As they geared up inside the shop, I instructed them to wear the same protective motorcycle gear as me—black kneepads and elbow pads that provided both mobility and protection.
“So, what's the plan?” Lana asked, adjusting her gear.
I gestured towards the nearby dead zombie and picked it up. “This,” I said, tossing the body near them.
Confusion crossed Ava's face. “What do you want us to do with a body?”
Kneeling down, I retrieved my knife strapped to my leg. “Well, to walk with them. We need to be like them, and to do that…”
Ava protested vehemently. "No, absolutely not. We can't do this."
“It's up to you guys. Are you in or out?” I asked, scanning their faces.
Lana's expression softened into resignation. “We don't have many options, Ava.”
“What!? Are you serious? This is madness! We can't stood this low,” Ava argued, turning to Aiko for support.
“I don't mind,” Aiko responded casually.
“What!?“ She exclaimed “This is wrong! We can't treat a dead human body like this this is inhumane!!” Ava insisted, her voice rising with frustration.
“So, are you willing to do it or not?” I pressed, maintaining a calm demeanor despite Ava's outburst.
"Quiet, kid! Where did you even learn about this? Beside are you even sure this will work?" Ava's voice echoed through the tense silence.
As Lana and Ava voiced their protests, I acted decisively. I drew my pistol and fired at the glass wall, shattering it into a thousand pieces. “What are you doing!?” Lana exclaimed in shock.
“I told you! This guy's crazy!” Ava shouted, her voice filled with disbelief.
While they were momentarily distracted by the chaos, I wasted no time and began cutting into the dead body's belly. With precision, I smeared the blood and guts onto my clothes, ensuring every inch was covered. Aiko, observing my actions, approached cautiously. “Want some?” I offered, gesturing to the body.
She nodded silently, and I allowed her to follow suit, spreading the gruesome mixture onto her attire. “It's stinky,” she remarked.
“It's the blood and organs of a zombie, after all,” I remarked
“Aiko! What the hell are you doing!?” Ava's voice rang out, filled with alarm and frustration.
“I don't want to die,” Aiko replied softly, her eyes reflecting a mixture of fear and determination as she continued to coat her clothes with the foul-smelling substance.
“Oh, don't let it touch your skin. We don't know if it can infect you,” I cautioned her, wiping away blood stains from her cheeks to ensure her safety.
“Much better,” I noted, satisfied with the disguise. I then grabbed the bags of gear and urged them to make a quick decision. “Hurry up and decide, those hordes are getting closer,” I warned, opening the front door and stepping outside.
Aiko followed closely behind me, her nerves evident in her posture. As the horde of zombies rushed past us, Aiko initially tensed but then relaxed when she realized they paid no attention to us, blending in seamlessly with their ranks.
The horde of zombies surged toward the store, flooding inside with an eerie silence following their entry. There were no screams or commotions, only the unsettling chorus of moans and the relentless shuffling of undead feet.
As Lana, and Ava, emerged, drenched in blood and treading cautiously, I could sense Ava's disgust. Her expression spoke volumes about the coercion she had faced. With a hushed tone, I whispered, “Stay quiet and stick close.”
