Chapter 14: Survival and Sacrifice
Priyanka gasped for breath, her palms sweaty, her gaze unwavering as she looked at the fallen zombie.
"I need to get out of here…" she told herself, glancing back at the back door. Returning to the hospital was no longer an option; she had to find another way to escape.
She cautiously moved through the alley, faint screams and footsteps from the street indicating that other survivors were still struggling.
Priyanka took a deep breath, quietly stepping out of the alley. The world outside had become a stranger after the zombie outbreak. The streets, once bustling with traffic, were now desolate and empty, littered with the belongings of those who didn't make it out in time, along with abandoned cars and bloodstained clothes. Her gaze was determined, but she didn't dare to relax even for a second—every shadow, every gust of wind made her nerves tense.
As she stepped out of the alley, she noticed some leftover food near the entrance of a convenience store. Her stomach growled with hunger, reminding her that she hadn't eaten for several hours. Her body felt weak from exhaustion, but her rational mind told her not to act recklessly. Yet, the hunger began to overpower her sense of caution, and after ensuring there were no zombies nearby, she cautiously approached the store.
She pushed the door open. The air inside the convenience store was stuffy, the shelves scattered with items, and signs of looting were visible in some areas. She crouched down, carefully stuffing some cans into her bag, then grabbed a bottle of water and took several gulps. The cold water ran down her throat, offering a brief moment of comfort. However, the momentary peace was soon shattered by a cacophony of footsteps—several staggering figures were slowly approaching the store.
Priyanka quickly put the water bottle down and silently hid behind a shelf, holding her breath. She looked outside and saw two zombies moving slowly through the broken glass door, letting out a low growl.
"Stay calm… stay calm…" she reminded herself as she slowly reached for the IV pole, preparing to fight if needed. Just then, a hoarse voice called out from the back of the store, "Is anyone there? Don't be afraid, I'm not a zombie."
Priyanka's heart skipped a beat. The voice sounded close, coming from the storage room. She hesitated for a moment, then quietly stepped back, her eyes shifting between the source of the voice and the approaching zombies. The voice seemed to notice her presence and said, "Please, I'm really not a zombie, I'm just looking for a place to hide, just like you."
After a moment of weighing her options, Priyanka gripped the IV pole tightly in front of her chest and whispered back toward the voice, "Stay quiet! There are two zombies outside."
The voice fell silent, and soon Priyanka heard the door to the storage room creak open a little. A man's face cautiously poked out. He looked exhausted, but his eyes showed a glimmer of surprise and relief. Priyanka gestured toward the zombies and spoke in a hushed tone, "Wait until they pass, then we move. Otherwise, neither of us will get out."
The man nodded, seemingly understanding her meaning, and quietly stayed by the door, holding his breath. The two waited silently as the zombies slowly closed in, Priyanka anxiously counting the steps in her mind. When the zombies wandered over to another row of shelves and seemed to lose interest in their position, she finally breathed a little easier.
"Now, go!" she whispered, quickly pulling the man to the other side of the store. They moved along the wall, silently stepping toward the back door. She gently pushed it open, a cold wind greeting her, scattering her hair. The man followed her through the door, and together, they ran quickly toward a residential area across the street.
After reaching a hidden stairwell, Priyanka stopped and turned to look at the man. The tension and danger of the moment had eased, and only now did she really take a good look at this stranger. He was thin, his face haggard, and his clothes were torn and tattered.
"Thank you," he said quietly, his expression filled with guilt. "If it weren't for you, I might have been found by those two zombies."
Priyanka shook her head and replied calmly, "In times like this, helping each other is the only way to survive. As long as we're not a burden to one another."
The man nodded and silently looked down. He seemed like he wanted to say something but hesitated before finally asking, "Where are you headed? It seems like everywhere in the city is swarming with zombies. Leaving this city seems impossible."
Priyanka thought for a moment, her eyes firm as she replied, "I'm going to Chinatown to find my daughter."
"But the city is full of zombies…"
"I have to find her. As long as she's alive, I will find her."
The man nodded, a glimmer of respect in his eyes. "I'm Lucas," he said, extending a trembling hand.
"Priyanka," she introduced herself briefly, shaking his hand.
