, virologist, and eugenicist—one of the founders of Umbrella Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Oswell was bound to a wheelchair with several life support devices. "We've unleashed Hell on earth, Wesker!"

"Is that how you see it? No. This! This is the next step to pushing humanity to evolve!" Albert cheered with his arms spread out to his sides. "This wouldn't have been possible if we hadn't infiltrated the world's major militaries and governments. Yes, that took an annoying amount of time to accomplish, but it was well worth it. Next, all we had to do was send one of our specimens to each of the world's major cities. From there, we just let the infection spread like wildfire. Truly ingenious!"

Dr. Oswell looked at Albert with utter terror and slowly wheeled away. But before the old man could make it too far, Albert stopped him by grabbing the wheelchair's push bars. "This is what you wanted, old man. That dementia of yours is screwing with your head."

Albert looked out to the flaming city of Los Angeles with a serene expression. "I can't wait to see how our prototypes will rise from the ashes of the old world to serve under me as its new god."

Albert threw his head back and began laughing maniacally as he looked up at the smoke-filled skies. The loud growls and moans of the infected filled the empty and still air of the once-bustling city. Albert stopped laughing and brushed his hair back.

"Don't disappoint me now."

X X X

The travel back to the home economics room went smoothly. Now that we didn't have to look through each room we passed, we could travel much faster. Hayato had once again took point with Saki close behind him, after her was Haruno with me on the rear. After twenty minutes of sneaking around and avoiding the infected, we returned to the storage room without any incidents.

We used a stack of boxes to reach the curtain rope. Hayato was the first to climb the curtain rope, and then Saki. Haruno paused as she held the curtain and looked at me with a small smile.

"With your mission completed, I assume you'll leave to find your sister?" Haruno said softly. I nodded and looked around our surroundings.

"I am." I said. Haruno sighed and looked up at the window. Yukino and Yui were looking down at us with relief. Haruno smiled and waved at them. As she brushed them away, small tears shined at the edges of her eyes.

"I see. I'm sure you'll find her when you do. Be sure to come back to us. Okay?" Haruno said sincerely.

I nodded. It was weird for me to see the older Yukinoshita so sincere and honest. Who would have guessed it took an apocalyptic event to get her to be open with me? "I will. Once I have Komachi, I'll come back."

"Good. That's good. You can't be leaving Yukino-chan like that; otherwise, I won't forgive you." Haruno joked. I shook my head and urged her up.

As she climbed, I looked up and saw under her long skirt. My eyes widened, and I looked away. Despite the situation, I still couldn't believe I was tempted to look. I palmed my face and sighed. Once she was inside, I began climbing up as well.

X X X

"Split up? Are you serious?" Meguri said.

Once we were all back in the room, we told everyone one of Haruno's ideas. Safe to say, we had received several different reactions from everyone.

I sighed as everyone began to argue and debate with each other on what to do. Yukino stood next to her sister, her arms wrapped tightly around her. When I had hopped back inside the room, I saw the Yukinoshita sisters embracing one another in relief. Seeing that made me happy, I decided to stay back to help.

"I'm sorry. But I refuse to leave. I'm still of the belief that we will be saved. I'm sure the prime minister has mobilized the JSDF to find and rescue all those in trouble." Tamanawa said with his annoying hand gestures. "Going out there will just put us all in danger."

"Is that so? Tell me, what will you do when all the food runs out and the water is shut off? How about when someone needs to use the restroom? Have you thought of all that?" Haruno said with a no-nonsense tone.

"That's…" Tamanawa stuttered and looked around the room.

On the workstations were several baked goods made by today's event. There were also several bars and bags of chocolate as well. The sinks would provide plenty of water, but for how long? I doubted public services like running water and electricity would be kept after enough time has passed. With survival at the forefront of everyone's mind, it will only be a matter of time before everything, including the phones, is shut off. Yui had told me that service had become spotty and that the internet was no longer in service.

