ã€ŠRevolution: The New Worldã€‹


 Prologue

    April 5, 2069

    0012 MST (Mountain Standard Time)

    Outskirts of Hermosillo, Mexico

    La Mansi¨®n Del Rey (The King¡¯s Mansion)

    <u>Luke Miller¡¯s Point of View</u>

    <u></u>

    Death. The Deathstalker Scorpions massacred our latest group of recruits. It was six years since we decided to take shelter in an abandoned mansion for the night. I was twelve years old when it happened. My guardian, Veronica Shinka, and I quickly escaped towards the hallway that led to the safe room. Sadly, it and the mansion were filled with friends and foes alike, but the ones that surrounded us were no longer human. Death claimed their lives, only to give them a new, horrific, second one as an undead. They suffered the inevitable fate of reanimation and became zombies; the devilish creatures that rule this world with no empathy for life!

    ¡°Luke, stay close to me!¡± Veronica yelled out in urgency.

    She was hell-bent on annihilating the monsters that stood in our way, as she effortlessly wiped out the immediate threats one by one.

    Like the rest of the world, there was no electricity here, and the darkness only added to the overwhelming advantage the undead had over us. We could barely see the threat in front of us, but I got a close enough look at it when one grabbed my arm and took a big bite out of my skin. It felt like time slowed down when it happened. The closeup of the shithead¡¯s bright, blood-red eyes forcibly reminded me of the rest of their disgusting features. Their decayed, dehydrated, and wrinkled skin, deadly rotten teeth, and noxious scent they give off are beyond terrifying. I was powerless as I watched it growl and feed on my arm as it attempted to satisfy its insatiable appetite. Soon a sharp pain that burned like hell erupted across my wound, resuming, and rapidly advancing the timer. I knew what the pain meant. I was bitten and would die soon.

    ¡°Luke, stay still!¡± Veronica screamed.

    She pointed the gun at me and then¡­

    fired.

    One clean shot through the head ended its life for good. A loud thump is what I heard as its corpse hit the ground.

    ¡°Luke don¡¯t fall behind! We¡¯re almost there!¡± Veronica ordered in distress.

    I was surprisingly calm and followed Veronica¡¯s directions. I knew better than to continue to think about the bite because reaching the safe room was the immediate priority, Mom and Veronica taught me well. I just had to continue evading the undead and stay directly behind her as she cleared a path in the dark corridor. Luckily, zombies are slow, at least these ones were. We made it to the safe room about thirties seconds later, but then another zombie appeared out of the darkness and grabbed Veronica.

    ¡®Click. Click.¡¯

    An empty clip; a rare and seemingly fatal mistake.

    ¡°Shit!¡± she panicked with a terrified look on her face.

    I watched helplessly as the zombie took a big bite out of her skin, followed by her traumatic scream of anguish. We were infected, meaning we would both die soon.

    I had no gun, I had to leave it behind when Veronica dragged me out of bed and alerted me of our persistent pursuer¡¯s presence. My marksmanship was nowhere near hers, especially in the dark, so¡­ I doubt I could¡¯ve prevented our fate.

    Her loud cries of pain, the sound of distant gunfire, and seeing several faint red eyes throughout the darkness, eventually snapped me out of my panicked state. I rushed to Veronica¡¯s free left arm and quickly gave her my survival knife. She grabbed it and plunged it into the temple of the zombie. A soft squish noise is all I heard, followed by the cold thump of its corpse. Veronica quickly recovered and scrambled to open the large, silver door.

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    *

    We wasted no time with the locks, but we both knew we were just delaying the inevitable. The safe room was filled with eight different colored candle lanterns, allowing us the gift of visibility. Our haven was the size of a large bedroom, and a sizeable, unpacked sleeping bag was on the floor of the top left corner of the room. There were numerous amounts of essential supplies neatly scattered about. The thick, sturdy walls and the solid steel door reinforced the notion that nobody could break in there.

    Unfortunately, we were in the middle of the mansion, which meant we had no way of seeing what was happening outside. If the enemy knew where we were hiding, they would¡¯ve forced us out with tear gas or set the mansion ablaze. Taking hostages would¡¯ve been another effective tactic, but I doubt negotiation ever crossed their minds.

    Their goal was, undoubtedly, Veronica Shinka. Her zombie kill ratio is minuscule to the number of enemies she¡¯s made, that I know of. But she¡¯s been taking care of me since my mom died and I¡¯ll always follow her no matter what. The fact that they didn¡¯t set the mansion on fire meant they wanted to make her suffer by their own hands. The Deathstalkers pursued us for years, but¡­ they just vanished after this. What¡­ happened?

    Neither the zombies nor the Deathstalkers were even the most prominent threat at the time. The safe room wasn¡¯t really ¡°safe¡±. It was more of a way to collect our thoughts and think about the most critical and dangerous facts.

    A million thoughts ran through my mind all at once and I was about to panic, before remembering my teachings. ¡°Focus on the most important task at hand.¡± I assumed it was escaping without dying, but with so much chaos outside and our bites, that goal seemed impossible. I failed to think of anything useful and instead looked at Veronica to see what she was doing. It was the first time I got to see her clearly that night. An Asian woman in her late thirties. She had long dark black hair with small braids on the left side, bangs that partially covered her brown eyes, and a look of deep concern on her face as she concentrated on crafting an orizuru, an origami goose from a small piece of paper. She was wearing a black tank top, blue jeans and was carrying her enigmatic small black purse.

    There was a mirror that allowed me to take a quick glance at myself. Messy black afro, black skin, brown eyes, dirty white t-shirt, and blue jeans. The reemerging burning sensation on my arm forced me to inspect my wound out of fear. A chunk of my skin was gone, blood was oozing out and it was the sharpest pain I¡¯ve ever experienced in my entire life. I hoped that a doctor would¡¯ve been able to save me, but I wasn¡¯t na?ve enough to think I was special.

    Getting bit was¡­is a death sentence. I should¡¯ve died in less than twelve hours and became the very thing I hate the most. All they do is eat, people and animals; living, dying, or dead; it doesn¡¯t matter to them. The fucks don¡¯t even need to eat to survive! They just eat and eat with a seemingly endless appetite. It¡¯s a cruel fate that all of humanity shares upon death, and nobody can stop it.

    ¡°Veronica, what are we going to do?¡±

    The gunfire was becoming more rapid and the growling was decreasing, but she didn¡¯t say a word. She just looked at me with a blank look on her face before inspecting her own wound. She seemed deep in thought for a few minutes before reaching into her purse and taking out two small metal containers, the size of a lipstick tube.

    I quietly watched as she pulled out two syringes from the containers. One was filled with a red liquid, and the other filled with a blue liquid. Just what the hell were they and why didn¡¯t I say anything?! I just continued to watch as she put the red syringe back into her container in her purse. Next, she injected the blue colored syringe into the wrist of her infected arm. Then she let out a deep sigh of relief and looked relaxed for just a split second before returning to that concerned look of hers.

    She silently walked towards me as she brought out the red syringe again. I had so many questions, but I was too scared to ask. I couldn¡¯t control my breathing, and my heart felt like it was going to explode!

    ¡°There¡¯s no time to explain, but this will keep you safe and get us out of here,¡± she vaguely explained in haste.

    There it was again, that cold glare in her eyes as she knelt to match my height. Death was approaching us from inside and outside the room, and I couldn¡¯t do a damn thing about it. My mind raced with crazy thoughts. Am I going to be shot to death first? Burned alive? Will I turn before Veronica? Will we have to kill each other to prevent the turning? Is it too late to cut off our arm to stop the infection? Will I live to see Olympus and the other kingdoms? If only I didn¡¯t get bit, and if only I had my gun to protect Veronica from getting bit, then at least one of us would survive!

    I couldn¡¯t move, and I felt hot and cold at the same time. Nerves? Or were these the things that happen to us before certain death? Yet, I somehow maintained eye contact with her. She seemed so calm yet, so worried. So smart and amazing, but so cold and mysterious.

    ¡°Luke, I¡¯m so sorry about this,¡± she apologized in guilt.

    Veronica injected the red syringe into the wrist of my infected arm, and then¡­

 Act 1: Olympus. Chapter 1: Shelter

    Six Years Later

    June 21, 2075

    0630 CDT (Central Daylight Time)

    Olympia, Kansas

    Veronica Shinka''s Establishment

    <u>Luke Miller''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Luke Miller, wake up!!!¡± Veronica furiously shouts from downstairs.

    I never went to bed, Veronica. Too anxious but why? Why can¡¯t I remember? Our scars and the fact that we¡¯re still breathing is proof that it wasn¡¯t a dream! We should¡¯ve died! We got bit, that¡¯s how it works! How did we escape?! None of it makes sense!

    Waking up in a car was the next thing I remembered. She didn¡¯t even explain anything. She just said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Go back to sleep because we¡¯ll be gathering supplies for our journey to Olympus.¡± I hate that I can¡¯t find the courage to ask her what the hell happened, even after all these years. Ah! I gotta stop beating myself up over this. I have to focus on the task at hand, today¡¯s the day I dread the most. June 21st, Draft Day.

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    ¡°I¡¯ll be down in a second!¡± I say.

    ¡°Meow,¡± Akemi greets in interest.

    When did she get in here? Veronica and her adopted black cat perfectly complement each other¡¯s mysterious personalities. The look of disapproval on her face must be because of my room. It is a mess, but I guess I should quickly clean up since it¡¯ll probably be the last time I see it.

    It¡¯s a tiny, but comfortable bedroom. I¡¯ll miss the worn-out queen-sized bed and sheets, the blue curtains that cover the window, and the orange shelf filled with books and comics from Teresa to distract me from the fact that I wish I had a working television, but that will always be a pipe dream.

    The Thunder Castle is the only building with electricity anyway. Thunder Castle requires electricity for our Thunderbolts to function properly. The council also requires a way to communicate with our overseers.

    Let¡¯s see what¡¯s under my bed, boring textbooks, homework, homework, more homework, and an empty water bottle. What¡¯s on my nightstand? Woah! The frames are too close to the edge!

    Phew. Fixed it. Squad Zeus¡¯s crisp graduation picture, and Veronica and I¡¯s Welcome to Olympus photograph are my room¡¯s highlights. But enough procrastinating, Veronica is ready to blow a fuse and my friends are waiting for me.

 Chapter 2: Dreams & Nightmares

    Six Years Ago

    May 4, 2069

    2019 CDT

    Near Del Rio, Texas

    <u>Luke Miller''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Olympus is a very civilized kingdom, home to thousands of people inside of the city and its nearby settlements,¡± Veronica explains in excitement.

    Olympus! I can¡¯t wait to see it! I¡¯m so tired of the desert, and the further we get away from Scorpius, the better! But road trips make me so sleepy. The loudness of the dune buggy¡¯s engine was annoying at first, but I¡¯ve adapted to it, like everything else. The sun will be setting soon, so maybe sleep is a good idea. There¡¯s nothing out here except sand, rocks, cacti, and desert animals anyway. No zombies in our sights, at least for now, and it¡¯d be impossible for them to catch up to us at this speed. Despite that, the Black Scorpions and bandits are our newest threats to look out for. We¡¯ve been on the run for four years, never getting a chance to rest, but it¡¯ll all be over soon.

    It¡¯s been twenty-nine days since the hellish mansion incident. Finding a functional vehicle is never easy, and obtaining gas is even harder. The Deathstalker¡¯s cars didn¡¯t suit the terrain for the destination, yet we were able to make use of their gas by siphoning it.

    ¡°Olympus is run by a council, each member in charge of overseeing separate sections of the kingdom. Not only am I one of those leaders, but I¡¯m also a founding member,¡± she continues while adjusting her sunglasses.

    Being out at dark is too risky but the Black Scorpions limit our options. Their ¡°shoot first and not even bother with the questions¡± mentality only increases the mortality rate of The New World. At least we have plenty of spare gas, food, weapons, and water for the trip, but something is missing, and I think she knows what it is.

    Sniff sniff.

    We stink, almost as bad as a zombie!

    ¡°They should have warm water in Olympus,¡± she assures with a chuckle.

    Your laughter is as soothing as our newly scavenged black cloaks, but it doesn¡¯t match that constant cold look in your eyes. Your sunglasses are just another disguise, like the movie stars of The Old World. You only go by Veronica Shinka when you¡¯re alone with me, ¡°Hisako Tsumi.¡± I don¡¯t really know much about you, but I still trust you with my life, despite what I¡¯ve overheard about your past. You¡¯re the perfect guardian and a great teacher. Nevertheless, your history is the one thing you always avoid, because of the unspoken rule. You like to be in charge, ever humorless, and only smile whenever you¡¯re around me.

    You¡¯re human though, just like me so how in the world are we still alive?! I¡¯m still too scared to even ask. Neither of us experienced a fever, uncontrollable sweat, rapid dehydration, or periorbital puffiness. Even our clearly fatal wounds have turned into normal scars.

    ¡°I lost contact with my friends shortly before I met you. Like all kingdoms, Olympus contains a barrier that prevents the undead from entering the city,¡± she proceeds with her explanation. ¡°An abyss known as The Styx River encircles the entire city. Four drawbridges are located on the north south east and west parts of it, allowing Olympians to safely enter and exit the kingdom.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a good thing that zombies can¡¯t fly, Veronica.¡±

    Shit, that¡¯s a terrifying thought!

    ¡°Thank God they can¡¯t fly, they¡¯re already horrifying enough! I¡¯m getting nightmares just thinking about it,¡± she quickly acknowledges in frightening haste. ¡°Anyway, Olympia has protection on the inside as well. Every citizen must wear an electronic bracelet known as a Thunderbolt. The Thunderbolt lights up red if someone is infected, green if healthy, and black if dead. The communications branch oversees overseeing and dispatching the Police Force to deal with an infected or dead citizen,¡± she explains in her usual informative tone.

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    You always love explaining and breaking things down to me. Your emotions are proof of your humanity. I wouldn¡¯t know what to do if you were a robot.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to remind you of our overseers now because it feels appropriate,¡± she states in a somber tone. ¡°Nineteen years ago, after The Old World collapsed, and The Age of Zombies began, The World Government turned their back on humanity and fled from their responsibilities like cowards. They were smart enough to leave some of their own behind as they occupied a kingdom for their inevitable return. This kingdom became known as Gaia, formerly Los Angeles, California, and Hawaii. The remaining Royals escaped into orbit on a dozen massive ships, known as The Twelve Zodiacs, each containing one thousand people. The bastards¡­ just sat on their asses in peace as we all suffered!¡±

    Cowards¡­

    ¡°The rest of humanity entered a short state of chaos before The Nine Kingdoms were created for shelter. Olympia, Athenia, formerly Fernando De Noronha, Brazil. Scorpia, formerly Mexico City, Mexico. Rion, formerly Nagoya, Japan, Inpu near Osaka, Japan. Hephaestus, formerly Tokyo, Japan. Sarpedon, residing within Africa¡¯s Lake Victoria. Prometheus, formerly Novaya Zemlya and Severnaya Zemlya Russia, and Gaia, were¡­ are humanity¡¯s last line of defense against the undead army,¡± she calmly explains. ¡°Each kingdom is unique from one another, with their own set of regulations, but then the Royals decided to dictate the survivors with an unjust set of laws. The cruelest of their rules state that each kingdom can only have a certain number of people inside. They warned The Nine Kingdoms to obey their authority or face the deadly outcomes of their uncooperative actions.¡±

    Bullies.

    ¡°The Nine Kingdoms were rightfully pissed, Rion being the most vocal of all. They threatened immediate retaliation; consequently, the Royals decided to use them to illustrate what happens when a kingdom defies their law. They aimed their superweapon directly at Rion as a demonstration of their powers. All of humanity observed in awe as a glowing red beam of light illuminated across Earth¡¯s blue skies. Rion was obliterated just like that. Nobody knew the Royals had such a destructive weapon in their possession, and this superweapon became known as Azrael, The Archangel of Death. The Eight Kingdoms dared not to defy the Royals ever since Azrael¡¯s emergence.¡±

    How cruel.

    ¡°Leaving a kingdom and its borders means being forced to fend for yourself in The New World but staying within one means you¡¯ll have to follow rules you don¡¯t agree with.¡±

    Bastards! Life is already hard enough without safe shelter, but the added oppression from the Royals is evil! This hellish world is fucked beyond repair, and it¡¯s all because of the zombies and the Royals!

    *

    ¡°One more thing, Luke. Don¡¯t ever bring attention to your scar. If anyone notices and asks about it, tell them you got it from scavenging. It¡¯s crucial for both of us that you understand, ok?¡±

    There¡¯s that serious tone again.

    ¡°I understand, Veronica.¡±

    Huh. The sun is finally setting. Wait¡­.

    ¡°Holy shit! Veronica, look! A shooting star.¡±

    ¡°Oh, wow. Make a wish, Luke.¡±

    I wish I was an astronaut or a ranger. All I would do is explore and protect the ones I love in a perfect world. I want the Royals to stop being jerks, and I wish that the zombies would just disappear.

    ¡°I wish we could shower. We really stink, Veronica.¡±

    ¡°Hilarious,¡± she snorts with a hysterical laugh.

    I¡¯ve almost forgotten what your laughter sounds like. Now, I can¡¯t stop myself from laughing! Humor makes us forget how shitty the world is, even for just a few seconds! Wait! This will be the best wish!

    ¡°Oh, come on, you¡¯re going to waste your wish on something as silly as that?¡± she questions with a disapproving nod.

    At least I finally made you laugh. Now to reveal my real wish.

    ¡°I wish this moment could last forever. Just me and you, and the sound of our laughter. Watching the sunset and stargazing in this perfect weather. If I could make time go on repeat, this would be the definitive moment I¡¯d choose. Cruising through the desert on this perfect night with no immediate worries. If only the buggy had unlimited gas or-,¡±

    That¡¯s a huge smile.

    ¡°Luke, you have no idea how much that means to me because I was thinking the exact same wish,¡± she interrupts as she takes off her sunglasses.

    You¡¯re crying?

    ¡°There¡¯s just one small thing I¡¯d change,¡± she reveals as she wipes off her tears.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Music. We need some tunes. If only we had a CD.¡±

    ¡°Nah, we don¡¯t need any music. It¡¯s perfect as it is.¡±

    Getting sleepy. Let me grab this blanket before I freeze. Staying warm is the priority now.

    ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right, Luke,¡± Veronica considers.

    ¡°But I¡¯ll keep an eye out for a CD.¡±

    This blanket is so comfortable.

    ¡°You¡¯ll keep an eye out for a CD in the dark, scary desert while falling asleep?¡± she asks softly.

    ¡°I¡¯ll sleep with one eye open.¡±

    ¡°Smart-ass,¡± she chuckles.

    ¡°I wonder who I get it from.¡±

    ¡°Goodnight, Luke. I¡¯ll wake you up before sunrise so you can keep watch and let me rest.¡±

    You¡¯re saying, I love you and will always protect you.

    ¡°Goodnight, Veronica.¡±

    I love you and will always protect you too, but life is so ruthless. Anyone can die at any moment without warning. Maybe, just maybe, I¡¯ll know what safety is like for the first time once we reach Olympia.

 Chapter 3: The Cooper Twins

    15 Days Later

    May 19, 2069

    1200 CDT

    South Olympia, Kansas

    <u>Rachel Cooper''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°So, what do you think ¡®bout it, Billy?¡± I ask.

    Olympia! Our new home is so spectacular! I hope he likes it as much as I do, but I don¡¯t understand how he sees anythin¡¯ out of that massive brown bowl cut of his. Vision is the most essential sense for survival; therefore, I will always wear my colorful headband to cover my bangs wherever I go! You shouldn¡¯t be so unkind ¡®bout his hair, meanie. Not only is it rude, but you also have long and messy brown hair that¡¯s never, ever been cut. Hmm. Now that I think ¡®bout it, our brown hair and brown colored eyes are probably the only things we have in common, except my hair has been mixed in with a bit of blonde from Ma. Regardless he¡¯s a boy, so my hair is automatically much more spectacular than his.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. It seems awful,¡± he replies cautiously. ¡°Hey Rachel, do you think we stand out?¡±

    He might be on to something! City life is so strange, and people seem so tense. Everyone is dressed differently too. Nobody is wearin¡¯ gray overhauls with olive-green shirts like us!

