Echoes Of The Undying

Chapter 15: The Final Stand (Continued Part I)

At that moment, the emergency lights flickered on, casting an eerie red glow throughout the hallways. The dim lighting only added to the nightmarish atmosphere, making the shadows seem to dance with malice. The groans of the undead echoed ominously through the corridors, blending with the frantic breaths and cries of the Horizon Shadow Class.

Mary felt her heart pounding in her chest, the rhythm almost matching the relentless thudding of zombie fists against the barricades. "This place feels like a haunted house," she muttered under her breath, gripping her weapon tightly.

"We just need to survive the night," Nicole replied, glancing around to assess the situation. Her eyes landed on a group of zombies that had broken through a side door. "There! We need to block that entrance before more get in!"

"On it!" Shenny responded, sprinting towards the breach with Lorenda and Nigel close behind. The three of them quickly pushed a heavy bookshelf against the door, bracing it with everything they had.

"Hold it steady!" Lorenda grunted, her muscles straining under the weight.

Nigel, sweating profusely, added his strength to the barricade. "This thing is barely holding up…"

"We’ll make it hold," Shenny said through gritted teeth, her determination unwavering despite the fear gnawing at her insides.

Across the school, in the gymnasium, Mae and Jarezza were helping the injured, trying to keep everyone calm. "Stay with me," Mae urged, pressing a cloth to a survivor’s wound to staunch the bleeding. Her voice was soothing, but her hands shook slightly, betraying her fear.

Jarezza, kneeling beside another wounded student, tried to distract him from the pain. "You’re going to be fine. Just think of this like gym class, but with a little more... intensity."

The student managed a weak smile. "If we make it out of this, I’m never complaining about PE again."

Outside, the horde continued to press against the school, their numbers seemingly endless. Rendy and Farhanah, still grappling with the oversized zombie, were beginning to tire. The creature’s strength was terrifying, its rotting muscles surprisingly powerful.

"This thing is a monster!" Rendy yelled, swinging his axe at the zombie’s knee, hoping to cripple it.

"It just won’t go down!" Farhanah cried out, stabbing her weapon into the creature’s side with all her might.

Suddenly, the zombie lunged forward, nearly knocking Farhanah off her feet. "Look out!" Rendy shouted, grabbing her arm and pulling her out of harm’s way just in time.

"Thanks," Farhanah panted, her heart racing from the close call.

"No problem," Rendy replied, his voice shaky but determined. "Let’s finish this thing."

Nearby, Olga and Max were using the cover of overturned tables to pick off zombies with crossbows and makeshift slingshots. "Who knew gym class would actually come in handy?" Olga quipped, her voice tinged with nervous laughter as she notched another arrow.

Max grinned, his usually serious face cracking into a brief smile. "If only Coach could see us now. We’d finally get that A."

"Or at least a pass for surviving," Olga shot back, loosing her arrow into the eye of a zombie creeping too close for comfort.

In another hallway, Silverra, Affendy, and Intan were guarding one of the main stairwells. The constant fight had left them battered and exhausted, but they refused to give in. "We can’t let them reach the second floor," Silverra said, her voice hoarse from shouting commands.

"Just keep them at bay!" Intan replied, wielding a metal pole like a spear, jabbing at any zombie that came too close.

Affendy, reloading his pistol, took a deep breath before taking aim. "One shot at a time… We’ve got this," he whispered to himself, trying to steady his nerves.