8:45 AM — Edgewood Avenue, northeast Atlanta sector
The Humvee bounced over cracked asphalt, weaving through ruined streets.
Cars lay overturned, buildings scarred, debris scattered everywhere.
Walkers shuffled between wrecks, groaning as they stumbled across the road.
Pierce slowed the Humvee, eyes scanning the blocked street ahead. "Street's blocked again. Third time this route's failed. We need another way through."
I glanced at Slade. "Think you can find another way to the stadium?"
Slade squinted at the map. "Okay… give me a minute, boss." After a moment, he continued, "Let's turn left here. It should be clear… roughly an hour before we reach the place."
I nodded. "Good. Pierce, take the wheel and get us to that point."
Pierce steered the Humvee down the side street, tires crunching over rubble. Ahead, walkers staggered between the debris, arms dragging as they drifted toward the noise.
...
I twisted the Rubik's Cube absentmindedly. "So… how big is this stadium, anyway?"
Pierce kept his eyes on the road. "Enough to hold over 150,000 survivors… but when it fell…" He let out a long sigh. "Everything just went to hell."
"And why is that? Didn't you guys have protocols? Like checking bites or scratches or anything?"
Pierce shook his head. "No… back then, nobody knew what caused it. We just evacuated anyone we could."
I sighed. "No wonder it got overrun."
...
Hours later.
The stadium came into view, rising over the ruined streets.
The barricades were broken, tents collapsed, and medical stations left in pieces.
Walkers shuffled along the edges, brushing against the twisted metal and fractured beams that marked the boundary.
I stepped out of the Humvee first, the others following after. My eyes went to the structure.
"Is that the only entrance?"
Idris lit his cigar, smoke curling into the air. "Yeah. That's the only way in. The others are either locked or barricaded."
A Walker staggered near, and Brick stabbed into its skull with a sharp twist. "So… how do we handle this, boss?"
I shrugged, sliding my hands into my pockets. "Well, block the entrance first. Then clear everything outside."
Brick just shook his head.
"Anyway, get ready. In a minute, we've got a lot of work to do."
They nodded, moving to the back of the Humvee.
Pierce popped open the hatch, and they grabbed what they needed—ammo, knives, and other gear.
They attached silencers to their rifles and checked their rounds, click by click, making sure everything was loaded.
A minute passed. I finally spoke. "Everything set?"
They nodded, gripping their weapons tightly.
I slipped my mask on. "Then let's go."
I took point, slashing the chains at the gate. It creaked open, and they followed, rifles raised in a tight formation.
Walkers staggered into view—some in tattered nurses' uniforms, others in decayed military gear.
The team opened fire, silencers hissing with every shot, while I moved between them, blade flashing. Heads went down with swift, clean strikes as I hacked through any that got too close.
I gestured for the team to hold, moving slowly toward the tattered tents. The fabric hung in ragged strips, the smell of rot thick in the air.
Then we saw it—a hundred bodies lined up on the ground, each wrapped in white cloth, lifeless.
Then Out of nowhere, a Walker in a white hazmat suit lurched from behind a tent. I didn't hesitate. Kunai slid into its skull, and it dropped with a wet thud.
The others moved in, knives flashing, rifles raised. Walkers in torn nurses' uniforms, biohazard suits, and ragged civilian clothes fell one by one.
Once the area was secure, we crouched behind the barricades.
I lowered my voice, glancing toward the distant horde of walkers. "Stay here and take cover. I'm taking the truck to block the entrance."
John rested a hand on the rifle stock, voice steady. "Careful, Captain."
I gave a slight nod and launched myself over the barricade, rushing through the walkers—slashes, stabs, and impales cutting a path to the truck. A few tried to get in my way; none lasted.
Reaching the truck, I lunged a kunai into the driver's skull, grabbed the keys, and tossed him aside.
I twisted the key, but the engine stayed silent. I tried again—still nothing. Each failed turn echoed, pulling the walkers' wails toward my position.
Rifles fired from the barricade.
Idris, Slade, and the others didn't hesitate, thinning the crowd around me.
I made a decision. I leapt from the truck, hacking through the nearest walkers, shouting, "Cover me!"
With every ounce of strength, I shoved the truck forward, barreling it toward the entrance and crushing walkers beneath its wheels.
When it slammed into place, I dug deep, muscles straining, and with a final roar, flipped it onto its side—completely sealing the entrance.
For a moment, the team froze, stunned by what they'd just seen.
Yet their rifles' steady staccato of silenced shots kept the walkers falling around them.
Without pause, I vaulted onto the overturned truck, summoning an M4A1 into my hands. I leveled the rifle and shouted, "On me! I'll handle the rest!"
Then I opened fire, each silenced shot snapping through the air and dropping walkers one after another.
They didn't hesitate. One by one, Idris, Pierce, Brick, and the rest sprinted to the truck, hauling themselves up beside me.
Together we formed a line, rifles blazing, until the last walker dropped and the battlefield fell silent.
The team let out heavy breaths, the strain of the fight finally easing.
Slade dragged a hand across his sweat-soaked brow, then shot me a look. "Boss… what the hell was that? Did you just flip a damn truck?"
I slid a fresh mag into my rifle with a calm click. "Yeah."
Brick chuckled low, shaking his head. "Heh. If Tank was here, he'd probably keel over from envy seeing that."
That earned a round of tired laughter.
Even Idris cracked a smile before tilting his head at me. "So you know how to use guns now? Thought you were all blade and… whatever else you do."
I shrugged. "Yeah. I know my way around them. But I still prefer the blade." My eyes narrowed past the stadium, where fresh groans echoed. "Anyway… can you still keep up? We've got more work."
The stadium doors buckled, hinges screaming as walkers spilled through the gap.
The team muttered curses but rose without hesitation, rifles locking into place.
"We're ready, boss," Slade growled, eyes narrowing.
I tilted my head, a faint smirk crossing my face. "Then let's go."
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📚 Hey everyone, author here!
I've just uploaded 3 brand-new chapters today, and revised a few earlier parts.
Hope you enjoy the updates!
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