Chapter 7: No Turning Back

Part 1: Cornered Prey

The factory echoed with chaos as the infected surged through the breached barricades. Their grotesque snarls and gurgling growls filled every corner, deafening and oppressive. The Alam family was outnumbered and overwhelmed, their once-solid defenses crumbling before the relentless wave of undead.

Sajid was at the forefront, his bloodied cricket bat swinging in vicious arcs. His muscles burned with effort, and his breath came in ragged gasps, but he did not stop. He brought the bat down hard on a zombie's head, shattering its skull with a sickening crunch. Blood sprayed onto his face, but he ignored it.

"Khalid! Majid!" Sajid roared, stepping back to avoid a set of claws aimed at his chest. "We're falling apart here! Keep them off the rear!"

"I'm doing what I can!" Khalid bellowed in reply. His wrench swung in a wide arc, smashing the jaw of an infected who had lunged too close. Its lower face dangled uselessly as it staggered sideways, but Khalid's follow-up blow brought it down.

Majid, positioned to his left, swung his bat with brutal precision. His normally calm demeanor had twisted into something wild and frenzied, his eyes locked on the advancing horde. "We're not going to hold this spot! Sajid, we need to go—now!"

Behind them, Muhammad and the cousins formed a secondary line of defense, their youthful energy barely keeping up with the escalating threat.

"Zaid! Cover the right!" Muhammad shouted, stabbing his knife deep into a zombie's neck. He yanked it out and spun to face another attacker, his movements sharp and desperate.

"I've got it!" Zaid replied, driving his hammer into the temple of a snarling infected. He shoved the body aside, gritting his teeth as two more stumbled forward. "These things don't stop!"

"They don't have to!" Shawaiz snapped, his rebar piercing the chest of an infected before he yanked it free and swung again. "We just have to outlast them!"

"You want to give them a timeout next?" Shamir quipped, though his voice trembled as he jabbed at an infected's throat with his pole. Blood sprayed across his hands, and he winced, wiping it on his torn shirt.

"Shut up, Shamir!" Moiz growled, using his crowbar to sweep the legs out from a crawler before slamming it into the creature's skull. He turned to check on Asmir, who was panting heavily as he clung to his stick. "You good?"

"Define good," Asmir replied, his breath hitching as he drove the tip of his weapon into the eye of another zombie.

Upstairs: The Women and Children

On the second floor, Subhana led the women and children toward the safety of an abandoned office. The room was bare except for a few overturned chairs and a broken desk. The glass wall that once faced the factory floor had shattered, leaving sharp fragments along its edges.

"Get inside!" Subhana ordered, pushing Mehmood ahead of her. "Stay close to the walls!"

Aysha ushered Afeef and Mohid in behind them, her eyes darting nervously to the broken windows. "Keep down," she said sharply to the boys, crouching beside them.

"What about the others?" Maryam asked, her voice trembling. She placed herself near the entrance with a frying pan in one hand and her other arm wrapped protectively around Mohid.

"They'll make it," Naseem said firmly, though the slight waver in her voice betrayed her doubt. She clutched a long kitchen knife, her knuckles white.

From the shattered window, Shazia leaned out to see the chaos below. Her sons, along with the rest of the men, were locked in a desperate battle against the infected. The sight made her stomach churn, but she forced herself to watch.

"They're still holding!" she called over her shoulder, though the growing panic in her voice made it hard to sound convincing.

"Not for long," Subhana muttered, stepping beside her. Her expression was grim as she scanned the factory floor. "They're falling back."

The Group Splinters

"Fall back to the stairs!" Sajid roared, shoving a snarling zombie off him with a grunt of effort. His bat cracked against its chest, sending it tumbling backward into the others.

"They're pushing too hard!" Khalid bellowed, blocking a clawed hand with his wrench before smashing it down on a second zombie's head. "We have to move before they cut us off!"

Majid kicked an infected away and backed toward the stairs. "Kids need us alive, Sajid! Move now or we're dead here!"

Sajid gave a reluctant nod, waving the younger men forward. "Muhammad, Zaid, cover the retreat!"

Muhammad and Zaid stepped into position without hesitation. Their weapons moved in brutal harmony, one striking high while the other aimed low. Blood splattered across the floor, mingling with the growing pile of bodies.

