Chapter 14

"Oh, shit," Daniel blurted out, his jaw dropping in disbelief as the harsh reality played out in front of him.

The zombie masses morphed into relentless pursuers, their relentless pursuit mirrored by the followers trailing behind Daniel. The desperate cries for help echoed as the followers, overtaken by the undead, met their gruesome fate just steps away.

Amidst the chaos, a gutsy follower brandishing a baseball bat swung it fiercely, connecting with a zombie that soared through the air. "Get away from me, you bastards!" he yelled, the impact of his swing punctuating the urgency of their dire situation.

Swinging the bat wildly, he desperately fought off the relentless horde of zombies, his every move a futile attempt to keep them at bay. The undead surged toward him, leaving him no room to defend himself. Screams of pain escaped him as the zombies closed in, tearing into him piece by piece.

Witnessing the horrifying scene, Daniel snapped back to reality. The gravity of the situation hit him, and he realized Helen was in peril. With a sense of urgency, he turned, shouting, "Helen, where are you?" Running towards the spot where he last saw her, he raced against time to rescue her from the menacing followers intent on harming her.

Climbing up toward Helen, Daniel spotted a zombie lurking next to her as she lay on the ground, tears streaming down her face after narrowly escaping the followers. Unaware of the different zombie standing by her side, Helen's fear was palpable. The unique zombie, distinct from the others that had attacked the followers, stood beside her, a chilling presence.

Witnessing this scene left Daniel momentarily speechless. His grip on his guns weakened, but a surge of determination to rescue Helen tightened his hold once more. He extended his gun toward the zombie, preparing to take the shot.

As Daniel poised to pull the trigger on his assault rifle, the thunderous voices of the followers and the priest echoed, piercing the air with their intensity. The uproar drew the attention of the zombies surrounding Helen, creating a tense moment as the imminent threat intensified.

"Let me go, you bastard," spat the fake priest, his eyes ablaze with anger.

"Please save us, priest! Save us, please," pleaded some of the followers huddled around the priest, desperation etched on their faces.

As the tension rose, a few followers extended their trembling hands in a prayer-like fashion, muttering, "The dead can't see us. We're the priest's flock. Priest, tell them we're your flock." Their actions mirrored their anxious pleas, creating a scene of fervent supplication.

"Just back off, you idiots! What do you expect me to do, chat with the undead?" snapped the priest, fighting against the grip of his misguided followers.

One desperate follower clutched the priest's shoulder, shouting, "Save us, priest! You claimed you could talk to the dead. Please, save us!"

The priest scoffed, shaking his head. "You're all out of your minds. Believing someone can talk to the dead is like inviting chaos. I was just messing with your heads all this time. Now, let me go!" With a forceful jerk, he finally broke free from the followers who were holding him captive.

The priest hastily brushed off dust from his suit, lifting his head just in time to lock eyes with a peculiar zombie looming before him. This undead creature stood out from the horde that had been assaulting them. Faced with this unexpected sight, the priest couldn't contain his shock and blurted out, "Oh shit!"

His devoted followers, positioned closely behind, dropped to the ground, their voices echoing with desperation, "Lord, oh Lord, please forgive us, save us."

In the blink of an eye, fear gripped the priest's heart, prompting him to swiftly retrieve a concealed pistol from his suit. Amidst his alarmed shouts, he braced himself to confront the distinctive zombie now standing menacingly before him, ready to pull the trigger.

The zombie locked eyes with the priest, tilting its head slightly before lunging at him with lightning speed. Its teeth sank into the priest's neck, tearing into his flesh in a gruesome frenzy. The horrifying scene unfolded in a flash, prompting the followers to panic, sprinting in all directions, shrieking for their lives.

Swiftly turning, the zombie scanned for Helen, who had mysteriously vanished. A primal scream pierced the air, rallying other zombies in the vicinity. With a chaotic frenzy, they dashed towards the direction the first zombie had left Helen. Pointing frantically and emitting incomprehensible sounds, the undead horde joined the pursuit.

Amidst the chaos, Daniel gripped Helen tightly, her hands draped over his shoulders. He sprinted away, determined not to glance back, the urgency of their escape palpable in every step.