"Haruno-san is right." Hayato said as he washed his face. He shut off the faucet and looked over at Tamanawa. "With this many people, supplies will run out quickly. We have to move somewhere with better sustainable shelter and food. Otherwise… we won't make it."

"But those things are everywhere! How can we travel to a new location without being attacked or killed?" One of the Kaihin girls said. Her name was Okada Maiko. She was a first-year student with long brown hair and dark eyes.

"There's a storage room underneath us." Saki said as she crossed her arms. "Once you climb down, you should grab something to defend yourselves with."

"Defend ourselves?" Okada muttered in disbelief. "You expect us to fight those things?!"

"It's either that or get torn apart." I said as I zipped up my backpack after reviewing the supplies I found. I placed it down and looked at Okada. "The world as we knew it is gone. The faster we all get on board with that idea, the faster we'll be able to adapt and survive in this new one."

"Adapt or die." Iroha said with a frown. "Is that what you're saying, Senpai?"

"That's right." I said. "We're all on our own. Nobody is coming to help us. You would think the JSDF would be out in full force right now trying to stop those things, but they're not."

"You think they were the first to fall?" Yukino said with a thoughtful look. "That would explain why we haven't heard any helicopters or military vehicles."

"What good does speculating on whether the JSDF is still around or not?" Hina said with a tired voice. She had removed her glasses and was rubbing her eyes. Yumiko hugged her from where they sat on the floor in front of the cabinets filled with cutlery.

"She's right." Hayato said as he looked over to Haruno. "So… got any ideas on where we can go?"

We spent the next thirty minutes discussing the best possible locations to move to. They spanned from shelters, government buildings, and recreation centers. I had brought up that if we thought of these locations, there was a strong possibility that everyone else would also have. This could mean that any of these places could be full of survivors or overrun by the undead.

From there, we thought about where else we could go, but our ideas were minimal and impractical. Some had suggested we all each head home, but that idea was shot down. There were too many of us to safely travel through Chiba with all those things out in the streets. It would take too long to drop by each person's house individually. Tamanawa had even suggested we all try to head out on our own. Haruno quickly shut him up by telling him that we needed to travel together. Because if even one of those things grabbed you, you'd be dead without help. It was too risky.

So, after a lengthy discussion, we decided to head towards Haruno's family home. With her and Yukino's father being part of the Japanese National Diet, that meant they had been well off. Their family home was large and well-secured. It would work well to house us all until we figured out what to do next. However, due to how far Haruno's home was, it would take at least several hours to travel on foot. Add on the dangers of the undead and who knows what else. It could take twice the amount of time.

So, with our location decided, we all began to pack anything we could that would help us on our journey. Once everyone had gotten a full night's rest, they would start traveling tomorrow. As for Kawasaki and me, we had wanted to leave tonight to head towards our siblings. The location Komachi had given me was in the complete opposite direction of Haruno's home. This would make it extremely difficult for us to rejoin everyone. It could take us days.

While Saki and I were eager to leave immediately, Haruno and Yukino convinced us to rest the night. It wouldn't do us any good to travel tired and sleep-deprived. We agreed. That's how I found myself leaning against the cool outdoor wall. It was around midnight, and everyone was asleep. I heard the low moans and sporadic growls out in the hall. Outside in the streets were the occasional noises made by the undead; most of them had left the area to go after the sounds of a loud speeding vehicle in the distance.

"Can't sleep?"

I watched as Yukino silently walked over beside me. She kneeled and sat next to me. She wrapped her arms around herself as the late-night cold blew in from the broken window. We had all put on our jackets to try to keep warm.

"Yeah." I said tiredly. "I can't rest without being sure Komachi is safe."

"Yes, I can imagine." Yukino whispered and leaned on my shoulder. I bristled slightly but quickly relaxed. "Thank you, Hikigaya-kun. For staying and helping find my sister."

"Don't mention it." I said. After a moment of hesitation, Yukino smiled and rested her head on my shoulder.