"Hurry up!" Shawaiz yelled from the stairs, jabbing his rebar at an infected crawling along the wall. "They're right on top of us!"

A Narrow Escape

The family retreated to the staircase, their backs pressed against one another as they climbed. The infected swarmed below them, tripping over debris and corpses as they followed. The narrow space limited the horde's numbers, but their shrieks and clawing grew louder, more desperate.

"Barricade the stairwell!" Sajid ordered once everyone had reached the second floor.

Majid and Khalid dragged a metal shelving unit across the landing, creating a makeshift block. Muhammad and Zaid braced it while Shawaiz rammed his rebar through the gaps to keep the infected at bay.

"Push harder!" Moiz yelled, straining as he threw his weight against the barricade.

"It's holding!" Muhammad called.

"Barely," Zaid muttered, glancing at the metal that buckled under the pressure.

"Get inside, all of you!" Sajid barked. "Now!"

Tensions Erupt

Once the group crowded into the office, the chaos gave way to heavy silence, broken only by the snarls and clawing outside. The room felt suffocating, every member of the family breathing heavily, their faces pale and slick with sweat.

"That barricade won't last," Khalid said, pacing near the door. His voice was clipped and furious. "We can't wait them out."

"Do you have a better idea?" Majid shot back, gripping his bat tightly.

"We wouldn't be here if someone had the brains to leave earlier," Khalid snapped, glaring at Sajid.

"This isn't the time!" Subhana hissed, pulling Mehmood closer. "You want to argue while they tear through the walls?"

The room fell into tense silence.

"What do we do now?" Aysha asked, her voice trembling. She held Mohid close, her wide eyes locked on Sajid.

Sajid stared at the door, his hands clenching and unclenching around the handle of his bat. Finally, he turned to the group. "We wait until they break the barricade. Then we move again."

"Where?" Shazia asked, her voice sharp with desperation. "There's nowhere left to run, Sajid! This place was supposed to protect us!"

"It protected us long enough," Muhammad said coldly. His knife glinted in the dim light as he stood by the broken window. "If we don't find another way out, it'll be the end."

Part 2: Breaking Point

The metallic groaning of the barricade echoed through the small office, a haunting prelude to what was coming. Every slam from the infected rattled the makeshift defenses, shaking the ground beneath the Alam family's feet. Each sound felt like a ticking clock, counting down the seconds until chaos erupted once more.

The air was thick with fear and tension. The family had formed loose groups around the room: the younger children were huddled with the women near the shattered windows, the men had positioned themselves by the barricaded door, and the cousins were nervously pacing, their weapons ready but their faces pale.

"We can't just stand here waiting for them to break through," Khalid said, his voice tight with anger. He pointed at the barricade. "That won't hold."

"We know it won't," Majid snapped, his face grim as he leaned against a desk, his bloodied bat resting at his feet. "We're not ignoring the problem. But running out there right now is suicide. Or have you forgotten what happened downstairs?"

Khalid shook his head, pacing furiously. "We've boxed ourselves in. The moment that barricade comes down, we're done. We need a real plan."

"Maybe you'd have one if you weren't so busy complaining," Muhammad muttered, his knife twirling in his hand. He stood near the window, his sharp eyes watching for movement below.

Khalid's glare snapped to him. "Watch your tone, boy. You think your attitude helps anyone here?"

"It's more helpful than standing around arguing!" Muhammad shot back, stepping forward, his voice a growl. "You're wasting time—and we don't have any to spare."

"That's enough!" Sajid barked, slamming his cricket bat against the floor. The sound made everyone flinch. He turned to Khalid, his voice low and cold. "Do you think I don't understand what's happening? Do you think I don't see the danger we're in? You want a solution—fine. We hold that door until the kids get out."

"And then what?" Shazia interjected, stepping closer. "What happens when they follow us outside? Where do we even go, Sajid?"

"We'll find a way," Sajid replied sharply, his tone daring anyone to question him further.

A Risky Gamble

"Look!" Aysha's voice broke through the argument, drawing everyone's attention to the shattered window.

The infected below the factory gates were moving strangely, shifting in small packs, their focus no longer entirely on the barricade. Some sniffed the air, others dragged bodies toward the edges of the yard.

