Chapter 81: The Metropolis (8)
The next day, we resumed our journey. While we were traveling, we encountered our first problem: a horde of zombies. But they were the slow ones, and with the armored truck, we just ran over them.
Blood splattered on the road, along with their guts. It was a disgusting sight. They couldn't keep up with our speed. Those zombies were slow, they only walked. But they were known for their behavior: they hunted in hordes and sneaked up on you. They were quiet and stealthy.
While we were driving, Roger, who was behind the wheel, saw something that made him curse. "Oh, shit," he said and stopped the vehicle.
The scouts also stopped, and we got out of the vehicle. A chilling scene unfolded before us at the entrance to Metropolis City. The once proud sign that declared the city's name now served as a morbid welcome. Zombies, lifeless and grotesque, hung from the sign, swaying eerily in the wind. Their vacant eyes stared into the distance, a stark contrast to the warning written in blood at the sign's end: "Now Leave!"
The air was heavy with the stench of decay, and the atmosphere was charged with an eerie silence. The gruesome display sent a shiver down my spine, emphasizing the danger that awaited us within the city. The juxtaposition of the city's name against the lifeless figures and the ominous message created a macabre tableau.
I noticed that the scouts were taking pictures. "A documentary?" I asked.
"Yes, we're documenting this world for the future," one of them said and continued taking pictures and videos.
"Alright, let's continue," Roger said and we went back to the truck
We avoided the main road as we entered the first town of the metropolis. The group was smart enough to take an off-road route, bypassing the town.
The town looked eerily silent, with abandoned buildings bearing the scars of time and neglect. Streets that once bustled with life now echoed with an unsettling stillness, occasionally interrupted by distant moans and the shuffling of undead creatures. Tattered remnants of signs fluttered in the wind, conveying a sense of desolation.
Nature had started to reclaim its territory, with vines creeping up buildings and weeds breaking through the pavement. A thick layer of dust and debris covered the deserted vehicles, frozen in positions that told stories of panic and hasty escapes. The once vibrant colors of the storefronts had faded, and the overall palette was dominated by muted, somber tones.
Survival symbols like makeshift barricades and warning signs were scattered, revealing the desperate attempts of those who had tried to withstand the apocalypse. The air carried a heavy stillness, and the sun, struggling to pierce through the overcast sky, cast long shadows over the remnants of a town that had succumbed to a haunting, post-apocalyptic silence.
It had only been a year, but the town had changed so much. It was already afternoon by the time we reached the edge of the forest. There was no house nearby, so we decided to camp in the woods.
In the darkness, we established a makeshift camp surrounded by an eerie, yet practical, arrangement of defenses. Barbed wire was intricately woven around the trees, forming a protective perimeter for the tents. The sharp edges caught the dim moonlight, casting ominous shadows across the campsite.
Tents huddled within the protective embrace of the truck, strategically positioned as a shield against potential threats. The vehicle's bulk provided a formidable barrier, enhancing the sense of security in the otherwise foreboding night. The absence of a fire or lights added to the clandestine atmosphere, emphasizing the need for stealth in a world dominated by the undead.
The only source of illumination came from the soft glow of bug repellent incense, creating a mystical ambiance as wisps of smoke curled through the air. The scent mingled with the damp and cool night air, permeating the camp with an otherworldly fragrance. As we hunkered down in the darkness, our senses remained heightened, attuned to the dangers that lurked beyond the protective barriers of our improvised refuge.
"You can sleep in the truck, leave this to us," Roger said, but it was a lie. They didn't sleep.
"Okay," I replied. I could only agree. I didn't want to cause a scene or make them think that I was a burden.
The sun rose up high, but we were already traveling at dawn. The journey went smoothly until we arrived at the metropolis.
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We didn't enter the city through the main entrance, but instead we circled around it and found a way to avoid going through any checkpoints. We managed to get inside one of the side streets that had an exit to the city, but it was off-road. It was a good choice.