Chapter 10: The Weight of SurvivalApril 30, 20XX1:45 a.m.Somewhere in Tokonosu City
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RECAP
After breaking out of the school, the survivors had managed to secure a bus, but the group’s fragile unity was quickly shattered. Rei Miyamoto, enraged by Koichi Shido’s self-appointment as leader, had stormed off the bus, refusing to stay near the man she knew to be corrupt and dangerous. Takashi Komuro, determined to keep Rei safe, had followed her into the night. But before they could return to the bus, a vehicle filled with zombies crashed into the tunnel, trapping them and forcing them to find another way to meet up with the rest of their group.
Now separated, Takashi and Rei had no choice but to navigate the treacherous city streets on their own, hoping to reunite with their friends while avoiding the undead that roamed the night.
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Takashi Komuro wiped the sweat from his face, his heart still pounding from the fight. The zombie he and Rei had just taken down was a former biker, its leather jacket torn and its face a grotesque mask of death. During the brief confrontation, Takashi had managed to knock out the helmet it was wearing and smashed his head down to a pulp using an iron rod he had found earlier, leaving it sprawled in the street.
Rei Miyamoto stood nearby, her eyes scanning their surroundings for any other threats. The city was eerily quiet, the silence only broken by the occasional distant moan of the undead. They had been on the move for hours, navigating the twisted, debris-filled streets in search of an alternate route to their friends, but so far, there hadn’t been much progress.
“Takashi, look,” Rei said, pointing to the side of the road just further up ahead. There was something on the ground beyond the road from where the fallen zombie had come from.
Takashi followed her gaze and saw it—a motorbike. They approached the vehicle and found out that its engine was still warm, meaning that it wasn’t too long before that biker became a zombie. The keys were still in the ignition, indicating that the biker probably turned while he was riding his bike.
“Looks like we’ve got ourselves some wheels,” Takashi said, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “This will make things easier.”
Rei nodded, but her expression remained serious. “Let’s not waste any time. We need to get moving.”
Takashi agreed and quickly mounted the bike, with Rei climbing on behind him. The engine roared to life, and they sped off into the night, heading deeper into the city. As they rode, Takashi’s thoughts drifted back to the events that had led them to this point.
FLASHBACK
It had all happened so fast—one moment, they were in the safety of the bus, and the next, they were separated from their friends, fighting for their lives in the darkened streets. Takashi remembered the look of desperation on Rei’s face as she had stormed off the bus, her anger at Shido fueling her defiance. He had tried to reason with her, but she wouldn’t listen, her hatred for Shido blinding her to the dangers around them.
Then came the crash—the bus filled with zombies that had slammed into the vehicles at the mouth of the tunnel. The explosion that followed had forced them to flee, leaving them no choice but to find another way to meet up with the group.
It had been a tense, terrifying night, and Takashi knew that things would only get worse. The city was a maze of dangers, both living and dead, and every step they took brought them closer to the edge.
But he couldn’t let himself dwell on the fear. He had to stay focused, to keep moving forward. For Rei’s sake, and for the sake of the friends they had left behind.
PRESENT
Takashi and Rei continued riding through the city, the motorbike cutting through the darkness as they navigated the abandoned streets. The city felt like a ghost town, the once bustling metropolis now silent and lifeless. The only signs of life were the occasional shuffling figure of the undead, which they quickly avoided.
After what felt like hours, they spotted something up ahead—a police car, its lights still flashing dimly in the night. Takashi brought the bike to a stop, and they quickly dismounted, approaching the vehicle cautiously.
The occupants were dead, their bodies slumped over the seats, but the car itself was intact. Rei opened the door and searched the interior, her hands shaking slightly as she rifled through the glove compartment and the officers’ belongings.
“Takashi, look what I found,” Rei said, holding up two Smith & Wesson Model 37 revolvers, one functional while the other had a broken handle. She then decided to remove the bullet from the gun with the broken handle and then handed them over along with the functional revolver with full ammo to Takashi.
Takashi’s eyes widened at the sight of the revolver. “That could come in handy,” he said, taking the gun from her and examining it.
