Guldrin’s Gluttony: Family Bound by Speed & Food

The bus roared its way through the narrow streets, a lumbering beast in a city that had descended into absolute chaos. Outside the grimy, cracked windows from impacting zombies and breaking through the gate, the world was a distorted reflection of everything it once was. Neon signs flickered intermittently, their light casting eerie shadows over the carnage below. The bustling metropolis of Tokonosu city had become a graveyard, where the living were just as dangerous as the dead.

"All this in one day, I can't believe it." Saya muttered as she took in the scene, "Humans are creatures of comfort, take that away, and you get the worst of the worst. I would bet this happened before the zombies became a real problem. Look," Saeko pointed to a few hanging corpses, "I don't think those people took their lives willingly, I knew them, that is the owners of that retail store. I bet someone killed them that way to make an example, if we went inside, I bet someone has taken over the shop or ransacked it."

The streets were clogged with abandoned vehicles, their doors left ajar, as if their occupants had fled in haste. Bloodstains smeared across hoods and windshields told the story of those who hadn't made it far. Every so often, a ghoulish-looking zombie staggered into view, their milky eyes locking onto the bus before it lunged, only to bounce harmlessly off the reinforced sides. One good thing about a bus is that it is a well-built vehicle and can take a beating, it will take more than a few staging zombies to hurt that beast.

In the distance, thick plumes of smoke spiraled into the sky, a choking, acrid reminder of the fires that had consumed entire neighborhoods. The scent of burning plastic and rotting flesh seeped into the bus, clinging to everyone like an unwanted shroud. It was as if the very air had turned against them.

The worst, however, wasn't the undead. The city's remaining survivors had split into factions, each more desperate and ruthless than the last. On one street, a group of looters smashed their way into an electronics store. The leader, a gaunt man wielding a metal pipe, barked orders as his accomplices hauled out televisions, laptops, and anything else they could carry. Behind them, a woman cowered in the shadows, clutching a crying child to her chest. One of the looters spotted her, and with a twisted grin, started toward her. The bus moved on, the outcome left to the imagination, or it would have been if Shiro hadn't opened the window a slight bit and fired three shots into the man's back.

"Fucking sick, and these are the people you wanted to save, Takashi." Shiro spoke, causing Takashi to growl, "Not everyone is like that! We are not monsters!" Shiro scoffed, "And how do you propose we weed out who is or who isn't a monster?" He didn't respond, but his frustration was reaching a tipping point. "Maybe you should have followed Shido if you hate us so much," 

"Maybe I should have, not like I am welcome here in the first place." He muttered, his intent to leave at the first chance apparent.

Further down the road, a gang of bandits had set up a crude barricade. They wore mismatched armor made of scavenged sports gear and carried weapons cobbled together from whatever they could find: baseball bats wrapped in barbed wire, sharpened rebar, and even kitchen knives taped to broomsticks. Their leader, a hulking figure with a samurai sword slung across his back, paced in front of the blockade, barking orders as his men extorted desperate travelers for food, water, and probably other depraved obsessions. A family in a minivan pleaded for mercy, their cries growing more frantic as the bandits dragged the father out of the vehicle.

On a corner, two men fought over a can of food. One wielded a crowbar, the other held an old umbrella sharpened to a deadly point. Their shouts escalated into screams as they grappled in the dirt, oblivious to the three zombies shambling toward them. The undead pounced before either man noticed, and their screams turned into guttural, choking gurgles.

Even the once-pristine parks hadn't been spared. Where children used to laugh and play, makeshift camps now sprawled, filled with hollow-eyed survivors who clung to scraps of humanity, most likely homeless who were stuck with nowhere to go. A young woman, her clothes tattered and blood-streaked, sat hunched over a fire, tearing into a roasted pigeon with desperate hunger. Nearby, an old man muttered to himself, clutching a rusty wrench like a lifeline. The laughter of children had been replaced by the moans of the dying and the cries of the hopeless.

"It has been less than a day and the world has devolved into this, I can't imagine what it will be in a week from now." Who said this, no one knew, they were too busy staring gobsmacked at the scenes unfolding before them.

The bus rumbled over a pothole, jolting everyone inside. Shizuka muttered an apology from the driver's seat, her knuckles white on the steering wheel. "Oppsie~ This isn't my bug," she said under her breath, trying to mask her nervousness. "But it'll get us there."

Inside, the tension was suffocating. Saeko sat by the window, her bokken resting across her knees, her eyes scanning the streets for threats. Rei had her wooden spear at the ready, the jagged metal tip from the fragments of a broom, gleaming faintly in the dim light. Saya hunched over her notebook, furiously scribbling observations and muttering calculations under her breath, her analytical mind seeking patterns in the madness. Takashi, seated near the front, alternated between watching Shizuka's driving and keeping an eye on the passengers, his face a mask of growing anger and determination despite the turmoil within. He nearly puked when he saw Shiro shoot that man, 'How can you kill someone so easily… That is a crime, it is wrong, we aren't judge jury, and executioner.'

