Chapter 11: Crossroads of Survival
April 30, 20XX
5:45 a.m.
Tokonosu Floating Airport
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The early morning light bathed the Tokonosu Floating Airport in a muted, grayish hue, the remnants of the night’s battle still fresh in the air. Rika Minami scanned the runway from her vantage point on the rooftop, her sniper rifle resting against her shoulder. The scene below was one of grim efficiency; airport and police vehicles moved systematically across the tarmac, clearing away the lifeless bodies that littered the ground. The stench of decay mixed with the acrid smell of gunpowder hung heavy in the air.
Rika lowered her rifle, her sharp eyes sweeping across the area one last time before turning to her partner, Tajima, who was busy surveying the perimeter with binoculars.
“Looks like we’ve cleared most of them out,” Rika said, her voice steady despite the exhaustion that tugged at her muscles. “At least for now.”
Tajima, her superior officer and longtime partner, nodded in agreement. His stern face was creased with lines of concentration. “We’ve been lucky,” he replied, lowering the binoculars. “If we hadn’t been stationed here for anti-terrorism measures, this place would’ve been overrun days ago.”
Rika glanced back down at the runway, where a team of airport security was using heavy machinery to push a particularly large pile of bodies into a waiting incinerator. The sound of the roaring flames filled the air as the bodies were reduced to ash.
“But luck only lasts so long,” Tajima continued, his tone grim. “We’re running low on munitions and supplies. Without resupply or reinforcements, we won’t be able to hold this place much longer.”
Rika nodded in agreement, the weight of his words settling heavily on her. She had seen what happened when strongholds like this one fell—chaos, death, and the relentless spread of infection. But this was the best option they had; abandoning it wasn’t something she wanted to consider.
“What will you do if the airport gets overrun?” Tajima asked, breaking the silence.
Rika paused, considering the question carefully. Her mind drifted to the city, to the friend she had left behind. “I’ll go back to the city,” she said finally, her voice quiet but resolute.
Tajima raised an eyebrow. “Back to the city? You’ve got someone waiting for you there?”
Rika shook her head, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “It’s not like that. It’s just… a friend. She’s not exactly the most capable when it comes to taking care of herself. I promised I’d look out for her.”
Tajima chuckled softly. “A klutz, huh? You sure know how to pick your friends.”
Rika’s smile widened, though her eyes remained serious. “She’s got a good heart, though. I just hope she’s safe… wherever she is.”
They stood in silence for a moment, both lost in their thoughts. The sound of a jet engine starting up in the distance brought them back to the present.
“We’ll keep holding as long as we can,” Tajima said, his voice taking on a note of finality. “But we need to be ready for anything. If it comes down to it, we may have to make some hard decisions.”
Rika nodded, her resolve hardening. She had always known that this fight would demand sacrifices. The question was, how much were they willing to give?
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April 30, 20XX
11:45 a.m.
Tokonosu City, Stuck in Traffic
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The sun had risen hours ago, casting a harsh, unyielding light over the city of Tokonosu. The bus carrying Shido and the group of survivors was stuck in a massive traffic jam, surrounded by a sea of abandoned vehicles. The silence inside the bus was thick, the oppressive heat making everyone irritable and restless.
Shizuka Marikawa leaned against the steering wheel, her face flushed with frustration and exhaustion. The bus had barely moved in the last hour, and there was no sign of the traffic clearing anytime soon. She sighed heavily, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead.
In the back of the bus, Koichi Shido saw the lull in movement as an opportunity. Standing up, he addressed the group with the same calm, authoritative tone he had used the previous night.
“Everyone, listen to me,” Shido began, his voice carrying through the bus. “We’re all in this together, and it’s important that we remain united. Acting out of self-interest will only lead to our downfall. We need to find a safe place—together.”
Some of the students nodded in agreement, their tired faces showing signs of hope. Shido’s calm demeanor had a way of soothing their frayed nerves, making them believe that he was the leader they needed.
Saya Takagi, sitting near the front, rolled her eyes in disinterest. She had heard enough of Shido’s preaching to know that it was all for show. She nudged Kohta Hirano, who was dozing off beside her.
“Wake up,” Saya said, her voice tinged with annoyance. “How can you sleep through this nonsense?”
Kohta blinked groggily, rubbing his eyes as he sat up. “Sorry,” he mumbled, glancing out the window at the endless rows of cars. “It’s just… nothing’s happening. We’re stuck in traffic, and it’s boring as hell.”
Saya shook her head in exasperation. “You’re impossible,” she muttered, though there was a hint of fondness in her tone. She then pointed out the window, where a distant airplane could be seen taking off. “Look over there.”
Kohta squinted, watching the plane ascend into the sky. “An airplane…? So people are still trying to escape.”
