My Sniper System in a Zombie Apocalypse World-Chapter 40: The Stairwell Trap

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: The Stairwell Trap
"This road was clear when we checked with the drone," Natasha said. "Why are there so many now?"
"It’s the sound. The explosion must not only have scattered the zombies, it’s likely that it also drew those outside the city coming here," Jaxon replied grimly. "We’re attracting them."
As they pushed forward, the number chasing them kept growing. Every engine roar pulled more of them out of the dark. Shadows spilled from alleys and streets, closing in.
Natasha tried to weave through the roads, turning east, then west, but it felt useless. No matter where she went, more infected appeared.
"Natasha, get ready to pull over," Jaxon suddenly said. He stuck his hand out the window and gave a sharp signal to the van behind them.
"What?" Natasha’s grip tightened on the wheel. Stopping now felt like suicide.
Then something smashed into the side mirror. An infected clung to the door, its fingers scraping against the glass.
"Hold tight," Natasha said, jerking the wheel. But the infected clung stubbornly, so Jaxon slid the window down just enough, raised his rifle, and fired.
The infected’s grip loosened, and it fell away, leaving a smear of blood on the window.
"Does anyone know where we are now?" Jaxon asked, his eyes scanning the dark streets.
Cindy leaned forward, peering through the windshield. "Brother, we just passed by a popular Chinese store. This should be the Chinatown District."
Jaxon searched his memory. Then it clicked. "The pagoda. Can you guide us there?"
"I know this area well. Leave it to me," Cindy said confidently.
Even with limited visibility, she pointed out turns without hesitation, as if she had fully memorized the area.
"There," Jaxon said as he spotted the Pagoda. "Pull over there."
"Everyone get ready. The moment we stop, run to the top as fast as you can." He said as he clipped his flashlight onto his rifle, preparing for battle.
The two vans pulled into the underground parking beneath the pagoda. The engines cut out as they stopped.
"Run!"
Doors flew open. From the other van, Hannah pulled Jannah and Hiromi close to her. Burgors and Haris rushed ahead, clearing the way. Elena stayed behind them, watching their backs. Jaxon followed with his family, keeping them close.
Their flashlights made thin lines of light as they sprinted for the stairs.
Then Jaxon heard it, footsteps behind.
He turned just as shapes poured into the parking lot entrance. Dozens of infected rushed in, their roars echoing off the walls.
Jaxon raised his rifle and started shooting.
Natasha, Cindy, and Isabel then realized he had stopped.
"Jaxon, what are you doing?" Isabel turned back, panic in her voice.
All three raised their guns toward the rushing infected. Natasha and Cindy fired their pistols, while Isabel braced the M16 and pulled the trigger. Muzzle flashes lit the parking lot in short bursts as bodies fell and kept coming.
"Run to the top," Jaxon shouted. "I’ll hold them for a bit."
"We’ll help you," Cindy cried.
"Just go," he snapped. "I’ll catch up before you know it."
"But..." Cindy started when Natasha grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "Let’s go. He’s right."
The two hesitated, then turned and followed Elena’s group up the stairs.
Below them, the roars grew louder, filling the parking lot.
They were halfway up when a voice came from behind.
"I’m here."
The three women froze and spun around. Jaxon was right behind them, breathing steady.
Cindy stared at him in shock. He stayed back, how did he catch up so fast?
As they reached higher, Elena glanced back. "Where’s Jaxon?"
"Right here."
Elena’s eyes narrowed. "Why did we come here?"
"If we keep running outside, we’ll just pull more of them in," Jaxon said quickly. "The streets will turn into a trap. If we can’t run, then we hide first."
Elena looked down the stairwell. The echoes of roars were already climbing after them.
"And how do you plan to hide when they’re already right behind us?"
"Just run." Jaxon turned back again, pointing his rifle down below.
His flashlight caught their shapes. Dark figures rushed upward, fast and crawling, closing the distance quickly.
He fired, reloaded, and fired again. Bodies fell, but the swarm barely thinned.
Up ahead, Natasha and the others kept running, when suddenly, a shadow dropped from above.
An infected leaped down toward them without a sound.
Before it could reach Cindy, an arrow flew past her and pierced its head. The body slammed to the ground and went still.
The twins screamed, clinging to Hannah as fear filled their eyes. Haris and Burgors stiffened. The danger was not only behind them anymore.
"Watch out above," Natasha shouted. She moved to the front and started shooting with her pistol.
More infected dropped from above. Cindy and Isabel forced down their fear and joined her, covering the stairs. Behind them, Elena loosed arrow after arrow, each shot clean and fast.
"The door, the one on the side," Elena called out. "Open it."
"It’s locked," Haris said, shaking the handle hard.
"Break it," Elena snapped.
Burgors rushed forward and slammed his shoulder into the door. Once, twice. Bam.
"It’s open!" Hannah cried. Before she could finish, an infected burst out from inside, lunging straight at her.
Burgors reacted without thinking. He grabbed the infected by the neck, stopping its teeth inches from her face.
"Help!"
Haris rushed in, grabbing the creature’s arm as it thrashed and snarled, its strength far greater than it should have been.
"Sister Elena, there’s one here!" Hiromi cried.
Elena turned at once. She rushed forward and drove her arrow straight into the infected’s head at close range. The body dropped without a sound.
With the path clear, Natasha, Cindy, and Isabel turned back and rushed through the open door.
"Jaxon, here!" Isabel shouted from above.
Jaxon was still holding the infected back on his own. He glanced up and ran, pushing his legs as hard as he could.
Suddenly, something fell from above.
An infected slammed into him, knocking him down.