Extra Crispy

The fire-juggling clown, having sprayed the building with the neon green goo, ignited the flames with a maniacal laugh. The once-entertaining spectacle had taken a dark and unexpected turn, as the clown's laughter echoed through the chaotic scene, blending with the crackling of the newly ignited fires. As the fire engulfed her, she continued to revel in the chaos, finding a bizarre satisfaction in her fiery demise.

In a courageous act of selflessness, Archibald dove to cover Noah and Katorra, shielding them from the impending danger. Simultaneously, the owl cat mutant, sensing the impending threat, covered Reggie and Mytia with its wings. The smell of burnt hair filled the air as the mutant provided a protective barrier.

Tragically, Archibald, in his self-sacrifice, slowly succumbed to the flames. As the chaotic scene unfolded, Jaxtyn and Angelle, reacting quickly to the danger, had run away into another room. 

Catherine, standing against the wall with a resolute smile, observed the unfolding events with a stoic demeanor. Meanwhile, Riley and Elisa, reacting swiftly to the intensity of the situation, dropped to the ground. Elisa's practical observation cut through the tense atmosphere.

"We are going to need more water," she declared, recognizing the importance of replenishing their water supply to deal with the aftermath of the fire and potentially address any further threats. Her words acted as a catalyst, prompting a collective realization among the onlookers that the situation required a coordinated effort to mitigate the damage.

Riley, still positioned low against the ground, nodded in agreement with Elisa's assessment. Without hesitation, the duo sprang into action, weaving through the shocked crowd to locate additional water sources. The urgency in their movements conveyed a shared understanding that time was of the essence in containing the unfolding disaster.

Catherine, despite maintaining her resolute stance, now took a more active role in directing the crowd. With a commanding yet reassuring tone, she encouraged onlookers to assist in the water-fetching efforts, transforming the previously stunned spectators into a mobilized group working in unison to combat the spreading flames.

As buckets, containers, and hoses were gathered, the crowd became a makeshift brigade, passing water from hand to hand in a synchronized effort to supply Riley and Elisa on the front lines. The once-silent atmosphere now buzzed with a renewed sense of purpose as the collective realization of the gravity of the situation sank in.

The fire-juggling clown, still engulfed in neon green flames, continued her eerie dance, the juxtaposition of her performance against the backdrop of the coordinated firefighting efforts creating a surreal tableau of chaos and order. The building, though still ablaze, now faced a growing opposition fueled by the determination of the crowd to regain control over the situation.

Elisa took swift action, grabbing barrels and filling them with water. Riley, recognizing the urgency, joined her efforts, assisting in carrying the filled barrels to the roof. 

The skies are filled with a surreal and haunting sight – mutant birds with grotesque features, their once vibrant plumage now tainted by the ominous glow of infection. These avian creatures, having feasted upon the flesh of the undead, bear the unmistakable marks of their macabre diet.

Their feathers, once an array of vibrant colours, now exhibit an unsettling palette of sickly greens, purples, and muted greys. The mutations manifest in twisted beaks and elongated talons, both sharper and more menacing than those of their pre-apocalyptic counterparts. These mutant birds move through the air with an eerie grace, their wings casting ominous shadows on the desolate ground below.

Their eyes, once expressive and alive, now glow with an otherworldly intensity, a reflection of the unnatural sustenance they've consumed. As they soar through the air, a faint, guttural cawing echoes, a haunting reminder of the unholy fusion of nature and the undead that these creatures embody.

With amazing sense of coordination, Elisa and Riley swiftly dumped the barrels of water off the sides of the building, strategically extinguishing the lingering flames.

Elisa and Riley, strategically positioned to target the remaining hotspots, orchestrated the synchronized release of water, creating a cascade that descended like a waterfall, effectively drowning the stubborn embers.

Catherine, still in her position against the wall, observed the unfolding scene with a mixture of relief and admiration. Elisa and Riley, though visibly exhausted, wore triumphant smiles as they acknowledged the applause, their practical approach having played a crucial role in averting further catastrophe. 

As the survivors dealt with the aftermath of the fire, a new threat emerged from the skies. Infected birds, unusually large at four feet tall, began swooping down upon them. The air filled with the unsettling sound of wing beats as the avian assailants sought their prey. 

Catherine, having swiftly shifted her focus from the extinguished flames to the airborne threat, shouted commands to organize a defense. The infected birds, their normally graceful flight distorted by the mysterious ailment, descended with an unnerving precision.

Riley and Elisa, still catching their breath from the firefighting efforts, retrieved makeshift weapons.

The air crackled with tension as the survivors, armed with whatever they could find—kitchen knives, pistols that were nearly empty and homemade spears—braced for the impending avian onslaught. 

The infected birds, their eyes glazed over with an eerie glow, swooped down in coordinated attacks, creating chaos and panic among the survivors. Catherine, a picture of resolute determination, fought alongside the makeshift militia, her earlier stoicism giving way to a visceral urgency in the face of this new and unforeseen threat.

In a sudden and brutal attack, the infected birds targeted Rudy, a female judge among the survivors. Swiftly, the avian assailants seized her by the arms and lifted her into the air, their unnaturally strong talons digging into her flesh. 

Gasps of horror filled the air as Rudy, suspended in the clutches of the infected birds, struggled in vain against their relentless grip. 

The sickening thud echoed through the carnival grounds, a haunting reminder of the sudden and merciless nature of the avian attacks. Panic intensified among the survivors as the reality of the situation sank in—no one was safe, and the infected birds showed no mercy in their relentless pursuit.

The makeshift militia, though shaken by the brutality of the attack on Rudy, rallied to protect themselves and each other.