Chapter 8: The Serpent Among Us
April 30, 20XX12:15 a.m.
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The bus rumbled along the empty streets, its headlights casting long shadows as it cut through the night. Inside, the atmosphere was heavy with tension. The group had barely escaped with their lives from Fujimi High School, and now they were left to grapple with the uncertainty of what lay ahead. The only sounds were the low hum of the engine and the occasional creak of the bus as it navigated the cracked and uneven road.
Blake Henderson sat near the front, his rifle across his lap. The events of the past few hours played over in his mind like a broken record. He had expected chaos, but nothing had prepared him for the relentless horrors of the night. They had survived the school, but what came next? There was no plan, no clear direction—only the need to keep moving.
Beside him, Takashi Komuro stared out the window, his expression grim. His thoughts were similarly preoccupied. The school had fallen, and with it, the last vestiges of normalcy. Now, they were adrift in a world that had turned against them, where every moment was a fight for survival.
Further back in the bus, Saya Takagi fidgeted with her glasses, her mind racing. She had always prided herself on her intelligence, on her ability to plan and think ahead, but even she was at a loss. The world had changed too quickly, too drastically. How could they possibly keep up?
Kohta Hirano was seated at the back, meticulously cleaning and checking his firearms. It was a ritual that calmed him, a way to maintain control in a world where everything else had spiraled into chaos. He knew that their survival depended on their weapons, and he wasn’t about to let them down.
Rei Miyamoto sat across from Saya, her hands clenched tightly in her lap. She stared out the window, her heart heavy with worry. Her father… where was he? Was he safe? She couldn’t stop thinking about him, couldn’t shake the fear that he was out there, alone, fighting for his life.
‘I need to contact him,’ Rei thought, her anxiety growing with each passing minute. ‘I need to know if he’s okay…’
Finally, the silence became too much for her to bear. “We need to find a way to contact our families,” Rei said, her voice breaking the uneasy stillness. “I need to know if my dad’s okay. If they’re safe.”
Her words struck a chord with the others. They, too, were thinking of their families, wondering if they were safe, if they were still alive.
“I agree,” Saya said, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “We need to find a place with a working phone or radio, something that still has power. We can’t just keep driving around in the dark.”
Shizuka Marikawa, who was driving the bus, glanced back at them with a sympathetic smile. “I’m sure we’ll find a place soon,” she said, trying to sound reassuring. “We just need to stay calm and keep moving forward.”
Saeko Busujima, seated near the back with her katana resting across her lap, nodded in agreement. “Staying calm is important. Panic will only make things worse. We need to keep our wits about us.”
Kohta, looking up from his rifle, added, “We should also be on the lookout for supplies. Ammunition, food, water… we’re going to need all of it if we want to survive.”
Blake nodded, agreeing with Kohta’s assessment. “He’s right. We need to think ahead. It’s not just about surviving the next few hours—we need to plan for the long haul.”
The bus continued to trundle along, the tension thickening as they spoke. The reality of their situation was sinking in—this wasn’t a temporary crisis. The world they knew was gone, and they were left to navigate the ruins.
But the fragile peace was shattered when the bus suddenly hit a bump, jolting everyone in their seats. Shizuka struggled to keep the vehicle steady, her hands gripping the wheel tightly.
“What was that?” Blake asked, his eyes narrowing as he peered through the windshield.
“I don’t know… it felt like we ran over something,” Shizuka replied, her voice unsteady.
Rei’s heart skipped a beat, her fear spiking. “Is it… is it one of them?” she asked, her voice trembling.
Before anyone could answer, the bus’s headlights illuminated a group of figures stumbling along the road ahead. Their movements were jerky, disjointed, and for a moment, the group tensed, thinking they were more of the undead. But as the bus drew closer, they realized these were living people—survivors.
“Oh no…” Takashi muttered under his breath. “It’s Shido.”
Blake frowned in confusion. “Shido? Who’s that?”
Takashi’s expression darkened as he nodded towards the approaching figures. “Koichi Shido… he’s a teacher at Fujimi High. A real piece of work.”
