As we moved along the road, we passed the building with a sign that said, Catacombe di Priscilla. With the grave chill sitting on my mind, I morbidly wondered if that was a sign of how today would end.

The trees to our left, which denoted the park’s edge, grew thicker. We now had buildings once more to our right. The zone was still pushing forward and was only a few metres away.

We continue to leapfrog down the road in our two groups along the Via Salaria. Tension and stress were wearing us down. I was used to fighting these horrors and I was feeling it. I couldn’t fathom what the others were going through.

I didn’t get long for wool-gathering. Another pack of zombies charged from the zone. I went forward to meet them. I could take one down with my pistol before I switched to my axe. The soldiers around me quickly dispatched the other three. They did not get close to me to strike.

Again, I recovered my pistol and quickly joined the firing line. We moved down the road and a steady pace. For some minutes, we were not attacked and that proved a welcome respite. I could have asked how long it was, but I was used to operating without a complete grasp of time, so it didn’t occur to me.

We reached another junction and the sign said that the road leading to the east was called Via Nera. Looking down the road, we didn’t see any threats, which was a good sign. In the distance, we could still make out the signs of other engagements. Fewer aircraft flew overhead as we were much closer to the edge of the zone. We could still hear and make out numerous helicopters nearby. They seem to be focused on the park now.

We continue to follow the road. We scanned around, looking for threats but didn’t see the one that hit us. Another Tiger creature left from a tree to the right of the road once one of the soldiers. He did have time to scream as he was mauled. The others quickly span around an open fire killing the creature. It never occurred to us to look up into the trees so focused on ground level.

What a fucking rookie mistake!

This left six soldiers, Greco, Gregson and I.

We didn’t have time to search the body as another pack of zombies charged from the zone edge. I moved forward to act as a breaker to try to disrupt the charging pack. I moved slower than earlier to allow myself to aim better again, using my shield as a brace.

I squeezed the trigger steadily, aiming at my target as best I could. I was able to take down three with five rounds before I had to switch over to my axe. I soon collided with a zombie. With a second joining in. They were trying to beat me down. I used my shield to block most of the blows, but my left arm was to take a few.

I struck back as best I could with my axe. The pain was flaring up in my arms, but I gritted my teeth and pushed on. In the back of my mind, I noted the weapons firing around me. My anger began to rise.

I push forward my shield as a battering ram knocking one of my attackers back. This allowed me to hit the other with my axe. My blows were not targeted but frenzied as rage surged from my chest.

The fight was a blur of movement as I fought on instinct. I knocked another one back and was surprised as part of its head exploded outwards. The other quickly pressed its attack and I could block with my shield again.

I struck out with my axe catching in the skull from a sideways angle. It quickly collapsed and I made sure it was down by smashing its own again and again with my axe. The rage in me was not satisfied.

I stopped breathing hard, getting back in control. That attack had come from nowhere. I was covered by gore and black blood. Looking around, I noted that the others were still standing, but their faces were white and drained in appearance.

Grave chill.

Zombies had gotten close enough because of their numbers to give the others a dose of it. As far as I am aware, I am the only zone-rated person here, so they will feel this a lot worse than I do. I at least knew what to expect.

“Greco, we got to move still!” I knew I had to focus them on moving. It was the only way to have it pushed into the back of their minds. She seemed to understand and began to rally her men.

“Gregson, are you handling it?” I asked him.

“Fuck! This fucking my head badly!” He told me. It was affecting him, but he was doing his best to keep it under control. Also, this is the most I’ve ever heard him swear.

“Keep focused. Keep moving. That’s the best way to fight the grave chill.” It was the best advice I could give him. He nodded, understanding what I was telling him. Understanding and doing, however, are two separate things.

“I knew about this effect but never truly understood it.” He said as we began to move again.

“I know. You never truly understand until you experience it.” I walk in a sideways/backwards shuffle to keep facing the zone edge. He is walking next to me. I know that the depression that comes along with the grave chill will have settled on him by now. I notice he is giving me a side-eye look.

I know it’s the same for the others, but I cannot focus on them and stay aware of our surroundings. The zone is closer to us now. Adrenaline can only take you so far and I’m beginning to feel tired. The day had been punishing.

We reach another junction with a much broader road named Via Anapo. Here we encountered a group of civilians trying to reach the road we were travelling on to evacuate. The group was about a dozen men, women and children.

What the fuck!

They saw us and were at first afraid. But they quickly came to us when they realised we were military. Greco engaged with those who seemed to be leading them in conversation. The rest of us took up defensive positions.

Some part of me found it strangely amusing that it seemed that the stereotypical idea of an Italian having an animated conversation was happening a short distance from me while death was approaching fast.