    ¡°No way, Billy. I don¡¯t think we¡¯re the weird ones ¡®ere. If anything, I think they¡¯re the odd ones. They need to learn how to chillax.¡±

    Residents aside, Olympia is beautiful! Sunny skies, perfect weather, horse traffic in this busy street, merchants sellin¡¯ clothes, tall buildings, and plenty of police patrollin¡¯. Oh, but I feel so homesick already! I wanna go home! The uglies ruin everything!

    ¡°Draft Day is a scary thing,¡± Billy unexpectedly blurts out. ¡°I mean, what kind of evil bein¡¯ could come up with such a thing? I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll pick us to become apprentices. They¡¯ll probably appoint someone better like the Hoovers. Sigh. I miss home already, sis.¡±

    ¡°I miss home too, Billy, but I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be able to return in no time! Besides, I would love to join the fight against the uglies if it means we¡¯ll be able to help Olympus again.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± he asks, with what I imagine is a raised eyebrow. ¡°Why do you always call the zombies ¡®uglies¡¯? You¡¯re uncool.¡±

    ¡°You said ¡®spectacular¡¯ wrong. I call them uglies because they¡¯re pretty ugly, duh.¡±

    ¡°Pretty ugly and scary, so I reckon you¡¯re not wrong. And I reckon I¡¯m spectacular as well because I¡¯ll be helpin¡¯ you out,¡± he responds with a chuckle.

    So brave!

    ¡°That¡¯s fine, Billy, but as the little brother, you¡¯ll have to settle for bein¡¯ just a bit less spectacular than I.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re surprisingly confident today, Rachel.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m shocked that you can see that. You¡¯ll never attract ¡°chicks¡± with horrid hair like that. Allow me to help.¡±

    There, a quick pat on the hand!

    ¡°Voila! I¡¯ve passed on some of my spectacularness to you! Gasp! Stop talking!¡±

    ¡°But I didn¡¯t sa-..¡±

    ¡°Down the alleyway! Kids our age are approaching, and they look like they¡¯re ready to welcome us to Olympia!¡±

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    Yay! One of them is a girl, and she looks to be twelve years old like me! Time to make my first friend!

    ¡°So, it¡¯s true, Nia,¡± the boy says to the girl next to him.

    He¡¯s very muscular lookin¡¯ and pretty freakin¡¯ tall! Hispanic, wearin¡¯ a brown football jersey with the number twelve on it and blue jeans. I don¡¯t think he realizes that his jersey is too small, though! I can see his belly button! I have a feelin¡¯ that he could knock someone out with ease, but I am absolutely positive that Billy could take him! Not like it¡¯ll ever come to that, Rachel, but boys will be boys. It¡¯s just another reason why girls are superior.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe this shit, Rico,¡± Nia responds in disgust.

    She¡¯s a Black girl, a bit shorter than Rico, and has long hair just like me! She¡¯s wearin¡¯ an identical jersey, but it doesn¡¯t match her pink sweatpants and sandals. Her shirt looks more like a dress since it goes all the way down to her knees! She appears to be irritated. Gasp! I know the perfect conversation starter!

    ¡°Greetings!¡± I say.

    Darn it, brain!

    ¡°Uh, I mean, howdy. I think you¡¯re irritated ¡®bout somethin¡¯, and I can relate to that because my brothers irritate me. This means we have somethin¡¯ in common, which is why we must become friends!¡±

    Now for the handshake. No! Stop, Rachel! You¡¯re too sweaty! Did she notice?! Of course, she did! She crossed her arms, which means you¡¯ve been rejected again! Where did I go wrong?!

    ¡°I think you lead on too strong, Rachel,¡± Billy answers. ¡°Also, you¡¯re the irritatin¡¯ one just so you know.¡±

    Duh!

    ¡°I forgot ¡®bout the introductions. My name is Rachel Cooper, and this is my younger twin brother, Billy Cooper. We are new residents of Olympia, originatin¡¯ aaaaaaall the way from Bracketeville, Tex-.¡±

    ¡°Shut the hell up,¡± Nia rudely interrupts.

    What? I¡¯m so bamboozled! What did I do this time?!

    ¡°We don¡¯t fucking care who you are. We want to know what you¡¯re doing here,¡± Rico asks in a curious tone.

    They don¡¯t know?

    ¡°Um, the Black Scorpions raided our ranch, and then we got attacked by uglies,¡± I say. ¡°However, the heroic Olympian army saved us, and now we live ¡®ere, currently searchin¡¯ for friends.¡±

    ¡°Wow. You hear this shit, Rico?¡± Nia asks in confusion as she puts a hand on her hip.

    Hmm. That gaze is quite unfriendly.

    ¡°I hear it, but I don¡¯t believe it,¡± Rico scoffs.

    ¡°Shit¡¯s ridiculous,¡± Nia states with an eye roll.

    I thought I explained it correctly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think they get it. They must be stupid,¡± Billy whispers into my ear.

    ¡°It¡¯s rude, but it may be true.¡±

    ¡°The rumors of the capital¡¯s poor education system are true!¡± Billy suggests.

    ¡°What are you hicks whispering about?¡± Nia asks with that intimidating gaze.

    Hicks? That¡¯s offensive. I¡¯ll have to let her know how hurtful it is in case she¡¯s unaware.

    ¡°So, here¡¯s what I got from your sob story,¡± Rico begins to say as he cracks his knuckles. ¡°You think you can just waltz into Olympia uninvited and eat up all our food because you were too weak to defend your home.¡±

    Why is he so upset? We¡¯re all Olympians, ain¡¯t we?

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but that¡¯s wrong. It¡¯s not that we wanted to leave; however, we were left with no choice. Brackettville ain¡¯t the only ranch in the kingdom, so there¡¯ll still be plenty of food available for everyone,¡± Billy clarifies as he approaches Rico.

    ¡°Ridiculous,¡± Nia declares with a head shake.

    ¡°Very,¡± Rico agrees.

    Rico is getting¡­ a bit, too close in my brother¡¯s face.

    ¡°My older brother was killed by zombies, defending your fucking home! I can¡¯t fucking believe that he died for stupid, ungrateful hicks!¡± Rico shouts in anger.

    He needs to stop backin¡¯ Billy into the wall.

    He pushed my brother! What¡¯s wrong with him?!

    ¡°Billy!¡± I shout.

    Ow! My hair!

    ¡°Let go, Nia!¡± I shout.

    ¡°Stop!¡± Billy cries out.

    Get up, Billy! Fight!

    Rico stomped on my brother! Billy!

    ¡°An Olympian? You¡¯re as fucking delusional as you look. Pussies like you won¡¯t survive long enough for Draft Day,¡± Rico insults in a sharp tone.

    Ew, Rico spit right in Billy¡¯s face! He needs to stop steppin¡¯ on my brother¡¯s chest!

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with y¡¯all?! Please stop!¡± I shout.

    This is evil! Is no one gonna stop this?! They notice us, but they¡¯re not helping! Ow! Why Nia?! Why?! We could¡¯ve been friends!

    ¡°Nobody¡¯s gonna bother with trash. Outsiders don¡¯t fucking belong here. You have just as much value as what¡¯s on the bottom of our shoes,¡± Nia rudely explains.

    Just stop pullin¡¯ my hair, Nia!

    ¡°Case in point,¡± she continues while pointing at Rico¡¯s shoe.

    ¡°Y¡¯all ain¡¯t friendly at all!¡± I shout.

    Tears?! You¡¯re the oldest sibling, yet you¡¯re such a big baby who can¡¯t even protect your brother! My worth is equivalent to what¡¯s on the soles of their shoes!

    Ow! Nia pushed me! My elbow! The ground ain¡¯t soft at all!

    ¡°The cops won¡¯t help your asses either. They don¡¯t give a shit what happens in South Olympia as long as nobody is killing anyone,¡± Nia clarifies with a malicious look in her eyes.

    She kneed me in my stomach! Get off me!

    ¡°Welcome to Olympia,¡± Nia chuckles.

    No! Not a fist! I¡¯m sorry, Billy, but your sister sucks! This is gonna hurt!

    ¡°Leave them alone!!!¡± a girl¡¯s voice booms with fury.

 Chapter 4: Ruby Redheart

    May 19, 2069

    1205 CDT

    South Olympia, Kansas

    <u>Billy Cooper¡¯s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Oh shit,¡± Rico says in horror.

    He finally took his foot off my chest!

    ¡°Just our luck,¡± Nia says, takin¡¯ her knees off Rachel.

    Is someone comin¡¯ to save us?!

    ¡°Billy! Are you ok?¡± Rachel cries as she helps me stand up.

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ ok, Rachel.¡±

    ¡°It just had to be her,¡± Nia says with a glare on her face.

    ¡°Who is it?¡± Rachel and I ask in unison.

    ¡°You wanna tell the stupid twins, or should I?¡± Nia asks Rico.

    ¡°I got this,¡± Rico responds. ¡°She¡¯s the biggest and baddest bully in the entire capital, extremely loud, a public menace, and known as the rascal of Olympia. Her obnoxious personality makes her impossible to ignore. She doesn¡¯t give a fuck about the rules and gives less of a fuck about the consequences. Ruby Redheart is a fucking lunatic loner who should be avoided at all costs.¡±

    ¡°And that¡¯s why you¡¯ll be talking to her,¡± Nia quickly declares with a shove.

    What a strong push!

    ¡°Wha-? Oh shit. H-hello Ruby,¡± Rico says to Ruby Redheart.

    ¡°What the hell are ya idiots doin¡¯?¡± Ruby inquires.

    She appears to be our age, which will definitely make Rachel happy if she¡¯s friendly. Ruby Redheart is a redheaded gal, wearin¡¯ sunglasses like a celebrity, and is eating a lollipop as she stares down Rico. Caucasian, short hair, and wearin¡¯ a black shirt that says, ¡°Evil on Tour,¡± along with black jeans, a hole in the right knee. This gal is also carryin¡¯ a black guitar case on her back and is wearing black fingerless gloves over her hands. She¡¯s even wearin¡¯ a black beanie with a white skull and crossbones, on it as her ultimate accessory! She¡¯s the strangest stranger I¡¯ve seen all day!

    ¡°Well, you see um. Achoo! Oh, my allergies. Nia should explain. Go ahead, Nia,¡± Rico diverts to Nia.

    What a nasty elbow from Nia.

    ¡°Oh, um well, you see. Cough! Sorry, we¡¯re not feeling too well, Ruby. Let¡¯s talk later,¡± Nia chuckles.

    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Ruby says in a sympathetic tone. ¡°Achoo!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not flu season right, Rachel?¡± I ask.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I hope we don¡¯t catch whatever illness is goin¡¯ around,¡± Rachel says hesitantly.

    ¡°My allergies are acting up too,¡± Ruby says to Nia and Rico as she puts her sunglasses on top of her beanie.

    Her bright green eyes are super cool!

    ¡°We¡¯re sorry to hear that, Ruby. That¡¯s why we should all go home, right?¡± Nia requests in a concerned tone.

    ¡°Do you know what I¡¯m allergic to?¡± Ruby asks as she inspects her fingernails.

    She seems to be intimidatin¡¯ the two, based on how they¡¯re backin¡¯ up.

    ¡°What do you think she¡¯s allergic to, Rachel?¡±

    ¡°Hmm. Definitely bees,¡± she answers in confidence.

    What a weird answer.

    ¡°No way. I bet she¡¯s allergic to birds.¡± I say.

    ¡°There are lots of birds and bees here, so let¡¯s just stay quiet and find out,¡± Rachel replies in excitement.

    ¡°What are you allergic to, Ruby?¡± Rico and Nia ask in unison.

    What a mean look from Ruby!

    ¡°I¡¯m allergic to bullshit, and that¡¯s exactly what I smell around here, so tell me the truth! We can do this the easy way, or¡± she calmly says as she puts on brass knuckles. ¡°We can do this the hard way. Kicking ass is in my job description, so I¡¯d pick the easy way if I was you two, but I¡¯m hoping we can do this shit the hard way.¡±

    ¡°Stop acting all tough, Ruby,¡± Rico recovers as he straightens up his posture. ¡°You¡¯re just a scared little girl who¡¯s looking for attention. That¡¯s why you won¡¯t be anything except zombie bait when it¡¯s our time for the draft.¡±

    ¡°Wow. I can¡¯t even express how happy you just made me with words, so let me show you with my fists,¡± Ruby fires back in confidence with a smirk.

    She means business!

    ¡°I¡¯m not scared of some crazy bitch,¡± Rico says in a stern voice, clenchin¡¯ his fists next.

    ¡°Oh yeah? Is that why you just pissed yourself?¡± Ruby giggles.

    ¡°What? I didn¡¯t piss myself,¡± Rico says in disbelief as he looks down.

    A powerful punch from Ruby! She made him throw up!

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s so, so gross dude,¡± Ruby states in disgust.

    A powerful uppercut to the jaw from Ruby and he¡¯s out cold!

    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Holy shit!¡± Me and Rachel say.

    Jinx.

    Now she¡¯s eyeing Nia!

    ¡°Nia, buddy. Easy way or,¡± Ruby asks as she shadowboxes, ¡°Hard way?¡± She asks with a quick glance at Rico.

    ¡°We was just saying hi to the new people,¡± Nia answers in fear.

    Liar!

    ¡°Oh, really? Because it looked like you guys were harassing my friends. At least¡± Ruby replies, adjusting her brass knuckles. ¡°It looked like that to me. What about you two?¡±

    ¡°Is she talking about us, Billy?¡± Rachel asks in confusion.

    ¡°I think she¡¯s talking about us,¡± I say.

    ¡°I¡¯m talking about you two!¡± Ruby yells in rage.

    ¡°OH!¡± Me and Rachel say.

    Double jinx.

    ¡°What should we say, Rachel?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Um, Ruby saved us, but if we agree with her, she¡¯ll lay her flat like a pancake, and I don¡¯t think Ma and Pa will ¡®preciate that,¡± Rachel whispers in my ear.

    ¡°Yeah, we might get in trouble,¡± I say.

    ¡°Ruby, um, they were just saying hello,¡± Rachel answers as she steps forward.

    ¡°What, with their fists?¡± Ruby responds with an eye roll, unconvinced.

    Time to step in!

    ¡°They were just getting a little too rough, don¡¯t you know?¡± I say.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t know. Unbelievable!¡± Ruby shouts in frustration! ¡°Nia, you can¡­ go.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s already gone!¡± Rachel points out.

    ¡°I can see that captain obvious. Damn it. I was going to tell her that she should switch jerseys with her boyfriend,¡± Ruby says in disappointment.

    ¡°Right?¡± Rachel giggles. ¡°You could even see Rico¡¯s¡­¡±

    ¡°Bellybutton!¡± The two laugh in unison.

    Gals are weird. What¡¯s so funny about a belly button?

    ¡°I think we should check on Rico to see if he¡¯s ok. You probably hit him too hard,¡± Rachel says in worry.

    ¡°Nah, he¡¯s ok. It¡¯s not like I killed him. Besides, that asshole had it coming,¡± Ruby says in assurance. ¡°Anyway. Ahem. Names?¡±

    The handshake!

    ¡°I am Rachel Cooper, and this is my younger twin brother, Billy Cooper,¡± Rachel introduces, extending her right hand.

    Ruby took her hand back!

    ¡°Too slow!¡± Ruby snickers.

    We fell for the classic!

    ¡°Aww. Rico said that you¡¯re Ruby Redheart, the rascal of Olympia?¡± Rachel asks with enthusiasm.

    ¡°I am known by many names. Most of them are not nice words, but yes, I am the one, the only, the amazing Ruby Redheart!¡± She introduces herself as she puts her sunglasses back on. ¡°I¡¯m extraordinarily talented, but people here are too close-minded to recognize my skills. People just don¡¯t understand that as an artist, I have the need to express myself,¡± she discloses with a shrug.

    ¡°With your fists?¡± Me and Rachel ask.

    Triple jinx.

    ¡°Scoff! No! Well sometimes, but only to other bullies,¡± Ruby explains with a sheepish smile. ¡°Listen, if you¡¯re gonna hang out with moi, then ya need to learn how to defend yourselves, especially in these streets, capiche? Troublemakers like to roam around here because our education system sucks, but who gives a fuck, right? Most of us will be zombie chow when we turn eighteen anyway. And by most, I mean roughly eighty percent of us. But not me, of course, and not you two if you follow my lead.¡±

    ¡°That percentage is sad to hear. I wish the world wasn¡¯t like this,¡± Rachel says in a gloomy tone.

    ¡°We¡¯ll do whatever it takes to save Brackettville,¡± I say.

    ¡°Hey, if that¡¯s your goal, then go for it. I have a dream of my own,¡± Ruby says as she puts her sunglasses back onto her beanie.

    ¡°What¡¯s your dream?¡± Me and Rachel and ask.

    Quadruple jinx.

    ¡°Well, I doubt that someone will take me up as an apprentice, but those idiots are missing out on greatness. I got it all! Knowledge, skills, explosive personality, and endless talent,¡± Ruby happily explains.

    ¡°What¡¯s your dream, Ruby?¡± Rachel asks again.

    ¡°Heh,¡± Ruby chuckles with a big smile. ¡°I¡¯m going to be a world-famous rockstar, just like the ones in The Old World! Everybody on Earth will know who Ruby Redheart is one day! In fact, I already have my band¡¯s shirt made. Our name is ¡°Evil on Tour,¡± and it¡¯s pretty badass if I do say so myself, and I do. My band and I will perform the best rock concert of all time in front of the eight Kingdoms! We¡¯ll even kick zombie and shithead ass along the way!¡±

    ¡°Shitheads?¡± Me and Rachel ask.

    Quintuple jinx.

    ¡°The Royals. I call them shitheads because that¡¯s what they are, duh,¡± Ruby giggles.

    ¡°You like nicknaming things just like me! We call the zombies, uglies,¡± Rachel explains in glee.

    ¡°She calls them that, not me,¡± I say.

    ¡°Uglies? That is amazing! I have a feeling that we¡¯ll be best friends, Rachel Cooper! We¡¯ll be as thick as thieves. Los dos amigas (The two friends), ok?!¡± Ruby yells in excitement.

    She¡¯s so close to Rachel¡¯s face.

    ¡°Billy Boy! You have yet to impress me,¡± Ruby shouts.

    Why are you so close to my face?!

    ¡°If you want to hang out with a future celebrity, then ya need to dazzle me!¡± Ruby loudly explains.

    ¡°Ok fine, I just need some space, please,¡± I say.

    ¡°Your wish is granted, dude,¡± Ruby respects.

    I just¡­ need¡­ a few seconds.

    Burp!

    ¡°HAHAHAHA!¡± The three of us laugh.

    Mission accomplished. Ma always said laughter is the best medicine.

    ¡°Ok, I am impressed. I¡¯ll admit, I had my doubts,¡± Ruby laughs.

    It seems like we¡¯re fittin¡¯ in so far.

    ¡°So Ruby, how many people are in your band?¡± Rachel asks in curiosity.

    That¡¯s a good question. I wonder if they¡¯ll like us.

    ¡°What a good question. It¡¯s actually one of the reasons I rescued you from Rico and Nia. You see, the path to stardom is very lonely, especially when you have no fans¡­and no bandmates,¡± Ruby explains in an unenergetic tone.

    ¡°We see,¡± Rachel and I say.

    Sextuple jinx.

    ¡°But, that¡¯s where you two come in!¡± Ruby yells with a sudden burst of energy. ¡°I¡¯ll accept your offer of friendship if you agree to join my ban-¡±

    ¡°Deal!¡± Rachel agrees.

    The handshake confirms it!

    ¡°You have a deal, Ruby!¡± I say.

    And I¡¯ve sealed the deal!

    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s wrong, Ruby?¡± Rachel asks in worry.

    ¡°Um, nothing. I-you guys are just weird,¡± Ruby cries.