Blake noticed Rei’s reaction immediately. Her face twisted in anger, her body tensing as if she were ready to spring from her seat. She glared out the window at Shido, her hatred palpable.
“What’s the deal with this guy?” Blake asked, sensing the intense hostility radiating from Rei.
Takashi sighed, his eyes narrowing as he watched Shido’s group draw closer. “He’s a manipulative bastard, that’s what. He’s done some terrible things, especially to Rei.”
Rei’s knuckles turned white as she clenched her fists. “He’s the reason my dad was demoted. That piece of trash is the reason my family’s been through hell!”
Blake’s confusion deepened. “Demoted? What do you mean?”
Rei’s eyes were filled with rage as she explained. “My dad’s a police officer. He was in charge of an investigation into a car accident where Shido’s father was involved. My dad found evidence that Shido’s father was responsible, but Shido… that snake… he blackmailed and threatened people until my dad was forced to take the blame for a botched investigation. My dad was demoted, our reputation ruined… all because of him!”
Blake’s expression hardened as he listened. He now understood why Rei was so hostile towards Shido. The man was clearly dangerous, a manipulator who wouldn’t hesitate to destroy lives for his own gain.
As the bus came to a stop, Shido quickly made his way to the front, his expression twisted into a mix of relief and cunning. “Shizuka-sensei! Thank goodness it’s you!” he called out, a smile spreading across his face.
Rei’s hostility boiled over, her voice laced with venom as she snapped, “What are you doing here, Shido? You shouldn’t be here!”
Shido’s smile didn’t falter, though his eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. “Miyamoto-san, I understand your anger, but we’re all in this together now. We’ve all lost people… but we can still survive, if we work together.”
Rei looked like she was ready to lunge at him, but Takashi placed a firm hand on her shoulder, holding her back. “Rei, don’t. He’s not worth it.”
Shido turned his attention back to Shizuka, his tone smooth and persuasive. “Shizuka-sensei, please… we’ve been through so much. We barely escaped with our lives. Can we come aboard? We just want to survive like everyone else.”
Blake could see the conflict in Shizuka’s eyes. She was compassionate, and despite the tension in the bus, she couldn’t bring herself to turn away people in need. But Blake also knew that allowing Shido on board was a risk—a big one.
“They’ll slow us down,” Blake said quietly, his eyes locked on Shido. “And we can’t trust him.”
“But we can’t just leave them out here,” Shizuka replied, her voice soft but firm. “They’re still students… they’re still human.”
Saya, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. “It’s a risk… but Shizuka-sensei is right. If we turn them away, we’re no better than the monsters out there.”
Takashi nodded slowly, though his expression was grim. “We let them on, but we keep an eye on them. The moment they step out of line, they’re gone. Agreed?”
Rei looked like she wanted to argue, but she knew it was a losing battle. With a frustrated sigh, she turned away, staring out the window with her arms crossed.
“Fine,” she muttered, her voice tight with anger. “But if he tries anything…”
Blake nodded in agreement, then turned back to Shizuka. “Let them on, but keep moving. We can’t stay here for long.”
Shizuka hesitated for a moment, then nodded, opening the door to let Shido and his group on the bus. The students shuffled in, their faces pale and drawn, while Shido took a seat near the front, a satisfied smile on his face.
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Flashback: Koichi Shido’s Day
April 28, 20XX
3:45 p.m.
Fujimi High School
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Koichi Shido paced the length of his classroom, his sharp eyes observing the students who were too slow to leave when the bell rang. There was a practiced ease to his movements, a certain air of authority that demanded respect—or at the very least, fear. His reputation as a strict, no-nonsense teacher was well-earned, but it wasn’t out of a genuine concern for education. It was because Shido enjoyed power—enjoyed wielding it over those who were weaker, who couldn’t stand up to him.
As the last of the students filed out, Shido allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. ‘These children,’ he thought, watching them hurry down the hallway, ‘they’re so easily controlled. A few harsh words, a raised voice, and they fall in line. It’s almost too easy.’
