Chapter 65: The wall of flesh

Because of the monstrosity that blocked their exit, the team found themselves having to take another route. This added an additional day to the commute. The teams weren’t upset. As long as they were able to get there alive. It would be enough.

The alternate route was supposed ot be safer and easier to travel. The old interstate bridge spanned the chasm of the river valley. It would take them to the vicinity of Mount Pleasure.

This was the road they had wanted to avoid. Even though it would bring them to the vicinity of Mount Pleasure, it was further away from the base Ember had placed.

Now this was the place they needed to go. They didn’t mind the longer drive as long as they stayed alive. But when they rounded the bend, the promise of sanctuary turned into despair.

The bridge was gone. Not collapsed. Not destroyed. It was just…gone.

What stood in its place was a writhing mass of flesh. Grey-skinned, milky-eyed creatures that were packed so densely that from a distance, it looked like the bridge was moving, like it had become a living thing.

“No,” Marcus muttered. His hand slammed the steering wheel before gripping it tight. “No. No. This isn’t happening.”

They were trapped. The city behind them was a deathtrap. The bridge in front of them was a wall of bodies. They were still driving the damaged motorhome. The gash in the side didn’t offer any cover. Even if they tried to use it as a battering ram, it would not help. Instead, it would be their demise.

A heavy silence fell on the team as they watched the bodies outside the window. They thought about what they had been through before. They wondered if doing all of this was even worth it.

Ember closed her eyes. She hadn’t intended to use it. It was supposed to be a spare. Now, with everything that was happening, she needed to take it out, and she knew it would get damaged.

She carefully opened one of the windows and pointed a finger outside. An identical motorhome appeared.

“We have another one?” Mike breathed.

He and the rest of the newcomers still hadn’t adjusted to Ember having a space. It was something out of a sci-fi novel, but it happened right in front of them.

Ember opened the door of the motorhome they were currently in and opened the door of the one next to it. She quickly crossed between them. The reason she did this was that she wasn’t sure what would set off the things on the bridge.

They hadn’t moved since the motorhome rounded the corner. They stayed on the bridge as if they were glued to it. She did not want to take the chance of having them see her or her team. It might send them into a frenzy.

As soon as she crossed into the new motorhome. She encouraged everyone to move quickly across.

“What about our stuff?” Maya asked.

“She can take it into her space,” Mario said as he pulled her to the other motorhome.

As soon as everyone was safely across, Ember slipped the motorhome into her space.

As soon as everyone was situated, Ember said, “This is the only one I have left. I thought two motorhomes would be enough. Sadly, I was wrong.”

Aiden smoothed her hair and kissed her forehead. “Look, we all know what we have to do. We can’t go back the other way. This is the only way we can get through this. We are now in a battering ram.”

He looked at Marcus, who had already taken his position by the driver’s seat. “Marcus, you’re driving. Don’t stop for anything. Don’t swerve no matter what pops up in front of you. Just keep straight.”

Marcus nodded. “As long as you make sure nothing gets in, Cap. I’m good.”

“Good,” Aiden said, then he turned to the team. “Sarah, you’re on comms. You have the best eyes. Talk us through anything we can’t see on the roof.” He held out his hand towards Ember.

She took out a box of small earbuds. She bought them on the Covenant Engine, costing her 2,000 CL. They linked to one device. Continuous use means continued use of CL. Right now, she had enough to spare. It would be more than enough to get them through the barricade.

Before she bought it, she took a brief look at the whispering net that cost 5000 AB. She only had 18,000 AB. Buying it now wouldn’t help. Especially when she saw that it could link future members.

“Each person gets one,” Ember said, then handed the central device to Sarah.

Aiden continued after the comms had been distributed. “Chloe, you help Sarah. Be her second pair of eyes. Cassia, Mika, and Fernando, you’re on lookout from the side windows. Anything you see climbing onto the vehicle, call it out.”

“Ivan, Alex, you’re on the front and right side. Maya, Mario, you’re with me on the left. Adrienne, you’re our eyes in the back. Em, you’re our overwatch. Make sure you catch anything we miss.”

“Newbies,” Ivan said, “don’t think because you’re inside you’re any less important. Everyone works together to make a cohesive team. And no one gets left behind.”

Ivan’s words made them feel a sense of purpose. Their faces, though pale, were now more determined.

Those who needed to be outside the motorhome immediately went out and climbed to the top of the roof. The wind whipped their clothes. The sheer number of creatures they saw was daunting.

Marcus took his seat, hands gripping the wheel. His eyes were fixed on the wall of bodies ahead. “Get ready,” he said, his voice a low growl.

He didn’t immediately rush in. Instead, he picked up speed. The engine roared as the motorhome touched the edge of the bridge.

The front of the vehicle plowed into the horde. Their bodies popped like grapes. The snap of bone under the wheel sounded like firecrackers. A fountain of black blood sprayed across the windshield. The vehicle shuddered and groaned.

Then they were on them.

The creatures rushed to the motorhome, jaws snapping. Their clawed hands scraped against the metal.

“Two o’clock, low. Near the window,” Sarah’s voice cut through the chaos.

Mario didn’t hesitate. Using his hand as leverage, he leaned over the motorhome. He swung the machete, slicing the creature off the window.

“Left side, three of them. Almost on the roof,” Cassia shouted.

Maya moved along the edge of the roof. She kicked the first creature in the face, sending it tumbling down. She spun, using her momentum to slash the other across the neck. The third lunged for her, and she dropped low. Sweeping its legs out from under it, she took the opportunity to plunge a combat knife into its eye.

Ivan was a whirlwind. His twin knives moved like a blur. A creature would lunge, and he would swiftly use the knife to cut it into pieces. He was laughing. A wild and joyous laughter that to others would be utterly terrifying.

Alex stood at the front. When a creature managed to scramble onto the hood and tried hammering the windshield. Alex didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the creature by its scruff and threw it into the mass of writhing flesh.

Aiden stood in the centre of the roof, his pistol in his hand. A creature would appear, and he would give on well placed shot and have it falling back into the mass. Another would lunge at Ivan’s blind spot, and his hand moved to shoot it in the head, just in time.

Marcus kept the accelerator pinned to the floor. His eyes were fixed on the seemingly endless bodies. His knuckles were white as he used the motorhome as a battering ram. The snap and crunch of bone meeting snarl and growls from the creatures.

Everyone worked together as much as possible to make it through alive. Everyone covered the others’ blind spots. The more they killed, the more they moved in harmony.

Then finally…they broke through.

The horde thinned, and they burst through the wall of flesh and onto the open road. Marcus didn’t stop. He made sure to put as much distance as possible between himself and those creatures.

The adrenaline wore off after a while. But they were happy. They had done it. They were out of City D.

As they drove, the sun setting on another day, they saw it.

The signs of life. The closer they got to Mount Pleasure, the more they saw. This place wasn’t empty. It was nothing like City D, where the place looked dead.

This was a place teeming with life.

Ember watched as the people in front of them moved around in their small tents. It made her realize one thing. Getting out of City D might have been the easy part.

The hard part was yet to come.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep