Chapter 13: Breaking the Chains
April 30, 20XX
2:00 p.m.
On the Bus, Tokonosu City
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The bus sat motionless in the gridlocked traffic, surrounded by a sea of abandoned vehicles. The oppressive heat of the afternoon sun filtered through the windows, creating a stifling atmosphere inside. The once-quiet murmur of anxious survivors had given way to tense discussions, as those who had managed to stay alive this long began to confront the reality of their situation.
Blake Henderson leaned back in his seat, staring at the ceiling of the bus as he listened to the conversation around him. The topic of family had come up, and it was clear that the discussion was weighing heavily on everyone.
“My parents live in the city,” Saya Takagi said, her voice tinged with worry. “But they’re in the upscale district, away from the worst of the outbreak. I hope they’re okay…”
Kohta Hirano adjusted his glasses, his expression thoughtful. “My parents are overseas. They were on a business trip when all this started. I’ve tried calling, but… nothing. I don’t know if they’re safe.”
Saeko Busujima’s voice was calm, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. “My family lives far from here, in the countryside. They’re probably safe, but I can’t be sure. The lines of communication have been cut off for days.”
Shizuka Marikawa, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. “Both of my parents are… gone. They passed away a few years ago, and I don’t have any close relatives nearby. My friends… they’re all I have left.”
Blake felt a pang of sympathy as he looked at Shizuka. She had always been cheerful, even airheaded at times, but now there was a deep sadness behind her usual smile. “I’m sorry, Shizuka,” he said softly. “You don’t have to go through this alone.”
Shizuka offered him a weak smile, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Thank you, Blake. I’m just glad I’m not alone right now.”
Blake nodded, his mind racing as he considered their next move. They couldn’t stay on this bus forever, especially not with Shido in charge. The man was a snake, and Blake knew that his influence over the group could lead to disaster.
“We need to leave this bus,” Blake said firmly, breaking the silence. “We can’t stay here with Shido and his followers. It’s not safe.”
Saya nodded in agreement, her expression resolute. “Blake’s right. We need to find Takashi and Rei, and then we should go look for our families. We’ll be stronger as a group, but we can’t trust Shido.”
Shizuka glanced nervously at the front of the bus, where Shido sat surrounded by his sycophants. “I’m… I’m not fond of Shido-sensei either. If you’re leaving, can I come with you? I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
“Of course,” Saeko said, her tone reassuring. “You’re one of us, Shizuka-sensei. We’ll take care of each other.”
Blake nodded in agreement, his resolve hardening. “Then it’s settled. We’re leaving the bus, and we’re doing it now. The longer we stay here, the more dangerous it gets.”
The group gathered their belongings, preparing to make their exit. The tension in the air was palpable as they moved toward the door, their eyes darting toward Shido’s group, who were watching them with suspicion.
Just as they were about to leave, Shido stood up, blocking their path. His smile was polite, but there was a predatory gleam in his eyes. “And where do you think you’re going?” he asked, his tone deceptively pleasant.
Blake stepped forward, his expression calm but firm. “We’re leaving. We’re going to link up with our friends, and then we’re going to search for our families. We have our own plans, and they don’t involve you.”
Shido’s smile faltered slightly, and he quickly recovered. “I understand your desire to find your loved ones,” he said smoothly. “But Shizuka-sensei should stay behind. She’s the only medic we have, and losing her would be a great loss to the group.”
Blake’s eyes narrowed, sensing the manipulation in Shido’s words. “Shizuka has her own free will. She can do whatever she wants, and right now, she wants to come with us.”
Saya stepped forward, her voice laced with disdain. “We’re not interested in your control games, Shido. We’re leaving, and Shizuka is coming with us. You don’t get to decide that.”
The atmosphere in the bus grew even tenser as Shido’s followers began to rise from their seats, siding with their leader. Tsunoda, the aggressive young man with dyed hair, sneered at Blake’s group, clearly eager for a confrontation. Beside him, Miku Yuuki, Kawamoto, Taniuchi, Miura, and Kurokami—all students Shido had “rescued” early on—also stood up, ready to back him up.
“You’re not going anywhere,” Tsunoda said, his voice dripping with hostility. “You think you can just walk out on us? We’re a group, and we stick together.”
Blake clenched his fists, his patience wearing thin. The last thing he wanted was a fight, but he wasn’t going to let Shido and his lackeys push them around.
