How Zombies Survive in the Apocalypse

Upon passing through the amusement park’s entrance, a wide pathway emerged before them.

Lining either side were stores that had likely once sold souvenirs and memorabilia.

Originally vibrant with coats of bright pink and green paint, yet now faded into a dull gray hue – further marred by various unsightly graffiti scrawled across their surfaces, rendering the entire scene rather grotesque in appearance.

“Who exactly would deface places like this?”

Arian posed that rhetorical question as she observed the crude messages and profanities defacing the store pillars.

It was a sentiment Aiden shared regarding her sense of bewilderment.

This amusement park was an unsecured area, after all.

Furthermore, engaging in such graffiti would have required access to spray paint – a commodity not only difficult to obtain but potentially quite useful if properly utilized. To waste such resources solely for the purpose of senseless vandalism was an incomprehensible notion to Aiden.

Proceeding further, they emerged into a vast central plaza.

At its core stood the dilapidated remnants of a merry-go-round, similarly reduced to an unsightly wreck.

The vividly colored horses had been torn away, now scattered haphazardly across the ground.

Even those still attached seemed gruesomely mutilated, with severed heads dangling lifelessly from their frames.

“…”

Aiden surveyed the plaza’s perimeter with a measured gaze.

Ahead lay a towering clocktower structure, its rear side backing onto a souvenir shop’s exterior.

To either flank were buildings that had likely once housed eateries and concession stands.

An area that defied simple categorization as either a residential district or an industrial sector – its intended purpose rendered ambiguous amidst the desolation.

“There are quite a few zombies lurking inside those buildings and behind the clocktower.”

Arian murmured those words in a hushed undertone.

Locations that would undoubtedly provide ample concealment for the undead to lay in ambush.

However, there was no need to provoke any unnecessary confrontations if they could be circumvented.

Minimizing resource expenditure would be the prudent approach, so Aiden intended to proceed stealthily whenever feasible.

“Hold on a moment.”

However, Maria interrupted Aiden’s intentions with those words.

Prompting Aiden to turn his attention towards her inquiringly.

“What is it?”

“Let’s clear out the area here before proceeding any further.”

“Clear it out?”

“Isn’t it obvious there are zombies lingering in this vicinity? We should eliminate them before potentially encountering that mutant.”

Aiden contemplated Maria’s proposal briefly.

Her reasoning was understandable, essentially suggesting they systematically neutralize any potential threats along their path at set intervals rather than risk being caught unawares by the mutant they were hunting.

For an ordinary junk dealer, such precautionary sweeps were a common practice during explorations.

Yet for Aiden’s group, it wasn’t an absolute necessity.

Not only did regular zombies pose a relatively minor threat to Aiden personally… but with Arian’s ability to detect their presences in advance, the risk of being ambushed was negligible.

However, he couldn’t openly divulge those particular circumstances.

Additionally, Aiden considered it an opportunity to assess Maria’s combat capabilities firsthand.

For those reasons, he acquiesced to her proposed strategy.

“What did you have in mind?”

“We’ll need to lure the zombies into this open plaza area first. Then we can engage them from a firing position – perhaps that store over there would suffice?”

Maria indicated the souvenir shop they had passed through earlier to reach this location.

Its second floor featured an open balcony area ideally suited for raining down volleys of suppressive fire onto the plaza below.

Securing an elevated vantage point would indeed facilitate their efforts to systematically eliminate any zombies they intentionally drew into the open area.

“Of course, the kids would need to hang back.”

Maria added that stipulation regarding Sadie and Arian.

However, Aiden shook his head dismissively in response.

“While I agree with your strategy, how we handle our companions is our prerogative to decide.”

Maria’s expression contorted with displeasure at Aiden’s curt refusal to entertain her input on that matter.

Yet she seemed to lack any retort, simply turning away with a huff before proceeding towards the central plaza herself.

Sparing one final glance back at Aiden, she called out to him in an exasperated tone.

“Well? Aren’t you going to start luring them out?”

“…Very well.”

Aiden gave a nod of acknowledgment in response.

They subsequently established various traps scattered throughout the plaza area in preparation.

Improvised snares utilizing tripwires and grenades, as well as pressure-triggered explosive decoys – all intended to draw the zombies’ attentions while dividing their numbers.

