CHAPTER 05 : INFECTED
1627 Words
THE ACADEMY'S wall were 3 meters tall surrounding the area, it's tall enough to keep unwanted animals entering the premises.
It's plain enough to be climbed.
"We just need to climb the wall here." Troy suggested. They are already in the east part, and beside them was the wall separating the school from the woods.
"Are you serious??" Connan retort
"It's only 3 meters tall, we just need some tools and materials that can help us climb up." Jin agreed
"Well we're in the storage room." Mila stated looking around
"Yes! That the idea! Don't you think it's just wonderful how things go on our way? The antidote, the east, and the storage room? It felt like we are born to live." Jin boasted again with his usual tone
Mila frowned, "Stop saying that, it felt like everyone else are fated to die."
Jin realized his mistake and blurted a silent "Sorry."
"Well, okay. We'll fight to live." Connan tried to be courageous in this plan "...but it's too dark here how are we able to take some tools."
"Flashlight of course!" Jin happily replied as he played on the switch of the flashlight.
"Where did you get that?" Connan asked in bewilderment
"We were playing the test of courage last night in the dorm and I've got enough preparation but they excluded me saying I'm too excited to be scared." Jin explained
The sun is already up high having the scorching heat inside the small room worsen. On the other hand, the fire in the academy completely ate the west building, burning all the remains of the dead and those who transformed into crisp. The field was loud by the noise of intense growling from the undead walking around mindlessly, seeking for something that would help their hunger.
Their eyes were grayed, skin white and those dark purplish veins were visible through out their skin, they're not slow but faster and it seemed like their bodily functions has upgraded and their limbs were much flexible than ever before.
Average humans who had the infection was transformed into mindless undead but some became more hideous and monstrous, lurking around the dark corners of the building.
"Ok, we're quite complete." they focused the light on the materials they collected.
They took a garden hose, a small anchor which was actually a head of a hammer but looked like one, then a sickle, and a rake.
"Jin, check the door if some infected reached the area." Troy commanded as he took the hose and the hammer head to be connected and will serve as their rope.
Jin abruptly turned to him, "Excuse me?!"
"Quickly, it's not that I'm ordering you to get eaten." Troy remarked and pushed him towards the door
Jin hesitated but Troy eyed him and got no choice but to take all the heavy object leaning against the door who were adding some security.
He slowly turned the knob open and through the slight opening, a line of sunlight appeared in the room. Jin carefully peaked outside with his eyes only and after a minute of checking, he popped out his head so that he can have a better view outside.
"Good gracious. There's nothing here!'
he said in glee
They all sighed in relief and immediately started their operation. Troy and Jin will have to go outside first and will prepare the rope with the small anchor to be thrown on the other side of the wall. When the anchor is pinned enough in the wall then they'll climb up one by one.
"You three, bring the tools over while we prepare over the wall." Troy said as he lead, opening the door slowly and checked, after confirming, he gestured Jin to come.
"And don't make noise. Maybe they're attracted to noises but hopefully they're not keen in smelling and sensing." Jin advised in a quick manner
"Jin!" Troy called
"Sshh!" he hushed but followed immediately
"Okay now..." Mila faced the other two then took the tools "... let's have each responsibility for this."
She took the sickle
"It's quite disgusting that we're not actually using this for its natural function." Roes blurted out
"Sorry about that." Mila replied then passed the short rake to Connan as Roes had the black box in hand.
"I'm amazed how you got adjusted to this Ms. Merald." Connan grimly said
"We're alive aren't we? Then we should act like one."
Connan didn't respond anymore as his heart starts thumping from the current situation and from what they're about to do, he's still unsure if it's wise to get out of the storage room.
They stood silently inside hearing the two outside throwing the anchor on the other side of the wall, many times they tried but the hammer head was not sharp enough to pin down against the wall.
"I remembered." Roes suddeny said
"One of the files I gathered had some wordings like 'species', 'human evolution'...." she stared at the empty ceiling as she refresh her mind
"What did you say?" Mila asked out
"Human evolution?" Connan frowned
But it was cut off when the door opened and Jin's head popped inside "Hey hurry." he whispered hastily
They stepped out and the blinding sunlight immediately caught their eyes.
