A horde of zombies slammed violently against the outer walls of the house, making every picture frame on the walls crash to the floor and shatter.
Meenda closed her eyes and tried to steady her breath.The terrifying screams of the zombies echoed in her mind like scenes from a horror film.Each thud on the door reminded her that death was waiting right outside.Sweat soaked her face, and her breathing turned rapid.She gripped her gun tightly, trying to suppress the tremble in her hands.She knew—if she missed even a single shot, her beautiful and perfect body would be torn to pieces by the rotting teeth of the undead.
"They're here!"Izzy's voice jolted her back to focus.
"Come on, then!"Meenda shouted fiercely, planting her strong legs firmly and opening fire with a roar.
Bang! Bang! Bang!The bullets tore through the rotting flesh and skull of a zombie in a bloodied suit.Despite the low light, the hours of intense training with Gantzuke had paid off—every bullet found its mark.
...Dad, I love you...Mari whispered to herself.Recalling her father's twisted face as zombies tore into his throat and limbs brought a strange calm.She opened her eyes in the darkness, her gaze steady and unblinking, locked onto a zombie plumber climbing in through a window.
Her delicate finger caressed the trigger as if delivering divine judgment.
Pop!A single shot blasted through the zombie's skull, sending it back to hell.Mari moved swiftly, dancing from target to target with lethal grace—her Death Waltz.
Pop!Another shot, another kill—clean, precise.
"Blast every last one of them!"Izzy's shout brought a grin to Mari's lips.Seeing her two older sisters holding the line at the door filled her with strength.The mix of gunpowder smoke and the stench of rotten flesh only fueled her adrenaline.
Mari shifted her aim left—
Pop!A headshot to a blood-soaked zombie woman in a torn evening gown—just in time to save Meenda.
"Thanks, Mari,"Meenda gasped, having turned just in time to see the grotesque face of death baring its teeth.
"Aaaaaah!"Mari's scream pierced the air as a towering zombie locked its arms around her from behind.Her eyes widened in terror, heart pounding as time seemed to slow.It stood over two meters tall, its arms wrapped around her neck, dragging her toward the exit.
"Grooooar!"It opened its mouth wide, revealing fat wriggling maggots squirming inside.
"Aaaaagh!"Mari thrashed violently.
Bang!A bullet shattered the zombie's skull, and it collapsed with a heavy thud—Mari falling free from its grip.
Meenda lowered her gun, legs trembling beneath her.She wanted to drop and hug Mari, but more zombies were charging in—no time to rest.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!Meenda unloaded into two incoming zombies.
"You okay, Mari?"Izzy shouted, running to pull Mari away from the monster's corpse.
Bang! Bang! Bang!Meenda dropped three more zombies closing in.
"I'm fine, Miss Izzy,"Mari said, brushing her neck and feeling relief—no wounds, no bites.
"Upstairs!"Izzy ordered.
Meenda and Mari fired back while retreating up the stairs.Izzy stayed behind, covering them.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!Izzy's eyes widened as three zombies lunged at her.They tackled her hard—her head cracked against the floor.
"No! Izzy!"Meenda screamed as she saw her comrade raise her AK to block the snapping jaws of a zombie above her.
Pop! Pop! Pop!Mari, kneeling on the stairs, shot the three zombies pinning Izzy.
"Hurry up!"Meenda yelled.
Izzy shoved the decaying bodies off and scrambled to Mari and Meenda waiting above.
"Aaaaagh!"A zombie in a rugby uniform tackled her.
"Miss Izzy!"Mari screamed hysterically as five more zombies piled onto her.
"Come on, Mari!"Meenda's voice snapped her back.Mari sprinted up, her breath ragged, with zombie howls following close behind.
"Down!"Meenda, standing near the door, shouted.
Mari ducked.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!M14 muzzle flashes lit the hallway like lightning.The deafening boom left Mari's ears ringing.She blinked rapidly to clear the afterimages.
Together, they slammed the door shut.
Boom! Boom! Boom!Something massive pounded on it.
Mari braced with her legs while Meenda shouldered the door.
BOOM!They were both thrown back by the impact.
CRASH!A giant zombie burst through—the beast nearly touching the ceiling.
"Grooooar…"It growled as Mari took aim at its head.
Pop! Pop! Pop!Her bullets hit—dead center—but didn't drop it.
Bang! Bang! Bang!Meenda's heavier rounds tore through its neck and blew its head apart.
"To the pool!"Meenda shouted.They sprinted toward the rooftop pool, reloading on the move.
Mari backed into the party room, firing cover.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!She dropped five more zombies.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!Meenda joined in.
But there was no way out. Behind them—only the edge of the rooftop.
"I'm out,"Meenda said, switching to her sidearm.
Pop! Pop! Pop!She dropped another emaciated female zombie into the pool.
"Last mag!"Mari gasped.
Pop! Pop! Pop!She dropped two more.
"They're down there too."Meenda looked over—ten zombies waited below like spectators.
"Goddamn it."She gritted her teeth.The undead were planning now? That was new—and terrifying.
Pop! Pop! Click.Mari fired her final three rounds—perfect shots.
"If they charge again… I don't think we'll make it."She smiled as she drew her pistol.
Her words were grim, but her smile gave Meenda courage.She smiled back.
I wonder how Mom and Dad are doing right now...Meenda closed her eyes. Her arms ached. The gun felt too heavy.
"Let me go, you bastards!"Izzy's voice screamed from outside, shocking both girls.
"What was that?"They turned toward the guardhouse—flames burning brightly.
Meenda blinked back smoke—then saw them:
Four zombies dragging Izzy's struggling body toward the village center.
Meenda raised her rifle—but couldn't get a clear shot through the smoke.
"Damn it!"She slammed the gun down in frustration and slumped beside Mari, awaiting the next wave.
"Miss Meenda, do you hear that?"Mari frowned.
"You mean the undead coming to eat us?"
"No… It's coming from the road below the village."
Meenda peered through her night-scope.
At first, she thought it was a motorcycle.But as the image sharpened—she realized it was a car with only one working headlight.