But his smile faded as he considered his real problem—a certain student who refused to bend to his will. Rei Miyamoto had been a thorn in his side for some time now, her defiance grating on his nerves. Worse, she was the daughter of that meddling police officer, the one who had dared to challenge Shido’s father.
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‘It’s only a matter of time,’ Shido thought, his lips curling into a sneer. ‘She’ll learn her place soon enough.’
As he was preparing to leave, a distant sound caught his attention. It was faint at first, almost like a low rumble, but it quickly grew louder, more distinct. Frowning, Shido stepped out of the classroom and made his way toward the source of the noise.
The sight that greeted him as he stepped into the courtyard stopped him in his tracks. Students were running in every direction, their faces twisted in terror. And in the midst of it all were… things. Human-shaped, but wrong. Their movements were jerky, their eyes empty, and their mouths hung open in grotesque snarls.
‘What in the world…?’ Shido’s mind raced as he took in the scene. It was like something out of a nightmare—a nightmare that was very real.
For a brief moment, Shido felt a chill of fear, a rare emotion for him. But it quickly gave way to something else—something darker. He watched as one of the creatures lunged at a student, biting into their neck with a sickening crunch. Blood sprayed into the air, and the student collapsed, convulsing in agony. Shido’s eyes widened, but not with horror. No, this was something entirely different—an opportunity.
‘This… this could work in my favor,’ he thought, a twisted smile creeping across his face.
He turned away from the carnage and hurried back into the school, his mind already racing with possibilities. The chaos outside was spreading rapidly, and if he wanted to survive—no, if he wanted to thrive—he needed to act quickly.
As he entered the main building, he noticed a group of students huddled near the stairwell, their faces pale with fear. Shido’s eyes gleamed as he approached them. “You,” he called out, his voice sharp. “Follow me.”
The students looked up, startled, but they quickly obeyed. Shido led them down the hallway, his mind already forming a plan. He needed to secure his position, to ensure that he remained in control no matter what happened next.
As they reached the end of the hallway, Shido stopped in front of a locked door. He turned to the students, his expression cold and calculating. “We need to barricade ourselves inside. It’s the only way to survive.”
One of the students, a timid boy named Kenji, looked up at Shido with wide eyes. “But… but what about the others? Shouldn’t we try to help them?”
Shido’s smile was icy as he regarded Kenji. “Help them? Don’t be a fool. They’re already dead. If you want to survive, you’ll do as I say.”
Kenji hesitated, but the fear in Shido’s eyes was enough to silence him. The group quickly set to work, barricading the door with desks and chairs. Shido watched them with satisfaction, his mind already working on the next step.
As they finished securing the room, another student, a girl named Yuki, looked up at Shido with tear-filled eyes. “Sensei… what are we going to do?”
Shido’s expression softened, though there was no real warmth in his eyes. “Don’t worry, Yuki. I’ll take care of you. Just stick with me, and everything will be fine.”
Yuki nodded, but the fear in her eyes didn’t fade. Shido inwardly sneered at her weakness, but he knew that keeping her—and the others—under his thumb would be crucial to maintaining his control.
But then, a loud banging echoed through the hallway, followed by the sound of glass shattering. The students in the room froze, their eyes wide with terror.
“They’re getting in!” Kenji whispered, his voice trembling.
Shido’s mind raced. He needed to act quickly. “Stay here,” he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I’ll take care of this.”
He slipped out of the room, closing the door behind him. The hallway was dark, the only light coming from the flickering overhead bulbs. Shido moved quickly, making his way toward the source of the noise.
As he rounded a corner, he saw them—two students who had been trying to escape. They had smashed a window in their desperation, but now they were trapped, surrounded by the infected. Shido’s eyes narrowed as he watched them struggle, their cries for help echoing through the empty halls.
‘Pathetic,’ he thought, a cold smile playing on his lips. ‘But useful.’
He quickly made his way to the nearest classroom and opened the door, revealing a group of infected shambling inside. With a flick of his wrist, he turned the doorstop to hold the door open, ensuring the creatures had a clear path.
Then, with a calculated stride, he approached the trapped students, his expression one of concern. “Don’t worry,” he called out, his voice calm. “I’ll help you.”