Before Shido could say anything, Blake pulled his Springfield M1A rifle from his back, the weight of the weapon a comforting presence in his hands. Without a word, he aimed it at the ceiling and fired a single shot.
The gunshot echoed through the bus, the deafening crack silencing everyone in an instant. Shido’s eyes widened in shock, and even Tsunoda flinched at the sound.
“Enough,” Blake said, his voice cold and unwavering. “I’m done playing games with you, Shido. If you try to stop us, I won’t hesitate to put a bullet in you. This isn’t a joke.”
Tsunoda, still reeling from the shock of the gunshot, tried to play it off as a bluff. “You wouldn’t dare—”
Before he could finish, Blake fired another shot, this time grazing Tsunoda’s left ear. The young man yelped in pain, clutching his ear as blood trickled down the side of his face. His bravado crumbled as he realized just how serious Blake was.
Shido, now visibly nervous, tried to reason with Blake, his voice shaky. “There’s no need for violence, Blake. We can work something out—”
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But before Shido could finish, Kohta Hirano appeared behind Blake, his Remington 870 shotgun leveled at Shido. The usually quiet and reserved Kohta had a fire in his eyes that hadn’t been there before.
“I’ve always hated you, Shido,” Kohta said, his voice steady and full of conviction. “You made fun of me, made me the target for bullies, all because I was different. But now, the world’s changed. Society’s collapsed, and I’ll do whatever it takes to survive—even if it means killing a piece of trash like you.”
Shido’s face turned pale as he realized the extent of the animosity Blake’s group harbored toward him. The rest of the group also stepped forward, expressing their grievances and making it clear that they were united in their decision to leave.
Saya glared at Shido, her voice filled with contempt. “You’ve manipulated and controlled these people for too long, Shido. We’re done with you.”
Saeko, ever calm and composed, added, “We have our own path to follow. Don’t try to stop us.”
Shido was speechless, his usual charm and manipulation powerless in the face of the group’s determination. He knew he was outnumbered, and the sight of the guns pointed at him and his followers left him with no choice but to back down.
“Fine,” Shido said through gritted teeth, his anger barely contained. “Go ahead. But remember, this city is dangerous. You’re making a mistake.”
Blake didn’t reply, his eyes cold and unyielding as he watched Shido step back. One by one, the members of his group began to leave the bus, their expressions resolute as they exited the vehicle.
Blake was the last to leave, but before he stepped out, he turned back to Shido, his voice low and threatening. “If you or any of your followers try to hurt us in the future, I won’t hesitate to gun you down. Remember that.”
Shido said nothing, his eyes burning with rage and humiliation as Blake exited the bus. The door closed behind him, leaving Shido seething with fury. He clenched his fists, his mind racing with thoughts of revenge.
“You’ll regret this,” Shido muttered under his breath, his voice trembling with barely suppressed anger. “I’ll make sure you regret this.”
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April 30, 20XX
2:20 p.m.
Suburbs of Tokonosu City
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Blake and his group moved cautiously through the quiet suburbs of Tokonosu City, their footsteps echoing softly on the cracked pavement. The decision to leave the bus and Shido’s group had been necessary, but it left them with a new set of challenges. The city was far from safe, and they were now fully exposed to its dangers.
The streets were eerily deserted, with only the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant groan of a zombie breaking the silence. Abandoned houses lined the road, their windows shattered and doors hanging ajar, remnants of the panic that had swept through the city when the outbreak began.
Shizuka Marikawa stuck close to Saya, her normally cheerful demeanor replaced with a tense, alert expression. “This place feels… wrong,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “Like something’s watching us.”
Saya nodded, her eyes scanning their surroundings. “We need to stay sharp. The infected could be anywhere, and we don’t know how many of them are left in this area.”
Blake took point, his Springfield M1A rifle held at the ready. He moved with practiced caution, his senses honed from years of training with his father, a Navy SEAL. His eyes flicked between the shadows, every slight movement setting his nerves on edge.
Kohta Hirano followed close behind, his Remington 870 shotgun at the ready. Despite his usual awkwardness, there was a newfound confidence in his movements, a determination that hadn’t been there before. The events of the past few days had forced him to confront the harsh realities of their new world, and he was determined to protect his friends.
Saeko Busujima brought up the rear, her katana unsheathed and gleaming in the midday sun. Her presence was calm and composed, but there was a quiet intensity in her eyes. She had always thrived in the heat of battle, and in this world, she felt more alive than ever.
