Chapter 14 Despair

"Okay. Harriet, take the rifle. You are excellent at fighting in range. I'll go first and try to counter any Creeper that will run towards us. Li, protect Mona. Timothy, assist Harriet and use her botcher's knife instead." Jayson gave us directions as we prepare ourselves again for another suicidal attempt to reach the bunker. "And Harriet, please. If you have any plan in your head, tell us. We need to help each other to survive this." He pleaded as he gazed down at me in distress.
"Ok. I'm sorry about that." I apologized and averted my eyes on him. I admit I was being reckless at that moment but he was right. We won't survive this if we operate alone.
"Don't be. You always stun me with how incredible you could get." He gave me a quick grin and then his face went serious again, focusing on what we'll do.
I cocked the rifle in my hand and the sound it made gave me a taste of courage. They trusted me and I never want to let them down. I know what I am capable of doing now. We have to keep each other safe and I'm glad that the other three acknowledge Jason's words without a single complaint. I have no issue if he bosses us around because he has already proved his good leadership. Besides, he has the most insight into doing stuff like this. Only, he utilized his skill on the enemies of his Mafia boss. I couldn't imagine the feeling of assassinating a real person. I wonder what he felt when he pulled the trigger of his gun while those people begged him to spare their lives...
I wonder if he sees his victim's face before he sleeps at night.
The heavy feeling was brushed off when Jayson spoke again, bringing me back to reality.
"Li, Keep up with us, understand? We have to be close to each other so Harriet and I could protect you."
"Yes, yes. I'll run as fast as I can." Li nervously said, his lips were quivering as he held Mona's hand. Mona looked at me, her eyebrows raised in worry.
"I'll be ok. We'll be going inside that subway. I'll do my best to protect you." I reassured her in a soft tone and smiled at her. She just nodded at me, trying to look brave.
I'm amazed that Mona got this far. She looked so frail and vulnerable like a fine glass that might break any moment. But she's tougher than how she looks. I even think she's much more capable of surviving this than Li, whose knees were still shaking, scared and nervous at Jayson's suicidal plan to reach that barricaded subway.
Timothy took out his asthma inhaler from his pocket and puffed in two deep lungfuls, his hands were shaking so bad that he almost dropped it on the ground.
Our situation now was like a two-faced coin. Either we miraculously survive and obtain help if soldiers were lurching around the area or we die trying.
"GO!"
I feel like we're a single party in some kind of an online game with a different kind of skill. Jayson ran forward. Next to him was Li, Mona, Timothy, and then I sprinted next to them as I aimed the rifle at any Creeper that would come near us. Jason held his ax skillfully as another wave of the undead swarmed again before us, screaming and howling, ready for their feast.
A tall one leaped itself on Li. I pulled the trigger of the rifle and shot the Creeper, sending it flying away from us. I was surprised by the power of the gun. It was not the kind that my dad and I used, way back during hunting season in Coleshire. When Jayson gave it to me, I hesitated if I could use it without bruising my shoulders and I was right. I almost lost my balance from the power of the gun but Timothy grabbed me by the arm and pulled me steady.
I couldn't even say thank you out of surprise but I believe Timothy didn't mind because we had to focus more. I aimed at incoming ones again, this time, I steadied myself better and anticipated the force that the rifle gave as I fired the undead one by one.
"We're almost there!"
My breath was ragged with anxiety. I saw how Jayson axed the ones who got near him as he kicked and waved his weapon against his attackers. I couldn't keep up with the numbers of the Creepers that came swarming around us. It was hard aiming at a moving target while I was running.
Timothy had been glancing back at me, checking if someone might attack me from behind. To my surprise, he pulled me forward as we changed positions. He swerved his knife from his sides, threatening the undead as if he could scare them away.
"Go, Harriet! I'll protect you from your back!" He shouted at me and slashed an undead that almost got him. The razor-sharp knife sliced clean the hand of the undead. It shrieked with rage as it sprung itself on Timothy, who was fending himself against another attack from a female Creeper.
I didn't waste any second and aimed the rifle as fast as I could on the body of Timothy's attacker and fired at its belly. The bullets sprayed on it as it hurled back away from us, the trunk of its body shredded with the force of the gunshot. Then another to that female one, blowing up its head.
"After this is over, can I invite you for a date?!" Timothy shouted at me, his face was in a full grimace as we ran side by side, protecting each other. I just smiled at him helplessly because it was the silliest thing to ask while those monsters were after us. Maybe he was just joking to alleviate the tension in his chest.
"LI! DON"T GO NEAR IT!!!"
My attention was distracted by Jayson's scream and before I knew what he meant, a buzzing sound filled my ears and Li suddenly sprawled down in front of the barricade, still and unconscious. The buzzing sound made the hairs on my skin crawl as I realized that the fence was grounded with electricity and Li was mercilessly shocked the moment he touched it. He must have gotten too excited to look for a way to enter the gate before he even heard the buzzing noise of the electrified mesh wires.
"Sh*t!" Jayson cursed as he swung his ax against a Creeper who was about to grab him by his arm.
Mona's mouth gaped into a silent scream as she rushed towards the unconscious Li. She quickly checked his pulse and exhaled, her eyes were wet with tears as she shook him with her small hands.
"Is he still breathing?!" Timothy went close to Mona who hysterically shook Li on his shoulder. Mona nodded at him and we both exhaled in relief. I didn't notice I was holding my breath when I saw Li wriggling violently and it was terrifying to watch.
It seemed that the voltage of the fence was not fatal to humans. Were the people inside this place still expecting any survivors that will come and seek shelter here?
I wish I could check on Li but the Creepers are getting more and more aggressive and ferocious now that we're all cornered between the electric fence and this horrendous undead. I counted again and my brows furrowed. Weren't there just less than twenty? Now it seems like there are over fifty Creepers in front of us!
Sh*t. Is this the end of our luck?
Breathing as fast as I could to fill up my lungs hoping to regain my strength, I hoisted the rifle up to my shoulders again and aimed at any of the Creepers who attempted to get close to us. Jayson Kept on swinging his ax, splitting the heads of those who came near him like he was chopping small kinds of watermelons.
"ANYBODY HELP US!" Timothy cried at the top of his lungs making me and Jayson's eyes wide open with skepticism.
"What are you doing! Shut the f*ck up, Timothy! You're just attracting more of them!" Jayson angrily stopped him as he swung his ax. The Creepers howled and moaned louder as they came to us one by one. With the loud sound of the rifle, I guess it's nonsense to stop Timothy from screaming for help. We have no choice but to stand our ground and kill as many as we can until someone hears him and hopefully, help us!
"PLEASE HELP!"
Jayson screamed in anger at the undead he kicked on the stomach. He was looking exhausted already, using the weight of his whole body for additional force while swinging the ax.
Please ... help us... anyone...
I felt the tips of my fingers grow cold, while I was holding the rife with my trembling hands, scared for our lives. I was so f*cking exhausted already and my body felt so dirty and disgusting with sweat. It was hard to breathe with my constricting lungs and I was running out of ammo. To defend the others, I had to use it like a baseball bat and knock the Creepers out. I grunted as I kicked and struck them with the gun. I felt like crying out of despair.
"Guys, I'm so sorry..." I murmured as I sobbed. I fell on my knees. My whole body was shaking.