Chapter 52 - No Hope
There are now only four left in the group. But they really have no room to be in despair right now. They have been in constant running. There are just too many of these zombies. Ten million people in Jakarta city, how many of them have now turned into zombies? And what about the red skin one? The thought really scares them up. None able to survive that redskin zombie. Not without a gun, although maybe the use of gun itself that draws the red skin monster.
After another 30 minutes of running, the group finally reached their destination. They were welcomed by the group of survivors who guarding the gate. Two dozens of strong man can be seen using blades, knives, and homemade spears. They are not just protecting the gate they also constantly patrolling around the perimeter to kill and thin up the surrounding zombies. The person who welcomes them name Keith and he's currently showing them the school compound and come to meet the person in charge.
It's a prestigious school building, the reason survivor choosing it because it has a 2 meters thick wall all around the buildings.. There are 3 gates The Green Gate, Fish gate and the Courtyard gate. The school itself is a 3 storey buildings, so it gives good views of its surroundings. Next to the school is a plaza complex, the survivors have managed to move most of the useful items and supplies to this school.
The group met the survivor's leader her name is Lea she was the headmaster of this school. The meeting is quite simple. There were few simple questions about each identity and the headmaster like to know the situation outside to gather more information. Adam told her about the redskin zombie. The headmaster finds this information disturbing. Hearing this, she decided to move and equip the survivor with a gun in all three separate gates.
In total there are more than 200 survivors, most of them are adult, most likely not many children manage to survive the first few days. Fortunately, there is a doctor among them. Jason was taken to the medical center placed in the school lab. The other three walking around the compound to try to find someone they knew or maybe some information about them. Melissa particularly trying to find information about the government, her mom is one of the government cabinet members. But they didn't find any, there are just too few survivors. In the evening Jason returned with a splint made of cardboard in his arm, it seems it would take at least 2 weeks for his arm to recover.
All the survivor was given the freedom to choose between the hall or the classrooms and set up their own sleeping arrangement. Luckily the group has sleeping bags ready, so they are quite comfortable. Finally, after all the running and fighting they are able to get some rest. Before sleeping, Daisy has a discussion with the group, she showed the crystal stone she found from the red skin zombie. Everyone excited about seeing the stones. This is the spirit stone mention in the doomsday video. This stone supposes to give power to the one who consumes it. Daisy offering it to Adam. He gave it a thought but decided to refuse, he thought this stone would give much survival chance for Daisy. "It's your kill you take it.." Daisy can understand Adam's intent and decide it to consume it. Melissa was really jealous, but she has no right to ask for it. After a few minutes, Daisy felt changes in her body, she can feel all the muscle around her body contracted, and the warm essence running through her veins and slowly turns cool, she felt a surge of energy within, Daisy thinks she can now see and feel her surroundings better.
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D Day +3
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Most survivors have a responsibility to take a turn as guards patrol or join in the supply run group. It appears half a dozen guard died last night and one supply run group didn't make it back as scheduled. Therefore this morning everyone needs to participate in a role. The guard position should be less threatening as there are many survivors around. Almost all survivor choose guard duty, so as to be fair Adam join the supply run, Daisy force herself in following Adam, he disagrees at first but considering she ate one of the stone she probably will be fine. Jason and Melissa stay as guards.
The supply runs are a 10 men group, mostly travel very light with empty backpacks and expected to return full. Their aim other than food or medicine, it's also finding other survivor or gather information. Information gathering is the most crucial at the moment. Yesterday three supply group were dispatched, and only two returned. Today another three were dispatched. Unfortunately, the group Adam's in was given the same route with the yesterday missing group. Adam found a familiar face within this group Its Rick, the apartment survivor. it's good to have someone familiar near you when facing a dangerous situation.
The group manage to fill up their bags, met several survivors and bring them back. Although they didn't find any clues on the missing group, this run can be considered a successful one. Daisy part within the group was such a surprise, weirdly she seems to know which building to enter and which one shouldn't. She's probably the reason they are having such a successful run today.
"She's your girlfriend bro?" Rick ask "If not please introduced her to me"
"..."
When the sun about to set the group finally arrived back to the school. But they were welcome with shocking scenes. The school was surrounded by hundreds of zombies. From the distance, they can see the guards are in troubled. Not everyone on the group willing to rush into the zombie wave.