An exercise Aiden’s group didn’t typically engage in during ordinary circumstances.

Seizing it as a rare training opportunity, Aiden involved Sadie in the process as well.

“Yes, that’s the correct method for setting them up.”

As they worked, Aiden provided Sadie with hands-on instructions regarding proper trap construction and optimal placement strategies.

“Understood. So should I position this one at a higher elevation?”

“No, the opposite actually. Didn’t I just explain that part?”

“Ah… sorry.”

For some reason, Sadie seemed to be struggling to maintain her focus throughout the task.

Perhaps the overall unsettling atmosphere of this dilapidated amusement park was weighing upon her mind.

Now that Aiden considered it, Sadie had indeed appeared somewhat subdued ever since their arrival at this location.

“Is something wrong?”

Aiden inquired about her uncharacteristic demeanor.

However, Sadie simply shook her head dismissively, as if insisting it was nothing significant.

Since Aiden didn’t intend to pry further, he simply conveyed his final instructions.

“Very well. I believe we’ve set up enough for the time being, so let’s withdraw for now.”

Having completed their preparatory trap installations, Aiden’s group ascended to their predetermined firing position within the dilapidated store building.

Maria was still situated within the plaza area itself.

Upon receiving Aiden’s signal, she gave a curt nod in response.

Maria then retrieved a concussion grenade from her belongings, hurling it forcefully into the open plaza area.

Boooooom!

Even with their ears covered, the resounding boom was intense enough to elicit involuntary squints from its sheer volume.

Not content with that alone, Maria proceeded to manually activate the various alarm bells and antique clocks they had strategically positioned throughout the plaza’s perimeter.

The cacophonous clamor of ringing bells erupted from all directions, reverberating chaotically amidst the lingering explosive thunderclaps.

Such a jarring onslaught of disorienting sounds inevitably roused the slumbering undead from their lairs.

“Kieeeee!”

One by one, zombies began emerging from their various concealed positions encircling the central plaza area.

Immediately zeroing in on Maria’s conspicuous presence wandering amidst that open space, they charged towards her with feral abandon.

Bang!

However, Aiden, having preemptively taken up an overwatch position from the second-floor balcony, wasn’t about to permit such reckless advances.

His rifle fired in controlled bursts, dropping three zombies before they could even set foot within the plaza’s boundaries.

During that interim, Maria had retreated towards the opposite store building adjacent to Aiden’s firing position.

Yet even as she did so, she couldn’t help but let out an inward whistle of admiration upon witnessing Aiden’s marksmanship firsthand.

“Kiiiie…!”

“Kaaaah!”

Meanwhile, the number of zombies becoming visible began multiplying exponentially with each passing moment.

Roused by the concussive blasts and clamorous ringing that reverberated throughout the amusement park’s interior, they converged upon the plaza area in droves – drawn towards the sources of those jarring disturbances like moths to a flame.

Aiden’s rifle spat torrential volleys of fire, while Maria too engaged them relentlessly from her opposite firing position across the plaza’s expanse.

However, their combined firepower simply couldn’t stem the incessant tide of undead reinforcements flooding into the area.

Boooom!

Ultimately, one of the zombies inadvertently detonated a tripwire snare near the plaza’s entrance, the grenade blast scattering pulverized flesh and viscera in a grisly display.

Scores of zombies were obliterated in that single detonation, their remains raining down from the sky.

Yet that momentary reprieve was fleeting, as fresh undead forms swiftly filled the resultant void – their ranks swelling forth in an unrelenting deluge.

Beneath his helmet, Aiden’s brow furrowed as he reloaded his rifle once more.

“Their numbers are more substantial than I expected.”

“It seems even those lingering deeper within the park’s interior have been roused. We still have our work cut out for us.”

As Arian had stated, the pathway connecting the plaza to the amusement park’s innermost regions was utterly inundated with zombies emerging from every conceivable direction and crevice.

Their sheer numbers easily surpassing triple digits, even at a cursory glance.

Regardless of how meticulously they had prepared, it was an onslaught that couldn’t be easily neutralized.

“I’ll help too.”

Sadie, who had been observing the unfolding battle from their rear position, had retrieved her pistol – abandoning the slingshot she typically favored.

