Chapter 36 – The Road to the Estate
The bus engine rumbled to life, its low growl filling the silence of the school grounds. Survivors sat huddled in the rows of faded seats, their faces pale, their eyes darting from one broken window to another. The wide yellow frame of the bus felt out of place in the ruins of the city, as though it had been pulled out of a normal school day and dropped into a nightmare.
The driver, a middle-aged staff member with graying hair and tired eyes, gripped the steering wheel firmly. He had been one of the few to step forward when Saeko asked for a volunteer. He explained he had years of experience driving buses on school trips, and though fear flickered in his gaze, his voice had been steady when he said, "I'll do it."
In the front passenger seat lies Gaius standing up. His armored frame took up more than one place, forcing him to angle his shoulders carefully and lowering his head to fit in. Even Standing, his presence dominated the front of the bus. The driver cast nervous glances at him now and then, clearly uneasy with the massive figure sitting so close, but Gaius remained silent and still.
The bus lurched forward. Survivors shifted uneasily, some whispering, others clutching bags of belongings close to their chests. Outside, the streets rolled past, littered with abandoned cars, shattered glass, and the shambling dead that turned their heads slowly at the sound of the engine.
Saeko walked down the aisle, checking on the younger students, offering quiet words of reassurance. When she returned to the front, she crouched slightly beside Gaius so her voice would not carry too far.
"We should stop at a convenience store," she said softly. "The survivors are hungry, and many need the bathroom. It would help them keep calm."
Gaius's dark eyes shifted toward the rows of tired faces. He studied them for a long moment. Some clutched their stomachs, others tried to ignore the discomfort on their faces. After a pause, he nodded once.
Saeko rose and stepped closer to the driver. "Pull over at the next convenience store," she instructed. "It will be better for everyone if we stop."
The driver glanced at her in the mirror, then nodded without a word.
The bus rolled to a stop outside a small corner store. Its sign was cracked, one of the glass windows broken inward, leaving shards scattered across the ground. The air was still, heavy with the faint stench of decay.
Gaius rose first, ducking his head so as not to scrape the roof as he stepped out. The pavement cracked faintly under the weight of his boots.
From the side street, a lone figure stumbled forward. Its skin hung in tatters, jaw lolling loosely. The groan it gave was low but carried across the silence.
"Watch out!" Saya's voice rang sharply from inside the bus. She pressed a hand against the window, eyes wide. "A zombie's coming!"
Gaius didn't draw his sword. He waited, still and calm, as the creature staggered closer. Its outstretched arms reached for him. With one swift motion, Gaius caught its head in his hand. There was a sickening crunch as he squeezed, the skull collapsing like a rotten fruit. The body crumpled instantly to the ground, lifeless.
Gasps echoed from the bus. Some students covered their mouths in shock, while others stared wide-eyed at the ease with which he ended the threat. To them, it had looked as simple as swatting a fly.
Gaius said nothing. He let the body drop at his feet and turned his gaze to the store.
Inside, shadows stretched long across the aisles. A handful of zombies shuffled between the shelves, their movements slow, their clothes stained.
Saeko darted forward, her sword flashing. Each strike was clean, her blade cutting through necks and torsos with practiced precision. Gaius moved in behind her, his unpowered sword swinging with heavy arcs. The impact of each strike shattered bones and split bodies, knocking the dead aside with brutal force.
The fight was over in less than a minute. Silence returned, broken only by the faint hum of the refrigerator units that still worked.
"Clear," Saeko said, lowering her blade.
The survivors were guided off the bus in groups. Some rushed for the shelves, grabbing bottled water, canned food, and snack bars. A teacher organized a line at the back for the bathroom. Others filled bags with whatever they could find, instant noodles, crackers, even small boxes of fruit juice.
Gaius stood watch by the doorway, scanning the street beyond, sword still in hand. He didn't move as the minutes passed, his presence a silent barrier that kept the survivors calm.
When the last group finished and returned to the bus, Saeko lingered behind. She carried a small chocolate bar, its wrapper slightly torn. She walked up to Gaius, her expression softer than before.
"You should try this," she said, holding it out. "It'll help after all this."
Gaius looked at the small bar in her hand, then at her. Slowly, he reached out and took it. The wrapper crinkled as he broke it apart and ate it. The sweetness filled his mouth, a stark contrast to the dust and blood that clung to the air.
Saeko smiled faintly. "Good, isn't it?"
Without answering, Gaius finished it, then accepted a second one when she offered. Only then did he speak, his voice calm and steady.
"We should keep moving."
Saeko gave a small nod, still smiling as she turned back toward the bus.
The bus rumbled back onto the road. Saya sat near the front, giving directions to the driver, her voice sharp but steady as she guided them toward the Takagi estate.
The streets grew worse the further they went. Abandoned cars clogged intersections, some burned-out, others still stained with dried blood. Groups of zombies wandered aimlessly, drawn by the noise of the engine.
Several times, the driver had to stop. Each time, Gaius and Saeko stepped out. Saeko's blade danced through the air, slicing cleanly. Gaius waded forward like an unstoppable wall, scattering the dead with each swing of his sword. Survivors watched from inside the bus, whispering in awe and fear.
Time passed this way, the sun dipping lower in the sky. Finally, the walls of the Takagi estate came into view, tall and imposing, ringed with barbed wire.
Relief washed over the bus. Some students whispered prayers, others clutched the hands of their friends. For the first time in days, hope seemed close.
But as they neared the gate, a harsh voice blasted from a loudspeaker:
"Stop where you are! Do not come closer or we will shoot!"
The bus jolted to a halt. Survivors ducked instinctively, fear flashing across their faces.
Armed guards emerged from behind the gate, rifles raised. They moved cautiously toward the bus, their eyes narrowing.
Gaius rose. He carefully stepped out, angling his broad shoulders so as not to damage the bus doorway. The ground seemed to shake under his weight.
The guards froze at the sight of him. Several lowered their rifles without thinking, while others stared in disbelief.
One man, clearly the leader, steadied his aim and pointed his rifle directly at Gaius's head. His voice shook but carried authority. "Who are you?!"
Gaius met his eyes, his expression calm. His deep voice was steady. "Put down the gun."
The leader's hands trembled. The guards shifted, uncertain, caught between fear and duty.
Then Saya's voice rang out from behind Gaius, sharp and clear: "It's me! Saya Takagi! Take me to my parents!"
She stepped off the bus, standing tall.
The guards blinked, stunned. Murmurs broke out among them. Slowly, rifles lowered.
The great gates of the Takagi estate began to creak open.
~~~
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