After five minutes, I felt my eyelids begin to grow heavy. Slowly, we both fell asleep. Our heads are leaning on one another. We stayed like that for the rest of the night. We were blissfully unaware of the sad, jealous pair of brown eyes watching us as we slept.

X X X

I slipped my shinai into the modified holster in my backpack I made by ripping a hole in its side. I looked back and saw Saki wrapping Keikas jacket tightly around her. It was morning, and it was time for us all to begin our objectives. Everyone had started to prepare themselves for the upcoming journey. Whether it be by packing whatever essentials we could find in the home economics into their school bags or calming their shacking nerves.

"Hikki." Yui said as she walked over to me. She gripped her book bag straps tightly. Her fingers were shaking. "Please be careful, okay?"

I nodded and turned to her fully. I wasn't naive enough to believe that everyone would make it to their destinations in one piece. I was sure there would be some casualties. But deep down inside, I wished that those I came to care for would make it. That they would be safe. So, as I stood in front of the girl I'd come to see as my friend, I couldn't help but think that this might be the last time I'd see her. Whether it be that she falls to the undead or that I get killed myself.

I looked over and saw Yukino, my friend and clubmate. Iroha, my sly and mischievous Kohai. Haruno, a person I've learned to appreciate despite her way of dealing with Yukino. Zaimokuza, my occasional gym partner and fellow loner. Hayama and his clique, despite how they've annoyed me throughout my second year of high school. I still couldn't help but still worry about them.

I walked over to Yui and pulled her into a hug. She jumped slightly in surprise and quickly hugged me back. This would have been something I would never have done before, but nothing was the same anymore. Being shy and afraid of letting those know how you feel or don't feel is a luxury of the old world. I cared about Yui Yuigahama, and I wouldn't let our last possible meeting be one I would regret.

"I'll see you again once I have Komachi, okay?" I whispered. She shook as my voice tickled her ear. Yui nodded and squeezed me tighter.

I let her go with some difficulty and looked back at Saki and Keika as they stood beside the window. She nodded at me, and I nodded back. It was time to leave.

"We'll see you all soon." I said as I looked over everyone.

Haruno smiled and nodded. Yukino and Hayato looked nervous but nodded as well. Iroha walked up to me and grabbed my left hand.

"Be careful, Senpai."

"I will."

With that, Saki, Keika, and I repelled down. Once on the ground, we left the community center grounds and headed towards the Mihama Cultural Hall.

X X X

A loud crack echoed down the street. The clattering sounds of shattered porcelain rolled across the asphalt, and several growling infected ran towards the noise. I peeked over the green sedan Saki, Keika, and I were hiding behind and nodded. We moved from car to car quickly and silently. Our movement speed was hindered slightly due to Keika's shorter legs as we moved. I turned back to the young girl and watched her scared expression look up at me. I smiled slightly, my attempt to set her at ease.

We continued like this for another hour and stopped behind several vending machines. I looked down at my bag and saw that I only had one plate left. I grimaced and turned to Saki.

"One left." I whispered. Saki frowned but nodded.

We had been using the plates to distract the infected from our position as we moved through the city. We mainly stuck to the back roads and avoided the heavily populated streets. One look at them quickly dispelled any ideas of us using them to travel. Japan, being a small island country, meant its citizens were stuffed into more compact cities and territories. This seemingly allowed the infection to spread at incredible speeds. So when Saki and I saw legions of them walking and running around, we could only feel deep dread and a sense of helplessness.

I wouldn't be surprised if, by the end of this week, at least sixty to eighty percent of this country's population would succumb to the undead. Perhaps we'd have a better fighting chance if we were in a larger country like the United States or Britain.

"Stop!" I hissed as we slowed our walk. I looked around the brick wall we hid behind and saw two infected eating the remains of a dog.

They don't just eat humans. I looked around and tried to see if we could take another route to proceed. Much to my dismay, there was none. This road was the only way forward, so that meant if we wanted to keep going. We'd have to take these undead out.

"What do we do? Head back?" Saki whispered as she held Keika close to her. I looked at her and shook my head.

