Chapter 1:

Entry 1 - Waxing Crescent

My Everyday Life in Hell. (Unfinished)


“Waxing Crescent”

Our eternal night had just begun.

The seven of us, almost at a complete loss, sat around our round table. Most of them were in tears, and all of us were anxious. Hell, anxious is an enormous understatement. They dared not even stare out into the moonlight, much less tread out there now. We were waiting it out.

But I knew only so much could be done.

I knew we had to kill those things that stood between us and survival.

We were going to die if we didn't.

I spoke up.

"...You all know we only have one option."

My abrupt declaration held the attention of everyone firmly. I was right, after all.

"We were lucky enough to have weapons at hand—god knows what state we would be in now if we didn't. We have an opportunity to survive, and I won't let any of us pass it up. We are all going to live. All of us need to gather sustenance, and search for survivors. We won't last long otherwise."

"We have no idea what those things are capable of. They swallowed several of our classmates, teachers whole... Do we really have to fight them now?"

Izz's worried nature was written all over him. Who could blame him?

"We do. There's no other way."

"I'm scared as hell, Shin. I don't think I can do it, I'm going to die out there!"

"You'll die if you don't fight too, you know! If you stay put and cower you are only sealing that fate."

"They're still swarming out there! We'll get killed in seconds! ...We at least need to wait until they spread out more."

I couldn't help but agree with him. As much as I wanted to go out there and slay every monstrosity in sight, I knew that recklessly throwing myself into a situation like that and dying would defeat the whole point of having this opportunity. I relented.

"You're right. ...I hate to admit it, but we can't fight that swarm no matter what we do. I said I don't want us throwing our lives away, and I will stand firm on that. We’ll get ready, then we’ll try and check the school for more survivors. I don’t know what we will do after that, but might as well gather up the remaining students.”

Sitting back down, Shin’s guidance brought the spirits of the club back up, and everyone steeled themselves for the grueling struggle ahead of them.

Mathieu, being the lookout while the others got their weapons and tools ready, alerted the rest of us. Most of the area around the school was clear.

“Alright guys, most of those creatures have left the school grounds. Not exactly sure why they did it other than wandering, but it doesn’t matter now, does it.”

“...Saying ‘those creatures’ doesn’t exactly sound… appropriate.”

Lena has interjected, and continued.

“It’s definitely a mouthful, wanna just call them zombies? Anyone have any other good ideas?”

“The Bloodtouched?” Izz shot back.

Lukas responded in turn.

“That sounds stupid as hell, Izz.”

Lila butted in as well.

“I’m thinking… The Nightwalkers. Sounds edgy.”

Mathieu watched the group bicker over names, as if the dawn of the apocalypse had never even happened. He facepalmed.

“I think you guys should be t-”

Mathieu was about to stop the exchange when I stepped in.

...I think we needed this. How else would we stay sane in this whirlwind of death circling above our heads?

“I think we should just go with the Turned.”

Mai, breaking her long silence, spoke up.

“That works.”

“I don’t have anything else.”

“Sounds better than what the rest of these nerds suggest.”

Me, Lena, and Lukas gave our approval and the other three shortly did as well.

The Turned.

We would eradicate them.

That sounds about right.

The club had finished their preparations not long after Mathieu’s signal. We had all ended up using the role-playing props we had lying around. I never expected we would end up actually using these in real battle. I had a sash that I tied the sheath of my sword to, some pockets kept in place with a belt around my legs, and finally my sharpened, old sword.

“Okay guys, we ready? Are we ready, guys? Guys, are we ready?!

I roused the others as we moved the chest away from the door.

Yeah we’re ready!”

“Yeah!”

We’re ready.

Lila, Izz, and Lukas followed my lead and we tore the door that separated us from the night open. The first four of us drew our weapons and took a stance outside the club room; Mathieu, Lena, and Mai walked out cautiously, in contrast.

Immediately ahead, three Turned had noticed the commotion we made making our grand exit and trudged in our direction.

Lukas immediately brandished his longsword, bellowing “I call dibs on them!” before he slashed and decapitated all three in succession. We all were relieved, seeing Lukas effortlessly dispatch the creatures we had feared moments ago, and we all felt driven to rid the school grounds of these freaks.

Lukas turned back around in triumph.

“Damn, I’m good! Did ya see that, guys?”

We all honestly cheered him on. It was an inspiring first step.

But of course, we were getting ahead of ourselves.

Of course it wasn’t going to be that easy.

We knew that deep inside, but we wanted to hope we could be the heroes of fantasy we looked up to, without sacrifice.

The Turned had quickly reformed themselves, reattaching their lost heads. They hardened the flesh on their hands, and the three foes Lukas had believed he had slain launched their counterattack.

I noticed in an instant, but of course, that wasn’t the case for Lukas.

“Lukas! Behind you, these guys regenerate!”

Lukas turned around as fast as he could in reaction to my warning, and managed to deflect one of the attacks. He wasn’t fast enough to catch the other two surrounding him, and they slashed his arm and leg.

