Zombie survivor

[75] The cost

The group was fighting for their lives. Blood, sweat, and grime painted their faces as they hacked, slashed, and kicked at the relentless tide of zombies closing in on them. The dock was their only chance, but the boat was still useless—Evan had been struggling with the wires for what felt like an eternity, and now the horde was on them faster than ever.

"Keep pushing them back! Don't stop!" Morgan barked, her voice strained but commanding. Her leg was still bleeding badly, but she wasn't stopping. Every swing of her stone dagger sent a zombie's head flying, its brain matter splattering onto the ground.

"Fuck this! These things just won't stop!" Brad yelled, slamming his metal rod into the skull of another undead. He was swinging it so hard, it looked like he was trying to knock the thing into next week.

"We're fucking dead if we don't get this boat working!" Tyler shouted, his crowbar bloodied, his face pale. He was barely keeping it together, each swing of his weapon more frantic than the last. He looked back at Evan, desperation in his eyes. "Evan, get the fucking boat working NOW!"

"I'm TRYING!" Evan screamed, his voice cracking with fear. His hands were shaking as he twisted the wires beneath the boat's dashboard, cursing under his breath. His whole body was trembling with the effort, like he was trying to will the damn thing to work just by sheer force of will.

Meanwhile, Chloe, who had been fighting off zombies alongside Brittany, was suddenly overwhelmed. A zombie—its skin rotting and eyes hollow—lunged at her, knocking her to the ground. It pinned her with surprising strength, its bony hands gripping her shoulders and chest.

"Ah! Get off me, you sick fuck!" Chloe screamed, her voice shrill. The zombie's face pressed into her neck, its ragged breathing only adding to the terror. Then, without any warning, its hand shot up to grab her breast, its fingers digging into the soft flesh.

"NO!" Chloe shrieked again, her voice high-pitched and full of panic. The disgusting sensation made her want to throw up. She tried to push the zombie off her, but its weight was too much. It was stronger than she'd anticipated, and the panic in her voice rang out with each desperate push.

Then, just as it seemed like the zombie was going to rip into her, Evan appeared out of nowhere. His eyes wide with fear, he swung a large piece of wood, landing it with a sickening crack across the zombie's skull. The thing crumpled off Chloe, falling onto the dock with a wet thud.

Chloe gasped for air, scrambling to her feet, her hands trembling. She didn't stop though—she couldn't. The whole group was depending on her to stay focused.

"Thanks, Evan..." Chloe's voice was shaky, but there was no time for gratitude. They had no time to waste.

"Get the fucking boat working!" she snapped, and Evan nodded, his eyes wide with urgency.

Before Chloe could even stand properly, Jean let out a shout, his eyes wide as a zombie lurched toward him, mouth open wide, its yellow teeth bared. He barely had time to react. He swung his crowbar, narrowly missing the undead's head. But before he could swing again, it was already too late—the zombie's arms were around his waist, pulling him down.

"Shit!" Jean gasped as he felt the cold, clammy fingers scrape his skin. He was about to be dragged down to the ground when, out of nowhere, Akira moved, slashing at the zombie's face with her kitchen knives. The blades dug into its flesh, but the zombie was relentless, snapping its jaws at Jean's exposed neck.

Jean's breath hitched as he felt the hot breath of the zombie on his skin. He swung his crowbar again, finally connecting with the creature's skull, but the thing didn't fall. It twisted its body, sinking its teeth into Jean's shoulder.