As he held the revolver, Takashi suddenly remembered the pistol that Blake had given him before they split up. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Beretta 92FS, the weight of the weapon bringing a sense of comfort and responsibility. He hadn’t use the gun earlier in the fight with the biker zombie as he forgot to mention to Blake that he doesn’t know how to use it.
“Rei, do you know how to use this?” Takashi asked, holding out the Beretta.
Rei nodded with a smile. “Yes, my dad taught me the basics. I’m no expert, but I know enough to handle a gun.”
“Good,” Takashi said, relieved. “Can you show me how to use both of these? I’ve never fired a gun before.”
Rei nodded again and began to explain, her voice steady as she walked Takashi through the basics of handling the revolver and the Beretta.
First she started with the Smith and Wesson revolver. She showed him how to load the bullets into the chamber, how to lock back the hammering pin, how to disengage the hammering pin, how to fire the gun, etc.
Takashi listened intently, his mind focused on absorbing every detail. This was life or death, and he couldn’t afford to make any mistakes.
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She then went through with the instructions for the Beretta. Once more Takashi listened to the explanation with great focus and determination.
Once they were both confident in their abilities with the firearms, they continued on their journey, the weight of their new weapons adding to the tension that hung over them.
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As they rode through the city, the bike’s engine humming beneath them, Takashi couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. The streets were deserted, but there was a sense of something lurking just out of sight, waiting for the right moment to strike.
“We’re running low on gas,” Rei said suddenly, breaking the silence. “We need to find a gas station.”
Takashi nodded, his eyes scanning the horizon. “There’s got to be one around here somewhere.”
After a few more minutes of driving, they spotted a gas station up ahead. It was a self-service station, the pumps still operational but the building itself dark and empty.
Takashi brought the bike to a stop beside one of the pumps, and they both dismounted. “I don’t have any cash on me,” Takashi said, glancing at the pump. “I’ll check the store for a cash register and see if I can get some money.”
Rei nodded, staying near the bike as Takashi headed towards the small convenience store attached to the station. The door was slightly ajar, and Takashi pushed it open cautiously, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the empty space.
The store was a mess, shelves overturned and products scattered across the floor. Takashi made his way to the counter, spotting the cash register. It was locked, but a nearby baseball bat provided a simple solution.
With a few well-placed swings, Takashi smashed the register open, the drawer popping out with a satisfying clatter. He quickly grabbed the bills inside, stuffing them into his pocket before turning to leave.
But as he stepped out of the store, he heard something that made his blood run cold—a scream. Rei’s scream.
Takashi’s heart lurched in his chest, and he bolted towards the bike, his eyes wide with fear. When he reached it, his worst fears were confirmed. Rei was being held hostage by a man—a thug with wild, crazed eyes and a knife pressed to her throat.
“Let her go!” Takashi shouted, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger.
The thug sneered at him, his grip on the knife tightening. “You think you can boss me around, kid? You don’t know what I’ve been through. You don’t know what it’s like!”
Takashi forced himself to stay calm, his mind racing as he tried to figure out what to do. “What do you want?” he asked, his voice steady. “Just tell me what you want, and we can work something out.”
The thug laughed bitterly, his eyes filled with madness. “I want your bike. I want your money. And I want her.”
Takashi’s blood boiled at the man’s words, but he kept his expression neutral. “Okay, take the bike. Take the money. Just let her go.”
The thug didn’t move. “You think I’m stupid? You’ll give me the bike, and then what? You’ll try to kill me as soon as I let her go. No, you’re going to do exactly as I say, or I’ll slit her throat right here.”
Rei whimpered as the knife pressed harder against her skin, but she remained brave, her eyes locked on Takashi’s. She was counting on him to get them out of this.
Takashi raised his hands, trying to appear non-threatening. “Alright, alright,” Takashi said, raising his hands higher in a show of submission. “I’ll give you what you want. Just don’t hurt her.”
The thug eyed him suspiciously, his grip on the knife unwavering. “Throw the bat to the side, first. I’m not taking any chances.”
Takashi hesitated for a moment, but he knew he had no choice. He slowly tossed the baseball bat away, letting it clatter on the pavement a few feet from him. The thug’s eyes flicked to the bat, then back to Takashi, as if calculating whether the distance was safe enough.
