The Entry Challenge

Tap* tap*

A low rhythmic knocking echoed through the dimly lit corridor, reverberating off the cracked, blood-smeared walls. After approximately thirty seconds, a massive frame emerged just behind the door. Through the grimy glass frame, I could make out the intruder's features.

Standing there was a tall, well-built young man, appearing to be in his twenties. His expression was stern, and his gaze scrutinized me from head to toe, sizing me up.

With a hint of sarcasm, I broke the tension. "Ughh... Can I come in? These zombies out here aren't exactly rolling out the welcome mat."

His response was as unwelcoming as his demeanor. "You're not welcome here. Find help somewhere else," he declared in a voice that brooked no argument.

I glanced down at my tattered and bloodied clothes. It was no surprise that he was hesitant to let me in, not with my current appearance. I was wearing the same clothes I've been wearing when the zombies had bit into me.

"No, wait," I insisted, trying to keep my tone more serious this time. "I haven't been bitten. Look, I can even show you." I began to widen the holes in my clothing, revealing a body that was in far better shape than it had any right to be in this apocalypse – sculpted muscles, defined abs, and cuts in all the right places.

The zombies on this floor were fewer than those above, clustered at the opposite end of the corridor from the survivors. I had a clear line of communication with the boy in front of me, the one holding the door.

Both mine and Jazmen's bags were with her, leaving me with nothing to offer as a bribe. My only currency was the experience and prowess I could display.

"We're at capacity," he declared, refusing to entertain the idea any longer.

"I can be an asset," I countered. "I can't keep going like this. Please, open the door."

He remained resolute. "I told you, we can't. Leave, or I'll toss you to those undead."

"Fine," I relented, though not without a final gambit. "Just answer me this: Is there someone named Jazmen inside? She came here yesterday, carrying two bags."

His hesitation was telling. "I don't know any Jazmen. There's no one like that here. Now, go away. You're not welcome."

"You really don't know," I persisted, reading between the lines.

"I told you, she's not here. Leave, or I'll take matters into my own hands," he threatened.

I decided to call his bluff. "Open the door, or I'll force it open. You surely won't like that, right?"

With a sardonic grin, he replied, "You can try. Let's see if they get you before I do."

The standoff hung heavy in the air, tensions rising. It was clear that words alone wouldn't resolve this. Apex Force was about to step in, and a clash was inevitable.

---

As I stood on the threshold, contemplating my next move, a curvaceous young woman, radiating both beauty and vitality, sprinted toward the door.

Tears welled up in Jazmen's eyes as she locked her gaze onto mine through the door's glass pane.

"You... you're still alive," she stammered, her voice quivering.

"Hey there, pumpkin. Didn't think you'd see me again?" I responded, forcing a smile through the gruesome mask of dried blood on my face. Despite the macabre appearance, my smile seemed to offer Jazmen some much-needed reassurance.

The burly figure stepped forward, positioning himself as a barrier after the door between Jazmen and me. He raised a cautious hand, his voice filled with restlessness, "You must go back. He could be one of them. We can't risk letting him in. What if he's been bitten?"

My agitation mounted. "You seriously won't let me in?" I questioned, frustration etched on my face.

"I won't fall for your petty tricks," the burly man retorted. "If you attempt to force your way in, I'll be more than happy to teach you a lesson with my fists before tossing you to those things."

"You... jerk!" Jazmen shouted, biting down on his forearm, the very limb that prevented her from approaching.

As she sank her teeth into his flesh, I seized the opportunity to act. With a swift kick, I sent the wooden door into a creaking frenzy. A second kick followed, causing it to shatter inward. The left door held its ground, but the right door gave way, bowing inwards.

Gripping the fractured door, I yanked it from its hinges, revealing a stunned expression on the burly man's face, his prior annoyance now replaced by shock and some.... fear.

"Feeling pretty big and proud after a few days of safety, huh? Have you faced these zombies?" I taunted as I struck the hefty fellow with the formidable makeshift weapon.

The impact sent the burly man tumbling to the floor, groaning in pain, while the ominous sounds of approaching zombies reverberated down the corridor.

"Notify the others inside. Move to the next classroom and wait for me. I'll hold these zombies at bay," I instructed Jazmen, my determination unwavering.

Ever the practical thinker, she understood the necessity of my departure. Someone had to stand between the encroaching zombies and their sanctuary. With a mix of worry and emotion, she murmured before going inside, "Don't risk your life. I can't bear to lose you again. I don't want to face a situation like yesterday."

With those parting words, she retreated into the safety of the building, leaving me to face the approaching horde with my unconventional weapon: the mighty broken door.

As I advanced toward the oncoming throng of brainless roamers, the only thing I could rely on was my sheer determination and a battered door. The battle for survival was far from over, and I was ready to face it head-on, armed with a resilience forged in the crucible of this post-apocalyptic world.