    Her voice¡­

    ¡°It¡¯s ok to cry. Everyone cries. We¡¯re as thick as thieves like you said, except we¡¯ll be los tres amigos (the three friends) instead of amigas,¡± Rachel says in tears as she hugs Ruby. ¡°I have a feeling that you¡¯re the best friend that I¡¯ve been looking for my entire life.¡±

    Gals are odd and very emotional, which is another reason why boys are superior.

    ¡°Damn it, Rachel. You¡¯re making me feel all feely and weird!¡± Ruby cries in frustration.

    ¡°You¡¯re hanging out with a bunch of weirdos, so that makes you a weirdo yourself,¡± Rachel replies in laughter.

    ¡°Yeah, well, I guess it does, and I¡¯ll kick anyone¡¯s ass who tries to mess with us. Alive, dead, or dying, I don¡¯t care! Anyone can get their ass beat when I¡¯m around,¡± Ruby responds in full confidence. ¡°Rachel! You¡¯re on bass. Billy! You¡¯re on drums! I¡¯ll teach you guys how to play before we have to start our stupid military training in two years.¡±

    ¡°The perpetrators are over there officers! They attacked me and turned my friend into a recliner! Please stop their madness!¡± Nia shouts from down the alleyway.

    ¡°Hey, you kids! Stop right there!¡± The officers shout.

    Oh no!

    ¡°You¡¯re such a liar, Nia,¡± Ruby bellows in rage. ¡°Shit guys, we gotta go. Like now!¡±

    Time to run!

    ¡°Are they who I think they are?¡± I ask Ruby.

    ¡°You are correct, Billy. Those¡­ are pigs,¡± Ruby answers.

    ¡°Those are some oddly shaped pigs,¡± I say.

    ¡°Not those kinds of pigs dude. They¡¯re Five-O,¡± Ruby says with an eye-roll.

    ¡°Fifty?¡± Me and Rachel say.

    Septuple jinx.

    ¡°It¡¯s not nice to talk about old people,¡± Rachel responds with a glare.

    ¡°No, I mean, it¡¯s the one time, the heat, the boys in blue, the po-po, the police.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you could¡¯ve just said police,¡± Rachel and I say.

    Octuple jinx!

    ¡°Look, the point is, they¡¯re asswipes. They don¡¯t like me, and they definitely don¡¯t like outsiders. I¡¯d like to avoid jail this week, so I came up with a plan. It might sound offensive, though,¡± Ruby explains.

    ¡°Did you say jail?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Plan?¡± Rachel asks with a puzzled look on her face.

    ¡°You guys are from the country, and we won¡¯t be able to outrun them for long, so my brain was like, hey, let¡¯s just borrow a horse. I mean they¡¯re ranchers right so they should know how to ride a horse. Also, there¡¯s someone I need to see. She¡¯s very mischievous,¡± Ruby quickly explains.

    Ruby Redheart is one crazy gal but she¡¯s fun to be around, saved us, and makes Rachel happy so she can¡¯t be as bad as Rico said. I think she¡¯s right about outsiders being treated like garbage, so the smart thing to do would be to avoid police and go with her plan.

    ¡°Ok, Ruby, let¡¯s borrow a horse!¡± I say.

    Did I just say that?

    ¡°This is so spectacular!¡± Rachel shouts in joy.

 Chapter 5: Notorious

    5 Minutes Later

    May 19, 2069

    1210 CDT

    South Olympia, Kansas

    <u>Ruby Redheart''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Found one,¡± Billy Boy proudly notifies us.

    He found a horse! Awesome, and the two know the importance of staying in shape. We should be safe in this new alleyway for the moment. But a large crowd of people, merchants, and coppers stand in the way between us and freedom! Oh, why does my fame have to be a blessing and a curse? I wonder how my new friends are coping. Rachel has an ecstatic look on her face, and Billy has a slightly less elated facial expression. Time to test their loyalty.

    ¡°Well, what are we waitin¡¯ for?¡± Rachel asks in confusion.

    ¡°Um, no,¡± I say.

    Let me move the clueless girl away from the exit.

    ¡°In case you guys forgot, we¡¯ve been framed, and I¡¯m not talking pictures,¡± I say. ¡°I¡¯m public enemy numero una (number one). All of Olympia knows my beautiful face, which is pretty sweet and unsweet at the same time. They saw you with me, so that makes you two my accomplices.¡±

    ¡°So?¡± Rachel pouts.

    ¡°So that means we¡¯re notorious, in a ginormous way,¡± I say. ¡°We¡¯ll need disguises to reach the horse.¡±

    I gotta take off my guitar case. God, it¡¯s so heavy!

    ¡°Where are we gonna get disguises?¡± Billy asks in worry.

    ¡°We¡¯re wearing them!¡± I say. ¡°I have to do something that involves privacy, so turn around, Billy! Rachel!¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Rachel says.

    ¡°We¡¯re gonna switch our clothes with each other,¡± I say. ¡°They¡¯re looking for the redhead in a black shirt, but they¡¯re not looking for the redhead in a collared shirt. It¡¯s a big city, so trust me. It¡¯ll work.¡±

    *

    ¡°Wow, Billy. You look so cool now,¡± Rachel says in amazement.

    ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± Billy says confidently.

    Stolen story; please report.

    Ok, you do look pretty cool, but only because of my sunglasses and jeans. Rachel¡¯s white t-shirt compliments the look.

    ¡°Ya look like a hipster which isn¡¯t a bad thing,¡± I say. ¡°Also, I definitely need to add fashion designer to my resume.¡±

    ¡°What ¡®bout me, Ruby? What do I look like?¡± Rachel asks in excitement.

    Let¡¯s see. You¡¯re wearing my black band shirt inside out, and your current blue jeans should be ok. Your long hair stands out, so I don¡¯t even know if the beanie I gave you will help.

    ¡°You look like you¡¯re in disguise because you¡¯re on the run, but that¡¯s ok because it¡¯s the look we¡¯re going for,¡± I say. ¡°We just have to hope that no one else notices. Now, as for my disguise, as you can see, I look like a disaster. Um, no offense, it¡¯s just not my natural look.¡±

    Your collared shirt looks like crap.

    ¡°What ¡®bout your red hair Ruby?¡± Rachel asks in concern.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll borrow a hat from a merchant.¡±

    ¡°Ok, just make sure to give it back,¡± she whines in disapproval.

    ¡°I will, I promise,¡± I say. ¡°We¡¯ll have to hide the extra clothes and my guitar in this alleyway before we split up. They¡¯re looking for a group of 3 kids, so just chillax and act natural.¡±

    *

    Just keep moving through the crowd, you got this. I want to keep this hat, but freaking Rachel made me feel all bad about it, so I guess I¡¯ll return it¡­ in a month or two. Gasp! They made it!

    ¡°You two are adorable,¡± I say. ¡°Trying to get a car is impossible, so ol¡¯ horsey here will have to do.¡±

    Horses are freaking tall! How do I mount one?

    ¡°Where are we goin¡¯ again?¡± They ask in worry, offering their hands in assistance.

    ¡°We are going to go to the north to visit an acquaintance of mine. Her name is Teresa Young. I hate her.¡±

    ¡°Why do you hate her?¡± Rachel asks with puppy eyes.

    ¡°Because she¡¯s freaking annoying, a know-it-all, and pretends she¡¯s so sweet and innocent! Don¡¯t let her fool you because she¡¯s evil, mischievous, aggravating and, she has a big freaking head! But I need the big brain inside of that massive head of hers to coach me because there¡¯s a certain someone I have to beat up.¡±

    Something fell out of my pocket! Oh god!

    ¡°Oh no, my baby!¡± I say. ¡°Move!¡±

    Phew. No damage was done. My silver sphere of destruction is ok.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Rachel asks in distress.

    ¡°My ultimate creation fell out of my pocket. His name is OBAE.¡±

    ¡°OooBAE?¡± the twins ask in unison.

    ¡°One-big-ass-explosion! But don¡¯t tell the pigs, in case we get caught. Don¡¯t tell anybody, actually. If anyone sees it and asks about it, tell them it¡¯s um, makeup, or something. But it¡¯s not even a big deal. OBAE is completely harmless as long as he¡¯s in the sphere.¡±

    ¡°Makeup? I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll believe that,¡± Billy Boy says in skepticism.

    ¡°Are you doubting the amazing Ruby Redheart?¡± I ask.

    ¡°My brother may be right, Ruby,¡± Rachel says. ¡°They might have a hard time believin¡¯ you because I don¡¯t think makeup glows red.¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll just tell them it¡¯s treasure. Now enough chit-chat because we have to find Teresa.¡±

    Thank you for helping me back onto the horse, amigos.

    ¡°Hey! The hell you doing with my horse?!¡± An angry man shouts from afar.

    Uh oh.

    ¡°Shit, let¡¯s go, Billy!¡± I say.

    Yes, so fast! What a successful escape!

    ¡°We¡¯re so sorry, sir! We just have to borrow this horse to escape the pigs that are chasin¡¯ us!¡± Naive Rachel apologizes.

    Street fights, meeting new people, dodging pigs, fashion designing, borrowing merchandise, obtaining a horse, and taking care of OBAE. It¡¯s not the most exciting way to start the day, but at least I have new bandmates. Kicking the new girl¡¯s ass will be yet another incredible achievement of the amazing Ruby Redheart!

 Chapter 6: Teresa Young

    20 Minutes Later

    May 19, 2069

    1230 CDT

    Drink-n-Forget, North Olympia

    <u>Rachel Cooper''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°This is ridiculous! We are grown-ass men and women! How do we keep losing?!¡± A feller cries out in disbelief.

    Ooh, a bar. It seems very¡­ bar-like? Two stories, several pool tables, dinin¡¯ tables, and everyone has a scary look on their faces. All the attention is focused on the large crowd in the center of the building. Oh, but I feel so bad ¡®bout the horse we¡¯ve abandoned. But Ruby said she¡¯ll be fine and that we¡¯ve successfully escaped from the fuzziness, so I should try to relax.

    ¡°Follow me,¡± Ruby instructs.

    Is she angry? Oh wow, so many people.

    ¡°This kid is amazing,¡± a feller says in wonder.

    ¡°She¡¯s a freaking genius!¡± A woman shouts at the top of her lungs.

    ¡°No way, this is bullshit. She¡¯s cheating somehow. Kids are sneaky,¡± another feller grumbles.

    ¡°Psst guys,¡± Ruby whispers. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to these idiots. Teresa Young is pure evil. She didn¡¯t even want to be my band manager. What a jerk.¡±

    We¡¯ll see, Gasp! That must be her! Sittin¡¯ near the round wooden table.

    ¡°You¡¯re cheating! I don¡¯t know how, but you are, Diamond!¡± A big burly lookin¡¯ feller sittin¡¯ across from a little girl shouts in anger.

    He slammed his fist on the table! Goodness, gracious!

    ¡°Heh. Sorry, Pumpkin Pie, but I don¡¯t speak sore loser,¡± Diamond responds with no fear whatsoever!

    Diamond must be Teresa! She seems so mysterious and a lot smaller and skinnier than I imagined. She¡¯s wearin¡¯ a dazzlin¡¯ white cowboy hat, a white tank top, and a blue skirt. Two large, floppy black pigtails are hangin¡¯ off the sides of her hair from what I can see. She¡¯s of Black and Caucasian lineage and she¡¯s agitatin¡¯ her opponents with an extremely mischievous smirk. Wow! She¡¯ll definitely be my friend!

    ¡°Excuse me for being blunt, like a certain annoying and big-headed red-haired friend of mine, but I¡¯ve won yet again. You were defeated by the best poker player in all of Olympus, so quit wasting my youth and pay up,¡± Teresa demands with confidence as she leans back in her chair.

    Ooh. The bravery.

    ¡°I¡¯m not annoying, you¡¯re annoying,¡± Ruby mutters in anger.

    ¡°Excuse my friend here, sirs, and ma¡¯ams. What she meant to say was, ¡°I have won, so please pay me.¡± She loves her rewards very much,¡± an Asian girl in olive green business clothes, with medium-length black hair that¡¯s dyed pink at the edges, standin¡¯ next to Teresa clarifies.

    ¡°Thank you, Kiko. Did you fools hear that? Are you honestly going to deny the request of the almighty, Kiko Farrington, daughter of Brian Farrington? Do I need to remind you that Brian Farrington is our brave general who fights a gazillion zombies every day, while you losers just sit on your butts sulking, wondering how I constantly whoop you?¡± Teresa continues to negotiate.

    My lord!

    ¡°Holy shit!¡± The rowdy crowd roars.

    ¡°Hah! I hope they beat her ass!¡± Ruby rudely laughs.

    ¡°Ow!¡± Ruby grumbles. ¡°What the hell, Rachel? Why¡¯d you elbow me?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Ruby. It¡¯s not nice,¡± I say.

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°Yeah, well news flash, life ain¡¯t nice,¡± she replies in frustration.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean we should be mean,¡± Billy nicely explains.

    ¡°Ugh! Fine, whatever! I¡¯ll try to be nicer just for my two new friends,¡± Ruby says in haste with an eye-roll.

    Yay! Pa did say I was a good influence on people.

    ¡°Ok, Diamond. We just want one more rematch. Is that too much to ask of you?¡± Pumpkin Pie requests apologetically.

    OBAE, pigs, shitheads, and now Pumpkin Pie. The capital is filled with so many spectacular nicknames.

    ¡°Yawn. You have some nerve, making demands from the champion of champions,¡± Teresa says in uninterest.

    ¡°Ahem. What she means is,¡± Kiko clears up.

    ¡°I¡¯m boooored! You guys are boring me! You and your demands are unreasonable; therefore, Kiko and I politely decline and will take our business elsewhere!¡± Teresa interrupts.

    ¡°Hah! Big talk from small fry,¡± Pumpkin Pie laughs.

    ¡°Forgive my bluntness again, but I notice you and your friends like to run your mouth when you get scared. It¡¯s a shame that a little girl has a better poker face than you adults,¡± Teresa taunts in a calm tone.

    ¡°Ok, Diamond. I have the perfect deal. Agree to one more rematch, and we¡¯ll double your reward. All we want is another chance to defend our pride,¡± Pumpkin Pie negotiates.

    ¡°Hmmmmm. You almost had me, but you lost me at double, so I will have to politely decline. Let¡¯s get outta here, Kiko.¡±

    ¡°Wait, you¡¯re making a huge mistake! What more could you possibly want? We¡¯re offering you a big deal. Double of your reward is impossible to pass up,¡± Pumpkin Pie yells in desperation.

    ¡°Your deal does interest me, but I have just one humble request,¡± Teresa says innocently.

    ¡°And what would that be?¡± Pumpkin Pie asks curiously.

    ¡°Heh. Forget double, double. I want my payment to be tripled, tripled, tripled!¡± Teresa smiles.

    ¡°Triple?!!!!¡± Everyone shouts in an uproar.

    What the heck is happenin¡¯?

    ¡°You¡¯re funny, Diamond. I can tell jokes too,¡± Pumpkin Pie says in laughter.

    ¡°Oh my god. Do you see me laughing? Who even taught you how to play? Your poker faces, and your skills are nonexistent, so don¡¯t even say nothing,¡± Teresa insults in disgust. ¡°Triple is too low. I want my reward quadrupled after I win again!¡±

    ¡°Quadruple is silly. No deal!¡± Pumpkin Pie denies.

    ¡°BOO! YOU SUCK!¡± The crowd jeers.

    Teresa stood up on her chair.

    ¡°Oops. I think I forgot to mention something about my friend Kiko here. My intellect is zilch compared to hers,¡± Teresa reveals with a chuckle.

    ¡°And what do you mean by that?¡± Pumpkin Pie asks in confusion.

    ¡°Heh. Kiko here is Olympia¡¯s newest apprentice, so show respect. After all, she is the apprentice of Ver-¡­¡±

    ¡°QUIET!!!¡± A man screams in fury.

    I¡¯m gonna have a heart attack! He silenced the bar! The crowd even cleared a path for him to converse with Teresa.

    ¡°I won¡¯t have any talk of that she-devil to be allowed in this bar,¡± the bartender announces from behind his desk, as he inspects a glass cup.

    ¡°Typical adults,¡± Teresa says in disappointment. ¡°Sorry, Kiko, I guess I got carried away.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m about to get carried away next!¡± Kiko shouts in anger as she storms towards the bartender¡¯s counter. ¡°Don¡¯t call Doctor Shinka a she-devil, sir! She¡¯s very kind and contributes way more to Olympus than you do!¡±

    ¡°Little girl¡± the bartender grumbles as he slams down a glass cup.

    ¡°You have no idea what you¡¯re getting into. I¡¯ve witnessed countless friends die at the undead¡¯s hands, and I¡¯ve beheld the origins of Olympia,¡± the bartender reveals with a nasty glare.

    A stare down.

    ¡°We get it. You¡¯re a walking history book, old enough to be my grandpa. Forgive my rudeness, but that doesn¡¯t mean you can call my mentor mean names, you ass,¡± Kiko responds, unshaken by his intimidating glare.

    ¡°I¡¯m telling you this for a reason, daughter of our brave general and apprentice of that woman. I¡¯ve learned that there are four things you shouldn¡¯t fuck with in The New World. First, you don¡¯t fuck with Behemoths, because they will rip you to shreds in the blink of an eye. Second, you don¡¯t fuck with the Royals because they will use Azrael to disintegrate your sorry ass along with your entire kingdom. Third the two kingdoms that should be avoided at all costs are the Scorpion Kingdom and Prometheus. You simply don¡¯t fuck with them. Fourth none of these threats hold a hair to Veronica Shinka¡¯s capabilities. Her infamy is known worldwide, and if given the choice of death by zombies, Azrael, or her, I would choose to get killed by zombies or turned to dust by Azrael in an instant. She¡¯s a living nightmare who never should¡¯ve been allowed to return. Now I¡¯ll give you and your friend what you want, multiplied by four because you were going to win again anyway. But I¡¯ll have to ask you to leave for disturbing the peace,¡± the bartender explains.

    ¡°Fine! We were about to go anyhow!¡± Kiko yells as she angrily stomps toward Teresa.

    ¡°Yeah, we were just leaving! It smells like butt in here anyway!¡± Teresa spews in anger.

    O-M-G.

    ¡°That was so, so intense, guys,¡± Ruby says. ¡°Um, I have to chat with Teresa for a second. You two just hang around here and play darts or something. They¡¯ll compensate kids if you beat an adult in a game, but the prize might be scarce because of Teresa¡¯s obnoxious ass.¡±

    ¡°Wait! What are the rewards, Ruby?!¡± Me and Billy ask in unison.

    Ha-ha. Jinx, Billy.

    ¡°Go win and find out! You gotta learn how to take the initiative,¡± Ruby yells as she hastily departs.

    ¡°Hey, Rachel,¡± Billy says in awe.

    ¡°Yes, Billy?¡±

    ¡°Olympia is quadruple times more interesting than Brackettville,¡± he says with a smile.

    ¡°It certainly is! Now come on, let¡¯s learn how to play darts. I want to know what the spectacular reward is!¡±

 Chapter 7: Big Head

    May 19, 2069

    1240 CDT

    Drink-N-Forget¡¯s Outside Entrance, North Olympia

    <u>Ruby Redheart''s point of view </u>

    ¡°Ruby freaking Redheart,¡± bonehead Teresa says the moment I walk out of the smelly bar.

    ¡°Don¡¯t Ruby freaking Redheart, me you supervillain. I have yet to forgive you.¡±

    ¡°Ruby, I can¡¯t be the manager of a band that only has one person. I, um, what the heck are you wearing?¡± Teresa rambles.

    ¡°It¡¯s a long story that would never interest you. Anyway, I need a favor, Teresa. There¡¯s a new girl in town, and I need your help to teach her a lesson.¡±

    ¡°Ruby, you can¡¯t just go around beating people up because you don¡¯t like them,¡± stupid Kiko interjects.

    ¡°How dare you?¡± I ask. ¡°These hands are exclusively reserved for troublemakers.¡±

    ¡°Ah, so you¡¯re a bully who bullies other bullies,¡± Teresa finally understands.

    ¡°Exactly, Teresa,¡± I say.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make it right, Ruby,¡± Kiko says in usual disapproval.

    Whatever. Someone has to do it.