"They're leaving," Aysha murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

"No," Muhammad said, narrowing his eyes as he watched the creatures. "They're spreading out—looking for a way in."

Shamir leaned closer, his breath catching as he spotted movement in the shadows below. "Over there. They're climbing."

"They're not climbing," Zaid muttered, his voice filled with disbelief. "They're stacking. Like they did at the market."

The realization hit everyone at once. The infected weren't retreating—they were adapting.

An Argument Boils Over

"This is worse than we thought," Khalid said, turning back to Sajid. "If they get to that window, we're finished. We need to leave now before it's too late."

"Stop saying 'leave' like there's a magic door waiting for us!" Zaid snapped, his usual composure cracking.

"You're the one so eager to fight," Khalid retorted. "Are you going to keep swinging that hammer when there's nowhere left to stand?"

"Stop it!" Subhana shouted from the corner, her hands trembling as she cradled Mehmood's head. "You're terrifying the children!"

"You're terrifying everyone," Maryam added sharply, stepping forward. She clutched Mohid close with one arm and pointed her frying pan at the arguing men with the other. "All of you. Is this your great plan? Yell at each other until those monsters rip through that door?"

Khalid took a step back, glaring at Majid and Sajid. "You'll see I'm right when it's too late," he said bitterly.

A Grim Decision

"We need to split up," Muhammad said suddenly, cutting through the rising tension. He turned from the window, his expression firm. "If the kids stay here, they'll get caught in the middle when that barricade falls."

"What?" Subhana said sharply, standing to her feet. "No! I'm not separating from them again!"

"It's the only way," Muhammad insisted, stepping toward Sajid. "A small group can draw the infected away—pull them out of the building. While they're distracted, the others can get the kids out through the factory's side entrance."

"And how do we know the ones left behind will survive?" Khalid demanded, crossing his arms.

"We don't," Majid said quietly, stepping into the circle. His gaze was grim but resolute. "But it's a chance. Right now, it's the only one we've got."

The room was silent. Every face betrayed the fear they felt, but it was laced with the understanding that their current path was certain death.

"Who goes?" Shazia asked finally.

"I will," Muhammad said immediately, gripping his knife tighter.

"No," Sajid said firmly, glaring at his son. "I will."

"No way, Baba. You're staying with Ammi and the kids," Muhammad retorted. "They need you alive. I can handle it."

"You'll need more than a knife, Muhammad," Moiz said, stepping forward. "I'll go with you."

Shawaiz gripped his rebar tightly. "If this is happening, then I'm in. Someone has to make sure this doesn't turn into a complete disaster."

"No," Shazia said sharply, her eyes wide with alarm. "I'm not letting you go—any of you."

"Ammi..." Zaid started, but Shazia cut him off.

"No!" she snapped, her voice breaking. "What happens if you don't come back? What happens if I lose all of you? Don't ask me to accept that."

"And what happens if we don't do this?" Muhammad said, his tone soft but unyielding. "We'll all die here, together. You want to protect them? This is how we do it."

Final Preparations

Sajid relented after a long silence. "Alright," he said finally, his voice heavy. "Muhammad, Zaid, Moiz, and Shawaiz. You'll create the distraction. Everyone else stays here until it's clear to move. No one falls behind."

He turned to his eldest nephew. "Zaid. You lead them."

"I've got it," Zaid said, gripping his hammer with both hands.

Sajid crouched in front of Mehmood, gripping his small shoulders tightly. "You stay close to your mother. You hear me, beta? Don't let go of her hand."

Mehmood nodded, tears streaming silently down his face.

Subhana clutched her son tightly, whispering prayers under her breath.

Shazia pressed her hands to Shawaiz's cheeks. "You come back," she said fiercely. "Do you hear me? You come back to me."

"I will," Shawaiz promised, though his trembling hands betrayed his fear.

The distraction team gathered at the door, their weapons ready, their breaths steady. The snarls from the infected grew louder as the barricade buckled, moments from collapse.

"Are you ready?" Muhammad asked Zaid, his voice low.

Zaid glanced back at his family, their terrified faces etched into his memory. He took a deep breath and nodded.

"Let's go," he said.

