SWNOVELXO Chapter 17: Desperate Measures
"There might be a way. We can try to attract their attention and then find an opportunity to escape," Karen said, her eyes showing a glimmer of hope. "If we get a chance, we can make it out."
Tina nodded, her mind racing with plans. "We can use the food here to make noise, draw them in, and then escape in the chaos."
"But that's really dangerous!" Jennifer's voice was filled with worry. "If it doesn't work, we're done!"
"I know, but we can't just stay here doing nothing," Tina's determination gave the group a sense of courage. "We have to trust each other. If we work together, we can find a way out."
The four of them looked at each other, their eyes filled with shared resolve. They began discussing the specifics of the plan—using the food from the cold storage to make noise, attract the zombies, and then seize the opportunity to escape.
"Alright, let's give it a try," Kuilading whispered, though her heart wavered between fear and hope.
As they prepared to act, the tension in their hearts grew stronger. The four of them tightly gripped their weapons, the sound of their heartbeat echoing in their ears. They understood that the choice they made at this moment would determine their survival or death, and they had to face the upcoming challenges with bravery.
"Alright, everyone ready? Remember, we must stay calm," Tina whispered, her gaze sweeping over her companions. Her voice was soft, but it carried a firm strength. They all knew that time was running out, and the sound of zombies' footsteps could approach them at any moment.
They nodded firmly, then split up, quietly moving toward the windows. Through the half-drawn curtains, the scene outside looked eerie and terrifying. Several decaying figures wandered the streets, and with the gentle breeze, the air was thick with a strong, foul odor. They held their breath and silently recited their plan.
To attract the zombies, Jennifer took an old can of food from her bag, inside of which were several rotting fruits. She threw it forcefully, and the can rolled on the ground, making a faint sound, which immediately caught the attention of a few zombies. They slowly moved toward the sound, drooling, their mouths emitting low growls.
"Now, quick!" Tina shouted to the others, and the four of them began to move swiftly. They opened the door leading to the backyard, planning to escape through the narrow alley. However, as they stepped out the door, an unexpected event occurred.
A zombie suddenly leaped out from the depths of the alley, its eyes gleaming with an empty light, blood dripping from its mouth. In that instant, their hearts nearly stopped. Tina instinctively stepped back, and as she did, the others froze in place.
"Run!" Tina shouted, her survival instincts igniting. They sprinted toward the street across from them, but the appearance of the zombie had already triggered chaos. More and more zombies were attracted, surging toward them like a tide.
In just a few seconds, the entire street was surrounded by zombies. Despair filled their hearts, and a thought flashed through their minds—was this the end for them?
"Quick, here!" Jennifer suddenly spotted a half-open door, and without hesitation, they rushed inside. The inside was a dark warehouse with almost no light, and the surroundings were filled with piles of clutter. They closed the door behind them, gasping for breath, and heard the sound of zombies repeatedly banging against the door outside. A sense of helpless despair washed over them.
"We're trapped." Kuilading whispered, a flicker of fear in her eyes. They searched around the warehouse for an escape route, but no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't find a way out.
"We can't give up like this," Karen said, her eyes flickering with a faint light. Although her voice trembled, she still tried to remain calm. "There has to be a way."
As time passed, the sound of zombies grew closer, accompanied by the constant banging, intensifying their fear. The air in the warehouse grew heavier, as if it were pressing down on their very souls.
Just then, a sound came from the other side of the warehouse, accompanied by a faint light, as if someone was trying to open the forgotten door. The four of them immediately focused their attention on the light, a spark of hope flashing in their hearts.
"Quick, someone's here!" Tina said excitedly, rushing toward the light, with Jennifer following closely behind. They silently hoped in their hearts that this person could save them from their dire situation.
However, as the light drew nearer, the growls of the zombies grew louder and more piercing. The four of them realized that this opportunity for rescue might be their last hope for survival. Their hearts were filled with both anticipation and doubt, unsure whether what awaited them was light or even darker despair.
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Carol's bedroom was eerily quiet, as if time had frozen in the room. The walls were a dull gray, giving the space a monotonous feeling. What was once a cozy little room now felt especially oppressive, filled with an atmosphere of tension and exhaustion. The bed was disheveled, the sheets crumpled haphazardly, still damp with Carol's tears, as if silently documenting her sorrow from earlier that morning. The ticking of the bedside clock was the only sound, time continuing to flow in this quiet space, yet it felt utterly meaningless.
She slowly opened her eyes, her eyelids heavy and swollen, her throat hoarse, and her lips cracked, as though she had just been through a long bout of crying. "How did I fall asleep...?" she murmured, rubbing her eyes. Her body felt as though it was made of lead, heavy and weak, yet there was a strange sensation deep inside, a mix of anger and exhaustion.
Suddenly, a chilling scream from the living room broke the silence of the bedroom. The sharp, desperate cry carried an indescribable terror, something far from the usual sounds of her everyday life. Carol's body jolted, her heart racing as she instinctively got up, opened the bedroom door, and moved toward the source of the sound.
Her gaze shifted from the faint light of the bedroom to the living room, where the scene before her made her freeze in place—Billy's father, his face twisted and pale, was biting into his mother's shoulder, blood dripping from his mouth, while his mother, nearly collapsing to the ground, stared blankly with vacant eyes. Carol watched in horror, her blood feeling like it had turned to ice. Seconds later, she watched Billy's mother fall to the ground, her panicked breaths turning into a low growl, slowly rising up with vacant, lifeless eyes.
"No... this can't be real..." Carol's voice trembled as she turned and ran back to the bedroom, her hands shaking as she slammed the door shut, leaning against it, trying to control her breathing and calm herself. But the feeling of fear overwhelmed her, flooding her completely.
At the same time, Billy also witnessed this horrifying sight, his eyes filled with terror. He couldn't think of Carol anymore; without a word, he ran wildly toward the front door. Billy's zombified parents let out guttural growls, pursuing him without hesitation as he fled the house. Carol listened to the fading footsteps and growls outside, her heart mixed with complex emotions—relief, but also an Unspeakable sense of loneliness and panic.
As the sounds outside faded, the room returned to an eerie silence. However, this tranquility made her feel particularly depressed, she knew everything had changed.
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In the scorching afternoon, the air was thick with a sense of burning heat. Tiny beads of sweat slowly appeared on Tamara Marina's forehead as she sat in her office chair, the room dead silent. Beside her, her secretary, Abigaile Johnson, lay unconscious on the floor. As both women slowly regained consciousness, Abigaile rubbed the back of her aching head and opened her eyes, confusedly scanning the surroundings.
"Ugh... what's going on?" Abigaile muttered, still unsure of the situation.
Just then, a sharp scream and a low growl echoed from outside the office, piercing the silence with a disturbing noise. Abigaile frowned, clearly unable to tolerate such a breach of office decorum.
"What's going on with these people? Don't you know you have to keep quiet during working hours!" She said angrily, her face turned ugly, and she marched toward the door. She opened the door, but was frightened by the scene before her and took a step back.
The office was in chaos. Several familiar colleagues had blank, soulless eyes, their movements stiff and unnatural as they acted like mindless beasts, chasing and biting other coworkers. The floor was covered in blood and shredded documents, several employees working overtime, screaming in terror as they fled.
Abigaile, horrified, quickly slammed the door shut, pressing her back against it, her body trembling.
"What's happening outside?" Marina's voice called, filled with confusion and a touch of unease.
"There... there are zombies," Abigaile answered, her voice shaking with fear.
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