Escape the DEAD

The sun was starting to dip towards the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, when we gathered in the living room with the day's events hung over us like a heavy cloud.

I leaned against the doorframe, trying to project an air of strength. But I could feel the cracks in my armor. The memory of my breakdown in the bathroom was still fresh, a wound that hadn't fully healed.

It was Shizuka who broke the silence, her voice soft but insistent in the stillness. "I know we're all tired," she said, her gaze sweeping over the room. "And I know we're all hurting. But we can't stay here, not tonight."

I saw Kohta open his mouth to object, but Shizuka held up a hand, forestalling him. "My friend Rika has an apartment near the river," she continued. "It's big and it's safe. There's even a big car that looks like a tank parked outside."

For a moment, no one spoke. I could see the gears turning in their heads, the calculations of risk and reward, of comfort and necessity.

Saeko was the first to respond, her voice level and pragmatic. "It's a good idea," she said simply. "This house... it's not secure. The windows are broken, the doors barely holding. We need somewhere more defensible."

Saya nodded, her brow furrowed in thought. "And we can't let our guard down," she added. "Not for a second. The infected are still out there, and they're not the only threat."

I could see Takashi bristling, his fists clenched at his sides. "So we run? We hide? For how long?" He shook his head. "We need a plan, a real plan. Not just another quick fix."

But it was Rei who broke the stalemate. "I think we should go," she said, her eyes meeting mine across the room. "Just for tonight. Just... just to catch our breath."

I held her gaze, seeing the pain there, the raw need for a moment of peace, of respite. And I knew she was right.

"Okay," I said. "We'll go to the apartment. But just for tonight. In the morning, we make a plan."

I turned to Saeko and Kohta. "I need you two to take stock of our weapons, our supplies. See what we have, what we need."

Saeko nodded, a glimmer of approval in her eye. Kohta still looked doubtful, but he didn't argue.

"The rest of you, gather anything useful from the house. Food, medical supplies, anything we can carry." I swept my gaze over the group. "We leave in 30 minutes."

As Saeko and Kohta got to work taking stock of our arsenal, I slipped away, heading upstairs to Rei's parents' room. My clothes were filthy, stained with blood and grime, and I desperately needed a change.

In the bedroom, I found an empty suitcase and started packing, grabbing clean t-shirts and pants. I was just about to head back downstairs when I noticed it - a worn brown leather jacket, hanging in the closet.

Curious, I took it off the hanger and slipped it on. To my surprise, it fit perfectly, like it was tailored for me. I turned to the mirror, admiring the way the leather hugged my shoulders, the way it made me look older, tougher.

"It looks good on you."

I spun around, my heart leaping into my throat. Rei stood in the doorway, a strange expression on her face - part sadness, part something else I couldn't quite name.

She stepped into the room, her eyes locked on mine. As she drew closer, she reached out, her fingers gently brushing the sleeve of the jacket.

"This was my dad's lucky jacket," she said, her voice soft and distant. "He wore it on his first date with my mom."

A small, wistful smile played at the corner of her lips. "He always said this jacket was the reason she fell for him," Rei continued, her fingers tracing the collar, grazing the skin of my neck. "That it gave him the confidence he needed to be himself, to win her over."

"Rei, I'm sorry, I didn't know. I'll take it off—"

I pulled the zipper down, but Rei's hand shot out, gripping the leather tightly.

"No," she whispered, her eyes blazing into mine. "Don't."

Slowly, almost reverently, she reached for the zipper herself. She pulled it back up, her knuckles grazing my chest, sending shivers down my spine.

She looked up at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears, with a depth of emotion that stole my breath.

"It fits you well, Kai," she murmured. "Like it was meant for you."

I couldn't move. Couldn't think. 

Part of me wanted to close that distance, to let myself fall into the comfort of her closeness, her warmth. But another part, the part that was all too aware of the responsibilities weighing on my shoulders, held me back. I could see the deep feelings Takashi has for her and if i went through with this… it might destroy the group. 

So I forced myself to take a step back, to break the spell of the moment.

"Thank you, Rei," I said. "For... for trusting me with this."

She held my gaze for a long moment, a flicker of something like disappointment crossing her face. But then she nodded, a small, understanding smile on her lips.

"Of course, Kai," she said softly. "We're in this together, right?"

"Right," I echoed, giving her a slight smile. "Together."

She stepped back, the moment passing, the tension dissipating. "I should go help the others," she said, gesturing vaguely towards the door. "I'll... I'll see you downstairs."

I found Saeko in the kitchen, methodically sorting through the drawers and cabinets. She had a focused, almost meditative air about her as she worked, her movements precise and efficient.

"Hey," I said, leaning against the doorframe. "How's it going in here?"

Saeko glanced up, a faint smile touching her lips. "Not bad, considering. Found a few decent knives, some canned food. It's not much, but it's a start."

I nodded, my eyes scanning the small pile of supplies on the counter. "Every little bit helps. We're going to need all the resources we can get."

Saeko paused, her hand resting on a large kitchen knife. "Kai, about our weapons situation..."

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "I know. We're woefully underprepared. That gun I gave Kohta... it's the only firearm we have."