Red.

Red like the moon.

Red, like that moon, filling my sight.

Lukas had deep cuts running through the two areas he’d been hit.

We thought he was a goner considering our inferences from fictitious zombie apocalypse thrillers.

Thankfully, we were wrong about that, as well. Lukas was badly injured, but he wasn’t dead, or worse, becoming yet another of the Turned. But he definitely wasn’t going to be in fighting shape anytime soon.

“Alright dirty bastards, I’ll give you seconds if you want them that much!”

I was driven forward by anger and hacked at the Turned that had wounded my friend a moment ago.

“Nggghhh..!!”

I let out a yell as I repeatedly, and sloppily, hacked at the three.

Trying to find a weak point or similar, I aimlessly drove my sword into the Turned surrounded me. I kept relentlessly whirling around my blade, as to not give them an opportunity to prepare an attack. For what seemed like a few minutes, this continued. The rest of my friends were unable to move even while seeing me struggle, after watching what had befallen Lukas. I drew the attention of most of the other Turned in the front gate with my frenzied yelling.

“Ah.”

I noticed how futile my attempt at searching for a weak point was, seeing no progress after minutes of battering the same three enemies. I would also see the other approaching groups of Turned, their groaning filling my ears. I started to sweat. But I heard a different sound right before I fell into a panic.

Sssssching!

Was that a core? A heart? Whatever it was, that had to have been good.

It was as I expected.

One of the Turned in front of me quickly disintegrated as a shattered red sphere lay at my feet. If I recall correctly, I slashed at their stomach then. I had expected the core to be located in the head or chest, and had aimed most of my strikes in the upper half. As I internally chastised myself for getting carried away, I shifted back into focus. I still remained in a fight. I still had two more immediate threats. I still could not afford to let my guard down for more than a second, lest I end up like my downed friend.

I swiftly swung my sword, and spun around to deliver hopefully, a decisive cut. As my blade tore into the pulsing flesh once more, I listened for the same shattering sound that signalled my kill.

Ssshing! Sssshink!

The sound of the spheres breaking rang in my mind. Whew.

I regained my balance, and stared back ahead. Still more problems.

“Shin, grab Lukas and run inside!”

Mai called to me and beckoned me into the doors of the school. I picked up Lukas, and immediately realized how heavy he was. I was held up for a moment, but managed to secure him to make a mad dash for the school building.

The Turned made chase, but even while carrying Lukas, I was much faster than the humanoids tumbling across the stone pathway. I shut the doors with haste as I made it inside, where the rest of my crew was waiting. I set Lukas down, where I confirmed he was still breathing. I looked back up at my friends once more. They had guilt written all over their faces.

“What are you all sulking over?”

“Shin… I didn’t freaking do anything. I was paralyzed as Lukas was hurt, and while you rushed to protect him, I was worthless.”

Izz hung his head down low after saying his piece, Lena followed.

“Sorry… I could have done more.”

“...We’re all still alive, aren’t we?”

It didn’t phase me. Not everyone is just able to throw themselves in the midst of a situation where your life's on the line, and you barely even know what you’re up against.

“Live today, to fight tomorrow.”

The words of someone else echo in my head. I gesture to the rest of my friends to keep it together.

“...But if you want to change things, gather your courage and fight for your life. If you can’t fight, run. If it keeps you alive, I think it’s respectable.”

Izz shook his head.

“...I can’t just leave you to die.”

“We all have to look out for ourselves too.”

Izz understood what I said, but he still had his reservations. He’s a genuinely good person under all the layers of anxiety.

“...Leave the next ones to me. I’ll do my part.”

I nodded. Izz gripped his axe tight, holding onto the desire he has, to pull his weight. Lena and Lila watched on, looked at each other, and offered to stay in the front of the group with Izz.

Mai and Mathieu were silent as always.

“Everyone got their bearings again? I’ll keep watch over Lukas while we walk.”

Mathieu had quickly picked up in my stead. He picked up the unconscious Lukas and waited for the group to start moving. Izz nodded to him.

“Alright, we’re gonna scout out the school for other students, right?”

“Yeah, that’s our best option right now.”

Me and Izz had exchanged a few more questions before we began to proceed into the dim hallway.

Izz led the way, axe at the ready. Lila and Lena kept to his sides with their weapons drawn. The rest of us followed behind, ready to support. Mai hugged my arm tightly as we walked down the hallway. I could tell she was nervous but she also made it obvious she’d be fine since we were all together.

“Haaaah. Wish one of us had a flashlight right about now.”

Lila complained a bit, and Lena quickly had a realization.

“We still have our phones, don’t we..?”

Ah. Yeah.

The rest of us looked defeated as me and Mai quickly dug our phones out of our pockets.

“We still have service.”

Mai made a point of interest known.

“...That’s good, guess these things didn’t manage to wreck everything. Not sure how long this will last, though.”

“...Shin. Aren’t you going to check on your brother?”

Mai looked at me judgingly.