    ¡°It¡¯s irrelevant,¡± I say. ¡°Are you guys going to help me out or what?¡±

    Ugh! Stupid Kiko. Stupid Teresa. Your heads become twice as massive when you whisper and giggle to each other like little girls.

    ¡°After a very lengthy and thought-out conversation, we¡¯ve come to a conclusion Ruby,¡± Teresa notifies.

    ¡°Ok and? What¡¯s your decision, Ms. Smarty-pants?¡± I ask.

    ¡°I will notify you shortly, my loud redheaded acquaintance. Are you ready for me to reveal this exciting conclusion?¡± Teresa annoyingly giggles.

    ¡°Yes! Holy shit. You¡¯re so infuriating,¡± I say.

    ¡°Heh. She¡¯s so impatient Kiko but she provides endless entertainment for me, which is why I love to annoy her,¡± Teresa says with a light chuckle.

    ¡°I hate you,¡± I say.

    ¡°Wow, Ruby. Don¡¯t bite the hand that feeds you. Why does the amazing Ruby Redheart need my help anyway?¡± Teresa asks with a stupid smirk.

    ¡°The new girl is rumored to be a Black Scorpion,¡± I say. ¡°They¡¯re supposedly a bed of badasses, but nobody is tougher than yours truly. You¡¯re good at strategy and shit, so I need your assistance. This is the biggest fight of my career, so I¡¯ll look like an ass if I lose.¡±

    Please help me! You¡¯re the smartest person in the entire kingdom!

    ¡°I think that you should leave her alone and stop acting so tough. You¡¯re gonna be in for a shock if you fight this girl. Don¡¯t embarrass yourself more than you already do, Ruby,¡± Teresa says in a stern tone.

    Why did I even bother?!

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°Whatever!¡± I say. ¡°I don¡¯t need you anyway! You can¡¯t spell independent without I!¡±

    ¡°And you can¡¯t spell troublemaker without u,¡± Teresa snickers.

    Is she right? No. No. I¡¯m right. I¡¯m always right. I can beat this chick¡¯s ass. She¡¯s the one who should be fearing me.

    ¡°Teresa, I think we should help Ruby. You know how stubborn she can get,¡± Kiko chimes in again.

    ¡°Kiko,¡± Teresa says. ¡°The only way I¡¯ll help Ruby is if she gives me--¡±

    ¡°Ruby!!!¡± Billy and Rachel scream in excitement as they burst through the door.

    That was fast.

    ¡°Rachel is pretty good at darts!¡± Billy Boy reveals with pride.

    ¡°They were all out of prizes, though!¡± Rachel cries in distress.

    They¡¯ve impressed me yet again.

    ¡°I know we just met, but I love you guys,¡± I say as I hug them.

    ¡°You lack manners, Ruby, but even you should know when to introduce new peop--¡± Teresa spews in disbelief.

    ¡°Here¡¯s your prize, Diamond,¡± a man presents as he bursts through the door. ¡°A shitload of candy and root beer, just like you wanted,¡± he bestows upon the idiot queen.

    ¡°This will last us for months, Teresa!¡± Kiko shouts in glee.

    ¡°Heh. You mean this will last us for weeks? We should share with our new friends here,¡± dull Teresa says as she turns her attention to Rachel and Billy. ¡°I have manners, unlike Ruby. My name is Teresa Young, and this here is my best friend, Kiko Farrington. Let¡¯s feast on the unhealthy food that is candy.¡±

    You¡¯re only being friendly with them for your own benefit and knowing Rachel, she¡¯s going to say¡­

    ¡°Billy! We¡¯ve made new friends! This is the most spectacular day ever! Hello, Teresa, I am Rachel Cooper, and this is my younger less cooler, twin brother, Billy Cooper. We would be delighted to eat candy with you. We¡¯ve never had any so-¡±

    ¡°What?!!!¡± Teresa yells as she brazenly invades Rachel¡¯s personal space.

    ¡°Unbelievable,¡± Kiko follows up with a shriek.

    ¡°Ruby freaking Redheart. I will help you in your self-destructive, idiotic, egotistical, and redundant path that will ultimately end in an embarrassing defeat that will teach you humbleness, in exchange for getting to know your new friends and introducing them to the wonderful world that is candy,¡± Teresa announces with a rude-ass finger point.

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna prove you wrong, Teresa!¡± I say. ¡°I mean it¡¯s not like someone as amazing as me needs your help. You¡¯re just insurance and another witness to my eternal fame. You better put this miraculous achievement into one of your books.¡±

    ¡°Ruby, if I wanted to watch people beat the crap out of each other, then I would just hang out at this bar after dark,¡± Teresa arrogantly laughs. ¡°Heh. I don¡¯t know if my help will be enough, though, Kiko, which is why we need Drew,¡± she continues with a malicious smirk.

    Smirking is the definition of pure evil.

    ¡°Hmm. He¡¯ll be a tough one to convince, though,¡± Kiko contemplates.

    ¡°Who¡¯s Drew?¡± The twins ask in unison.

    ¡°Drew Howard is the most vicious, merciless, unpredictable, wild, and extravagant kid in the entire capital. His personality resembles a handsome action movie star!¡± Teresa poorly explains.

    ¡°Wow, really?¡± Innocent Rachel asks in glee.

    ¡°Nah, I¡¯m kidding. He¡¯s very dull, the opposite of what I just described. His personality is like watching paint dry, excuse my bluntness. Ruby has a crush on him, though. Opposites attract, so it makes sense,¡± Teresa rudely reveals.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Everyone asks in confusion.

    So embarrassing.

    ¡°See look! Her blushing red face is proof! ¡°Teresa cackles like the witch she is. ¡°It¡¯s only right for her name to match her face!¡±

    I¡¯m gonna strangle you, Teresa!

    ¡°Ahem. What Teresa means to say is that she¡¯s just teasing because it builds character and is normal among friends, which is what we all are. Right?¡± Kiko quickly interjects.

    ¡°Get the hell outta my way, so I can show her how much I value our friendship!¡± I say.

    ¡°We see.¡± The twins misunderstand.

    No! You don¡¯t see! Stop nodding your heads! Stupid Teresa!

    ¡°Fine, whatever! Get Drew, I don¡¯t care. The more, the merrier! Rachel! Billy! We¡¯re switching back to our original clothes while the all-powerful Teresa and the almighty Kiko find Drew. The Black Scorpion was rumored to be hanging out around Flex-a-Lot.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Teresa asks stupidly.

    ¡°You brought him up, so you go get him, and if you want to talk to my friends, then you¡¯ll help me with whatever I need.¡±

    ¡°Ok ok, whatever floats your boat. Let¡¯s get outta here, Kiko,¡± Teresa finally complies.

    *

    ¡°Are you ok, Ruby? You seem...¡± Billy Boy asks quietly.

    Great! Here you go!

    ¡°Aggravated? Bitchy? Cranky? D, all of the above?!¡± I say. ¡°I¡¯m not perfect, ok, so just leave me alone!¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Billy mutters sadly.

    ¡°Ruby, I know you don¡¯t mean that. I will always worry ¡®bout you because you¡¯re my friend, so please stop acting like a rascal to everyone. You¡¯re the toughest girl I know, but you¡¯re not invincible, so get your shit together!¡± Rachel says in a surprisingly assertive tone.

    Rachel?

    ¡°Whatever. Let¡¯s just¡­ go somewhere so we can change our clothes,¡± I say.

 Chapter 8: Drew Howard & Ho V?n Duy

    1 Hour Later

    May 19, 2069

    1340 CDT

    West Olympia, Kansas. Near The Styx River

    <u>Teresa Young''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Why in the world would she do that?¡± Drew asks in confusion.

    ¡°You know how she is, Drew,¡± I say. ¡°I don¡¯t actually need your help, but I knew you¡¯d be interested in this one-of-a-lifetime downtown throwdown between gals.¡±

    I haven¡¯t seen you in a long time, Drew. You are a very inquisitive fellow you twelve-year-old suave young boy. Black with a fresh buzz cut, and a fellow lover of books. Your plain white T-shirt and blue jeans reinforce your lack of style. Heh. Maybe Ruby can teach you a few things when you finally become a couple.

    The Styx River is directly behind Hades, this massive stone wall that surrounds Olympia. I doubt that there¡¯s an actual river down there now that I think about it, but no way am I going down there to find out. This entire area feels like a barren wasteland. So quiet, eerie, and ominous, but I swear I can hear death waiting on the other side.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, big brother. I wanna see!¡± Drew¡¯s younger sister, Jaliyah, comments as she tugs on his shirt.

    You¡¯re taller than me now, Jaliyah, and still love the color pink. You¡¯re wearing a magnificent pink dress, beautiful hair tied into a ponytail, and still retaining that innocent smile.

    ¡°I expect you to come with us, Drew,¡± I say. ¡°I did not walk all this way for nothing. I¡¯m little, in case you haven¡¯t noticed, dude.¡±

    ¡°Violence on the inside, and violence on the outside. Life is awful, and this wall is the only thing preventing us from becoming zombie food,¡± Drew says aloud at the wall, completely ignoring me.

    ¡°Um, I don¡¯t think we should loiter around here for too long,¡± I say. ¡°The world does suck, but when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. In other words, we should find something positive in bad situations, such as gambling, candy, root beer, or watching Ruby throw down with a Black Scorpion.¡±

    ¡°How many zombies do you think are down there, Teresa?¡± Drew asks, still ignoring me.

    ¡°Enough to get the heck outta here, now come on dude!¡± I say. ¡°And don¡¯t make some lame excuse like you need to read or something. We¡¯re young! We should enjoy our freedom before we start boot camp. Ruby needs your support too!¡±

    ¡°Drew and Ruby are finally dating?¡± Jaliyah asks with a curious look in her eyes.

    ¡°No, Jaliyah, we¡¯re not. Teresa is just irritating, as usual,¡± Drew denies in annoyance.

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°Hey Teresa, speaking of boot camp, shouldn¡¯t you be studying for the apprenticeship test?¡± Kiko freaking reminds me.

    You and Drew are massive buzzkills.

    ¡°Heh. Study?¡± I ask. ¡°What¡¯s there to study when you know everything? Eating candy is much more fun than practicing for a stupid test. (Don¡¯t look at me like that you three!) Last chance, Mr. Pouty.¡±

    ¡°Ok, fine. We¡¯ll watch the stupid fight,¡± Drew mumbles.

    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit, Drew!¡± I say.

    Heh. All this excitement is making me hungry.

    *

    Meanwhile in Flex-a-Lot, Central Olympia

    <u>Luke Miller¡¯s Point of View</u>

    Sonya Grey, a perplexing girl who¡¯s the same age as me. I don¡¯t know why but, I think you¡¯re the most beautiful girl I¡¯ve ever met. Afro-Latina, two long black braids on your back, and your bangs partially cover your piercing bright brown mesmerizing eyes. You¡¯re wearing a silver tank top, blue basketball shorts, and you always seem so serious.

    ¡°This will be sufficient enough for me,¡± Sonya announces as she inspects the gym.

    ¡°You like exercising?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Yes. I must stay in top shape at all times should I wish to live,¡± Sonya explains in a nonchalant tone.

    Gyms are awful! The gym¡¯s right side is filled with people doing aerobic exercises. The left side contains weightlifting machines, and the middle of the gym has a giant blue mat, most likely used for sparring matches.

    ¡°Yeah, I like exercising too,¡± I say.

    ¡°Luke, you think that you feel the need to impress me, but I¡¯m asking you not to. If we¡¯re going to be friends then I don¡¯t want you to lie to me. I like you for you, so consider this a warning, and don¡¯t ever try to bullshit me again,¡± she says in an aggravated tone with a death glare.

    ¡°Got it. Won¡¯t do it again.,¡± I say.

    Wait. Did you say you like me?

    ¡°Excuse me, but does this wimp not like exercising?¡± A boy¡¯s voice says from behind.

    Who¡¯s this guy? He¡¯s a big muscle-bound, greasy black-haired boy, Asian, has a unibrow, and is wearing a white V-neck and brown shorts.

    ¡°You two must be the new kids that everyone¡¯s talking about,¡± he arrogantly chuckles. ¡°But everyone is talking about you, especially,¡± he says with a creepy smile to Sonya. ¡°My name is Ho V?n Duy, and my lady friend at my side is Julie Young. I¡¯m interested in knowing your name,¡± Duy rudely introduces.

    Ah! What the fuck, dude? You didn¡¯t have to push me to get to her! Your lady friend agrees as well, based on her reaction. She¡¯s a shy-looking Caucasian girl with short blonde hair, a mole on her right cheek, and is wearing a purple dress.

    ¡°Oh?¡± Sonya says with a grin, obviously unimpressed.

    ¡°Hey!¡± I say.

    ¡°What¡¯s your problem? What the hell do you want? Can¡¯t you see that you¡¯re rudely interrupting my conversation?¡± Duy ignorantly says in my face.

    You¡¯re testing me! Trying to make me look as bad as your unibrow!

    ¡°You think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re doing?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Huh? I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. I¡¯m sorry, but not really. I must have forgotten to ask for your name. What¡¯s your name, kid?¡± Duy asks with a sneer.

    Kid? We¡¯re the same age, jackass!

    ¡°My name is.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t care!¡± Duy says.

    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡±

    ¡°Woah woah. Ladies, don¡¯t get your panties in a twist,¡± an unknown voice interjects from behind. ¡°My name is Jayce Soleus, and my father owns this gym. Medical supplies are limited, so let¡¯s settle this dispute with a classic arm-wrestling match instead of beating the shit out of each other,¡± Jayce offers with a grin.

    Everyone has strange haircuts in Olympia! Jayce is a tall Caucasian boy with a spiky black mohawk, wearing a pink tank top, and golden Muay Thai shorts.

    ¡°Fine! I¡¯m kicking your ass, Duy!¡± I say.

    ¡°Kick my ass? I¡¯m like twice your size kid, but fine, I could use some entertainment. I¡¯ll embarrass your scrawny ass and steal your girl for your lack of manners,¡± Duy says.

    This is not what I thought Olympus would be like. The first person I meet is a total jackass, but after I beat his ass, I¡¯ll gain respect among my new peers! Not only that, but I¡¯ll be able to impress Sonya.

 Chapter 9: Sonya Grey

    30 Minutes Later

    May 19, 2069

    1440 CDT

    Inside Flex-a-Lot, Central Olympia

    <u>Drew Howard''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Heh. Looks like we made it just in time, Drew,¡± Teresa says.

    So many familiar and unfamiliar faces. Julie, Alessa, Sean, Jayce, and zero adults, most likely because of Jayce convincing his dad to empty the gym. Everyone is gathered near the center of the gym, focused on the two girls on top of the large blue mat.

    ¡°This is very interesting,¡± Kiko says with a chuckle.

    We just gotta squeeze through the crowd.

    ¡°Introducing the hometown hero!¡± Jayce announces, full of energy.

    Ruby¡¯s stepping forward. She has her hair tied up in a ponytail and is wearing her black band shirt and black basketball shorts. She has her headphones in, so she¡¯s most likely listening to rock music from her MP3 player.

    ¡°We¡¯re about to be on the scene of a tremendous ass-whooping here, Drew!¡± Jaliyah blurts out in excitement.

    Sigh. She¡¯s only ten, so she doesn¡¯t know any better. She shouldn¡¯t be watching this, but seeing two strong girls spar will prepare for life outside the kingdom.

    ¡°No swearing, Jaliyah,¡± I say.

    ¡°Oh, shi- I mean shoot. We¡¯re about to see a tremendous butt whooping Drew,¡± she says with a sheepish smile.

    ¡°Rip her fucking head off!!!¡± A voice yells in the background.

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen!¡± Jayce introduces in excitement. ¡°The infamous rascal of Olympia, everyone¡¯s favorite redhead, the lead singer/guitarist of the rock band Evil on Tour, she skips class to kick ass, and has an explosive personality like no other! Make some noise for the unpredictable and amazing Ruby Redheart!¡±

    Sigh. I can¡¯t tell if she¡¯s more focused on the fight or the crowd with the way she¡¯s soaking in the cheers. Just be careful, Ruby.

    ¡°Hey, Drew, what do you think Ruby said to get the new girl to fight her?¡± Teresa asks as she observes Ruby blowing kisses to the crowd.

    ¡°Something extremely insulting,¡± I say.

    ¡°She probably said something cheesy like Black Scorpions? I hear they¡¯re tough, but as you all know, nobody is tougher than Ruby Redheart!¡± Teresa predicts as she mimics Ruby¡¯s voice.

    ¡°Ok, listen up everyone. Black Scorpions? Scoff! Yeah, I hear they¡¯re tough, but as you all know, nobody is tougher than Ruby Redheart!¡± Ruby says with confidence as she takes off and pockets her earphones.

    Teresa is spot on.

    ¡°Heh. Now she¡¯ll probably say something like You¡¯re about to witness the butt-kicking of a lifetime, so I hope someone brought a pillow because I¡¯m about to put a ¡°b¡± to sleep,¡± Teresa prophesies in Ruby¡¯s voice again.

    ¡°You all are about to bear witness to the ass-kicking of a lifetime! And I hope someone brought a pillow because I¡¯m bout to knock a bitch out!¡± Ruby loudly boasts to the crowd.

    ¡°Holy shit, Teresa,¡± I say.

    ¡°Ooh. What happened to no swearing big brother?¡± Jaliyah asks with a smirk.

    ¡°Ruby likes to hear herself talk and is a very expressive individual. Her weakness is already showing, which means this will be a quick fight. I hope she doesn¡¯t get hurt though,¡± Teresa reveals in a somber tone.

    Her weakness¡­ Could it be?

    ¡°Oh, hey Jaliyah,¡± Ruby greets with a bright smile as she approaches. ¡°Ugh! Teresa, Kiko,¡± she says with absolute revulsion as she rolls her eyes.

    ¡°Kiko, watch this,¡± Teresa says with an evil chuckle.

    They¡¯re so close to my face!

    ¡°Um, Hiiiiiii, Drew,¡± Ruby and Teresa say in unison with hi-pitched voices.

    ¡°You guys are about to witness greatness,¡± Ruby says with full confidence, now respecting my personal space.

    ¡°I thought we were about to witness the ass-kicking of a lifetime,¡± Teresa corrects with a grin.

    ¡°The greatest ass-kicking of a lifetime,¡± Ruby replies with a smirk.

    ¡°Ruby!¡± An unknown voice calls from behind.

    ¡°Drew, Jaliyah, meet my new friends from Brackettville, Texas. Rachel, and Billy Cooper,¡± Ruby proudly introduces.

    ¡°Salutations. Nice to meet you,¡± Rachel and Billy greet in unison.

    ¡°They¡¯re also my first new bandmates since, you know, uh, someone didn¡¯t want to join my band,¡± she reveals in a sharp tone.

    Don¡¯t look at me like that!

    ¡°What? You wanted me to join your band as that one friend who gets to hang out backstage,¡± I say.

    ¡°How could you decline such an offer?!¡± She responds as she grabs my shirt and invades my personal space again. ¡°God you smell so nice,¡± she resumes with a big smile. ¡°Um, I mean, brush your teeth, Drew!¡± She spews in anger, finally letting me go.

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    What? And Teresa said she¡¯s predictable. I just don¡¯t understand girls.

    ¡°Rachel!¡± Ruby calls out.

    ¡°Yes, Ruby?¡± Rachel asks in glee.

    Uh, what the heck? Ruby handed her some kind of strange silver device.

    ¡°Take care of my baby,¡± Ruby calmly commands with a stern look in her eyes.

    ¡°I will protect him with my life,¡± Rachel responds in seriousness.

    ¡°What is that?¡± Jaliyah asks in curiosity.

    ¡°Um, it¡¯s makeup,¡± Rachel says with a sheepish look on her face.

    ¡°Why is it glowing ominously?¡± Jaliyah asks with a curious look on her face.

    ¡°Um, it¡¯s, it¡¯s treasure,¡± Rachel answers nervously.

    ¡°I see,¡± Jaliyah acknowledges with a head nod.

