Capítulo 92: [92] Labyrinth of the dead
My sneakers pounded against the cold, unyielding surface of the mall floor as I sprinted in the opposite direction. The once bustling atrium of the shopping center was now a graveyard of forgotten commodities and ravenous undead. The echoes of my footsteps reverberated off the walls, forming a cacophony of sound that was quickly drowned out by the guttural growls and groans of the pursuing horde.
In spite of the adrenaline flooding my system, there was a peculiar calm that settled over me. I was a ghost moving amongst the unliving, my presence unnoticed yet disruptive. Thanks to my inexplicable passive ability, the zombies were drawn to me, but they didn't attack. Their hollowed eyes stared blankly as I passed, their attention drawn by the thunderous noise of my presence, yet their aggression curiously abated. It was a paradox, a bizarre reality that I had yet to fully comprehend, but one that might just save us all.
The AR-15 gripped firmly in my hands was lighter than it should have been, a grim reminder of the ammunition it no longer housed. The empty clicks as I pulled the trigger did nothing to deter my pursuers. Each spent cartridge was a beacon, drawing them towards me, away from Cassidy and Kaya.
My path was littered with debris - discarded bags, fallen mannequins, and shattered storefronts. I darted through the chaos, weaving between the stalled escalators and leaping over toppled kiosks. I felt the cool metal railing of the escalator under my fingertips as I hurtled down the static steps, my gaze fixed on the floor below. A sea of undead awaited me, their forms moving with eerie grace as they tried to close the distance.
My heart pounded in my chest like a battle drum, its rhythm a constant reminder of the life that surged within me - a stark contrast to the lifeless creatures that populated this ruined city. But fear was a luxury I could not afford. Not here, not now.
Once at the bottom, I discarded the now useless firearm, letting it clatter to the floor. I had no use for an empty gun. However, I was not defenseless. I had my wits, my agility, and my uncanny ability that seemed to make me a non-target to the zombies.
I bolted towards the main entrance, the sunlight streaming in a tantalizing promise of escape. Every step took me further from the madness, the deafening moans of the undead fading into a surreal background noise. I dared not look back, focusing on the path ahead, my muscles protesting the relentless pace. But I couldn't slow down, couldn't afford to. I had a mission, a promise to keep.
Behind me, the mall erupted into a storm of roars and groans as the undead congregated, their collective attention still fixated on me. Their numbers swelled, turning the once-bustling mall into a twisted parody of its former self. And in their midst, a single figure sprinted, a beacon of life amidst the sea of death, a ghost running through a labyrinth of horrors.
The harsh rays of the sun beat down on me as I burst through the mall's glass-paneled entrance, a free man in a world of the imprisoned undead. The crisp air of the outside world was a welcome reprieve, each breath a stinging reminder of the chilling contrast between the chaos within and the deceptive tranquility without.
Casting a glance over my shoulder, I watched as the horde of zombies I had led outside clumsily clambered over each other in a mindless pursuit of the noise that no longer moved. The discarded radio lay a few meters away from me, its once glossy surface now scratched and dented from the fall. The music it blared was a siren song for the undead, drawing them in like moths to a flame.
I dropped my arms to my side, my fingers brushing against the cold concrete of the parking lot. A wave of relief washed over me, leaving in its wake a burning exhaustion. But I didn't have time to rest. Not yet.
Taking a deep breath, I braced myself and turned, stepping back into the path of the oncoming horde. My every instinct screamed at me to flee, to put as much distance as I could between myself and the teeming mass of decaying flesh. But I had a task to complete.
As I moved against the tide, the undead, drawn in by the continued wail of the radio, shuffled past me. Their empty eyes stared right through me, their hunger piqued not by the living, breathing man before them, but by the device emitting the loud, distracting noise. It was as though I was invisible, a specter amongst the tangible horrors of this apocalyptic world.
My steps were slow, deliberate. I had to maintain my calm, hold onto the illusion of my insignificance. It was a dangerous dance, a tightrope walk between survival and certain death. A single misstep, a single indication that I was more than just a noise in the wind, and I'd be swarmed.
The scent of decay wafted up from the horde, a nauseating mélange of rot and death. I held my breath, pressing on, my footsteps echoing eerily in the open space. I was surrounded, engulfed by the living dead. Yet, they did not reach for me, did not snarl in my direction.
In the distance, I saw Cassidy and Kaya. Their eyes were wide, relief and fear etched on their faces in equal measure. Seeing them safe, seeing them alive, ignited a spark of hope within me. We had survived. We had escaped.
With that, I broke away from the horde, leaving the hypnotizing noise of the radio behind. As I moved away, the undead continued their relentless pursuit of the sound, their attention remaining stubbornly fixated on the radio. They moved past me, their rotted forms oblivious to my presence.
As I trudged back towards the truck, my heart pounded in my chest, not from fear, but from the profound sense of triumph.
This was survival in the world of the undead, a battle of wits and determination, a game of life and death. And for today, we had won.
Q: Are you good at solving mazes?
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