Chapter 2: Desperate push. Protector from the dark.
The group watched the news as they saw the events happening. News reports were displaying the events happening not just in the city, but all over Japan. One news channel showed a female reporter trying to describe the incident as several police were seen firing their weapons at the zombies whom rose. One of the zombies came into view and began eating the reporter, whom screamed.
"That is seriously fucked up… How the hell this happened so suddenly?" Takashi questioned.
"Everything was alright since yesterday. Looks more like a biological attack if you ask me." Yami noted.
"I see your point in this… The sudden outbreak of the dead coming to life does feel like a biological attack. However, the news outlet only managed to hinder the bigger problem." Saya said.
"The widespread panic…" Yami deduced.
"Precisely. They labeled this incident as a revolt in the hopes of calming the citizens down from the panic. We've seen what happened here in this school so imagine what would the city be like if the panic was all over the streets." Saya explained.
"All their fear leads to chaos, which in turn leads to anarchy. The modern social norms won't matter and this will cause a forced dictatorship to happen. Not even the government officials would have the strength nor power to control this." Yami followed along.
"Aren't we a smart man?" Saya complimented.
Soon, the news outlet began reporting the same incidents with various political leaders being evacuated from their countries due to the zombie outbreaks. The group realized Saya's and Yami's explanations were true.
"It happened quite suddenly… This outbreak, in a matter of hours, has become a pandemic…" Yami stated.
"It can't be… I was surfing the web this morning and nothing unusual seemed to be the case." Kohta said.
"To think the whole world is at its end… It happened without warning no less." Rei noted.
She soon got close to Takashi, showing how afraid she felt.
"Surely there has to be a safe place to be at. After that, things would start to go back to normal…" Rei spoke reluctantly.
"Out of the question I'm afraid…" Yami spoke, interrupting Rei's thoughts.
"Yami-sensei's right. It's out of the question." Saya agreed.
"Why are you two being this rude?" Takashi asked to them.
"I just stated that this is a pandemic and we saw the news channels not just here in Japan but internationally as well." Yami replied.
"Agreed… This problem has become more than just an epidemic. Apparently, it has spread so rapidly across the world and without warning." Saya followed.
"A pandemic? Especially with how fast this happened?" Shizuka questioned.
"We know the basics on what happens once you get bit. It has a certain time for the host to become one of them till they succumb to the infection. It depends on how far the pathogen can reach through the entire body depending on the entry wound it can infest in." Yami explained.
"Yeah… Rei and I knew from our late friend, Hisashi… He didn't make it…" Takashi spoke solemnly.
"That means this pandemic is unlike any we have faced. This disease that turns them into zombies has spread quite rapidly. I would surmise this happened like it was a biological attack, but we don't know what's the source of the pathogen, nor do we know how it spread so quickly and silently." Saya deduced.
"Just like the Swine and Spanish Flu pandemics?" Takashi questioned.
"Yeah, like those pandemics, only far worse. The Spanish Flu infected 600 million and killed 50 million. The Swine Flu infected over 1.4 billion and killed over 284,000. Still, those pandemics, we have the means to treat them, even with the seasonal flu with vaccines. If anything, this particular pandemic is almost likened to the bubonic plague." Yami spoke.
"The Black Death pandemic in Europe during the 14th and 15th century!?" Shizuka realized.
"Yes… A third of Europe's entire population was wiped out due to mice infested with fleas that held the pathogen." Yami confirmed.
"Then how did the pandemics in history stopped?" Takashi questioned.
"Lack of potential hosts for the pathogen to infect…" Yami answered.
"Indeed… The population across the world suffered severe population losses. Once the numbers of infected began to decrease and became less available, the cases of the pandemics began to decrease or even disappear. Not even a small town would survive unscathed due to the losses, let alone a village." Shizuka explained.
"Aren't you smart as well?" Saya complimented to Shizuka.
"Still, this particular disease is not like any we've seen. The infected become zombies and are able to spread it by attacking others." Kohta said.
"Which goes back to what I've stated… This is not like anything we've seen…" Yami reminded.
"This means this pandemic won't stop spreading." Saeko deduced.