In truth, I really wasn’t that close to my family. Not that, I hated them or something, I just didn’t really talk to them much. I would already be walking to school by the time my brother and mom had gotten up, so I didn’t talk to them much ever in the mornings. Frankly, after I got home most days, I would hole up in my room.

“...It slipped my mind.”

“Your own brother slipped your mind now of all times?”

I tried to change the subject. The rest of the group had heard our exchange and stopped to send out texts to their families. I gave in and stopped too.

It’s not that I don’t care about my brother or mom either. I just kind of assumed they were fine, in my gut. But I sent out a text to them.

“mom are you okay im fine me and my friends are safe”

“aki im fine let me know if youre fine too”

...Probably a weird tone to keep during the beginning of the apocalypse. I don’t really know any other way to talk though. It’s just a text. They’re okay, likely.

I realized I hadn’t changed.

Even after the initial shock, I didn’t turn into a paranoid mess. Even in this hell, I was still me.

There’s still hope.

Hope that I can get my old life back‒even if it’s a one in a million chance.

Mai watched me ponder to myself after trying to check in on my family, she didn’t have any, so I get why she is nosy about me keeping mine close. ...Mai’s parents died a few years ago, she told me when we met. That day I had listened intently to her past after I had found her sitting alone in the hall after school one day in my second year. She was reading a light novel I enjoyed a lot, and things happened from there.

Mai really treats me like the only family she has. She follows me around a lot and is kind of possessive, almost. She enjoys the company of the rest of the club, but I can tell; she really just has eyes for me. I’m not dating her, but how she acts around me only really resembles a girlfriend.

“What’s on your mind now, Shin?”

“...It’s nothing.”

Mai gave me a pouty face, and Izz called back to me to let us know we were resuming our survey.

We continued as we had, but shortly after we had reached the end of the east wing, Lila spotted a boarded up door. She rushed up to it and began knocking.

“Heeeeyyyyyy! Anyone in there?!”

Lena quickly flicked Lila in the head.

“Idiot, don’t be so loud. I would rather not possibly attract a group of Turned right now, I don’t anyone else does too.”

Lila looked sullen for a moment but quickly perked back up as she got a response from inside the door.

“There are others still here?”

“Yeah, we’re the members of the High Fiction Book Club.”

“Let me move the boards and desk against the door. There’s about two dozen of us in the science lab right now. I saw a handful of others in the school, but I have no idea what became of them.”

Lila exchanged those greetings with a boy whose voice had come from behind the door, before it opened up and a short boy led us into the lab.

“What the hell? You all have actual weapons?”

A boy on the other side of the room caught a glimpse of all of us, armed to the tooth. I responded.

“Uhhhhh. It’s a long story.”

We were questioned by the two teachers in the room, but they didn’t exactly care now, given the current situation and all.

“You kids snuck weapons onto school grounds….?”

“Yup. Wanted to have a role-play session but things happened.”

“Why did you feel the need to bring real weapons?”

“...Does it matter now?”

I argued with one of them. Really, it was a petty affair. He let it go.

After a few moments, we all decided to split into groups, four to be precise, to check the wings of the school upstairs.

I took Mai, two other girls, and a boy to the north wing. They grabbed supplies from the science lab including a scalpel, a surgical knife, and a broken bottle. I doubt they would do much, but anything is better than nothing.

We encountered nothing on the first floor, and when we reached the second floor, we had engaged in some idle chatter to pass the time. I felt uneasy but the conversation lightened the mood. We had reached the end of the floor when the lights shut off entirely.

I grew paranoid, but kept walking.

I had kept marching down the dark hallway, followed by the four classmates accompanying me. Every step I took echoed from the walls back into my ears as the paranoia welling up in my heart tore at me.

The boy in my group broke the eerie silence in the nearly pitch-black corridor as he grasped his surgical knife, and waved it around carelessly. "You know… This is actually reminding me of that one anime I watched! Honestly, this is pretty exciting."

...He had laughed, trying to make the best of this horrible situation we were in, since we could barely see what was in front of us in this darkness. But this wasn’t just a casual nightly stroll at all.

I made a deep sigh, and checked back to see if the others were still keeping up. As I looked back, in the corner of my eye, behind the boy, I saw a group of the flesh creatures we had wanted to avoid quickly advance on us. Not only that, they were faster than the ones I had seen before. As the boy was waving around his knife, I reflexively called out a warning to him, since he was behind. Before he could respond or I could act however, he was ambushed by multiple of them.

...It was much too late now for me to be able to do anything. I watched as he was swallowed by the horde, his screams slowly dying out. In the commotion, I knew I had to use the fact they were busy devouring him to get the hell out of there. I knew very well the two of the three girls I was with couldn't do anything but run, seeing this gruesome sight. I had to protect the girls I was with now. I signaled the other three to bolt, and followed suit.

This wasn’t some fantasy. This really was hell—and I had to adapt fast.

This was nowhere near like what I was expecting, nor what any of us were expecting.