The troll stood tall, its massive frame rising like a grotesque monument to violence.
Blood coated its body in thick layers, dripping from its jagged tusks and pooling along the grooves of its rough, leathery skin. None of it was its own. There wasn't a single sign of injury on the creature—no hesitation in its stance, no weakness in its movements. It looked untouched, unstoppable.
Alexander stared at it for a brief moment, eyes sharp but expression unchanged.
"…Yeah. Not happening."
There was no fantasy here. No delusion of fighting it head-on. Who in their right mind would even try? It wasn't human. It wasn't something that could be reasoned with or outmatched with normal strength.
And he wasn't stupid enough to pretend otherwise.
His decision was immediate.
Fuck this shit.
He moved fast, tucking the unsecured baseball bat and javelins under his arm as he jumped onto the motorcycle. His fingers twisted the key without hesitation.
"Come on…"
The engine sputtered.
"…Are you serious?"
It stalled.
It actually goddamn stalled.
For just a split second, everything seemed to freeze.
Then the troll moved.
It lunged forward with terrifying speed, its massive frame covering distance far faster than something that size should have been able to. Its arm came swinging down, aiming directly for Alexander's head.
At the same time, the engine caught.
The bike jerked forward violently, barely escaping the crushing force of the troll's hand.
But the sudden acceleration threw Alexander off.
He wasn't ready.
The bike lurched, his grip slipped, and in the next instant he was thrown off balance completely. The motorcycle skidded across the ground, sparks flying as metal scraped against concrete.
Alexander hit the ground hard.
Pain flared through his side, but he didn't stop moving. He rolled immediately, forcing his body into motion before the impact could slow him down.
A shadow loomed over him.
The troll's foot came crashing down.
The ground cracked where he had been just a moment before.
Alexander pushed himself up, retreating just enough to create space. His breathing remained controlled, but his mind was already moving ahead, calculating.
The baseball bat lay farther off to the side.
Safer to reach.
But useless.
The bike was closer.
And beside it—
The javelins.
His eyes narrowed.
"…Yeah."
Decision made.
The troll roared and charged again, not giving him even a second to hesitate.
Alexander moved at the same time, sprinting directly toward it.
It looked insane.
Like suicide.
But it was the only option that made sense.
At the last moment, just before the troll's arm came swinging down again, he dropped low into a full dive, barely slipping under the arc of the attack. The force of it disturbed the air around him, throwing off his balance, but he pushed through it and rolled straight toward the bike.
His hand found the first javelin instantly.
Without even fully turning around, he thrust it backward.
The tip sank deep into the troll's palm.
The resistance broke with a wet crunch.
The troll roared, a furious, pained sound that shook the air.
Alexander didn't pause.
He grabbed the second javelin and drove it into the creature's calf, putting as much force behind it as he could.
This time, the reaction was immediate.
The troll staggered, its balance disrupted.
That was enough.
Alexander lunged forward, throwing his full weight into a shoulder tackle. It wasn't strength—it was timing. Momentum. The creature was already off balance.
The impact pushed it over the edge.
The troll crashed to the ground, the force of its fall shaking everything around them.
For a brief moment, it was vulnerable.
Alexander could've gone for it.
Could've tried to kill it.
But the sharp pain shooting through his shoulder told him everything he needed to know.
That tackle had already nearly broken his shoulder.
Trying to finish it off?
Not worth it.
Not even close.
Instead, he yanked the javelin out of its leg and turned immediately, sprinting back to the bike.
This time, he mounted it cleanly.
The engine roared to life without hesitation.
"Good."
No stall.
No delay.
He accelerated—but not before swinging wide to grab the baseball bat he had dropped earlier. He refused to leave it behind after everything.
Behind him, the troll roared again.
Louder and much, much angrier.
It was fully aware now.
And it was furious.
Alexander didn't look back.
He didn't need to.
He could feel it.
But he wasn't sticking around to see how fast it could recover.
He pushed the bike forward, weaving through the limited space of the school grounds, frustration building as the tight layout made speed difficult.
Then—
Movement ahead.
A group of figures stepped into view.
Greenish skin.
Rotting flesh.
Unnatural movements.
"…Shit."
Zombies.
Of course.
He didn't slow down. Instead, he leaned sharply, taking a low, aggressive turn between two buildings. The bike tilted dangerously, but he held it steady.
Behind him, the growls came almost instantly.
They gave chase.
Alexander clicked his tongue.
"If this keeps up…"
His voice was low, almost absent.
"…I'm not making it to tomorrow."
It wasn't fear.
Just a fact.
Then he saw it.
The gate. The exit.
Freedom—
And immediately after—
The problem.
A wall of bodies.
Zombies packed tightly together, blocking the entire exit. There wasn't a single opening to slip through. They were pressed against each other, writhing and groaning, creating an impenetrable barrier.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
He slowed slightly, eyes narrowing as recognition hit him.
Their uniforms.
Their faces.
"…Gym class."
The same students.
The ones that had been crushed, broken, killed earlier.
Now standing.
Moving.
And among them—
Even the dumb gym teacher.
Twisted.
Lifeless.
But still moving.
"What the hell…"
There was no time to think about it.
Behind him, the pursuing zombies were getting closer.
And somewhere further back—
The zombies he had seen earlier were also on their way.
Still coming.
He wasn't forcing his way through that.
Not like this.
Not with that many.
He turned sharply, abandoning the exit and heading back into the campus.
"Another way…"
There had to be one.
As he rode, irritation crept in.
The school was too small.
Too cramped.
Nowhere to properly maneuver.
"…This place is a joke."
Then an idea hit him.
Inside.
If outside was too dangerous, too restrictive—
Then the buildings might offer better control.
He spotted an opening and immediately redirected, guiding the bike toward one of the school buildings. The entrance was just wide enough.
Barely.
He slowed just enough to maneuver it inside without tipping over.
The transition was awkward, but manageable.
Once inside, the noise dropped almost instantly.
No screams.
No growls.
Just silence.
"…Huh."
He moved down the hallway briefly before spotting a classroom.
Open.
Empty.
"…Finally."
For once, something went right.
He didn't question it.
He wheeled the bike inside quickly, shutting the door behind him and locking it. Nearby desks were dragged into place, creating a makeshift barricade.
Only then did he stop.
Really stop.
The engine died.
The sound faded.
And the world, for a brief moment, became still.
Alexander stood there, scanning the room carefully. Corners. Windows. Blind spots.
Nothing.
No movement.
No threats.
Safe.
For now.
He exhaled slowly, resting a hand briefly on the bike.
Not relief.
Just a pause.
A moment to think.