Blood, Guns, and Panties

Chapter 3

"What's going on...?" Rei managed to squeak out. Her eyes were wide, her mouth open and she looked about ready to faint.

Saeko reached across the table and took the remote in her hands, pushing the volume button up as they listened to the news report:

'...it. With riots occuring everywhere, the government is looking into how to combat this emergency. However, regardless of political affiliation, politicians are viewing the deployment of the self-defense force as...' At this, Takashi burst into a small fit of rage, the purple haired beauty still playing with the remote. Kaede shushed her brother, looking curiously at the paramedics that were with the dead bodies behind her.

'...comment. The local death toll has already surpassed one thousand. The governor has declared a state of emergency, and has requested---' 

The news anchor was cut off by a loud blaring somewhere off screen. Mariko grunted at the shakiness of the camera, while others in the room gasped in surprise. More blasts came through the speaker, making the news reporter flinch, but she continued.

'Those are gunshots! The police have opened fire!! I don't know exactly what's going on but ---" A scream ripped from her throat as something behind the camera attacked the camera man, and the body bags had leaned up slowly behind her. The woman on screen dropped her mic and they listened to her cries of anguish as whatever was attacking her cut out her voice.

Things were quite as the teens continued to watch the news program. The live report had changed to the news room, two men confused, one listening to whatever was on his earpiece.

'We are having some technical difficulties. W-We will broadcast from the studio for the rest of this program.'

Takashi and Kaede, like the true siblings they were, went into an outburst of rage. First, the dark haired girl threw a stapler off one of the desks at a wall, kicking at random papers to try and calm her anger. As for her brother, he cried, "That's it?! Why won't they tell us any more!?" 

"This is an epidemic! We should know what's going on!!!" his sister agreed. 

Saya put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. "They don't want to cause a panic," she tried to reason. The ravenette still looked ready to punch someone in the face and call for an explanation, but another hand from Mariko held her down for the count.

"Even now?" Rei asked. She threw a curious look at the pinkette behind her, a bit miffed herself at how little information that they were receiving.

"Especially now!" Takagi countered. She adjusted her glasses before continuing, "Fear causes confusion. Confusion causes the collapse of order. And without order... How are we supposed to fight against the living dead?" She left them silent as they continued to listen to the news report.

'...As it is very dangerous outside, we ask that you remain in your homes if at all possible. Please lock all windows and doors to your homes, and if possible, block them off. If you are not in your home for any reason, please locate a designated shelter...-- The channel changed to a world wide news report-- In America, with no hope of getting the widespread emergency under control, the top executives have fled the White House. They've announced that they will resume governmental duties on an aircraft carrier that's out at sea.

In addition, they are evaluating whether nuclear weapons are a viable option. Communication with Moscow has halted. The entire city of Beijing is in flames. In comparison, London is having relatively few troubles maintaining public order. Looting within Paris and Rome has reached...'