Part 3: The Distraction

The door creaked open, releasing a harsh metallic groan into the tense silence. Muhammad led the distraction team out of the office and into the shadowed corridors of the second floor. Zaid followed close behind, his hammer gripped tightly in both hands, while Moiz and Shawaiz flanked their sides, their faces grim but determined.

Behind them, the sounds of the infected battering the barricade grew louder, their guttural growls filling the air like the hum of an approaching storm. The cousins exchanged nervous glances, their breathing quickened by the realization that they were heading straight into the maw of danger.

"This is insane," Shawaiz muttered, glancing down at the horde clawing at the barricade below. "How many of them do you think are down there?"

"Does it matter?" Zaid replied, his tone sharp. He didn't look back. "Our job isn't to count them. It's to get them away from the others."

"We need to hurry," Muhammad said, cutting their exchange short. He reached the far end of the corridor and paused, peering over the railing. Below, the factory floor teemed with movement. The infected swarmed the barricade, their twisted forms pressing and clawing against the furniture the family had hastily thrown together.

Moiz let out a low whistle, his knuckles whitening around his crowbar. "That's... a lot more than I hoped."

"They're focused on the barricade for now," Muhammad said. "That works to our advantage."

"What advantage?" Shawaiz hissed, his voice laced with panic. "We're four guys against... whatever that is!"

"Calm down," Zaid snapped, turning to face him. "We make noise, draw them away, and then we run. We don't fight all of them, Shawaiz. That's suicide."

"What if they don't follow us?" Moiz asked, his eyes darting nervously between the group and the chaos below.

"They will," Muhammad said firmly. He glanced at his cousins, his expression unrelenting. "You just have to move fast."

Step One: Chaos Below

Muhammad motioned toward a metal pipe bolted to the wall. It ran the length of the corridor, dropping into the factory floor. "Moiz, pull that loose," Muhammad instructed.

"What, so it makes a loud noise and tells them we're up here?" Moiz asked, raising a skeptical brow.

"Exactly," Muhammad replied.

With a sigh, Moiz began wrenching the pipe free. After a few attempts, it came loose, crashing against the ground with a thunderous clatter. The sound echoed through the factory, and every infected head snapped upward, their glowing, milky-white eyes fixed on the source of the noise.

"They're looking at us," Shawaiz whispered, his voice barely audible.

"They'll move soon," Zaid said, gripping his hammer. "Just wait."

One of the infected let out a piercing shriek, and the others began shifting their attention, their movements jerky as they stumbled toward the stairwell.

"They're coming," Moiz said, his tone wavering as the infected began clambering over the furniture blocking the stairs. "We need to go. Now."

Step Two: Leading the Horde

"Let's split them up," Muhammad said, backing away from the railing. "Moiz, you and Shawaiz take the left side of the factory floor. Keep low and make noise. Zaid and I will cover the right. Keep moving until they're away from the others."

"You make it sound so easy," Shawaiz muttered under his breath, but he nodded, gripping his rebar tightly.

The team descended the staircase at a brisk pace, keeping ahead of the infected by mere seconds. As their boots hit the factory floor, the snarls grew deafening, and the horde surged toward them.

"Over here, you ugly bastards!" Shawaiz yelled, swinging his rebar at a metal shelf to create more noise. The clang reverberated across the room, drawing several zombies in his direction.

"Move!" Moiz shouted, pulling Shawaiz by the arm as they darted toward the left wing.

Meanwhile, Zaid slammed his hammer against the conveyor belt beside him, his strikes echoing like gunshots. "Come on, you freaks!" he snarled.

"Stay close to the edge," Muhammad instructed, grabbing a jagged metal rod from the ground. He swung it at an approaching zombie, impaling it through the neck before shoving it into the crowd behind it. "Keep moving!"

An Unrelenting Threat

The infected followed as planned, splitting into smaller clusters as they chased the cousins in different directions. The first few were slow, their lumbering forms tripping over debris, but the ones behind them moved with horrifying speed and aggression.

"Why are they so fast?" Moiz yelled, barely dodging a clawed hand reaching for his neck.

"Just run!" Shawaiz shouted, swinging his rebar into the zombie's head and pushing forward.

On the other side of the room, Zaid tripped over a loose cable and fell hard to the ground. His hammer clattered out of his hand, skidding across the floor.

"Zaid!" Muhammad roared.

