Chapter 14: Drifting Into Danger
April 30, 20XX
6:30 p.m.
Suburbs of Tokonosu City
----------------------------------------
The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows over the deserted streets of Tokonosu City. The faint glow of twilight signaled the approaching night, and with it, the increased danger of the infected roaming the streets. Blake Henderson and the rest of the group had just finished clearing out the last of the zombies near the plaza, but as the darkness began to close in, the urgency to find a safe place to rest became more pressing.
Blake wiped the sweat from his brow, his breath steadying as he regrouped with the others. "It’s getting dark," he said, his voice tinged with concern. "We need to figure out where we’re spending the night."
Saeko Busujima sheathed her katana, her gaze scanning the surrounding area. "We can’t stay out here much longer. The infected will be more active once the sun sets."
As the group gathered to discuss their next move, Shizuka Marikawa suddenly perked up, her usual airheadedness replaced with a moment of clarity. "I know a place we can go!" she announced, drawing everyone’s attention. "It’s nearby, and we can even walk there from here."
Saya Takagi raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "A place? What kind of place, Shizuka-sensei?"
Shizuka hesitated for a moment, then blushed slightly. "It’s… it’s my friend’s place," she explained, clearly flustered. "She gave me a spare key so I could air out her home while she’s away. It’s a maisonette near the river, and it’s close to a convenience store, too."
Saya smirked, an impish glint in her eyes. "Is this 'friend' of yours a boyfriend, Shizuka-sensei?"
Shizuka’s blush deepened, and she waved her hands defensively. "No, no! She’s just a friend! She travels a lot for work, so she asked me to help keep her place in order."
Kohta Hirano, ever the practical one, adjusted his glasses and asked, "Is it an apartment or something like that?"
Shizuka nodded, grateful for the change in subject. "Yes, it’s a maisonette. It’s spacious, and it has everything we’ll need—running water, electricity, and even a big car that looks like a tank parked in the garage."
“A tank, you say?” Kohta repeated, his interest piqued. “You don’t mean a literal tank, do you?”
Shizuka chuckled nervously. “No, no, it’s just a big car… but it’s really tough and built for off-road driving.”
Saya folded her arms, clearly considering the proposition. “It does sound like a good place to hole up for the night. I could use a hot shower while the power’s still on.”
Kohta, unable to resist the opportunity for a perverted comment, grinned. “A hot shower, huh? Mind if I—”
He didn’t get to finish his sentence as Saya’s foot found its way to his shin, delivering a swift and painful kick. “Keep your perverted thoughts to yourself, Hirano!” she snapped, her face turning red with annoyance.
Kohta winced, rubbing his leg. “Just kidding, just kidding…”
Takashi Komuro, ever the practical leader, was already thinking ahead. “If Shizuka-sensei says the place is close, we should check it out. But I think it’d be better if I went with her on the bike to make sure it’s safe first.”
Blake, however, quickly shook his head. “No, it’s better if we all go together.”
The group gave him confused looks, unsure of what he was suggesting. Blake realized he needed to clarify. “I can drive. I’ve got a driver’s license from the States.”
There was a moment of stunned silence as the group processed Blake’s words. “You can drive?” Rei Miyamoto asked, her eyes wide with surprise.
“Yeah,” Blake confirmed with a nod. “I got my license when I was 16 back in the U.S. It’s not a big deal.”
Kohta, ever the encyclopedia of random facts, added, “That makes sense. The minimum age for a driver’s license in most U.S. states is 16.”
Takashi glanced at Kohta, curiosity getting the better of him. “How do you know all this?”
Kohta grinned, clearly pleased to share. “I went on a month-long trip to America once, and I spent some time at a private military academy there. I got to train with a Blackwater instructor—learned a lot about firearms and military gear.”
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Blake gave a small smile, appreciating Kohta’s knowledge. “That’s impressive, Kohta. But we’re getting sidetracked. We need to move before it gets too dark.”
Blake walked across the street, scanning the line of abandoned vehicles for one that would be suitable for their group. Most were too damaged or small to be of use, but then his eyes landed on a Honda N-Box. It was spacious, undamaged, and most importantly, the keys were inside.
“Lucky,” Blake muttered to himself, relieved that he wouldn’t have to search for the keys or try to hotwire the vehicle. He turned back to the group and waved them over. “Found us a ride. Let’s get going.”
The group quickly piled into the N-Box, with Takashi and Shizuka leading the way on the bike. The car was cramped, but it would do for the short trip. As they started moving, the last rays of the setting sun bathed the city in a golden light, a brief moment of peace before the darkness of night settled in.
