Chapter 79
"Haunted by the Past"
Dark clouds continued gathering across the evening sky, gradually covering the remaining patches of light. The atmosphere had become increasingly gloomy, while the cold wind swept across the school rooftop.
The first helicopter, having successfully rescued six survivors, was now moving farther away, disappearing into the distant evening sky.
Meanwhile, the second helicopter lowered its rope ladder towards the rooftop.
Miss Selena and Mr. Smith once again stepped forward to fulfil their responsibilities, encouraging the remaining students to board the aircraft without wasting any time.
This time, Michael was the first to approach the ladder.
Without saying a word, he climbed towards the helicopter, his cold, emotionless gaze fixed ahead.
Jinjin followed him.
After Jinjin, Saim began climbing, followed by Saad, William, and Jason.
One after another, all six managed to reach the helicopter safely.
Before departing, the second helicopter had already communicated with another aircraft operating within the nearby area.
As soon as it lifted away from the school, the third helicopter began approaching the rooftop.
Within moments, it positioned itself directly above the remaining survivors.
Just like the previous aircraft, it lowered a long rope ladder towards the building.
Miss Selena immediately turned towards the students.
"Everyone, get ready. We don't have much time."
Following her instructions, Ghani was the first to climb.
Afra followed him, and then Sana.
Hasnain came next.
He firmly grasped the sides of the ladder and began making his way upwards.
Miss Selena watched until he safely reached the helicopter.
Then she turned towards Jack.
"Jack, you're next. Hurry up!"
But Jack didn't move.
He stood completely still, staring at the rope ladder hanging from the helicopter.
His expression had suddenly changed.
The confident composure he had maintained until that moment disappeared, replaced by an overwhelming sense of fear.
His eyes remained fixed on the ladder, but his mind was no longer on the rooftop.
Something from his childhood had suddenly resurfaced.
A memory he had buried deep within himself.
A memory that had haunted him for years.
And it all began when he was just twelve years old.
---
A Painful Memory — Jack's Childhood
Jack was only twelve when he witnessed one of the most devastating moments of his childhood.
At that time, he had gone to watch his father undergo a special commando training exercise.
His father was a highly trained military man who regularly participated in demanding operations and specialised training missions.
On that particular day, the mission involved a group of commandos performing a high-altitude jump from a helicopter.
According to the exercise plan, they were supposed to jump from a considerable height and deploy their parachutes before landing safely on the ground.
Jack watched with excitement as his father and the other commandos prepared for the exercise.
The helicopter carried them high above the ground before they began jumping one after another.
For a while, everything appeared to be going according to plan.
The commandos descended through the sky, and one by one, they began deploying their parachutes.
Jack watched attentively, waiting to see his father land safely.
But then something went terribly wrong.
When Jack's father attempted to deploy his parachute, it failed to open.
He tried again.
And again.
But nothing happened.
The parachute remained closed.
Within moments, his father disappeared from Jack's sight, falling towards the mountainous terrain below.
He had landed on a distant mountain.
Jack stood frozen.
He couldn't understand what had just happened.
A few moments later, the other commandos successfully landed and realised that Jack's father had fallen onto the nearby mountain.
A rescue helicopter was immediately dispatched.
Jack remained standing at the same place, watching as the aircraft approached.
Its powerful rotor blades stirred the surrounding air as it descended towards the ground.
The helicopter finally positioned itself in front of the area where Jack was standing.
A rope ladder, similar to the one hanging before him now, was lowered from the aircraft.
Several military personnel climbed aboard and departed to search for his father.
Jack continued waiting.
He was only twelve years old.
And at that age, he still believed that his father would return.
An hour passed.
Then, finally, the helicopter came back.
Jack immediately looked towards it.
He expected to see his father.
He expected someone to come out and tell him that everything was fine.
But the helicopter had returned empty.
His father wasn't there.
The aircraft had failed to bring him back.
Once again, the rope ladder was lowered.
Jack stared at it.
The same ladder that had been used to carry the rescuers towards the mountain was now hanging empty before him.
He couldn't move.
He couldn't speak.
His young mind struggled to understand the reality unfolding in front of him.
All he could see was that empty ladder.
And somewhere beyond it, on a distant mountain, his father was still missing.
That image became deeply embedded in his memory.
The sight of the helicopter.
The sound of its powerful blades.
And above all, the empty ladder hanging before him.
Even after all these years, he had never truly escaped that moment.
---
Back to the Present
The memory gradually faded, but its effect remained.
Jack was still standing on the rooftop, staring at the rope ladder hanging from the helicopter.
His breathing had become uneven.
His hands remained motionless at his sides, and his eyes seemed unable to look away.
For him, it wasn't simply a ladder anymore.
It was a reminder of the worst day of his childhood.
Meanwhile, the situation on the rooftop was becoming increasingly dangerous.
The zombies had finally reached the upper floors.
By climbing over one another, they had managed to make their way towards the rooftop.
Behind them, the rooftop door was now on the verge of breaking.
An enormous number of zombies had gathered on the other side, pushing against the heavy steel door with tremendous force.
The metal structure shook violently under their combined weight.
Deep creaking sounds echoed through the rooftop as the door struggled to withstand the pressure.
It looked as though it could give way at any moment.
Miss Selena immediately noticed that Jack was still standing in the same place.
Realising that he had become paralysed with fear, she quickly rushed towards him.
She placed both hands on his shoulders and tried to bring his attention back to the present.
"Jack... Jack!"
Her voice was urgent.
She looked directly into his eyes, trying to make him understand the seriousness of their situation.
"This is the time to stay conscious, not to be afraid!"
She tightened her grip on his shoulders.
"If you value your life, then get on that ladder! Hurry up! The zombies have already reached the rooftop!"
Her words finally seemed to reach him.
Jack slowly shifted his gaze towards Miss Selena.
For a moment, he remained silent.
Then, with considerable hesitation, he began taking small steps towards the ladder.
Unlike the others, however, every step required an enormous amount of courage.
He knew he had to climb.
He knew there was no other way to escape.
But as he approached the hanging ladder, his childhood memories continued overwhelming him.
It felt as though he were reliving that terrible day all over again.
The same helicopter.
The same kind of ladder.
And the same unbearable fear.
Only this time, he wasn't twelve years old.
He was standing on a rooftop surrounded by zombies, with his own life hanging in the balance.