Chapter 7

The next day, Mark awoke, finding himself entangled beneath the limbs of Anna and Monica.

He carefully peeled their legs away from him, trying not to disturb their slumber.

Mark headed to the restroom and, upon returning, found himself once again entangled amidst Anna and Monica's limbs.

Anna's gentle touch and the aroma of his favorite drink, milk coffee, roused Mark from his slumber.

She greeted him with a kiss and handed him his coffee. Anna also prepared a cup for Monica.

Monica returned Anna's kind gesture with a loving kiss on her cheek.

She then took her coffee and looked at her with a warm smile. "Thank you, Anna. You always know how to make mornings better," she said, her words filled with affection.

Anna flushed slightly at Monica's words and smiled back at her. "Well, I have the best inspiration for making mornings special," she replied, giving Mark a playful wink.

Mark grinned, feeling rather pleased with himself. "You're both lucky to have me," he teased, sipping his coffee with a hint of arrogance.

Anna and Monica couldn't help but burst into laughter at Mark's self-assured comment, finding his playful arrogance endearing.

Luda and Nicole woke up one after the other, their disheveled appearance and tired expressions making it clear that they hadn't slept well, likely due to the passionate activities they had overheard.

They cast resentful glances at Mark, their dissatisfaction evident.

Luda and Nicole woke up one after the other, their disheveled appearance and tired expressions making it clear that they hadn't slept well, likely due to the passionate activities they had overheard.

They cast resentful glances at Mark, their dissatisfaction evident.

Mark, Anna, and Monica exchanged sheepish glances as they mumbled their apologies to Luda and Nicole for the night's activities. After their apologies were exchanged, they made their way to the dining area.

Mark finished his breakfast and wiped his mouth with a napkin. He then stood up and walked over to CJ, who was sitting nearby.

"Hey, CJ," Mark began, "Do you have the garage keys?"

CJ looked up from his meal, surprised by Mark's request. He swallowed a bite of food before responding, "Yeah, I've got the keys. What do you need them for?"

The group nearby continued to observe the conversation with curiosity.

"Just checking the generators and looking for any getaway vehicles, in case we need them. Our power won't last forever."

CJ nodded in agreement, acknowledging Mark's request.

Mark then turned to the group and inquired, "Who's up for coming with me?"

Steve, Tucker, Glen, CJ, Terry, and Bart showed no interest in joining.

Kenneth appeared lost in thought, while Michael seemed to have second thoughts.

As Mark prepared to leave for the underground parking garage with the others, Anna and Monica shared a concerned look and told him, "Take care, Mark." Mark responded by giving them both a reassuring kiss on the lips before he headed off with the group.

Meanwhile, Nicole and Luda, who had witnessed the earlier awkward moment, offered a friendly wave.

Their concern for Mark was evident in their expressions as they watched him and the group head towards the garage.

Mark stood before two doors, one marked "Garage" and the other with a sign reading "Employee's Only."

He gestured towards the "Employee's Only" door and inquired, "What's behind that door?"

CJ explained, "That door leads to the sewage tunnel beneath the parking lot."

CJ took the lead, approaching the garage door and unlocking it. With a touch of sarcasm, he quipped, "Have fun!" Bart couldn't help but chuckle as they prepared to leave.

Mark stopped them and suggested, "Why don't the both of you come with us?"

Cj, annoyed, responded, "Listen, I've already told you the way. I'm not going to show it."

In a playful yet persuasive manner, Mark prodded, "Oh, come on, don't be a baby!" He nudged them forward, and they half-heartedly resisted, their efforts no match for Mark's determination.

Cj, frustrated, muttered, "Asshole. At least give us our gun back."

Michael couldn't help but chuckle at the scene before him.

Mark stopped and asked Michael for the guns.

Michael replied, "Sorry, I don't have them. I only have one on me."

Suddenly, footsteps echoed, catching everyone's attention. Kenneth appeared with his shotgun, wearing a serious expression.

Mark greeted him with a smile. "So you're coming with us."

Kenneth responded sternly, "You're coming with me. I've done this already."

Mark playfully mocked him with a gruff voice, copying Kenneth, "You're coming with me," he imitated, adding with a smirk, "So badass."

Kenneth met Mark's gaze with seriousness, and Mark maintained his smile.

The tension was briefly broken when Bart couldn't help but stifle a laugh, earning a stern look from Kenneth.

Michael turned to Kenneth and asked, "Where's Cj and Bart's gun?"

Mark, chimed in, "Give them their guns, Kenneth. It's safer."

Kenneth raised an eyebrow, asking, "You sure about this?"

Mark nodded confidently and patted Cj's and Bart's shoulders. After a brief moment of hesitation, Kenneth agreed, pulling the guns from his side and handing them to Cj and Bart.

As they entered the underground parking garage, the transition from the mall's brightness to the dimly lit space was noticeable.

Overhead lights created patches of light, but much of the area remained in shadow. Rows of parked cars stretched before them, and the spaces between the vehicles were dark and mysterious.

The echoes of their footsteps added to the eerie atmosphere.

As they paused in the dimly lit garage, Mark was well aware of the presence of numerous zombies. He didn't want any surprises from them hiding in the corners. So he needed to do something about that.

