Chapter 22

Bullets relentlessly pierce the air as soldiers unleash a barrage against the invading undead. Daniel grips his weapon tightly, joining the fight by picking off a few zombies, but with every fallen creature, more seem to crawl from the shadows.

"There's a swarm of those undead! We're going nowhere like this," one soldier warns amidst the chaos.

"Everyone, fall back! Dynamite's set," orders Corporal Peter.

Hearing the warning, the soldiers, including Daniel, swiftly retreat. Corporal Peter, ensuring everyone's safety, announces, "I'm flipping the switch on the dynamite! Find cover!" He activates the switch, triggering a colossal explosion that engulfs the zombies that had breached the base, scattering them in a fiery spectacle.

—-

Several minutes had slipped away, and a thick haze of smoke and dust blanketed the entire base. In a concealed nook, Daniel and Helen cautiously peered in the direction of the recent explosion, hopeful it had wiped out the invading zombie horde.

"Did we get 'em? Are they toast?" questioned one of the soldiers.

"Can't say for sure with this smoke, but it seems like the blast did its thing. No shadows movin' around," reassured the other soldier.

Meanwhile, the corporal quivered in the corner, his fear palpable. "I ain't ready to bite the dust. Screw this," he declared, abruptly turning away from Daniel and a handful of soldiers. He sprinted towards another exit, desperate to escape the looming threat.

—---

A group of soldiers stood firm on the opposite side of the exit, where they had received orders to keep watch for survivors.

"Did you guys hear the explosion?" inquired Soldier 1.

"Yeah, should we go check it out?" suggested Soldier 2.

"I don't think we should. Our command was to stay here and keep guard," reasoned Soldier 3.

Their conversation lingered as they debated, the air thick with uncertainty. Meanwhile, the corporal's voice echoed, abruptly breaking through, capturing their attention.

"Hey, the three of you, head to exit 1 and back up the soldier there. We need all the help we can get. I'm giving the order," said Corporal Peter.

"But sir, who's gonna keep an eye out here if we go help?" asked Soldier 3.

"I'll hold the fort. You three, move quickly. No time to waste," replied the corporal.

"Okay, sir," the soldiers said simultaneously, saluting as they rushed toward exit 1 to provide support.

Corporal Peter watched them go. Once their figures vanished, he let out a sigh of relief, muttering, "This is rough. Darn it, I don't want to bite the dust. Screw this, I'm heading home."

"Why did all these idiots set so many traps? Screw it, I don't care; they're all gonna die anyway," he grumbled, disarming each trap as he walked.

After dealing with the last trap, he grinned and chuckled. Moving toward the exit, he suddenly heard the distant sounds of people rushing towards him. Panicking, he swiftly concealed himself. Minutes later, to the sergeant's surprise, hordes of zombies sprinted past him, heading for the second exit inside the base. He clenched his mouth shut, desperately stifling any noise while breathing heavily inside.

—---

Meanwhile in exit 1:

Two soldiers strolled toward the exit, the dissipating smoke revealing the aftermath. The surroundings came into focus.

"Did we nail all the undead with that explosion?" asked soldier 1.

"I doubt it; there were more lurking around," soldier 2 replied, scanning the area.

"Let's focus. First, check on everyone, make sure they're okay. Then, arm the civilians who can handle a gun," soldier 1 directed, his eyes fixed on the surroundings.

"Got it," soldier 2 affirmed.

"Grab all the food. Each person should carry some. We've got to hustle out of here pronto," soldier 1 emphasized.

"Okay," soldier 2 acknowledged.

The old man ambled toward the two soldiers deep in conversation, fixing his gaze on exit 1. A nagging feeling tugged at him, and he couldn't shake the sense that something was off. He blurted out, "Something ain't right. I reckon this horde of zombies might have a leader, like those red ones we encountered on our way here. You know, the ones barking orders. They're scheming, but I can't put my finger on what."

Daniel, just catching up with Helen trailing behind him, overheard the old man's unsettling words about a zombie mastermind. He couldn't help but inquire, "What? What do you mean by 'planning'?"

"Have you noticed the zombies ain't attacking us again since the explosion? It's like that time when I tried using the gas," the old man remarked, his brow furrowed with concern.

"They must be lurking somewhere," he added, voicing his suspicion.

Soldier 2, looking puzzled, confronted the old man, questioning, "I find it hard to believe. Do you mean zombies can actually make plans? It just doesn't make sense, sir."

A question popped into Daniel's mind as he listened to the conversation. He inquired, "Wait, do you mean some zombies still keep their smarts?"

"I think it does make sense. When I saved Helen from that red-colored zombie, it felt different. It didn't mindlessly attack like the others; it watched," Daniel explained before Soldier 1 interrupted with skepticism, "We don't have time for this nonsense. Get everyone ready; we're evacuating right now."

"Okay, let's get going," Soldier 2 responded.

As the two soldiers dashed into the base, Daniel, the old man, and Helen observed the hurried activity, the urgency in the air palpable.

The old man furrowed his brow, peering toward exit 1, his mind working to unravel the mystery of the zombies' intentions. The air was thick with suspense as he remained deep in thought, contemplating the looming threat.