A pragmatic decision, as stealth was no longer a viable option against such an overwhelming force.

Aiden didn’t refuse her offer of support.

However, the open second-floor balcony wasn’t an ideal firing platform for Sadie’s diminutive stature.

“Arian, take Sadie up to the rooftop.”

“Understood.”

With a nod, Arian ascended to the building’s rooftop alongside Sadie.

Boooom!

In the interim, a second tripwire trap detonated amidst the swelling zombie horde.

By now, their incessant waves had breached the plaza’s central area itself.

Rata-tat-tat!

Aiden unleashed an unrelenting barrage upon those encroaching undead formations.

Shredded skulls burst apart with each impacting round, zombies crumpling to the ground like felled wheat stalks amid the reverberating thunderclaps.

Within moments, his 30-round magazine had been expended.

As he reloaded, Aiden spared a sidelong glance towards Maria’s position across the plaza.

Despite the overwhelming circumstances, she maintained a measured cadence – calmly and swiftly neutralizing any zombies that allowed their wits to become addled by the pervasive sounds of gunfire, explosions, and incessant ringing alarms.

While not quite on par with Aiden’s level of marksmanship, her shooting proficiency was still notably impressive.

“Can you keep this up?”

Aiden called out to Maria, cognizant that such sustained combat could prove excessively taxing for an ordinary junk dealer to endure.

However, Maria responded with a derisive scoff.

“Just focus on your own performance!”

Her tone, while biting, remained composed, seemingly accustomed to such frenzied situations. So much so that she could even spare the mental capacity to monitor Sadie’s actions on the rooftop, an apparent source of consternation for her.

“…Not bad.”

Aiden muttered those words as he resumed firing upon the unrelenting zombie onslaught.

Maria did indeed seem exceptionally adept at this particular brand of intense combat scenarios.

Perhaps such chaotic skirmishes were her forte, a specialty honed through extensive experience.

Booooooom!

At last, the third and final tripwire trap detonated in a spectacular fiery blaze, consuming scores of zombies within its ravaging blast radius.

With no further contingencies remaining, one might have expected a sense of urgency to set in.

Yet Aiden’s group exhibited no such trepidation whatsoever.

Thanks to that final detonation culling a substantial fraction of the zombies occupying the plaza itself, their remaining numbers had been severely depleted – no more than a dozen still active within the immediate vicinity.

Most of those stragglers, rendered disoriented by the overwhelming auditory onslaught assaulting them from every direction.

Aiden, Maria, and Sadie swiftly neutralized those residual undead forces with calculated efficiency.

Soon, only the reverberating echoes of the ringing alarms remained, resounding across the now-vacant plaza littered with shredded corpses.

* * *

Some time later.

“Phew…”

In the aftermath of that frenzied battle, Maria let out a brief sigh as she began recovering any salvageable resources strewn across the plaza area.

Having completed his own weapon maintenance during that interim, Aiden approached her with an inquiry.

“How much ammunition do you have remaining?”

Maria’s expression stiffened slightly at that probing question.

Among junk dealers, directly inquiring about each other’s inventory was generally considered a taboo of sorts.

However, having effectively become collaborators for this shared endeavor, such clarification regarding their remaining combat capabilities was a pragmatic necessity – just in case.

“Around half my initial load. And you?”

“Five magazines left for my rifle.”

“Not exactly an abundant surplus for either of us.”

Maria clicked her tongue, acknowledging the stark reality.

Despite being situated at the amusement park’s outermost entrance area, their respective ammunition reserves had already been severely depleted.

A consequence neither Aiden nor Maria had adequately anticipated – the sheer number of zombies present had vastly exceeded their expectations.

Of course, that couldn’t be attributed to any oversight or misjudgment on Maria’s part regarding her decision to engage them preemptively at this location.

Attempting to circumvent such a substantial undead presence would have been an even more arduous undertaking.

In retrospect, clearing out this area in advance had likely been the more prudent choice.

“Even so… we can’t afford to engage in another protracted battle like that.”

Maria nodded in agreement.

Their remaining resources would need to be invested judiciously for the purpose of confronting the elusive mutant they had been tasked with hunting.

“From here on, we’ll need to proceed with utmost caution.”

