Dead Ahead! (Male Reader Insert)

Chapter 7

Last night, everyone had fun. Even though time went by so quickly, each second felt enjoyed to the fullest. The sun rises, and you wake up, feeling it glare through the window.

You get up and sit on the driver's seat, not bothering to wake up the others since everyone stayed late. You sit there, fiddling with your rifle until a hand perches itself on your shoulder.

You squeak in fear but stop yourself, getting a reminder that all the ones inside the bus are allies.

Pepper: Hey, uh, we haven't talked much, but I wanted to say thank you.

She smiles. You nod in gratitude.

Pepper: I already lost some hope in humanity seeing what those savages did. But all of you gave me hope.

She continued, looking behind towards the others.

You: Really? How so.

Pepper: Your one primary example, risking your life going to the city to try and stop the Marauders and going on to help other people.

You: Well, not much to do back here, and besides, I think we'll get more powerful allies than formidable enemies.

Pepper: I like the way you think! It reminds me of the IF crew I worked with before.

You: Speaking of the IF crew, you think they're still out there?

Pepper: I know they are. I hope we find them.

You: I'm sure we will.

She smiles at your optimism. Your conversation wakes up the other members. Russel wakes up, and his first words are.

Russel: I vaguely remember a restaurant near here. Do you mind checking it out?

Mark: I don't think we'll find anything there. It's been months since the outbreak. The food there would've spoiled already.

You: We'll be passing through it. We might as well check.

You start up the bus while the others get ready for the day. Both older men were hungover from the drink last night. But Russel's eyes have already healed and are now back in top condition.

You stop, seeing a barricade and a ton of zombies as usual. The able units step down, Russel, Mark, and Pepper.

Russel runs ahead and bashes down the first zombie he sees. Behind it, another one rears its head for a bite, but Pepper takes care of it.

Mark catches up to Russel and hits the first zombie in the gut. Russel finishes it with a bash to the head with a shovel. Pepper took the last two down in quick succession.

Two zombies behind the barricade stand up, both glowing with blood-red mist surrounding them. Russel and Mark stand back, knowing how more powerful these things are than the regular ones.

You: There's movement behind that door! Step away!

The one behind the door kicks it open. A man runs out and swings his fire ax on the first zombie, lodging it on its chest. He steps forward and headbutts the second zombie.

It falls to the ground as he pulls his ax back from the first zombie and cleaves the second one's head off.

You carefully stare at him. He's dressed in a yellow firefighter suit with white reflective strips, a red firefighter's helmet, and a firefighter's open-circuit SCBA full-face mask and air cylinder.