Chapter 5: Escape

Chapter 5: Escape

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(A/N: Is that a Power Stone I'm sensing? You should leave it here for safekeeping. Don't worry, I'll take good care of it.)

Word Count: 2713

The air filled with the sound of rustling as the group hastily gathered their belongings, preparing for the daunting task of escaping the confines of the school. Nagi, maintaining his characteristic stoicness, calmly observed the flurry of activity around him as he too retrieved his own essentials.

Nagi swiftly gathered his essentials and equipped himself with his quiver of arrows, securing it around his torso. He fastened his bow within easy reach and slipped his knife into his pants buckle hole, keeping it concealed yet accessible. With his cleaver firmly in hand, he observed the others in the room as they finished their preparations.

"Are you guys ready?" Nagi asked, getting a nod in response to his question. He continued, "The quickest way to get to the parking lot out of here is through the front entrance. If you don't have any questions, let's get moving on."

Eliminating the nearby zombies that had been lured by the blaring noise of the televisions, they pressed on, moving swiftly along the corridor towards the exit. Finally, they arrived at the staircase, which would lead them down to the main hall.

"AAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"

Upon hearing a sudden shriek piercing through the halls, the group swiftly rushed towards the source of the sound. As they approached, they saw a group of students fighting off a small horde of undead creatures.

Choosing to remain an observer, Nagi watched the scene before him, while the rest sprang into action to save them. With the horde swiftly dispatched, a visible sense of relief washed over the group of students, and they began to relax. However, Saeko quickly interjected, interrupting their gratitude. "Don't speak so loudly," she cautioned. "Were any of you bitten?"

In a panic, they shook their heads vigorously, denying any contact with the infected. Nagi's gaze narrowed slightly at their panicked reactions, but he remained silent, simply observing. It was Rei who, in her naivety, offered an invitation, saying, "They all look fine. We're planning to escape the school. Would any of you like to join us?"

"Yes!" they all exclaimed, their faces filled with newfound hope as they saw a chance to escape the school. Observing their reactions, Nagi couldn't help but deduce three important facts. First, there were still students hiding somewhere within the school.

Second, the group he was currently with was exceptional. Their collective skills and abilities covered a wide range of situations, and they displayed a level of composure uncommon among their peers.

And finally, Nagi's own group was, in his assessment, somewhat naive and overly trusting. If they continued on that path, they would inevitably be taken advantage of. However, there were a few exceptions, namely Saeko, Kohta, and Saya.

Leading the way, Nagi descended the stairs, with Saya trailing closely behind. As they reached the lower level, they cautiously peered over the wall, surveying the lobby below. The number of zombies congregating there was far greater than on the upper floors, their presence multiplied threefold.

And that didn't even account for the ones lurking outside on the streets. It was evident that those who had recklessly rushed down at the start had met their demise in this very area. Bringing the info back to the group they plotted their next move.

"They can't see, so you'll be practically invisible," Saya explained. Takashi, seizing the opportunity, chimed in, "Well then, Takagi, why don't you go out there and demonstrate it?" His suggestion made her flinch, clearly apprehensive about the idea.

"Ah," Nagi interjected, a momentary sound escaping his lips. "I forgot to mention something."

"What's wrong?" Saeko asked, her gaze shifting towards Nagi, prompting the others to do the same. Ignoring the stares, he continued, "I forgot to mention the weaknesses of the zombies."

Of course, his words left most of them in shock, their minds racing with the thought, "There's a weakness for the zombies?" However, Saya appeared pleased to have someone backing up her claims. Folding her arms, she nodded approvingly at Nagi.

With a swift motion, Saeko swiped her bokken in an uppercut, launching the undead creature into the air before it crashed down lifeless under the sheer force. Meanwhile, Nagi spun behind her, swiftly striking down a nearby zombie with a precise blow to the head.

They nodded to each other, silently acknowledging their coordination as they covered each other's blind spots, ensuring that no zombies could gain the upper hand. As the two continued their graceful dance amidst the horde, Nagi's predictions proved to be accurate.