"We can't. They're probably already back to where they once were. The plates I used only worked for a quick distraction." I said and slid my shinai out of my bag. My hands shook as I peered at the feasting undead. "Stay here."

Before Saki could say or do anything, I crouched and walked towards the undead. I moved as silently as I could. Careful not to step on anything that would alert them of my position. I inspected them both and saw a young boy, probably around ten to twelve years old. Half of the skin covering his head was missing, and the white bone of his skull was exposed. Beside him was an older man, hungrily eating away at the dog's intestines. The man's upper body was shirtless, and he had deep cuts and trenches on his bloodied back. His spinal cord could be seen poking out of his back as he hobbled around.

I should focus on taking out the man first. Once he's out, it'll be easier to put down the kid. His strength and speed should be something I can handle with greater ease than a full-grown adult.

I gripped the shinais grip tightly and looked at the man's bloodied head. If I struck hard enough down onto his skull, it should knock him out. Right? Perhaps even smashing it open? But am I capable of attacking what used to be a perfectly normal person? The memory of me luring Tobe out of the home economics window flashed through my mind. No, this wasn't the same. I used cold logic to think of a way of removing Tobe's infected body from the room with as little contact as possible. But this… this required me to be directly involved in the altercation. To use my own strength to attack another individual.

Adapt or die.

I took a deep breath and raised the shinai above my head. I breathed deeply and quickly as I stood. However, before I could swing my weapon onto the undead's head. I hesitated. And in this new world, hesitation kills.

The young boy looked up with a growl and hissed at me. A bloodied piece of flesh hung limply between his red teeth. His action caused the older infected man to turn and snap his teeth at me. With his body facing me fully, I saw that his neck was missing a large chunk of flesh.

The man hobbled to his feet and lunged at me. His bloodied hands swung at me. I clambered back and avoided the man's crazed swings. I heard Keikas hushed whimpers and saw the young infected boy turn to her and Saki. The boy stood and began to rush at them with his red teeth snapping.

Adapt or die!

Deep-rooted survival and protective instincts flared inside me. They roared at me to move and take action. To protect and attack those who would try and harm those I care about and myself. If I wanted to survive in this new cold and bloody world, I had to throw away all my preconceived notions of what was right and wrong. The only thing that mattered was that I had to survive and save Komachi. To make sure she was safe. That Yukino, Yui, and Komachi were all safe.

ADAPT AND LIVE!

I slipped another swipe from the man and swung the shinai through his knee. He fell in a heap, and I ran towards the scrambling infected child. Saki had Keika behind her with her spear in her hands. Just as the undead boy was about to reach them, I flexed my arms back and swung with every ounce of my currently adrenaline-powered muscles.

A loud and sickening splat echoed in front of me as the undead boy's head exploded in a shower of gore and brain matter. I watched the boy fall in a heap of limbs and jumped back as the desperate, undead man attempted to grab my ankle. I raised the shinai over my head and glared at the undead.

I WILL LIVE!

I twisted my body and swung my weapon down onto the man's skull. It sunk deeply into his head and stopped once it was halfway through his brain. The man froze in his movements and slumped onto the ground. I stood there, weapon in hand. Breathing quickly and deeply. Due to my adrenaline-filled body, I failed to sense a slight heart murmur in my chest. But as quickly as it showed up, it disappeared. I took out my weapon and watched as dark blood and grey matter slipped onto the floor from its wooden surface.

"Okay… let's keep going." I turned to Saki and Keika. They were looking at me with wide eyes. Saki was the first to nod; she grabbed her sister's hand and pulled her along.

Saki stepped beside me, and we kept going. The sky had darkened as nightfall approached; we needed to find shelter for the night. Reaching Komachi and Taishi would probably take another day or two of slow and careful traveling. With that in mind, we left the back roads and looked for a suitable place to rest for the night. I leaned against the corner of the once-popular coffee shop and saw a pharmacy down the road.

Hold on a little longer, Komachi. Your Onii-chan is coming!