What they told Greco was making her mood worse, which meant bad news for us all. She pointed down the road we were heading and got the civilians moving. He babbled to soldiers giving them a breakdown of the situation and orders. Then she came over to us.

“They were part of a larger group. It seems that they were overrun and scattered not far from here. We will have to hold here at this junction to give them time to move further away.” She told us with no fancy dressing, just plain facts.

I looked up the road from where we came and noted how close the zone was to us.

“If we stay here long will be in the zone.” I decided to point out the obvious.

“I know we have to give them time to get away. I’m going to try and get transport for them.” She acknowledged the situation.

“Okay.” I really can’t add anything else. It’s just one of those days.

She moved off, speaking into her radio. I faced the zone approaching us, bracing for the trouble coming. Gregson is reloading and I realise that is a good idea.

I take stock and note that I have three full magazines for my gun. The weapon right now has the number four in it.

“We need to conserve ammunition as best we can.” Gregson tells me.

“I know. Three reloads left after this one.” I tell him my ammunition situation. He nods, noting my information.

“If we are lucky, we might be able to use any transport sent to rescue the civilians to get out of here to a stronger defensive line.”

“Are we really that lucky?” I ask him.

“Not really.” He acknowledges. He is shaking slightly. The chill at work.

We stand facing the oncoming zone, each lost in our thoughts.

The civilians behind us are moving as fast as they can but with the children is not quick enough. This was going to be close. Unless I made a choice. So, I made it. But I hated it.

“Greco, get your men moving. I will hold here as long as I can. None of your zone rated as there is a good chance we’re crossing the zone edge when it arrives.”

She looks back at the road. Understanding what I was telling her.

“Transport is on the way. We will pull back and leave you to hold the line if it comes to it. But for now, we make our stand here.” She understood the situation but at least gave me some good news.

“All right, then we make a stand here.” There might be a chance. Then again, maybe not.

Before she could say anything else, a zombie pack joined us.

I fired my pistol as soon as they emerged from the fog. I emptied the gun as they ran toward me. The others fired as well. Many fell and did not get up again, but they still came on. My rage emerged to meet them.

I dropped my pistol and had my axe ready as things got personal.

The next few minutes became a blur of blows and blocking. I was being attacked from three different angles. They tried to grab and pull me down, but I kept moving and attacking. Block, strike, move over and over.

The first fell to my axe, cleaving a good third of the skull away from its head. The other two did not let up. I overextended and suffered a blow to my head but stayed in the fight due to my rage.

The fight was brutal and fast. I knocked down one of the attackers and used this as an opportunity to drive my axe into the skull of the one still standing. The black blood and brain matter flew from the force of the impact. I cannot afford to lose control here!

I didn’t have time to join my victory as I was attacked by the third from the floor. It rammed into my knees. This staggered me back and almost knocked me over, but I remained standing.

The zombie is clinging to my legs. I was trying to bite through the armour section covering my thigh. I used the edge of my shield and drove down again, shattering the skull. Rage causes my blood to pump faster, driving me on.

I quickly see a soldier wrestling with a zombie holding his rifle between them. The zone has come to us now and the fight is pushing him into it. I run over but cannot make it before the edge of the zone swallows them. I do not hesitate and follow him in.

The damp air and increasing negative thoughts wash over me. How have I never or will ever miss this?

The zombie’s back is to me and I use this opportunity to cave in its skull with my axe. The soldier is covered by blood and gore and has a surprised or terrified expression. I cannot tell which may be both. I don’t hesitate to grab and pull him out of the zone.

The rest of the fight is almost over as we emerge. The other zombies are down though several soldiers are now sporting injuries. They will need to be watched. Gregson seems to be okay and so does Greco.

She quickly rallies what is left of the soldiers to treat the wounded and organise the defence again.

A shot rings out close to me. I quickly turn and find the soldier I had pulled out of the zone lying on the floor. It was clear he had shot himself in the head from the injury.

I am stunned by this. I have seen death many times but never self-inflicted like this.

I am not the only one, as the rest were shocked by this sudden turn. The shock quiets my rage.

Greco recovers the fastest and comes over to me.

“What happened?” She asks, looking at the dead body. But we were soon forced back by the zone pushing forward. It was causing the body to be lost from sight.

“He was pushed into the zone during the fight. I went in and got him out.” I told her, still stunned by what had happened. But moving backwards from the zone.

“Okay, you tried your best, but he was broken by crossing the threshold.” I had heard of such events but had never seen one. Most cannot handle exposure to a zone, but some react with extreme suicidal tendencies. This is one of the many reasons testing is so dangerous to see if you can handle zones.

We are now in the junction itself, being pushed by the zone.

“John, the transport arrived. We are pulling back.” Gregson had come up and calmly told me this. I turn and nod

“Let’s get out here.” I tell him.