"Even so, corpses should begin to rot away. It's still early spring so the heated air from the summer should help induce necrosis so their movements would be restricted due to rigor mortis." Shizuka theorized.
"But how long will that take? The process isn't as speedy as one might think… While true dead bodies decay quite rapidly, it's still a slow gradual process." Yami deduced.
"Yami's right… Depending on the temperature, like say, the summer, it would take over 3 weeks for certain parts of the body to fully decompose into bone. During the winter, it'll take much longer, months even, despite the frost." Shizuka said.
"That makes things complicated… Waiting for the dead to rot away won't be any help." Saya said.
"Takashi's right on this one… This particular case of zombies has defied all knowledge of medicine so it's useless to rely on that info. It's practically a false hope." Yami followed.
"You're smarter than you look, Yami-sensei." Saya complimented.
"Smart enough to keep myself sane…" Yami responded.
"Since we now have a theory about this pandemic, the important mission is to make use of a secure location after checking on our families. We can't act selfishly, or we will not survive. We have to work as a team." Saeko said.
"Couldn't have said it better myself. We have to rely on each other's help to survive this." Yami said, holding his sheathed katana up.
"Just to be informing, we may have to help survivors as our abilities can allow us to. Don't scare them with your Darkness power, Yami-sensei." Saeko said.
"You got it. I can channel the Darkness in this katana so it won't frighten them." Yami reassured.
"So how do we leave the school?" Rei asked.
"The front door is the closest from here to the parking lot." Saya informed.
"Then we have a plan of action. Let's go to work." Yami said.
"Just to confirm. No need to fight them off unless it's necessary. Yami-sensei can fight off hoards of the zombies thanks to his power, but we shouldn't waste our stamina to fight them all." Saeko reminded.
"They also respond to sound so it's possible to sneak past them if necessary." Saya followed.
"So these guys respond to sound… Good, we can use that to our advantage." Yami noted.
"Be careful though. These zombies have a lot of strength to demolish even doors. The moment you get grappled, you'll get eaten." Saya warned.
The group was set and made their way out, killing any zombies that got close to them. Yami was able to take them down with little difficulty thanks to his Darkness powers infusing the katana.
"Kill these abominations! End them and let me feed." The Darkness spoke to Yami.
Yami knew the Darkness relished on the killing, but he knew it was the best way for the group to survive. He didn't hesitate to slice down the zombies with brutal decapitations. The moment the zombies felt their heads being cleaved off from their necks or sliced in two, they perished.
"Good…! Become one with the Darkness." The Darkness spoke with approval.
Each time Yami killed more zombies, the Darkness began to snarl in approval. It was feeding on the chaos, making its presence stronger than usual. Soon, a dark surge of power awakened in Yami. He soon felt a new ability awaken in him.
"You have done well, Yami. I'm impressed, my puppet." The Darkness spoke with approval.
Soon, the sound of a girl screaming alerted the group. They raced their way to find a few survivors being cornered by a group of zombies. Yami wasted no time killing them, slicing their heads off and ending them in rapid succession. The Darkness's presence was beginning to revel from
Yami's relentless fighting against the zombies.
"Good… You will see this new power in use, my puppet. Now keep me hidden." The Darkness spoke.
'Wait, don't suddenly hide away…' Yami thought, trying to drive the Darkness out to draw more power.
"You won't get what you want. Stop it, Yami. Not here." The Darkness commanded.
Yami relented, though he still felt Darkness's power from the katana he held. He soon noticed Kyoko among the group of students.
"Hayashi-sensei… Well, at least you're all okay. Are any of you bitten?" Yami asked.
All shook their heads. Takashi and his group arrived. Soon, Yami placed his index finger on his lips, silencing everyone.
"Those things respond to sound. Stay quiet for now." Yami said.
"How can we be sure if your theory is correct?" Kyoko questioned.
"It's not my theory. It's Takagi's and I can vouch she had some observations. She's smart despite the situation." Yami corrected.
"Thanks for the praise, Yami-sensei, but how will we know if my theory is true?" Saya questioned.
"I'll go. I have a better advantage in being able to handle them." Yami spoke.
"Are you serious, Taiyo-sensei? You don't have to risk yourself." Takashi questioned.
