Chapter 22: A Narrow Escape

Chapter 22: A Narrow Escape

The infected flooded the doorway, their grotesque forms staggering toward the group like a wave of death. Ethan's heart pounded as the reality of their situation sank in. They were trapped in a supply store, with no clear way out. His mind raced, and for a split second, he wondered if this would be the end.

But Clara wasn't giving up.

"Move!" she barked, pushing past the group and pulling a heavy metal rod from behind the counter. She swung it wildly, knocking back the closest infected, giving them just enough space to move.

Ethan grabbed Jess's arm again, his grip tight with desperation. "We need to get out—now!" His voice was sharp, cutting through the chaos. Jess didn't hesitate, moving swiftly behind him as the group made for the back exit.

Will fired off a few shots behind them, but the sound of gunfire only seemed to attract more of the undead. They had seconds, maybe less, to get to safety.

Ethan's mind flashed back to the days before all this chaos, when he was weak, bullied, and uncertain of himself. He would've panicked then, crumbled under pressure. But not now. Now, survival was his instinct.

They reached the back of the store, a narrow alley stretching out behind it. It was their only option.

"Get moving!" Clara's voice cut through the tension as she ran ahead. She was already out the door, her weapon raised and ready to defend.

The others followed suit, moving in a tight group. Ethan could hear the infected coming closer, their feet dragging, their gurgling growls growing louder. Jess was already at the end of the alley, looking around for any sign of danger.

"Is there another way out?" Will asked, his breathing ragged.

"There's a fire escape up ahead," Clara replied, her eyes scanning the surroundings. "But we need to move fast."

They pushed forward, not wasting a second. The alley was narrow, but it offered some cover. Ethan could hear the shuffle of feet behind him, the sound of groaning and moaning as the infected grew closer. But they didn't have the luxury of time to think.

They rounded a corner, and there it was—a rusty fire escape ladder, just within reach. Clara was the first to scale it, her arms pulling her up with surprising strength. Will and the others followed quickly. Ethan was just about to grab the ladder when he heard a scream.

"Jess!"

Ethan spun around, his stomach dropping. Jess had slipped, her foot catching on a piece of debris, sending her tumbling backward toward the approaching horde.

Without thinking, Ethan lunged toward her, reaching out and grabbing her arm just as she fell. The infected were closing in, but he couldn't let her go—not like this.

"Ethan! We need to go!" Clara's voice came from above, but there was no time for hesitation.

With a grunt of effort, Ethan hauled Jess to her feet, her body leaning heavily on him as she regained her balance.

"You okay?" he asked urgently, his voice low.

Jess nodded quickly, though her face was pale and her breath came in quick gasps. "Yeah. I'm fine. Let's just go."

They didn't waste any more time. Ethan pulled Jess toward the ladder, his hand gripping it tight as he hoisted her up ahead of him. He could hear the infected closing in, their footsteps getting louder. He wasn't sure how much longer they had before the horde reached them, but they were almost at the top.

With a final burst of strength, Ethan pushed himself up the last few rungs of the fire escape, his heart pounding in his chest. Jess was already on the rooftop, waiting for him, and he didn't waste a second before pulling himself over the edge.

They were on the roof now, the world below them fading into a blur of chaos. The sounds of the infected, the gunshots, the screams—everything felt distant from this height.

But they couldn't stop.

"Where do we go?" Ethan panted, his eyes scanning the horizon. The rooftops stretched out before them, offering a few potential routes to escape the horde below.

Clara was already moving, leading the way along the roof with purpose. "There's another building a few blocks down. We'll use the rooftops to get there."

Ethan nodded, though the strain of the fight was starting to catch up with him. The adrenaline that had carried him through the chaos was starting to fade, leaving behind an overwhelming exhaustion. But they couldn't stop. Not yet.

As they ran across the rooftop, Ethan cast a glance behind them, looking for any sign of the infected. But there was nothing. Not yet.

Jess, on the other hand, was looking ahead, her eyes sharp and alert. "How much farther?" she asked, her voice tense.

"Just a little further," Clara replied. "Stay focused. We're almost there."

The group continued to move quickly, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, each jump a calculated risk. Ethan's muscles burned with effort, but he pushed on. The sound of shuffling feet was still in the distance, but it wasn't getting any closer. Not yet.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the last building. Clara was the first to jump down into the alley, followed by Will and the others. Ethan helped Jess down, her feet landing lightly on the ground as she crouched down to steady herself.

Once they were all safely on the ground, they didn't stop to catch their breath. They ran, moving swiftly through the alleys, using the chaos behind them as a distraction.

It wasn't until they reached a more secure part of the city, a place that had been cleared of infected for the time being, that Clara finally allowed the group to slow down.

Ethan leaned against a wall, his heart still racing in his chest. The weight of what had just happened was starting to settle in. They had barely escaped, and even now, he could still hear the distant moans of the infected, echoing through the city like a reminder of how fragile their existence was.

Clara turned to them, her expression hard but thoughtful. "We got out. But that was too close. We can't afford to take these kinds of risks again."

Ethan nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I don't think we have a choice. This is the world we live in now."

Jess stayed silent, but her eyes were focused, sharp. She was already thinking ahead, already planning their next move.

Clara's gaze softened, just a fraction. "You're right. But we need a plan. This won't be the last time we're caught like this."

They all understood the unspoken truth. The world had changed, and survival was no longer a simple matter of just getting by. They would need to adapt—learn from their mistakes—and most importantly, work together.

For now, they had survived.

But survival was only the beginning.