After making it into the tower, they were forced to stay there—with barely any food or water—under the burning summer sun.
Three Days Later
Liza panted."Haah…"
Zoe wiped her forehead. "Dante… this can't go on… We're drying up here."
Marlon squinted through the wooden planks. "Those damn things are still out there."
"We're gonna die like this," Zoe muttered, frustrated. "Come on, Dante. Do something!"
Dante exhaled. "She's right. If we stay, we die. We need… an idea. Anything."
Mia looked around. "But what can we even do?"
Henry pointed toward the distance. "Look… over there. A store… maybe they've got water bottles or something. Someone's gotta go."
"It needs to be someone fast," Dante added. "Kenn."
Kenn blinked. "Why me?"
"Because you're the fastest," Zoe said.
"Faster than Dante, even," Liza added.
"But it's dangerous," Mia said. "Why my brother?"
"Better than just sitting here dying," Zoe snapped. "Are we just supposed to wait?"
Kenn sighed.
A few minutes later
Ding. Ding.
Kenn stood at the edge of the stairs. "If I die, I'll haunt you all in your dreams."
Dante grinned. "You're not gonna die."
"Yeah, just be a good little scout," Marlon said.
He started heading down—when—
"Wait!" Liza shouted. "I'm coming with you!"
Dante looked stunned. "What?!"
Zoe frowned. "You? You'd just slow him down."
"I'm faster than him," Liza replied, serious. "He can just give me cover."
"…Fine," Kenn said. "Come on, then."
She followed him.
"Jump, I'll catch you," he said from below.
She leapt, and he caught her.
"Wow… you're really light," he muttered. "Alright, let's go."
Liza ran ahead while Kenn provided cover.
"Come on! Come at me!" he shouted, firing at the creatures.
Bang!
Liza dashed into the store.
"Bottles, bottles… water bottles—ah, there!"
She grabbed as many as she could, including cold drinks—no beer, though.
When she came back out—
"Got everything?" Kenn asked.
"Behind you," she gasped.
"RAAAAGH!" a mutant lunged.
Kenn was struck back, groaning.
Without hesitation, Liza ran and tackled the creature.
Crash!
Kenn grabbed her hand and pulled her forward.
"Go, go!"
From above, Dante shouted, "Zoe!"
"I'm on it!"
She pulled out her rifle and began sniping.
"Come on—now!" Dante yelled.
"Climb up first!" Kenn told Liza.
"O-okay."
She climbed; Kenn followed. Marlon grabbed her from above and pulled her in, then helped Kenn.
"Ughh…"
"Damn…" Kenn groaned.
Zoe inspected their haul. "What did you get?"
They laid out the bottles.
"Wait," Henry said, "why isn't there any alcohol?"
"I… I didn't…" Liza stammered.
Kenn stepped in. "We shouldn't be drinking in times like this."
Henry snarled, "Shut up, ching-chong. You didn't grab it 'cause you think I'd rape you or something? Huh?!"
He punched her.
"Hey!" Kenn shouted.
"You bastard!" Mia cried.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Marlon yelled.
"She did her best!" Dante shouted. "She's scared. And she should be. Alcohol's the reason Hannah's dead!"
Liza held her bleeding forehead, blood trickling into her eyes.
"I… I feel dizzy…"
She collapsed.
"Liza! Hey!" Kenn shouted.
"Shit!" Dante knelt beside her.
Henry scoffed. "That was just a little punch."
Zoe looked over the edge.
Below, the creatures were gathering.
"You think they're scary?" Henry muttered.
Zoe turned suddenly and shoved him. He barely grabbed the railing.
"AAAGHH!"
"What the hell are you doing?!" Marlon screamed.
Zoe stood over him. "Get out of the way. I'm killing that bastard."
"Zoe!" Dante shouted.
"What's your problem, Dante? He's dangerous. He hurt Liza—he's always drunk. We don't need someone like him."
"Even so… killing him isn't the way."
