The Wall

Luka started the car engine. His destination? The city of Manila. They had a property there. Maybe his family made it.

But before he could drive off, he looked outside.

His fourteen zombies stood in the street, staring at him. 

Among them… Mikha.

Luka sighed. "You can't all come with me."

He rested his forehead on the steering wheel for a second. Then looked up again.

Mikha stood closest.

He rubbed the back of his head. "Tch."

He reached over and unlocked the passenger door.

"Get in."

Mikha climbed in and sat quietly beside him.

Luka tried not to look at the others. Guilt crawled in his chest. 

He knew that they would still follow, even across a long distance. But Mikha, she was different.

She wasn't just a zombie. She was someone he knew. Someone he used to like. Maybe still did.

He shifted the car into gear and drove.

—-----

Two hours later, Luka reached the edge of the city.

From a distance, he saw the line of people waiting to get in. Big metal gates stood before a thick, ten-foot wall, still under construction, rising even higher.

Smoke drifted through the air. Soldiers guarded the barricades. Tanks sat in place, unmoving but ready. People were being scanned and sorted. Some were allowed in. Others were dragged away.

Luka pulled over and parked. He needed to watch first.

As he sat there, someone in the line twitched.

Then screamed.

Then changed.

The man turned into a zombie. He lunged at the nearest person. Panic spread fast.

Guns fired. People screamed. Bullets rained down from the towers and wall-mounted turrets. Civilians were caught in the crossfire.

After a few minutes, the chaos ended. 

His eyes were locked on the machine guns mounted on the wall.

Smoke drifted from their barrels.

He thought of his squad.

They'd follow him here. No doubt.

And when they showed up…

The wall would see them as monsters.

Just like that man in the line.

Just like Mikha.

They'd get torn to pieces by bullets before they even reached the gate.

Luka clenched the steering wheel. Jaw tight.

He looked at Mikha.

She looked back. Blank. Calm. Loyal.

And doomed.

He didn't say anything.

He just stared at the gate, trying to think.

—-----

Luka leaned back in his seat.

If his family was inside the city and still alive, at least he could stop worrying. He'd know they were safe. He could let go.

But if they weren't… then he'd just leave. Go back outside the wall and search again. Keep going.

He sighed.

But there was another problem.

If the soldiers scanned him and found out he was a convict… he could end up back in prison.

He stared at the wall a little longer.

Then shook his head.

Nope. Not worth the risk.

Without thinking more, he turned the wheel and hit the gas.

The car drifted into a U-turn.

"Yeah… I think that's the best thing to do," he said.

He glanced at Mikha.

She didn't say a word.

"Yeah, you're right, Luka," he said to himself, nodding.

"So… where should I go now?" He thought for a second.

"My uncle's farm," he said. "Concrete fence. Kinda safe. But we'll need gas. It's a three-hour drive."

—-----

An hour later, the car passed through one of the many dead towns. Empty buildings. Burnt cars. No signs of life.

Then Luka saw them. His squad.

He squinted through the windshield.

Yeah. That was definitely them.

He drove past slowly and looked at the rearview mirror.

The squad turned. Started walking toward the car.

He sighed.

Can't shake them off, huh?

Up ahead, he spotted a small yellow bus.

A school bus.

Abandoned.

Lucky them.

He pulled over and stepped out. Mikha followed.

The bus door was open.

He climbed in and looked around. No bodies.

Just old blood stains.

The seats were dusty but not damaged.

He checked the ignition.

Turned the key.

Nothing.

Battery was dead.

The sun was starting to set.

Luka stepped back onto the road, hands in his pockets.

"Let's wait for them to get here," he said. "They can help push-start this thing. Then we all go."

He looked at Mikha.

She just stood there, calm as always.

He nodded to himself.

"Yeah Luka. This'll work."

He stood by the side of the road, watching his squad walk toward him.

The sun dropped. Shadows stretched long across the asphalt..

He glanced at Mikha. "Once that bus starts, we leave. No time to waste."

She said nothing. Just looked at him, like always.

He let out a breath and sat on the curb.

Minutes later, the squad reached them.

Luka stood up. "Get ready to push on my signal."

Some of them moved behind the bus, placing cold, dead hands against the back.

Luka climbed into the driver's seat and turned the key. "Alright. On three—"

Gunshots echoed in the distance.

He froze.

Then more shots. Closer now.

Engines roared.

Not one. Several.

Mikha looked toward the road. Luka followed her eyes.

Three military trucks were speeding toward them. Full convoy.

Luka's stomach dropped. "Shit…"

They were coming fast.

Too fast.

The dead didn't move.

Mikha didn't move.

Then…

A screen popped up in Luka's vision.

[Command?]

No time to think. No time for options.

He didn't command the attack. Not hide.

He shouted, "Everyone, push the bus!"

His squad moved. Mikha too.

They all pushed the bus forward.

Luka shifted gears. Released the clutch.

The engine coughed, then roared to life.

"Yes!"

He swung the door open. "Everyone, get in!"

The undead climbed in, one by one.

All fourteen.

The trucks skidded to a stop nearby.

In the lead vehicle, Colonel Lisa Perez stared.

Mouth slightly open.

"Did... did those zombies just hijack a school bus?"

Colonel Perez grabbed the radio.

"Command, this is Unit Tango. I need clearance on a mobile zombie nest. Repeat: mobile zombie nest. It's… operational."

There was a pause.

She stared at the school bus.

"…Recommend immediate termination."