The sun was dipping down below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and violet. The ruined city stretched endlessly, an apocalypse and graveyard of twisted metal and crumbling concrete.
Rosa perched on the remains of a rooftop, her crossbow resting on her lap.
The city was abandoned and somehow that not longer felt strange. She was used to it. The streets were lifeless as if no one lived there before. And houses looked haunted with vines all over.
She could not remember how it looked like before, how lively it was, she couldn't even imagine it.
Now everything was empty and even a small drop of water echoed like a scream. What was once unthinkable became a routine.
What was not ordinary became ordinary.
The wind carried faint sounds- groans, shuffling, dragging feet, and something far more ominous .
"Five..... no, six", Rosa whispered as she closed her eyes and faced towards the sky. Her sharp hearing picking up the uneven steps of a zombie company. She pressed the communicator against her ear, " Team, we've got company. West side, 200 metres out. "
"Copy that", Jella's voice crackled through.
"Raven and I are holding the main line, Cici you close? "
"Already ahead of you. I'll clear the front", Cici replied as she dashed toward the building with supplies.
"Cici stop! " Rosa's voice was sharp. " You've been tailed, two or three of those brainless walkers. Too close".
Cici skidded to a halt, narrowing her eyes as she spotted the restless figures closing in.
"Got it" she replied, her voice steady.
With a flick of her wrist she sent her boomerang speeding into the air. It arched beautiful before slamming the first zombie on the head, dropping it instantly.
" Good hit" Rosa muttered already reloading.
She exhaled, aimed and fired. The bolt flew through, taking out another creature before it could reach Cici.
"Raven, Jella, need backup?" she called over the line. " I'm engaging over here, say the word."
"We're moving, good for now", Jella's voice was resolute, the sound of her gun filling the air.
" I just hope we'd exchange our places Rosa", Raven scoffed, swinging her baaton with ease.
"Need something bigger. "
"I'll take it as a no, and Raven, you should stop thinking about me. Those beings seems interested in you" Rosa replied dryly.
Cici dashed forward, slicing through the last zombie as she retrieved her boomerang. " All clear on my end" she panted.
From her perch, Rosa scanned the far street as she reload. Her stomach dropped.
"Dang" she groaned.
" What is it? " the others asked in a unison.
"New target", she said grimly. " At least ten of them, fast and restless".
"These mfs keeps on coming. Nia, Koha leave your East. Your swords needs you here".
A sigh crackled through. " To be honest I prefer this east side. Koha's dead asleep by now " Nia replied.
"Wake her up", Cici snapped
.
" Wait... Wait...." Jella cut in, her voice rising. "You both were chilling on the east side while we took out a wave? ".
" Well no orders from Rosa", Nia shifted the blame to Rosa who was chilling half dead on the rooftop.
"Rosa.... Hahahaha", Raven gave out a crying laugh as she drop down on the ground. " I give up. Let them step, bite or tear me apart however they want. I'm done".
"Well if that's your wish but they're here. Not too late to get back on your feet" Rosa replied calmly as she rises her bow.
Jella pulled out her gun as Raven quietly stood up.
" Time to test these new babies out", Jella grinned.
"That's the spirit" Koha called,finally arriving with blades in hand.
" You sure you can fight? Or still dreaming " Cici teased, dashing past her. Everyone laughed together- except Rosa.
" They're here" she said quitely getting into position as she repeatedly chanted," Please let this be quick".
The heard emerged.
Jella charged, shotgun blazing.
Raven stepped in front of her raising her shield, "Just fire, Jella. I'll cover you".
Nia flanked from behind, her whip slicing through while Koha struck from the front. Cici swiped in, knocking the rest off as Rosa fired from above.
"Stay sharp" Rosa said, reloading.
The ground erupted in dust, the sharp clash of gunfire and blades echoed through the empty streets. This time the wave was smaller but relentless, faster and hungrier.
Jella gritted her teeth as she switched her weapon to a grenade launcher.
" Team, fall back! Time to blast 'em out".
She fired the grenade at the heart of the incoming hordy. The explosion shook the street, sending limbs flying, dust and smoke flooding the air.
As the haze leared, a few of the undead still staggered forward- burnt, broken but still not done.
"Persistent ugly freaks! " Jella growled.
"Raven, cover the left" Rosa commanded, her voice sharp.
"Jella fire it again- this time with a bigger blow. Cici evacuate with the rest".
The team was already moving as Jella switched to a machine gun, waiting until the infected gathered closer. Then she open fired, knocking each to the ground.
She lowered her gun, squinting through the smoke. A sudden blur caught her eye _ a lone undead sprinting straight for her.
Jella froze.
Something zipped through the smoke, fast and sharp.
An arrow struck the creature in the skull, crashing it to the ground.
Jella exhaled shakily, "How did I miss that? "
Rosa voice crackled through the comm, "We cannot handle everything alone, that's why we've got each other".
Raven's voice came through, breathless but impressed. " Nice shot. "
"Team effort", Rosa nodded.
When no more movement stirred in the haze, she clicked the comm again, " Team, gather at the usual spot. Let's head back home. "
Koha and Cici was the first one to move out, racing each other down the street as if it was a game. Their laughter echoed through the ruins, light and reckless.
"Last one there do the dishes! " Cici shouted.
"In your dreams! " Koha fired back trying to catch up.
A little behind Raven and Nia strolled slowly with exaggerated grace, teasing each other with dramatic poses as if they were walking a run away.
"We're the true visual of the squad" Raven said, flipping her hair.
"As if they need reminding" Nia smirked, nudging her with an elbow.
Jella staggered between them, dragging her feet.
"Can someone carry me?" She muttered, clearly done for the day.
For her vantage point, Rosa watched them move. They were wild, worn out but still full of life- so different, yet somehow perfect together.
She slid the spent arrow back into her quiver and slung it over her back.
Then, without a word, she leapt from the edge of the building, landing lightly on her feet.
"Wait for me" Her voice rang as she started running to catch up.
The others glanced back and playfully ran faster as they saw her approaching.
"Annoying" she muttered, though a smile tugged her lips.
Her family.
Small, chaotic but strong and always together.
No one knew why they chosen for this mission. Not even them.
But they were the chosen.