Saya nodded thoughtfully. “Most likely heading to an island or a place with a strong JSDF presence. People are looking for somewhere safe—somewhere they won’t be overwhelmed by the infected.”
Kohta pondered this for a moment, then nodded in agreement. “Like Okinawa, maybe. The American military and the JSDF both have a presence there. It’d be a good place to go.”
“Exactly,” Saya replied, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “And if they handle the situation properly, Hokkaido and Kyushu should also be safe. But that doesn’t mean we can just fly to those places. By now, any secured areas are probably locked down, with strict control over who gets in.”
Kohta frowned, realizing the implications. “You’re saying… it’s too late for us to try that?”
Saya nodded. “Exactly. If you were in charge, would you let just anyone in? Knowing that there’s a chance they could be infected?”
Kohta thought for a moment, his brow furrowing in concentration. “I guess… I’d just shut myself in, keep the community as small as possible.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Saya sighed, shaking her head. “And if everyone thought like that? The world would just fragment into tiny, isolated groups, all trying to survive on their own. It’d be the end of any hope for rebuilding.”
Kohta gulped, suddenly understanding the gravity of the situation. “You’re right… You’re a genius, Saya.”
Saya smirked, though her expression quickly turned serious as she glanced toward the back of the bus, where Shido was still preaching to his followers. “Why does that surprise you? Look at Shido—he’s exactly the kind of person who would do anything to protect himself, even if it meant sacrificing others.”
Kohta’s eyes narrowed as he watched Shido. “You’re right. We can’t trust him. Should I… take him out?” He reached for his shotgun, his fingers twitching with the urge to cock the weapon.
Saya shook her head, her expression grim. “Not yet. We need to focus on surviving. There’s no point in making enemies right now.”
She then glanced out the window, her thoughts drifting to Takashi. ‘If only Komuro was here…’
Kohta noticed the look on her face and couldn’t resist teasing her. “You like Takashi, don’t you?”
Saya’s face turned bright red, and she quickly turned away. “Don’t say something so stupid!” she snapped, though her embarrassment was obvious.
Both Saeko Busujima and Shizuka Marikawa, who had been listening in, exchanged knowing looks. Saeko raised an eyebrow, while Shizuka stifled a giggle.
Blake Henderson finally stirred, stretching as he walked over to join the conversation. He had been resting, recovering from the exhausting night they had endured.
“Morning, everyone,” Blake said, his voice a bit hoarse. “What did I miss?”
Saeko greeted him with a small smile. “Good morning, Blake. Feeling better?”
Blake nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, much better. I’m ready for whatever comes next. But… I’m worried about Takashi and Rei. Any word from them?”
Saya’s expression softened as she shook her head. “No… We haven’t heard anything. But knowing Komuro, he’ll be fine.”
Blake sighed, glancing out the window at the unmoving traffic. “I hope so.”
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April 30, 20XX
12:30 p.m.
Streets of Tokonosu City
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Takashi and Rei sped through the streets on the motorbike, weaving between abandoned cars and dodging the occasional shambling zombie. The sun was now high in the sky, casting harsh shadows across the cityscape. The roads were eerily empty, save for the occasional group of armed individuals who seemed to be wandering with no purpose other than causing chaos.
As they rounded a corner, a shotgun blast rang out, narrowly missing them. Takashi swerved, barely avoiding a collision with a wrecked car.
“Why are they shooting at us?” Rei shouted, her voice filled with a mix of fear and confusion.
“They’re going mad,” Takashi replied, his tone grim. “Society’s collapsing, and they’re losing it. They don’t see us as survivors—they see us as threats.”
Rei bit her lip, her mind racing. “Are we going to end up like them? Will we lose our minds too?”
Takashi didn’t answer right away, the weight of her question hanging in the air. He didn’t want to think about it, didn’t want to acknowledge the possibility. “We just have to stay strong, Rei. We can’t let this world break us.”
They continued on, the silence between them heavy with unspoken fears. As they approached a bridge, Takashi suddenly slowed the bike, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation ahead.
“Why aren’t we crossing the bridge?” Rei asked, glancing at him.
“The police have blocked it off,” Takashi replied, nodding toward the barricades and the figures moving on the bridge. “I’m not sure they’d even let us through.”
Rei turned to look and saw what he meant. The bridge was heavily fortified, with police officers in riot gear fending off waves of zombies. The infected were relentless, throwing themselves at the barricades with mindless aggression, while the officers struggled to maintain control.
“It’s a war zone,” Rei whispered, her heart sinking at the sight.
akashi nodded, turning the bike away from the bridge and heading toward an alternate route. “We’ll take the Onbetsu Bridge instead,” he said, determination lacing his voice. “It’s further, but it might be our best shot at getting through.”
Rei glanced back at the bridge, where the police were fighting desperately to hold the line. She could see figures moving erratically, some of them undoubtedly zombies, while others seemed to be civilians trying to reach safety. “I hope they can hold out…” she muttered under her breath, her worry evident.