"Don't worry about me. I'll keep them at bay if I have to. Besides, you already know what I have." Yami reassured, holding the dark katana.
Everyone was reassured though reluctant. They watched as Yami made his way down to the floor, where the zombies roamed. He kept his steps quiet, sneaking past them. One of them got too close, but walked past him as though he wasn't there.
'So they can't see me… That validate's Takagi's theory. In that case…' Yami thought.
He grabbed a bloody school shoe and threw it hard at a nearby locker bank. The sound echoed, attracting the zombies. They stumbled to the locker bank, which cleared the way out.
'Good, the passage is clear…' Yami thought.
"Sneaking past the threat?" The Darkness questioned with amusement.
'Better to be prepared than fighting entire swarms. However powerful I am in the dark, they can overwhelm us if a large crowd comes in.' Yami reasoned mentally.
"Hmmmm… Interesting… I see your thinking, Yami." The Darkness realized.
Yami quietly signaled everyone to come forward now the zombies have moved away from the front doors. He soon noticed a clumsy student holding a metal pole. He almost hit the handle rail of the staircase, had Yami not intercept him and got him away from the handle bars.
'If that pole touched the handle bars of the staircase, it would no doubt attract more.' Yami thought.
He guided the male student, ensuring he didn't hit anything. With the sun setting, he was able to use his supernatural strength to keep the pole from making any noises. Having made their way outside, the group noticed several zombies stumbling around.
"Lend me your pole." Yami whispered to the male student.
The male student gave Yami the pole. He then channeled his strength to his arms and threw the pole hard enough for it to echo on the pavement, alerting all the zombies. They made their way to the source of the sound, which allowed Yami to quietly take down the zombies coming close. He made sure the pole was thrown away from where the school buses were located.
'Good. This will separate the survivors to help me take care of them.' Yami thought.
"Don't get any ideas, Yami. Be sure to take down those abominations and let me thrive." The Darkness said.
'I'm well aware… Let's just say we should keep things quiet so not many know of you.' Yami mentally spoke to the Darkness.
"Ah, I see. Very cunning, my puppet." The Darkness laughed.
Yami began slicing down the zombies, keeping them delayed from getting close to Takashi's group. This allowed the group to make it to one of the school buses safely with more survivors. They all made it in one piece.
"These abominations are a festering scent of disease and death. The entire world has descended into chaos." The Darkness commented.
'Yeah, I already saw the events… You knew beforehand?' Yami asked mentally.
"Oh, I have known… It has been happening before you knew." The Darkness answered.
'So this Hell on Earth… It wasn't something made naturally…' Yami realized.
"Hell has no form, for it is my dreams that can be made into life to make it. You should not go there." The Darkness noted.
'Alright then… Let's stay alive so we can take down these zombies.' Yami agreed.
"That's right, my puppet. Go forward and kill these abominations. You must meet with them." The Darkness commanded.
Yami nodded as he kept slicing down every zombie around him. The Darkness was relishing from the bloodbath of the slain zombies.
"This is your means to make us stronger. Now that the sun has set, my power will be stronger." The Darkness spoke.
Soon, the sound of the bus roared to life, alerting the zombies and any remaining survivors. The nearby zombies were dead thanks to Yami cutting them down.
"Yami, get in!" Shizuka called out.
Yami knew the noise from the bus being active would attract more zombies. Takashi attempted to step out and assist only for Yami to glare back at the student, silently telling him to stay inside as he knew what he was doing. The subtle glow from the Darkness in his eyes was evident.
"Keep fighting them. Don't stop in your rampage." The Darkness ordered.
Yami kept slicing down every zombie around his sight. Soon, a small crowd of survivors were running to the bus. The young man noticed they were 7 students, whom were four girls and three males, but he caught sight of the one man whom he held a heavy disdain against.
'Koichi Shido… How I hate this man…' Yami growled.
"This human has evil in his soul…" The Darkness proclaimed.
'All the more reason to either leave him to die or kill him.' Yami thought.
The Darkness noticed how agitated Yami was. It merely laughed, taking pleasure of the silent rage building up.