Two infected lunged for him, their snapping jaws inches from his face. Muhammad sprinted toward them, his knife flashing in the dim light. The first strike pierced the eye socket of one zombie, and his boot slammed into the second's chest, sending it sprawling.

"Get up!" Muhammad yelled, pulling Zaid to his feet. "Don't stop!"

Zaid nodded, grabbing his hammer. "Thanks," he muttered breathlessly.

"No time for that now," Muhammad said, shoving him toward the far wall.

Closing In

The distraction was working—the infected had shifted their focus entirely from the upstairs barricade to the men on the ground floor. However, the cost was becoming clear. For every step they gained, the horde grew closer, hungrier, more desperate.

"We need an exit!" Moiz yelled across the room, ducking as another zombie lunged at him. He brought his crowbar down, smashing it into the creature's neck, but the force of the swing left him off-balance.

"Keep moving to the west door!" Zaid called, pointing toward the far corner of the factory.

Muhammad was already moving, shoving debris out of the way as he cleared a path. "This way!"

Shawaiz and Moiz pushed toward the west door, their boots skidding on the blood-slick floor. Behind them, the infected were gaining ground, their twisted forms moving with horrifying speed.

"They're not slowing down!" Shawaiz shouted, panic creeping into his voice.

"We just need a little more time!" Muhammad yelled back.

The Worst Outcome

They reached the west door, but what they saw brought their sprint to a sudden halt. Outside, another group of infected had gathered, drawn by the sound of the commotion. Dozens of them pressed against the iron bars of the exterior gate, their snarls and growls joining the chorus of chaos inside the factory.

"We're trapped!" Moiz said, his voice breaking.

"Not yet," Zaid said, glancing back at the oncoming horde. His hammer was still dripping with blood, his chest heaving as he adjusted his grip. "We draw them into the yard. We circle back to the main entrance."

"That's your plan?" Shawaiz asked, his voice incredulous. "Go out there?"

"Yes!" Zaid snapped, turning toward the rest of the group. "Unless you have a better idea!"

Muhammad pushed the door open, ignoring the sharp protests of the rusty hinges. "No time to think," he said. "Let's move!"

As the infected poured into the yard, the team scattered, their desperate fight for survival entering its most brutal stage yet.

Part 4: Outnumbered and Outmatched

The moment Muhammad shoved the door open, the stench of decay hit them like a solid wall. The factory yard was teeming with infected, their grotesque forms limping, shuffling, and clawing at the iron bars of the fence that barely separated the group from an open street. The metal screeched under the pressure as the creatures beyond slammed their bodies against it.

Behind them, the infected still surged through the factory, their guttural snarls echoing louder as they funneled toward the group. The men were caught between two horrors, the horde behind them and the mass ahead of them, both closing the gap.

"No time to think!" Muhammad shouted, breaking into a sprint toward a pile of machinery stacked near the fence. "Get moving!"

The others followed, their breaths labored and uneven. The sheer noise—growls, shouts, and the rhythmic pounding of the infected—made the world feel like it was collapsing in on itself.

Surrounded

"We can't keep running like this!" Shawaiz yelled, looking over his shoulder as the infected spilled out of the factory and into the yard.

"If you stop, you die," Zaid barked, swinging his hammer into the temple of an infected who veered too close. The sickening crack reverberated through the yard, but he didn't flinch, immediately turning to knock back another.

"They're blocking the gate!" Moiz called out, pointing ahead. The iron bars groaned under the weight of the creatures pressing against them, their jagged fingers curling through the gaps, clawing at the air.

"Climb over!" Muhammad shouted, grabbing a rusted ladder leaning against one of the nearby stacks of machinery. "Now!"

"I'm not climbing that thing!" Shawaiz protested, eyeing the rusted rungs.

"You'll die faster standing here!" Muhammad snapped, planting his feet and stabbing his knife into the chest of an approaching zombie. The creature collapsed, but two more took its place almost immediately.

With a deep breath, Shawaiz grabbed the ladder and began climbing, his movements frantic. The metal creaked ominously under his weight, but it held. Zaid followed next, his hammer strapped tightly to his back.

"Move it!" Moiz shouted as he swung his crowbar into an infected's side, sending it tumbling against the wall. Blood streaked the concrete as the creature let out a rattling scream.