The students looked up at him, their eyes filled with desperate hope. “Sensei, please! Get us out of here!”
Shido smiled—a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Of course,” he said softly. “Just follow me…”
He turned and walked away, not bothering to look back as the infected closed in on the students. Their screams echoed through the hallway, but Shido didn’t flinch. He knew that the noise would attract more of the infected, diverting their attention from him and his group.
As he made his way back to the barricaded room, he could hear the telltale sounds of the infected descending on the area. He slipped inside, closing the door behind him and addressing the students inside.
“We need to stay quiet,” Shido whispered, his tone commanding. “They’re close, but if we stay hidden, they won’t find us.”
The students nodded fearfully, huddling together as the sounds of chaos grew louder outside. Shido watched them, a cold satisfaction settling in his chest. He had ensured their survival—for now—and they were completely dependent on him.
‘They’re mine now,’ Shido thought, his smile widening. ‘And they’ll do whatever I say.’
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April 28, 20XX
8:00 p.m.
Fujimi High School
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Hours had passed since Shido and his group had barricaded themselves inside the classroom. Outside, the sounds of the infected grew louder, their moans echoing through the empty halls. The students were scared, huddled together in the dark, their eyes wide with fear.
Shido, however, was calm. He had spent the time carefully observing the students, noting their weaknesses, their fears. He knew that fear was a powerful tool, and he intended to use it to keep them under his control.
‘They’re so easy to manipulate,’ he thought, watching as Yuki clung to Kenji, her eyes brimming with tears. ‘A few well-placed words, and they’ll do anything I say.’
As the night wore on, Shido began to formulate a plan. The school was overrun, that much was clear. But if he wanted to survive—if he wanted to maintain control—he needed to find a way out.
‘We can’t stay here forever,’ he thought, his mind racing. ‘We need to move, but we need to do it carefully. One wrong move, and we’re dead.’
He knew that leading a group of frightened, inexperienced students through the halls of an infested school was risky. But Shido was confident in his ability to manipulate them, to keep them in line. He would make them believe that he was their only hope, their only chance of survival.
‘They’ll follow me,’ he thought, a cold smile playing on his lips. ‘They have no choice.’
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April 28, 20XX
11:00 p.m.
Fujimi High School
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By the time the night had fully settled in, Shido had gathered his group and was ready to make his move. The infected were still prowling the halls, but their numbers had thinned out as many of them had wandered outside, drawn by the noise from other parts of the city.
Shido led the group through the darkened halls, his movements careful and deliberate. The students followed closely behind him, their fear palpable. Every creak, every distant moan sent shivers down their spines, but Shido kept them moving, kept them focused on the goal—escape.
As they neared the exit, they encountered a group of infected blocking their path. Shido’s mind raced as he quickly assessed the situation. They were outnumbered, and the students were too terrified to fight. But Shido had no intention of sacrificing himself for them.
“Stay here,” he ordered, his voice low and commanding. “I’ll lead them away. When the coast is clear, head for the exit.”
Kenji looked at Shido with wide eyes, his voice trembling as he asked, “But what about you, Sensei?”
Shido smiled—a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll meet you outside.”
With that, Shido moved toward the infected, his movements deliberate. He knew exactly what he was doing—he would lead the creatures away from the students, but not before ensuring that they understood who was in charge.
He picked up a nearby piece of debris and hurled it down the hallway, the loud noise immediately drawing the attention of the infected. As they turned toward the sound, Shido quickly slipped past them, leading them further away from the exit.
The students watched in awe as Shido disappeared into the darkness, their fear momentarily forgotten. In their eyes, he was a hero, a selfless leader willing to sacrifice himself for their safety.
But Shido had no intention of sacrificing anything. Once he was sure the infected were far enough away, he doubled back and made his way to a different exit, slipping out of the school unnoticed.
As he emerged into the night, Shido allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. The students would make it out—those who survived, anyway—and when they did, they would be his. They would follow him, trust him, and he would use that trust to control them.
‘They’ll see me as their savior,’ he thought, a twisted smile spreading across his face. ‘And they’ll do whatever I say.’
