Chapter 42: Rush to the Bus

"Who is there?" Lois shouted as she trained her gun in the direction of the stairs. Rei also aimed at the stairs. 

"People?" the word slipped from the lips of a woman, her voice trembling with fear. 

"More survivors," a man's voice was heard. 

"We are coming down," announced another woman, her voice carrying a mix of relief and uncertainty. She seemed cheerful. 

James, stepped forward. "Okay, we are friendly as well," he responded.

Saya, voiced the question that lingered in everyone's mind. "Is it wise to trust them?" she asked. Her gaze bore into James.

James met her eyes, his expression unwavering. "They probably are students," he replied.

Saeko remained cautious. She went for the Ox position with Slasher. "We should keep our guard up," she warned. 

As they came down, they saw three students. A girl came down first. She was a red-headed girl with golden brown eyes. The girl wore a green skirt and had black leggings that went to her ankles. She had worn a white uniform with a green at the top near her shoulders. She has a thin figure and medium breasts. "You all have guns," the red headed girl said. 

"Guns?" said another girl as she came down. She had raven colored hair which was cut short. She had freckles on both of her cheeks, shaped like downwards triangles. She had large brown eyes.The girl wore a green skirt and had black socks that went to her ankles. She had worn a white uniform with a green at the top near her shoulders. 

"Where did you get them?" said the boy who had black hair and brown eyes and was wearing the black Fujimi Academy uniform like Takashi and Hisashi. He had a sports towel hanging around his neck and a bat in his hand.

"We have our ways but we are limited right now with ammo and guns," James replied. 

"Who are you?" the raven coloured hair girl asked. She looked at this man who was not wearing the school uniform. He must be an outsider. 

"I am James, that is Lois, Jasmine, Rei, Saya, Saeko, Shizuka, Takashi and Hisashi," James quickly introduced everyone.They all either nodded or put their hand up when their name was called. 

Except for Hisashi who firmly said, "I can give my introduction." He glared at James. There was hatred in his eyes. James was not sure what he did to deserve that besides taking his girlfriend. 

"It was quicker," Rei quipped as she scanned her environment for any zombies approaching them. Hisashi glared at Rei. 

I am Kawamoto," Kawamoto said the red-haired girl.

"Naomi," Naomi, the raven haired girl introduced herself.

"Takuzo," the male said. 

"It's good to meet some other survivors," Shizuka commented. She smiled.

"Do you want to come with us?" Takashi asked. 

James thought there were only three of them, in the original there were 5, he wondered what happened to the other two. It did not really matter, those two were even forgotten in the anime over time. James did not really care about Kawamoto or Naomi. Kawamoto is a bi-sexual person who openly engaging in sexual acts. He was not against that but he had no desire to include her in his harem. Naomi loved Takuzo but died and that drove her crazy to her death, may be he will save them. 

James thought Takashi was trying to be the leader, bigger group means more people and less time with his girls. 

"They seem more armed and ready," Kawamoto replied. She looked at the weapons the girls held. They were all shiny. 

"Yes, we will," Takuzo replied. He thought they would have better chances together. 

"Is anyone bitten by them?" James asked.

"No, we are not," Naomi replied. She moved her hands like a windscreen wiper to emphasize her point.

"Bit?" Rei asked. She wondered what the significance of that was. 

"I think you will turn into one of those zombies, if you get beaten," James replied. 

The girls looked in shock. "Are you telling us this now?" Saya shouted.

"I thought, I did before, must have forgotten in all the hurry," James answered.

"That would have been useful to know," Saeko added.

"Either way, it's pretty common sense, don't get hurt," Takashi replied.

"I would not allow for anyone to get bitten," James confidently said. 

"I am here as well," Lois interjected. 

"Okay, let's get to the bus," James directed. He ordered, "Naomi, Kawamoto and Takuzo keep close to Takashi and Hisashi, everyone else we will use the same formation as before." 

"Sounds like a plan," Rei said. She got her gun out and prepared it. Beside her, Lois nodded, her eyes sharp and watchful. The fire exit stairs were a narrow descent. Each step creaked under their weight. Lois stepped ahead, her boots barely making a sound. Her gaze swept each corner, each landing, searching for signs of danger. They descended further, the air growing colder. Rei's heart pounded in rhythm with each footfall. 

