Surrounded on all sides, like a pack of hungry wolves ready to tear their prey apart in an instant, the zombies advanced, their shuffling gait echoing ominously in the thickening silence.
Kohta, having finally found his glasses, was shaking like an aspen leaf, sweating as if he were being baked in an oven. His damp palms convulsively clutched the homemade "pistol," which he nearly dropped time and again, glancing around in search of a way to retreat.
But alas, there was no path—only rotting faces and clacking teeth.
Takashi, gradually regaining consciousness, began to bitterly regret that he had woken up at all. The prospect of being torn apart alive didn't inspire optimism, and in unconsciousness, one must admit, dying felt somehow cozier.
Rei, persistent like a mosquito, kept repeating incessantly:
"Takashi! Takashi!" her lips trembled, and her voice grew hoarse. She hastily tore off the edge of her school uniform to wipe the blood from his face, gently touching his forehead. But Takashi, not yet fully recovered, only vaguely realized that the world around him had gone completely mad.
Saya, resembling a frightened rabbit, darted her glances in all directions, her face growing paler and her eyes wider with horror. She was clearly not prepared for such a turn of events.
Meanwhile, the nurse Shizuka, who had just come to, behaved surprisingly carefree.
With a silly smile, she looked around as if not understanding that they were all about to be turned into a snack. Her gaze suddenly fixed on the black-haired beauty standing nearby. Shizuka froze, her eyes lighting up with delight—this woman was simply divine!
The heart of the adult nurse fluttered, and she involuntarily recalled her "evening games" with Rika.
Ah, Rika, I hope you're all right?—she thought with sadness, completely forgetting about the need to fight for her own survival.
The dark figure, as if sensing the admiring gaze upon her, responded with an ambiguous smile, playfully raising an eyebrow and slowly licking her lips with provocative nonchalance. Shizuka's cheeks flushed with blush, her breathing quickened.
Oh, that look...—it raced through her mind, overshadowing all other thoughts.
Saeko, gathering her will into a fist and resolutely preparing to fight to the end, assumed a battle stance, gripping her wooden sword more firmly. With an appraising gaze, she looked straight ahead... But then there came a light clap of hands, from which even she involuntarily flinched.
Meylen, standing in the center of this chaos, suddenly declared:
"Well, what sour faces? Come on, show how to greet your mistress!" her even, commanding voice brooked no objections.
The group of bewildered schoolkids and one adult figure looked in surprise at the clearly extraneous person in their company, not understanding what she intended to do. But what happened next plunged them into even greater shock. Even Saya, clinging to the wall to avoid collapsing, nearly lost her balance from astonishment.
The absurdity reached its peak!
The corpses, which had just been ready to devour them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner (depending on the time of day), suddenly lined up in two neat rows, like soldiers on parade. They parted, clearing a passage, and—oh, miracle!—even bowed, as much as their rotting bodies allowed.
Some, however, overdid it: a couple of the undead's upper torsos fell off, and the halves plopped onto the ground with a dull thud, emitting indistinct moans.
Takashi, just starting to come to, bulged his eyes and muttered:
"Am I dreaming? Tell me I'm still out cold!"
All eyes turned to Meylen, the culprit of this madness.
She, laughing merrily, casually tossed out:
"Ah-ha-ha! Well? Are you just going to stand there? Or shall we go?"
Meylen approached Saeko and wrapped her arm around her waist, leaving her in a stupor and complete incomprehension. Instincts kicked in instantly, and Saeko struck with her elbow, but it landed on Meylen's face, who didn't even stagger. Her skin remained unharmed. Suddenly, as if an electric shock pierced Saeko's limbs, she felt numbness. Sparks flashed in her eyes, and pain spread through her arm and mind. She realized that her strength was insufficient. This realization weakened Saeko's already desperate state so much that Meylen effortlessly took the unruly swordswoman under control and dragged her along. Saeko's legs involuntarily moved in sync with the steps of the black-haired figure.
Saeko, still in shock, obediently trailed after her, her legs moving as if on their own, submitting to the rhythm of the dark goddess's steps. Meylen, without stopping, approached Saya, who pressed against the wall like a cornered animal. Her eyes, full of horror, met Meylen's black orbs, in which bright orange rings burned like stars in the boundless night.
She's not human! A monster!—Saya mentally squealed. Her knees trembled, her bladder threatened to embarrass her in front of everyone, and her pride and self-confidence, for which she was so renowned, were cracking at the seams.
For the first time in her life, Saya felt so helpless, and it was disgusting!
But Meylen gave her no time for panic. She suddenly scooped Saya up by the waist, pulling her so close that the pink-haired heiress of the Takagi family nearly choked with indignation.
Opening her eyes, Saya met the smug gaze of the goddess, which practically screamed:
Well, caught you, my pink bunny?
Y-you! You'll pay for this, I swear!—Saya mentally shouted, burning with rage. But Meylen, as if reading her thoughts, only smiled widely, and a warm care flickered in her eyes.
