Beyond the Walls

Reminder of the Past

*Bang

The undead was shot down after killing 3 people and injuring by biting 3 more.

The military on the walls arrived quickly at the scene.

*Bang bang bang

Upon confirming the death of the citizens, they were shot in the head again. To make sure they won’t come back, the injured are escorted to a medical van.

There were only four military people that were on the scene. The military man was handed a microphone but he did not take it.

“It’s an unmaintained vaccination case. Please carry on with your usual jobs,” the soldier announced and shooed everyone from the scene. They stop people from approaching the side of the wall and they immediately tape their surroundings.

They are in constant communication and seem like they are discussing some confidential things in whispers.

“Tsk. If you can’t afford the vaccine, then just die, why drag other people to their graves?” Allen clicked his tongue and spit on the ground.

The citizens went back on their own work brushing off an undead sighting. Though generally it was a really scary experience, it wasn’t new. There are people who really turned after skipping their vaccination date but it was a rare occurrence for newly turned to walk in public. The government centers track the vaccination records of the citizen, that’s why when it’s their past due and they still haven’t received their shot. They are escorted or hunted if they go into hiding. ‘Isolation’ is the term. Often, those people who went under ‘Isolation’ don’t come back at all… That’s why missing people are considered dead.

Donald had been called and thrown a construction hat after not responding to Allen’s call. He picked the hat and stole glances on the dead bodies placed on body bags. The medical van carrying the injured is still there.

Donald hurried to load equipment on the cart and start pushing it.

‘I wish Lucas was here…’ He sighed. Only Lucas was the only one patient with him and his stories.

At first Donald thought Lucas was the same but his sister's expenses are paid and transferred to a better room.

Transferring the items on the elevator lift. He sends a signal to the control room and the lift starts going up.

While pushing the cart back to the supply room his eyes wandered on the yellow taped space. The military is still there, he watched as one of the soldiers carefully looked under the heavy sheet. It is in meters in height and heavy but there is no need to carefully lift it. It was weird that they were so cautious…

His conversation with Lucas reminded him suddenly.

“Hey, Lucas, how did you survive in the apocalypse world? Aren’t you a kid at that time?”

“.....Someone told me, though I can’t remember who… he said Listen to your instincts, they will never betray you.”

Was it because he is plainly curious or he is listening to his instincts, Donald doesn't know but nevertheless he looks over Allen’s direction and sees he is busy bullying other workers.

Setting aside the cart to the side, he sneaked out of his section and went to the end of yellow lines.

It was vast space and since the military is low in number, sneaking on the side was unnoticed.

“I’ll just take a peek and go.” He mumbled and rolled himself under the sheet.

Inside, it was hard to see anything, the top is open because the sun is not even fully up yet, only shadows and figures can be seen. Far to the side, he can see some flashlights going through.

‘It must be the soldier’s’

The flash light is coming through his direction. He went flat to the ground to avoid being caught.

*Growl

“Huh? What is that?” He sits down and looks around. Squinting his eyes, he could see the silhouette of shadow movements but it’s unsure what it was. It’s some item swaying.

*Growl

It was there again the animalistic growling. To check again, he didn’t move and focused on hearing it closely.

The sun is up and the light is reaching his spot. As the light shines through him, he is too stunned to make any sudden movement. He can only put his hand on his mouth to stop himself from screaming.

His body shook, having face to face with a stuck undead between the skeleton bars. It’s face is just like the undead from earlier but this is ten times worse. It’s jaw is hanging open with a missing eyeball.

In his mind, Lucas’ word replay.

“The undead from the apocalypse is a little different from what we are seeing around.”

“What’s the difference?”

“The undead that had been around for a long time, starts to rot. Their appearance is… more hideous.”

Donald starts calming himself but when the undead slowly turn its head on him he can’t help but gasp.

His whole body jerked up. The undead start to reach for him and the bars are hindering it to move forward.

*GROWL

Growling a little louder and crawling with more force, the undead is unfazed even if it’s skin torn. It’s moving forward without care.

