Chapter 9: Survivors of the Dead

(Beginning of the Dream)

Shizuka Marikawa, the curvaceous blonde nurse, found herself in a terrifying dream. In this nightmare, the world was coming to an end as the dead rose from their graves, turning into flesh-eating zombies. She saw herself trying to fight off hordes of undead creatures, desperately running for her life. She felt a sense of overwhelming fear and helplessness as she saw her loved ones being devoured by the zombies.

One of the people she saw in her nightmare was Naruto Uzumaki, a young man who she had developed feelings for. She had tried to save him from being turned into a zombie, but she ultimately failed. The guilt of not being able to protect him haunted her, and she woke up with tears streaming down her face.

As she opened her eyes, Shizuka found herself lying in a strange bed, completely naked. She looked around in confusion and saw Naruto lying next to her, also naked. Panic set in as she realized that they were not alone – Kyoko Hayashi, was also in the bed with them, also naked. Shizuka's heart raced as she tried to piece together what had happened.

Naruto stirred awake and looked at Shizuka with concern. "Shizuka, what's wrong? " he asked, his blue eyes filled with worry. Shizuka couldn't believe her eyes as she saw Naruto alive and well. She threw herself into his arms, tears of relief streaming down her face. "Naruto, I had the most horrible nightmare," she sobbed.

Naruto held her close, trying to comfort her. "Tell me about it, Shizuka. I'm here for you," he said softly. Shizuka took a deep breath and recounted her nightmare to Naruto. She described the chaos and destruction she had witnessed in her dream, the terrifying events that had unfolded before her eyes.

As she reached the part about Naruto turning into a zombie, Shizuka couldn't control her emotions. She kissed him passionately, pouring out her feelings for him. "I love you, Naruto. I want to spend the rest of my life with you," she whispered, her voice filled with longing.

Naruto was taken aback by her confession. He had been through a rough break-up with Rika Minami, and he had closed himself off from close relationships ever since. But looking into Shizuka's tear-filled eyes, he felt a warmth in his heart that he couldn't ignore.

"I know, Shizuka," Naruto said, his voice soft but resolute. Before he could say anything more, a chilling sensation ran down Shizuka's spine. She felt a cold hand grab her shoulder, and she turned to see Kyoko standing behind her, her eyes vacant and lifeless.

In a flash, Kyoko's features contorted into a grotesque grimace as she transformed into a zombie. Shizuka's heart raced as she realized that Naruto was also undergoing the same transformation. The two of them overpowered Shizuka, pinning her down on the bed.

As Naruto and Kyoko leaned in to bite into her flesh, Shizuka screamed in terror. She felt their teeth sinking into her skin, their cold hands tearing at her flesh. The pain was unbearable, and Shizuka knew that she was about to meet her end.

(End of the Dream)

Just as she was about to succumb to the darkness, Shizuka's eyes snapped was no longer in the , she found herself in the driver's seat of a school bus, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.

Breathing heavily, Shizuka looked around and saw some of the students and teachers were still on the bus realized that she had fallen asleep at the wheel, drifting off into a terrifying now, she was back in reality, safe and sound.

Shizuka gripped the steering wheel tightly as she maneuvered the school bus through the abandoned and zombie-infected streets of Tokonosu City. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, and her hazel eyes scanned the road ahead, looking out for any signs of danger.

After Rei Miyamoto and Takashi Komuro left the bus to another course, Shizuka tries to go to their rendezvous point, but is stuck in heavy traffic. While they are waiting. While waiting, Shizuka felt a knot form in the pit of her stomach. She couldn't shake the memory of Naruto Uzumaki, whoam they had been forced to leave behind at Fujimi High School. She knew he had been bitten by one of the zombies, a fact confirmed by Koichi Shido and his group of students.

But something didn't sit right with Shizuka. Every time she looked at Shido, she felt a deep resentment and hatred towards him. She knew he despised Naruto and likely lied about his bite. While she lacked concrete evidence, she could sense Shido's dark intentions and knew she wouldn't be safe if left alone with him.

She couldn't help but wonder if Naruto was still alive somewhere out there, fighting to guilt weighed heavily on her shoulders, knowing they had left him behind to fend for himself.

Kyoko Hayashi glanced over at Shizuka, her expression sympathetic. "I know you're worried about Naruto, but we had no choice. We couldn't risk putting ourselves in danger for one person. "

Shizuka nodded, but her heart ached at the thought of Naruto facing the hordes of the undead alone. She knew he had been a valuable member of their group, his quick thinking and skills in combat proving invaluable in their fight for survival.

As they waited in the traffic jam, Shido approached Shizuka, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Don't worry, my dear. We'll find a way to rescue your friend Naruto. But first, we must focus on getting to safety ourselves. "

Shizuka's gut twisted at Shido's words, his honeyed tone sending a shiver down her spine. She knew he was up to something, and she couldn't shake the feeling of impending danger.

