Chapter 21

The soldiers posted outside the base jumped at the sudden explosion, eyes widening in shock. One soldier quickly blurted out, "Did someone plant a bomb in the base?" Before he could finish, another soldier interjected, urgency in his voice, "Hey guys, look over there!" Pointing anxiously ahead.

Soldier 1 strained his neck to get a better view, eyes widening even further as he witnessed a menacing horde of undead advancing toward the base. Startled, he exclaimed, "Sound the alarm! Let everyone inside know we're under attack!" Panic laced his words as the gravity of the situation set in.

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"What happened?" Helen exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock as a plume of smoke billowed from the door. She instinctively moved forward, curiosity pushing her to investigate the source of the disturbance.

Daniel paced beside her, concern etched on his face. "What exploded?"

Amidst the chaos, two soldiers sprinted toward the site of the explosion. However, Daniel intercepted one of them, his grip firm yet inquisitive. His brow furrowed in confusion as he sought answers.

"Sir, what's going on? What caused the explosion?" Daniel inquired, his tone a mix of urgency and bewilderment.

"We don't know," said a soldier, releasing Daniel's grip as he continued racing towards the explosion.

"Sergeant Sean," another soldier yelled while sprinting toward the blast site. Arriving, he discovered Sergeant Sean's lifeless body sprawled on the floor. Turning, he witnessed scattered pieces of fellow soldiers, a mix of shock and confusion plastered on his face as he uttered, "What the - What the hell happened over here?"

A soldier on watch bolted from the exit, running breathlessly towards them. Reaching the group gathered at the explosion site, he gasped for air, having sprinted tirelessly from outside to inside the base. Gathering himself, he exclaimed, "The undead are closing in! The explosion noise might've drawn them here."

"What?" gasped a soldier, his eyes wide in disbelief.

As Daniel, Helen, and the old man approached, they overheard the alarming news about the undead approaching the base, leaving them bewildered and shocked.

Corporal joined the group, striding toward the soldier. His face revealed confusion as he took in the aftermath of the explosion. "Sir, it was an explosion, and the crucial part is, the undead are closing in on the base, sir. With the sergeant gone, the chain of command is yours, sir. You've got to take charge," urged another soldier urgently.

"Corporal, sir, are you hearing me?" the soldier exclaimed.

But Corporal Peter, catching wind of the urgent information, fixated on the exit. Sweat cascaded down his face, an anxious expression revealing the fear pulsating within. His heart raced non-stop, a furious rhythm echoing in the tense atmosphere. Suddenly, a horde of zombies surged from the exit, infiltrating the base. Despite the imminent danger, Corporal Peter remained paralyzed momentarily until two soldiers briskly approached, unleashing a barrage of gunfire at the undead. The sound of gunshots jolted him back to reality, prompting him to take charge.

"Hey, you!" the corporal pointed to the soldier behind him. "Go and fetch the civilians; we're evacuating this base."

Gesturing towards the two soldiers engaged in a fierce firefight with the zombies, he commanded, "Both of you, keep firing at the undead. Don't let them break through."

Daniel, witnessing the unfolding scene, turned toward the soldier shouldering the responsibility of leading the children and fellow civilians to safety. Determined to assist, Daniel tightened his grip on his gun. His intention to support, however, was halted abruptly when the old man laid a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Come on, this is our last chance. Let's make a run for it," the old man urged.

"You go. These soldiers are staying to fight and protect the civilians, risking their lives. I've decided to fight for them," replied Daniel with conviction.

"Are you a fool? You'll die if you stay here. Shooting at this horde would only lead to your death, and you know it," the old man shouted, his voice tinged with concern.

"Let's go," insisted the old man, dragging Daniel by the shoulder. Despite the urgency, Daniel stood his ground. The old man looked up at him and noticed a shocked expression on his face. Turning in the direction of Daniel's gaze, he spotted a few zombies charging towards them from the other side of the base.

"Fuck," muttered the old man as the imminent danger became clear.