Taking a deep breath, Mark let out a sharp whistle, the sound echoing through the garage.

The group tensed except Mark as they heard the approaching panting and running sounds.

Gripping their weapons tightly. Mark calmly looks forward as his companions exchanged nervous glances.

Bart's voice quivered with unease. "What's that sound?" he stammered, his nervousness evident.

The group turned their attention to the corner and spotted a dog cautiously glancing at them. The tension eased as they realized it was just a dog.

Cj muttered, "It's a f*cking dog."

Mark called out to the dog, "Here, boy." And a big, happy lab/shepherd mix, eagerly ran over to him, wagging its tail.

Mark affectionately stroked its head and back.

Michael chimed in, "Well, at least we know there's nothing down here, or else it would have eaten them."

Bart couldn't help but mutter, "It's just a dog, for heaven's sake."

The dog suddenly barked loudly, its attention fixed on something in the darkness.

Mark stood up, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings, while his companions focused on the dog.

Michael knelt down and patted the dog's head, asking, "What's wrong, boy?"

Mark finally noticed the legless zombie clinging to a pipe above their heads, swinging rapidly toward them.

This situation had been amusing in the movie, and witnessing it in person, although somewhat grotesque due to the zombie's bloody and twisted legs, only added to its absurdity.

Mark couldn't contain his laughter as he watched the legless zombie swinging comically above them. He shouted amidst his laughter, "Heads up!"

Bart, startled, exclaimed, "What the fuck is that?"

"It's the one who bit you," Mark thought to himself.

The group looked up and saw the swinging zombie. Mark took aim at it, causing it to drop from the pipe, but his shot missed its head.

As Mark took his shot and missed, Kenneth reacted quickly, raising his shotgun and taking another shot at the falling zombie.

Michael and Cj, who had been watching the scene unfold, remained vigilant, ready to assist if needed.

Mark, feeling the need for some target practice, focused intently and took another shot, this time hitting the zombie square in the head.

Multiple running and wailing groans echoed through the once silent parking lot.

The group turned their attention toward the source of the noise and saw a large horde of zombies rushing toward them.

Mark quickly counted, realizing there were more than a dozen of them closing in fast.

The group spotted a decent-sized horde of zombies rushing toward them. Mark knew they had to act fast.

Mark, with his unlimited ammo and peak physical abilities, started shooting.

Kenneth joined in with his shotgun, taking down multiple zombies with each blast.

Cj and Bart, initially unsure, followed Mark's lead. They took down zombies with headshots.

Michael, who wasn't experienced in combat, stayed calm and shot accurately.

As the zombies closed in, the group kept moving backward, maintaining a safe distance from the approaching undead.

Mark, still firing with precision, ensured they never got surrounded.

"Back to the stairwell!" Kenneth shouted. They continued to retreat, picking off zombies one by one.

They reached the entrance, maintaining their distance from the encroaching horde. The tension was high, but they stayed cool under pressure.

"Fall back to the stairwell!" Kenneth yelled again. They retreated to the entrance, shooting the zombies in their path.

Finally, they closed the door, the zombies banging against it. They caught their breath, relieved they had managed to keep their distance and avoid being surrounded.

Mark looked at the group, their faces sweaty and fatigued.

"Well, that was an unexpected detour! Let's hope they're not endless," Mark chuckled.

The adrenaline and excitement had washed away his earlier nervousness, and the group joined in laughter as their adrenaline levels gradually returned to normal.

The group suddenly remembered the dog and turned to see it barking excitedly nearby.

Mark turned to his companions and suggested, "Let's crack the door open just a bit. Enough for someone to take shots at those zombies without letting them inside."

Cj raised an eyebrow, looking at Mark in disbelief. "You still want to continue with this madness?" he asked incredulously.

Mark nodded, "We still need to check the generator, and those getaway vehicles. We've come this far. Even though I'm not planning on leaving here, it's better to be rread." He replied simply.

Cj glanced around, taking in their opinions. Bart shook his head in disagreement, but Kenneth and Michael supported the idea. Just as Cj was about to make up his mind, the dog barked loudly, causing him to sigh in resignation. "Damn it, I'm in."

The group continued their efforts, repeatedly opening and closing the door, taking breaks in between to rest. They worked hard and succeeded in getting rid of all the zombies.

Mark asked Michael and Bart to stay put at the entrance, just in case they needed to fall back, while he and the others headed back into the parking lot.

Mark turned to Cj, and inquired "Cj, do you know where the shutter door is? We need to check if it's open."

Cj nodded in response to Mark's question. "Yeah, I know where it is. Follow me," he said as he led the way towards the shutter door.

Mark whistled and made occasional sounds to alert any nearby zombies.

Kenneth followed closely, his senses on high alert. Eventually, they reached the shutter door and found it securely closed.

Mark, Kenneth, and Cj made their way to the generator room, located near the mall's gas pump.

They checked the generator's fuel tank and topped it off until it was full.

After ensuring everything was in order, they surveyed the entire parking lot to confirm it was safe.

Satisfied with their findings, they made their way back to the group.