Dead Walkers

"Isn't that obvious... It's the same as last night," Fred, who had joined her side, muttered with a tense expression as the memories of what they experienced last night surfaced.

Within Peter's group, a growing unease settled in as the darkness deepened, causing their hearts to race, few of them recalling the horrors they had saw previous night.

Even those who had not faced any danger of last night felt something was wrong here in this eerie forest as the sun disappeared.

"P-Peter… I don't think we should stay here… t-they might come out..." Some members began earnestly urging Peter to leave the area, with even Cary, one of Peter's friends, insisting on leaving.

"Hmm... it does seem a bit weird." Peter's eyes narrowed as he too acknowledged.

But then a small grin came over his face as he glanced at the others and with his tone nonchalant, he said, "But isn't it getting more exciting in this eeriness?"

"That lunatic!" Wendy exclaimed as Peter showed no signs of backing down even when the surroundings were becoming eerie.

With the huge axe in her arms, she swiftly darted toward Peter to halt his reckless behavior.

"Oh?" Seeing Wendy, coming toward him, Peter declared amusingly, "Shall we see who the stronger one is?"

However, as he was about to dash toward her, something abruptly halted his advance.

Crackle.

"Eh--?" Peter muttered as an odd sensation coursed through him.

Feeling strange, he looked down and saw the ground beneath him was cracked, and a decaying hand was seen clutching his leg with a vice-like grip.

He did not hesitant a second before he slashed his sword at the rotten hand that was clenching his leg.

While others were unaware of what was happening to him initially, when Peter used his sword to sever the hand that clung to his leg and leaped away, they finally saw it too.

Despite the thick fog getting thicker, the moonlight illuminated the grotesque hand which was oozing black pus.

"!!!! What the heck!?!" Peter's group was shocked and horrified, their hearts skipping a beat as they struggled to comprehend what they had just witnessed.

But to their collective dread, this was merely the beginning.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Suddenly, eerie noises reverberated throughout the forest, causing everyone present to gulp in terror, well aware of the ominous meaning behind that sound.

"This is bad!!! We must leave this place!" Fred urgently told Wendy as he approached her.

"I know! Let's take out those people fir—" Before she could finish her thought, a shout pierced through the chaos.

"S-Something's emerging from beneath the ground!!"

"Growl..." It was then multiple low, guttural growls echoed through the air.

Twitch!

Crack!

Startled, all eyes turned toward the source of the ominous sounds. Their collective gasps gave way to shock as the ground's surface fractured in countless places, and numerous grayish hands began to emerge.

The earth was splitting apart, and the so-called Dead Walkers slowly ascended from the depths below.

As they rose, their bodies appeared lifeless yet moved with a grim purpose.

Fixing their menacing, bloodshot eyes on their prey in the center, they all emitted horrifying growls.

"GROWWWWLLLLL!!!!!"

"RUN!!!!"

Panic surged through everyone as they shouted in horror. Last night, they only faced a few, and some did not even see a monster. Now, faced with multiple of them, a terror like none other ran through their bodies.

"AHHHH!!!!" Chaos ensued within Peter's group as some weaker-minded individuals succumbed to frenzy, shoving others in a futile attempt to escape.

However, the encroaching circle of Dead Walkers left them with no immediate route to safety.

"GROWL!!!" No matter how much they all shouted for help or in fear, the eerie, inhuman sounds reverberated through the air, muffling their cries and causing tremors of fear.

"Damn, this is insane!" Jack cursed, his gaze fixed on the countless Dead Walkers surrounding them.

"Form a circle, everyone!" Despite his own racing heart, Job acted decisively, gathering his friends to encircle themselves for protection.

"Job!! You know we can't stay here any longer!" Noah's urgent shout cut through the chaos. He and Bella shared grave expressions as they assessed the dire situation.

"I know! That's why we should break through the circle and get out of here!" Job responded resolutely.

However, their predicament was far from simple. There was hardly any way as multiple Dead Walkers encircled them, with more continuing to rise from the ground, outnumbering the previous night's horde by a significant margin.

"B-Brother!! Look to your right!!!!!" Suddenly, Nicole's horrified scream pierced the turmoil.

"Growl…"

"!!!" Right where Jack stood, a decaying head emerged from the ground, its gaping mouth moved to bite his leg.

"HAAAAA!!!!!!" Jack's heart was briefly consumed by fear, but it also triggered a surge of adrenaline. His fear of being killed compelled him to thrust his spear directly into the head of the approaching monster.

Thug! The spear pierced the creature's skull, instantly killing it.

Immediately, a white orb erupted from the dead monster and flew into Jack, leaving him stunned as he sensed a profound change. However, he unable to think about it further at that moment as the horde of Dead Walkers remained just a few meters away.

"You guys!!! Follow us!!" Suddenly, Wendy's urgent shout broke through their fear as she and Fred dispatched several Dead Walkers, creating an opening amidst the approaching horde.

"Follow them!!!" Job's voice rang out, and without hesitation, everyone propelled themselves forward, running as fast as their legs could carry them.

Even Peter and his group, upon seeing the small opening, sprinted in the same direction, trailing behind Job and the others. However, in the chaotic rush of such a large group, incidents and disorder were inevitable.

"Don't push me!!!!"

"Who do you think you're pushing!!!??!"

"Get lost!!!!"

"Please help me!!!!!!"

"DON'T LEAVE ME BEHIND!!!!!!!!"

As they surged forward, everyone in Peter's group shoved and pushed one another. No one paid heed to those who fell to the ground or the injured as their singular focus was on escaping as quickly as possible from the threat.

"W-Wait!!!! Please don't leave me!!!!! TAKE ME WITH YOU!!!!" Among the unfortunate ones lagging behind was none other than Ben.

While the fallen managed to rise and rejoin the frantic escape, Ben, hindered by the pain in his injured hand, repeatedly tumbled to the ground, unable to muster the energy to flee.

"Peter… didn't you agree to take me in…"

However, no one spared him a glance, let alone offered assistance.

Ben's cry drew the attention of most of the Dead Walkers, and as they closed in closer to him, an abrupt transformation overtook the creatures.

"GROWWWWWLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!"

The reddish glow in the eyes of the Dead Walkers intensified, and they descended into a frenzied state, pouncing upon Ben.

Their eerie, high-pitched screeches drew the attention of other Dead Walkers, who disregarded the fleeing survivors and rushed toward Ben's location.

"AAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! HELPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!! MEE!!!!!! IT'S EATING--!!!!!!!!!!"