“Donald?” Another worker peered through the sheet. A boy, maybe 10 -12 years old came in. He has these little freckles on his face and is covered in oil. He turned to look at Donald on the ground with horror in his face.

“Hey! Allen is looking for you. I see you come here… but what are you do–”

“Don’t come here!!” Donald managed to let out.

“Eh?” The boy halted and his view was suddenly obstructed by a hand with three fingers broken and bones sticking out.

*Thud

It snatched the boy. The boy’s back slumped to the metal bars. Trapped, the boy didn’t even know what was going on. He just felt something pierced his shoulder and looking at it, a head is sticking out. It was a horrendous face of a woman looking up to him as it bit the flesh out.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” The boy screamed in pain.

Donald’s eyes became watery as his legs gave out before he could reach the poor boy. He was struggling to move his feet but he grabbed the sheet and pulled himself out.

*Grab

The undead had reached him. It was squeezing it’s face out which made Donald freeze in fright.

“Donald! *Huuuuu* Help meeeee!” The boy cried. His neck is being choked and his flesh is being chewed.

Donald stomps on the hand with his other foot multiple times and breaks free.

Before the undead bite again the child Donald stomped the head back. He snatched the little boy and carried him in his arms.

“Hey! What are you doing here!!!” A soldier spotted them and ran to their direction.

As Donald attempts to flee the now lighted place, terrified him beyond words. He felt his heart would stop anytime now.

The unreconstructed wall is filled with trapped undead; the drapes on the other side fall down revealing more undead waiting to cross over.

The numbers are maybe larger than the living on his side.

“Do…nald, it hurts.” The child cried.

He only then returns to his senses. He passes through the undead hand and exits the cover.

“MOVE!!!”

“Just, hold on. We will get help!” He said, trying to convince both of them.

Maybe the scream of the child earlier stunned everyone again, they are only stupidly watching as Donald rushed the injured child to the medics.

It’s the ambulance where the injured were taken.

‘Thank Goodness, they are still here.’

*Bam! Bam!

“Please help! There is an injured child!!”

The child in his arms is convulsing and black veins are spreading from his neck.

*Bam!

He knocked loudly again.

The van opened.

“Thank god! Please help!!” He was greeted by a man in full protective equipment. He was not able to see it’s reaction.

“He was bitten?” It was a man’s voice.

“Yes. please help–...!!!” Donald stepped back.

*Bzzzt

“Infected on sight.” the man in a protective suit said.

“Give the child.”

“No!” Donald hugged the child close to him.

“Sir, that child is infected. You might get infected too.”

*Cough

The child starts vomiting blood and it’s eyes are bloody. It’s body temperature is like a hot kettle.

*Click

The man drew a gun. The people who had seen it, instinctively went down. Afraid being caught on fire.

“Sir, give the child. We can’t risk spreading the infection.”

Donald didn’t move a muscle he kept looking back and forth to the man and the inside of the van. Though only one door is open he can clearly see what was hidden inside the ambulance.

“AHHHHHHHHHH!” A shout stole everyone’s attention.

An undead crawled out of the sheets.

*Bzzzt bzzzt

“They are passing through. Evacuate now.” The command was issued in all lines.

*Bang

“s**t. Give the child.”

*THUMP

The man snatched the kid in his arms and kicked him. He placed the kid inside the van and closed it.

*Cough cough

It wasn’t that hard kick, maybe it’s a good thing, Allen does this one a while that he grows immune to pain.

*Bang

Another undead crawled out and shot.

“EVERYBODY!!! Move! Go back to the walls NOW!” The commander shouts.

A total of six soldiers are in the defensive line.

“What is happening?” One citizen said and leisurely walked.

*CRASHHHHHHH

*Rip

Everyone sees that the under-constructed wall side collapses and the sheet is tearing. It falls down eventually.

The dust flew everywhere.

A standing figure came into view.

*Growl

And soon followed by dozens of them.

“Urwaghh!”

*Bang

Another shot dead undead, slides off to the feet of the soldiers. Second silence after the gunshot made everyone understand what was happening.

“KWARGHHHHHHHHH!!”

Once again, the terror of the known history has once again descended on humanity.