NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6: CHAPTER 6
### On the Rooftop
The wind whipped through the air as Takashi, Rei, and Hisashi finally arrived on the rooftop, panting heavily. Unlike before, Hisashi now carried a sturdy metal pole, nearly the length of the metal bat that Takashi held tightly in his grip. The three of them paused for a moment, taking in the terrifying sight below.
The chaos that unfolded before them was unimaginable. Flames engulfed nearby buildings, thick plumes of smoke spiraled into the sky, and the shrill cries of terrified citizens mixed with the wailing of sirens. Takashi's eyes widened in shock as he scanned the streets.
"W-what the-what the hell is going on?!" he exclaimed, disbelief etched across his face.
"Everything was normal until a while ago!" Rei added, her voice trembling with confusion and fear.
Suddenly, the loud thrum of helicopter blades broke through the cacophony, and a powerful gust of wind swept across the rooftop. Rei stumbled, nearly losing her balance, but Hisashi reacted instantly, wrapping his arms around her waist to steady her.
"B-Blackhawks!" Hisashi shouted, his gaze fixed on one of the helicopters flying ominously close.
"Blackhawks? The U.S. Army?" Takashi responded, eyes darting between the aircraft and Hisashi.
"No," Hisashi corrected, squinting against the wind. "I think that's our SDF."
"But where did they come from? There's no base around here, right?" Takashi looked to Hisashi for answers, his heart racing.
"Please save us!" Rei shouted, raising her arms and waving frantically at the helicopter. She screamed as loud as she could, desperate for their attention.
"Rei, don't!" Hisashi quickly intervened, grasping her wrist firmly.
"Why not?" Rei turned to him, her eyes wide with fear. "They can help us!"
"They wouldn't come all the way out here unless they had a reason," Hisashi replied, his tone serious. "Besides, they're probably on a special mission. I bet they don't have time to save us." He pointed toward the chaos below, where grotesque creatures roamed the streets. "Look at them. They're not even doing anything about this. You could try to escape down there, but it's a total mess."
Rei gazed at the creatures, her heart sinking as she noticed one of them viciously attacking a girl, holding her down with no mercy. Tears streamed down her face as she turned away, unable to watch. She buried her face against Hisashi's chest, seeking solace in his strength.
Hisashi wrapped his arms around her, unsure of how to comfort her. Takashi looked at Rei, his expression a mix of concern and helplessness. Deep inside, he grappled with his own feelings of fear and dread, unsure of how to express them.
"I wonder what's going on inside the school," Hisashi murmured, softly patting Rei's back in a futile attempt to calm her.
### Inside the School
Meanwhile, inside the school, two girls raced through the corridor, their hands clasped tightly together.
"We should be okay as long as we stick together, Misuzu!" exclaimed one girl, her bright eyes filled with determination.
"Of course! We're best friends forever, Toshimi!" Misuzu replied, her hair styled neatly in a bun, the confidence evident in her voice.
But suddenly, a hand shot out from the shadows, grabbing Toshimi's left ankle and pulling her down with a force that made her scream.
"Arghhh! No! Save me! Save me, Misuzu!" Toshimi pleaded, her eyes wide with terror as she clung desperately to Misuzu.
"Let go!" Misuzu shouted, her voice filled with a mixture of panic and anger. "I said let go, you BITCH! Are you deaf or what?!"
In a moment of pure desperation, Misuzu kicked Toshimi's face, trying to break free. The impact caused Toshimi to slip and tumble down the stairs, her screams echoing through the hall until they were cut off by the horrifying sounds of creatures devouring her.
Misuzu watched in horror, paralyzed by shock as her ex-best friend was mercilessly gobbled up. Realizing she was surrounded, she tried to retreat, but it was too late. The creatures advanced, one reaching out to grab her face, ready to feast on her flesh.
"Those things," Hisashi began, his voice taut with irritation. "They infected you with some kind of disease. If they turn into 'them' just by biting, maybe the infection spreads through saliva... or sweat. Damn it, we don't know enough about them!" His fists clenched, frustration boiling inside him.
"What do you mean 'them'?" Takashi asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.
Hisashi took a deep breath, trying to maintain composure. "We're being attacked by corpses, but this isn't a movie or a video game. So, I just refer to them as 'them.' Back then, when that girl saved me, she shot Wakasaka-sensei through the head. That means the only way to kill them is by taking a blow to the head."
As they spoke, the creatures began to notice them, slowly ambling in their direction. Takashi, Rei, and Hisashi instinctively fell into a fighting stance, adrenaline coursing through their veins.
"So, what do we do?" Rei asked, her voice shaking.
"Get up there," Hisashi instructed, pointing toward the highest point of the school. "We'll block the stairs."
"Okay, let's go!" Takashi said, taking the lead. They sprinted toward the staircase, dodging the creatures that lurked in their path.
"Rei, watch out!" Takashi yelled as one of the creatures lunged toward her.
In a flash, Rei turned, stabbing her weapon into the creature's forehead with a fierce determination. The monster fell lifelessly, and she quickly pulled back her weapon, scrambling up the stairs.
Both Takashi and Hisashi stood speechless, witnessing Rei's unexpected courage.
"T-that's cool," Takashi finally managed to say, admiration flickering in his eyes.
They hurried up the stairs, gathering furniture and whatever they could find to barricade the entrance. Chairs, tables, and even trash cans were piled up in a desperate attempt to keep the creatures at bay.
"Why-why is this happening?" Rei murmured, her voice heavy with despair. She slid down against the wall, hugging her knees and resting her head atop her arms.
"There must be a reason," Hisashi replied, settling beside her, while Takashi sat across from them, metal bat resting on the ground beside him.
"If we knew the reason, we could figure out what to do," he continued, his tone somber.
Takashi noticed Hisashi gently patting Rei's head, trying to offer comfort. Unable to bear the sight, he stood up and approached the observatory.
"I'll look for a lighter or some matches," Takashi said, determination etched on his face. "If we don't make a fire now, we won't be able to see at night."
They fell into a heavy silence, each lost in their thoughts, when Takashi finally broke the quiet.
"Well, aside from this, I want to know the truth," he said, clenching his fists slightly, his eyes serious.
"The truth?" Rei looked up at him, curiosity mingled with fear.