As they approached a narrow alleyway, Blake raised a hand, signaling for the group to stop. He crouched low, peering around the corner to survey the area ahead.
The alley opened up into a small plaza, with a narrow river running through the center. A rusted iron bridge spanned the river, its paint peeling and its structure creaking with age. On the other side, the remains of a marketplace lay in disarray—overturned stalls, scattered produce, and the unmistakable signs of a recent struggle.
But what caught Blake’s attention was the movement at the far end of the plaza. A small horde of zombies, maybe a dozen or so, shuffled aimlessly near the bridge. Their vacant eyes and decayed flesh made them look almost pitiable, but Blake knew better than to underestimate them.
He turned back to the group, his voice low but urgent. “We’ve got a small horde up ahead. About a dozen of them, near the bridge. We need to clear them out if we want to cross.”
Kohta tightened his grip on his shotgun, a determined look on his face. “I’m ready. Let’s do this.”
Saeko nodded, her expression calm. “We should strike quickly, before they notice us. We can’t afford to let them gather in numbers.”
Saya looked at the zombies, her face set in determination. “We can do this. We’ve faced worse.”
Shizuka, though nervous, forced a small smile. “I’ll do my best to help.”
Blake took a deep breath, steadying himself. “Alright. Kohta, you take the left flank. Saeko, you’re with me on the right. Saya, Shizuka, stay behind us and cover our backs. Let’s move.”
The group moved into position, spreading out to surround the horde. Blake and Saeko approached from the right, moving with practiced stealth, while Kohta took the left, his eyes locked on his targets.
As they closed in, Blake raised his rifle, taking careful aim at the nearest zombie. The creature, a former middle-aged man in a tattered business suit, shuffled aimlessly, unaware of the danger closing in.
Blake exhaled slowly, steadying his aim, and squeezed the trigger.
The shot rang out, the bullet tearing through the zombie’s skull and dropping it instantly. The sound alerted the rest of the horde, and they turned as one, groaning hungrily as they began to shamble toward the group.
“Here they come!” Kohta shouted, his voice filled with adrenaline.
Blake fired again, taking down another zombie as Saeko darted forward, her katana flashing in the sunlight. She moved with lethal grace, her blade slicing through the air with precision. The first zombie fell with a single clean cut, its head severed from its body.
Kohta, on the left flank, pumped his shotgun and fired, the blast sending a zombie sprawling to the ground. He quickly reloaded, his hands moving with practiced efficiency as he prepared for the next shot.
The horde, though small, was relentless. They pushed forward, their decayed hands reaching out with mindless hunger. Blake, Kohta, and Saeko fought with everything they had, each taking down zombies with brutal efficiency.
But the noise of the battle attracted more than just the zombies.
As the last of the horde fell, Blake heard the distant roar of a motorcycle engine growing louder. He spun around, his heart racing as he tried to pinpoint the source of the sound.
Within moments, the familiar sight of Takashi Komuro and Rei Miyamoto appeared at the far end of the plaza, speeding toward them on a motorbike. The two of them were a blur of motion, weaving between the abandoned cars and debris as they closed the distance.
“Takashi! Rei!” Blake shouted, relief flooding through him.
Takashi brought the bike to a screeching halt as they reached the group, his face a mix of exhaustion and determination. Rei quickly dismounted, her eyes wide with concern as she scanned the scene.
“We heard the gunshots,” Takashi said, his voice urgent. “Are you guys okay?”
“We’re fine,” Blake replied, his heart still pounding from the adrenaline. “We’re just glad to see you both alive.”
Rei’s eyes darted to the fallen zombies, then back to the group. “Is everyone okay? Is anyone hurt?”
“We’re all good,” Saeko said, her katana still held at the ready. “But we need to keep moving. The noise is going to attract more of them.”
Takashi nodded, his expression serious. “You’re right. We need to find a safe place to regroup and figure out our next move.”
Kohta pumped his shotgun, the action sharp and decisive. “Let’s go, then. We’ve got each other now, and we’re not stopping until we’re safe.”
Blake looked around at the group, feeling a sense of unity and determination that hadn’t been there before. They had been through hell, but they were still standing, still fighting.
“Alright, everyone,” Blake said, his voice steady. “Let’s move out. Stay close, watch each other’s backs, and we’ll get through this.”
The group, now reunited and stronger than ever, began to move forward, leaving the fallen zombies and the dangers of the plaza behind. The road ahead was uncertain, but they were ready to face whatever came their way—together.
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End of Chapter 13