Disclaimer: I own nothing of the properties within this story and all rights go to the creators and companies of said properties
Beta by Slothful, Forzarismo, and Old Man of The Mountain/Darklord331
Chapter 3: Forming a group
How could something like this happen? This is something you would only see in movies!
This was supposed to be a simple short break from teaching, to relax a little when students have to do their self-studies. But here I am, trapped in someone's hotel room with a small handful of students, fearing that the door will break down and those…things will get in.
Take deep breaths, Kyoko… You have toremain calm. At least for the sake of your students.
Or what students that you have remaining…
No, don't think about it.
Looking back at the four girls, seeing two of them hugging each other, breaking down in tears. Another one of the girls is in the corner, trying to make herself seem small, probably hoping to hide away from these monsters should the door fail them. The last one is on her phone, trying and failing to reach the outside world, to reach help.
To think this was once a group of twenty…
Everything was fine just a couple of hours ago. It would be a lie to say that I wasn't annoyed when the hotel manager told us to stay in our rooms because of a fight breaking out at the party on the ground floor. I was planning on asking Teshima if he would be interested in going out for a couple of drinks with me.
When Shizuka learned about my attraction toward Teshima, she had the brilliant idea of me using my charms to win him over. I tried telling her that a woman my age doesn't have any real charm, because if I did then I wouldn't be single. But she wouldn't listen and forced me into some plan to help me win Teshima's affection. She even had me go on a diet and made me buy that rather revealing two-piece swimsuit.
But it would be wrong if I said I haven't felt more confident than I had in years.
Sorry, Shizuka. Looks like all that planning and work hard we did was all for not. Seeing as now Teshima is dead… and I was the reason for it.
I just had to freeze up like that. I can argue with myself, telling myself it wasn't my fault. That the hotel manager should have told us what was happening when he told us to evacuate the hotel. How could I keep myself calm with the madness that was happening on the lower floors? I just saw a man punch a pregnant woman in the face and nobody stopped him or help the woman up. How else was I supposed to react when everyone around me was going crazy?!
But that would just be me lying to myself… Trying to hide from the truth of my actions. Or rather, inactions.
I was only alive because by chance Teshima and I were only a floor apart and decided to group our students. It was by chance Teshima was next to me when one of those… things were about to attack me, and unlike me, Teshima was able to react. That massive obese monster bit into Teshima's neck like it was a snack! The students panicked at the sight, several of them breaking from the group, running to get away from the monster. I was lucky enough to even get those four away from there. I told them that we should hold ourselves to the higher floors and wait for the police and army to come to rescue us.
But then those monsters followed us… trapping us in this double room.
While there are some snacks and drinks, there aren't enough for five people for a single night. Let alone how many days until help arrives. And this is if the door doesn't break before then…
I walk over to the two crying students, squat down, and embrace them in a hug.
"Don't worry. Help is bound to come soon. Just hold on a little while longer and we will be safe." I said to them. Which seemed to help as their crying calmed down, along with the short hair girl no longer pacing and the girl in the corner looking at me with a hopeful expression.
At least I was able to comfort the students, even if it was only for a little.
Or was I just comforting myself?
It doesn't matter. I have to do my duty and ensure at these girls can make it out alive.
Even if it's the last thing I ever do.
But for now, we sit here and pray for help…
{Yuji's P.O.V}
"What are you doing?! Were you not arguing how we should be going up a few minutes ago?! Why are we going down?!" Yuuki asks.
"We need to gather as many supplies as we can, especially food and medicine. The hotel's plumbing is still working so we're good on water for a good while. And I wanted to get some phones for you and me so we can stay connected in case we're separated. Again." I said, turning to Yuuki who responded by whistling innocently.
It's easier not to be distracted by her now she is wearing clothes again. Though it was only a pair of jeans that are a bit too big on her, a belt to hold said jeans up, a pair of sneakers, and a plaid short-sleeve button-down shirt that she for some reason refused to button up.
"Doesn't explain why you want so many. You gathered seven phones when we only needed one." Yuuki said.
"I got eight. And not all of them are for us to use as intended. A couple of them are replacements if our currents break, get stolen, or are lost. We can use them for spare parts or for trade. Another use for them is-"
"Quiet down! I hear something!" Yuuki harshly whispers. And a quick look shows me we are getting close to where Shin wanted me to go. So I wasn't surprised at the fact zombies were crowding the hallway. What I was surprised about is they are all focused on one door.