The random students, lacking in fighting skills and coordination, met their inevitable demise. Their feeble attempts at combat and overwhelming fear rendered them utterly ineffective against the relentless onslaught of zombies. As they made their way through the relentless horde, Saya and the rest of the group finally reached the safety of the bus.

"Come on, Nurse Marikawa, we need you to start the bus. Once the others arrive, we're leaving immediately," Saya urged. Turning to Kohta, she requested, "Hirano, could you provide cover for Nagi and the group? While I have no doubt in their capabilities, the sooner we can depart, the better."

Saluting, Kohta responded with a "Yes, ma'am," before complying with Saya's request. He readied his nail gun, taking aim at a zombie approaching Nagi, and pulled the trigger. The nail shot through the air with deadly precision, piercing the undead creature's skull, causing it to slump lifelessly to the ground.

It didn't take long before the group broke through the horde, eventually approaching the bus. As the others made their way into the bus, Nagi and Saeko stayed outside, guarding the entrance, as the remaining students approached, running into the bus. Shizuka turned it on as the final student walked in, eliciting Nagi and Saeko to finish up out there and soon follow.

Taking a seat at the back of the bus, Nagi set down his weapons and spat out the remains of his lollipop stick. Reaching for another one, he unwrapped it and placed the sweet in his mouth, savoring the fleeting taste. However, his curiosity was piqued when he noticed that the bus hadn't yet begun to move. Wondering about the delay, he made his way to the front to inquire.

"Why haven't we started yet?" Nagi asked, his voice tinged with confusion. It didn't take long for him to find the answer. A group of students, led by a teacher, were rushing towards the bus in a panicked frenzy. Reacting swiftly, Rei sprang from her seat and ran towards Takashi.

"We're not going to save him!" Rei adamantly stated, her voice filled with conviction. Turning towards her, Takashi confronted her in confusion. "What the hell are you talking about, Rei?"

"We shouldn't save him! That kind of person is better off dead!" As their argument escalated, they failed to notice the approaching students, their cheers growing louder as they drew nearer. Meanwhile, Nagi observed them, his attention focused on the teacher whom Rei was so determined to leave behind.

The teacher's actions portrayed the archetype of a hero, fulfilling his duty to protect the lives of the students entrusted to him. It was a role he had assumed when he became a teacher.

As the students rushed past Shido, he signaled them and urged them to keep running, while the teacher lagged behind due to his cumbersome attire. However, Nagi wasn't easily swayed by such displays. He knew that people could wear masks, hiding their true selves. It was a common trait, the art of deception mastered by many.

And as Nagi expected, a student stumbled nearby, reaching out to the teacher, seeking help. But instead of extending a helping hand as one would expect, the teacher looked upon the boy with contempt and kicked him in the face, shattering his glasses in the process.

'So this is why Rei was so adamant about him,' Nagi thought to himself. 'She's aware of this side of him and wants to avoid him. Perhaps they share a history that remains hidden from me. Dealing with someone like him will be troublesome. Should I simply leave?'

Lost in his contemplation, Nagi's attention was drawn back to the bus as it filled with students celebrating their survival. The doors finally closed, sealing them off from the outside world, and the vehicle sped off towards the front gates.

The roar of the engine echoed through the school grounds as the tires spun, leaving streaks of rubber on the cold, unforgiving concrete. The bus surged forward, a juggernaut plowing through the ranks of the undead with merciless intent. With each impact, the horde was torn asunder, their bodies disintegrating under the weight and force of the massive vehicle.

Limbs and appendages were sent hurtling through the air, severed by the relentless onslaught. Fingers, hands, and arms scattered like macabre confetti, painting a gruesome tableau against the dusk sky. The sickening crunch of bones being crushed under the wheels mingled with the agonized moans of the dying, creating a symphony of horror that filled the air.

Approaching the front gates of the school, Shizuka's grip on the steering wheel tightened, her resolve evident. "They aren't human anymore," she muttered to herself, a grim realization settling in.

Without hesitation, she pressed on the gas, propelling the bus forward with force. The vehicle crashed into the gate, sending zombies and debris flying in all directions. As they sped off into the city, leaving chaos in their wake.

Author Words:

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