Evan ran through the rain once more, armed with the implement he had already used once before to dispose of the undead. The heavy rainfall had somewhat cleansed the blade and handle of the fire axe, but it was unlikely the tool's edge could have benefited from exposure to the downpour. Although he had only taken it as a compromise for others to be reassured of his safety, he was soon comforted by the weight of the implement in his bare hands.
Within the park blocks, the walkways were eerily calm, despite the recent chaos of the rescue attempt's sudden breakdown. Since the outer perimeter of the army's presence had primarily been along the actual roads, there were no bodies or wreckage in the tree-dotted and grassy walkways. Better yet, there was no trace of those unnerving, faint sounds he had heard after the previous event. These things proved to be of only temporary reassurance, however.
Just as not long before, there were no active pedestrians anywhere in sight. Arriving on the park blocks, Evan turned along the concrete walkway to proceed up the gentle slope. He slowed his pace as he noticed an unfamiliar woman energetically challenging the Blackwood building's door. She had not noticed him, but still he strove to remain cautious as he advanced further up the mild hill. He had no initial idea whether she was a survivor or whether other zombies lingered nearby, eager to ambush once his presence was detected.
Proceeding cautiously but still retaining his sense of urgency, Evan approached, drawing to the end of the adjacent building and spying a number of downed figures upon the ground near the building's entrance. Now about a hundred feet away, he began to notice the characteristic wailing groans of the infected above the harsh masking effect produced by the rain.
Evidently, the military had not managed to expunge all of their intended targets from the area. With faint tension in his muscles, Evan examined the surrounding roads and walkways again to ensure there was only the one. Briefly, he deliberated over whether gaining its attention would be better than sneaking around from behind it in some hopes of a surprise assault. It did not take him long to consider that the familiar approach would probably be safest. Not to mention profoundly more expeditious. "Hey! You!"
The vocalization managed to turn the undead woman's attention. It proceeded in the usual reckless charge, heedless of the weaponry Evan possessed. In the scant moments while the gap between them diminished, he remained motionless and impassive, waiting for the precise moment to react. Wet, grasping fingers reached out for him as the zombie anticipated the final gap closing.
With familiar, fluid motions he had used in a previous fight, Evan leapt out of the path of the grasping arms and swung the bladed implement at the head of the monster. It barely connected with a loud crack, just skidding along the skull, rending scalp and grey hair from sturdy bone. Despite the indirect blow, the force of the strike sent the figure tumbling onto the uneven ground.
A couple of rapid steps forward and a forceful downwards strike partially cracked the skull, allowing a thick black substance to ooze onto the pavement. Pulling back cautiously, Evan held the weapon ready for another strike, but once no further attempts to move followed, he allowed himself a moment to breathe. Holding the end of the weapon away from himself, Evan turned in place, deftly peering around for other signs of danger.
Ensuring the immediate environment was clear of easily spotted hazards, Evan examined his rain jacket and pants for traces of infected blood. What little quantity had managed to get on the arms of his overcoat were quickly washing away in rivulets of fresh water. Minor viscera upon the weapon itself was likewise rapidly sloughing off in the steady rainfall. Holding the weapon in a downwards grip away from himself, Evan hoped the rain would wash away the new spatters of blood.
Blackwood's clear doors parted as Evan resumed his steady approach. Leon's nervous face peeking out and peering towards him in awe, then turning to examine the surrounding area. He spoke a few words to those inside and stepped out into the rain while Evan jogged forwards, closing the gap to a casual speaking range. "Hey, Leon! Someone in my building has a broken bone."
Leon had approached one of the figures on the ground as a few other residents emerged from the safety of their building. "First, we need to-" Leon looked up, but halted as the nearby drenched forms began to produce noises and rise. "Whoa, stop!"
Still on edge from the undead confrontation, Evan's immediate impulse was to stride forwards for a killing swing, but he restrained himself before completing the full motion. It appeared that not everyone had been sheltered for this blackout, although what they were doing outside and spread apart at the time wasn't immediately obvious. Evan lowered the implement and took a deep breath to steady his nerves.
Voices despaired at the disorienting event; a few limbs or sides cradled tenderly as obvious stinging pains inhibited bruised muscle or scraped flesh. Bulky coats apparently provided padding enough that more severe injuries were evidently rare. Many present were cajoling those outside to quickly return and declaring it would be safer inside. A shouted warning called out by someone in the area indicated the dispatched zombie had arrived from the direction those outside had attempted to flee.
To escape was an understandable instinctive response to the overwhelming unknown forces assailing them. Had Evan not felt the anchoring presence of responsibility, it might have been a course of action that he would have partaken in. Of course, it would still be wise to leave very soon if it was at all possible, but Evan was only interested if he could somehow ensure everyone would be going with him.
Lucas stood close to the doorway nearby, shouting to those who had come outside. "Whatever created the blackout is further away from us now!" Apparently, Evan thought to himself, he wasn't the only one to notice that something else had been nearby. Learning of confirmation that whatever it had been was indeed more distant was more reassuring than merely relying on his senses alone.
Those sources of information- or perhaps the limping gaits shared by many- convinced those outside to abandon their flight. Many of them were nursing rather severe scrapes to limbs or their face, but fortunately nobody seemed to be critically injured. Heavy coats made for good padding. A sudden hush fell over those outside as they evidently realized they were quite vulnerable.
With the distraction clearing, Evan once again approached Leon, who was some distance further away, assisting Jorge in walking back to the entrance of the dormitory. Jorge wiped away blood that was dripping into his eyes from a cut on his forehead and limped as he walked. "Do you know how to handle a broken bone?"
"Yes." Leon momentarily met Evan's eyes as they walked alongside one another. "Who needs help?"
"Someone in my dorm, it's not far from here. He broke his arm just a few minutes ago."
Leon looked a little hesitant at the prospect of travelling away. "I can help with that. Do you have a medical kit there?"
"We do."
"Something awful is out there." Jorge mumbled as they closed the gap to the front doors. "We have to leave."
"Wait until the blackouts stop. Then we can worry about escape." Evan had no inkling of what they could feasibly do, but it appeared obvious no retreat would be sensible until after that arbitrary milestone. Hopefully, someone would return to sort this out or at least aid them before things became desperate.
Or before something even worse transpired.
Nobody else called out or spoke a word as they approached the doorway. Pausing just beside the entrance, Evan called into the dormitory as Leon guided Jorge into the building. "If any of you hears something strange outside, get everybody out of sight from the windows and hide."
"What?" Chloe was standing just nearby the door, eyes wide with alarm. "What would we hear?" She wasn't the only one with such an expression.
"Anything!" Evan sternly voiced his command. "Snapping, whistling. I don't have time to explain. Just keep away from the doors and windows if you notice anything unusual going on."
Evan took the anxious silence as acceptance and waved his free hand to Leon. "Let's get going. I don't want to be out here any longer than I have to be."
Leon had a dour expression on his face, but followed Evan.