Guess there is where the person I need to save is at.
"Let's go back up before they notice us!" Yuuki whispers.
"Don't worry, they can't see us. They're blind and have to rely on their hearing." I said. Guess I never told her.
"How are you so sure?! You have only seen one of them and you're now an expert?!"
"It is hard to forget a face you smashed an hour ago. And while I don't know much, I can swear their eyes are milky white. Just like a relative of mine was." I said, lying through my teeth. "So I know they are blind."
As if to prove my argument, one of the zombies turns towards us, staring at us. Yuuki was about to scream but I cover her mouth with my hand to muffle her. As the undead stared at us, I broke into a cold sweat but knew we were safe. From what I know of Shin, he's an asshole but I doubt he would lie to me. It wouldn't make sense to give me these powers for me to die on the first night. Shin is an asshole but a reasonable one.
Soon enough the undead turns its attention back to the door, trying to get in just like the other undead. Damn… even though I know we were going to be okay, it doesn't make it any less scary…
I remove my hand from Yuuki's mouth after she started to roughly elbow me in the side. Which hurts by the way.
"Okay! You made it clear they can't see! Now let's get out of here before something happens!"
"Sorry, but there might be someone in that room that all those undead are gathering at. We need to get them out." I said, getting a baffled look from Yuuki.
"Why?! Are you trying to play hero?! Are you hoping there is some cute girl who would spread her legs once you save her?!" Yuuki asks. Dear lord, this girl doesn't beat around the bush.
"No, I'm hoping it's a member of the hotel staff that can get us up to the top floors. I doubt those floors can be accessed by the stairway so we need someone who works here to guide us.
"So you're going to fight those things?! There have to be at least eight of them crowding that door! You might as well put on a 'free meal' sign and yell 'order up'!" Yuuki counters.
"I'm not going to fight them! I'm not stupid enough to think I can fight off that many without getting bitten. I'm just going to use some bait to lock them in one of these rooms." I said.
"Bait? What bait are you talking abo-" Yuuki stops as her eyes widen. "The phones! That's why you want so many!"
"Yeah. I could use the TV in the room but there is no telling if a channel is working and I need to be in a range to use the controller. And that range might not be enough for me to make a clean getaway. Phones can be loud, especially when there are a ton of them, and I can control when they go off." I said.
"But how would you lock it? Jumping from the balcony to the next?"
"Nah, I would have to go through them to reach the balcony and that would defeat the purpose. I'm planning to tie the door handle to the other room across from it. The doors only open from pulling it inwards of the room and with how narrow the entryway is, it would be very hard for them to break it down any time soon once they're trapped." I explain my plan. Not the greatest but it should do the job.
"I'm going to go into the room and set it up. Once I'm done, you call the phones as fast as you can, we close the door, tie the handles with a bedsheet or something, and we go up. Sounds like a plan?" I ask,
"Don't see any other option without going on my own. Fine, but I'm sticking to the stairway. And don't expect me to come to save you if something happens." Yuuki said.
I can't blame her. I would say the same if I were in her shoes. But the reward is worth a little risk.
It's easy to find an unlocked room. Mass panic makes it easy for people to forget to lock their doors. But maybe I should search the room before I fill it with rotting moving corpses. I'm not expecting much but it still wouldn't hurt.
A couple of suitcases were tossed everywhere, their contents all over the floor. Just some clothes, tanning lotion, sunscreen, and anything else one would usually pack for a trip to the beach. I guess this was a waste of time…
Wait a minute. What is in that black case? It is thin and rectangular, but it's too big to be a phone and too small for it to be a tablet. Opening it I see a bunch of weird tools. Or at least what I think are tools.
[Beginner's lock pick set]
It comes complete with the basic tool all inspiring locksmiths would want.
A lockpicking toolkit? Can't complain about that. Don't know the first thing about picking locks or why someone had brought this with them on vacation but it is my gain.
I put the picks into my inventory, pull off the bedsheets, and gather the suitcase to make an echo chamber so the phones can come out louder.
To think I'm using what I learned in science class outside of school. The world really has gone mad…
Self-jokes aside, I think I'm as ready as I'm ever going to be. Slipping out of the room with a bedsheet in hand, I tied a tight knot on the door handle opposite where we plan to lure the zombies.
