Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Fimiliar Face
Setting: Mumbai city, Lokhandwala, Star Tower Apartments
Day: Saturday(6th February 2021)
(Ranveer closes the door slowly)
Anurag (Whisper): Hey kid! You did not forget your bag right?
Ranveer (Whisper): Of course not sir! I have it right here.
Anurag (Whispers): Good! From here on we must be quiet. Understand?
Ranveer (Whisper): Yes!
(Ranveer and Anurag walk down the stairs)
Anurag (Whispers): let's walk faster
Ranveer (Whispers): Yes sir!
XXXX: Help!
(Ranveer and Anurag stop)
Ranveer and Anurag (Thinking): Did I just hear someone shouting for help?!
Ranveer and Anurag (Thinking): We must check it out.
Anurag: Kid!
Ranveer: On it.
(Ranveer sneakily looks towards the 5th floor)
Ranveer (Thinking): There are 5 zombies on this floor.
(Ranveer looks towards Anurag)
(Ranveer signals Anurag about the 5 zombies)
Anurag: Kid! Behind you.
(Zombie sneaks behind Ranveer)
Zombie 1: Aaaaaaaargckh!!!
(Zombie moves forward to bite Ranveer)
Sound Fx: kllllgggg
(Ranveer blocks the zombie's mouth with the sheath of the sword)
Ranveer: Haah!
(Ranveer unsheathes the sword)
Sound Fx: Ssshhhh!!
(Ranveer decapitates the zombies head)
Ranveer: Hyaaah!
Sound Fx: Slice!!
Anurag (Thinking): What the hell! How did he??!!
Zombie 2: Grrraaagckh!!
(Zombie 2 approaches Ranveer)
Anurag: Kid! Get back.
(Ranveer moves back)
(Anurag takes out his gun)
(Anurag aims towards the zombie)
(Anurag shoots)
Sound Fx: Phhooossh!!
Zombie 2: Grrrrrrrreeegckh!!
(Zombie 2 drops dead)
(Other zombies start to move towards Ranveer and Anurag)
Zombies: Grrrrraaaaagckh!! Aaaaaarrrckgh!!
Anurag: Kid! We gotta fight.
Ranveer: Alright!
(Ranveer takes out his knife)
Ranveer: Here goes nothing.
(Ranveer throws the knife towards the zombie)
Sound Fx: Blood splatters!
Zombie 3: Grrrreeegckh!!
(Zombie 3 drops dead)
Anurag (Thinking): Did he just use a knife??!! I mean I did train him to use it but I never thought that he would be able to use it so fast in a practical situation. He also has a good aim, to be able to throw a knife directly in between the forehead.
(Other 2 zombies run towards Ranveer and Anurag)
Zombies: Aaaaargckh!!! Grrrrrraaaaaaaargckh!
(Anurag continues to shoot)
Sound Fx: Phhoosh!
Zombie 4: Grrregckh!!
(Zombie 4 drops dead)
(Ranveer takes his sword)
Ranveer: Haaah!!
(Ranveer swings the sword)
Ranveer: Hyaaah!
(Ranveer cuts the zombies head)
Sound Fx: Slice!
(Ranveer walks towards Zombie 3)
Anurag: What are you doing kid?
(Anurag removes a Zippo and a cigarette)
Ranveer: Huh?! Nothing sir I am just checking if this zombie is alive and I am also retrieving my knife.
(Ranveer puts his sword in the sheath)
Anurag: Careful kid that thing might still be alive.
(Anurag lights the cigarette)
Anurag: Whooo!
(Anurag starts smoking)
(Ranveer pulls out the knife from the zombies head)
Sound Fx: Whhiish!!
Ranveer: Alright.
(Ranveer puts the knife in his utility belt)
Ranveer: There we go.
Anurag (Thinking): This kid, was he smiling? That sounds absurd though. If he was smiling that would mean he naturally enjoys to fight and by the way, he fought it did not look like he was hesitating at all. It did not bother him that even though the creatures he killed were zombies they were once humans too. Well, I should not be overthinking this.
Ranveer (Thinking): I am not imagining this am I? I am sure there is a person on this floor. I heard someone asking for help.
XXXX (Whimpering): Did the zombies go away?
(Ranveer and Anurag look towards XXXX)
Ranveer: Ansh?!
XXXX (Whimpering): Ranveer?!
Ansh (Thinking): That cannot be Ranveer. I mean he used to be thin and scrawny but now he is lean and muscular.
(Ranveer and Ansh look towards each other and walk towards each other)
Ranveer (Smiling): Man! I did not expect to see you here.
Ansh (Smiling): Me too! Thank God!
Ansh: Did you get muscular?!
Ranveer: Umm! I-
Anurag: Kid! Get back.