    ¡°Let¡¯s give a big welcome to Ruby¡¯s opponent! From the vicious Scorpion Kingdom, she¡¯s a perplexing adversary with a deadly background,¡± Jayce proclaims as this new girl steps forward. ¡°Give it up for a member of the ferocious Black Scorpions, Sonyaaaaaaaaaa Greeeeeeey!¡±

    Sonya Grey, her bright brown eyes contrast the cold stare she¡¯s giving Ruby. Numerous amounts of tattoos and battle scars are spread across her arms and legs. This chick is hardcore! Ruby is in over her head, more than usual.

    ¡°STUPID!!! OUTSIDER! NONSENSICAL! YELLOW BELLY! ARACHNID!¡± The crowd brutally jeers.

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t think she¡¯s a crowd favorite,¡± Rachel states in a nervous tone.

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s almost like Olympians and Black Scorpions hate each other,¡± I say.

    ¡°I wonder what she¡¯s doing here,¡± Teresa replies with a curious look.

    ¡°She¡¯s not a fan favorite now, but just wait until you see her in action,¡± a boy¡¯s voice I don¡¯t recognize says as he approaches us. ¡°My name is Luke Miller. Sonya and I are new here.¡±

    ¡°Howdy, my name is Luke Miller. I¡¯m Teresa, and I would love to hear all about you, but can you tell me more about Sonya first?¡± Teresa asks in interest.

    ¡°It¡¯s just Luke, and I wish I could say, but I just met her. She¡¯s been with us for a few weeks, and seems cool so far,¡± Luke quickly answers.

    ¡°Us?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Oh, we came here with a founding member of the kingdom. My guardian, Veronica Shinka.¡±

    No way! If they are friends of the she-devil, then Ruby --!

    ¡°Ok, girls, here¡¯s the rules. A hit to the face is a point, a knockdown is a point, and going out of bounds is a point to the opponent. Whoever gets three points first will be the victor. Are. There. Any. Questions?!¡± Jayce explains as he gets in between the girls.

    ¡°No! Now move your ass!¡± Ruby shouts in rage.

    That¡¯s a fierce look from Ruby! Maybe¡­ just maybe. Jayce is out of the ring.

    ¡°Ok! Round One, Figh-¡± Jayce announce-

    ¡°OH SHIT!¡± The crowd roars in excitement.

    Ruby was about to send Sonya¡¯s head flying with a sucker punch, but Sonya managed to block it with her left arm in time.

    ¡°A boxing jab? Not bad,¡± Sonya compliments with a smirk.

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Ruby yells out.

    Ruby¡¯s going for the ribs!

    Sonya dodged the right cross. Ruby¡¯s left side is open!

    Shit! Sonya¡¯s got her in a standing chokehold from behind!

    ¡°Let go of me!¡± Ruby pleads as she struggles.

    ¡°You promised them the ¡°ass-kicking¡± of a lifetime, correct? You shouldn¡¯t disappoint the crowd,¡± Sonya threatens in a malicious tone.

    No!

    ¡°NO WAY¡± The crowd howls in hysteria!

    ¡°Ruby Redheart is! Out! Of! Bounds! Sonya Grey wins the first round!¡± Jayce announces.

    Sonya literally, kicked her ass.

    ¡°God damn it, motherfucker!¡± Ruby screams, quickly recovering.

    ¡°So, Luke Miller. Do you know anything about this girl? How did you guys meet?¡± Teresa asks in wonder.

    ¡°She almost sliced my head off,¡± Luke chuckles as Jayce begins the second round.

    Sonya is dodging each punch with seemingly little effort now.

    ¡°Wow! She sounds like a bad-ass motherfucker!¡± Jaliyah blurts out in excitement.

    ¡°Jaliyah,¡± I say.

    ¡°Oops. Sorry,¡± Jaliyah quickly apologizes.

    ¡°Punch back, damn it!¡± Ruby cries out as she continues to struggle.

    ¡°Ruby¡¯s punches have slowed down. Sonya is pretty smart,¡± Teresa explains.

    She¡¯s right, Ruby is getting tired. Even someone as hyperactive as her has limits.

    ¡°You¡¯re too hasty!¡± Sonya fires back as she ducks Ruby¡¯s exhausted jab.

    She¡¯s going low, this Sonya girl is a monster! It¡¯s like she has the agility and nimbleness of a cat, but the strength and speed of a tiger.

    ¡°Humbleness will take you a long way,¡± Sonya announces as she takes a slight step forward.

    A devastating low spinning sweep kick aimed at Ruby¡¯s left ankle is enough to knock her flat on her butt.

    ¡°Another point for the seemingly invincible, Sonya Grey!!!¡± Jayce declares.

    Silence¡­

    ¡°Yeah! Beat her ass!¡± Two familiar voices yell out, breaking the silence.

    ¡°YOU¡¯RE A BOSS, SONYA!¡± The crowd explodes in cheers.

    Those voices - they sounded like those jerks Rico and Nia.

    ¡°Alright! Time to begin round three.¡± Jayce sa-

    ¡°Wait!!!¡± Ruby orders, as she stands up and rubs her butt.

    What? Is she finally giving up? No way! She¡¯s just giving the sign for a.

    ¡°Time. Out,¡± she declares with a ¡°T¡± hand signal.

    ¡°Time for a timeout!¡± Jayce declares.

    ¡°YOU SUCK, RUBY!¡± The crowd jeers.

    ¡°Teresa,¡± Ruby says in a calm tone as she approaches Teresa.

    ¡°Ruby,¡± Teresa responds in her own calm tone.

    ¡°Where did I go wrong?¡± Ruby cries in confusion.

    ¡°It all began with your lack of self-control,¡± Teresa answers as she opens her twelfth candy bar.

    ¡°That has no correlation whatsoever. Now tell me how to beat her,¡± Ruby demands.

    ¡°Have you thought about begging for forgiveness?¡± Teresa asks as she chews on her candy bar.

    ¡°Ahem. What Teresa means to say is, maybe you should just apologize?¡± Kiko suggests.

    ¡°Apologizing could work,¡± I say.

    ¡°We think you should apologize,¡± the twins agree as well as they snack on candy.

    ¡°Never. Ruby Redheart is no scaredy-cat. Besides, I kinda insulted her, so I doubt she¡¯ll accept something as stupid as my apology.¡±

    ¡°What exactly did you say?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Scoff! Nothing, Drew! I only insulted her momma,¡± Ruby crudely shares.

    ¡°Heh. There¡¯s this thing called karma, Ruby. I honestly don¡¯t see a way you can beat her. Simply put, she¡¯s just a better fighter than you. Your best option is to surrender, apologize, and ask for advice,¡± Teresa kindly explains.

    ¡°Um, no, no, and no. I can¡¯t disappoint all of my adoring fans. You know what? Nevermind. I don¡¯t need help. I got this,¡± Ruby claims in false confidence.

    ¡°I think she¡¯s got this!¡± Rachel says in glee as Ruby storms off.

    ¡°You¡¯re delusional. She¡¯s going to get herself killed!¡± I say.

    ¡°Drew, you¡¯re wrong, my guy,¡± Teresa responds in assurance. ¡°Sonya had numerous opportunities to kill her, but she didn¡¯t for distinct reasons you can¡¯t see because of your feelings. Sonya is clearly not stupid and seems to have figured out that outsiders aren¡¯t very welcome in Olympia, especially a Black Scorpion. At the same time, she refuses to let people trample over her. This is her way of saying, don¡¯t ¡°f¡± with me., and she¡¯s trying to impress potential friends in the process. Someone as strong and athletic as her will need sparring partners to stay in shape,¡± she proudly explains.

    ¡°I like you, Teresa. You¡¯re pretty smart,¡± Luke says with an impressed look on his face. ¡°She¡¯s pretty cool despite what¡¯s said about Black Scorpions, but you forgot one important thing. She¡¯s not a Black Scorpion anymore. She¡¯s an Olympian, one of us.¡±

    ¡°You seem to be pretty smart too, Luke. I have a feeling we¡¯ll be great friends,¡± Teresa happily says as Jayce begins round three. ¡°I think Ruby and Sonya will be good friends. However, it might take a while, especially if what I think will happen happens.¡±

    ¡°Elaborate,¡± I say.

    ¡°Heh. It¡¯s oh, so obvious. Ruby refuses to win three rounds straight even if she could, now that she¡¯s been embarrassed. There¡¯s only one way she can make this comeback now, and I think you know what it is, Drew. I¡¯ll give you a hint,¡± Teresa explains.

    She¡¯s pointing at her chin? What?! There¡¯s no way it¡¯ll work. Ruby can¡¯t be that dense, could she?!

    ¡°Woah!¡± Jayce exclaims in wonder.

    Sonya saw the uppercut coming and dodged! Ruby¡¯s defenseless!

    ¡°It¡¯s a wrap for her,¡± Teresa says somberly as she finishes her candy bar.

    One punch to the gut by Sonya.

    ¡°Not good,¡± Ruby mutters as she doubles over.

    ¡°Wow!¡± A girl named Alessa yells out as Ruby quickly exits the ring.

    ¡°She kicked her ass!¡± A boy named Sean shouts next.

    Poor Ruby.

    ¡°Now wait just a minute, Ms. Sonya Grey,¡± Jayce demands as he enters the ring. ¡°My dad was a kickboxing world champion in the old world, and I¡¯m his prot¨¦g¨¦, of course. I¡¯m impressed by your moves, but I don¡¯t think you can take me,¡± Jayce boasts as he enters a fighting stance.

    ¡°Ooooh! Oh! Oh, shit!¡± The crowd reemerges with cheers.

    ¡°Oh, really?¡± Sonya questions in interest with a smirk on her face.

 Chapter 10: Molt

    May 19, 2069

    Inside Flex-a-Lot, Central Olympia

    2:47 pm CDT

    <u>Sonya Grey''s Point of View</u>

    Hands near the top of his forehead, pointed elbows, hips aimed directly at me, and his non-dominant foot is holding more weight than his dominant one. A Muay Thai stance, huh? He obviously only has one thing on his mind, however, so this should be easy.

    ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking, Jayce,¡± I say.

    ¡°You a mind reader or something?¡± He responds.

    ¡°You¡¯re thinking about altering the rules because you¡¯ll feel bad about hitting a girl,¡± I say.

    ¡°Wow. You¡¯re definitely a mind reader,¡± he says with a chuckle. ¡°But I will feel bad about hitting a girl, so how about this? The first to knock down the other triumphs, winner take all.¡±

    Fair enough.

    ¡°Deal.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re off to a good start. First, I¡¯ll sweep you off your feet, and then you¡¯ll fall in love with me,¡± he declares with an ugly grin.

    What a jackass.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know much about you, but I can tell you¡¯re an arrogant asshole who is full of shit,¡± I say.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget, handsome!¡± He says as a girl with pink hair enters the ring. ¡°Alessa, my good friend. If you¡¯ll do the honors.¡±

    ¡°This will be an improvident match! A sudden death, winner take all showdown! Sonya Grey vs. Jayce Soleus!¡± Alessa announces to the top of her lungs.

    ¡°Sonya, if I win, which I obviously will, let me take you on a tour of the capital. Just the two of us, it¡¯ll be pretty romantic,¡± Jayce says.

    What? Is this guy serious? Deception is a powerful ally in battle, so maybe I should play along. But wait! He might be pretending to act like an idiot to make me lower my guard! But that stupid grin on his face means he¡¯s probably an idiot and a skilled fighter. Hmm. Let¡¯s just assume he¡¯s an idiot.

    ¡°That actually does sound nice, Jayce,¡± I say.

    ¡°Yes!¡± He shouts.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    ¡°On one condition.¡±

    ¡°No! I mean, what¡¯s the condition?¡± He says hesitantly.

    ¡°I want full twenty-four hour access to Flex-a-Lot (What a ridiculous name).¡±

    ¡°Deal! This fight has just become a win-win situation,¡± he revels in too much excitement.

    Having to see his face every day is a small but required sacrifice. Luke already promised to take me on tour, which is a bit absurd because this is his first time being here as well, but I don¡¯t mind. Wait, what am I saying?! I need to focus.

    ¡°Ok! Sudden!¡± Alessa proclaims.

    ¡°Death!¡± The crowd finishes.

    He¡¯s obviously going to use his legs first.

    ¡°Sorry about this,¡± he chuckles with a sly expression on his face.

    Here he comes! What?! He¡¯s going for --

    A front kick?!

    ¡°What happened to not wanting to hit a girl in the face?¡± I say as I block his kick.

    Get your disgusting foot out of my face! That fucking hangnail on your pinky toe can kill someone! Ew!

    ¡°I knew you¡¯d block it,¡± he chuckles as I push him off, resetting the situation. ¡°Stop underestimating me,¡± he says in a pissed-off tone combined with an angry scowl on his face.

    My presumption was correct. He may be an idiot, but he¡¯s no fool when it comes to fighting. That kick would¡¯ve knocked me out if I hadn¡¯t blocked it, but now I know exactly how much power he¡¯ll use in his future attacks.

    ¡°I hope you¡¯ll take me more seriously now!¡± He shouts in anger as he goes in for another attack.

    He¡¯s going for my stomach!

    That kick was too close! Daddy Long-legs isn¡¯t messing around! He¡¯s using full advantage of his limbs. I can¡¯t evade forever. Think Sonya think! What would Charlotte do? No! Don¡¯t think about her, concentrate! Put yourself in the enemy¡¯s perspective. Where am I most vulnerable?

    Fights are just high-speed chess matches. The smarter opponent always wins, no matter what. You¡¯re not in Scorpius anymore, so you can relax a bit. You¡¯ve had several opportunities to incapacitate him, but you¡¯re not gonna do that. You need friends, not enemies. Wait a second. I¡¯m so silly for overthinking this.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to cut this date short!¡± Jayce yells as he forces me to the edge of the mat.

    You¡¯re gonna go for another kick.

    ¡°Wow!¡± The crowd roars in surprise.

    Your hastiness has left you wide open for a knee to the privates.

    You¡¯re a decent fighter Jayce, but like the redhead, you¡¯re too eager. Personality aside, I think you¡¯ll be an exceptional sparring partner for me.

    ¡°Buon Dio!¡± Alessa cries out in horror.

    In this new world, there¡¯s no such thing as empathy.

    Those who oppose us will be rewarded with no mercy.

    It¡¯s kill or be killed in this world of awe.

    Don¡¯t approach us or say goodbye to your jaw.

    We¡¯ll kill you once and laugh as you fall.

    Come back again for a bullet to the skull.

    Why did that stupid fucking motto pop into my head?! No mercy. No empathy. Kill or be killed. No! Not anymore. New kingdom, new me.

    Jayce is doubling over in pain. A mild love tap to the face will conclude this match.

    I am victorious according to his rules. A simple knee to the testicles was all it took to defeat him.

    ¡°S-Sonya Grey is the winner! She¡¯s so cool!¡± Alessa announces.

    ¡°SUPERB! OUTSTANDING! NICE! YAY! APPALLING!¡± The crowd celebrates.

    ¡°She kicked his ass! Incredible!¡± A boy yells out in shock.

    People are lame.

    ¡°Sonya! That was so cool!¡± Luke yells out.

    Hmm. Most people are lame.

    ¡°Wait just a minute!¡± A boy shouts. ¡°Incoming boss fight!¡±

    The crowd is making way for two obviously prestigious individuals¡­

    ¡°Oh shit! It¡¯s Annie and Jian! The apprentices of General Farrington!¡± A young boy screams.

    Oh, really now? I guess I have one more fight left in me. So, who will it be? Annie, or Jian?

 Chapter 11: Annie & Jian

    May 19, 2069

    2:52 pm CDT

    Inside Flex-a-Lot, Central Olympia

    <u>Sonya Grey''s Point of View</u>

    Alessa is hauling Jayce out of the ring, and Jian is taking his place. He¡¯s struggling to hide his murderous intent, while Annie is, I have no fucking clue.

    ¡°Black Scorpion,¡± Jian says in deep resentment, with Annie holding his waist from behind.

    Jian, a teenage Asian boy, wearing black glasses on his face. Black hair covers his eyes, and he¡¯s wearing brown shorts and a blue shirt. He¡¯s maintaining intense eye contact, and I¡¯m staring right back, motherfucker. Nobody intimidates me. I can take his ass, but I¡¯m more worried about the girl.

    Annie, a teenage Caucasian girl with a black and red drawstring backpack. Another redhead with extremely long hair covering her eyes is wearing a red tank top and a black skirt. The bitch wants me to try something, based on the disturbing grin she¡¯s giving me.

    I don¡¯t know who¡¯s stronger between the two but if shit hits the fan, no, when it hits the fan, I¡¯ll be taking one of them down with me.

    ¡°Hey! Leave her alone!¡± Luke yells as he enters the ring.

    No! Don¡¯t stand by me! Go away, Luke! I¡¯ve only known you for a bit, but I can tell that you can¡¯t fight.

    ¡°AHAHAHAHA!!¡± Annie hysterically laughs.

    Never in my life have I heard someone silence an entire crowd with laughter. She sounds like a hyena if I¡¯m correct. I need to stay on guard, regardless.

    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Luke asks in a cautious tone as Annie finishes wilding out.

    ¡°What is your name, you devilishly handsome boy?¡± Annie responds as she chews on her bangs.

    ¡°My name is Luke Miller, and I want you two to stop harassing my friend.¡±

    ¡°Fucking idiot,¡± Jian says in a fit of calm anger as he maintains his gaze on me.

    Shit! I¡¯ve been put in check before I knew it. I should¡¯ve left this place with Luke instead of fighting Jayce.

    ¡°Wanna hear a funny story, Lukey?¡± Annie asks with a crazy look in her eyes as she continues to chew on her hair.

    ¡°If it means you¡¯ll leave us alone, then sure,¡± Luke mistakenly complies.

    Escape to the safety of Olympus?! How could I be so na?ve?! Luke has no choice but to play Annie¡¯s weird-ass game, because who knows what she¡¯ll do if provoked.

    Annie¡¯s entire personality just screams ¡°unorthodox¡± and ¡°unpredictable,¡± my worst matchups. I can¡¯t formulate a strategy against random attacks. Jian appears to be a more fundamentally based fighter, but I can¡¯t read him either.

    Wait, she finally stopped chewing her hair, and now she¡¯s chuckling and doing a ballet performance.

    ¡°Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are!¡± She perfectly sings with astonishing movements. ¡°Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky,¡± she continues with an emphasized shriek on the sky. ¡°Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are!¡±

    What the fuck is wrong with her?

    ¡°Luke, I adore you so much that I¡¯ve decided to show you somethin¡¯ close to my heart. Don¡¯t move a muscle,¡± she says as she kneels and takes off her backpack.

    Not good, it¡¯s now or never!

    ¡°WOAH!¡± The crowd explodes once again.

    Damn it! Jian blocked my punch!

    ¡°Pitiful!¡± Jian states in disgust.

    Move Sonya! Before he¡­

    Fuck! A one-inch punch to my sternum. I, I can¡¯t breathe!

    ¡°Leave her alone!¡± Luke cries out in anger.

    Don¡¯t!

    ¡°OOH!¡± The crowd says.

    A roundhouse kick to the face by Jian.

    ¡°Such rude guests,¡± Annie pouts with a disappointed look in her eyes.

    What did she grab out of her jar?

    ¡°It¡¯s just a spider, jerks,¡± she reveals as she proudly shows off a black widow spider in a glass jar.

    I-I can breathe again. Get on your feet.

    ¡°Hup!¡±

    And mov-

    Damn it! Jian¡¯s got me in a chokehold! Jian is too strong!

    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Stop!¡± Luke yells out as he stupidly runs to my aid, yet again.

    A gunshot?!

    ¡°She¡¯s got a biscuit!¡± The crowd panics.

    ¡°The spider was just a prop, but this is the real kicker,¡± she reveals as she smiles at her revolver.

    ¡°Everyone ske-fucking-daddle! Lickety-split!¡± Annie orders in anger.

    Two more shots toward the ceiling.

    ¡°Wuh-ho! Hold your horses, pardna!¡± She commands as she points the gun at Luke. ¡°I¡¯d hate to shoot someone as cute as you, but I won¡¯t hesitate if you get in Jian¡¯s way again. So how about you back up?!¡±

    Damn it! Get off of me, Jian!