"Help! Help!" Henry cried.
"Climb up yourself," Zoe growled. "If you make it, fine."
"You bitch…"
"I'm not like the rest of you. I was a thief. Part of a raiding crew. I've shot people before… not killed, but shot."
Henry climbed back up, panting.
"You made it," Zoe said coolly.
"You're such a—"
"Don't compare me to your mother, you son of a—"
"Enough!" Dante shouted.
"We're trapped, and you two are arguing?" Marlon yelled.
Dante turned. "Mia, Kenn—how's Liza?"
"She's unconscious," Kenn said, holding her. "Maybe a mild concussion."
"Liza?" Mia gently shook her.
She stirred slightly.
"…What's… going on… ugh… my head hurts…"
"Come here," Kenn said, helping her up.
"She needs to lie down," Mia added.
"Put her between us," Zoe said. "She can lean on my shoulder. Or Mia's."
Kenn gently laid Liza between Zoe and Mia. Her head rolled onto Zoe's shoulder.
"Ahh…" Zoe murmured, surprised.
"…It hurts…" Liza whispered weakly.
Zoe nodded. "Of course it does… Honestly, I'm surprised you can still talk."
Mia looked over at Henry and said coldly, "We need to do something about him. He's dangerous."
Kenn turned to Dante. "What now?"
Dante let out a deep breath, walked over to Henry, and without hesitation, grabbed his arm.
BANG!
Henry screamed, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHH!"
Dante stepped back, coldly glaring at him. "That's for hitting a girl. Next time, I shoot your legs… and that's a slow, painful death. If you're lucky."
Henry writhed on the floor, groaning in pain.
"…Damn," Marlon muttered, not looking away.
Hours Later
They finally rested. Sleep came in shifts, but eventually, the quiet settled in—until something disturbed Zoe.
She awoke suddenly, sensing something was off. The ground beneath them… wasn't still.
"What…?" she whispered.
The tower was swaying.
Zoe stood abruptly. "Everyone—wake up! Now!"
They stirred quickly.
Henry groaned, "What is it now?"
"The tower… it's swaying!" Zoe shouted.
Dante scrambled to the edge and peered down. His face went pale.
"They're swarming us. There's too many… they're piling up and hanging off the structure!"
The tower groaned louder. The swaying grew stronger. A deep creaking filled the air.
"Hold on to something!" Zoe shouted.
Liza whimpered. "Ghhh…"
"Mia!" Kenn shouted, grabbing her tightly.
Marlon reached out. "Liza, Natascha—grab onto me!"
Then—
CRACK.
CRASH.
BOOOOOOM!
The tower collapsed with a thunderous roar.
Dust filled the air.
Dante coughed and slowly pushed himself up. "Ugh… Damn it… Is everyone okay?!"
Mia screamed, "Dante! Something's wrong with Zoe!"
Zoe groaned, barely conscious. A steel rod had pierced her abdomen. Blood soaked her shirt.
Marlon checked Liza. "She's okay… barely…"
Henry staggered up. "Ghhh… Natascha… where is she?!"
He turned—and froze.
Her head was crushed. She was gone.
"…Damn it…" he choked.
Dante looked around, pale. "We're surrounded…"
All around them, the snarling mutants closed in.
ROAAAAAARRRR!
More mutants poured in. They opened fire, but for every one that fell, three more appeared.
Until—Suddenly—BANG!
BANG!
Gunfire came from another direction.
Pop-pop! Crack!
"Wha…?" Dante looked up.
Several figures appeared, descending from a nearby rooftop—dressed in black hazmat-style suits, fully armed.
"Look what we've got here!" one of them shouted, voice muffled through a gas mask. "Americans!"
"What the hell…?" Mia whispered.
Marlon pointed. "Dante… look at their patch…"
Dante's eyes narrowed.
On their vests was a red armband—bearing the unmistakable black swastika.
His breath caught in his throat.
"…Nazis Like People or What?
Dr insane