Ah, my frightened pink little beast! Don't be afraid, your mistress will take care of you. I'll feed you, clothe you, pamper and cherish you. No troubles, I promise! Cross my heart!—Meylen mentally sang, and her smile grew even wider, while Saya only squealed, not knowing whether to run or faint.
Meylen seemed to find herself surrounded by living flame and frozen ice: on either side of her stood two captivating girls.
On the left—Saeko, the violet-haired swordswoman, her gaze, usually coldly resolute, now clouded, as if she were just returning from oblivion. In her cool eyes, which rarely knew care, smoldered a thirst for love.
On the right—Saya, bright like a sunset sun, the pink-haired beauty, hiding her true feelings deep inside. She seemed resigned to her fate, but in her heart raged such fire, such fury, ready to tear the dark goddess into tiny pieces, that the heat of her inner flame involuntarily transmitted to Meylen, making her desire swift seclusion with both of them.
Oh, holding fire and ice in my hands—what a marvel!—she mentally exclaimed, pressing the girls closer to herself.
Their faces involuntarily buried into the soft breast of the black-haired goddess, and both, though inwardly indignant, couldn't help but feel her warmth. Saeko clenched her teeth, and Saya, it seemed, mentally cursed everything in the world. But Meylen, paying no attention to their outrage, decided to move on, leaving the others behind. She mentally issued an order not to touch the charming blonde Shizuka—after all, this "flower" was too sweet to become a snack for the undead.
And what about the rest?
Meylen wrinkled her nose in disgust.
The two guys—Kohta and Takashi—were nothing more to her than trash that could calmly vanish into the zombies' maws.
And Rei?
Oh, that girl evoked only contempt in the goddess.
Scanning her mind, Meylen learned Rei's story and grimaced: stupid, useless, and also a "spoiled flower" that had already been "used" and that led guys around by the nose, playing her petty intrigues, without even understanding what she wanted.
No, such flowers are not for my collection.
She collected only the brightest, purest, and unspoiled buds, like Saeko and Saya.
Rei, however, was left to be torn apart by the world—let her do whatever she wants.
But Shizuka, though she was a "used flower," possessed a special charm and appeal.
This little blonde had simply lost her way. But no matter, one passing dark goddess would set her on the right course!
Confidently striding forward, she led Saeko and Saya, passing through the crowd of undead, who, as if on command, parted before her, not daring even to approach. Behind them, puffing and stumbling, Shizuka tried not to fall behind, her face glistening with sweat, her breathing heavy.
Oh, dear, you definitely need to take up sports!
The rest of the group—Kohta, Takashi, and Rei—also hurried after them, instinctively sensing that staying behind meant certain death.
Descending the stairs, Meylen, still holding Saeko and Saya, exited the school. The sun was setting, painting the sky in crimson tones.
At the exit stood the school bus, and Meylen, shrugging, decided:
Why not take a ride?
She terribly wanted to "possess" her flowers right there and then, but glancing at their empty, passionless gazes, she frowned.
No, that won't do! They're like dolls, but where's the fire? Where's the desire?—she thought, and then an idea struck her.
What if I make them fall in love with me?
Let the cold Saeko fall at her feet herself, swearing eternal loyalty, and give herself to her without a single word of coercion.
And Saya?
Let this proud pink-haired tsundere see all the filth and darkness of the outside world, and then run into Meylen's arms herself, seeking comfort and warmth.
This thought so captivated the goddess that her body trembled with anticipation.
Saeko and Saya exchanged glances, feeling an icy chill run down their spines, and mentally exclaimed in unison:
This is bad!
Meylen, as if reluctantly, released the girls, and they, a bit bewildered, sank to the ground and stared at the figure who had been holding them, now sadly examining her nails, casually cleaning off the clinging dirt. Shizuka, out of breath, ran up to them, leaned her hands on her knees, and sweat streamed down her face.
She clearly needed to take up sports to maintain her stamina!
The other members of the group, gasping for air, also caught up with them.
Meylen, as if not noticing their general exhaustion, lazily drawled:
"Well, what are you waiting for? Get on the bus or are you going to admire the scenery?"—and, without waiting for an answer, gracefully entered the bus, settled into a seat, crossing her legs, and leaned back with the air of a queen.
Saya, clutching her head, muttered a curse and sat as far away as possible from this mad figure. Saeko, on the contrary, took a seat right across from Meylen, drilling her with a gaze as if ready to thwart her antics at any moment.
Meylen only shook her head with a smirk:
Oh, dear swordswoman, trying to establish order? Cute, but pointless.
The others hurriedly settled into the bus, trying not to attract the "goddess's" attention.
Shizuka, breathing heavily, climbed into the driver's seat, ready to speed off—fortunately, the keys were with her.
Suddenly, a desperate male cry rang out:
"Wait for us!" Meylen turned and saw Koichi Shido, waving his arms, rushing toward the bus along with a pitiful bunch of survivors.
Behind them, like in an ominous parade, a horde of undead advanced, clearly not intending to miss such an appetizing meal. Everyone in the bus froze, staring at the new crowd, which desperately begged them to wait.
***
Another group of survivors was racing toward the bus at full speed. Their sweaty faces and heavy breathing spoke for themselves—they were running, saving their lives. But, as in the original story, one of the guys, exhausted, stumbled and collapsed to the ground, desperately clutching at the leg of teacher Koichi Shido.