Saeko's brow furrowed with concern. "And ammo?"

"Enough for a few reloads, but not much more. We'll have to make every shot count."

She nodded grimly. "Our focus should be on melee weapons, then. Things we can use up close, without worrying about running out of bullets."

I opened my mouth to agree, but before I could respond, Saya's voice rang out from the living room.

"Guys, come quick! You need to see this!"

Saeko and I exchanged a glance, then hurried out to see what the commotion was about. Saya was standing in front of the TV, her face pale and her eyes wide.

On the screen was a news report, a live feed from a bridge leading out of the city. Police cars formed a barricade, their lights flashing red and blue. Officers in riot gear stood in a line, their weapons at the ready.

"...authorities are calling it a quarantine zone," the reporter was saying, her voice tight with tension. "No one is being allowed in or out of the city. The military has been called in to assist with containment efforts..."

I felt a chill run down my spine. A quarantine zone. It was the first official acknowledgment that something was seriously wrong, that this wasn't just an isolated incident.

"They're trying to box us in," Saya said, her voice shaking slightly. "Trying to keep the infection from spreading."

"But what about the people still in the city?" Rei asked, her eyes glued to the screen. "What happens to them?"

No one had an answer. We watched in silence as the reporter droned on, detailing the roadblocks, the checkpoints, the strict protocols being put in place.

My mind was racing, trying to process this new information. If the bridges were blocked, if the city was being cordoned off... our escape had just gotten a lot more complicated.

"We need to rethink our plan," I said, tearing my eyes away from the TV. "If we can't get out by the main roads..."

"We'll have to find another way," Saeko finished, her expression grim but determined. "Backroads, side streets. Anything to avoid the checkpoints."

I nodded, my jaw tight. It would be riskier, traveling off the beaten path. But what choice did we have?

Saya was still staring at the TV, her brow furrowed in thought. "We should stick to smaller vehicles," she said suddenly. "Motorcycles, compact cars. Anything that can maneuver through tight spaces, get us around roadblocks."

It was a good point. The bus had seemed like a safe option, a way to stay together. But in light of this new development...

As the grim reality of the quarantine sank in, I felt a surge of determination. We had to adapt, to find a way out of this city before it became our tomb.

"The motorcycle," I said suddenly, the memory hitting me like a thunderbolt. "And the cars on the street. They're perfect for this - fast, maneuverable, hard to block."

Saeko's eyes lit up, catching on to my train of thought. "We can weave through the backstreets, avoid the main checkpoints."

"Exactly," I nodded, already moving towards the door. "We need to move fast, before the lockdown tightens further."

The others didn't need convincing. In a heartbeat, we were outside, the cool evening air a shock after the stuffy tension of the house. 

Kohta and Saya immediately got to work on the vehicles, their heads bent together as they hotwired the ignitions. Takashi and Rei stood guard, their weapons at the ready, while Shizuka and Saeko loaded our supplies.

In mere minutes, the engines roared to life, the sound shattering the eerie stillness. I felt a flicker of hope, a surge of adrenaline. We had a chance. Slim, but real.

"Okay, listen up," I called over the rumble of the motors. "We're going to split up, make us harder to track. Takashi, you take Shizuka and Saeko in the red car. Kohta, Rei, Saya - you've got the blue one."

"What about you?" Rei asked, her brow furrowed with worry.

I patted the sleek black motorcycle I'd claimed. "I'll take the bike, scout ahead. It's fast and agile, perfect for—"

"I'm coming with you."

Saeko's voice brooked no argument, her eyes fierce and determined. I opened my mouth to protest, but the look on her face stopped me cold.

"Fine," I said after a beat. "But you follow my lead, okay? And if I say run, you run. No heroics."

She just smiled, swinging onto the bike behind me. "Same goes for you, fearless leader."

I shook my head, but I couldn't suppress a smile on my face. Her solid presence at my back, her arms wrapped around my waist... it felt right. 

As the others climbed into their vehicles, I took a moment to look at them. Really look at them. These people, this ragtag band of survivors... they'd become my family. My reason to keep fighting, to keep going no matter how bleak things seemed.

We'd lost so much. Suffered so much. But we were still here. Still breathing, still standing. And as long as we had each other... there was hope.

I revved the engine, feeling the machine come alive beneath me. "Alright, people. Let's do this."

We raced through the empty streets, the wind whipping at our faces, the roar of the engines drowning out the distant moans of the undead. I felt a rush of exhilaration, a fierce joy in the speed, the danger, the sheer rebellion of it all.

Shizuka guided us through the twists and turns, her voice crackling over our scrounged walkie-talkies. Left at the old cinema. Right past the park. Straight on till the river.

And then, suddenly, we were there. The house loomed before us, a sturdy three-story structure tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. As we pulled into the long driveway, the gate clanging shut behind us, I felt a wave of relief so strong it nearly took my breath away.

We'd made it. Against all odds, through all the horrors... we'd made it.

As the engines died and we clambered off our rides, a hush fell over the group. The adrenaline was fading, the weight of our reality settling back onto our shoulders.

This was just the beginning. A moment of respite before the next battle.

And whatever came next... we would face it together.

Until the very end.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​