Suddenly, Saeko Busujima and Saya Takagi approached her from behind. Their expressions were grave as they exchanged glances before stepping closer to Shizuka. "We need to talk," Saeko said firmly, her voice steady despite the chaos outside.

Shizuka nodded, pulling over to a safer area where they could speak privately. Kyoko Hayashi joined them shortly after, sensing the urgency in their demeanor. "What's going on?" Shizuka asked.

Saya took a deep breath before speaking. "We've been discussing our options… We can't stay here any longer, with Shido. He's becoming more deranged by the day."

Saeko added, "The way he treats everyone is unacceptable. It's like he's trying to create his own little cult."

Shizuka felt a surge of agreement wash over her; she had long harbored resentment towards Shido for forcing them into situations that endangered their lives and well-being. "I'm with you," she declared passionately. "I can't stand him either."

Kyoko nodded in solidarity. "We need to leave this place while we still can."

The group devised a plan to confront Shido about their intentions to leave Tokonosu City behind for good—an act that would surely provoke his wrath but was necessary for their survival.

When they finally approached Shido in the makeshift camp where he held court over his followers, tension crackled in the air like static electricity. "Shido," Saya began cautiously, "we need to talk."

"What is it?" he replied coolly, eyeing them with suspicion.

"We're leaving," Saeko stated boldly.

Shido's expression darkened instantly; he leaned back in his chair with an air of arrogance that made Shizuka's skin crawl. "You think you can just walk away? You're not going anywhere without my permission."

"Why should we listen to you?" Kyoko shot back defiantly.

"Because," he sneered, pointing at Shizuka with an accusatory finger, "she has medical expertise that my students will need if they are going to survive."

Without warning, Kohta pulled out his nail gun and fired off a shot that grazed Shido's left cheek—a warning shot that sent shockwaves through everyone present.

"Are you trying to killed me?" Shido cried out in shock.

"You've always made fun of me!" Kohta shouted angrily. "I've held back my anger for too long because I wanted some semblance of normalcy! But now? Now that normal life doesn't matter anymore? I have no problem killing someone who deserves it...like you!"

The atmosphere shifted dramatically; fear replaced arrogance as Shido and his students watched in disbelief at Kohta's boldness against Shido.

0o0o0

Rei Miyamoto and Takashi Komuro walked cautiously through the dark, zombie-infested streets of Tokonosu City. The once bustling city now lay in ruins, with the undead roaming the streets looking for their next meal. The two survivors knew they had to be careful not to attract any unwanted attention, whether it be from the walking dead or the few remaining living souls who had resorted to violence in order to survive.

Just an hour ago, Rei had found herself in a dangerous situation. A big gangster wannabe had surprised her and taken her hostage, threatening to kill her if Takashi didn't come to her rescue. Rei's heart raced as the man violently groped her breasts, his cruel laughter echoing in her ears. In an instant, Takashi was by her side, his gun drawn and pointed directly at the thug's head. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger, the sound of the gunshot ringing in Rei's ears as the man fell wounded to the ground.

Rei clung to Takashi, grateful for his swift action that had saved her from a gruesome fate. They left the man alive, who is begging for their help before he was devoured by the hungry zombies who had been drawn to the sound of the gunshot, their moans filling the air as they feasted on their latest victim.

As they continued on their journey through the desolate city, they witnessed a horrifying sight. Men were in the streets, slaughtering other people without mercy. Takashi's jaw clenched in anger as he surveyed the scene before him. "It's like a battlefield out here," he remarked grimly.

Rei's eyes widened in shock. "I've never seen anything so brutal," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sounds of chaos around them.

They tried to drive past the scene, hoping to avoid any confrontation with the violent men. But a few of the men noticed them and one raised a shotgun, taking aim at the motorcycle. The deafening sound of the gunshot filled the air as the bullet whizzed past them, narrowly missing them but grazing the back of the motorcycle. Rei screamed in fear, clinging to Takashi as he swerved to avoid any further shots.

"Keep your head down, Rei," Takashi shouted over the roar of the engine, his eyes scanning the streets for an escape route. They could hear the men shouting and giving chase behind them, their bloodlust driving them to pursue their prey.

Suddenly, Takashi spotted a narrow alleyway up ahead and made a split-second decision to turn into it. The motorcycle roared down the narrow passage, the sound of their pursuers fading behind them as they navigated through the maze of debris and rubble.

Finally, they emerged onto a quieter street, the sounds of chaos left behind. Rei let out a shaky breath, her heart still pounding in her chest. Takashi pulled the motorcycle to a stop, turning to look at Rei with concern in his eyes.

"Are you okay? " he asked softly, reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair from her face. Rei nodded, her eyes filled with gratitude for the man who had once again saved her life.

