Volume 1 - Chapter 15

Slaughter Bridge

Dozens of zombies staggered towards us, spanning the full width of the bridge.

I couldn't fathom how so many of them had found their way into these woods. I wondered if this many people actually lived up there.

Aiko and Chiemi were the first to open fire with the rifles. Their initial shots were erratic, missing their targets, but they quickly adapted to the weapons in their hands.

Soon the bullets Aiko and Chiemi fired found their marks, and the zombies' bodies exploded in a gruesome display of blood and guts.

The once-human figures crumpled to the ground, their limbs twitching in a final, futile attempt to reach us.

Blood flew from zombie heads, organs spilled from their open guts, and limbs fell to the ground.

Ryotaro attempted to join in the shooting, but he struggled to control the rifle. His shots sailed high into the sky each time he pulled the trigger, and he had to reposition his feet each time.

All of Ryotaro’s shots missed the zombies entirely. I watched him, feeling a mix of concern and frustration.

He stood near me wearing his normal clothes and then just the helmet. I wondered what good the helmet did for him but I didn't question it.

My heart pounded in my chest as I prepared to fire for the first time. The rifle felt heavy and foreign in my hands, its metal surface sending shivers through me. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves.

Maybe one day I would feel like a badass with an automatic rifle, but right then I had to admit I was scared.

I had watched action movies and heard gunfire from a distance, but I was a complete newbie to guns.

I squeezed the trigger and quickly let off. The rifle kicked back against my shoulder. I was knocked off balance and had to steady myself. My shot went high and wide, missing the horde.

It wasn't as bad as I had expected, but not even close to decent. I gritted my teeth, determined to do better.

I adjusted my grip on the weapon, trying to find a more comfortable hold. I took aim once more, focusing on a zombie that was staggering closer. This time, when I pulled the trigger, I braced myself and the bullet hit. Not where I wanted, but I had done something.

Aiko and Chiemi made a cloud of red and brown mist where zombies once were. Their hits blasted through the animated corpses and sent fluids everywhere.

I was drowned in a cacophony of gunshots, and I was sure my hearing was destroyed. Despite all that, I aimed and pulled the trigger again and again.

I sent flurries of bullets into the zombies. It was actually difficult to miss when there were so many of them so near.

Zombie heads snapped back and bodies collapsed to the ground, lifeless heaps of mindless flesh.

I felt a surge of adrenaline mixed with a twinge of guilt. I had never shot anyone before. I reminded myself these people were already dead and I was fighting for my own life.

There was no time to dwell on my feelings. More zombies were closing in, and I needed to keep firing. I needed to do my part.

I took aim again, my hands steadier. I squeezed the trigger and another zombie fell.

I continued to shoot, my movements becoming more fluid with each pull of the trigger. Beside me, Aiko and Chiemi were both whirlwinds of motion, their rifles blazing.

Together, we were making progress and thinning the horde.

I surprised myself with my capacity to use the rifle, but I was far from a good shot. It was way more fun than scary. More zombies came out from the woods the more we shot, until finally we saw only a few.

Aiko and Chiemi ran out of ammo before I did, and Ryotaro never got through all of his.

The rifle was starting to feel like an extension of my arm, and I found a strange sense of calm as I took aim and fired just one or two pops at a time.

After I had fired all my shots and Ryotaro put his gun down, there were dozens of dead zombies scattered across the bridge.

Their twisted forms rested in grotesque poses, limbs splayed at unnatural angles. The bridge was now stained maroonish brown with blood and gore.

Only a few zombies remained, staggering towards us with a mindless determination. We switched to baseball bats, ready to finish them off in close combat.

Aiko charged forward, her bat swinging in a wide arc. She connected with the first zombie's skull, shattering it like a rotten pumpkin. The creature dropped to the ground, its body convulsing in a final death throe.

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Chiemi followed close behind, her movements more precise and calculated. She targeted the zombies' knees, taking them down before delivering a fatal blow to their head. Her bat cracked the skull, disfiguring the zombie's head.

Ryotaro, despite his age, fought with a surprising ferocity. He wielded his bat like a samurai sword, slicing through the air and connecting with the zombies' heads.

The last one he hit stumbled to the side and fell over the edge of the bridge.

Adrenaline flowing, I stepped forward with my bat raised. The zombie lunged at me, its jaws snapping. I swung the bat with all my might, connecting with its jaw.

The creature's head snapped back, and it fell to the ground, momentarily stunned. I beat the crap out of his head just like I had done multiple times before.

Aiko appeared at my side.

Together, we finished off the remaining zombies. Our movements were a coordinated dance of death, each swing of our bats sending another creature to their final rest.

When the last zombie fell, we stood panting, our bats dripping with blood. The bridge was silent, and no more zombies came towards us.

If they were close enough to be drawn by all the gunfire, we didn't see them. When or if they arrived, we would be gone and they would hear only the music at Boga Shrine.

I looked at Aiko. Her riot vest was covered in zombie blood. Even if her lovely figure was protected by the gear and gore, I found her to be the most beautiful woman I had ever put eyes on.

She smirked at me. “You did good.”

Chiemi laughed. “You both did amazing! Better than I expected anyway!”

I looked at the older woman. She wasn't mad at me anymore, but suddenly happy about me handling the rifle well under the pressure.