In the back, Shiro sat beside Guldrin, her small hands gripping the pistol tightly. Her gaze flicked between the windows and the boy, who lay pale and bandaged but awake. Guldrin's weak smile was a pale imitation of his usual mischievous grin. "Miss anything fun?" he murmured.

"Not unless you count me most likely killing a bastard who was about to force himself on a woman," Shiro replied, her voice flat. She glanced down at the gun in her hands, its weight a sobering reminder of the decisions she'd made.

The bus skidded to a halt as Shizuka slammed on the brakes. Ahead, another barricade loomed. Unlike the crude pile of debris they had encountered earlier, this one was more sophisticated, a wall of cars, likely placed there by the forklift on the side, reinforced with sheets of metal and wooden planks. Torches burned on either side, casting flickering light on the figures standing guard. These men were armed with revolvers, likely stolen from police officers or private collections. Firearms were rare in Japan, but desperation had driven people to extraordinary lengths.

One of the guards stepped forward, his face hidden behind a hockey mask. "Step out!" he shouted. "Leave your supplies, and we'll let you pass!"

The group exchanged glances. Saeko gripped her bokken, and Rei tightened her hold on her spear. "We can't fight them," Takashi whispered, his voice strained. "Maybe we can reason with them, we are all human, after all."

Shiro stood abruptly, her eyes blazing with determination. She grabbed the loudspeaker of the bus and pressed the button. "Step aside," she commanded, her voice cold and authoritative. "This is your only warning."

The guards laughed, their mockery echoing in the night. One of them raised his pistol, aiming it at the bus. "Or what, little girl?"

"Shizuka," Shiro said quietly, her gaze never leaving the guards. "Floor it. Everyone else, get down!"

The bus roared forward, its engine a deafening roar of defiance. The guards scattered, firing their weapons in a panicked frenzy. The sound of .22 Bullets pinging off the reinforced exterior as the bus plowed through the weak point of the barricade, sending cars and debris flying. One of the guards screamed as he was caught in the chaos, his body disappearing beneath the wheels.

As the bus sped away, the group inside erupted into a mix of nervous laughter and stunned silence. Shiro returned to her seat, her face unreadable. "Problem solved."

Saeko chuckled softly. "Reckless, but effective."

Guldrin nervously chuckled as he looked at a bullet hole a few inches from where his head was laying. "That was… Lucky." To celebrate, he lit another cigar and enjoyed the freedom that came with it.

The city outside continued to burn, its streets a battlefield where the living and the dead fought for dominance. Every block they passed was a reminder that survival was a fleeting illusion. For now, the bus pressed on, carrying its weary passengers toward an uncertain future.

The bus rattled as it thundered through the remains of Tokonosu, the city now a haunting labyrinth of fire, death, and desperation. The groan of twisting metal echoed faintly in the distance, the sound underscoring the absolute silence within the bus as everyone processed what they had just survived. Guldrin leaned back, adjusting his position with a wince as his injuries protested. His cigar's faint glow cast a warm, orange light over his face, an almost surreal calm against the backdrop of chaos.

"I'm glad you're so relaxed," Saya muttered, her sharp tone cutting through the quiet. "A stray bullet and we'd all be mourning you."

Guldrin exhaled a puff of smoke, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "If worrying kept bullets away, the world would be a dull place. Lucky for me, it doesn't. But it makes me glad to know even the princess would mourn me."

Saya rolled her eyes with a faint blush, but her hands shook as she gripped her notebook. Outside, the ruins of Tokonosu City continued to unravel before them.

The bus rounded a corner, and the faint glimmer of something more substantial came into view. Shizuka's apartment building, a 3-story-high building with an eerily intact exterior, stood defiantly against the apocalypse surrounding it. While most of the city had been swallowed by flames and chaos, this lone building offered a sliver of hope, a shelter in a world gone mad, at least once they made it inside.

Shizuka slowed the bus to a crawl, her hands still clutching the wheel tightly. Shiro taking charge, surveyed the area, her sharp eyes scanning for any signs of danger. "Everyone, stay quiet," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the rumbling engine.

The group leaned forward, their faces tense. The street leading to the apartment was relatively clear, save for a few shambling zombies that wandered aimlessly between the abandoned cars.

Rei shifted, gripping her makeshift spear. "We'll have to clear them out if we want to get inside safely."

Saeko nodded, her grip on her bokken tightening. "Takashi, cover Shizuka and the bus while she parks; make yourself useful if you are going to stay under our protection. Shiro, you're with me. We'll handle the ones near the entrance. Kohta, use your nail gun to back us up."

Takashi grabbed his bat and moved toward the front, his jaw set with irritation and determination. "Got it. Saya, keep watch from the bus, and make sure no zombies approach from where we can't see them. Guldrin, stay put." He couldn't help but jab at Guldrin thinking he could get a little revenge.

Guldrin just chuckled softly. "Not much of a choice there, asshole."

Shiro exchanged a glance with Saeko. The older girl's calm demeanor was reassuring, her confidence a steady anchor in the madness. As Shizuka maneuvered the bus into a narrow alley for cover, the sound of the engine began to attract the undead. The groans of the zombies grew louder, their sluggish movements quickening as they zeroed in on the bus.

