My Sniper System in a Zombie Apocalypse World-Chapter 95: Five More Minutes

The soldiers held the platform. They had formed a staggered defense line across the open concourse. Two fireteams held the front, while another stayed near the train, ready to cover a retreat. The floor was littered with infected bodies, piled near narrow paths the soldiers had chosen on purpose.

"Ammo check," the officer called out.

"Green."

"Yellow."

A soldier fired short, controlled bursts as he spoke into his mic. "Sir, we’re starting to get swarmed. Recommend falling back."

"Negative," the officer replied at once. "Departure window is not up yet. Hold the line for five more minutes."

The ground shook as a deep, unnatural roar rolled through the station.

"Contact!" someone shouted. "Heavy contact!"

Concrete cracked above them. A large chunk broke free from the upper level and came crashing down.

It smashed onto the platform, crushing one soldier in an instant.

"Man down! Man down!"

Before anyone could reach him, another impact slammed into the floor, taking down two more soldiers.

Then something stepped into view. A variant.

It towered over the infected, its body packed with thick, pulsing muscles. Veins bulged across its skin as it roared again, the sound shaking the air.

"Focus fire on it!" the officer barked. "Aim for the head!"

Bullets slammed into the creature, sparks and flesh flying. But it moved fast. With a violent pull, it tore a large sheet of metal from the wreckage and raised it, shielding its head.

Then it leapt. The monster crashed down onto the platform as the impact cracked the floor beneath it. It grabbed a soldier who was reloading and bit into its head, swallowing it whole.

A loud crunch echoed through the station. And the soldier’s body dropped to the ground, limp and headless, as the variant roared again and turned toward the rest of the line.

"Fall back!" someone screamed.

But before they could react, the variant swung its arm. Two soldiers were smashed sideways into a pillar, their bodies flying like ragdolls. One hit head first and died on the spot. The other slammed hard, his armor crushed inward as he slid down the wall, coughing blood, barely awake.

"Retreat immediately!" the officer shouted. "Fall back to the train! Now!"

Their formation broke at once. The horde they had been holding back surged forward, pouring into the gap with renewed fury.

From another unit guarding the opposite train door, a second variant stepped into view.

"Cover! Cover! Fall back from it!"

Smoke grenades flew. They popped one after another, thick white clouds spreading fast and swallowing the platform. Gunfire flashed through the smoke as the remaining soldiers fired while backing away, step by step. One soldier dragged a wounded man by his vest. Another hurled a flashbang into the swarm, the sharp bang echoing through the station.

Meanwhile, from the pillar where the soldier had been thrown earlier, the wounded soldier struggled to lift his head.

The massive variant walked toward him slowly, its shadow looming over his body. It looked down at him, then raised both arms, ready to crush him.

Before its fist could reach him, the creature’s head burst apart. Blood and flesh sprayed backward as the massive body collapsed, crashing onto the ground and partly over the soldier.

"Hey, soldier. Get up." An unfamiliar voice urgently called out to him. He then felt strong hands grab his vest, pulling him free from the corpse.

When his vision cleared, he saw a young man standing over him.

"You okay?" Jaxon asked. The soldier nodded, barely able to speak.

"Good. Hold tight." Jaxon said as he hoisted the soldier up onto his shoulder, carrying him with surprising ease.

"Sumiko, keep an eye on him. We’re sprinting again," Jaxon said quietly. He dismissed his rifle ran, weaving through wreckage and fallen bodies.

Meanwhile, at the far side of the platform where the second variant had appeared, a soldier rushed out from the train and dropped to one knee.

"Clear backblast!"

The RPG on his shoulder roared.

BOOM.

The rocket slammed into the variant and tore it apart in a violent flash. Thick muscles and bone were ripped away as the blast swallowed it whole, leaving nothing of the creature but burning scraps.

Smoke rolled across the platform. And from within the white haze, a figure burst out running.

Jaxon. He sprinted toward the soldiers guarding the train door.

The moment they saw him, rifles snapped up, muzzles locking onto his chest.

"Wait!" Jaxon shouted. "Don’t shoot. I’m not infected." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

He slowed his steps and raised his free hand. Behind him, Sumiko weakly lifted her hand and gave a small wave, her face peeking over his shoulder.

A soldier stepped forward, weapon still raised, eyes sharp as he scanned them. The wounded soldier on Jaxon’s shoulder groaned, further confirming their claims.

"That’s one of ours," the soldier spoke.

"Two civilians, one wounded soldier. Get them inside," the officer ordered at once.

Two soldiers rushed forward, pulling the injured man from Jaxon and dragging him toward the train. Jaxon and Sumiko were guided in after them.

"Final sweep!" the officer barked.

"No survivors in sight!"

"Move! Move! Let’s go!"

One by one, the soldiers boarded, firing controlled bursts as they backed inside. The last man stepped in and turned, firing until the very last second.

Then, with a loud hiss, the doors slammed shut, sealing them inside. The train jolted lurched, metal screaming as it pulled away from the station and left the chaos behind.

.....

As Jaxon and Sumiko stepped inside the train, soldiers quickly guided them toward the medical area. A scanner swept over them, followed by fast checks of their eyes, skin, and pulse.

Jaxon stayed close as they laid Sumiko on a narrow bed. A doctor moved with quiet speed, pressing two fingers to her wrist, lifting her eyelids, and checking the color of her lips.

"How is she?" Jaxon asked, his voice tight with worry.

The doctor didn’t answer right away. He adjusted the monitor, watched the numbers for a moment, then frowned.

"She’s severely malnourished and dehydrated. Her blood pressure is low. Her heart rate is unstable."

Jaxon clenched his fists. "Can’t you give her something? A shot, medicine... anything?"

Sumiko turned her head weakly. "Brother," she whispered, her voice barely a breath. "I don’t want to get shot."

The doctor glanced at Jaxon. "If we rush food or medication, it could shock her body. She’s been running on almost nothing for too long."

"So what does that mean?" Jaxon asked.

"It means she needs rest, fluids, and observation," the doctor said. "She’s anemic, her blood sugar is low, and her immune system is weak."

"Then let her stay here," Jaxon said at once.

"There are procedures, sir," the doctor said calmly. "She can’t remain in this area until she clears quarantine."