    ¡°Sigh. Here you go, Jian,¡± Annie says in a lovestruck tone as she gives Jian her gun.

    There¡¯s that feeling again. The cold metal exterior of a gun against my skull. I¡¯m done wondering if this will be it. Now I just wonder when it¡¯ll be it. I¡¯m se-severely¡­ fucked up in the head and clinging to sanity is like walking on a tightrope that continually becomes smaller and smaller and smaller every second.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name, Black Scorpion?¡± Jian asks, as his grip becomes tighter.

    ¡°Nunya. Nunya fucking business,¡± I say.

    Yeah, I¡¯m definitely passing out. I¡¯m about to die, and I can only think about making a joke. What¡¯s, what¡¯s wrong with me?

    ¡°Annie. Cut her ear,¡± Jian orders to his partner in crime and she quickly complies.

    I don¡¯t even care anymore. Things are becoming black, black? Black Scorpions. Charlotte. Cici. I¡¯m so sorry.

    ¡°NO!¡± Luke helplessly screams out.

    ¡°Shhhh! Before I cut you like the cutie pie you are!¡± Annie threatens, in an annoyed tone.

    ¡°Give me your name before I tell her to cut out your eye next,¡± Jian demands.

    ¡°Fine¡­ just, let me go. I want to look you in the face when I tell you. Or, are you not man enough to do that¡­ before you kill me?¡±

    ¡°Ha! Black Scorpions understanding the concept of honor is laughable!¡± he says as he slowly releases me from his chokehold.

    Just need a few seconds. Turn around and.

    Spit.

    Right in his face.

    ¡°My name is Sonya Grey, fuckface.¡±

    Oh shit.

    Damn! He¡¯s got me pinned against the ground with an arm lock. I can¡¯t escape!

    ¡°You¡¯re one stupid girl, Sonya Grey,¡± Jian says in too calm of a tone.

    Agh! My arm! Fuck! Fuck! My fucking arm! Motherfucker!

    ¡°Let¡¯s see if Black Scorpions are bulletproof,¡± Jian says with killer intent filling his eyes.

    Staring down into the barrel of a gun. Another familiar sight.

    ¡°Well? What are you waiting for? Go ahead. Do it pussy,¡± I say.

    This is a big gamble, but it¡¯s all I have left.

    ¡°I knew you were bitch-made the moment we made eye contact. Your eyes are filled with deep resentment, but I guarantee that you¡¯ve never had to murder someone before. You¡¯ve probably wasted a few undead, but you¡¯re just realizing that it¡¯s not the same as killing a person. You¡¯re thinking, can I actually become a murderer? As much as I hate her, she¡¯s a human being, just like me,¡± I say.

    That¡¯s right. Lean into the barrel, Sonya. Assert dominance and take control.

    ¡°I get why you hate me. A Black Scorpion in your capital? I¡¯d be a scared little bitch too, but newsflash, asswipe. I¡¯m not a Black Scorpion anymore. Here¡¯s what I¡¯d do if we were in Scorpia with the roles reversed. I¡¯d take that gun, shove it in your mouth, and watch as the psycho redhead begs for mercy, but I wouldn¡¯t be able to guarantee such a pitiful request, even if I wanted to. The only thing we¡¯re promised in life is death, and for whatever fucked up reason, some people get a second death. I would be the one granting you that death as I unload every single fucking bullet in that six-shooter down your fucking throat. So go ahead and shoot, tough guy. Isn¡¯t that why you came here? To prove to everyone how big of a man you are?¡± I say.

    ¡°Shut your damn mouth!¡± Y-You, don¡¯t know shit about me!¡± Jian says as he pushes me down.

    Hello again.

    Oh. That¡¯s quite a bullet hole next to my left ear.

    ¡°I know everything I need to know about you, Jian. Fights aren¡¯t just about physical strength, they¡¯re psychological too, and you just lost.¡±

    ¡°A little teenage girl like you led the Black Scorpion raid that destroyed my home! You scum killed my friends and destroyed everything I loved!¡± Jian cries out in hatred.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± A boy with a flattop and white lab coat loudly questions as he enters the gym. ¡°Annie? Jian? What are you guys doing? You know what, I don¡¯t care. Where¡¯s Kiko?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m right here, Harold!¡± Kiko reveals as she peeks her head above a machine.

    ¡°We¡¯re being called for an emergency meeting inside the capital building. We gotta go because we both know how she can be when she gets mad,¡± Harold reveals in urgency.

    ¡°Emergency meeting? I guess we should go too, Annie. Farrington won¡¯t be there, so it¡¯ll probably be another boring meeting with Dakari,¡± Jian explains as he finally gets off of me.

    ¡°Oh, darn. Just when we¡¯ve reached the best part of this routine. Sigh. Farewell cutie Lukey. I genuinely hope you¡¯ve enjoyed your introduction to Olympia,¡± Annie says in a creepy tone as she approaches Luke.

    You better not.

    Bitch. She kissed him on the cheek, and she looked directly at me while doing it. Sigh. Congrats Sonya Grey. You get to live to see another shitty day.

    *

    ¡°Sonya?!¡± Luke asks in worry as he rushes over.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I say.

    ¡°That jerk cheated,¡± some random boy yells out.

    ¡°Shush, Sean. Don¡¯t mind him, but Jian is indeed a jerk,¡± the announcer girl, Alessa clarifies. ¡°Your¡­ arm, though,¡± she says with a nasty look on her face.

    ¡°Oh, right. My arm,¡± I say.

    Relocation gets easier after the first few times.

    Fixed it! Jian is a jerk.

    ¡°Heh. That was undoubtedly the most entertaining thing I¡¯ve seen in my life,¡± a young girl with a cowboy hat and pigtails says. ¡°I¡¯m Teresa Young, by the way. I met Luke earlier, your fists met Ruby, the twins are Rachel and Billy, the pouty one is Drew, and the girl next to him is his little sister Jaliyah.¡±

    ¡°Hi,¡± I say.

    ¡°That was so cool,¡± Billy compliments.

    ¡°Cool? That was so scary, but it was spectacular at the same time!¡± Rachel says excitedly.

    ¡°What about, spectat-cooler?¡± Ruby says with a grin on her face as she holds her stomach.

    ¡°That was so lame,¡± Drew says with a facepalm.

    ¡°Stop hating, big bro,¡± Jaliyah says with a heartfelt smile on her face.

    ¡°Damn it. I missed all the action,¡± an unfamiliar, and yet¡­ familiar voice says.

    ¡°Julie and V?n Duy,¡± Teresa says with a grin. ¡°Heh. How long were you two together for this time?¡±

    ¡°Wha?¡± Julie yelps in shame.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already met Sonya,¡± Duy says as he rubs his neck.

    ¡°Really? How?¡± Teresa asks inquisitively.

    ¡°Let¡¯s just say I won¡¯t underestimate women again,¡± Duy chuckles.

    I threw him too hard. So embarrassing¡­

    ¡°Sonya Grey! You think you can just beat my ass without telling me how you did it?¡± Ruby bitterly asks as she stomps towards me.

    ¡°Yeah, and what about my weakness? Tell us, Sonya,¡± Jayce pleads next.

    ¡°You two lack patience,¡± I say.

    ¡°Sonya, please teach us your ways. Please! You¡¯re the baddest badass to ever step foot in this gym!¡± Jayce desperately begs.

    ¡°Um, you¡¯re not as cool as me, and don¡¯t think this means we¡¯ll be best friends or whatever. But if you don¡¯t mind, I would like to have a rematch with you one day. Ruby Redheart can teach herself along the way,¡± Ruby struggles to say.

    Charlotte if that was you who led the Brackettville raid, then that means you¡¯re alive! And yet, I honestly don¡¯t know whether that¡¯s a blessing or a curse. Regardless, Jian¡¯s beating made me realize that I have to get stronger if I want to fulfill the promise we made, but I will never forget you, who I am, or where I came from. My fate is sealed, and nothing will stop me from accomplishing my mission.

    ¡°I¡¯d be happy to help,¡± I say.

    ¡°Great, so you¡¯re my band¡¯s security guard, in case you¡¯re uninformed. Duy will be the backup guard, and Luke will be our band promoter,¡± Ruby quickly explains.

    ¡°I just met y¡¯all, but I have the feeling that this is the start of a grand friendship!¡± Rachel cheers with the utmost happiness.

 Chapter 12: Departure

    6 Years Later

    Present Day

    June 21, 2075

    0640 CDT

    Downtown Olympia, Kansas

    Veronica Shinka''s Establishment; Luke Miller''s Room

    <u>Luke Miller''s Point of View</u>

    Sigh. We have to wear our urban camouflage-colored uniforms for the first mission. Lightweight, long-sleeve, nametags on the right shirt pocket, and has the insignia of Olympus, a tiny picture of a mountain on the right shoulder, right shirt pocket, and back, and light-brown combat boots for our feet.

    *

    ¡°About time,¡± Sonya says in disapproval.

    ¡°You ok, Luke?¡± Veronica asks in worry.

    Another busy day for you, huh, Veronica? You¡¯re wearing your work clothes consisting of a white blouse, a long black skirt, black pantyhose, and a white lab coat tied around your waist. And no, I¡¯m not ok! Draft Day is bullshit, and we all know it! But there¡¯s nothing anybody can do about it, so what¡¯s the point of getting upset?

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    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I say.

    Oh. You look so sad, Veronica.

    ¡°Sonya you¡¯re a terrifying, but caring young woman. I think of you as a close friend, and I enjoyed spending time with you these past six years. And Olympus is lucky to have you as an ally,¡± Veronica unveils in honesty. ¡°Luke, you¡¯re a brilliant young man, capable of accomplishing anything you wish. Your potential and intelligence are endless, and you have a hell of a best friend to watch your back. In the uh, Old World, as your generation likes to call it, people your age just graduated high school. Their only worries were college or whatever career path they chose. You don¡¯t know how much I wish for your generation and the next to be able to experience normal lives,¡± she explains as tears fall out of her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m god awful at goodbyes,¡± she says with a soft chuckle. ¡°Just take care of each other and your friends!¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Veronica, for everything,¡± Sonya praises as they exchange a hug.

    Damn, I can¡¯t think of anything to say! Why? There¡¯s so much I want to say! Speak!

    ¡°I-I¡¯ll miss you, Veronica,¡± I say as I give her a big hug.

    Please don¡¯t send us back out there.

    ¡°I¡¯ll miss you too, Luke. I love you and I know Zoe would be crying tears of joy if she could see how much you¡¯ve grown up,¡± Veronica cries in pain as she squeezes me tight. ¡°You have a heart of gold, Luke! Don¡¯t let this world corrupt you!¡±

    I have to let go. It¡¯s time for me to leave.

    ¡°I¡¯m- I¡¯m ready when you are, Sonya,¡± I say.

    Gotta grab my bag on the counter. Hurry!

    ¡°Goodbye, Veronica,¡± Sonya says as she waves goodbye with me.

    Safety is an illusion. These past six years have only delayed the inevitable! Life is heartless, and there¡¯s nothing I can do about it except fulfill my role.

    ¡°Have a happy birthday, Veronica,¡± I say.

    ¡°You¡¯re making me feel old, but thank you, Luke,¡± she chuckles with a happy smile.

 Chapter 13: Anna Robinson

    Four Years Ago

    July 5, 2071

    0800 CDT

    Above the Skies of Olympia

    <u>Anna Robinson''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°This is disgraceful. Why are we being sent away to live amongst filth?¡± I ask.

    ¡°You keep talking like this and your new peers will tear you apart, Anna Robinson. We may be royalty, but that doesn¡¯t mean anything down here,¡± Father explains.

    How ancient is this ship? It keeps rumbling! Everything is wretched! This old vessel is the size of a speedboat and contains six seats, Mum and Dad fill up the two in the middle, the pilots are in the front, and my lonely self is dying of depression in the back! How could this happen to someone as blessed as me? I¡¯m going to die on this rubbish heap!

    ¡°We¡¯re only in this mess because of you!¡± I say.

    Should I apologise? Scoff! Of course not. There¡¯s no reason for anyone to get disconcerted about the truth.

    ¡°You¡¯re right, and I am sorry but it¡¯s just a temporary thing. At least our house will have running water,¡± Father weakly admits.

    ¡°I hate you,¡± I say. ¡°Promptly discontinue further communications with me until we get to Earth. Better yet, I have ghosted you, so graciously escort yourself from my presence. You are cancelled. Hmph! Your daughter is no longer available for colloquy; however, you may converse with the hand if you wish.¡±

    You liar! This is not temporary, it¡¯s eternal. Fuel is inadequate so this is a one-way descent to hell, with no hope for returning. We¡¯ve been shamed so bad that they wouldn¡¯t even banish us to Mother Gaia. Why Olympus of all kingdoms?! I would have favored the lethal option of getting flushed, rather than exiled. Even Hephaestus would have been preferable, given the fact that they have electricity, but I suppose it wouldn¡¯t have been much of a punishment if they did that.

    ¡°Mother, I don¡¯t understand what you saw in Father. He is such an incredible dumbass, and I know my smarts surely don¡¯t come from him,¡± I say.

    ¡°What?!¡± He spews angrily.

    Good. Get enraged.

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    ¡°Anna, I¡¯m not saying you¡¯re wrong but don¡¯t speak to your father like that,¡± Mum says. ¡°But Nigel, how could you be so daft? This is the most-.¡±

    Ah. Music through my MP3 player from my headphones. Enormously better. Huh. The white clouds in the distance are slowly turning gray. The indications of a thunderstorm? Oh. My reflection? Ugh! I require an instant makeover! Blue hoodie, pink shirt, and blue jeans are what I currently have on. Blonde hair in a messy side ponytail like mother, blue eyes, and Caucasian skin. Father retains similar features to us, except that he has brown eyes and brown hair. Although our skin is a little pale due to the deficiency of sunlight on the Zodiacs. Luckily, they have tanning booths, but it¡¯s not like I had the chance to use them one more time before we got kicked out. God, how could this happen to me? I have no control over my life, so the only thing I can do is curl up in a ball and silently cry myself to sleep.

    *

    The Next Day

    July 6, 2071

    1200 CDT

    East Olympia, The Olympian Army¡¯s Training Camp

    *

    Earth is dreadful! I¡¯ve been getting nothing but stares all day. Squad Eirene is filled with nothing but a bunch of gobby peasants as expected. Squadmates? More like assholes. I¡¯m never going to get along with anyone here. Even the food here is unsightly. Canned beans and vegetables are the only things I¡¯ve achieved to put onto my lunch tray. Even the dining area is repulsive.

    Oh. There are hundreds of picnic tables dispersed across the grassy field, and I don¡¯t have anyone to sit with.

    ¡°Hey, aren¡¯t you that Royal?¡± A boy asks from behind.

    Lonely or not, I¡¯m still on guard.

    ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± I ask.

    ¡°I just never met a Royal before. It¡¯s almost unreal seeing one up close,¡± he discloses in curiosity.

    What do you mean by that?! His nametag. Huh, Luke Miller.

    ¡°Can I help you?¡± I ask.

    ¡°I would like you to come sit with my friends and me at our table, please,¡± he asks politely.

    What? Are you for real? Hmph! Regardless, I refuse to sit with a peasant even if you are a little handsome. Yeah, I wager this is just a juvenile escapade. As if someone of my status could ever befriend a peasant. Miller and his friends have carelessly assumed that I was born yesterday.

    ¡°Now, why on earth would I ever grant such a request?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Your cautiousness is an essential trait to have here. Not all Olympians are friends with each other. My squad leader is an asshat, so I understand where you¡¯re coming from,¡± Luke replies with a radiant smile.

    Ok, so you appear to be smart and cognizant.

    ¡°Huh,¡± Luke says as he looks behind me. ¡°Your squad is avoiding you because of your royalty or smell.¡±

    Such a predictable comment from the immature sex, however, you¡¯ve piqued my interest. Lunch is only a half-hour, I suppose.

    ¡°I do not smell bad. My fragrance is elegantly fantastic for your information,¡± I say.

    ¡°Hey, I never said you smelled bad!¡± he clarifies with a stupid grin. ¡°Space must smell elegantly fantastic if that¡¯s how you describe your scent.¡±

    ¡°Space smells like (wait.)-. Ugh, never mind. Let¡¯s just go sit,¡± I say.

    ¡°Sounds good to me. I¡¯m Luke Miller, by the way,¡± he says as he offers a handshake.

    My hands are engaged silly boy.

    ¡°Well, if you must know, I am Anna Robinson, the only child of the remarkably noble and illustrious Robinson family.¡±

    ¡°Sounds fancy,¡± he says with a chuckle as he finally notices my hands.

    Of course, it sounds fancy you dope.

 Chapter 14: Ignorance is Bliss

    July 6, 2071

    1205 CDT

    East Olympia, Olympus''s Training Camp

    <u>Anna Robinson''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Sonya, Teresa, meet the newcomer and elegantly fantastic Royal, Anna Robinson of the noble and prestigious Robinson family,¡± Luke introduces as we sit down.

    This wooden picnic table is so uncomfortable! I swear if I get a splinter.

    ¡°Howdy,¡± Teresa says from the opposite direction from me.

    Repulsive. She looks to be ten years old and appears to weigh forty-five kilograms. She¡¯s probably what the other cadets call ¡°zombie bait.¡± How could Olympus send a toothpick like her to battle?

    ¡°Hey,¡± Sonya greets, sitting next to Teresa as if she could care less about me.

    This girl is a freak of nature! Unlike Teresa, she looks like she¡¯s ready to kill someone. Her entire physique and demeanor screams, ¡°Don¡¯t fuck with me.¡± She¡¯s obviously at the top of our class and could effortlessly become a squad leader in the Death Angels if she were a Royal. Teresa is clearly low class, and Luke is probably middle-upper class. I cannot tell just yet.

    ¡°Hello,¡± I say.

    ¡°I think you¡¯ll like us. I¡¯m like fifty percent sure,¡± Luke says with a grin. ¡°Don¡¯t mind Sonya, she always has a mean face,¡± Luke explains as he sits down next to me.

    ¡°I¡¯m smiling on the inside,¡± Sonya responds with a glare to Luke.

    ¡°Someone¡¯s in trouble,¡± Teresa snickers.

    How odd.

    ¡°Are you guys in the same squad?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Indeed. You¡¯re looking at 3/8th of the mighty Squad Zeus. Everyone does their own thing during lunch, so I have no idea where the others are,¡± Teresa discloses in great pride.

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    ¡°In case you didn¡¯t notice, we¡¯re kind of the outcasts of this year¡¯s cadets,¡± Luke shamelessly clarifies.

    ¡°Kind of? Be honest with the girl. Just tell her nobody likes us,¡± Teresa replies in disgust.

    ¡°Ok yeah. Nobody really likes us here,¡± Luke says in disappointment.

    ¡°But misery loves company. All of us are saaaaaaad, including you, so let¡¯s be miserable together, amiga,¡± Teresa says with a smile.

    They all seem pretty intelligent, even the weak Teresa. She called me her friend, but the feeling isn¡¯t mutual. These three are very different than everyone else I¡¯ve interacted with today. Hmph! It makes no difference. I am royalty and cannot associate myself with such brazen beings.

    ¡°Wait, I take back what I said,¡± Luke quickly declares. ¡°Nobody likes Teresa and me, but people love Sonya Grey. My best friend and partner in crime has recently earned the nickname ¡°Sonya the Invincible,¡± Luke informs with pride.

    ¡°Luke, you¡¯re right and wrong, my guy. You¡¯re correct that Sonya here is awesome, but people don¡¯t love her. They fear her, big difference. She can kick everyone¡¯s ass here without even breaking a sweat,¡± Teresa clarifies.

    Wow, and no reaction from Sonya. She¡¯s just humbly eating her food. Who is this girl? Is she some kind of martial arts master from cinema? No, no way. She¡¯s something more. More deadly. Martial arts alone won¡¯t cut it in The New World.

    ¡°They don¡¯t call her invincible for nothing,¡± Luke says with a heartwarming smile.

    Did Sonya just, blush?

    ¡°Don¡¯t drool over her smooth guy,¡± Teresa says with a smirk.

