…2 Hours Ago…
Haruno reached the first floor and stepped outside the front doors of the community center. The chilling sight before her left her momentarily frozen. The passengers of the bus that had jumped out of the burning vehicle lay strewn across the pavement, their bodies mangled and covered in crimson. Moving closer, Haruno saw that there were several injuries on their bodies. Most of which resembled rips and tears made from violent bites.
Her attention then went to how everyone's skin was an unsettling shade of pale, almost grey. Haruno quickly recovered from her shock and was about to call the authorities and paramedics, only to find her phone missing.
"I left it with Yukino-chan," Haruno whispered. "It's fine. Someone must have surely called the police by now. I'll do what I can to help."
"Hey! What's going on?!"
Haruno glanced over her shoulder, her heart racing, as several staff members from the community center hurried into the lobby. Their faces paled as they took in the chaotic scene before them, eyes widening in shock at the horrific aftermath of the bus crash. In an instant, they sprang into action, urgency etched across their features.
"I don't know what happened!" Haruno exclaimed, her voice trembling. "I just saw the bus crash and ran down to help, but I'm not sure what's going on with these people!" She gestured toward the victims strewn about the floor, panic bubbling within her.
A tall staff member with a calm demeanor quickly nodded and pulled out his phone to call the police, his fingers trembling slightly as he dialed the numbers. Others attempted to call as well, but none of their calls went through due to the phone lines being tied up. Meanwhile, several staff members rushed to assist the injured, their training taking over as they moved swiftly but carefully.
Haruno knelt beside one of the victims, a middle-aged woman with blood trickling from her forehead, and shook her gently in an attempt to rouse her. "Can you hear me? Please wake up!" she pleaded, anxiety gripping her. After several futile attempts, she hesitated for a moment before placing her fingers delicately on the woman's neck.
Her frown deepened as she searched for a pulse, only to be met with the eerie stillness of the woman's lifeless skin. A wave of sadness washed over her, mixing with the urgent need for help.
Standing up, Haruno was about to move on when the woman below her twitched.
"What?" Haruno whispered.
"Hey! You're going to be okay!" The tall staff member said as he kneeled beside the woman, a first aid kit in his hands. "Here, let me patch you up. Your bleeding-"
Haruno could do nothing as the injured woman hissed and lunged at the man's neck. With a jerk, she ripped off his throat, causing blood to gush out like a fountain while the man choked.
At the sound of a scream, Haruno spun around and watched as another member of the staff was tackled by two more victims.
And to her horror, they began to rip the woman below her apart as she screamed.
Haruno stepped back as all those who had fallen out of the bus rose to their feet, their injuries seemingly ignored, and began to attack all the staff members around her. Their cloudy white eyes were unblinking as they ignored the pained yells of those they attacked and ate.
Suddenly, two of the ravenous people turned to her and broke into a frenzied dash.
"S-stop! Stop right there!" Haruno yelled, but it was a futile effort as one of them lunged at her.
With a burst of agility, Haruno relied on her karate training as she delivered a powerful kick to the first man, sending him staggering back. The adrenaline surged through her veins as she deftly sidestepped the second assailant's eager grasp. The second infected growled menacingly, his eyes wild with a frenzied hunger as he lunged at her. In a split second, he managed to snag the hem of her skirt, his grip tightening like a vice.
Thinking quickly, Haruno pivoted on her heel, her body moving fluidly as she spun around to face him. With precision and strength, she unleashed a swift kick aimed at his head. Her heel connected with a sharp crack, jolting his skull backward with a sickening thud. The force of the blow sent him crashing to the ground, but not before ripping a jagged tear through her skirt.
"What's wrong with you people?" Haruno asked.
It was then that Haruno felt the chilling silence wash over her, the frantic screams of the staff abruptly cut off, leaving an eerie void that sent shivers down her spine. Against every instinct screaming at her to flee, she turned, her breath hitching as she faced a grotesque tableau. Over a dozen figures loomed before her, their eyes wild and insane, faces and hands slick with blood that glistened in the dim light. The air was thick with a metallic scent as the lifeless bodies of the community center's staff lay in a gruesome heap beneath them.
Terrified, Haruno took a step back, the heel of her shoe making an audible click.
