CHAPTER X
As we arrived outside Hazerland, our truck came to a halt. We were handed two swords as part of our arsenal for self-defense. One sword was given to me to hold in my hand, its weight and balance reassuring in the face of the unknown dangers that lay ahead. The other sword was secured in a sheath on my back, a constant presence that seemed to whisper, "You're ready for this."
I gripped the sword in my hand tightly, feeling a surge of adrenaline course through my veins. The cool metal seemed to hum with anticipation, as if it too was eager to prove its worth in the battles to come. I glanced at my teammates, each of us equipped with our own set of swords, and knew that we were all thinking the same thing: we were in this together, and we would face whatever Hazerland threw our way with steel in hand.
The swords felt like an extension of ourselves, a tangible representation of our determination and resolve. We were no longer just survivors; we were warriors, armed and ready to take on the challenges that lay ahead. With our swords at the ready, we disembarked from the truck and prepared to face whatever dangers Hazerland held.
As we stood there, the silence was palpable, each of us lost in our own thoughts. We knew that the road ahead would be fraught with danger, but we were ready. We were a team, united in our quest for survival, and we would face whatever came our way with courage and steel. The swords seemed to shine in the fading light, a symbol of our strength and determination. We were ready to face Hazerland, and whatever lay within its walls.
Our team head announced, "Now, we need to rescue 12 people from 10 apartments. Since it's dangerous to go alone, we'll split into teams of two." Lavina and Andrew would head to the first floor to rescue a group of teenagers who were visiting. Haider and Elisa would go to the second floor to save a family. Nani and Looka would rescue a group of girls stranded on the third floor. Robin and Daniel would head to the fourth floor to save a couple. Sam and I would go to the last floor, which was the lowest, to rescue an old man and his wife.
As our team head explained the plan, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The weight of the task ahead of us was daunting, and I knew that we would have to be careful to succeed. Our team head looked at me and said, "Sam's background as a police officer has been tough, and she's developed a bit of a psycho edge. Whenever she sees something wrong, she snaps." I looked at Head Aliyana and said, "Just because we've heard something doesn't mean it's true. Sometimes, what we see with our own eyes isn't the whole truth either."
Aliyana's expression turned stern. "Everyone knows about your past, Sam. Rajdeep Arora sir has told us all about it. I don't think he'd lie about something so serious. Remember Mumbai 2020, the bloodbath?" I interrupted her, "Head, this isn't the time for this. We need to focus on rescuing everyone first. And one more thing, Head - this building was built underground, so we could be facing a lot of danger. We should attach torches to our helmets instead of holding them in our hands."
Head Aliyana's anger seemed to simmer down, and she said with a hint of sarcasm, "Look who's giving us advice. Sam knows more about this than we do, apparently. Thank you, Sam, for telling us the obvious." Her tone turned cold, and she added, "Sam, let me tell you one thing - you need to tone down your attitude around me. You're only here because of Rajdeep sir's recommendation. Otherwise, you'd be one of those zombies by now."
I didn't understand why Head Aliyana was so upset with me, but we didn't have time for personal conflicts. She handed us torches, which we attached to our helmets. With our gear in place, we set out on our mission, each team ready to face the unknown dangers that lay ahead. The air was thick with tension, and I could feel the weight of our task bearing down on us. We were about to embark on "Operation Survival," and our lives would never be the same again.
We headed to the first floor, where Ms. Aliyana told me, "Sam, we need to get to the last floor, so as we go, please ensure that all our team members reach their designated apartments safely. We can't afford to waste any time." I nodded, feeling a sense of responsibility wash over me. "Okay, Head," I replied, my voice firm and determined.
As we moved through the dimly lit corridors, the sound of our footsteps echoed off the walls. I glanced at my teammates, each of them focused on their mission. We knew that the zombies in this building were aggressive and fast, and we would have to be careful to avoid them. I felt a surge of adrenaline as I thought about the challenges ahead, but I was determined to get everyone to their destinations safely.
Ms. Aliyana's words still lingered in my mind - "Don't waste any time." I knew that every minute counted, and we had to move quickly and efficiently. I took a deep breath, mentally preparing myself for the task ahead. We would have to be a well-oiled machine, working together seamlessly to rescue everyone.
As we navigated the corridors, I kept a watchful eye on my teammates, ensuring that they were all accounted for. The tension was palpable, and I could feel the weight of our mission bearing down on us. But I was determined to get everyone to their destinations safely, and I knew that I would do whatever it took to make that happen.
With a sense of resolve, I led the way, my eyes scanning the corridors for any signs of danger. We would face whatever challenges lay ahead, together and with caution. Our mission was clear, and we would see it through to the end.
As we reached the first floor, we sensed that there were several zombies lurking around. We wanted to rescue everyone without making a sound, but these zombies were incredibly fast. We had to be extremely cautious. Lavina and Andrew moved towards room number 6, where the group of teenagers was trapped. They approached the door quietly and knocked gently, but it felt like we were surrounded by a multitude of eyes watching our every move, waiting for us to slip up.
No one opened the door, probably because the trapped teenagers were too scared. Andrew called out, "Hello, is anyone there? We've come to rescue you. We're from the army camp." His voice was a bit loud, and it echoed through the corridor, shattering the silence. Suddenly, the zombies started to emerge, their presence making our hearts sink.
Just as the zombies were about to attack Lavina and Andrew, the teenagers inside the room opened the door, and Lavina and Andrew quickly slipped inside, slamming the door shut behind them. But the zombies didn't stop; they started attacking us, and we fought back, taking down as many as we could. We knew we had to move fast and get to our targets.
Everything was happening so fast. Our team members were running swiftly, their footsteps pounding the floor. Aliyana and I were at the forefront, as we needed to reach the lowest floor. The adrenaline rush was intense, and our senses were on high alert. We were determined to complete our mission, no matter what dangers lay ahead.
As we navigated the corridors, the sound of zombies groaning and shuffling grew louder. We knew we were running out of time, and every second counted. Our hearts were racing, and our breathing was rapid. We were in a state of high alert, ready to face whatever challenges came our way.
The zombies were relentless, and we had to fight our way through them. But we were a well-trained team, and we worked together seamlessly, taking down the zombies and moving forward.
To be continue...