Chapter 15

"Hold on tight, Helen," Daniel urged, his fingers gripping her shoulders as they darted away. The urgency to escape radiated in every swift step, and Daniel refused to cast a glance behind.

Breathless, he panted heavily, the sound echoing in the air as they sprinted without a backward glance. The only destination in Daniel's mind was safety, a place away from the relentless pursuit of the zombies they'd left behind.

As they raced, the rhythm of his breath grew louder, the rhythm of survival. The world blurred around them, an indistinct backdrop to their desperate flight. The thudding of their footsteps on the pavement resonated with the beat of urgency.

Suddenly, Daniel's foot collided with an unseen stone, upsetting his balance. In an instant, both he and Helen tumbled to the unforgiving ground. A sharp groan escaped Daniel's lips, the pain momentarily eclipsing the determination etched on his face.

"Ouch, my leg hurts, I can't move," Daniel winced, his breath coming out in furious pants. The weariness was catching up with him after a day filled with a series of unfortunate events. His legs still bore the weight of lingering injuries, refusing to heal, and the relentless movement had taken its toll.

Helen managed to pull herself together, lifting her body into a kneeling position beside Daniel. Her voice carried a mix of comfort and fear as she spoke, "Are you okay, Daniel? Can you stand up? We better get going, or they'll catch up to us." Her face betrayed the emotions, a blend of concern and anxiety.

Approaching footsteps grew louder, an ominous reminder of pursuers closing in. The sound intensified with each passing second, sending shivers down Helen's spine. With a quick, fearful glance, she hastily placed Daniel's hands across his shoulders, attempting to help him rise for their escape.

Daniel gently withdrew his hands from across Helen's shoulders, his eyes filled with a solemn resolve. "Helen, run away by yourself, far away. I'd just be a hindrance," he urged.

Tears welled up in Helen's eyes as she pleaded, "What are you saying, Daniel? I can't leave you here."

"Helen, I'd only slow you down. Please, go and save yourself. If you see my family, tell them I love them," Daniel said, his grip firm on the assault rifle, pointing towards the ominous direction where the relentless footsteps of the approaching zombies echoed through the tense air.

"No Daniel, let's stick together. I won't ditch you. You can break the news to your family," Helen insisted, gently placing Daniel's hands on her shoulders, helping him stand.

The eerie sounds of zombies echoed, growing louder as they approached. Helen swiftly lifted Daniel, urgency in her movements as the zombies became clearer with each passing second.

Daniel gazed ahead, spotting the old man rolling gas cylinders strategically. Panic set in as Daniel yelled, "Hold off! We're still here!"

"Quit yapping! Get over here. I'll light it when things get dicey," the old man snapped, his focus on the impending threat.

"Hold on tight, Helen!" Daniel shouted as the old man's words fueled a surge of adrenaline through his veins. The pain in his legs vanished, and with unwavering determination, he hoisted Helen onto his shoulder. Using his assault rifle as a makeshift walking stick, he charged forward, determined to reach the old man's location.

Behind him, the relentless horde of zombies, now more ferocious after catching wind of Daniel's movements, pursued with an ominous hunger. Among them, the red zombie, the apparent leader, had just arrived on the scene. Its eyes widened as it noticed strategically placed gas cylinders scattered around the area. The eerie silence was shattered by its deafening scream, causing the entire horde to freeze in their tracks.

As Daniel and Helen neared the old man's concealed position, blissfully unaware of the sudden pause in the pursuit, the old man crouched in the shadows, clutching a lighter. His weathered hands trembled with anticipation as he prepared to ignite the gas cylinders strategically positioned in the path of the oncoming zombie horde.

The old man slipped out of his hiding spot, gearing up to fling his lighter towards the gas cylinders. To his surprise, there were no zombies hot on the heels of Daniel and Helen, catching him off guard.

As Daniel and Helen closed in, he inquired, "Huh, where are they?"

Confused by the old man's question, Daniel and Helen glanced behind them, discovering the absence of pursuing zombies, leaving them both bewildered.

The old man pivoted, a spark of realization igniting in his mind. Hoping his thoughts weren't as dire as he feared, he urgently yelled, "Quick, let's keep sprinting ahead! No time to waste!" The urgency in his voice echoed their need for haste, intensifying the suspense in the air.