"Here!" they turned right and the wide wall was there with a hanging garden hose.
"I'll climb up first to secure the hose then the girls will come up next." Troy instructed as he pulled the hose several times to test.
"Then it's like ladies first?" Jin asked out, slightly opposing the idea
"You might put it that way." Mila grinned
Jin grimaced, "I don't know if that ethical policy will still exist in this new era."
"It will not if all of the men are as corrupt as you Jin." Mila retorted back.
"Goodness me, are you dissing me?" Jin ready to fight back
"Hey it's ready!" Troy called as he stood at the top of the wall, it was 11 inches thick and an individual can manage to stand above it.
"Just put the weight on your lower body down to your feet." he added
"Okay then I'll go first." Mila volunteered
"Want help?" Roes asked
"No, no I once joined a mountain climbing activity in our community way back then. I can do this." Mila encouraged herself
She tested herself out first by pulling the rope and finally placing her right foot on the wall, after reassuring her posture, she started to tighten her grip, her left foot was raised after the right foot until Mila has smoothly climbed up to the wall with her feet rooted down on the wall.
Troy helped him up when she reached the top.
"Now stay there and hold on, we'll transfer the rope to the other side when everyone is here."
Mila nodded and finally took notice of how the woods looked darker than ever before, with it's slender trees, thicker leaves and thin fog appearing around, this is the other side of spring she thought.
"Okay Roes." Troy called.
Roes turned to climb up and as suggested, left the black box to let Jin carry it along in his turn and the other tools were thrown to the other side, in preparation for what's coming next.
"Nice one Zombie." Troy helped her to stand up when she finally reached the top.
"Thank you Pinkie." Roes replied back
Troy faked a smile.
"Okay class rep you're next!"
Jin's eyes widened and shouted, "HEY!"
"Shhhh!!" everyone hushed him.
He immediately sealed his lips and glares at Troy, "I'm the last one?!" he lowered his voice
"Come on you're brave enough and besides, aren't you an advocate for saving humanity?" Troy challenged him
Jin forced a smile, "What's got to do with that having me the last one?"
Connan clumsily climbed up and took a longer time compared to others, he was extremely nervous.
"It's okay Connan, we'll be okay." Mila tried to encourage him as he successfully climbed the half part of the wall.
"M-My hands... They're sweating..." Connan nervously replied as he tried to move further.
And with much consumed time, Connan finally accomplished climbing.
"Okay, I'm coming!" Jin excitingly hyped up because when the others are climbing earlier, he found some straw and managed to tie the black box so that he can hang it up on his shoulder while climbing.
"Well, I kept thinking of what you said Troy that if I want to save humanity..." he paused as he pondered
"...I should be always the last one to climb!"
"The thought is always above the point." Roes stated "or maybe below."
"Is there even a point?" Mila replied, backstabbing the two.
When Jin finally climbed up, Troy took the stretched garden hose and was about to transfer it to the other side when someone appeared in the alley and when he spotted them above the wall, he smiled widely.
It was the school janitor, Mr. Joe.
"Kids! H-Help! Help!!!" he was frantic and was looking back and forth
"Mr. Joe!" they all exclaimed
"Hurry! Hurry! Take the hose down!" Mila patted Troy
"O-Ok---"
"Hey!" Jin stopped him "What if he's infected!?"
"Saving humanity my head!" Mila took the hose and dropped it to help Mr. Joe.
"T-Thank you!" The old man climbed quickly, without struggle like his youthful days.
Troy helped him up while the others made space.
"T-Thank you. Y-You don't know how much I struggled with those monsters, thank you!" he kept blabbering the words of thanks and when his face met Troy...
Troy's eyes widened and stepped back immediately away from him.
The others were frightened from Troy's action and got themselves step away too from the old man.
"H-He's infected." Troy stuttered
- Writer