“…Agreed. Let’s do that.”

“We’ll take the lead.”

With their combat readiness restored, Aiden’s group ventured deeper into the amusement park’s interior.

Beyond the partially crumbled clocktower structure, the various dilapidated rides and attractions became increasingly visible.

Bumper cars rusting amidst overgrown weeds, a miniature chick-shaped train missing one of its hollow eyes. And in the distance, the looming silhouette of a decaying Ferris wheel casting its ominous shadow across the entire scene.

It was through this ash-grey desolation that Aiden’s group proceeded with measured strides.

During that solemn advance, Arian’s voice suddenly broke the silence.

“Sadie. Have you ever been to a place like this before?”

Arian posed that question to Sadie, who had been notably subdued since their arrival.

After a momentary hesitation, Sadie slowly began to respond.

“…Yes.”

“When was that? Who did you go with?”

As if engaging in casual conversation, Arian continued prompting Sadie with follow-up inquiries.

In response, Sadie recounted her memories of visiting an amusement park from her past.

In her recollections, it had been a vastly different experience from this dilapidated ruin they currently traversed.

A wondrous realm akin to something from a storybook – featuring majestic castles and towering spires, lush gardens brimming with vibrant blooms, animated mascot characters seemingly brought to life.

A place that had felt like an entirely separate fantastical realm.

“…”

Listening to that exchange between Sadie and Arian, Aiden felt he could discern the reason behind Sadie’s melancholic demeanor throughout their time here.

Perhaps upon being informed they were visiting an amusement park, she had envisioned the idyllic spaces from her cherished childhood memories.

Then it was obvious that this ruined amusement park would have been utterly disappointing to her.

Far from being cheerful, it was a place that was scary even for adults.

“What happened next?”

“We rode the carousel. There, my mom-“

Sadie’s story, which started with Arian’s question, went on for quite a while.

A faint smile had formed on the child’s lips as she recalled the memories of that time.

Seeing this, Aiden felt a little more at ease.

It seemed that Arian’s attempt to cheer up Sadie had been successful.

However, separately from that, Aiden watched Maria’s reaction from the side.

In fact, chatting in a place like this was dangerous in itself.

It was a luxury they could afford only because Arian could sense the presence of zombies.

So Aiden was worried that Maria might interrupt this conversation at some point, but…

“…”

Contrary to his expectations, Maria showed no sign of doing so.

She just seemed to be blankly focusing on Sadie’s story.

Perhaps she too had memories associated with an amusement park like this.

“Aiden.”

At that moment, Arian called Aiden’s name.

And she nodded towards one of the buildings to the side.

It meant there was something there.

Aiden nodded and slowly approached.

Sadie also stopped talking and raised her crossbow.

If anything, it was Maria who seemed confused.

“…What is it?”

“Zombies.”

Right after Aiden said that, something hiding in the shadow of the building jumped out.

“Kiaaaa!”

The one in front had its skull shattered by Aiden’s axe.

And the one behind it…

Crack!

Its neck was cleanly severed by Arian’s machete.

Maria’s eyes widened at the sight.

The ones that hadn’t come out earlier were right nearby.

“Hey! Wake up!”

Arian shouted at Maria.

Maria belatedly turned her head. A zombie had somehow gotten right behind her.

“When…!”

Perhaps she had been too lost in thought.

Maria tried to respond hurriedly.

But the zombie’s arm was already gripping her shoulder.

“Kuaaa!”

The zombie gnashed its teeth and thrust its head forward.

Maria desperately tried to push the zombie away… but the difference in strength was clear. The corpse, rushing in like a frenzied beast, didn’t budge at Maria’s resistance.

At that moment…

Whoosh!

Something flew towards the zombie with a sound cutting through the air.

Soon, the zombie with its head pierced fell backwards.

An arrow shot by Sadie was lodged precisely between the fallen zombie’s eyes.

“Huff… hah…!”

Maria, having barely shaken off the zombie, stepped back a few steps, catching her breath.

Cold sweat was now visible on her back.

It was because she realized that a moment’s carelessness could have led to death.

After catching her breath for a moment, Maria looked at Sadie.

Looking at Sadie with a somewhat complex expression, she…

“Th… thank you…”

Finally managed to utter words of gratitude.