The drive was uneventful, with only the occasional glimpse of the infected in the distance. After a few minutes, they reached the neighborhood where Shizuka’s friend’s maisonette was located. However, their relief was short-lived when they saw a small group of zombies loitering near the gate of the property.
Saya leaned forward from the back seat, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the situation. “Great. Just what we needed,” she muttered, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Rei, seated beside Blake, sighed. “They’re everywhere…”
Blake tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his mind racing as he considered their options. They needed to get into the maisonette, but the zombies were too close for them to just walk in unnoticed. He glanced at the car’s interior, an idea forming in his mind.
“We’ll have to lure them away,” Blake said, his voice calm but determined.
“What are you going to do?” Saya asked, suspicion evident in her tone.
Blake’s lips curled into a small grin. “I’m going to Tokyo Drift on these zombies.”
Saya’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re joking, right?”
Saeko, sitting behind Blake, burst into laughter, clearly amused by the idea. “I think he’s serious.”
Rei looked just as dumbstruck as Saya. “Blake, that’s… a bad idea. What if it goes wrong?”
Blake shot her a reassuring smile. “Trust me, I got this. It’ll give you guys a chance to get inside and secure the place.”
Kohta, who was in the front passenger seat, started to speak up, but Blake interrupted him. “Kohta, stay with the group and use my rifle to take out any stragglers as they approach the house. I’ll need your shotgun in exchange, just in case things get hairy.”
Kohta reluctantly agreed, disappointed that he wouldn’t be joining Blake on his daring plan. He took the Springfield M1A from Blake and handed over his Remington 870 shotgun in return. “Be careful, Blake. Don’t do anything crazy.”
Blake flashed a confident smile. “No promises.”
As the rest of the group got out of the car, they watched Blake with a mix of anticipation and concern. The air was thick with tension as Blake revved the engine, the sound echoing through the quiet streets. The zombies, attracted by the noise, began to shuffle toward the car, their lifeless eyes fixated on the source of the disturbance.
“Here we go,” Blake muttered to himself as he floored the accelerator, sending the N-Box speeding toward the group of zombies.
The car plowed through the first few zombies with a sickening crunch, their bodies crumpling under the vehicle’s weight. Blake swerved, drifting around a corner and leading the remaining zombies away from the maisonette. The tires screeched as he maneuvered the car through the narrow streets, keeping just enough distance between him and the undead to avoid getting overwhelmed.
Meanwhile, the rest of the group took advantage of the distraction. Takashi, Shizuka, Saya, Kohta, Saeko, and Rei moved swiftly toward the gate of the maisonette. Kohta stayed back slightly, his eyes focused through the rifle's scope as he covered the group. Every so often, he’d fire a precise shot, taking down a stray zombie that got too close.
As they reached the gate, Saya cursed under her breath. “Of course it’s locked. Shizuka-sensei, do you have the key?”
Shizuka fumbled with her bag, her hands trembling slightly from the adrenaline rush. “Yes, yes, I’ve got it… here!” She produced a key and quickly unlocked the gate, allowing the group to slip inside.
Kohta, still outside the gate, fired off another shot, dropping a zombie that had started to follow Blake’s trail. He turned to see that Blake had successfully drawn most of the zombies away and was now looping back around toward the maisonette.
As Blake approached the house, he slowed down, carefully weaving through the remaining zombies that Kohta had missed. He brought the car to a halt near the gate and quickly jumped out, the shotgun in hand as he rejoined the group.
“Nice driving,” Takashi said, impressed.
Blake shrugged, trying to downplay the tension in his chest. “It worked, didn’t it? Let’s get inside before any more of them show up.”
The group moved quickly, securing the gate behind them and making their way toward the entrance of the maisonette. The house was large and well-maintained, a stark contrast to the chaos that surrounded them. It felt like a small haven amidst the madness.
Shizuka led them inside, where the atmosphere was immediately different—calmer, safer. The interior was modern and spacious, with plenty of room for the group to rest and regroup.
“Make yourselves at home,” Shizuka said, her voice trembling with a mix of relief and exhaustion. “We’ll be safe here for the night.”
Saya glanced around, already eyeing the bathroom. “First things first, I’m taking that hot shower.”
Kohta muttered something under his breath, but before he could make another perverted comment, Saya shot him a glare that silenced him immediately.
Blake set down his shotgun and leaned against the wall, finally allowing himself to relax. They had made it through another day, but he knew better than to let his guard down completely. The world outside was still dangerous, and they would need to be ready for whatever came next.
As the night settled in and the group began to unwind, Blake couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of their struggles. The road ahead would be long and treacherous, but for now, they had each other. And that was enough to keep them going.
----------------------------------------
End of Chapter 14