Echoes Of The Undying

Chapter 13: Supply Run to the Haunted Mall (Continued Part I)

The group trudged back towards Serenity Vale High School, each step filled with both relief and exhaustion. The mall mission had been intense, and while they were glad to have survived, the tension had left them all drained.

"Who knew we'd get our cardio for the week," Vivie said, her breath ragged but with a playful grin. She wiped sweat off her brow with the back of her hand.

"Yeah, I didn't sign up for this kind of workout," Farhanah added, adjusting the weight of the supplies on her shoulder. "Next time, someone else can take the mall."

"At least we didn't have to face those creepy mannequins," Olga said, shuddering at the thought.

"Why did you even have to mention those?" Mae asked, her voice slightly high-pitched. "I've been trying to block that part out!"

Jarezza, always one to lighten the mood, held up a can of beans she had grabbed in the grocery store. "Well, on the bright side, we have beans for days. Anybody fancy some post-apocalyptic chili?"

Filbert snorted. "As long as you're cooking. I'm still recovering from our last attempt at cooking anything other than canned food."

"Let's just agree not to use up our precious fuel on that experiment again," Max said, smiling. "But hey, if you're volunteering to be our chef, Jarezza, I won't complain."

"Actually," Rendy chimed in with a smirk, "I think Affendy here should handle the cooking. He's got a knack for turning the most basic ingredients into something halfway edible."

Affendy chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm not sure if that's a compliment or an insult, but I'll take it."

They all laughed, the sound carrying through the empty streets. It felt good to laugh, to find moments of levity even after everything they had faced. But the banter was interrupted when they noticed something moving in the distance-a slow, shuffling figure.

Max held up his hand, signaling everyone to stop. "Hold on, do you see that?"

The group tensed, their weapons ready. The figure came into focus-it was another zombie, but this one was alone, stumbling aimlessly.

"Great, just when I thought we were done with these guys," Vivie muttered, gripping her knife tighter.

"Do we take it out?" Mae asked, glancing at Max.

"Let's just keep it quiet," Max whispered. "No need to attract any more attention."

Jarezza leaned in and whispered, "I don't think it's noticed us yet. We can probably sneak around it."

But just as they began to move, Olga's bag slipped from her shoulder, clattering to the ground with a loud noise.

"Well, so much for stealth," Olga said, cringing.

The zombie turned towards them, its eyes locking onto the group. It let out a low, guttural moan and began shuffling faster in their direction.

"Okay, plan B," Max said, his voice urgent. "Take it down, quick!"

Rendy and Affendy moved in first, their teamwork smooth and practiced. Rendy swung his bat at the zombie's knees, causing it to stumble, while Affendy came in with a precise strike to the head, bringing it down with a sickening thud.

"Nice work," Filbert said, nodding in approval. "Maybe we should sign you two up for the zombie Olympics."

"Yeah, we'll take gold in the synchronized zombie-slaying event," Affendy joked, wiping zombie goo off his bat.

"Let's get moving before more of them show up," Max urged, glancing around nervously.

As they continued their walk back to the school, Olga tried to lighten the mood again. "You know, I kind of miss the days when our biggest problem was a pop quiz."

Mae laughed. "Or deciding who'd sit next to who at lunch. Those were the real challenges."

"Don't forget gym class," Jarezza added, grinning. "Running laps feels like a breeze now compared to running from zombies."

"Speak for yourself," Farhanah said with a dramatic sigh. "I'd still rather be running laps than running for my life."

Vivie nodded in agreement. "True, but at least now we have a pretty solid excuse to skip gym."

As they approached the school, they could see the faint lights from the classrooms, a comforting sight after the darkness of the mall. The familiar surroundings brought a sense of safety, even if it was temporary.

"Home sweet home," Rendy said, his tone carrying a hint of sarcasm. "Never thought I'd be so glad to see this place."

"Me neither," Affendy said with a grin. "But let's get these supplies inside and check on everyone else."

They walked through the school's gates, finally allowing themselves to relax a little. Inside, the rest of the Horizon Shadow Class was waiting, worry etched on their faces.

"Where have you guys been?" Fazirah asked, her voice filled with concern. "We were starting to think something happened to you."

"Just a little detour," Max said, dropping his bags on the floor. "We brought back supplies and one hell of a story."

The group gathered around, eagerly listening as they recounted their encounter with the giant zombie in the mall. Laughter and gasps of disbelief filled the room as the tale unfolded.

"Leave it to you guys to find the biggest zombie in the city," Silverra said, shaking her head with a smile. "I'm just glad you all made it back in one piece."

"Yeah, same here," Olga said, stretching her arms. "But I think I'll pass on the next supply run."

As the group settled in, their spirits lifted by the camaraderie and shared experiences, the sense of impending doom that had followed them for so long began to fade, if only for a moment. They were back, they were safe, and they were together.

But as they laughed and joked, there was an unspoken understanding among them all-this was only a temporary reprieve. The horrors outside their walls were still very real, and the next challenge was always lurking just beyond the horizon.

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