Only 6 of them dare to do it. Adam, Daisy, Rick, and three others. The rests decided to stay in one of the near-empty building with the survivor they found. To walk past hundred of zombies, the trick is to rush in a straight line and don't get left behind, within just a few minutes the group manage to get inside the compound. Right at the same time, they were ordered to close the gate and move to the inner building.
The windows of the first building were all barred. The four entries were guarded. hopefully smaller entry point will make the place easier to defend. The group separated to see each their friends and family. Adam, Daisy, and Rick met the headmaster to ask for the update.
"You guys came back, none of the other back, either they died or they already abandon this place looking at the current situation"
"What happened here, headmaster?" Adam asked
"The zombie came non stop since morning... one of the red ones did came and break one of the gates, we had to use guns. We manage to kill it but a dozen of us died with it. Since then the wave of zombie never stop. 30 more of us died since. Many have not returned, there are just about 100 of us left. 30 are elderly and children. How long do you think we can hold on till? we can't just rush out as well, we will only condemn those elder and children to die. There is no Hope"
A guy ran to the group. "headmaster, the left entrance got overwhelmed, we can't hold it anymore, what should we do..?"
Daisy said firmly "There is always hope. Don't give up, we will take over that entrance"
Adam, Daisy, and Rick ran to the left entrance.. it was full of corpses... only three people left guarding that entrance. Jason is within them... Three of them jumped in and help, With six people, the defense could hold. Two in the front, two in the back and the last two as back up to fill the opening when needed. They also can rotate the role when one is tired.
"Where is Melissa?" Adam asked
"I'm not sure she's been missing for a while now... Jason said
A few minutes later. "Something bad is coming," Daisy said... Adam and Rick believe her and suddenly worried...
"GROOAARRR!!"
"Its that thing again, move back a few steps, let it in, prepare the pikes"
"The red zombie rushed in... it has the speed of middle-rank mortal realm. it can outrun almost any normal human."
"Now!! Pull up the pikes!!"
it's such a narrow entrance and the red zombie although have intelligence it was driven by its savage nature. it jumps into the pikes.
BAAAMMMM!!
Three of the pikes bent by the zombie strike, only two of them got stuck in its chest. but its movement has slowed down by a lot. Daisy draws her gun and jumps in, with such speed and decisiveness..
"BANG... BANG..."
Two close-range shot to the head. its head was blown apart. Daisy walks closer and finds what she looking for, another spirit stone. She threw it to Adam. "Eat it now... we gonna need it."
All five eyes looking at Daisy puzzled in amazement.
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A figure run closer to the group its Melissa and Keith, a few other walking behind them.
"Thank god you guys alright.. we have been watching from the third floor it's amazing you guys can finish it in such a short time," Melissa said. The other entrance won't hold as well, we need to regroup on the second floor, and wait it out in front of the two stair.. the zombie move slower in stairs.. let's go"
Melissa has always been the smartest, her decision since day one actually has always been right, its the attitude that some people might have trouble with.
100 survivor pushed back to the second floor. 30 elderly and children another 20 injured. The last 50 survivors who can still fight were separated to guard two stairs. they manage to hold out for a few hours. But now their strength was almost depleted. This is it. the bullet also almost empty.
"GRRROAARRRR"
From the second floor, they can see not one but three of this monster approaching.
"WTF!!!"
"People eyes starring at the headmaster and the groups of elderly and children"
"We will NOT leave them behind. I will hold this place or die trying!!" headmaster shouts her resolution.
"the survivor's spirit was lifted" Although deep down they know maybe in the next hour, none of them will be left alive.
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But suddenly miracles happened
"BRATATATATATAT"
Flashes and machine gun sound can be heard from outside...
"BRATATATATATAT"
The cavalry has come. its the Indonesian Army, in less than 10 minutes the zombie inside the compound was secured.
A few soldiers and a high-rank officer walk up to the second floor.
"Who's in charge here?"
"I am," Headmaster Lia said
"We will bring every survivor to safety.. we need to be quick... bring your most important supplies and travel light. we will go in 10 minutes. it will be a long march"
"Who am I speaking here?"
Another officer walked up the stair and said "I am General Rico"
A general, the group were amazed, one person actually more shocked than others. its Adam...
The general realized Adam staring at him.. he smiles and said.. "good you're alive"
Adam answered "Yes father"