I wasted no time. “Hey, why were you so angry?”

Chiemi looked away, her smile fading. “Sorry. I’m stressed. I didn’t mean to blame you. I know it’s not your fault.”

Aiko turned to comfort the woman.

I nodded, understanding. We were in a constant fight for survival. Tensions and nerves were going to be an issue.

Chiemi was clearly stressed, so I let it slide and forgot about what she said. I hoped if I ever spoke out of turn she could forgive me.

“It’s okay,” I said.

I decided it wasn't the right time to hold a grudge or ask her how she knew so much about guns.

We needed to get back up to the house and see if Yuki and Mio were alive.

I climbed in the driver's seat of the van. Aiko and Chiemi hopped into the red sports car, while Ryotaro got back into his.

The engines roared to life, and we pulled out onto the mountain road, making our way back to the house.

Ascending the road, I worried about Mio and Yuki.

Had they managed to hold out against the zombies? Were they safe?

I gripped the steering wheel tighter, urging the van to go faster. It struggled up the steep slope.

Finally, we pulled into the driveway and I breathed a sigh of relief. The house looked locked up, and there were no signs of zombies. I parked the van next to the others, and we all got out, prepared for the worst.

Chiemi rushed towards the house, calling out for Yuki. Aiko was just behind her, and Ryotaro and I followed.

The front door swung open and Yuki stepped out.

Chiemi let out a cry of joy and rushed over to Yuki, enveloping her in a tight embrace. The two women clung to each other, tears streaming down their faces.

It was clear Chiemi had taken on a maternal role towards Yuki, and the sight of them together filled me with a warmth I hadn't felt in a long time.

It dawned on me Chiemi was stressed and fearful Yuki was not safe. She let her terror get the best of her in a moment of panic, and for some reason I had been the easiest one to blame.

Mio appeared in the doorway. She was relieved but also a little embarrassed. She gave me a smile and a wave, and I felt a little awkward.

I wasn't used to being around people who cared about me, and it was taking some getting used to.

Aiko walked over to Mio and gave her a quick hug. "Are you okay?"

Mio nodded and explained to Aiko how the zombies surrounded the house. "Shortly after you guys left, Yuki and I got bored. We looked outside and didn't see any danger, so we decided to take a walk down the road and back. It's such a nice day, and we wanted to get a better view of those numbers in the sky."

Aiko looked at her with concern. I felt a pang of guilt for having left them. I glanced up at the giant white numbers still displayed against a clear blue sky.

363

It didn't make much sense. Spotlights needed something to hit against, like clouds. They also weren't visible during daylight, so I had no idea who or what was projecting the numbers, let alone what they meant.

Mio continued, "but then a zombie came out of the woods. We each had baseball bats, and we were able to get it down on the pavement and kill it. We were proud of ourselves."

I thought that was a decent accomplishment for them. Neither of the women looked like fighters. Mio was short and petite, and Yuki had a little heft, but both struck me as gentle hearts.

Mio's expression turned serious, "but I guess the sound from killing that one attracted another. And then another. I don't know where they all came from, but we had to run. We went back to the house and locked ourselves in. They just kept coming. More and more of them. It got so loud. I thought we were both going to die."

I looked over at Yuki, who was still clinging to Chiemi. She looked traumatized, and I couldn't help but feel responsible for putting them in this situation.

I felt like we had a responsibility to never leave them defenseless again.

Aiko put a hand on Mio's shoulder, "You did the right thing. You both did. You're safe now."

Mio nodded, but I could see the fear in her eyes. The whole thing had her shook.

Ryotaro spoke up, "well we are back now, so no need to fear!"

I looked at the old man and laughed. He was still wearing the riot helmet like a goofball. Aiko and Chiemi shook their heads. Mio cracked a smile.

Aiko glanced between Chiemi, Yuki, and me, her eyes filled with concern.

"Should we unload the supplies now, or take a breather first?" she asked, her voice soft.

We all exchanged weary looks.

"I think we could all use a break," I said. "It's been quite a morning."

Ryotaro chuckled, his laughter sounding more like a wheeze. "Quite a morning? It's been more than that, my boy. I'm worn out like a bald tire."

He leaned heavily on his baseball bat, the riot helmet still perched on his head.

Chiemi nodded, her face etched with lines of stress. "I'm more than just stressed, but seeing Yuki safe and sound has helped me feel better. Sorry again, Hachiro."

I nodded and Aiko did the same, her expression thoughtful.

"Alright, let's take a half hour or so to just sit and relax," she said. "We can unload the supplies after that."

We all agreed, and we made our way into the house. I collapsed onto the furniture, body aching from all the activity.

Aiko sat down next to me, her hand resting lightly on my knee. I could feel the warmth of her touch through my business slacks, and it sent a jolt of electricity through my body.

Chiemi sat down in an armchair, her eyes closed as she took deep, calming breaths. Yuki sat next to her, head resting on Chiemi's shoulder. Ryotaro settled down, his eyes already starting to close.

For a few moments there was silence in the room.

Aiko looked at me, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay?"

I nodded, managing a weak smile. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just tired."

She squeezed my knee gently and whispered. "Good. You did good out there. Don’t let me forget about what I said earlier.”

There was no way I could ever forget. I had no idea why Aiko had taken an interest in me, but I would do everything in my power to keep it that way.