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April 29, 20XX
11:58 a.m.
Abandoned Building, Fujimi District
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After escaping the school, Shido and his group had taken refuge in an abandoned building on the outskirts of the Fujimi district. The building was run-down, the walls cracked and the windows shattered, but it provided shelter from the horrors outside.
The students were exhausted, huddled together in the dimly lit room, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear and relief. They had made it out of the school alive, but the reality of their situation was beginning to set in.
Shido, however, was in his element. He had successfully led them out, had kept them safe, and now they were completely dependent on him. He moved among them, offering words of comfort, his voice soft and reassuring.
“Don’t worry,” he said, his tone soothing. “We’re safe here. We’ll rest for a while, and then we’ll figure out our next move.”
The students nodded, their trust in him evident. They saw him as their protector, their leader, and Shido intended to keep it that way.
But as the hours passed, it became clear that staying in the building was not a viable long-term solution. The infected were still out there, and the building was far from secure. They needed to keep moving, to find a place where they could truly be safe.
‘But where?’ Shido thought, his mind racing. ‘We can’t stay here, but where else can we go?’
It was then that he heard it—a distant sound, faint but unmistakable. The rumble of an engine, the unmistakable noise of a vehicle moving through the city.
Shido’s eyes widened as he realized what it was. A bus—one that was still operational, one that could take them far away from this nightmare.
‘This is perfect,’ he thought, a plan already forming in his mind. ‘If we can get to that bus, we’ll have a real chance at survival. And I’ll have more people to control.’
He quickly gathered the students, his voice urgent but calm. “We need to move,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I heard a bus nearby. If we can reach it, we’ll be safe.”
The students didn’t hesitate. They trusted him completely, and they followed him without question as he led them out of the building and into the night.
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April 30, 20XX
12:30 a.m.
On the Bus
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Back on the bus, Shido sat near the front, a smug smile playing on his lips as he surveyed the group around him. They were tense, distrustful, but he could already see how he might turn that to his advantage.
‘These fools,’ Shido mused, his eyes flicking over the various members of the group. ‘They think they’re in control. They think they can keep me in check.’
But Shido knew better. He had spent his life manipulating others, twisting their fears and desires to suit his own needs. And now, in this lawless world, his skills were more valuable than ever.
His gaze drifted to the females on the bus—Shizuka, Rei, Saya, and Saeko. Each of them was strong in their own way, but Shido saw through the surface. He could sense their vulnerabilities, their fears.
‘Shizuka-sensei… so naive, so easy to manipulate,’ Shido thought, his mind beginning to formulate plans. ‘And Rei… such fire, such anger. I’ll break her first. Saya, so proud and intelligent—I’ll bring her down a peg. And Saeko… she’s dangerous, but everyone has a weakness.’
Shido’s thoughts turned darker, his mind dwelling on the lewd fantasies that had always simmered beneath the surface. In this new world, there were no rules, no consequences. He could take whatever he wanted, do whatever he desired.
‘I’ll have them all,’ he thought, a twisted smile spreading across his face. ‘And when they’re broken, they’ll beg for my mercy.’
But his plans didn’t end with the women on the bus. Shido had always sought power, and now, with the world in chaos, he saw an opportunity to seize control like never before.
‘This group… they’re strong, but they’re divided,’ he mused. ‘I can use that. Turn them against each other, create chaos from within. And when they’re at their weakest, I’ll take over. I’ll be the one in charge.’
His mind raced with possibilities, each more devious than the last. Shido knew that he had to bide his time, to play the part of the concerned teacher, the survivor. But when the moment was right, he would strike. He would take everything.
‘They’ll never see it coming,’ Shido thought, his eyes gleaming with malice. ‘And when they realize what’s happened, it will be too late.’
The bus continued its journey through the night, the road ahead dark and uncertain. But for Koichi Shido, the future was clear—a future where he held all the power, where he ruled over this group of survivors with an iron fist.
And as he leaned back in his seat, a satisfied smile on his face, Shido knew that his plans were already in motion.
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End of Chapter 8