After barely surviving the ambush in the indoor courtyard, Taylor and Amy led their small group down a series of hallways, moving deeper into the convention center. The terror of facing shriekers, crawlers, and brutes had left them exhausted and shaken, but they knew they couldn’t stop now. Each step was another gamble, every corner a potential death trap.

Turning a corner, they spotted a few more figures huddled near an overturned vending machine. The group of three survivors looked battered, covered in dirt and sweat, but their eyes held a glimmer of hope as they spotted Taylor, Amy, and the others approaching.

A young man in a tattered Naruto jacket raised his hands in caution. “Hey, are you…normal?”

Taylor gave him a reassuring nod, showing his metal staff in a non-threatening way. “Yeah, we’re just trying to survive like you.” He glanced at the original group of survivors around him—each one bearing signs of battle and exhaustion. With a sheepish grin, he cleared his throat. “I just realized…we didn’t even get your names back there. I’m sorry about that.”

One of the first survivors, a tall, muscular man with short dark hair, managed a small smile despite the chaos. “No worries. There wasn’t exactly time for introductions.” He extended his hand to Taylor. “I’m Eddie. I’ve been with you two since the Exhibit Hall.”

Amy shook his hand, relief softening her expression. “Thanks for sticking with us, Eddie. We’d be in real trouble without you.”

Next, a young woman with short black hair, dressed in a schoolgirl cosplay with a pair of nunchucks wrapped around her waist, nodded with a small grin. “I’m Lily Chen. I’m usually a lot more sociable, but, well…” She gestured at the surroundings. “These aren’t exactly normal circumstances.”

Finally, a shy young man in his late teens with glasses and a worn black T-shirt introduced himself, offering a small nod. “I’m Ben. Thanks for…well, helping me get this far. I wouldn’t have survived without you guys.”

Amy gave him a reassuring smile. “We’re all in this together, Ben.”

With their introductions out of the way, Taylor turned to the newcomers. The young man in the Naruto jacket stepped forward. “I’m Max. My friends and I came here for a weekend of anime panels, but…” His voice trailed off, his face clouded with the memory of his friends’ fates.

Standing next to Max was a woman in her 30s with striking red hair, dressed in a torn Sailor Mars costume. She gave a tired but friendly nod. “I’m Claire. My sister and I were here together. We got separated when this…nightmare started.”

Amy placed a sympathetic hand on Claire’s shoulder. “We know how you feel. Our sister is stuck in a mall right now, dealing with the same mess. We’re trying to find a way to her.”

The last of the new survivors, a young man in his early 20s with dark eyes and a Tokyo Ghoul mask around his neck, introduced himself with a reserved nod. “Hiro. Let’s just say this was not what I expected from AnimeExpo.”

With everyone introduced, Taylor felt a sense of camaraderie settle over the group. “Alright, now that we know each other’s names, let’s work together and get through this,” he said, his voice firm.

Sharing Knowledge of the Zombie Variants

The group gathered in a tight circle, their faces reflecting the exhaustion and fear of what they’d witnessed. Max leaned against the wall, taking a breath before speaking. “We’ve run into a few different types of these things. They’re not all the same.”

Taylor nodded, glad they weren’t the only ones who had noticed. “We’ve seen some of them too. There’s the shriekers, crawlers, and brutes. Each one’s worse than the last.”

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Claire shivered at the mention of the brutes. “I barely escaped from one. It was wearing this massive set of armor, like a knight cosplay. The thing was a tank—it nearly broke through a wall just to get to us.”

Lily grimaced, clutching her nunchucks tightly. “And the shriekers…those are the worst. They scream, and it’s like they’re calling every zombie within a mile. It’s like they’re luring them toward us on purpose.”

Hiro nodded, his face drawn with tension. “I ran into one back near the artist booths. I barely got away. Those things are terrifying.”

