Chapter 43: Barrier
Grimm pulled the trigger again, taking out more ghouls before they reached the shattered frontline. No explosions rang out with these shots, so he didn’t seem to struggle as much.
With the pressure lessened, Miles went up to Chloe. Tossing aside his increasingly dysfunctional flashlight, he extended his uninjured hand towards her. She grabbed it, letting him pull her up.
She didn’t seem hurt. Her features were illuminated by Grimm’s flashlight; her glasses had flown off at some point in the struggle.
Looking at his side, a look of concern crossed her face. One Miles waved off before pointing at the cafeteria door.
They weren’t out of the woods yet. Chloe led the way. He followed as fast as his legs could carry him, keeping a careful count of his steps all the way.
Brandon had gotten to the doors at some point, pushing them open. He looked into the room, pulling out a flashlight to illuminate its darkness before weakly waving at them.
The coast was clear.
Ryan, having just dealt with the ghoul he’d intercepted, turned back to help Mia. The girl and Sarah had both made it past Morgan, each supporting a wounded student. He gave her a questioning look.
Mia’s face remained flushed. Breathing heavily, she shook her head dejectedly in reply. There was nothing else to be said. Ryan took the girl she supported off her, reducing her burden a little as they both headed for the door.
By now, Miles had reached the cafeteria, stopping just shy of entering it. With Grimm’s suppressive fire, those who remained slowly made their way as well, leaving just Morgan and the monster still struggling at the hallway’s entrance.
With the escape complete, Morgan attempted to execute a fighting retreat. Yet as he took the first step backward, his foot slipped on the snow behind, shifting his stance just enough that he couldn’t dodge the next attack in time.
The monster slammed a wiry arm into his chest, knocking him off his feet and sending him flying into the concrete walls near the cafeteria.
He landed shoulders first with a sharp crack, coughing blood as his head bobbed disorientedly. His face twisted in agony, yet he didn’t scream. He couldn’t.
With its primary nuisance dealt with, the beast let out a distorted howl, a mix of screeching and clicking coming from both its heads.
It pounced towards them.
Grimm shifted his aim, targeting the rapidly approaching monster before releasing a burst shot. Tiles exploded, sending stone shrapnel and plumes of dust into the air.
The monster was already gone, escaping the cone of his flashlight and into the darkness. The rapid steps approaching from the darkness were all they needed to know that it hadn’t given up on its quarry.
Grimm pivoted again, targeting a dark corner that was soon illuminated by a flashlight from Ryan. Its skin glistened from the light at this distance, only a few feet away now.
The boy let out a single, normal shot, making it dodge to the side, the bullet grazing one of its arms. Before it could reorient itself for another attack, a brilliant blue flame flew out from the cafeteria door, spooking it into dodging again.
Right into Grimm’s sights. He didn’t let the opportunity go to waste, immediately firing a burst of explosive rounds at it.
One struck true, bursting its shoulder. The momentum from the blast sent it tumbling; other bullets shattered the tiles around it.
The blast pushed it back, staggering and disorienting it. And in that single moment of respite, Grimm collapsed.
Ryan caught him before he hit the ground, dragging him into the cafeteria, leaving just Morgan and Miles outside now.
Miles glanced between the monster, quickly regaining its bearings, and Morgan against the wall.
He made his decision.
Moving towards the man as quickly as he could, he grabbed him by his collar, dragging him towards the room.
From the darkness, heavy thuds rushed towards him, cracking the tiles as they advanced. He kept his focus singular, on the man and the door.
One step after another.
Just as he saw a bladed limb rapidly enlarging in his peripheral view, he stepped through the entrance. The doors slammed shut instantly, shaking and nearly opening again as the limb struck it.
Ryan latched its heavy bolt shut, stabilizing it, even as it continued trembling under the assault of the monster.
Miles dropped Morgan unceremoniously to the ground, ignoring his groan, as the boy slumped in exhaustion.
He let out a deep sigh, shivering a bit at the cold wind blowing in behind him.
A few flashlights stayed on, illuminating the room around him.
It was largely empty, besides the tables and chairs strewn on the ground. Snow-filled wind blew in from the broken windows behind him, letting the storm’s roar extend here as well.
Having learned from the main hall, those holding flashlights thoroughly scanned the room for any signs of movement.
Nothing.
It did make sense, though; the apocalypse happened during class time. The only ones still in the cafeteria then would be the lunch ladies, and eventually those who escaped here.
Both were nowhere to be found.
A metal door lay behind the counter, leading to what he assumed would be the kitchen and store.
’They’re there, right?’
He didn’t rush to confirm that yet, catching his breath as he turned back to face those around him.
They’d been whittled down to ten in that short amount of time. The fourth row had been wiped out completely, with the third and fifth rows suffering casualties as well.
The carnage would’ve been far worse if it wasn’t for Morgan distracting it.
Most of them rested on the ground, with only Ryan, Chloe, and Sarah upright. The class rep crouched near Grimm, tapping his bloodied face to keep him awake.
Chloe stuck close to Morgan, delicately trying to set the man into a recovery position despite his continued groaning. Sarah just stood confused at the center of it all, staring at her two remaining friends twisting in pain on the floor.
All the while, the door continued shaking under the assault.
They’d have to move, and soon.