The Despair of a Brave Heart

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Chapter 3 – The Despair of a Brave Heart

A gentle breeze blew through the empty hallway, carrying with it a musty smell and something else – the smell of panic, of death. The classroom doors rattled slightly, like the last hiccup of a place that was once filled with the laughter of students.

Jack, Mizu, and Kachi were crawling low behind a row of lockers. On the other side of the wall, zombie footsteps dragged heavily as if searching for the smallest sound.

“Be quiet… don’t breathe too hard.” Jack whispered.

“Clank…”

A can fell from Jack’s jacket pocket and rolled onto the floor. The sound echoed throughout the hallway.

Mizu’s eyes widened.

Kachi let out a disdainful sigh: “What did you bring the can for? For logistics?”

“That’s the cola I was going to drink when I got home…” Jack grimaced. “I didn’t expect it to send me to my grave now.”

The roar screeched – the zombies had spotted them!

“Run!” Jack shouted, pulling Mizu and Kachi by the arms.

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The three of them ran down the stairs, stumbling countless times. Sometimes, Jack had to run while avoiding the scattered tables and chairs like a real-life platform game.

They reached the back door of the school – but the door wouldn’t open. Kachi tried to turn the handle, her face starting to lose patience.

“It’s locked!” Kachi gritted her teeth. “They locked the emergency exit!”

“Calm down, let me…” Jack bent down and used a metal bar to pry the lock.

When the door swung open, they thought they had escaped. But—

Outside was an even larger swarm of zombies.

“We’re surrounded…” Mizu backed away, tears welling up in her eyes.

Jack gritted his teeth. The zombies from both front and back were closing in on them. All paths were blocked.

Suddenly, a zombie slid down from the roof, rushing straight at Kachi.

Kachi didn't have time to react.

But Jack did.

He pushed Kachi away – just for a split second – and then felt a strong force pressing down on his shoulder. His body fell to the ground. A cold, numbing shock ran down his back and shoulders.

"Jack!!" – Mizu and Kachi screamed in unison.

Jack lay motionless for a few seconds. All sounds became distorted. As if time was slowing down.

He couldn't hear anything anymore… except the slow beating of his heart.

Thump…

Thump…

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A darkness descended upon his mind.

Inside there was nothing but darkness – thick and endless. Until… a voice rang out.

"This is not the time for you to go."

The voice was cold, echoing from afar – as if coming from another dimension. It was unclear whether it was a human, a god, or a demon. But it carried a power that shook Jack's soul.

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No one knew... whose voice it was.

Was it salvation - or the beginning of another end?

All that was known was that... at that moment, Jack's destiny began to change.

Could he escape this ironic situation?

(To be continued)

End of Chapter 3.

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