Chapter 51: The Sound of Hope
Ms. Selena's words echoed throughout the broadcasting room.
"Everyone... pick up your weapons."
Only a moment ago, faint smiles had lingered on their faces.
Now, those smiles disappeared, replaced by expressions of grim determination.
Silence settled over the room once again.
The only sounds that remained were the soft clinks of weapons being lifted.
Someone tightened their grip around a golf club...
Someone else firmly held a small hatchet with both hands...
While another wrapped their fingers more tightly around an iron rod.
Every one of them knew...
These weapons might not keep the zombies at bay for long.
But they could strengthen the courage of the people holding them.
Ms. Selena looked at everyone once more.
Her eyes paused on each face for a brief moment.
Jun...
Lena...
Mary...
Jackson...
Yaram...
And finally...
Mr. Samit.
She knew the truth.
Not a single one of them was a trained soldier.
They were ordinary people...
But extraordinary circumstances had turned them into warriors.
A gentle smile appeared on her face.
"I'm proud of every one of you."
Those simple words filled the room with a renewed sense of confidence.
Then she raised her voice.
"So..."
"Is everyone ready?"
Without hesitation, everyone answered in perfect unison,
"We're ready!"
Their united voices echoed through the small broadcasting room.
It felt as though they weren't only answering Ms. Selena...
They were challenging their own fear.
Ms. Selena nodded with satisfaction.
"Good."
"Everyone, take your positions."
The moment the order was given, everyone sprang into action.
Yaram walked straight toward the massive sound control panel mounted across one side of the broadcasting room.
Its surface was covered with dozens of colourful buttons, sliders, switches, and control boxes.
To an ordinary person, it looked like nothing more than a complicated collection of machinery.
But to Yaram...
It was the final spark of hope.
Only minutes earlier, this very system had carried Ms. Selena's announcement across the entire school.
Now...
It was about to become the weapon that would deceive the zombies.
Yaram took a deep breath.
He placed the headphones over his ears...
Then rested both hands on the control panel.
Across the room...
Jun and Lena quietly took their places beside the door.
The heavy sofa still blocked the entrance.
Both of them placed their hands against it, silently waiting for Ms. Selena's signal.
Meanwhile...
Jackson, Mary, Mr. Samit, and Ms. Selena stood near the doorway with their weapons gripped tightly in their hands.
The room had grown so quiet that everyone could almost hear each other's heartbeat.
Somewhere in the distance...
A zombie let out a terrifying growl.
Then silence returned.
Only a few seconds...
Yet those few seconds made every heartbeat pound even harder.
Ms. Selena slowly turned toward Yaram.
Their eyes met.
With unwavering determination, she said,
"Yaram... we're all ready."
She paused for a brief moment.
"Begin."
The instant the command was given, Yaram's fingers flew across the controls.
One switch flipped upward...
Another slid downward...
The faders slowly moved forward...
And then...
A faint melody began echoing through the school.
Within seconds, the music grew louder...
Stronger...
More powerful.
The windows of the broadcasting room vibrated gently.
The empty hallways became filled with its echo.
Then, from every loudspeaker in the school, an energetic voice rang out.
"Hey fighter... step in—ignite your flame..."
It wasn't just a song.
It was a declaration of hope.
Every powerful beat seemed to awaken courage in the hearts of the survivors...
While at the same time, laying the perfect trap for the zombies.
Yaram increased the volume even further.
The next lyrics thundered through the building.
"Zee Virus rises... rewriting the game..."
At that exact moment, Ms. Selena gave Jun and Lena a subtle hand signal.
Without wasting a second, they shoved the heavy sofa backwards with all their strength.
The scraping sound of the furniture across the floor disappeared beneath the booming music.
Jun slowly reached for the lock.
Click...
The door opened just a few inches.
Beyond it lay the dark, silent corridor.
And within that darkness...
Death was waiting for them.