“Good,” the thug muttered. “Now, the keys. Hand them over, nice and easy.”
“They’re in my back pocket,” Takashi said, moving slowly to reach for them. “I’m just going to fill up the bike for you, alright?”
The thug grunted, his gaze shifting momentarily to the bike. It was the opening Takashi had been waiting for. As he turned to the gas pump, he subtly signaled to Rei with his eyes, trying to convey his plan. She met his gaze, her eyes narrowing slightly in understanding. A slight nod was all the confirmation he needed.
Takashi inserted the nozzle into the bike’s tank, starting the flow of gas. The thug, distracted by the thought of getting away on the bike, didn’t notice the silent exchange between Takashi and Rei.
“Don’t try anything funny,” the thug warned, his voice low and menacing.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Takashi replied, keeping his tone neutral.
As the tank filled, Takashi kept his movements slow and deliberate, all the while inching his hand toward the concealed pistol in his pocket. Rei, sensing the tension in the air, knew the moment was coming. Her heart pounded in her chest as she prepared herself for what she had to do.
Suddenly, with a burst of desperate energy, Rei bit down hard on the thug’s arm, sinking her teeth into his flesh. The thug howled in pain, his grip on the knife loosening as he instinctively jerked back.
In that split second, Takashi drew the pistol from his pocket and rushed forward, closing the distance between them. He pressed the barrel of the gun directly against the thug’s chest, his finger hovering over the trigger.
The thug’s eyes widened in panic as he realized how close they were to the gas pump. “You’re crazy! If you fire that thing, you’ll blow us all to hell!”
Takashi’s expression hardened, his voice cold and unyielding. “I’d rather die than let you lay a hand on her again.”
Without another word, Takashi pulled the trigger. The gunshot rang out, echoing through the night as the thug’s body jerked violently from the impact. He staggered backward, collapsing to the ground as blood pooled around him.
Rei, now free from his grip, stumbled away, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. She looked at the thug’s lifeless body, her eyes filled with a mix of anger and disgust.
“Rei, we need to go,” Takashi said, his voice strained as the weight of what he had just done began to sink in. “The gunshot’s going to attract more of them.”
Rei turned to him, her expression conflicted. “I should have been the one to kill him,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion.
Takashi shook his head, placing a hand on her shoulder. “It’s not worth it. He’s gone, and we need to move.”
Rei hesitated, but she knew Takashi was right. The zombies would be drawn to the noise, and they couldn’t afford to stick around. With their bike now refueled, they quickly mounted it and sped off into the night, leaving the gas station—and the thug’s body—behind.
As they rode away, Takashi couldn’t help but replay the events in his mind. He had just killed a man. Though it was in self-defense, the reality of what he had done weighed heavily on him. The world had changed, and so had he. There was no room for hesitation, no time for second-guessing. It was kill or be killed.
But that didn’t make it any easier to accept.
Rei, sensing his turmoil, leaned closer to him as they rode, offering silent comfort. She, too, was struggling with the darkness that had overtaken their world, but they had to keep moving. They had to survive.
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April 10, 20XX
4:45 a.m.
Somewhere in the Suburban Area of Tokonosu City
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The sun started to rise as they approached the long suspension bridge that spanned the river, the city’s lights shimmering in the distance, Rei looked up and noticed something in the sky. A faint but unmistakable shape—a JASDF F-4 EJ fighter jet, flying low over the city.
“Takashi, look!” Rei exclaimed, her voice filled with a mixture of hope and wonder. “It’s the JSDF!”
Takashi glanced up, spotting the jet as it roared overhead. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, a genuine smile crossed his face. The sight of the jet, a symbol of Japan’s military strength, filled him with a renewed sense of purpose.
Rei waved at the jet, her heart lifting at the sight. It was the first sign of organized resistance they had seen since the outbreak began. The JSDF was still out there, still fighting. And that meant there was still hope.
As the jet flew off into the distance, Takashi and Rei continued across the bridge, their spirits bolstered by the sight. They didn’t know what lay ahead, but for the first time, it didn’t feel so hopeless.
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End of Chapter 10