Chapter 5: Falling Action (Explosion)
The night sky was lit with flashes of fire and the sounds of screams, chainsaws, and gunfire. But Zeke and Julie knew it was now or never. They had to take Big Tony down, or the entire block would fall. The towering, grotesque version of Big Tony lumbered toward them, his massive sledgehammer crushing cars and bodies alike. His face was twisted in rage, a mix of the man he once was and the monster he had become.
Zeke and Julie had managed to gather most of the survivors at the school, where the final showdown was about to go down. They had fortified the place as best they could, but nothing could hold off Big Tony for long.
"We gotta light him up," Zeke panted, hands on his knees as he caught his breath. "It's the only way to end this. These zombies… they ain't stoppin' 'til we burn him down."
Julie glanced at the bundle of fireworks they had rigged together—a desperate plan they hoped would pay off. The fireworks were stuffed inside a trash can, doused in lighter fluid, and rigged with a makeshift fuse made from old t-shirts. If they could get close enough to Big Tony and launch it at him, the explosion might be enough to destroy him for good.
"This better work, Zeke," Julie muttered, wiping sweat and blood from her brow. "We're runnin' outta options, and people."
Zeke nodded grimly. "It will. It has to."
The remaining survivors were fighting off the last of the zombie horde as Zeke and Julie prepped the fireworks. Big Smoke, still clutching his shotgun, was holding the line with a group of neighborhood thugs, keeping the zombies at bay. But it was clear they couldn't hold on much longer. Big Tony's monstrous form smashed through an old storefront, sending debris flying everywhere.
"Julie, get ready!" Zeke shouted, lighting the fuse. The makeshift firework bomb hissed and crackled, sparks flying as the fuse began to burn. "When I say go, we toss this right at him!"
Big Tony spotted them and roared, his voice shaking the ground beneath their feet. He swung his sledgehammer again, smashing into a car and sending it flipping through the air like it was made of paper.
"ZOMBIES ATE MY NIGGAZ!" a terrified scream echoed through the night as one of the survivors was ripped apart by the approaching zombies. Chaos was everywhere, but Zeke and Julie had to stay focused.
Big Tony charged toward them, his massive feet crushing the ground as he approached. Zeke held his breath, waiting for the right moment.
"NOW!"
With all their strength, Zeke and Julie heaved the trash can filled with fireworks at Big Tony's feet. The can skidded across the ground, sparks still flying as the fuse burned down. For a moment, everything seemed to move in slow motion as the can rolled directly into Big Tony's path.
He paused, looking down at the can, confused for just a second. Then—
BOOOOM!
A deafening explosion ripped through the block, lighting up the night sky in a brilliant burst of color and fire. The fireworks exploded in all directions, showering the area with sparks and flames. Big Tony's monstrous form was engulfed in the blast, his sledgehammer sent flying as the force of the explosion knocked him off his feet.
The shockwave sent Zeke and Julie stumbling back, shielding their faces from the heat. They watched in awe as the explosion consumed Big Tony, his massive body burning and crackling in the fire. The zombies nearby were caught in the blast too, disintegrating in the fiery storm.
For a moment, everything was silent except for the crackling of fire and the distant moans of a few remaining zombies. Then, as the smoke began to clear, Zeke and Julie saw the smoldering remains of Big Tony's body lying in the middle of the street, unmoving.
"It worked…" Julie whispered, disbelief in her voice. "We did it…"
Zeke, still panting, couldn't help but grin. "Damn right we did."
The explosion had not only destroyed Big Tony but had also cleared out most of the remaining zombies. The block was still in ruins, but for the first time that night, there was hope. The survivors, beaten and bruised, began to regroup around Zeke and Julie, looking at the smoldering wreckage of their enemy.
Big Smoke limped over, shotgun slung over his shoulder. "Aight, that was some real shit, Zeke. We might just make it outta this after all."
Zeke nodded, looking around at the battered survivors. "Yeah, but we gotta stay sharp. Ain't no tellin' if there's more of 'em out there."
Julie looked out at the block, now eerily quiet in the aftermath of the explosion. The night was still young, and there was no telling if the zombie apocalypse was truly over. But for now, they had won. They had taken their hood back.
She nudged Zeke with a smirk. "Guess this means we're the new kings and queens of the block, huh?"
Zeke chuckled, his exhaustion catching up to him. "Yeah, but let's save the crownin' ceremony for later. We got a lot of clean-up to do first."
As the survivors began to clear the streets and gather their fallen friends, the fire from the explosion continued to burn, casting a glow over the wreckage. The hood had fought back, and they had won. For now.
But deep down, Zeke knew this was just the beginning.