A Misstep

As Muhammad climbed up the stack of machinery, a sharp scream split the air.

"Zaid!" Shawaiz yelled, pointing downward.

Zaid, halfway up the ladder, slipped as an infected grabbed hold of his boot. The zombie's fingers tightened around his ankle, dragging him downward.

"Get off me!" Zaid roared, swinging his hammer awkwardly in the narrow space. The blow caught the creature in the jaw, but it only spurred the infected's frenzy, its broken teeth snapping as it pulled harder.

Muhammad slid back down, landing beside Zaid. He lunged forward, driving his knife into the infected's neck, twisting it sharply. The creature let out a gurgled snarl before collapsing.

"You good?" Muhammad asked, pulling Zaid upright.

Zaid nodded, his breathing harsh. "Let's go."

Temporary Relief

Once at the top of the machinery, the group sprawled across the flat surface, their chests heaving with exertion. Below them, the infected crowded against the base, clawing at the stacked equipment in a futile attempt to reach them. The shrieks and snarls were deafening, but the creatures couldn't climb. For now, they were safe.

"This... this was your plan?" Shawaiz panted, looking at Muhammad. "Great work, really."

"Shut up," Muhammad shot back, leaning over to catch his breath. "We're still breathing, aren't we?"

"Barely," Moiz muttered, gripping his crowbar. He peered over the edge, his face pale. "They're not leaving. How are we getting down?"

Zaid wiped blood from his face with his sleeve. "We climb the fence. The street's empty past that."

"Empty?" Shawaiz asked skeptically, glaring at the horde slamming into the fence from the other side. "Your idea of empty needs work, bhai."

"We wait for an opening," Zaid said, scanning the scene below. "They'll spread out eventually. We move when there's a gap."

"If there's a gap," Moiz muttered grimly.

Noisy Neighbors

As the group debated their options, a sudden crash drew their attention to the far corner of the yard. An old van, abandoned and rusting, had toppled over, likely pushed by the infected pressing against it. The sound distracted the creatures at the gate, drawing many of them toward the noise.

"There's our chance," Muhammad said, pointing toward the gate.

"We can jump down from here and hit the road," Zaid agreed, gripping his hammer. "It's now or never."

"Jump?" Shawaiz repeated incredulously. "That's, what, a ten-foot drop?"

"Better than getting eaten," Moiz retorted, already moving toward the edge.

Before Shawaiz could argue further, Muhammad leapt down, his knife ready as he landed hard on the concrete below. The impact sent a jolt of pain up his legs, but he didn't falter. "Come on!"

Zaid followed, landing with a grunt before helping Moiz down. Shawaiz was the last to jump, muttering curses under his breath as he hit the ground.

The Final Push

With the infected distracted by the fallen van, the group sprinted toward the gate. Muhammad reached it first, shoving against the metal bars with all his strength. The gate creaked open, but not enough for them to slip through.

"Help me!" Muhammad yelled, glancing back at Zaid.

Zaid slammed his shoulder into the gate, the combined force forcing it open further. Moiz and Shawaiz squeezed through first, turning back to help Muhammad and Zaid.

"Hurry!" Shawaiz urged.

As Muhammad slipped through the gap, one of the infected spotted them. The creature let out a guttural scream, drawing the attention of the others. The horde surged toward the open gate like a tidal wave.

"They're coming!" Moiz shouted, swinging his crowbar at the first zombie to approach.

"Shut the gate!" Zaid bellowed, straining as he pushed the heavy metal frame.

The group slammed the gate closed just as the infected reached it. Their clawed hands pushed through the bars, their snarls filling the air. The four men stumbled back, panting, as the gate rattled against their desperate attempts to break through.

A Bitter Victory

The infected were contained—for now. The streets ahead were clear, but their battered bodies and frayed nerves left them shaken.

"We need to move," Muhammad said, his voice hoarse. "The others are waiting."

"What about the ones at the factory?" Moiz asked, still catching his breath.

"They'll leave if they realize we're gone," Zaid replied, though he didn't sound entirely convinced. "We'll regroup with the others and figure it out."

As they turned to leave, the distant sounds of the infected behind them faded into the backdrop of the desolate city. They were alive—but the brutal reminder of what survival demanded lingered in the blood splattered on their weapons and faces.

 (End of Chapter)