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April 30, 20XX
12:40 p.m.
Midori Bridge, Tokonosu City
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The Midori Bridge, one of the primary routes out of Tokonosu, had become a battleground. The bridge was a critical chokepoint, and the police had set up a defensive perimeter, determined to prevent the infected from spreading beyond the city limits.
Officer Hiroshi Tanaka, a veteran of the Tokonosu Police Department, stood at the front lines, his riot shield braced against the relentless assault of the undead. His muscles burned with exertion, but he refused to give an inch. “Hold the line!” he shouted, his voice hoarse from hours of shouting orders. “We can’t let them through!”
Behind him, Officer Kaori Saito reloaded her shotgun, sweat dripping down her face as she prepared for the next wave. “There’s too many of them!” she yelled back, her voice tinged with desperation. “We can’t keep this up forever!”
“Just a little longer!” Tanaka barked, slamming his shield into an advancing zombie and sending it toppling over the side of the bridge. “Reinforcements are on the way!”
But deep down, Tanaka wasn’t sure how much longer they could hold out. The infected kept coming, wave after wave, their numbers seemingly endless. The barricades were beginning to buckle under the pressure, and despite their best efforts, several zombies had already broken through.
As Tanaka fought off another zombie, he caught sight of a group of civilians huddled near the center of the bridge, desperately trying to stay out of the fray. They were terrified, some of them clutching small children, others holding makeshift weapons as they watched the battle unfold.
“We need to get them out of here!” Tanaka shouted to Saito, pointing toward the civilians. “They’re sitting ducks!”
Saito nodded, quickly signaling to another officer, Officer Ryota Ishikawa, to help evacuate the civilians. Ishikawa, a young and eager officer, moved swiftly through the chaos, ushering the civilians toward a safer area behind the barricades.
“This way!” Ishikawa called out, waving them forward. “Stay low and keep moving!”
One of the civilians, a middle-aged man with a deep gash on his arm, stumbled as he tried to keep up. Ishikawa grabbed him by the shoulder, helping him stay on his feet. “You’re going to be alright,” he reassured the man, though the strain in his voice betrayed his own uncertainty.
Meanwhile, at the front lines, Tanaka was fighting tooth and nail to keep the infected at bay. He swung his baton with practiced precision, aiming for the head of each zombie that got too close. But for every one he took down, two more seemed to take its place.
“Damn it!” Tanaka cursed as a particularly large zombie slammed into his shield, nearly knocking him off balance. The zombie’s gnarled hands clawed at the shield, trying to pull it away. Tanaka gritted his teeth, pushing back with all his strength.
“Tanaka, watch out!” Saito shouted, firing her shotgun at a zombie that was closing in on his blind side.
The blast echoed across the bridge, the zombie crumpling to the ground in a heap. Tanaka spared a quick nod of thanks to Saito before refocusing on the fight.
Despite their best efforts, the situation was deteriorating rapidly. The barricades were failing, and the zombies were starting to overwhelm their defenses. Tanaka knew they needed to do something drastic if they were going to survive.
“Fall back!” he ordered, his voice carrying over the sounds of battle. “Regroup at the secondary barricade! We need to buy some time!”
The officers began to retreat, moving back to the secondary line they had set up further down the bridge. As they fell back, they continued to fire at the advancing horde, trying to slow them down.
Tanaka was the last to retreat, holding the line until the very last moment. As he backed away, he noticed that the civilians were now safely behind the secondary barricade, their eyes wide with fear as they watched the officers fight.
“We need to hold them here!” Tanaka said to Saito as they took up positions behind the new barricade. “If they break through, it’s over!”
Saito nodded, her hands trembling slightly as she reloaded her shotgun. “We won’t let them through,” she said, more to reassure herself than anything else.
The battle continued, the officers fighting with everything they had to keep the zombies at bay. The horde pressed on relentlessly, their numbers seemingly endless. But the officers were determined, knowing that the fate of the civilians—and perhaps the entire city—rested on their shoulders.
As the fight raged on, a grim realization settled over Tanaka. They were outnumbered, outgunned, and running out of time. The bridge was their last stand, and if they failed here, there would be no stopping the infection from spreading.
But even as the situation grew more dire, Tanaka refused to give up. He had faced impossible odds before, and he wasn’t about to let a horde of undead take him down. He would fight to the last breath, and he would make sure that every officer on that bridge did the same.
“Hold the line!” Tanaka shouted, his voice a rallying cry for the weary officers. “For the city!”
With renewed determination, the officers dug in, fighting with everything they had. The zombies pushed forward, but the officers pushed back, refusing to give an inch.
The battle for the bridge was far from over, but as long as they stood together, there was still hope.
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End of Chapter 11
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