"Don't leave me... Please..." he begged, his voice trembling with despair.
But Shido, whose eyes didn't flinch a single muscle, kicked the guy in the face with disgusting force. The crunch of shattering glass, shards embedding into the eyes, and then a scream filled with unbearable agony tore through the stagnant air like a cracked bell, attracting the hungry horde of undead to him. Shido, as if after a minor inconvenience, casually adjusted his jacket and disheveled hair with a negligent gesture and continued on his way to the bus, as if nothing had happened.
His pitiful entourage had almost reached the saving transport, but then Meylen blocked their path.
With a carefree smile playing on her lips, she touched Shido's chest with her fingertips and lightly pushed him. The teacher, not expecting such audacity, crashed to the ground with a thud, while his frightened companions froze in mute astonishment.
"Oh, forgive me graciously, but there are no more seats," she said in a melodious voice, as if offering a refreshing drink on a hot day, "find another bus, alright?"
"W-what? You're joking!" burst out from someone in the crowd.
"There's plenty of free seats! We can see them!" another chimed in, his voice laced with desperate hope.
And indeed, there were more than enough seats, but what did that matter to the impassive woman standing there? She didn't care when one cockroach killed another—her face didn't even twitch, unlike the people in the bus. But when these cockroaches decided to invade the space next to her?
No way, get out of here.
Meylen was already condescendingly tolerating the presence of that ridiculous trio—Takashi, Kohta, and Rei—and her angelic patience was wearing thin. She was already anticipating relieving her stress by tenderly caressing the soft curves of Saeko or Saya, but she had to postpone that divine pleasure for later.
However, the goddess understood: if she left Rei, Takashi, and Kohta to be torn apart by zombies, Saeko and Saya might get upset. And that, in turn, would significantly complicate her brilliant plan to conquer their love and undivided affection.
Grudgingly, she allowed that trio to cling to the hem of her "divine thigh," though she planned to rid herself of that burden at the first convenient opportunity.
But the group led by the dirty teacher?
"No seats," she said coldly, and her words pierced to the very soul, making everyone involuntarily shudder.
In that pitiful group, there was still a show-off who fancied himself above the rest.
"What the hell? Why should we listen to this bitch? Let's toss her aside, and that's it!" pompously declared the punk blond with obviously dyed hair and a piercing in his ear, his eyes lacking even a drop of the humility so valued in Japanese society.
He smugly stepped forward, while the hunted gazes of the others fixed on him with timid hope, as if he were their last chance at salvation.
Even faint voices of support came from the crowd:
"Y-yeah, yeah, exactly!"
"Show her, Tsunoda!"
The guy had already rolled up his sleeves and was clearly about to strike the black-haired figure who for some reason decided she was in charge here. Though Tsunoda had to admit, she looked damn hot, and she could definitely use a good thrashing!
First, I'll teach that arrogant bitch a lesson, and then I'll have my way with her!—he mentally smirked, approaching within arm's reach.
And then—BAM!
"Aaaah!"
"Kyaa!!!" the girls' shrieks pierced the air near Shido's group. The teacher himself paled and stared ahead in horror, convulsively running a trembling hand over his blood-spattered face.
Seeing blood on his palm, he noticed the lifeless body of Tsunoda standing without a head, from which crimson liquid gushed like a fountain. His twitching body collapsed to the ground, blood spraying everywhere, splattering the windows, the bus frame, the ground, and some people.
"Ew, what a disgust! I need to clean this up!"—she snapped her finger—and all the blood scattered away from her; she became clean and tidy again.
Muffled sounds of vomiting were heard. Kohta, clutching his mouth with his hands, barely held back the urges from his soul, while the others in the bus looked at Meylen with horror and revulsion.
The undead, meanwhile, were closing in closer and closer.
Then, as a farewell, Meylen slightly leaned to the side and lazily waved her hand, saying:
"Bye-bye!"
Then, gracefully turning, she entered the bus and lightly patted the nervous Shizuka on the shoulder. The latter, swallowing saliva, quickly nodded and slammed the door. The bus lurched forward, leaving behind heart-rending cries:
"No, wait, don't!"
"Please, don't leave us!"
But the bus was already speeding away, carrying with it the sounds of tearing flesh and screams of horror. Inside, a gloomy atmosphere settled, as if shadows hung over everyone's heads.
Rei sat with an equally gloomy face, her hair covering her eyes, and her head bowed too low, but suddenly a wide and sinister smile appeared on her face, which didn't escape Meylen's keen gaze.
Rei's black heart was clearly overflowing with pleasant emotions; she was happy.
The other passengers didn't notice the girl's atypical behavior, as they were immersed in their own dark thoughts.
Saeko, biting her lip, cast unreadable glances at Meylen, clearly pondering something. Takashi looked at the goddess with condemnation, his face darker than a thundercloud. Kohta, still pale, remained silent, not daring to object. Saya was perhaps the most impressed of all and increasingly convinced herself that a real monster was among them, and something needed to be done about it!