Making my way back to Yuuki, I see her tapping away at four phones. A feat like that isn't useful but it would be a lie to say it isn't impressive.
Soon the zombies turn their attention toward the ringing phones, leaving the door they were trying to break down in favor of easier 'prey'. I'm not sure how they can tell which one is easier. Maybe because the door is open, making the sound come out clearer? Or because of the number of different noises? Different noises could mean more humans and that means more food.
Something to test out later, I have more important things to do right now. The combined noise of the phones and the added noises from the zombies breaking things in the room hide me as I shut the door on them, tying the bedsheet as tight as I can to keep them from leaving the room.
"I think this is good enough. But least's not stick around too much." I said, getting a nod from Yuuki.
We swing over the bedsheet and make our way to the beaten-up door. The door looks like it was its last leg judging by how the wood was splintering.
I knocked on the door. Hopefully, they realize the undead don't care about manners, meaning it is safe to come out. "Come on out! We need to get a move on!" I said.
There was a noise behind the door, maybe them moving things out of the door's way, and opens.
"Miss Hayashi?" I said without thinking. I was expecting a member of the hotel staff or some rich guy with a key to the top floors, not my homeroom teacher! Damn it, Shin! How does this equate to me getting on the top floors?!
"Mister Futo? Miss Yuuki? You're both alive!" Miss Hayashi said, hugging us both. Feeling her breast press up against me.
Damn it hormones! No isn't the time to be acting up! Miss Hayashi is old enough to be my mother! So why can't I ignore this feeling?!
Because she has some Milf energy. Nobody can dislike a good milf.
A milf? I suppose Miss Hayashi can be considered one. She is popular among the students that had a thing for older women.
NO! This isn't the time for that! Shin! You said I would be able to get to the top floors!
And you will. But it would be boring if everything comes easy to you. So that is why you have to go through… some waypoints.
WAYPOINTS?! What kind of bullshit is that?!
The same ones you have to deal with in a ton of games. Besides, the real fun comes from the challenge of managing resources to keep a large group well-fed, healthy, and happy. You said so yourself remember?
You mean back when I thought you were a weirdly good-looking convenience store worker and not some supernatural being?! If I had known this would have happened I would have told you I wanted it to be as easy as possible!
Come on~ Don't be like that~
I swear I feel like a blood vessel is about to burst…
"Mister Futo? Is everything okay?" Miss Hayashi asks.
I need to learn how to look like I'm not zoning out whenever I'm talking to Shin.
"I'm fine, just a bit stressed out. But do you think you can extend the due date on that paper since I'm not feeling well?" I joked, getting a small, tired smile for my troubles.
"If you can make jokes in a time like this, I guess that means you are fine. But tell me, is it only you two?" Miss Hayashi looks at us with hope and dread.
"No. I was taking a walk through the hotel and bumped into Yuuki, we were able to close ourselves in a bathroom before everything went to hell. After that… we bumped into one of those things, gather whatever supplies we can, and somehow ended up finding you all needing help." I said.
"T-Then we still have no way out! We are going to die here!" the girl in the glasses yells before starting to cry.
I couldn't help but sigh. If this was a movie, I would be able to calm her down with no problem. Sadly, this isn't a movie, despite how I have powers that would fit right at home in an anime or manga.
I walk to the crying girl and put my hands on her shoulders. "Sorry if this comes out a bit rude but you need to keep quiet. These things are attracted to sound, so crying will just lure in more of them." I said, getting the girl to stop crying but still looking afraid.
"I know this might not mean much but I have an idea of what we should do," I said. "The safest place in this hotel is the upper floors since practically everyone was trying to escape, meaning the chances of a zombie being up there is basically zero."
"So you are saying we should live HERE! This place is crawling with those things and you want to stay?!" the redhead wails.
"Then do you have a plan?" I ask, getting nothing in response. "Let us say, that we do make it out of the hotel in one piece, what is the plan then? We don't know where help is. We need food, water, and shelter. And I doubt we can always run away from the zombies or people that have gone crazy."
"I doubt everywhere in the world is like this so the best plan is to hold up somewhere safe and wait. It might take weeks, even months, but staying where we are now might be better for us in the long run. The hotel filter and turbine system gives clean drinking water and power, and if we can get down to the food storage area of the hotel, then we are set on food."
