Preparations

As I glanced around at our motley crew, a mix of determination and nervousness painted their expressions. Here we were, embarking on a treacherous journey through a world infested with zombies, armed only with makeshift weapons and slim hopes of survival. It was imperative that we coordinated our efforts and made the best of our limited resources.

I took a moment to address the group, my voice reflecting the urgency of our situation. "Is this seriously all we're packing? We can't leave anything behind," I questioned, giving Jazmen and the others a skeptical once-over as they seemed to have gone minimalistic with their gear.

Jazmen, our tactical thinker, stepped forward, her face grave. "The more stuff we lug around, the slower we'll move. We can't risk someone lagging behind because they decided to skimp on packing," she explained, earning nods of agreement from the rest of the group.

"Alright, then, let's tread carefully," I stated firmly, setting the pace as I took the lead. Soul and Jazmen fell in behind me, with the three girls—Zolo, Emma, and Kat—trailing them. Kane, our designated rear guard, brought up the rear, ready to fend off any surprise zombie attacks.

I gripped two crowbars, one in each hand, ready to take on any zombies that dared cross our path. Crowbars were, in my opinion, the perfect makeshift weapons for the job—decent size and mobility. Soul and Jazmen had a shovel and a rod respectively, serving as their chosen tools of destruction.

The girls, while not the brawniest of the bunch, were armed with rods for self-defense, as we made it clear they were not to engage in direct combat. Zolo appeared to be the least physically capable, while Emma, Kat, and Jaz seemed to be on a similar level when it came to strength.

Now, Kane had decided to wield a sledgehammer. Personally, I wouldn't have gone for such a heavy, unwieldy weapon. Sledgehammers were notorious for their lack of mobility, flimsy wooden handles, and the fact that they could slip from sweaty hands at any moment. But Kane was dead set on it; he believed it would look badass when he smashed zombies' heads in.

All these improvised weapons, and then some, had been discovered in a storage room adjacent to the washroom. We counted ourselves lucky that, during the early days of the pandemic, people had not yet realized the importance of these tools tucked away in that obscure corner.

As we maneuvered to the corner of the corridor and entered a tiled open area, a chilling sight awaited us—a sea of zombies. They came in all shapes and sizes, from scrawny and fragile to hulking and menacing. The path ahead was almost entirely congested with the undead.

There seemed to be no obvious way to bypass them and reach the closed gate without engaging with some of these creatures. While zombies had limited vision, making them slow to react, any inadvertent contact could trigger a swarm.

I scanned the grim panorama of zombies blocking our path and shook my head. Then I turned back to the group. "You've all seen the situation. I won't make false promises. Everyone's priority is their own survival. I'll do my best to ensure we all make it, but my safety is crucial too. Jazmen, stick close to me. When push comes to shove, people often abandon even their closest allies," I emphasized, hoping they understood the gravity of our predicament.

Soul chimed in, determination gleaming in his eyes. "I'm all in."

Kat, clutching her makeshift gun on her waist which she made using the nail gun, confessed, "I think I've got an adrenaline rush."

Soul, who had been yearning to wield a firearm for ages, was handed Kat's gun. She gave it to him with a grin, saying, "You'll put this to better use."

Soul, overflowing with gratitude, exclaimed, "Thanks! I've been itching to use a gun freely. Once I get a real one, I'm going to be our group's sniper and ace."

Emma, giving Soul a sly look, decided to crack a joke, "Sure, you're the future sniper and ace, but for now, how about being our firepower and protecting us, you know, the 'less buff' crew?" She shot a quick wink in the direction of the girls to make her playful jab clear.

Soul just chuckled, scratching the back of his head with an air of casual humility.

" I still think it is better to stay inside and wait for help to arrive before trying something this dangerous", Zolo's meek voice came from the middle which was ignored by everybody. She just pouted and decided to remain silent.

" What do you think, you have something in mind", I said looking at Jazmen, who had her very special thoughtful expression.

As our preparations were in place, Jazmen turned to the group, ready to share some crucial knowledge. "Before we engage, let me lay down some key insights that could mean the difference between life and death. First, only a bite can transmit the virus—the black goo in their saliva carries it. Second, stay close to your comrades; we can't afford any blind spots. Third, aim for their heads and steer clear of their mouths. Fourth, ensure the person beside you doesn't get overwhelmed, especially the girls, as they might not have the same strength as the rest and also take into considerat...."

Kane, impatient and dismissive of Jazmen's instructions, interjected, "Come on, they're just slow, mindless wanderers. We can handle this without overthinking it."

Kane's outburst inadvertently caught the attention of the zombies. They turned toward us, their lifeless eyes locking onto our group. The battle to reach the gateway had begun.

In the face of this unexpected turn of events, we had to act swiftly and decisively to survive.