DEGREES OF DEATH

Part 2 – The Rescue Mission

DEGREES OF DEATH

“No,” Daniel replied, his eyes fixed on the crack forming in the door. “They don’t know for sure yet. They’re just waiting outside for us to become their prey.”

Daniel knew he couldn’t just stay still. Outside, Xavier might still be fighting alone, and the guilt of letting Becca get chased now haunted him like a shadow. If he didn’t act, he would lose his last friend. But if he opened the door, he might bring death to the two people left in the room.

“We can’t keep hiding here. We have to save Xavier and make sure he’s still alive,” Daniel said, breaking the silence, his gaze sharp on the classroom door, tightly shut.

“Niel, you saw what’s out there!” Bianca whispered sharply. “They’re not human anymore. They’re tearing people apart like starving dogs.”

Daniel turned to Chania, who was scrolling through her phone with focused intensity. “Chania, what did you find?”

“From the forums I managed to read before the signal dropped … this isn’t just cannibalism,” Chania replied quickly. “They react to vibrations. Don’t make a sound.”

Daniel nodded. “We have to go down. He’s our friend,” he said firmly. He scanned the room, looking for anything that could be used as a weapon. His eyes landed on a broken piece of wood on the floor, the jagged tip sharp enough to pierce skin. He grabbed it immediately. “Grab anything in the classroom! Wood, brooms, anything!” he ordered.

Bianca hesitated but picked up a broom for defense. Chania had armed herself with an iron pipe she found in a corner.

“Listen,” Daniel said, moving closer to the door. “We have to be careful. No sounds between us. If we meet one, hit it in the head. Smash its brain. Don’t hesitate. If there’s more than one, run.”

“Daniel,” Chania murmured. “Be careful. Their fluid… don’t get cut, and don’t let the wound touch it.”

Daniel took a deep breath and nodded. Slowly, he began sliding the barricaded desk. The sound of the desk scraping against the floor echoed like thunder in the silent room.

“Slow, Daniel.” Bianca whispered, her voice barely audible.

Once the door opened slightly, the metallic, iron-tinted stench of blood and decay hit their senses. Daniel peeked into the hallway. It was empty, but thick red stains streaked along the concrete floor, leaving a trail of slaughter.

“Move out. Now,” Daniel whispered.

They crept forward, backs pressed to the wall. Five meters in, a wet, low growl came from around the corner. A student appeared, jaw hanging crooked, sinews exposed. His neck was ripped wide open, his throat visible.

“Grrrrh .…” The creature turned. Its eyes were clouded white, no pupils.

“Don’t scream!” Daniel ordered, his voice low but sharp.

Without warning, the creature lunged with impossible speed. Daniel reacted instantly, using his wooden stick to deflect the pale hand’s swipe, sending it crashing hard.

With a strong shoulder rotation, Daniel swung the wood, striking the side of the creature’s temple.

Thud! The dull impact echoed down the silent hallway. The creature’s head jerked violently to the side before its body collapsed. It fell hard onto the cold concrete floor with a heavy thump.

Daniel panted, adrenaline surging through his chest. He gave the creature no chance to move again. Gripping his now-hot weapon tightly, he turned to Chania and Bianca with a sharp glance.

“Quick,” Daniel hissed softly. “Before the others arrive.”

Crack! The sound of a skull breaking was sharp. Thick, dark blood splattered onto Daniel’s sleeve. The creature sprawled on the floor, still clawing desperately at his ankles.

“It’s still alive!” Bianca hissed.

Daniel showed no mercy. He raised his boot and stomped down on the creature’s head with full force. Krak! Its skull crumbled, and the pale hand froze. Daniel’s breathing was heavy, but his eyes stayed focused. “Move, run,” he murmured firmly.

They ran down the dim staircase. The stench of death grew stronger with each step. When they reached the ground floor door leading to the back of the cafeteria, Daniel stopped, pressing his ear against the metal door. The sounds of tearing flesh and breaking ceramics were clear.

“Remember, our target is only Xavier. Once we get him, we run and hide,” Daniel instructed.

He opened the cafeteria door. The scene before him was pure hell. The cafeteria was completely destroyed. Smoke rose from the stalls. Daniel held his breath at the sight. Bodies were strewn across the floor in unnatural positions, trails of red dragging across the concrete.

Silence reigned, leaving a tense stillness among lifeless forms. Some female students were surrounded by three or four zombies feasting atop piles of intestines.

“There! Under the round table in the corner!” Chania pointed.

Daniel froze, his gaze locked on Xavier under the table. His friend’s face was pale as a corpse, drenched in cold sweat, hair plastered to his forehead. When their eyes met, Daniel felt a shock hit his chest seeing the sheer terror in Xavier’s gaze.

Without making a sound, Xavier shook his head in short, jerky movements, a desperate warning. Daniel sharpened his focus, reading the trembling lips of his friend without words. “Niel … don’t come here! They’re everywhere!”

Daniel felt his jaw tighten. He ignored the pain in his palms from gripping the wood tighter, veins straining in his arms. The musty dust and cold concrete pressed against his lungs.

He didn’t act recklessly. Instinct sharpened, he lowered his center of gravity, planting his feet firmly, ready to explode into action at any second. His left hand lifted, a stiff signal telling Chania and Bianca to freeze. Daniel’s eyes scanned every shadow behind Xavier, searching for openings among the scattered furniture.

“Get out of there, Vier! Now!” Daniel hissed, voice low but urgent.

Xavier tried to crawl backward, gasping for breath, but the edge of a metal tray struck the leg of the wooden table.

The sharp sound rang like a death bell in the silent room. Instantly, two figures that had been huddled on the table jolted upright. They jumped down with hoarse roars that cut through the air.

Daniel’s eyes widened, facial muscles tensing at the threat now openly revealed. “Damn it,” he muttered under his breath.

But he did not let fear paralyze him. Before the creatures could ambush Xavier, still trapped, Daniel made a quick decision. He stomped his boots hard against the concrete floor, creating a resounding thud, while slamming his wooden stick into the corridor wall, sending dust and debris flying.

“Hey! Over here!” Daniel shouted, his hoarse voice challenging them, breaking the suffocating silence.

He positioned himself as bait, standing firm in the middle of the attack path. His focus locked on the threats charging at him, hands gripping the wood until the veins in his arms bulged, ready to meet impact.

“Vier, run!” Bianca said, soft but firm.

Instead of retreating, Bianca lunged forward. She swung her broom handle like a staff, striking hard at the chest of the first creature trying to pounce. The blow didn’t kill it but staggered it enough to lose momentum.

Seeing the opening, Xavier didn’t hesitate. He zig-zagged to avoid the second creature’s ambush. When it nearly reached him, Xavier cleverly kicked a cafeteria chair into its legs, causing it to stumble and fall forward.

Daniel seized the opportunity. He grabbed a heavy metal chair nearby and swung it in a wide arc, smashing it.

CRASH!

The chair slammed into the second creature that had just tripped. The force sent it flying into the beverage cooler. Shattering glass filled the room, burying the creature under sharp debris and collapsed shelves.

“Daniel, behind you!” Chania yelled.