"I find it quite delicious to see how you will handle him. Make him fear you." The Darkness spoke.
'Oh, I will. But not now. We got them coming.' Yami thought, turning his attention to the approaching zombies.
"Yami, the bus is ready! But there are more gathering up front!" Shizuka called out.
"Tch… No choice but to flee then." Yami said, knowing the swarm of zombies was getting denser.
"You guys might have to ram them down to kill them. I'll see what I can do to help." Yami said.
"How the hell are you going to help?" Saya questioned.
"With my power." Yami replied.
Yami noticed one student tripped from spraining his ankle and slide near Shido. He soon noticed the man almost curb stomp the student on his face, till he saw Yami rushing in and lifting the student up. He didn't care to hear Shido's surprise as he brought the student in the bus. Regardless, he ran to the bus as the last person in.
"Get your asses on a seat! Now!" Yami commanded.
"Now, Shizuka-sensei!" Takashi said.
Shizuka was internally debating on her next action. She reminded herself of the zombies.
"They're no longer human, Shizuka. Just charge forward." Yami said.
Yami had his hands on the floor, channeling the Darkness's power, to some difficulty, on the bus, enhancing its durability. The bus rammed through the crowd of zombies as it plowed its way out of the school and through the locked gates.
The bus was driving down the hill, having escaped the school. It allowed everyone to have a breather.
"We somehow made it." Takashi said.
"Yeah…" Kohta said, applying some more tape on the modified nail gun.
Rei looked heavily displeased, knowing Shido was in the bus. Seeing him made her blood boil.
"You'll regret saving him." Rei spoke to Takashi, looking at Shido with such hate.
Takashi was surprised of her hatred against Shido. He surmised there was some bad history between them. He pushed the thought aside as Yami soon relaxed, having exhausted himself in using the Darkness's power to protect the bus.
"You're alright, Yami-sensei?" Takashi asked.
"Just peachy, Komuro. I need a moment of rest." Yami answered.
Shizuka noticed how tired Yami was, but she he was headstrong. Shido decided to speak to the group, more specifically, to Saeko.
"Thank you for saving us. Are you the leader, Busujima?" He asked.
"No. We only made it due to our survival acting as a drive for our teamwork." Saeko answered.
"That's a problem. There should be a leader in order for the group to survive. One whom can manage everything." Shido spoke with a gleeful tone of venom.
Rei didn't like this at all. She could barely stomach his words.
"Mark my words, Takashi. You'll regret saving the snake he is." She spoke with forewarning.
"The city!" One of the students spoke.
Everyone looked to the city to see fires sprouting across various areas. The pandemonium was becoming more evident. It made things all the more dire.
'The whole planet is like this…' Yami thought solemnly.
Takashi began discussing plans to finding their group's relatives. Soon, a male student began to protest, much to Yami's chagrin.
"Look! We'll never make it if we keep going like this! Why should we do whatever you guys have planned to do in the first place? You're just deciding to go back to city without our opinion! Why not hide out at the school?" The male student questioned.
Yami looked at the male student with disdain. He had a muscular built, but had his hair dyed blonde from above his eyebrows, leaving the rest brown from below.
"Tsunoda… That's enough. Shut your mouth and sit." Yami warned.
Soon, Shizuka hit the brakes, which caused the bus to screech to a halt, knocking him off balance for a moment.
"Cut the arguments already! I can't focus on driving if you keep causing such a protest!" She said to Tsunoda.
This got Tsunoda to briefly stop for a moment, but he still was protesting.
"What is it that you're wanting?" Saeko questioned to Tsunoda.
Tsunoda couldn't make a reasonable answer as he soon looked to Yami and Takashi, shifting his blame to them.
"I can't stand those two. I know Taiyo is a teacher, but I can't stand him and Komuro.
"May I ask why you hold such resentment to me, Tsunoda?" Yami questioned.
"And what did I do with you or say to you?" Takashi questioned.
"You bastards!" Tsunoda spoke, enraged.
Tsunoda dashed forward, ready to throw a punch. Yami caught the punch and twisted Tsunoda's hand violently, causing loud cracks to be heard. Before the student could process what happened, Yami performed an open palm slam, which caused Tsunoda to be pushed all the way to the back of the bus. Everyone was shocked of Yami's strength till they noticed how angry he was.
