Capítulo 91: [91] Hell's bell
"Turn that shit off now!" I bellowed, my heart pounding against my chest, but my words were swallowed by the deafening music.
Cassidy tried again, frantically hitting the buttons, but the music continued. It was as if the radio was mocking our peril, the gritty vocals of Brian Johnson giving a concert in the most unlikely of places.
"Shit," Kaya cursed under her breath. We all knew what this meant. The noise, so loud and unfamiliar, would undoubtedly attract the zombies. And with us trapped in the deserted mall, we would be easy prey.
A sudden crash from the lower floor confirmed our fears. The familiar moans of the undead grew louder, echoing in the eerie silence that followed once Cassidy finally managed to kill the radio.
"Too late..." Cassidy said, her face paling. I could see the regret in her eyes, but there was no time for apologies or blame.
"Stay calm," I told her and Kaya, trying to keep my voice steady. "We need to get out of here."
Cassidy nodded, quickly wiping her sweaty palms on her jeans, her earlier enthusiasm replaced with a determined grit. Kaya, always alert and battle-ready, held her rifle tighter, her eyes scanning for any immediate threats.
"Let's move," I said, leading the way out of the record shop. The once benign surroundings had turned hostile, and we were in a race against time and the undead. Our scramble for valuables turned into a fight for survival.
"Remember," I said, over the growing cacophony of zombie groans, "shoot only if you have to. We don't want to draw more attention."
Cassidy and Kaya nodded, their faces set in grim determination.
The sound rolled in like an ominous tide, the macabre symphony of the undead. It began as a distant echo, low and guttural, almost blending in with the ambient noise. Then it amplified, the discordant choir of groans, hisses, and throaty growls swelling into a monstrous wave of sound. It was as though an unseen conductor had lifted his baton, stirring his grotesque orchestra into a crescendo.
Each individual groan weaved into the next, forming a sonic tapestry that filled the mall's air. It was a stomach-churning chorus, a ghastly serenade that seemed to resonate from every direction. The sound reverberated off the mall's high ceilings and empty storefronts, amplifying it tenfold, making the mall feel like the inside of a grotesque, living being.
A cold chill ran down my spine as I listened to the approaching horror, my nerves tingling with dreadful anticipation. It wasn't the first time I'd heard the collective groaning of the undead, but every encounter brought a fresh wave of terror. The moans and hisses, eerily human yet utterly inhuman, were an unshakeable reminder of the twisted reality we lived in.
The groaning grew louder, and I felt a tremor of fear run through me. It was like listening to the approach of a tsunami, the sound a chilling harbinger of the monstrous force bearing down on us. The noise was nearly deafening now, a cacophonous symphony that echoed in the pit of my stomach.
It wasn't just the volume that was disturbing – it was the variety. The groans were peppered with unsettling sounds – a low snarl, a sudden hiss, a high-pitched wail. Each noise, each guttural cry was a hideous testament to the creatures that had once been human, their humanity stripped away, leaving behind only a mindless hunger.
The chorus of moans seemed to reverberate off the mall's walls, growing louder and more terrifying by the second. The echo created a terrifying illusion that we were surrounded on all sides. It was a dread-filled sound that scraped against our nerves, like nails on a chalkboard, making us flinch and shudder.
I felt a bead of sweat trickle down my temple, but I remained rooted to the spot, listening to the horrifying orchestra of the undead. My heart pounded in my chest, a drumbeat of its own, matching the rhythm of the encroaching horror.
Despite the panic clawing at the edge of my consciousness, I forced myself to remain calm, focusing on the task at hand. The sight of Kaya and Cassidy, their faces pale but resolute, bolstered my resolve. We'd faced down danger before, and we'd do it again.
As the deafening chorus of groans continued to swell, we readied ourselves for the onslaught. The air seemed to buzz with tension, a palpable electricity that hummed in sync with our mounting fear. We gripped our weapons tighter, our knuckles white with determination.
The clamor of the approaching undead was deafening, yet somehow, my voice cut through the noise like a hot knife through butter. "You girls go first, I will distract the zombies!" I commanded, my tone was firm, resolute. I looked at each of them, my eyes meeting theirs, attempting to convey my unspoken promise that I would not let harm befall them.
Cassidy, her usually mischievous eyes wide with terror, nodded at my words, swallowing hard. I saw the faintest flicker of gratitude in her gaze. "But Chang…" she began, her voice barely a whisper over the relentless growls of the undead. I shook my head, cutting off her protest. There was no room for discussion. This was our only option.
I turned to Kaya, her face a mask of determination despite the fear I knew she must be feeling. She didn't utter a word, just gave a solemn nod, accepting the plan. The glint in her eyes told me that she understood the risks and was willing to face them head-on.
"Get to the exit," I directed them. "Wait for me there. I'll catch up once I've led these creatures away." I then gestured to the left, indicating the path they should take. There was a staircase there, it would give them a higher ground advantage, making it harder for the zombies to reach them.
"You guys go left, I will go right," I reiterated, my voice unwavering. I gripped the radio tighter in my hand, preparing to use it as a distraction. They knew of my peculiar ability, that strange passive trait that allowed me to walk among the undead relatively unharmed. But even so, this was a dangerous gambit.
Kaya and Cassidy exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them. They both knew that this wasn't ideal. They also knew that we had little choice. The urgency of the situation seemed to add weight to my words, making them resonate with even greater importance.
"Chang, are you…" Cassidy began, her voice choked. I met her gaze, shaking my head slightly, silencing her unasked question. It was an unnecessary concern. I was ready for this. I had to be.
"I'll be fine," I reassured her, my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at my insides. I plastered a confident smile on my face, hoping to instill some of that confidence into them. "I'll see you both on the other side."
Despite the rising panic, Cassidy managed a shaky nod. I watched as they started moving towards the left, towards safety. As they disappeared around the corner, I turned to face the horde of undead that were starting to close in. My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline coursing through my veins.
"Alright, let's do this," I murmured to myself, raising the radio high above my head. The time for fear was over. Now, it was time for action.
Q: Have you listened to "Hell's bells" before?
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