"Thank you, Takashi," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion. Takashi smiled at her, his eyes reflecting the bond that had grown between them in the face of such adversity.

"We'll make it through this, Rei," he said confidently, his hand squeezing hers in a gesture of , they set off once again into the unknown, their hearts filled with hope for a brighter future in a world overrun by the undead.

The duo moved stealthily, avoiding any unnecessary noise that could attract unwanted attention. They had learned from past encounters that even the slightest sound could draw a horde of zombies or trigger hostility from other living beings. As they turned a corner, Rei whispered to Takashi about their next move. "We need to find an alternative route to reach Rika Minami's house," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Takashi nodded in agreement but frowned as he surveyed the scene ahead. Several bridges that would have provided a quick passage were blocked by debris and abandoned vehicles, remnants of chaos left behind during the initial outbreak. "Looks like we're going to have to improvise," he replied, scanning for any possible paths.

Suddenly, distant sounds of conflict reached their ears—shouts mixed with the guttural growls of zombies engaged in some form of struggle. Curiosity piqued, they decided to investigate cautiously. Moving towards the source of the noise, they stumbled upon a ramp leading down into an alleyway.

"Do you think we can jump it?" Rei asked, eyeing the distance skeptically.

"We don't have much choice," Takashi replied with determination. "On three."

With synchronized precision, they counted together and leaped off the ramp, landing safely on the other side. As they regained their footing and composure, they found themselves at an open area where their friends had gathered—a small group consisting of Saeko Busujima, Saya Takagi, Kohta Hirano, Kyoko Hayashi, and Shizuka Marikawa.

"Rei! Takashi!" Saeko called out with relief evident in her voice as she rushed over to embrace them briefly before stepping back to assess their condition.

"What happened?" Takashi asked as he looked around at his friends' weary faces.

"We ditched Shidou and his students," Shizuka explained with a hint of defiance in her tone. "They were slowing us down too much."

"Good call," Rei said appreciatively. "What's our plan now?"

Shizuka's eyes lit up with hope as she spoke about Rika Minami's house—a safe haven where they could rest for the night. However, doubt clouded some faces in the group when Naruto Uzumaki's name came up; he was supposed to meet them there but hadn't arrived yet.

"I'm not sure if Naruto is still alive," Saya voiced hesitantly.

"He has to be!" Shizuka insisted passionately. "He's too strong to go down without a fight."

Kohta chimed in supportively: "I agree with Shizuka! Naruto was one of Japan's best soldiers; if anyone can survive this hellscape, it's him."

"Where the hell could you get so much information about Mr. Uzumaki begin a former soldier of Special Forces Group?" Saya questioned Kohta.

"Well," Kohta begin to explain. "I went on a month-long trip to America where I was trained by the US military contractor Blackwater in the United States which furthered my obsession over weapons. We got along very well and talked about our previous background at home. When I mentioned Mr. Uzumaki's name, he was kind surprise as he knew Mr. Uzumaki perosnally who was part of the Special Forces Group. He wouldn't press any information about, suggested that Mr. Uzumaki was a private man."

Rei and Takashi exchanged incredulous looks; it was hard for them to reconcile their memories of Naruto Uzumaki—their kind-hearted guidance counselor—with his past as a soldier.

"I talk with him a lot," said Takashi. "But he never mentions anything about begin a soldier.'

"Neither I," Rei reply. "I wonder why he kept it a secret."

Saeko spoke up thoughtfully, "Naruto is a private man; he has demons he doesn't share with anyone." Her gaze drifted off into the distance as if recalling something painful.

"Maybe that's why he never told us." Saeko concluded.

0o0o0

As they move cautiously down a narrow street littered with debris and remnants of a once-thriving community, Alice's small hand is enveloped in her father's strong grip. She can feel his tension; he frequently glances over his shoulder, scanning for any signs of danger—be it the undead or other survivors who might not have their best interests at heart. Alice's innocent mind races with thoughts; she wonders if her father is worried about zombies or perhaps bad people who could hurt them.

"Daddy," she whispers, her voice trembling slightly. "Are we going to find Mommy?"

Kenji's expression softens momentarily as he kneels down to meet her gaze. "We will find her, Alice. I promise." His voice is firm but laced with an undercurrent of fear that he tries to mask for his daughter's sake.

Their journey takes them deeper into the city where the streets become increasingly treacherous. They encounter sporadic groups of zombies—some moaning softly while others lunge forward with surprising speed. Kenji expertly maneuvers around them, using whatever obstacles he can find to shield Alice from view.

Suddenly, they find themselves cornered in an alleyway by a larger group of zombies that seem to emerge from every direction. Panic surges through Kenji as he realizes there's no way out without risking Alice's safety. "This way!" he shouts urgently as he pulls her toward a nearby bookstore—a seemingly safe haven amidst the chaos.