"B-But how do we get up there?" the glasses girl asks. I really need to ask them their names but it is kind of awkward since we are classmates.
"I'm betting that the doorway to the upper floors is open, as I doubt people will close the door after themselves in a situation like this. Though I'm going down to see if there is a keycard at the front desk." I said.
"You never said anything about going to the main lobby!" Yuuki screams at me.
"That is because I wasn't planning on you following me there. I was hoping you, and now the others, would return and gather as many supplies as possible." I explain to calm her down. "By going alone the amount of noise will be lowered and it would be easier for me to run away since I wouldn't have to worry about leaving someone behind."
"But it is too dangerous! We don't need the VIP floors if the other floors are safe! We are only on the fifth floor and the hotel has seventy-five floors. You don't need to take that risk." Miss Hayashi agrees.
"As much as I would like to agree, we need the VIP rooms to reach the roof to make an SOS sign to contact the outside world and let them know there are still living people here." I point out.
Miss Hayashi clearly didn't like that answer as she frowns. "Then I'm coming with you. As a teacher, I can't let a student put themselves in danger."
"While I'm grateful that you are willing to put yourself in danger to help me out, I think we both know you are needed with the others." I was touched but I needed to do this alone. "Plus I don't plan to be done there for long, but I want you all to get to the twentieth floor and block it off if I'm not up there in an hour. During that time, try to collect as much food and water from the other rooms and floors as you can, and try to fill up any empty bottles with water if possible."
I break from the group before anyone could say anything. There is a possibility of the VIP door being open but it isn't guaranteed so I need to ensure that we can get up there with no problem.
I can only hope there is at least one keycard to the upper floors…
{Kyoko's P.O.V.}
I don't like this. One bit. I shouldn't just stand by and watch a child risk his life, I should be trying to stop him, even by force if necessary. But I know deep down inside what he is saying is right. We need to get access to the roof to message the world that we are here.
And he is also right about me needing to be with the other students. Their spirits have been brought up by Futo's plan. As simply just hiding away until help comes sounds more appealing to them than risking their lives to escape the hotel and be lost on a foreign island.
Even I wouldn't know where to go for help if we left this hotel. We can't exactly call for a taxi to come to pick us up and drive us somewhere safe.
I can only sigh as I turn to the remaining students. "Okay, we need to head upstairs and gather as much food and water as we can. We should also look for anything useful. Medicine, clothes, soap, and even alcohol. They're bound to be backpacks and luggage we can use to help us carry everything. We will get through this alive, but we all have to do our part. Futo is willing to risk his life, the least we can do is gather supplies while knowing the upper floors are safer than here." I said.
Niki, Ichijou, Taniuchi, and Kawamoto break from the group to search the rooms, with Niki and Ichijou pairing and holding hands while Taniuchi and Kawamoto form a second pair. Leaving me and Miss Yuuki alone.
"Looks like it is just us huh Kyoko~?" Miss Yuuki chimes as she enters another room.
"Miss Yuuki! I am your teacher young lady!" I shout. Even in a time like this, she is disrespectful!
"Sorry Kyoko but things like students and teachers don't matter. Any occupation means shit at this point. Well, unless you're a doctor, solider, or cop but you are none of those." Yuuki giggles to herself. "Besides, why worry about things like being called by your first name when the dead are trying to eat our faces?"
As much as I hate to admit it, she is right. I shouldn't be so focused on her calling me by my given name. And I can see some merit to it.
But when we get back home I'm so going to give her a piece of my mind.
"Though Kyoko, I have to ask you something. What kind of person is Yuji?" Miss Yuuki asks.
Odd question but I doubt she is interested in him like that. Perhaps because she just wanted to know the only male in the group.
"As much as it shames me to say, I don't know Mister Futo that well Miss Yuuki-"
"Call me Miku. And call him Yuji. Might as well get used to calling us by our first names~" Mis- Miku said.
"...As I was trying to say, I don't know more about Yuji than any other teachers. Average in sports, and average in most of his classes besides math which is surprisingly adept at. But he simply is someone who keeps to himself, not really accepted into any group but isn't ostracized from anyone either." I said.
"Eh~? I was betting that he was one of those worrying quiet kids in the back that you wonder when he would bring a knife into school. Like Hirano." Miku calmly said.