    ¡°I¡¯m not drooling, I¡¯m chewing,¡± Luke embarrassingly denies as he chews on his sandwich.

    ¡°Heads up, Anna!¡± Teresa calls out.

    ¡°An apple?¡± I ask as I catch the apple she tossed.

    ¡°You looked like you were still hungry,¡± Teresa explains with a shrug.

    You are made of glass and require this fruit more than me. Why would you do this?

    ¡°I bet Sonya would¡¯ve been a professional martial artist. I would¡¯ve been her coach, of course,¡± Luke boastfully announces.

    Spitting out milk? How gross, Teresa. Milk is vital for your bones. You shouldn¡¯t laugh.

    ¡°You¡¯re funny, Luke. As if our Sonya needs a coach. And no offense buddy, but who¡¯d want to be coached by the guy who¡¯s in the bottom ten of hand-to-hand combat? It makes no sense. I¡¯m in the bottom ten Luke. Me. That¡¯s saying something,¡± Teresa laughs in disapproval.

    ¡°She has a point, Luke. We should practice on your strikes later,¡± Sonya supports with a soft grin.

    That was a bit funny but still, do not laugh.

    ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s give attention to our guest of honor. Anna, can you tell us what it¡¯s like to be a Royal?¡± Luke quickly diverts the attention to me like a jerk.

    A Royal?

    ¡°Well-,¡± I say.

    ¡°Hold that thought. I want to hear this too,¡± A gruff voice from behind me interrupts.

    The person about to sit down beside me is my squad leader, Captain Rico Pero Desafortunado.

 Chapter 15: Misfortune

    July 5, 2071

    1210 CDT

    East Olympia, Olympus''s Training Camp

    <u>Anna Robinson''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Enlighten us, Anna Robinson. What¡¯s it like being one of the high and mighty Royals? What¡¯s it like not having to give a shit about anything? What¡¯s it like being privileged and well-fed? What¡¯s it like not having to know that you¡¯re going to have to fight billions of the undead when you turn eighteen?¡± Rico interrogates in a hostile tone and intense eye contact. ¡°Oh, wait. You¡¯ll know the answer to that last question in about uh four years.¡±

    ¡°If she even makes it that long,¡± a girl¡¯s voice in the distance yells, agitating the situation.

    That sounded like Lieutenant Nia Esrun? This situation is only going to further escalate. I should take my leave.

    ¡°Lay off of her!¡± Teresa pleads with authority.

    Gasp! Rico took my apple! Back away from my face!

    ¡°Actually, here¡¯s the most important question I¡¯ve been dying to know. What dumbass thing did you and your family do to be kicked out of the cruisers?¡± Rico questions in anger as he chews on my apple.

    There¡¯s no correct answer to that. The peasant is provoking me and I don¡¯t blame him. I don¡¯t belong here.  I don¡¯t even want to be here, but I¡¯m not going to let this piece of filth talk to me like this!

    ¡°Back off, Rico!¡± Luke shouts out.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even start with me, Luke,¡± Rico says in a stern voice as he gets up from his seat. ¡°Stay out of this! I¡¯m just looking out for my fellow squadmate here. Anna, Luke isn¡¯t as innocent as he¡¯s making you believe. He was about to ask you the same exact questions as me, except he was gonna ask you in a nice and friendly way. Let¡¯s just get a few things straight, me and you aren¡¯t friends, and we will never be. The world ain¡¯t nice, space girl, so you better get used to your new environment,¡± he rudely lectures in a hateful tone.

    What a jerk!

    ¡°Luke, Teresa, I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re being nice to this piece of shit. Have you forgotten what the Royals did to Rion? How they just abandoned everyone and saved themselves? Why Olympus is making sure we¡¯re fresh and buttered for the zombies?¡± Rico continues, his voice becoming louder with every word.

    ¡°I¡¯m well aware of the world¡¯s history,¡± Luke responds as he gets out of his seat as well. ¡°The Royals are terrible people.¡±

    I knew I couldn¡¯t trust him.

    ¡°But nobody here has even met a Royal until today. Anna may be a Royal, or an ex-Royal now, but I don¡¯t know anything about her. I believe that the Royals are my enemy, and yet I¡¯ve never met one until today. Blindly hating someone I don¡¯t know doesn¡¯t seem right to me, so yeah, you¡¯re right, I was going to ask what you were going to ask. I can¡¯t even stand her presence, but I refuse to take action without making sure that she¡¯s an enemy or a victim like us,¡± Luke calmly explains as he enters a stare-down with Rico.

    Luke? Not good! A crowd is starting to form.

    ¡°Well, say something your royalness,¡± Nia further incites.

    I don¡¯t have a choice but to speak now.

    ¡°My name is Anna Robinson, the only child of the Robinson family. My family and I were exiled by the Royals and sent to live on Olympus as punishment. I¡¯m deeply sorry for the pain they¡¯ve caused, but my family had nothing to do with that.¡±

    As if I could ever mean that. Peasants are and will perpetually be rubbish. I¡¯ll say anything I must to survive.

    ¡°She¡¯s not the enemy, Rico,¡± Luke supports in a stern tone.

    ¡°So that¡¯s supposed to make me feel better? Screw that! Just because she wears our uniform doesn¡¯t mean she¡¯s one of us,¡± Rico shouts as he flails his arms. ¡°Don¡¯t be so trusting, Luke. She¡¯s been living a carefree life of luxury her whole life until now! She don¡¯t give a shit about us! If she were to die right now, nobody would miss her; in fact, people would celebrate! All Royals deserve to burn in hell. I don¡¯t fucking know her, and her own people don¡¯t give a shit about her either!¡±

    That hurts, but he¡¯s right about everything. Why? Stop crying. You¡¯re not a baby. The crowd is too congested now. I¡¯ve missed my esca-

    Ow! My ear! Fuck! It¡¯s bleeding?!  Rico punched me so hard that I fell off the damn bench.

    ¡°Peasant!¡± I yell.

    Help should be coming soon. Or will it? Who knows? Peasants, all of them.

    H-he hit me in my left eye! I-I can¡¯t¡­

    ¡°Rico, stop!¡± Luke shouts with a push to Rico.

    ¡°Luke, if I don¡¯t kill her, someone else here will,¡± Rico says in a cold tone.

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    ¡°I can do it!¡± Nia shouts in excitement.

    ¡°Except I¡¯m prepared to accept the consequences, Nia,¡± Rico quickly clarifies. ¡°Living is hard, and they only make shit worse, so let me do this!¡±

    ¡°The Royals do deserve to suffer, but she¡¯s not our enemy. They could¡¯ve sent her and her family to overthrow the council, but they didn¡¯t! She and her parents are forced to contribute to Olympus, just like everyone else! A Royal wouldn¡¯t be serving in our army. Anna Robinson is not a Royal anymore,¡± Luke says in a calm yet aggressive manner.

    ¡°Dumbass!¡± Rico snickers.

    Rico¡¯s laughter is horrible.

    ¡°She¡¯s a cornered cat with no proof! It was her family that destroyed Rion for all we know! You didn¡¯t grow up here, so it¡¯s easy for you to speak on this shit!¡± Rico cries in tears. ¡°I helplessly watched my family and friends march into a pointless battle my whole life, and soon it¡¯ll be my turn! We gather supplies for the Royals, we reclaim territory for the Royals, and we bend over backward and take it in the ass for the Royals! We¡¯re suffering because of the Royals! Don¡¯t you get it? We¡¯re their bitches. Draft Day is just a countdown to our deaths, and one of those responsible is right in front of me, and you¡¯re telling me not to kill her?! And even if she was somehow innocent, she and her family definitely didn¡¯t do a damn thing to stop their sins! So, what I¡¯m about to do is justice,¡± he yells out with grief and fury.

    Gulp. He pulled out a switchblade!

    ¡°Wait a second,¡± Rico ponders.  ¡°You¡¯re all so similar, so it¡¯s no fucking wonder you feel the need to coddle her. Your guardian is the she-devil, and nobody wants Teresa on their squad because she¡¯s dead weight. Our superiors only put her on Squad Sonya out of pity. And speaking of Sonya, she¡¯s from The Scorpion Kingdom, you dunce! Black Scorpions can¡¯t be trusted! She¡¯s only here because the fucking she-devil vouches for her, but I refuse to go into battle with that bitch.¡±

    You punched him right in the jaw, Luke!

    ¡°Is that the best you got?!¡± Rico screams in anger, followed by him spitting out blood.

    ¡°AW SHIT!¡± The crowd roars in excitement.

    ¡°You hit just like the bitches you live with, but you can¡¯t fight, so I won¡¯t even waste time kicking your ass! Stand in my way, and I¡¯ll have Nia dig up a grave for two!¡± Rico loudly threatens.

    Gasp! Rico cut him under his right eye! Fight back, Luke!

    Rico tackled Luke to the ground!

    Get up, Luke! Wait. What¡¯s that?!

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you three seconds to drop the blade before I break off your fingers and feed them to you in front of what little family you have left,¡± Sonya says in a calm, yet fierce tone, with a knife placed on Rico¡¯s throat from behind.

    ¡°Ok!¡± Rico quickly complies.

    ¡°Fuck with my friends again, and I¡¯ll make sure you wish you were dead. We¡¯re on the same side dipshit, but I can change that in an instant if you do this shit again. If we were enemies in this situation, I¡¯d tie you up and cut off your dick to feed it to the undead for hurting my friend. I would keep you alive and healthy, though, because there are still skillful surgeons around, and I know exactly where to get extra blood. I¡¯d go after your family next, but not before cutting out your tongue, leaving you dickless and speechless,¡± Sonya threatens as she leans closer and closer to his right ear. ¡°I¡¯m sure I can make Doctor Shinka make the officials look the other way before I do this. She¡¯ll probably even assist me if she hears what you did to her poor Luke,¡± she continues in a sinister tone. ¡°If she gets her hands on you, you¡¯ll be begging to get tortured by me instead. Nod slowly if you understand.¡±

    A knife to the throat will make even the worst of people obey.

    ¡°Teresa is way smarter than you can ever dream to imagine, so think twice before judging her on appearance again,¡± Sonya explains. ¡°As for Anna, as she said, she and her family had nothing to do with what the Royals did, so leave her alone and do your job as a squad leader. I don¡¯t fucking know Anna, and I wasn¡¯t going to help her regardless if she was innocent until you dragged me, Luke, and Teresa, into it.  You¡¯re right that she has no proof, so if I ever find out that she was lying, I¡¯ll kill her myself. Now we¡¯re going to get up slowly and explain to our superiors that we all just got a little too rowdy during lunchtime, and people got hurt, got it?¡±

    ¡°Hey! Who¡¯s messing with us, Sonya? Whose ass needs beating today? Shit, is that Rico?¡± A loud girl screams above the noisy crowd.

    Sonya Grey is frightening, but she saved my life even if it wasn¡¯t her intention.

    *

    1 Month Later

    August 5, 2071

    1200 CDT

    Olympia¡¯s General Hospital, Outskirts of Olympia

    *

    Sigh. I suppose I should text Li while I wait for the doctor.

    Li, I learnt some new things this month. As we already know, most of the peasants are scum, but the odd ones are quite friendly. My injuries have hospitalized me for two weeks. My squad leader, Rico, was suspended from military training for a month for his actions. Nobody has dared to harass or assault me anymore after this¡­ beatdown. Although constant glares and whispers are nuisances that will never disappear.

    I think it¡¯s because of the strange group I¡¯ve befriended. We aren¡¯t in the same squad and probably never will be, but I¡¯m somewhat happy to know that I¡¯m not the only pariah here and can eat lunch with them every day.

    My squadmates have ceased their verbal harassment; however, we are far from friends. Rico was the same after his return. I absolutely loathe him, and he feels the same. Despite that, I sort of understand his anger, but that didn¡¯t mean he had to take it out on my elegantly fantastic face!

    Nobody believes that my family and I had nothing to do with Rion! Even if we wanted to stop it, speaking out against our saviors is a big no-no!

    I honestly didn¡¯t care about The New World or the eight Kingdoms, because it didn¡¯t affect me. I was selfish, but I wasn¡¯t the one who had to fight the zombies until now.

    I¡¯m starting to think that maybe¡­ the Royals aren¡¯t as mint as I thought, but I¡¯d rather be up there than down here any day of the week. That wish will never change. The Police Force has been protecting my parents and me after Rico¡¯s assault.

    My goals now are to finish military training and survive the four years so I can return to Olympia and join the Police Force.

    Members of the Police Force have the highest chances of becoming a Royal if they do a superb job and know the right people. I¡¯m capable of achieving such a task, and my focus has been on working harder to escape this awful kingdom with my family.

    Speaking of parents, I stopped giving my father a hard time and apologised for acting out. Rico is a jerk, but he must¡¯ve beaten some of the brattiness out of me. My mum hasn¡¯t been doing too well, mentally. She hardly talks anymore and rarely eats or cooks. She does her duties as a citizen and spends her free time in slumber. She must hate it here more than me, and I¡¯m worried sick about her.

    My new lunch buddies, Teresa Young, Sonya Grey, and Luke Miller have my eternal thanks. Luke is quite adorable, but no way am I getting between him and Sonya. This is a ridiculous question, Li, but do you think there¡¯s a chance for a Royal to befriend a peasant?

 Chapter 16: The Mighty Squad Zeus

    1 Week Later

    August 12, 2071

    1300 CDT

    Olympus¡¯s Training Camp, East Olympia

    <u>Ho V?n Duy''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe you¡¯re the squad leader!¡± Sonya explodes in frustration.

    ¡°Too bad! Our superior¡¯s decisions are final!¡± I say.

    ¡°Well, our superiors are obviously stupid!¡± She continues to whine.

    ¡°Maybe if you weren¡¯t in the bottom ten of cooperation, you¡¯d be giving the orders instead!¡± I say.

    God, you get on my nerves.

    ¡°This is bullshit!¡± She screams out as she finally walks away with angry stomps.

    You should be leading us Sonya, but you¡¯re not ready. Alright, time to focus. Our training consists of tests of physiology, histology, embryology, neurobiology, affective science, ballistics, hoplology, military science, world history, geography, mathematics, anthropology, martial arts, anatomy, medicine, theology, thanatology, pathology, food science, meteorology, zoology, marine biology, botany, navigation, astronomy, automotive engineering, survival skills, communication, and cooperation. Today is our first group exercise and I¡¯m not looking forward to it.

    The training area for this activity resembles a grassy American football field filled with truck tires and unrepairable cars for makeshift cover. The weather is perfect! Clear skies without a cloud in sight. Our superiors and the other squads are spectating on the sidelines, patiently waiting for the match to begin.

    ¡°Squad Zeus, attention! We¡¯ll be playing a match of capture the flag against Squad Poseidon! Our flag is right behind this goal line, while Squad Poseidon¡¯s flag is ninety-one meters opposite us. We¡¯ll be using paintball guns in this exercise! Getting tagged with a paintball means you¡¯re eliminated. At that point, you must immediately drop your weapon and drop dead. Any form of communication is forbidden after you¡¯ve been eliminated! Breaking these rules means that you forfeit the match for you and your team. The paintballs hurt like shit, so you will know when you get hit! The white lines near the sidelines indicate the out-of-bounds line and going out of bounds also means that you¡¯re eliminated. The exercise can be won by taking the enemy¡¯s flag and delivering it to our own or eliminating all eight of their members before they eliminate us. This match will have a fifteen-minute time limit. If the flag hasn¡¯t been captured in those fifteen-minutes and players still remain, then the team with the most players wins the match. Are there any questions?¡±

    ¡°I have a question sirrrrrrrrr! How will this shit help us in four years?¡± Ruby asks in a playful tone.

    How can she be so dense?

    ¡°The undead aren¡¯t the only threats out there. I understand what you¡¯re getting at because zombies don¡¯t shoot back or have intelligence, but let¡¯s pretend that the flags represent a precious resource we can¡¯t afford to lose because hundreds of lives depend on it. The enemy team represents bandits that possess said resources. They want the rest of our stuff and are willing to kill us for it. We can say that the out-of-bounds line represents a horde of zombies, and the timer represents how fast they¡¯re closing in on us. It¡¯ll be unlikely that we¡¯ll run into human threats, but this is just a precaution. We¡¯ll have to be prepared to kill another human being when we¡¯re deployed out there. Got it?¡±

    Kill another person? Yeah right.

    ¡°Yes, sir! I understand!¡± Ruby responds with an eye roll.

    No, you don¡¯t! And then there¡¯s Billy.

    ¡°Billy, what¡¯s on your mind?¡± I ask.

    Stop being timid!

    ¡°K-Killing the undead is one thing, but killing another human is completely different,¡± Billy mutters nervously.

    You¡¯re not wrong, but this is the world we live in.

    ¡°No disrespect, sir, but I have to agree with my brother! Uglies are just dead creatures overstaying their welcome, but killing a living, breathing person is insane! I¡¯m willing to partake in the exercise, but I don¡¯t think I can ever actually kill someone,¡± Rachel kindly explains.

    How ironic considering your specialty.

    ¡°We¡¯ll continue this matter another time. Paintballs are non-lethal, so you don¡¯t have to worry about killing someone today. We¡¯ll also be wearing plastic goggles to protect our eyes, and we¡¯ll be wearing ponchos to make sure our uniforms don¡¯t get too dirty. Our guns have thirty rounds of ammunition, and no extra ammo will be provided. This simulates how rare bullets are to come by and how long it takes to make new ones. Do you guys know what this means?¡±

    Please, anyone but Ruby?

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    ¡°Ooooooh, I know, Captain!¡± Ruby replies in a mischievous tone.

    ¡°Ok. Ruby what does it me-¡± I say.

    ¡°It means don¡¯t be a jackass by wasting your bullets, right?¡± Ruby rudely interrupts.

    I¡¯ll let your interruption slide since you are paying attention today.

    ¡°Correct, Ruby. That means don¡¯t be a jackass by wasting your bullets. Zombies can only be killed with a shot to the head, but people are different. You can shoot anywhere, but you should aim for the vital organs. Shots to the brain, heart, kidneys, liver, and lungs are extremely lethal.¡±

    Stop looking so confused, Ruby, Billy, and Rachel! Put your damn hands down! You should¡¯ve studied more.

    ¡°This means that shots to the head, neck, torso, knees, and spine are also very effective for those failing anatomy. This is just an exercise but remember to double-tap or destroy the brain with a knife if possible in real fights. Everyone turns and you don¡¯t want an enemy corpse to kill you in their new life. Our guns have a maximum range of thirty yards with three separate fire modes: automatic, semi-automatic, and single shot. You¡¯ll be trusted to use what you think is best for the situation. Are there any more questions?¡±

    No more hands. We can finally begin.

    *

    Eight vs. eight. Squad Poseidon will no doubt focus on Lieutenant Grey first. Speaking of Sonya.

    ¡°What¡¯s the plan, Captain?¡± Sonya asks in a calm tone as she approaches the ten-yard line.

    ¡°Teresa!¡± I call to her.

    ¡°The one and only,¡± she says with a smirk as she joins our huddle.

    ¡°Exercise or not, your lives are more important to me than anything else,¡± I say.

    ¡°Careful, Captain. The flag, aka life-saving supplies, will save countless lives. There¡¯s only 8 of us, and our superiors expect us to risk our lives to succeed,¡± Sonya quickly reminds.

    ¡°What are you trying to say, Miss Sonya Grey?¡± I ask.

    ¡°You think that you can protect everyone, keep everyone safe, but you can¡¯t. As expendable soldiers, the priority is always the mission. We know you care about us and our safety but remember what we¡¯re fighting for. I follow a great leader who knows our strengths and weakness, but I refuse to follow an incompetent jackass who tries to protect everyone.¡± Sonya states.

    You wouldn¡¯t be saying that if you had to choose between Luke or the mission.

    ¡°Your opinion is noted. Anyway, here¡¯s my plan that involves minimal risk. Me, Sonya, Billy, and Ruby on offense while Luke, Drew, Rachel, and Teresa on defense,¡± I say.

    ¡°It¡¯s not a bad idea, but if we have to win at any cost, might I suggest a better strategy for us, Captain?¡± Teresa asks in concern.

    ¡°Go ahead, Teresa,¡± I say.