Inside the dimly lit store, dust motes dance in the air as they rush toward the back room where shelves filled with books stand like sentinels against the encroaching darkness outside. As they catch their breath, Kenji scans their surroundings for any potential threats.

It is then that they come face-to-face with another survivor—a 27-year-old man whose striking blue eyes and spiky blonde hair give him an almost ethereal appearance amidst the grim reality surrounding them. He bears an arsenal of weapons strapped across his body and looks equally startled upon seeing them.

"Who are you?" Kenji demands defensively, positioning himself protectively in front of Alice.

The man raises his hands in surrender but maintains a steady gaze on both father and daughter. "I mean you no harm," he assures them quickly. "My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I'm a friend of Ayana Maresato."

Alice's heart skips a beat at hearing her mother's name spoken aloud by this stranger. She looks up at her father, who seems equally taken aback yet intrigued by this revelation.

"Where is she?" Kenji asks urgently, desperation creeping into his tone.

Before Naruto can respond, the distant moans of zombies echo through the streets. A horde emerges from an alleyway—grotesque figures stumbling towards them with insatiable hunger in their eyes. "We need to move!" Naruto shouts urgently. He gestures for Alice and Kenji to follow him as they sprint down the street, adrenaline fueling their escape.

The trio races through the chaotic landscape until they spot refuge in a nearby shopping mall—a fortress against the undead outside. As they enter, the heavy glass doors slam shut behind them with an ominous thud. Inside, shelves are overturned and remnants of consumerism lie scattered across the floor.

Suddenly, a zombified security guard lurches toward Alice with outstretched arms. In an instant reaction honed by his training in Japan's Special Forces Group, Naruto draws his weapon and fires—his aim true as he shoots the zombie squarely in the head. The creature collapses lifelessly at Alice's feet.

"Here," Naruto says as he hands Kenji a gun from his tactical gear. However, Kenji recoils at the sight of it. "I can't… I have hoplophobia," he stammers—the fear of firearms gripping him tighter than any zombie could.

Understanding yet frustrated by Kenji's phobia in such dire circumstances, Naruto nods solemnly but knows they must press on. "Let's explore," he suggests as they begin to navigate through the dimly lit corridors of the mall. "But stay close and do as I say, if you want to lived."

As they cautiously traverse the abandoned mall, Alice clutches her backpack tightly. Her small voice breaks the silence, "Where's my mom? Ayana… where is she?" Each time she asks, Naruto feels a pang of guilt. He knows that this situation is dire and that they must focus on survival rather than dwelling on lost loved ones. "We need to stay alert," he replies firmly but gently. "It's not safe here; we have to find a way out."

The mall is eerily quiet except for the occasional creaks and groans of the building settling. As they explore further into its depths, they come across a flickering television screen in one of the stores. The news report displays grim images of chaos—zombie outbreaks spreading across cities worldwide. Kenji watches intently, his face pale as he processes the information. "Should we stay here for the night?" he suggests hesitantly.

Before Naruto can respond, a loud crash echoes through the mall—the unmistakable sound of zombies breaking in. Their guttural moans grow louder as they approach. "No time for that! We need to leave now!" Naruto commands decisively.

The trio rushes through the aisles filled with debris and shattered glass while dodging zombies that lurch toward them with outstretched arms. Utilizing his special forces training, Naruto expertly dispatches any undead that blocks their path using only knives—silent yet effective weapons that prevent drawing more attention from other zombies lurking nearby.

"Keep moving!" he urges as they navigate through a clothing store where mannequins stand like ghostly sentinels amidst scattered clothes and broken mirrors reflecting their frantic escape.

Kenji helps Alice over obstacles while trying to keep her calm despite her growing anxiety about her mother's whereabouts. "We'll find her," Kenji reassures her even though uncertainty hangs heavy in his heart.

Finally reaching an exit at the back of the mall, they burst into daylight just as a horde of zombies spills into the main area behind them. They sprint down an alleyway lined with crumbling buildings and debris until they reach safety—a small park surrounded by high walls.

Panting heavily, Naruto turns to Alice and Kenji. "I know a place where we can be safe," he says with determination shining in his eyes despite their grim circumstances.

"Where?" Kenji asks warily.

"There's a place that belongs to my ex-girlfriend who was member of SAT," Naruto explains quickly. "It's nearby and it will be a good place to stay for the night, to catch our breath."

Alice looks up at him with hope mingled with fear in her eyes as she clutches her father's hand tighter. "Will we find my mom there?" she asks again, desperation creeping into her voice.

Naruto kneels down to meet her gaze directly. "The last time I spoke to your mom, she asked me to make sure you and your father are safe. And that's what I am going to do." he assures her sincerely before standing up straight again and leading them toward safety.