Behind the family restaurant 5 people can be seen discussing just outside the backdoor, currently the kitchen was being overrun by zombie. After their initial commotion, zombies kept pouring into the kitchen and now the kids can't return to the restaurant.
"So you are saying that your father went outside and hasn't return yet?"
Their father has gone for 4 days and still no sign of him returning.
A bad premonition slowly creeping in, it wasn't just that the father had slipped out in the middle of the night and only got found out because his daughter couldn't sleep but the excuse he makes. searching for help and supplies. Felt like a bad excuse.
"It's true! He promised me he would return. Brother, you know father won't lie right?!" The young girl insists, with tears welling in her eyes.
'In the middle of the night' Rin thought bitterly as she tries to wrap her head around it, yet she can't think other thing, other than the father had abandoned them and become deadbeat.
"He might..." Stella immediately close her mouth, cutting herself off before letting a slip out.
"There is no way!! He..he wouldn't... right?" The boy trying to defend his father, yet his shaky voice betray him. He doubt if his father truly was that kind of person, yet at the same time the boy already accept it.
He won't return.
The boy looked around 15 years old while his sister look around 13 years old. They were old enough to understand what already happen, it's just they don't want to face the truth. But to imagine your family member left you alone in the middle apocalypse – is a bitter pill to swallow.
As the mood grew sour, Chloe added lazily, "Well four days is relatively quick, it's not like everything goes smoothly..." She shrugged, before sharpened her tone. "What 'smore important is whether you stay in this forsaken house, or will you venture outside"
The kid gives no reaction as they hold their head low.
'I know father has left us' the boy thought, his fist clench tightly that blood almost seeping through his skin, 'the day mother got bitten and turned into zombie, he changed, he didn't eat, wash, nor react to our calling. his smile become hollow when we asked if he was okay'
The boy filled with regret blaming himself for not keeping things together, he felt like he is not good enough, not strong enough to protect their mother, for being negligent in understanding his father, and indecisive in making choices.
*clap
A sharp clap broke the silence, shifting everyone's focus to Rin.
"It's already evening, and we need a place to stay," Rin reminded everyone.
Night is about to descend, and they don't have any roof to rest, it's already too late to return back to their back and clearing the restaurant from zombie is no easy task.
At first their goal is to find a medicine and return to their base before Alex start throwing tantrum again but a new mutant zombie had stopped their step and derailed their plan.
Gina flash a grin. "We can clear this place," she point at the restaurant.
With the sun slowly setting and visibility is getting lower. They need to move fast while they can still see.
"The plan is simple, guerrilla tactics
First, we open the door, letting few zombies out and we can bait them using sounds, a small sound just enough to make the zombie curious to check things out but not enough to make them goes frenzy.
If there is too many zombie coming out at once we will pull this rope making them fall before run away.
What do you think?"
"At worst scenario we can leave Gina behind" Chloe remarked dryly.
"Of course have you seen 1 Gina againts 100 zombies" Gina joked back, trying to lighten the heavy air
After checking the alleyway for possible escape route, the group proceed with the plan. Gina stood at the very front her job is to open the door and hide. Chloe and Rin prepare to ambush any zombies. Lastly Stella who makes noises and become bait. The kids held the rope, waiting for the signal to trip the horde if they bait too much zombie.
"Ready?" Gina whispered.
She stood infront of the door, after taking a deep breath she gives a small pull, but the heavy door barely budged.
"turn the knob first," The boy whisper beside her.
Realizing how silly she was, Gina turn the knob and small click sound can be heard. But before she can do anything the door already being pushed, flustered Gina tries to push back but the weight of the zombie resting on the door is heavier than she imagines.
"Ehhh!" She let a small gasp.
The door slowly being open, to everyone surprise, a pale, decaying hand immediately clamped onto the edge of the frame just right infront of Gina face, her heart sank as how close the finger to her face. Panic flared and Gina almost let go of the door, but she grit her teeth, trying to stay composed, then she force herself by plant her feet and push back.
"GRRR"
The zombie let out frustrated roar as it failed to open the door, then a banging sound can be heard from the other side, Gina can feel the shock from the pounding and the increase of amount of pounding as other zombie follow it's lead.
Gina who can no longer hold the door slowly being pushed, she wanted to run but it's her job to hold the line, she can see more and more hand clawing at the edge of the door.
*BANG!
Rin deliver a yakuza kick but instead of opening the door she is trying to close the door, the door frame slammed at the zombie finger crushing all the zombie finger in the process, yet It wasn't enough to close the door, that was until Chloe stepped in giving her share on kicking the door.
Few severed finger fall onto the ground as the rotten flesh got cut by the door.
After a few slash and kick they manage to close the door but the old door barely hold on. The door groaned and crackling sound can be heard as more and more zombie piled against it.
"Run!" Rin ordered.
The groans grew louder and louder the more bodies pressed against the door, the more frenzied they become. From pushing to hitting, a pool of blood begin to seep under the door.
"Ah.. The house..." The youngest kid lamented. Her voice crack, tears finally streaming down her face as Gina dragged her away from the only safe haven she knew.
The group sprinted away from the restaurant, which now echoed choir of death. But their problem was far from over, the oppressive night has descent and an unknown creature roar deafening the night.
"Any destination, Rin?" Gina wheezed, her breath ragged. Currently, they were running blind, navigating dark alleyways labyrinth without any destination.
*CRASH.
Rin glanced back. The old back door had finally shattered into splinters, completely trampled by the horde. Zombies kept pouring out. 1,2...10 Rin to stop counting the countless zombies that pouring out instead she focus on the running zombie, currently there are 5 running zombie and they are slowly closing in.
Because of the kids, their group has to move much slower than usual.
'This won't work', Rin thought, not only the zombie slowly catching up, all her throwing knife barely slow the zombie. Each time one fell, another immediately took it's place, Rin was hoping that the zombie will fall like domino tripping over one the other but reality didn't work the ways she foresee even right now one runner was sprinting towards them with blade sticking on it's shoulder.
"Gina, Stella stay with the kid, Chloe follow me!" Rin ordered.
"No!, we should stick together" Stella yelled back.
"There is not enough time, find a safe place and hide, tomorrow we meet back at the base"
Though reluctant Stella understand the pressure and can't argue for long. She put a determinate face before taking a role in leadership. "This way!" she shouted. Trying to remember the path they once took
Stella move decisively barely looking back at Rin and Chloe shoulder as they brace themselves against the incoming zombie waves.
"Stay safe please" Stella whisper.