THE WEAK HERO HAS LIMITED TIME

The moment we dreaded the most struck at night. “We are all going to die” I said as everyone was on a stand still, staring at the just destroyed gate that had kept us safe for more than forty years since the outbreak. What happened? Why did the gate fall apart? There were questions that popped into many people's minds. Just a few hours ago, no one would have expected that this sad event would come into play. Many boasted of how the walls were so strong that even an earthquake couldn't shake them. So why is this happening? “I don't want to die” I murmured, remembering the horrors my father told me about the first zombie outbreak. “It's not a beautiful experience” he would sigh. “I lost everything and everyone. I was the only survivor in my family, so that's why I work hard so that our walls remain strong to keep all of us here safe" It wasn't as big as a city, but big enough to accommodate the people here, like a little town. There are only two walls. The first wall was created out of scrap metals and heavy rocks by the first dwellers. It only covered around five streets, first, which later expanded to a few dozen more. The same way they used to reclaim any hectare of land at any opportunity, they gradually built the little small shelter into an abode, with many calling it home. Hence, many sealed streets are covered with walls around us. The second wall was made for easy movement, agriculture and, of course, defense. It's more spacious than the inner wall. “I thought the walls were meant to remain strong?” I murmured as someone quickly grabbed me by the arm Forced to turn, I saw my neighbor and alleged babysitter, Jarah, glaring at me. “Are you mad?” she spat “Just standing there, waiting for the Zombie to feast on you?” Jarah had always bussed me around ever since she snitched on me for trying to steal a sneak peek of the outside a few years ago. She is that nosy and bossy neighbor you don't want to interact with, but for some reason, your parents love them. She ended up babysitting me to stop me from going outside the gate. She did not understand the sort of fear that was gripping me by the throat, and she didn't get a response from me as she dragged me along with her. Up ahead was my best friend Stan, who was anxiously waiting for both of us. “Where are your father and brother?” Jarah asked. “At work” I panted, trying to catch up with her. “Oblivious of the fact that we are experiencing a zombie outbreak” As the crowd were running in one direction, a weird looking human being who looked like it was dipped inside a pool of nuclear waste sprung out of nowhere and attacked the unfortunate fellow just ahead of us. Its flesh looked like rags that hugged its body like wrinkled clothes, only that it was soaked with blood and dirt, with its shreds hanging around its bones for all to see. It was unsightly and terribly scary. “A Zombie!” a lady screamed beside us, who was unfortunately the next victim as another pounced on her in seconds So this is how a zombie truly looks, and they all come in different shapes and sizes and textures. Another was running towards us, which prompted Jarah to pick up a log lying in front of a building to wait for it. “What about your team?” I asked her as I cowered behind her like a coward. “That's what I'm waiting for” she gritted. “They should be here at any moment.” She swung the log at the zombie, knocking it off our path. We didn't know how long we'd stayed there as more and more kept flooding into the street we were in We raced to the bunker shelter that was nearest to us but met a full crowd there with a horde of Zombies gaining on us. “If we stay here and wait, we are all going to die” Jarah said, looking around. “We need to find another place to hide.” Just when we thought we had run out of luck, Jarah spotted an abandoned carriage seated at the side wall and quickly hurried us up to go there while she looked out for us. “Is there any safe place you have in mind?” I had to ask her and she nodded. “The laboratory your father works at has a special gate to the inner wall. We can get there and if only the Zombies haven't gotten there first” I hopped on the back with Stan who had remained quiet throughout this ordeal, whimpering and shaking in fear, while Jarah took the wheel. “Hold this” she said to me as she handed over the log she had been with. “And you with this” she gave Stan another log that was a bit heavier than mine. Seeing how he was struggling, I had to switch my weapon with his “I can't use these” he lamented while being on the lookout for any zombies beside us while Jarah mounted the carriage. “Well, you have to figure it out,” she replied as she placed her legs on a paddle and gave a strong push to start the carriage. Surprisingly, it moved, and soon we were on our way to the laboratory. My father worked in the turf shelter laboratory where they study Zombie species to understand their mannerisms and, hopefully, get a cure there. On our way, we encountered a horde of zombies heading straight ahead from a distance. “Brace yourselves” Jarah declared as she paddled faster. “We are not going to make it” Stan panicked as he gripped the bat tightly, looking like he was about to cry again. He hoped we wouldn't have to knock off some zombies. “We can take the shortcut” I chipped in, and leaned towards Jarah to point at a little opening. Jarah has to be really careful to maneuver, or we are toast. “Hang on!” She pulled out her left leg to wait for the perfect timing as we were fast approaching the sharp turn. The zombies were almost at arm's length when she finally dropped her leg to change the direction of the carriage. I could barely look as my eyes were shut and fingers crossed. One missed turn and we become Zombies snacks. I felt the turbulence and felt a piercing in my wrist which made me hiss. I refused to open my eyes still until I was sure we were out of the red zone. At least temporary Feeling like a minute had passed without getting ripped into threads, Stan patted my shoulder, which forced my eyes open. We were still alive! Jarah did it! “Where next?” she asked, trying to paddle as fast as she could. I pointed at all directions we ought to take. “We will see a narrow gate that will lead us straight to the back of the lab” I narrated, wondering how we are going to run in from there. When we arrived, we saw our only means of getting in completely locked. How did I know? I could see the chains and padlock from a mile away. “We are all going to die”. Stan cried. “There is no escape from this.” Panicked rushed over us as we turned to see the Zombies a few feet closer. Just then, my father jumped right in front of us with a heavy bag hanging on his shoulder. “Dad!” I uttered as relief washed over me. I dashed to give him a big hug. “I knew I'd find you here” he said, holding a gas tank. “Use this to climb up the roof and once you've reached the top, cut it loose.” “And what about you dad?” I had to ask, as Stan did not waste time climbing up first, with Jarah following closely behind. “I'll stay back and distract them.” he hugged me one last time and handed a key to me “You'll need this one day” was all he said before he pushed me to go ahead “And Zion, please you and Phil should stay safe. I love you both dearly” “I love you too, father” I said as he pushed me to go ahead. “Zion, be fast!” Jarah and Stan hurried me. I was reluctant to leave my father behind, but I knew it was for the best. As I climbed up, I heard my father scream sent a shiver down my spine which compelled me to look down only to see him getting ripped apart. With the last shred of strength in him, he pulled out the string from the gas tank and an explosion occurred which almost knocked me out. Thankfully, Jarah grabbed me right on time as I accidentally let go of the rope due to the impact of the explosion. “What were you thinking?” she asked me as she pulled me up. “You could have gotten killed.” But I remained mute as the tears forced their way out and trickled down my cheeks. My heart was heavy as though thousands of concrete walls were placed on it. I can't believe what happened. My father sacrificed himself to save us. I couldn't say anything and they both knew as Jarah drew me to her and gave me a reassuring hug while Stan rubbed my back gently. Jarah's team spotted us at the top of the lab entrance and arrived to take us away. Although I tried to fight the urge not to drop a tear, I couldn't bring myself to refuse the sad reality. I finally let out a sob on our way to the inner wall shelter as I cried my eyes out. I was in total denial, my beloved father whom I'd move the world for was gone. He was gone for good.