"W-What?! How can say that about your classmates?!" I yell. How could she think that about someone she was just with?!
"Come on! You know how Hirano was being bullied, the guy was a ticking timebomb ready to blow."
"Hirano was being bullied?! How come no one told me about this?!" I demand. How can something like this get by us without noticing?! And to such a degree that a classmate is thinking Hirano was a step away from becoming violent…
"Because Shido was letting it happen. Hell, I have heard that he was even encouraging it. If a teacher was encouraging bullying, there isn't much anybody can do." Miku brushes off.
Mister Shido knew about it and didn't stop it? He encouraged the bullying to be continued. How could a teacher do something like that?
I was never someone who wished badly on a person… but Shido might just be an exception.
"But what does Yuji have to do with your question?" I ask. Was he being bullied too? As if this trip wasn't bad enough. Not only the dead are walking among us but now I'm learning how badly I'm failing my students.
"Because when we first run into one of the zombies, Yuji didn't hesitate to bash its head in." Miku shivers. Not that I'm much better. I did notice the blood on his shirt but I didn't ask. "No normal person would be able to react like how he did. I didn't realize it was a zombie at first. I couldn't believe what was happening in front of me. I couldn't even breathe at the time." Miku mutters to herself.
Now I understand why she wanted to know more about Yuji. To see if he is someone that could become dangerous.
"As I said before, I don't know Yuji well enough to say anything about his character. But I have heard in some cases people change under extreme cases of stress. While normally it is for the worse, there are a rare few that can rise above it and become stronger people. Or Yuji could have stronger survival instincts than us." I theorize. "But what I'm trying to say is I doubt Yuji is going to harm us. Especially since he is willing to put himself at risk."
I could be wrong. Maybe I should follow Miku's example and be concerned about Yuji's mental state. But I wanted to trust in him, to believe that Yuji is someone who can deal with danger better than most.
"Sweet~! Vodka, Rum, and Gin~! This guy knew how to par~ty!"
"Miss Yuuki! Give that to me right now!"
Now I'm wondering how Yuji deals with her…
{Yuji's P.O.V.}
I'm right about it and you know it!
And I don't see why I should give a reward for reaching the first waypoint.
Considering you based this power on video games, you should know that you get a reward for making it to the waypoint. And there is also the fact you lied about the people that I was recusing would help me get to the top.
Meaning that you owe me.
I owe you shit. But I suppose I did fudge the truth a bit. Just a little. And I guess a small reward for playing along isn't too much in hindsight. Here.
[Heighten hearing] - Your ears are unusually good. Sounds come sharper and clearer to you than most. You can also hear farther as well. (Range: 5 meters) The range can be upgraded by using supplements and by killing ?.
I have to say, it has been years since someone talked back to me like that. Though I suppose you being a 'Yes' man would make things boring rather fast. Kind of refreshing really. But don't try pushing your luck with me too much~
Too busy checking my new skill to care. A hearing power. While not flashy it is useful. Might as well try it out.
I crouch down and close my eyes. As I focus on my ears, something strange happened. It is like I'm no longer seeing from my point of view, but instead from some third-person viewpoint. If I was looking at a figure that looks like me, I might have believed I was playing a game right now.
I can even spin around in this state! It is crazy!
Damn it Yuji! Focus on the task at hand!
Faint outlines of what I can assume to be humans, or zombies, mostly likely zombies based on how they're moving. There are ten of them, maybe more out of my range. Thankfully they are rather spread out. Meaning it should be easier for me to slip past them unnoticed.
Or that is what I'm hoping for.
Just remember Yuji, take it slow and quietly and you will be fine. Taking a deep breath to steel my nerves, I left my new heighten hearing state and start making my way down to the third floor.
I had to hold back the urge to throw up once I truly reached the floor. So much blood and gore… There was even a child's arm among it…
Shit! I have to cover my mouth and force myself to swallow the bile. I can't afford the noise or lose what little food and water I had left in me. I haven't eaten or drunk anything since lunch even then, it was barely anything.
I… got it down. Gross. Just focus on what is ahead Yuji. Don't get sidetracked.
As I move my way through the floor, I hear something coming. Something fast. Too fast to be a zombie. At least that is what I'm hoping.
I stealthily enter one of the open rooms, quietly closing the door behind me. While I'm certain whoever is making the noise is human, it doesn't mean I want to encounter them.
