Beyond the Walls

Trust and Confidence

*Huff huff

‘I knew it, it’s hard for this old body.’ She complained internally.

*Bzzzt

“Alexa.” It was Adam’s rare serious voice.

*s***h Stab

Alexa cut the reaching arms of mutant before skewering up its’ brain

“Run straight at 12'oclock. ” 

Without waiting for a signal, Alexa hopped over the mutant’s body and started running in the said direction.

The mutants in that direction welcomed Alexa, with growls and open arms not knowing they would bow at her presence as the bullets came piercing their head.

Alexa didn’t wait for it’s body to drop, instead she pulled it down faster and allowed herself to come up and stepped on its body.

After that, Mutants on her way and those closely behind her were shot dead. She only had to kick or slice off those who would try to reach for her. 

She finally got out of the surrounding mutants. At the end of her sight she sees Gabrielle kneeling down with one knee and Adam dropped on plank as he looks through the scope of his spinning gun. 

“UAWARGHHH!”

*Bzzzz

“Are you walking by the beach?! Make it fast.” Adam said.

“This bastard…” Alexa muttered cursed. She is already dripping in sweat and her muscles are screaming as she tries to outrun the mutants on her tracks.

Closing in Gabrielle hands down her arms for Alexa to reach. Alexa speeds it more. By the wall, she ran up to it and grabbed Gabrielle’s hand that pulled her up quickly almost to the point of flying up. 

*BANG BANG

The mutants ran to the wall, which shook the roofs. 

*Click click click

Aaron disseambled his gun set up as quickly as three seconds before they began running to another booth roof. Up to the third booth, they managed well, until in front of them landed a winged mutant and the sides and back were crawling with hunched back ghouls. 

*Flap flap

Gusting wind towards their direction, the winged mutant flaps its wing while shrieking loudly.

Adam pushed to the front and pulled a gun out and gunned it down. “Jump now!” He said in between. They will be soon sandwiched in two directions, Gabrielle was the first to launch herself and had to roll a few times to minimize the landing force. Split second, Alexa did the same.

*Phew phew

Gabrielle is assisting Adam who is busy raining bullets on the winged mutant. She is trying to keep in bay the hunchback ghouls from grabbing Adam from the back.

“Adam!!” Alexa called. 

Adam spared a quick glance and launched himself and jumped. In slow motion, the hunchback ghoul's long arms reached for him but Gabrielle shot its shoulder recoiling their backs away, missing him by inch while the winged mutant had definitely tried stabbing him with it’s bone wing but the gravity had pulled him down faster. Scratching only his long gun and part of his jacket.

He rolled down a few times but got up fast and they started running. 

“Eiiiiiiiik”

*flap flap flap

All the commotion had attracted more mutants on their spot.

“f**k there is end to them.” Adam said as they went defensive mode while running.

*Screeeeeeech

The three of them jumped away from each other after a winged mutant tried screwing them from above.

*Phew phew *Slice

Each of them landed an attack on it. Adam and Gabrielle shot to it’s side temples while Alexa jumped back roundhouse kick with a drawn blade on her heels killing the mutant three times at same time.

They continued to run after, as if nothing had happened. Under 30 seconds of hit and run tactics, they were finally cornered after turning around one corner, another wave of horde mixed with hunchback ghouls and the winged mutants was waiting for them.

“Ah damn!” Adam reflexively upped his long gun but didn't know where to point first. So is Gabrielle, she pointed her two guns 

Alexa tried going back but the monsters had already caught up. Trapped on a one way street, the three of them back each other.

“I knew it, you’ll be the death of me someday.” Adam said.

“It was your choice to come, dummy.” Gabrielle hissed back.

“I should’ve starved you when you were a kid, if I knew you’ll turn out this sassy.”

“Again, your fault.”

“Shut up! Both of you! Can’t you think of the situation first?” Alexa with a new gun at hand held back her desire to smack the back head of her i***t comrades.

The mutants are cautious in approaching, this quality is also unique to evolve undeads. They are able to practice some qualities similar to hunting but it’s not perfect.

“Eiiiiiiiiierk!!!”

“Uwarghhhhh! Argkkk!”

“Kwuarkkkk!!!”

Charging all at once.

They can only win against their lust for human flesh for a few seconds.

“THERE!” Gabrielle spotted some windows at a cafe-like establishment.

*Phew phew phew

They run towards it and exactly three windows are available. While Alexa clears the path in front. The other two kills from the side. 

“Go!” Gabrielle said as she drew her gun wide. One gun in each hand she pointed in her sides, in different directions. As two of her comrades pass her side.

*Crash

…and the glass window shatters on their entrance. She pulled the trigger on each gun to cover for two of them to avoid getting pulled back out. She jumps backwards and shatters the glass to her back. On her landing, two figures are already up and aiming on the outside.

They pulled the trigger late just enough to block the window temporarily. 