Ranveer: Why? What's wrong sir?
(Anurag removes his gun)
(Anurag points his gun towards Ansh)
Anurag: Just a moment ago he was surrounded by zombies he could be bitten.
Ranveer: What?!
Anurag: Hey you!
Ansh (Scared): Yeah?!
Anurag: Remove your shirt I need to see if you are bitten.
Ansh: What?!
Anurag (Imposingly): Are you stupid or something?!
Remove the goddamn shirt!
Ansh (Scared): Alright!
(Ansh removes his shirt)
Anurag: Raise your hands.
(Ansh raises his hands)
Anurag: Now turn around.
(Ansh turns around)
Anurag (Thinking): He's not bitten.
Ansh (Scared): Please don't shoot me.
Ranveer: Sir?
Anurag: Alright, you can wear your shirt now.
(Ansh and Ranveer sigh with relief)
Ansh: Thank you, sir.
(Ansh wears his shirt)
(Anurag throws his cigarette on the floor and steps on it)
Anurag: So Ansh. Can you tell me how did so many zombies reach this floor?
Ranveer: Yeah exactly.
Ansh: Well you see when this whole situation started I had 37 days worth of food. Today all my supplies were over. I thought that there were other people on this floor but all the house doors were locked but then suddenly the lift stopped and opened on my floor and I don't know how but zombies were in there. The moment I saw them I was shocked but then I realized that if I didn't move then I would have become a snack for the zombies. I started to run towards my flat and was about to close and lock the door but somehow the zombies caught up and one of their hand got stuck on the door, therefore, I was not able to close my door and started to panic and called out for help, luckily you guys were here.
Anurag: I see.
Ranveer: Sir we should barricade the lift.
Anurag: Yeah you are right. We should do that.
(Ranveer and Anurag barricade the lift)
Anurag: Since we have stopped here, we might as well re-discuss the plan.
Ranveer: Alright! Let's do that.
Ansh: what plan are you guys are talking about? May I know? Like you guys I also want to search for food and survive. Please?
Ranveer: Sir may I?
(Anurag looks towards Ranveer)
Anurag: Alright but first we must get inside your flat Ansh. It would be safe there.
Ansh: Alright! Let's go in.
(Anurag and Ranveer walk towards Ansh's flat)
Anurag (Whispers): Kid you should be careful of Ansh, understand?
Ranveer (Whispers): What do you mean sir? He is my friend.
(Anurag looks at Ranveer with slight shock)
Anurag (Thinking): I guess in the end I did not teach him what an apocalypse is.
Ranveer: Sir? Is something wrong?
Anurag: It's nothing.
(Anurag and Ranveer enter Ansh's flat)
Ranveer: So Ansh let's start with the plan.
(Ranveer and Anurag discuss the plan with Ansh)
Anurag: So this is the plan. Do you understand Ansh?
Ansh: Yes I do.
Anurag: Wait do you know how to use a gun?
Ansh: Yeah actually I do. My grandfather taught me how to use one. He used to be in the military.
Anurag: I see. Ranveer gives him a gun.
Ranveer: Yes sir.
(Ranveer removes one of his pistols)
Ranveer: Here you go Ansh.
Ansh: Thanks Ranveer.
Anurag: We should move out now.
(Anurag, Ranveer and Ansh move out)
.......
.......
.......
(Anurag, Ranveer and Ansh reach the ground floor)
Anurag (Whispers): Alright, you guys remember the plan right?
Ranveer (Whispers): Yes sir!
Ansh (Whispers): Yeah!
Anurag (Whispers): Good. Then let's start with the plan.
(Ranveer sneakily moves towards the back exit of the block)
Ranveer (Thinking): This exit should be open as before this whole catastrophe the building was under renovation. To prevent any construction-related accidents the back exit of every block was made accessible.
(Ranveer pushes the door of the back exit lightly)
(The door moves freely)
(Ranveer looks towards Anurag and Ansh)
(Ranveer signals that the back exit is open)
(Anurag and Ansh smile and move towards the back exit)
Anurag (Whispers): Get ready with your weapons.
(Ansh and Ranveer remove their guns)
Anurag (Whispers): let's go.
(Anurag opens the door of the back exit)
(Anurag, Ranveer and Ansh go through the back exit)
(PS: The back exit of the block is connected to a parking garage.)
Anurag: Keep your guard up you guys.
(Ranveer and Ansh walk carefully)
(Ansh walks a bit forward and sees some zombies outside)
Ansh: Wait there are some zombies up ahead.
Anurag: Can you confirm how many?
Ansh: Yeah about 8 of them.
Anurag: Alright, let's go kid.
Ranveer: Right.
Ansh: Wait for me.