While there are some benefits to teaming up with as many people as possible, such as more manpower for tasks like farming, guarding the base, and scavenging, it doesn't mean there are some risks.
For example, I could save the person in the hallway, who is probably being eaten right now, but I will run the risk of them killing me once they learn my group is made entirely of females. Even if they don't, they could hide the fact they were bitten, making them a ticking timebomb.
And there are other factors I need to consider when it comes to increasing the size of the group, mainly the language barrier.
If this happened while we were in Japan then at least I don't have to worry about our ability to understand each other as much as I am now. Communication is important to any group, especially in times of life and death, so I can't let my heart bleed out and try to save everyone I come across.
For every person I save, that means another belly that needs food and water, another person that can become sick and risk the health of everyone, and an increased possibility of them stabbing us in the back for their own selfish gain. The same can be said for the chances of me saving someone crazy or someone who doesn't help with any of the work and expects to be fed at the end of the day.
And that isn't me including the possibility of a kid being forced into the group. I will have to feed them despite them not being able to help with any tasks outside some small stuff.
So yeah, whoever is in the hallway is going to have to fend for themselves. And if they die? Nice not knowing them.
Besides, there is something more important than saving some stranger's life. Collecting beer bottles.
I don't know who was living in this room but they clearly liked to drink. That or they brought people from the party for some private fun. But their trash is my gain. But dear god, there are over thirty beer bottles. I hope whoever lived in this room had a small party or I bet their liver will kill them before the zombies.
Poking my head out of the doorframe to see a hoard of zombies crowding around something, most likely the poor son of a bitch that got themselves eaten. But they are distracted so it is easy for me to slip past them and get to the second floor where I use a few beer bottles to lure them away from the stairs to the main lobby.
I'm almost at the end of this stupid quest. The lobby has more than what I would like to be as long as I keep playing my cards right then this shouldn't be an issue. Tossing a few more bottles as I slowly make my way to the front desk, slipping past the undead version of the woman that checked us in.
Shame she didn't make it but now isn't the time to feel bad for the unliving.
I don't know why the path leads away from the receptionist's desk as you would think I can simply grab a keycard from there but I decide to follow the trail. Mainly because I'm willing to bet that if I break from the path then some bullshit will happen.
Thankfully someone tried escaping all of this by breaking through one of the lobby windows, leaving a ton of broken glass laying on the ground. The zombies walked on said glass, breaking it further and making a ton of noise. Enough noise to provide cover as long I'm not too loud.
I silently open the door and see an elderly African man with his back against the wall, pointing a pair of scissors at me. But I was more interested in the employee tag on his chest. I slowly raise my finger to my lips, telling him to be quiet. His eyes widen, beckoning me to get in, which I didn't argue with.
I close the door behind me, not taking my eyes off the man. While he is old, turning my back on someone I don't know in situations like this is beyond stupid. You can never be too sure if the person behind you will stab you in the back to save their own skin.
"Did you get bitten?" I ask. I don't see any wounds on the man's front side it doesn't mean he might not be infected.
The man gives me a look of confusion. "No? Who are you?" the man asks.
"I would love to introduce myself, now isn't the time for that. Can you move?" The man nods his head, stilling in a stupor. "Good. We need to get a move on."
That seems to wake up the man's brain as he crawls to me, his eyes brimming with panic and fear. "We can't go out there!"
"Don't worry. These things are blind so as long as we throw a couple of items we have no risk of running into one. And I have some friends to block off the twentieth floor so we should be safe once we get up." I explain. I need him to follow me so I can get up to those damned VIP suites.
"But what about that one?! The messed-up looking one?!" the man asks.
Messed-up one? All of them are messed up. But we are wasting time and I rather not stay on the same floor as zombies longer than I have to.
Besides, that messed-up undead is probably just some messed-up corpse. I doubt it is anything to worry abo-
"I… can't see." a raspy voice rings out as I open the door, sending chills down my spine as I saw the source of the voice.
A sole figure stands not too far from the door. Skin unnaturally black, with razor-sharp claws, has two massive ears on the side of its head, wearing only tattered pants and sandals.
But what shook my core was there was nothing above the nose line. As in this… thing is missing the upper half of its head.