“Let’s go!” Adam and Alexa offered their hands and talked similarly. For a moment to Gabrielle, it overlapped her childhood memories, where these two offered their hands on her, the homeless and alone kid on the street.

She didn’t hesitate on reaching their hand. She knew that she picked the right people on this mission. Her trust and confidence is safe with their skill and their bond.

They start jogging away from the noisy growls and rampage on the other side of the wall. 

*Crash crash crash

By the time the mutants had demolished the wall, the three humans were long gone. 

Placed on the ceiling is a tilting object. Its lens is moving closer without alarming the roaming mutants inside.

“Woah! They really escaped!” The person behind the desk exclaimed in awe after seeing breath stopping close call action. 

“Man, It pays to be talented.” Another one perked from the side.

“Dude, Those are not just talents. They are the chosen ones.” Talking like it was some occult praise.

“Chosen ones huh?” 

“...! Sir!”

“Ah! Ah! Don’t get up. I just couldn’t help but overheard your conversation. What do you mean by chosen ones?” Yuslan said with a smile that relaxed the surprised soldiers.

Hesitating at first but eventually he answered. “That’s what I heard from other seniors in military school… they considered people with incredible reflexes as the chosen one…” 

Yuslan looked to the side and saw Macord overhearing the conversation. “I see,” he answered.

Macord passed them by and looked at the big screen.

“Camera 117.” He said and the camera showed a street with three people walking on it.

“Something is coming.” Gabrielle said but showed no alertness.

“Again? I’m tired.” Adam complained but he was ready to shoot.

“It’s not undead.” Gabrielle smiled.

Soon a machine was heard, and her companions realized what it was seconds before it came to view.

“Ha! That bastard finally grew some backbone.” Adam put back to his back his long gun smiles widely.

*vroooom

Coming from the other side of the street is a familiar black jeep.

“Xian! I never felt so glad to see you until now.” Adam opened his arms and he wanted to hug Xian.

“I,I thought I’m gonna die…” Those are Xian’s first words, he removed his glasses and wiped off his cold sweat on his forehead and tips of his nose while others placed themselves inside the car.

“Why? Did you encounter too many mutants?” Alexa asked as she removed her dirtied shirt revealing her tank top and installed a short sword weapon on her arms. She pulled the pocket on the back of the driver's seat and got a bottle of water and started wiping her bloody self.

“Mutants?! There are mutants here?!” 

“Are there regular undead here too?” Curiously, Alexa asked.

“I, I don’t know… I just thought what if… they suddenly appear just like before how will I defend myself?” Xian is exhausted from overthinking, he lays his head on the wheels to rest for a while.

“There’s a gun here.” Adam pulled down the compartment and showed two guns with ammunition available. “...All you have to do reach for it,”

“Aim for the head. It’s bothersome if it’s not one kill.” Gabrielle added as she pulled open the bag she set aside and showed more guns and other equipment.

“...You don’t understand what it is for normal people.” Xian mumbled, feeling more exhausted. How could someone normal, a waller, until a few nights ago can magically be brave and be skilled to shoot.

“Aren’t we going?” Gabrielle asked as she loaded one gun and put it on her gun strap at her sides.

“Seriously… these people…” He bit his lips and pulled the break to drive.

Before he started driving he realized something. “I am driving?”

“Yup. Vamos!” Adam said tapping the window while looking outside.

“Why me? Didn’t you just hear, I almost passed out by just driving here.” 

Gabrielle slid herself in between the front seat and asked. “If you can shoot, then I’ll gladly take your place.”

“Shoot what? Undead? That’s not hard.”

“It’s a little different from undead…” Gabrielle tilted her head in front and Xian looked and squinted his eyes, there’s nothing at the end of the street.

“What? There’s nothi—!!!!”

On the end of the street, appeared something grayish dark skin with a pair of long arms and no hair. It suddenly turned to look in their direction.

“!!!!! What the f**k!” Xian was taken aback, at the hunchback ghoul appearance and it’s bloodshot eyes.

“Kwaurgkkkkkkkkkk!!” It dropped on all fours and began to charge.

Xian didn’t think twice and backed the car immediately.

“What the f**k! What the f**k!” Xian cursed and cursed.

The ghoul leaped up but Xian backed the car to the side and the long sharp nails of the ghoul scratched the car.

“There’s no way I could shoot those down!!! Are you crazy?!!”

“Thought so too.” Looking from behind, Gabrielle watching the chasing ghoul, responded to panicking Xian, who is hell bent on out running the monster.

“Hahahaha…Aren’t you a cute fellow? Fine, I'll take care of it.” Pushing himself out and taking out the jeep’s top cover, Adam placed his gun on the roof and closed his other eye and took aim.

“Be careful of the flying one.” Alexa said.

“WHAT FLYING ONE?!!! Huh? What flying?!” Xian looks at Alexa from the rear mirror.

Alexa is leisurely putting on her military jacket that is identical to what Adam is wearing.

*BANG!

The chasing mutant dropped dead.