(Anurag and Ranveer Start to move towards the zombies)
Ansh (Thinking): These guys are insane. Especially Ranveer I have never seen him act like this.
(Ranveer and Anurag start to shoot some of the zombies)
(Ansh also starts to shoot a zombie)
Sound Fx: Phooosh!! Phoooosh!!
(Ansh misses the zombie)
Ranveer: Sir Ansh is in trouble.
(Anurag looks in Ansh's direction)
Anurag: Damn! I should've known better. I should've tested his ability beforehand. Kid! Go to help him.
Ranveer: On it.
Ansh (Thinking): Damn it! Why am I missing almost every shot?
(Ranveer removes a knife from his belt and throws it towards the zombie that tries to attack Ansh)
Sound Fx: Whiish!!
(Blood splatters on the ground)
Ansh (Thinking): What?! What the hell just happened?
Ranveer: Ansh, be careful.
Ansh (Thinking): Was that Ranveer?! How did he even do that?! He hit the zombie dead centre on its skull by throwing a knife.
Ranveer: Ansh! There is a zombie on your right!!!
Ansh (Thinking): Zombie? On my right?
(Ansh looks on his right)
Ranveer (Thinking): That zombie is faster than the others it might be a 'Burster'.
(P.S. 'Burster' is a term I made for a zombie who uses its strength for the first time after being infected. Since a zombie does not have mental limiters it can channel human bodies strength to its fullest.)
Zombie: Gaaaarrrrrrgckh!!!!
Ansh (Thinking): Oh no!
(Zombie runs towards Ansh at full speed)
Zombie: Aaaaaargcccckh!!!
Ranveer: Ansh dodge!!!
Ansh: Hyaaah!
(Ansh jumps forward and barely dodges)
Sound Fx: Bang!
(The zombie hits the car that was on the left of Ansh)
(Anurag while fighting looks towards Ansh)
Anurag (Thinking): What the hell was that??!!!
(Car siren goes off)
Car: 🚨🚨🚨
Ranveer: Oh no!
(Ansh gets up and runs towards Ranveer and Anurag)
Anurag: Kid help me here!
(Ranveer tries to help Anurag)
(Ranveer starts towards the zombies)
Ranveer: Sir we must make a run for it. The car siren will attract more zombies.
Ansh: What?!
Anurag: Kid I guess we might be a bit too late.
(15-20 zombies start to surround Anurag, Ranveer and Ansh)
Ansh: That was too fast! How did they surround us so fast?!
Ranveer: There was a party in the complex hall a night before this mess! That must be the reason for this.
(Ranveer continues to shoot)
Ranveer (Thinking): Damn it I am about to run out of bullets. I only have about five bullets left.
Anurag (Thinking): Now what?! We have to retreat but the zombies have surrounded us.
(Anurag continues to shoot)
(Anurag runs out of bullets)
Anurag: Damn it
Anurag (Thinking): I have trained myself in dual-wielding guns. How can I be careless enough to bring an odd number of magazines? Now I only have one magazine left which means I can only use one gun now. Damn it!
(Anurag tries to insert the magazine in the gun)
Anurag: Come on!
(Anurag inserts the magazine in the gun)
Anurag (Thinking): Done!
(Anurag is about to point the gun at the zombies)
Zombie: Aaaarrrgckhh!!
Anurag (Thinking): What?! This zombie is fast. Oh no! This zombie is a 'Burster'.
(Zombie scratches Anurag on the stomach)
Sound Fx: Slash!!
Anurag (In pain): Aaaagckh!!
(Anurag gets pushed back and his gun falls beside him)
Ranveer: Sir!
(Ranveer holds Anurag by his shoulder)
(Ansh Picks up Anurag's gun)
Ranveer: Sir! Are you alright!
(Anurag bleeds)
Anurag (In pain): Damn it!
Ansh: What now Ranveer?
Ranveer (Thinking): Think to damn it! Think! What the hell am I supposed to do now?!
(Anurag tries to think of a plan)
(Anurag looks at a door behind a zombie)
Anurag: Perfect!
(Anurag takes out a cigarette)
Ansh: Sir! This is no time to be smoking.
Anurag (In pain): Relax! I have a plan.
Ansh: A plan?
Anurag (In pain): Listen. There is a door behind the zombie on my left. That door is of the society office. If we can distract these zombies for just a second then we would be able to make a run for it. We are lucky that the society office is unlocked otherwise we would be in big trouble.
Ansh: How will we distract them?
Anurag (In pain): Kid!
Ranveer: Yes sir!
Anurag (In pain): How many bullets do you have left?
Ranveer: About three.
Anurag (In pain): Alright kid shoot this.
(Anurag throws a deodorant in the opposite direction)
(Ranveer aims the gun towards the deodorant can)
Ranveer: Here goes nothing.