"Do yourself a favor, kid. Shut the fuck up and sit. Otherwise I will be forced to peel your fucking lips off and leave you with the zombies while you scream to death." Yami spoke with a cold tone.
The tone was frightful, even among Takashi's group. Yami showed heavy hostility, but Takashi's group knew Yami was intending to protect them.
"Also, Shido, that goes for you too. Keep talking and I'll cut that serpent tongue out of your mouth." Yami warned.
Shido's group was frightened by seeing Yami's glowing for a moment. They began thinking twice on provoking him. Rei felt a sense of satisfaction from Yami's actions, finding him more accepting. Shido remained silent, knowing he would provoke Yami of fighting him. Seeing how Tsunoda was taken down with ease, he knew he wouldn't last in a physical fight.
"Also, to overrule your idea of being a leader, you got three other adults here. So shut up." Yami warned.
"And why should we hear from you?" Shido challenged.
"Is that a challenge I hear?" Yami questioned, showing his dark katana.
Shido backed away, knowing Yami was ready to fight or even kill if necessary. Kyoko wanted to voice her opinion on the actions he took, but she remained silent. Rei was pleased, seeing Shido being put down. Still, his presence looming among Takashi's group finally pushed her limit, causing her to leave the bus.
"Rei!" Takashi said, heading out.
"Looks like those two decided to leave. I'd say leave them to die with the zombies." Shido suggested.
Yami had enough and punched Shido in the face.
"I warned you about your fucking snake mouth. Want me to break your jaw next!?" Yami warned with a shout.
The Darkness laughed from Yami's actions.
"That's right, my puppet. Make them feel fear." The Darkness spoke.
While Takashi was trying to talk Rei down, Saeko noticed an oncoming bus approaching at hide speed. It was racing its way, heavily infested with zombies.
"Marikawa-sensei! Move the bus back, hurry!" Saeko said.
Yami noticed and quickly got out the bus.
"Takashi! Rei! RUN!" Yami called out.
The zombie infested bus soon rammed on an outstretched car, causing it to topple in a forward flip. Takashi and Rei were forced to dive into a nearby tunnel, barely dodging the bus. Gasoline began leaking from the vehicle, with random sparks setting it on fire. Yami made it close to the tunnel, calling out Rei and Takashi.
"Komuro, Miyamoto! Are you two alright!?" Yami's voice called out.
"Yeah! We are!" Takashi responded.
Soon, the zombies began exiting the flaming bus. They didn't feel nor notice the flames burning their bodies.
"Listen, Yami-sensei! We can meet at the East Police Station!" Takashi said.
"What time?" Yami asked.
"Around 7 PM! If today isn't an option, we'll try tomorrow!" Takashi replied.
Yami held his dark katana till he noticed the zombies soon fell dead due to the fire.
'So they can't last in fire for long. That's something noteworthy…' Yami thought.
Soon sparks were heard from the inflamed bus. Yami realized the vehicle was about to explode.
"GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE!!!" Yami shouted.
Takashi and Rei realized this and fled the tunnel before the sparks on the bus ignited the gas tank. It soon exploded violently. Yami was able to get back on the school bus and relayed to Shizuka to reverse quickly.
"As of now, we're separated from Komuro and Miyamoto. I hope those two make it back tomorrow." Yami said.
"Don't worry, they'll make it." Saeko reassured.
Rei and Takashi made it at the other side of the tunnel. They had to take a breather, till a zombie wearing a motorcycle helmet pinned Takashi down.
"Damn it…!" Takashi exclaimed.
He managed to hold the zombie back with difficulty, using the helmet as a grip to keep him off. The struggle was a stalemate till Rei bashed the back of the zombie's head with a stone sheet. The zombie fell dead.
"Let's get moving, Takashi." Rei said.
"We should make our wah through the city though. That zombie had a biker's helmet so there should be one nearby.
The pair soon foind the discarded bike and used it to make their passage througu the city faster.
"Don't you have a license to drive?" Rei asked.
"In a technical sense, high schoolers have the right to drive without one." Takashi reassured.