How can it move?! How can it still be alive?! It doesn't have a brain! It shouldn't be able to move or talk or anything! How am I supposed to kill something like this?!
"I CAN'T SEE!" the creature yells.
A talking, simile unkillable zombie… How much worse can this night get?! Now I get what he meant by how messed-up this zombie is.
Calm down Yuji… This thing clearly can't see either. Just keep doing what you have been doing and everything will be fine. Just take a deep breath…
Why did that thing turn toward us when I inhale…?
Those ears… could they not be for show? Do they actually give it super hearing?
My heart starts pounding in my ears. Can this thing be listening to it? Shit. It is getting closer. Do I make a run for it? I might be able to make it but what about the old man? I can afford to leave him behind after all of this.
Shit! What do I do?! What can I do against this?! This thing is right up against my face! I HAVE to do something and fast!
The creature breaks away, turning towards something before bolting.
Of course, this thing can run too…
But why did it run away? Well, it seemed one zombie break through one of the glass tables based on how the creature is tearing into it among the broken remains of a table. I guess I didn't hear it during my panic attack.
"Do you think the elevator still works?" I ask the old man, making sure to be as quiet as possible. It is probably our best chance to get away from that thing.
"Yes. It was lockdown when this all started so there shouldn't be any of those monsters in it. But it will take some time to set it up and for it to get to the main lobby."
"How long?"
The only noise that feels the air was the sounds of flesh tearing, glass crunching, and snarls from the blind creature. "The elevator is on this floor so it wouldn't take long for it to open once it is up and running. And one of the computers that control the elevator is in the server room." the old man said after what felt like hours.
That doesn't sound too bad.
"But…" And there it is. "We will need to pry open the elevator for the manual restart."
"And I doubt we can open it without some noise." I said. "I suppose it would be too much to ask if you can walk up twenty floors." the man shakes his head, telling me no.
Damn it… Is there another way? Think Yuji! You need to figure out a plan while you can still ask questions!
Oh! This is a hotel so they must have a service elevator for housekeeping! How can I forget something like that?!
"The service elevator! Does it work?!" I ask, causing the man's eyes to widen.
"Yes! And it's not too far from here!" the man said as he silently crouch his way down one of the hallways. I follow suit, breaking a small grin along the way.
At least now we don't have to worry about that thing.
{Shin's P.O.V.}
"Shouldn't you be telling him the unique infected will just grow stronger over time? While I doubt he will go at it right now, he would take care of it before it grows too strong." Ren points out.
"Maybe. But part of a game is learning new mechanics as you play. You don't know everything at the beginning. Besides, if I was going to backseat game him like that, I might as well take his place instead. I can always add another Rei or Saya to my collection~" I smirk at Ren's annoyed face.
I might be tempting fates by pissing him off but he knows I have a point since he hasn't made room to argue.
Ren sighs as he takes a seat next to me, watching how Player 5 is sneaking through the employee around and getting on the service elevator.
"I'm more surprised that you didn't force him to fight his way out." Ren comments.
"While some action would be greatly appreciated, forced fights are a tad dull." I lost count of how many times I was forced into combat when it doesn't make sense in the story. "Besides, it adds something very important."
"And that is?"
"Control and doubt." I answer. "Yuji is able to keep calm because he feels like there are elements in his control. He decided not to fight or see if there was a way to cripple the unique infected. He chooses to run. But once he learns more about this game works, he will start to doubt his decisions, losing that precious control he has."
A grin forms on my face as I continue. "I wonder how he will react and change once that happens."
"You're an asshole." Ren bluntly comments.
"You're not much better yourself~" I smugly said.
We turn our focus back to the monitors showing us Yuji, but I do wonder how the other key figures are doing…
{Takashi's P.O.V.}
Damn it! How many of these things are out there?! We were able to escape the hotel but we have gone from one hell to another!
"Takashi! Close the door before someone or somethingsees you!" Rei yells.
I didn't need to be told twice. I close the door and place a surfboard to block the way in.
We might be able to hand a couple of them, that jumpy one is something we try to avoid at all costs. It is far too fast for us to get a clean hit. It was hard to believe that thing was once human with how far it can jump.
"Takashi. Catch." Hisashi said, tossing me a bottle of water, which I catch.
I suppose we got lucky to be trapped in one of those bar huts. We have food and some drinks to help us get through the night. We can plan out our next course of action in the morning.