(Ranveer shoots the deodorant can and the can explodes)
Sound Fx: Boom!
(The zombies get distracted due to the explosion)
Anurag (In pain): Run!!
(Ansh and Ranveer carrying Anurag on his shoulder start to run towards the society office door)
(A zombie appears in front of the door)
(Ranveer shoots the zombie in the head)
(Ansh opens the society office door and enters with Ranveer and Anurag in the office)
Anurag (Shouts in pain): Close the door!!
(Ranveer quickly closes and locks the door)
(Ranveer sighs!)
Ranveer: Thank God!
(Anurag lights a cigarette)
Ansh: Ranveer.
(Ranveer looks towards Ansh)
Ranveer (Tiredly): Yeah?
(Ansh points the gun towards Ranveer)
Ranveer: Huh!
(Anurag looks shocked)
Ansh (Smiling): Give me your sword.
Anurag: That is my gun.
Ansh (Smiling): Not any more
Ranveer: What?! What do you mean? What are you even doing?
Ansh (Smiling): Didn't you hear me? I said give me your sword before I shoot you.
Ranveer (In disbelief): Come on man! You are kidding, right? Aren't we friends? I mean you will never betray me, right?
Ansh (Smiling): Friends?! You are so naive.
Ranveer: Huh!
Ansh (With cold eyes): A person who is not even liked by his own family. Did you seriously think that we could ever be friends?
(Ranveer looks down to the floor)
Ranveer (In disbelief): No that can't be.
Ansh (Smiling): It is the apocalypse Ranveer. It is all about survival. I thought you had changed. The skills you have are amazing but you see you are still too naive.
Ansh (Smiling): So give me your sword otherwise I will kill Mr Anurag.
Anurag (In pain): Kid! Don't do it.
(Ranveer gives his sword to Ansh)
Anurag (Thinking): Damn it?!
Ansh (Smiling): I guess I will take my leave.
Anurag (In pain): Hold on! How will you leave this place? There are zombies out right now.
Ansh (Smiling): You see there is a car waiting for me in front of 'Dhanyavad Stores'. You know my father. He is one of the richest businessmen in India. His name is Viren Varma. Since we made a ruckus back there most of the zombies are behind that door. There are three doors in this office. One connects to the block which is completely locked, one connects directly outside the block and the one that has a horde of zombies behind it which will completely devour you. I will leave now but if you guys try to follow me I will shoot you both.
(Ansh opens the second door and runs)
(Ranveer takes out his gun that he hid from Ansh)
(Ranveer aims the gun towards Ansh)
Anurag (Thinking): This kid! Did he hide his gun from Ansh?
Ranveer (Thinking): Why can't I shoot I know I have a bullet left so why?
(Anurag lights his cigarette and starts smoking)
Anurag (Thinking): In the end, I did not teach him how to kill a human. It is no surprise that he wasn't able to kill Ansh even though he betrayed us. I need to teach him this before I die today.
Anurag (In pain): Kid! Can you come here for a bit?
Ranveer (Melancholic): Yes sir.
(Ranveer comes towards Anurag)
Ranveer (In tension): Oh my God! For you are bleeding too much. I need to apply first aid.
Anurag (In pain): Listen to me kid. Here Take these.
(Anurag gives his second gun and his zippo)
Ranveer: Sir!? Why are you giving this to me?
Anurag (In pain): Kid. This is my favourite gun. It is a custom made 357 magnum 'Desert Eagle' and this my favourite zippo.
Ranveer (On the verge of crying): Sir! Why are you giving me this? You talk as if this is our last conversation.
Anurag (In pain): You catch on fast kid!
Ranveer (On the verge of crying): What??!! This has to be a joke, sir, please.
Anurag (In pain): You see the scratch of the zombie has infected me.
Ranveer (Crying): Noo!! That can't be.
Anurag (In pain): Look! I have lost all pigmentation on my left hand.
Ranveer (Crying): Noo!!
Anurag (In pain): You see in the apocalypse the biggest threats are not the zombies. The biggest threats are humans. So this is my final lesson to you. It is how to kill a human.
Ranveer (Crying): No! I cannot do it.
Anurag (In pain): Kid look at me I do not want to become one of those vile creatures so, please. I know you have a bullet left so, please.
(Anurag starts to turn into a zombie)
Anurag (In pain): Kid! Do it now.
(Ranveer places the gun on Anurag's forehead)
Ranveer (Crying): I am sorry. I couldn't save you.
Anurag (Smiles): Don't worry I'm going out with my favourite cigarette. Ranveer I am proud of you son.
(Ranveer cries and pulls the trigger)
Sound Fx: Phooosh!
(Blood splatters on the ground)
To be continued...
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone