Chapter 6 (Sacrifice of an Unknown Hero)

Chapter 6: Sacrifice of an Unknown Hero

Ethan Warren

May 24th, 2022

5 days after outbreak

Minnesota, Armstrong High School

Season 1

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There were monsters outside in the parking lot. We heard the click as Aiden unlocked the doors from the computer. My heart sank in my chest as I saw how many of those things were really out there. They were grotesque and inhuman, their bloodshot eyes filled with a hunger that sent shivers down my spine. It was clear that our chances of survival were slim, but we couldn't just hide and hope for the best.

We couldn't bring Connor with us; he was weak and in pain. He was going to turn soon, and we didn't know if there was even a way to save him. We had to make a difficult decision: leave Connor behind to ensure our own survival. It was heartbreaking, but we knew it was the only way to protect ourselves from the growing threat outside.

Together, we ran out of the office. Connor was standing now; Khai was only a bit shorter than him, so she kept him from falling on the floor. He was going to die from blood loss before the infection. We could see the desperation in his eyes as he struggled to keep up with us. Despite our best efforts, it became clear that there was no way to save him unless we all wanted to meet the same fate.

"Put pressure on the bite," I said before running to the door with Aiden and Rudi. Aiden took the door handle desperately into his hands.

"We could hot wire one of those cars," Aiden suggested.

"We'd have to do it quickly; we can't attract too much attention, and we don't even know if those things are faster than us," I informed. Rudi glanced at the approaching horde of creatures, his face filled with fear. "If we don't find a way out soon, we'll be trapped here," he warned, his voice trembling. Aiden nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of escape.

"When did you learn to hot wire a car?" Aaron asked, confused.

"Science project," Aiden replied sarcastically.

"I'll cause a distraction," Connor said from behind as he and Khai hobbled closer to us.

"What will you do?" I asked, my voice filled with concern.

"Give them a grand meal. I'm already a dead man walking; what more could they do to me?" Connor laughed with sadness glimmering in his eyes. The weight of the decision hung heavy in the air as we exchanged glances. We knew that Connor's plan was our best shot at escape, but the thought of losing him was unbearable.

"Okay, then that's what we'll do. You'll go out there first, make noise, and then Aiden and I will make our way to the car." Connor nodded, determination etched on his face. "Just promise me one thing," he said, his voice steady. "If anything goes wrong, don't wait for me. Get yourselves to safety." We exchanged solemn nods, understanding the gravity of the situation. With a deep breath, Connor stepped forward, taking his arm off of Khai, ready to face whatever awaited him outside.

"Which car are we going for?" Aiden asked.

"We're going for the black SUV parked by the entrance," I replied, pointing towards it. "It's our best chance to make a quick getaway without drawing too much attention." Aiden nodded, his eyes scanning the area for any potential obstacles or threats. With a shared sense of purpose, we prepared ourselves to join Connor in the imminent chaos outside.

Aiden slowly opened the door, leaving the school. Connor jumped in front of us and ran with as much strength as he could muster, screaming incoherently at the dead. They ran towards him; he was no match for them, even if he hadn't been in the state he was in. It was time to leave now before we became overwhelmed by the horde. As we sprinted away, our hearts pounding in our chests, we knew that survival depended on getting the van started as quickly as possible. I hated how I looked over my shoulder; I shouldn't have. Connor was getting ripped apart by the dead. His insides were on the ground, and his screams had turned into gurgles as his life was mercilessly taken away. I felt guilty for a crime I didn't even commit.

As we reached the van, my heart sank with a heavy mix of grief and guilt. I knew deep down that we couldn't have saved Connor, but the sight of his brutal demise haunted me nonetheless. With an empty look plastered on my face, I climbed into the van, knowing that our survival now depended on leaving him behind.

Aiden climbed into the driver's seat. I focused on some of the stragglers from the horde getting closer. My mind raced with conflicting emotions as I watched Aiden skillfully attempt to start the engine. The guilt of leaving Connor behind gnawed at me, but the urgency to escape the approaching horde was overwhelming.

"Hurry up," I said nervously as more of them came closer. Aiden's hands trembled slightly as he fumbled with the wires. "I almost got it," he said urgently.

Eventually, Aiden finally yelled in victory as the van started up. The engine roared to life, drowning out the groans of the stragglers. Relief washed over me as Aiden drove to pick up the others from the door; they all climbed into the back. Everyone with a strong stomach who was not crying watched them consume Connor; the sight was not pretty. As we drove away, the tension in the van was palpable. The events of the day had taken a toll on all of us, and the silence hung heavy in the air. We knew that we had to regroup and come up with a new plan. We hadn't really expected to make it out of there alive.