Hisashi sits next to Rei, comforting her as she tries her phone to call her parents again. Apparently, her dad is now part of some super cop team program and they were doing a training mission here so both of Rei's parents came. Meaning both of them are out there somewhere…
I can understand why the two are so close right now. I don't know what to do if my parents are here. Although I wish Rei and Hisashi were not so close during a time like this…
{Saya's P.O.V.}
She isn't here either! She has to be in the next bungalow!
"T-Takagi! Wait for me!" the fatass yells. How can he expect me to slow down for his sorry ass?! This is my Mama we are talking about here and I refuse to slow down just because you are too lazy to go on a jog or to eat a salad!
Why did Mama and Papa decide to take a vacation now?! And here of all places?! Now I'm stuck here on an island full of rotting, walking corpses, covered in blood, and all the while having to deal with Hirano's constant complaining!
Deep breaths Saya… Hirano, while mostly useless, does have some worth in him. His skills and knowledge of firearms would benefit me in my search for my mother. He has already proven his abilities with the shotgun and revolver we found in the abanded cop car.
Especially when he shot down that one zombie. I don't think all of this could be caused by some natural virus. Because if the dead walking isn't enough now some of them are mutating! It was spitting some acid goo that is strong enough to eat through concrete!
But Hirano killed it just like any other zombie. Meaning that we can still fight them off, though I think it might be better to avoid such threats as much as possible.
"T-Takagi?"
"WHAT?!" I snapped. But for once Hirano doesn't flinch.
"We need to barricade the bungalow. It is getting late and we need to sleep." Hirano said. I was about to argue with him but he give me that creepy, happy smiling face of his. "It has been a long night and I think we both need some sleep and maybe something to eat."
… I can only sigh. I lose any will to argue if gives me a stupid look like that. And he does have a point. I'm running on fumes and starting to feel exhausted.
"You're sleeping on the couch," I said before entering the single room and locking the door. Falling face first into the bed as I drift off to sleep.
{Saeko's P.O.V.}
Never would I have thought I would be making a bonfire on this trip. Or that the firewood is people, or what could be loosely decided as people.
To think what started as a boring night with me making rounds with Marikawa-sensei ended up with us burning corpses at a lifeguard tower. I have to admit that we were very lucky tonight. From us finding a truck with the keys still in the ignition to it having a bag with the word Gerber that was full of bladed weapons in the passenger seat, and a gas station that isn't too far from the tower by car. The only moment of bad luck we had (besides this whole situation) was the tower having quite a few undead.
"Sensei." I call out to Marikawa-sensei, who is crouching over a certain corpse. Most of its body looks like just any other but with two major differences. First is the left arm, throat, left shoulder, and left side of its face being overrun with large growths. The second is the massive long tongues. I would guess the length of it is over three feet, maybe even longer. And it has a faint smell of smoke. "Did you find anything about the infection? Or why this one looks so… different?"
"No. The growths make it hard to tell if he was bitten or if he was one of the patient zeros." Marikawa-sensei pull down the mask she found in the medical room, the same place where she found her gloves. "And the only theory that I can come up with as to why the disease caused a reaction like this might have to do with some rare genetic trait."
"What makes you say that?" I ask.
"Because the reaction is too extreme." Marikawa-sensei points out. "You know how some people can't eat or touch certain things without having an allergic reaction? Or how some medicines would have stronger or weaker effects based on the person taking them? It is the same with diseases. Some people can react worse to a simple cold than you or me but the same can be said for the opposite side of the spectrum, where people catch a life-threatening illness but only have a headache and a slight fever."
"In other words, when this man was infected, his body reacted to the disease and caused it to change to how it is now." I cross my arms. What could have caused such a disease to be possible?
"Don't hold me to it. It is only a theory. I'm no center of disease expert or anything." True, but you have made a very sound theory as to how the disease could mutate. Despite being a bit of an airhead, Marikawa-sensei is still someone with a medical education background.
"But enough of that~! I'm starving~!" Marikawa-sensei cheerily giggles as she skips past me without a care in the world.
I let out a small chuckle and sigh as I drag the last body to the fire. Good to see someone being so careful at a time like this.
I'm also part of the SGO server so if you want to join and chat, here is a link
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I also started my server for anyone who wants to ask me about my fics or just to hang out.
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