In unison, they let out a bone-chilling roar, a sound that reverberated through the hallway and ignited a primal terror deep within her. They surged toward her like a wave of madness, their distorted faces twisted into expressions of rabid hunger and rage.
Haruno spun on her heel, sprinting down the corridor, her heels clacking harshly against the cold floor, each step a reminder of her peril. Her heart pounded relentlessly, a drumbeat of fear, drowning out the chaos behind her. The guttural cries of the infected echoed relentlessly, a haunting chorus that threatened to consume her sanity.
As she rounded the corner, the slickness of the floor caught her off guard, and an icy grip of terror tightened around her throat. One of her shoes slipped off, clattering away as she narrowly avoided a disastrous fall. Desperation fueled her flight; every corner she turned felt like it could be her last. Looking back, she saw some of the infected running straight into the wall, their heads crashing violently against it.
Instead of falling onto the ground in pain or losing consciousness, the infected stood back up and continued to chase after her.
What are they?! Haruno thought.
Kicking her other shoe off in a moment of sheer panic, Haruno darted around a corner and rushed into the room to her right. The door closed with a soft thud behind her, and she leaned against the wall, her heart racing as the frantic sounds of stomping feet and guttural growls reverberated in the hallway outside.
As moments stretched into what felt like hours, Haruno pressed her ear against the cool surface of the wall. The relentless sounds of the infected—groaning, snarling, and the chaotic movement of their bodies—filled her with a deep sense of dread. She hugged herself tightly, her fingers digging into her skin as the noise outside threatened to overwhelm her. Each growl seemed to echo her own fear, growing louder with every passing second as more of the undead gathered nearby.
Slowly, she began to tame the wild fear that had gripped her, shifting her mind from sheer panic to strategic thinking. She knew that she couldn't remain hidden forever; she had to find a way back upstairs, where everyone was undoubtedly facing the same crisis. Haruno needed to get to Yukino. Above all, her thoughts turned fiercely protective; she had to ensure her little sister's safety.
It was then, with a renewed sense of purpose, that she decided she couldn't linger in this confined space any longer. Steeling herself for what lay ahead, she carefully reached for the doorknob, her hand trembling slightly. With a deep breath to calm her nerves, she turned the knob and pushed the door open.
What greeted her was a sight that filled her with relief: Hachiman, Hayato, and Yamato stood just outside the door, their faces illuminated by the dim light filtering in from the hallway. A bright smile broke across her features as she met Hachiman's gaze.
x x x
"Once we get back to everyone, do you have any ideas for what we can do or where we can go?" I asked after Haruno finished recounting her tale.
Haruno thought deeply for several minutes. "We can't stay at the community center much longer. We'll run out of food soon, and the number of infected is growing too large. However, there are too many people in the home economics room for us to travel somewhere else together. Before long, everyone will be hungry, and tensions will start to rise."
"In other words, you're saying that we will have to split up to move more efficiently. Is that right?" I said. To which Haruno nodded.
"But that's..." Hayato said with a grimace. Haruno looked at him and sighed.
"Tell me. How hard was it for you three to move around without being caught or spotted by those things?" Haruno asked, and we remained silent.
"Hard. Very hard," Yamato said with a frown. "There were too many close calls with just the three of us; I can't imagine how traveling with everyone else will be any easier. It might even be impossible."
"Exactly," Haruno said, nodding as she turned to me. "I see three options for us. First, we could split up and travel in smaller groups to reduce risk, but that comes with its own dangers. Second, we could try to find a bus or vehicle to transport everyone together more safely. However, the chances of finding one are low, and we might encounter blocked roads along the way. Third, we could travel as one large group, but that would put everyone's safety at the highest risk... Hikigaya-kun, what do you think we should do?"
My eyes widened as I realized I was being put on the spot; everyone was looking at me with curious expressions.
I turned away from them and focused on the floor. My mind raced through all three options, carefully considering each one to find the best solution. Deep down, I already knew which choice was the right one. Taking a deep breath, I looked back at everyone.
"We need to, no, we have to split the group up."
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AN: Quick question for my readers, would you like to see High School of the Dead crossing over into this story? If I did, I would have to cut back on a lot of the horny and bring down the over the top action and fix some of the messy plot points in order for that story to fit in better with my more grounded setting. Let me know your thoughts!