"I have to go home. My family's waiting for me. We'll part ways here."
They silently left the stairwell and went in opposite directions. The wind rustled the tattered flags by the street, and the air was filled with faint dust and the smell of blood. The distant, mournful cries of zombies echoed, but Priyanka chose to ignore the terrifying sounds and kept moving forward, swearing to herself that she would find her daughter.
*** *** ***
After finishing the phone call, Honda Riko still felt a deep sense of anxiety in her chest. Although Priyanka was on her way to provide assistance, Riko couldn't just sit at home waiting for news. She turned around and scanned her surroundings, then walked into the kitchen. Her hand paused momentarily over the knife rack before she grabbed a heavy kitchen knife, holding it firmly, and walked determinedly to the door.
As she opened the door, Georgina Mazzeo was standing there, holding a baseball bat with a resolute expression, as if she were about to head downstairs as well.
Georgina Mazzeo, 28 years old, with black hair and a thin face, looked cold and striking. She stood at 6 feet 1 inch tall, with a G-cup bra size.
Riko smiled at her and nodded, cautiously asking, "Georgina, can we go down together?"
Georgina glanced at her, slightly surprised, but then shrugged. "Of course. You take the knife, I'll take the bat. It's better than going alone."
The two quickly entered the elevator. Riko's hand trembled slightly as she gripped the knife tightly, while Georgina stood with unwavering resolve, the bat held slightly up. As the elevator reached the first floor, the doors slowly opened, revealing a figure in their line of sight.
A man was pushing a wheelchair, slowly moving within their view. Riko's heart instantly skipped a beat. The moment the man turned around, she gasped in horror—this wasn't a normal person, but a zombie, with a pale face, vacant eyes, and emitting low "huh-huh" sounds as it dragged its feet toward them.
Unable to suppress her fear, Riko screamed, "Ah—!"
Georgina was startled as well, but she took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and shouted at the zombie, "Come on, you monster!" She swung the baseball bat forcefully, hitting the zombie in the head. The zombie in the wheelchair turned its head and tried to bite her.
"Have a nice trip!" Georgina sneered and kicked the wheelchair. The wheelchair jerked forward, colliding with another zombie in the distance. The two unfortunate zombies toppled over and tangled together, their stiff limbs entangled in a horrifyingly comical display.
Georgina placed the bat over her shoulder and looked out toward the hallway, her brow furrowed tighter. "This is bad, there are zombies everywhere…"
Riko looked outside and saw a dozen zombies scattered in the hallway, standing like they were waiting for the next victim to approach.
"We can't go out, there are too many zombies…" Georgina said, retreating back into the elevator. "Let's go upstairs and figure things out."
Riko nodded, and the two quickly returned to the elevator and pressed the button for the thirteenth floor. However, as soon as the elevator doors opened, Riko immediately saw her front door ajar. Five unfamiliar men were sitting in her living room, snacks and drinks scattered on the table, and they were laughing loudly, paying no attention to Riko and Georgina's arrival.
Riko, furious, stepped forward and said, "This is my home! You can't just come in!"
One of the men, holding a knife, stood up with a cold sneer. "Now, this is our turf, little girl." His eyes were cold and defiant, the knife gleaming in his hand.
Seeing this, Georgina gently tugged at Riko's arm and whispered, "They have many people and weapons. Let's take a step back...come to my house."
Riko was silent for a moment before nodding. The anger still burned in her, but the situation was dire, and she had no choice but to accept this harsh reality for now.
"Thank you, Georgina," Riko said softly, gratitude in her voice.
"No problem. Right now, sticking together is our only way out,"Georgina said, looking at the men warily, leading Riko back step by step towards her apartment.
After locking the door behind them, Georgina placed the bat by the door, always ready to defend themselves.
"Riko, is your daughter outside now?" Georgina asked.
Riko lowered her head and nodded solemnly. "Yes, and her classmate Aria. They... should be in Chinatown."
Georgina frowned slightly. "Chinatown is one of the most dangerous places right now. Do you think they can escape?"
Riko took a deep breath, her eyes reflecting a mother's determination. "Aria's mother, Priyanka, has already gone to rescue them. Priyanka is reliable, and I trust they'll find a way. As long as they're still alive, we'll meet again."
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