Saeko and Shiro stepped out first, their weapons at the ready. The air outside was oppressive, thick with the stench of decay and smoke. The first zombie, a man in tattered business attire, stumbled toward them, its jaw hanging at an unnatural angle. Saeko moved with fluid grace, her bokken arcing through the air before smashing into the creature's skull. It crumpled instantly, its body hitting the ground with a wet thud.

Shiro followed closely, Guldrin's pistol was left with him just in case he needed it, and she aimed with her bow. Her hands trembled slightly, but she steadied herself, taking aim at another zombie shuffling toward her. The arrow loosed, the whistle echoing through the desolate streets. The arrow struck true, and the zombie collapsed in a heap. She exhaled sharply, her breath visible in the cold evening air.

Behind them, Takashi and Rei worked together to keep the area clear. Rei's spear thrust forward with precision, impaling one zombie through the eye. Takashi swung his bat, the heavy impact reverberating through his arms as he brought it down on another's head.

Inside the bus, Saya watched with narrowed eyes, her notebook abandoned as she clutched a makeshift blade. Guldrin lay back, his expression distant as he stared at the ceiling. "You know," he muttered, his voice low, "this apartment better have a stocked bar. We're all going to need a drink after today." He couldn't help but recall his memories as Big Boss, post-mission drinking sessions, a chance to relax after an encounter with Lady Death.

"You're not old enough to drink," Saya snapped, though her voice lacked its usual bite.

Guldrin grinned faintly, the cigar between his fingers still glowing. "Does the apocalypse come with an age limit?" 'How old am I? I mean, this body is 14? But, I was in my late 70s when I died back then… But I guess that doesn't count. I feel, think, and have a 14-year-old's mentality save for a few quirks, So I guess I am 14.' He mused to himself and Emily laid on his lap, purring softly to add some comfort since he was overthinking things once again.

Outside, the group quickly dispatched the remaining zombies, their bodies littering the ground near the apartment entrance. Shizuka exited the bus last, her medical bag slung over her shoulder. She glanced around nervously. "Oh dear~ We need to move quickly. The noise will surely attract more."

The group hurried inside, the heavy metal door slamming shut behind them. The interior of the building was eerily quiet, the faint hum of emergency lighting casting long shadows down the hallways. Shizuka led the way, her heels clicking softly against the tile floor. "My apartment's on the second floor. The elevators aren't working, so we'll have to take the stairs."

The climb was grueling, especially for Guldrin, who leaned heavily on Shiro as they ascended. Each step sent jolts of pain through his body, but he gritted his teeth and pushed forward. Saeko and Rei took point, their weapons ready as they scanned for any threats. Takashi just grumbled in the back, and Kohta covered the rear with his nail gun.

When they finally reached Shizuka's door, she fumbled with the keys, her hands shaking. "Almost there," she whispered, her voice tinged with both relief and exhaustion. The door swung open, revealing a surprisingly pristine apartment.

The living room was cozy, decorated with bright colors and soft furniture that seemed entirely out of place in the current world. A large window offered a panoramic view of the city, the fires below casting an orange glow across the skyline.

Shizuka moved quickly, setting her medical bag down on the coffee table. "Guldrin, on the couch," she ordered, her tone uncharacteristically firm.

Shiro helped him over, easing him onto the cushions as Shizuka began unpacking her supplies. The rest of the group spread out, their tension finally easing slightly in the relative safety of the apartment. Saya collapsed into an armchair, her notebook once again in her hands. Takashi stood by the window, staring out at the city with a faraway look in his eyes.

"One day," he murmured. "All of this happened in one day."

Rei sat on the floor, her spear resting beside her. She glanced at Takashi but said nothing, her thoughts clearly elsewhere. Saeko leaned against the wall, her bokken resting at her side. "One day is all it takes for people to show their true colors," she said softly, her voice laced with a hint of sadness.

Shizuka worked quickly, cleaning and re-bandaging Guldrin's wounds. He winced occasionally but said nothing, his usual smirk replaced by a rare look of gratitude. "Thanks, Doc," he muttered.

Shizuka smiled faintly, her breasts seeming to defy gravity as they bounced, making Guldrin blush and Shiro glared at him. "You're lucky, you know. A little slower, and-"

"Luck's a funny thing," Guldrin interrupted, his voice tired but steady. "Seems to come and go. I have never claimed to be someone lucky, just someone who refuses to die a normal death. Lady Death will have to work for it if she wants to take me." Shiro intensified her glare, but she knew, she would do everything in her power to ensure he survived, that they survived.

As the group settled in, the reality of their situation began to sink in. The world outside was gone, replaced by a nightmare that they could only hope to survive. For now, the apartment was a sanctuary, a fragile bubble of safety in a city consumed by chaos.

But even here, the sounds of the apocalypse were never far away. The distant groans of zombies and the occasional crack of gunfire served as constant reminders that their reprieve was only temporary.

(Give me your POWER, Please, and Thank You! Leave reviews and comments, they motivate me to continue.)