My Sniper System in a Zombie Apocalypse World-Chapter 50: Run or Be Devoured

Jaxon fired at the first two infected, dropping them instantly. At the same time, he unequipped his rifle, sending it into his system.

"Come on, follow me, freaks!" he shouted, sprinting toward another direction. The bald-headed zombies followed, passing right through the store, their eyes only locked on him.

Jaxon glanced back. ’Good, it seems the others didn’t notice the group.’

As he ran with all his strength, notifications pinged in his mind from the kills he’d made earlier.

(You have leveled up to 5.)

(Storage space (3 cubic meter) unlocked.)

A brief spark of surprise hit him, but there was no time to dwell on it. He quickly allocated his new stat point.

(Speed +1)

The roars behind him grew louder and closer. But the extra speed surged through his legs. Now he wasn’t just keeping up with them, he had a slight edge.

Still, the city itself seemed to turn against him. More infected erupted from buildings, crawling through broken windows, leaping from balconies, and landing in his path.

Jaxon barely dodged a claw that scraped the wall beside him, then another that whistled past his head. He weaved through alleys and corners, zigzagging like a hunted animal.

...

Inside the store, the roars had finally faded into the distance, but no one dared to breathe too loudly. Everyone huddled together, mouths covered tightly, trying to make themselves invisible.

Hiromi and Jannah trembled as they pressed Hannah’s mouth shut, her small sobs muffled beside her brother.

Isabel clutched Cindy tightly, holding her close. Both of them were on the verge of tears, shivering as they whispered to each other.

"Jaxon... he..." Cindy’s voice broke, barely audible.

Isabel pressed her hand gently to Cindy’s back. "Shh... it’s okay. He’ll be okay."

Natasha’s eyes were wide and distant, her mind frozen as if she couldn’t process what had just happened. Her hand gripped her pistol tightly, and she was about to stand when Elena gently grabbed her arm.

Natasha turned to her. Elena closed her eyes and shook her head, silently urging her to stay calm.

From the corner, Burgors whispered, his voice trembling, "Haris... he’s unconscious."

"Please... please help him... help him..." Hannah begged in a low, desperate voice.

Elena moved quickly, motioning to Burgors. "Bring him over the table. I’ll check his wound."

"There... there’s a medical kit in our bag," Natasha said, her voice shaking.

"Good, bring it too," Elena replied.

Elena moved quickly toward Haris, but noticed Natasha lagging behind. Her hands clutched the bag, her eyes vacant, lost in thought.

"Natasha!" Elena whispered sharply. "Time is running, Haris is going to die!"

Natasha blinked but remained frozen, her mind still elsewhere.

Just then, Isabel hurried to Natasha’s side, grabbing the medical kit and handing it to Elena.

"Here," she said, placing it down.

Elena nodded at her. "Help me press his wound. Hold him steady."

Burgors stood on the other side, his hands trembling as he gripped Haris’s shoulders. Elena took a deep breath and carefully began removing the bullet from Haris’s wound. Blood dripped from the torn skin, but she worked with steady hands, cleaning the wound with antiseptic and preparing the bandage.

Isabel pressed down gently on the wound, helping stop the bleeding. Burgors held Haris’s head and shoulders still, whispering calming words to him.

The three of them worked together silently. Elena wrapped the bandage tightly, checking to make sure the bleeding had slowed.

...

Moments later, Isabel glanced at the unconscious Haris lying on the table. Hannah clutched his hand tightly, tears streaking her face, while the twins comforted her quietly from the side.

"Will he be okay?" Isabel asked softly.

Elena shook her head slightly. "I hope so... but we did everything we could."

Isabel glanced toward Natasha, who sat silently, lost in thought. "I’m sorry for her actions earlier... she just... she’s worried about Jaxon."

Elena nodded. Then she turned back to Isabel. "And you? Are you okay?"

Isabel bit her lip, her arms tightening across her chest. After a long pause, she forced a small, shaky smile. "I’m their mother. I’ll follow his words... until he comes back to us."

Elena just nodded. Logically, Jaxon’s chances of surviving right now were very slim, let alone returning safely. Her mind knew it, but still... she hoped. She wanted him to make it back.

The room fell silent. The situation was grim, and everyone was caught between fear and helplessness, waiting, unsure what to do next.

.....

Meanwhile, in the twisting streets of Hudson City, Jaxon ran with every ounce of strength he had. He rounded one corner, then another, summoning his rifle as he moved.

Bang.

Two heads exploded, black blood spraying as he barely had time to process the kill.

(2 EXP, 2 coins, 0.02 Agility obtained from the zombie)

(2 EXP, 2 coins, 0.02 Stamina obtained from the zombie)

Jaxon unsummoned the rifle, letting it vanish into his hand, and continued forward. He vaulted over overturned cars, twisting through narrow alleys as bald-headed infected rained down from rooftops.

’Come on, come on... faster! Run!’ The thought screamed inside his mind, eyes scanning every corner for a way out.

Rounding another corner, he froze. A flipped bus blocked the street, surrounded by more wrecked vehicles. Turning back wasn’t an option. The infected were right behind him, closing in fast.

"Shit, shit..."

His gaze swept upward. The creatures from the buildings climbed easily over the walls and ledges.

A thought hit him. ’Maybe... I could do that too.’

There was no time to hesitate. It was climb or die.

With a deep breath, Jaxon launched himself onto the side of the bus, scaling it like the creatures. He vaulted from car to car, landing with precision, his upgraded stats giving him balance and speed he hadn’t had before.

He finally landed inside a mall, panting and tense, but then froze. More of those bald-headed infected were inside, lurking in the darkness, moving with terrifying speed.

Jaxon’s stomach dropped. There was no room to hide, only to fight or run.