Amy looked at Taylor, her voice hushed. “These things aren’t just acting on instinct. They’re coordinated. The shriekers bring more zombies, the crawlers trip us, and the brutes…they’re like battering rams.”

Max’s face grew somber. “So, it’s not just us. These things are working together, like an army.” He glanced around, his expression darkening. “There’s no way this is some natural infection. Something’s controlling them.”

Forming a Plan to Survive

The group took a moment to assess their supplies. Taylor and Amy’s makeshift weapons were starting to show signs of wear. Eddie had his hammer, and Lily still carried her nunchucks, though they too were showing signs of damage. Hiro had a collapsible baton he’d picked up from a security booth, while Max wielded a jagged piece of metal he’d turned into a makeshift club.

Taylor took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. “Alright, if we’re going to make it out of here, we need a plan. If we run into shriekers, we take them out first—before they can summon more zombies.”

Claire nodded in agreement. “And if we see crawlers, we keep our feet moving. Don’t let them pull you down.”

Ben, looking pale but determined, added, “If we spot a brute, we should all focus on taking it down together. They’re too strong to handle alone.”

With their strategy set, the group moved through the hallways, sticking to the edges and avoiding large, open spaces where they’d be more vulnerable to attack. Max walked beside Taylor, glancing around nervously as he shared his story.

“I came here with three of my friends,” he murmured. “We were supposed to cosplay as the Akatsuki from Naruto… We thought we’d have the time of our lives. Now…” His voice broke slightly. “Now, I’m the only one left.”

Claire placed a hand on his shoulder, her expression sympathetic. “I lost my sister back in the Exhibit Hall. I don’t know if she made it or if she’s one of them now.”

Taylor’s heart ached at their stories, reminded of his own worry for Maya. He forced himself to stay focused, knowing that letting his mind wander could be dangerous.

Another Horde Appears

As they continued down the hall, a new wave of zombies appeared, moving with an unsettling ferocity. The group barely had time to react before the undead were upon them. Taylor raised his staff, shouting, “Everyone, form up! Stick to the plan!”

The group quickly formed a defensive circle, each person guarding a section as the zombies closed in. The first to attack was a cosplayer dressed as Ken Kaneki from Tokyo Ghoul, lunging at Lily with vacant, bloodshot eyes. She swung her nunchucks with precision, landing a solid blow to its head and knocking it back.

Hiro swung his baton at a zombie in a disheveled suit, driving it back before delivering a swift blow to its head. “They’re coming faster now!”

Amy and Taylor moved in sync, each watching the other’s back. Amy swung her iron rod, landing a brutal strike on a zombie in a Naruto headband. The creature staggered, forcing her to hit it again before it finally collapsed.

“Don’t let them get too close!” Eddie shouted, swinging his hammer with crushing force at a zombie dressed as a samurai. “Stay focused!”

A Close Call

The battle raged on, the survivors fighting with all they had. At one point, a zombie managed to break through their defenses, lunging at Claire. She fell back with a gasp, raising her arm defensively, but Hiro was quick to react, stepping in to deliver a decisive blow that sent the zombie sprawling.

Claire scrambled to her feet, panting. “Thank you, Hiro.”

“Just doing my part,” he replied, his gaze steely.

The horde was relentless, but with their coordinated efforts, the survivors managed to fend off the zombies. Each of them was bruised and exhausted, but they were still standing.

Solidifying Their Bond

As they caught their breath, the survivors took stock of their surroundings. The hallway was littered with fallen zombies, and each person’s weapon bore the marks of the recent fight.

Max wiped the sweat from his brow, his expression hardened. “We’re dealing with something planned, something controlled. And if we don’t keep working together, none of us are getting out of here.”

Taylor nodded, his voice filled with resolve. “Agreed. We stay sharp, keep an eye out for any more variants, and watch each other’s backs. We’re getting out of here.”

The group shared a moment of silent understanding. They didn’t know what lay ahead, but united, they felt stronger. With renewed determination, they set off again, prepared for whatever the convention had in store.