The rest of the group followed. Saya and Jasmine took the rear again as they moved down. They got to the bottom of the fire exit. In front of them they could see hordes of zombies moving around, their tattered school attire clinging to rotting flesh. The school uniforms were now crumpled blazers, plaid skirts, and stained ties. The fabric hung loosely. Their skin was a sickly shade of grey, drained of life. The cheeks were sunken, the jawlines slack. 

"I can see the bus in the parking lot," Shizuka observed.

"Okay, let's go for it," James ordered. Lois and Rei nodded. They aimed their guns and fired. Lois pulled the trigger and shot the zombies in the head as she went forward. Rei kept her finger on the trigger and unleashed a hail of bullets at the zombies. The zombies got hit by the bullets and dropped to the ground. 

They ran towards the bus. Saeko saw zombies coming towards them. She gripped her short sword and slashed the zombie in his chest. Blood splattered from his wound. She saw another zombies coming towards her. She ran up and quickly slashed them both. She smiled, she felt alive. She looked at Slasher with some blood on it. She wiped it clean with her hand and slashed another zombie. 

Jasmine aimed her Red Hawk and fired her pistol. She looked down the sight and pressed the trigger. A bullet left the chamber and went towards the zombie. It hit the zombie in the chest as he was knocked from his feet and went down. She fired a few more bullets hitting the zombies and going down. She smiled, this was a powerful weapon. 

Saya kept close to Jasmine. She aimed the Porter X2 Ray Gun and fired it on the ground in front of three zombies. The red wave hit the ground and exploded. The splash damage took out the three zombies instantly. Their legs were completely destroyed and they stopped moving. Saya thought this gun was from the future.

They all continued to move up. Shizuka ran up to the bus and got on. She ran into the driver seat and saw the key was there. She smiled and shouted, "Everyone on, we are good to go." 

Lois took position in front of the bus and started to gun down the zombies. Kawamoto, Naomi, Takuzo, Hisashi ran on to the bus and sat down. "We made it," Kawamoto said. 

Jasmine and Saya followed suit. Saeko was right after them, slashing zombies. James came hauling the suitcase.

"Wait, we are coming," said a man in front of a group of six running towards them. He was wearing a black pinstripe suit. Inside the suit, he wore a white dress shirt along with a yellow tie. He had worn black-framed glasses and brown dress shoes.

"Shido," Rei said in disgust. 

At that moment, a A black smoke cloud appeared and a loud growl could be heard. As the smoke slowly cleared, three yellow lights could be seen. All of a sudden three yellow beams were fired. It went towards Rei. 

"Watch out," Takashi shouted as he pushed Rei out the way. Takashi got hit with a yellow beam and it eviscerated the right side of his body. 

"Takashi," Rei shouted. The zombies approached Rei who was getting up. Lois rushed over and shot the zombies around her. Rei looked at his lifeless body. She was hyperventilating. Jasmine and Saya gave covering fire to them. They looked at the black cloud.

"Rei, get a hold of yourself," James shouted. Lois grabbed her arm.

"We need to go," Lois stated. That black cloud, there was something ominous about it. 

"Everyone on the bus now," James ordered as he kicked the suitcase towards the bus. Shido and his group ran onto the bus. 

Rei and Lois headed towards the bus. James knew from the three yellow glows what it was. "James come one," Jasmine shouted as she got the suitcase and put it in the bus. 

"Go, leave without me, I will catch-up. Head towards the Tokonosu Bridge, I will see you there," James ordered as he dodged the zombies coming towards him. They were slow and the hail of bullets coming from Saya and Jasmine, got them away from me. 

"But," Saya tried to say. 

"Go now, if you need, ditch the bus and walk it," James shouted. 

Saeko and Lois understood. Lois knew James could deal with whatever that was. Saeko had a feeling, he could. Everyone was now on the bus. 

Rei was still reeling from the loss of Takashi. A tear came down her face. "It's okay," Lois assured her. 

She looked at Shizuka. "Floor it," Lois ordered. 

"But there are zombies blocking the gate," Shizuka said.

"Run them over," Rei shouted. 

"You heard the lady," Lois said. Shizuka turned the engine on, and put the bus in gear. The smoke cleared further to reveal a grotesque creature with three heads and several tentacles. It had three mouths each which were glowing at the bus. It fired another yellow beam. 

James opened the faceplate of the Ultimatrix. He saw the silhouette of a humanoid dinosaur with a broad chest, muscular arm and legs and a long tail. "It's time," he said as he slammed it down.