    ¡°The enemy will do anything to get the resources before us, so we should enter the same mindset. Sonya will be their first target, but neither team has to actually capture the flag to win according to the rules. A team can win by eliminating all of their enemies or having more members than the opposing team by the time the fifteen minutes is up. However, in a real battle, that way of winning is actually losing. We may have won the fight and escaped in time, but we failed to capture the supplies in the process. That would mean our friends died for nothing, and our superiors would be ashamed if we returned empty-handed. The flag is an objective to get the teams moving. It¡¯s bait and speaking of bait, I think it¡¯s time to live up to my unwelcome nickname of zombie bait. Hmm, I guess I would be human bait in this situation,¡± she explains in too proud of a tone.

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Here¡¯s my plan; Sonya and Billy will lead the assault while you and Rachel support them from behind. As leader, you¡¯ll need to be in a position to see the entire battlefield and communicate with the others. Rachel is the best shot on the team with the best vision. She¡¯ll be able to cover Sonya and Billy, protect you and me, and keep an eye on our guard all at the same time. That means Luke, Drew, and Ruby will be on defense. Ruby being forced to step out of her comfort zone will improve her growth. Luke and Drew are patient and reliable enough to make good decisions on defense. They also don¡¯t have any outstanding skills or talents for the other positions.¡±

    ¡°Sounds good to me,¡± Sonya supports with an impressed look on her face.

    ¡°Wait. Go back to the bait thing,¡± I say.

    ¡°Billy and Sonya might get pinned down by enemy fire. Captain, as usual, I¡¯m the weak link in the exercises, which means I have the least to provide in this mission. I¡¯m asking, no, I¡¯m telling you to use me as a distraction if needed,¡± Teresa orders with a determined look on her face.

    Yeah right! If being a good leader means sending someone to their death for the mission, then I can¡¯t do it. I¡¯ll protect everyone no matter what!

    ¡°Your poker face is awful, Captain,¡± Teresa says with a raised eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m aware that I¡¯m not built for this world, and now I¡¯m stuck here because of my own actions. We all have roles to play, and your role is to stop thinking you can protect all of us and do your job as leader. I¡¯m the most expendable member of Squad Zeus, and I¡¯m willing to play that part if I know it¡¯ll lead to success. But I can¡¯t do that if my Captain is thinking about making stupid decisions! No matter what happens to us, always remember who this squad is named after. Just like Zeus, we are immortal, and just like Zeus, we are the mightiest! The bond this squad shares will be unbroken forever. The entire world will remember us one day! We will never be forgotten!¡± Teresa exclaims with pride.

    ¡°You heard the girl, Captain, let¡¯s do this,¡± Sonya says with a smirk.

    *

    ¡°What do you mean, defense?¡± Ruby asks in absolute disgust.

    ¡°I said what I said, Ruby! Is there a problem?¡± I ask.

    ¡°No, Captain, I¡¯ll do what I¡¯m told,¡± she says with a look of defeat.

    ¡°You¡¯re so childish,¡± Drew criticizes Ruby.

    Sticking your tongue out at him only supports what he¡¯s saying, Ruby.

    ¡°Hey! Stop fucking around! This exercise will simulate life on the outside!¡± Sonya orders.

    ¡°I understand, Lieutenant!¡± Ruby responds, still not understanding the situation.

    ¡°Defense isn¡¯t so bad, Ruby,¡± Luke says to make her feel better.

    ¡°I¡¯d rather watch paint dry,¡± Drew replies.

    ¡°Ok, playing defense in team sports is pretty boring,¡± Luke admits.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make me feel better, guys,¡± Ruby says in despair.

    ¡°Except hockey. Goalies in hockey seem to get a lot of action,¡± Billy joins in.

    ¡°Yeah, only if their team¡¯s defense sucks,¡± Teresa explains.

    ¡°That¡¯s a good point,¡± Rachel joins in.

    ¡°Or the other team¡¯s offense is too good,¡± Sonya adds to the group.

    ¡°Darn, I wish we could play hockey,¡± Billy wishes.

    ¡°At least there¡¯s an air hockey table in the barracks,¡± Rachel says in support.

    ¡°We¡¯re only allowed to use it on special occasions though,¡± Teresa explains.

    ¡°Kicking Squad Poseidon¡¯s ass is a special occasion. Captain, what do you say? If we win, do you think we can convince our superiors to let us use the air hockey table? Let¡¯s do boys vs. girls,¡± Ruby asks in a burst of excitement.

    I want to smile, but it¡¯s not appropriate because I¡¯m an authoritarian figure now.

    ¡°Yes, if we win, I¡¯ll convince our superiors to let us use the air hockey table,¡± I say.

    ¡°Sweet!¡± Ruby and Rachel cheer in glee.

    End of Act 1: Olympus

 Act 2: Operation Aurora. Chapter 17: The Deathbringers

    4 Years Later

    Present Day

    June 21, 2075

    0710 CDT

    Northern Hades, Olympia

    <u>Captain Ho V?n Duy''s Point of View</u>

    Me, Lieutenant Sonya Grey, Sergeant Luke Miller, Corporal Drew Howard, Private Rachel Cooper, Private Billy Cooper, Private Ruby Redheart, and Private Teresa Young. The mighty Squad Zeus, all lined up at attention. Four years of training together and now we¡¯re looking at four years of surviving together.

    Eagle Brigade, the nineteenth Infantry Brigade, consisting of 2500 soldiers, three battalions, and a total of 312 squads, all patiently listening to General Brian Farrington finish his speech as the nimbostratus clouds soar above us. I don¡¯t envy his position. How do you motivate 2500 teenagers to charge into death?

    Wait a second. This is the first time we¡¯ve all seen him in person! And I was just starting to believe the rumors of him being a made-up person. Standing far atop Hades, about fifty meters from our twelve is a Caucasian man with dark brown hair and a scruffy beard who appears to be in his mid-forties. His entire face says ¡°fatigued,¡± but his voice contradicts his appearance. It¡¯s no wonder he¡¯s a leader, and if I had to guess, he was probably a businessman, accountant, or a male model in The Old World.

    ¡°We¡¯re supposed to die for Chad McMacho here? Scoff. He ain¡¯t even that hot,¡± Ruby loudly whispers among the squad. ¡°Ow,¡± Ruby whispers in pain after Teresa elbows her.

    ¡°Shush, Ruby,¡± Teresa demands.

    You haven¡¯t grown at all, Ruby, but your honesty has a good point. Dying for someone we hardly know is ludicrous, but it¡¯s just another fact we must accept in our lives. At least he prefers to fight among us on the front lines. General Farrington receives a lot of understandable hate, given how little progress he¡¯s made in his expeditions. Additionally, his most infamous defeat of losing Brackettville to Scorpius and the undead didn¡¯t do much to help with public opinion. He must be in the most pain out of everyone in Olympus, regardless. Some of the rookies have no chance of surviving, and he knows this but has no choice but to send them to their deaths. That¡¯s too much death to have on your conscious. Being a leader sucks.

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    ¡°¡­as you all know, you¡¯re only required to serve four years in our army. After those four years are up, you have the choice of continuing service, or you can choose to live inside the capital or in a settlement, find a job, and be with your loved ones,¡± General Farrington reminds us.

    Four years? We¡¯re still worried about the first days, General.

    ¡°Now for our battle plan,¡± he continues.

    Finally.

    ¡°We¡¯ll be retaking the town of Winner, South Dakota, located roughly 643 kilometers northwest of Olympia. Troops are clearing a safe path to the town as I speak. Our reliable source has reasons to believe that it has not yet been scavenged, due to the thousands of undead that control the city. We¡¯ve recently gained the possession of powerful weapons capable of annihilating every single one of those bastards.¡± General Farrington states loudly.

    A new weapon? The soldiers below him are taking the tarp off of a large truck.

    ¡°We call it, The Deathbringer,¡± General Farrington reveals. ¡°It¡¯s a minigun built with 100 caliber rounds, capable of firing 2020 bullets per minute, instantly destroying flesh upon impact!¡± The General explains with pride.

    Mini is the last word to describe it. If these are the small ones, then the non-portable ones on top of Hades must be the regular-sized version.

    ¡°Four of our most powerful armored trucks will transport one Deathbringer each in Operation: Aurora! We¡¯ll be escorting the Deathbringers into Winner¡¯s western outskirts, where we will then form a blockade and light up every zombie son of a bitch in our sight. The Battalion responsible for this task will be known as Alpha Battalion. It will take some time to safely prepare the Deathbringer¡¯s for use, due to their weight and rapid consumption of ammunition. This is where the Bravo Battalion steps in. Bravo Battalion will serve as a distraction to allow Alpha Battalion enough time to make the necessary preparations for the Deathbringers. Bravo Battalion will occupy the zombies in the city by fighting their way to the rooftops, where they will then take shelter and illuminate the skies with flares. Stairs are difficult for the zombies to traverse, notably in groups, and our scouts have spotted zero mutated in the city. The roar of the Deathbringers will attract the zombies to the Alpha Battalion¡¯s location. Bravo Battalion will then attack the roamers from behind and lure the remaining undead toward the Deathbringer¡¯s path. However, this means that the Bravo Battalion will not be able to escape until the Alpha Battalion is ready, and the Alpha Battalion will be unable to do the same. I will end my briefing on this note. Don¡¯t forget that you¡¯re fighting for your comrades and loved ones. If you find yourself in despair, think about the ones waiting for your return. You¡¯re all courageous soldiers, and I¡¯m proud to lead you into battle!¡±

 Chapter 18: A March to Hell

    12 Hours Later

    June 21, 2075

    1910 CDT

    Near Nebraska City, Nebraska

    <u>Luke Miller''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Of course, we are!¡± Ruby complains in frustration.

    ¡°I¡¯m not surprised either, Ruby,¡± Rachel says as she chews on her bubblegum.

    Huh. Her newly dyed strawberry-pink hair suits her personality well.

    ¡°Yup. We¡¯re in Bravo Battalion,¡± Sonya assures as she examines her handgun.

    The tarp is sealed tight over the cargo truck, but it¡¯s still cold in here. Two, large, woody benches attached to the two walls will be our uncomfortable, makeshift beds for the next few days.

    Ok, do a quick visual check of the equipment before bed. Duy, Ruby, Teresa, Drew, and I are equipped with assault rifles containing thirty rounds of ammo in the magazine, three extra clips of spare ammo, and a sharp bayonet attached beneath the barrel. Sonya and Billy are outfitted with a submachine gun, and Rachel is naturally armed with a sniper rifle. A pistol for a sidearm and a small survival knife except for Billy and Sonya, who have their preferred types of blades.

    There¡¯s been zero casualties so far and only minimal encounters with the undead. Cities are dangerous and should only be explored when low on supplies, which is why we¡¯re here. Everyone appears to be as stressed out as me.

    Drew is reading a book, but I can¡¯t see the title. I should ask him about it later. Teresa is enjoying an energy bar. Ruby is examining something in her backpack, and I think I¡¯m better off not knowing what it is. Billy is sharpening his machete, and Duy is recounting our ammo.

    ¡°Sooo guys. What does a, uh zombie look like?¡± Ruby asks us with a curious look on her face. ¡°I don¡¯t think all of us have seen one, and they never brought one out during boot camp.¡±

    ¡°Show of hands, how many of you have had an encounter with a zombie?¡± Duy inquiries.

    Me, Sonya, Duy, and the twins. Huh. Ruby, Teresa, and Drew are lucky, I think?

    ¡°Gasp!¡± Teresa exclaims in sarcasm. ¡°The amazing Ruby Redheart has never seen a zombie?¡± She questions with a fake shocked look on her face.

    ¡°Ugh! Yeah, so what Teresa? You¡¯ve never seen one either,¡± Ruby answers in frustration.

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    My arm. It¡¯s¡­ itchy.

    ¡°We¡¯ve had all of this training to fight zombies, but have never seen one,¡± Drew ponders in a curious tone.

    ¡°How fucking lucky,¡± Sonya says. ¡°I¡¯m going to bed. Squad Apollo will wake us up when it¡¯s time to change shifts again,¡± she discloses in a sharp tone as the truck goes over several bumps.

    Damn truck. Just another thing to sleep to, I guess.

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna go to sleep,¡± Billy states as he stretches.

    ¡°Ditto,¡± Rachel quickly agrees.

    Don¡¯t look at me, Duy. You tell them, Captain.

    ¡°Just make sure to kill them before they kill us. I¡¯m going to bed!¡± Duy rudely explains.

    Knowing something and not having a clear physical description can be frustrating, so I understand your frustrations. We¡¯ll do our best to protect each other, but we¡¯re all aware that it won¡¯t be easy.

    ¡°Wow!¡± Ruby emits in disbelief.

    ¡°I expected more from everyone. Don¡¯t you guys understand? We¡¯re all friends! I can understand why you guys don¡¯t want to open up, but we don¡¯t even know what they look like! Boot camp and tales don¡¯t count. We want to hear it from one of our friends!¡± Teresa pleads.

    ¡°We¡¯re not obligated to say anything! The only thing we have to do is give and follow orders, Teresa!¡± Duy snaps.

    ¡°We¡¯re humans, not robots Duy! Our squad is named after an ancient badass god, and yet we¡¯re acting like chickens!¡± Teresa responds in defeat. ¡°Our emotions and imperfections are what make us humans. If all we did was take and give orders, then we¡¯d be just as lifeless as the undead,¡± she continues in tears.

    ¡°We¡¯ll be alive, though, and that¡¯s all that matters,¡± Duy firmly responds.

    ¡°Being alive and living are two separate things. We breathe, laugh, cry, and share our pain because it¡¯s what humans do! It¡¯s what families do!¡± She pleads as she wipes off her tears.

    Silence.

    ¡°You guys disappoint me. I just¡­ thought we were closer than this, especially after all these years. Even more so on our march to hell.¡± Teresa shakes her head in defeat.

    Bringing up bad memories¡¯ hurts.

    ¡°Just drop it, Teresa. They clearly don¡¯t wanna open up or give us details. I thought we were family as well, a very dysfunctional one, but they don¡¯t see it that way apparently. Maybe they¡¯ll remember this conversation when the zombies are chewing on our faces and ripping out our guts,¡± Ruby states with attitude.

    ¡°If you wanna know more ¡®bout them then I¡¯ll tell you, but not now!¡± Rachel surprisingly steps in. ¡°WE have to sleep. I love y¡¯all as well, but nobody has to reveal their traumatic encounter with a zombie. I¡¯m sure the others will share when they¡¯re ready and be lucky I¡¯m the one tellin¡¯ you this because Duy was gonna chew your heads off for talkin¡¯ like that. Don¡¯t forget that he¡¯s our captain, so don¡¯t ever disrespect him again!¡± she calmly explains with self-assurance.

    ¡°Whatever!¡± Ruby disregards as she brings out her MP3 player and earbuds.

    How in the world did she smuggle that past our superiors?

    ¡°Fine!¡± Duy surrenders. ¡°I was born and raised in Port Arthur, Texas. Long story short, everyone was massacred and I was the only survivor. You wanted a description of them? Imagine staring into certain death, knowing that you and everyone else will end up like that someday. They¡¯re mobile corpses. You¡¯ll be able to see their lifeless devil-red eyes pierce deep, straight into your soul if you stare at them for too long. The sudden shock of seeing their rotten, decaying bodies will make your heart skip a beat. Seeing the inside of their rotten organs, and the decaying bones will make you nauseous. They make you tremble in fear, whether you¡¯re faced against one or 1000. They eat the people you love and turn them into lifeless monsters!!!¡±

    Duy¡­ this is the first time you¡¯ve ever opened up man.

 Chapter 19: The Promise

    June 22, 2075

    3 Hours Later

    Nebraska City, Nebraska

    0000 CDT

    <u>Luke Miller''s Point of View</u>

    Fighting zombies should be scarier than this! Oh, Rachel¡¯s waking up on the girl¡¯s bench. We¡¯re the farthest ones from the exit, but Ruby and Billy have somehow fallen asleep with their fingers in each other¡¯s mouths, snoring over each other. Teresa¡¯s resting in a normal position but has joined in on the snoring competition. Duy appears to be struggling in his sleep again, and Drew is barely noticeable.

    ¡°Yawn! What¡¯s wrong, Luke?¡± Rachel whispers in concern as she stretches her arms.

    ¡°It¡¯s ummm, Veronica gave me something a few weeks ago. Said I should give it to Sonya, as a, uh gift. I don¡¯t know how, though.¡±

    ¡°Aww, that¡¯s so sweet. It¡¯s ¡®bout time ya¡¯ll made it official,¡± Rachel smiles.

    ¡°It¡¯s not like that, we¡¯re just close friends.¡±

    ¡°Your blushin¡¯ red face says otherwise, but whateeeever you say, Luke. What¡¯s the gift?¡± Rachel teases.

    ¡°A pendant. It wasn¡¯t my idea; Veronica gave it to me as a surprise.¡±

    I hope she likes this. It¡¯s in the shape of a small heart, and silver jewels cover the exterior, but the real gift is on the inside.

    ¡°Her favorite color is silver, believe it or not,¡± I say as I open the pendant. ¡°It¡¯s a cool photo of us, see?¡±

    It must have been her first attempt at a smile.

    ¡°Veronica said she took the photo for memories,¡± I say. ¡°Anyone can die at any moment, so it¡¯s important to spend time with your loved ones while you still can.¡±

    ¡°Luke, O-M-G. That is very sweet. You should give it to her and tell her how you feel, but don¡¯t be all awkward ¡®bout it, though. Just say what you have to say in a clear voice and speak with confidence. She won¡¯t reject you because ya¡¯ll are like already in a relat-- uh, I mean close friends. Crushes happen to most people, dude, so don¡¯t be embarrassed,¡± she says with a playful grin. ¡°Nobody chooses who they¡¯re attracted to, it just happens, k? Besides, you¡¯re a pretty handsome guy and easy to like, so I think you should follow your heart and do what you think is best.¡±

    You¡¯re right! I got this!

    ¡°Thank you, Empress Rachel. Your wisdom is infinite.¡±

    ¡°Your compliment is much ¡®preciated, subordinate Luke. Maybe one day, this empress shall be as smart as the mischievous Teresa,¡± she says as she whips her messy hair behind her head.

    I can¡¯t¡­

    ¡°HAHAHAHAHA!¡± We laugh.

    We¡¯re too loud. Oh shit! She looks so serious now.

    ¡°Ahem. My spectacular wisdom ain¡¯t free. My compensation shall be the unhealthy food you may find in Winner. I expect to be the first person you¡¯ll deliver it to. Not Sonya, not Billy, and especially not Teresa. The mischievous Teresa has gotten me addicted to junk food. All I crave now is candy, root beer, and bubblegum, no matter how stale! I have made it a personal goal to taste as many flavors of bubblegum as I can, even if it kills me. For I shall die with no regrets and a smile on my face! Remember this, my subordinate; The best junk food is to die for. Nothin¡¯ will stop this empress from achievin¡¯ her goals!¡± she cackles in a manic tone.

    ¡°I think we¡¯ve played too many board games with Teresa, and Ruby¡¯s craziness has rubbed off on us,¡± I say.

    ¡°Your pessimism is noted, mere mortal. Fun, like root beer and candy, is in rare quantity. So we must have fun whenever we get the chance! Anyway, you shouldn¡¯t keep a lady waitin¡¯. Go talk to Sonya, and don¡¯t forget to put the pendant on her. She¡¯ll love it! But don¡¯t mention that it was Doctor Shinka¡¯s idea because it¡¯ll make you look like a lame momma¡¯s boy, and most girls do not like that. I¡¯m goin¡¯ to go back to sle-¡­zzz.¡±

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    You¡¯re the best, Empress Rachel.

    *

    Sit behind Sonya, but don¡¯t make it awkward.

    ¡°Hey, Sonya,¡± I say.

    You made it awkward! That¡¯s why she didn¡¯t react and is continuing to stare at the moon.

    ¡°I heard you and Rachel laughing back there. What was so funny?¡± She asks in her usual calm, but serious tone.

    You¡¯ve misunderstood, Sonya. Besides, you don¡¯t know?

    ¡°Empre- I mean, Rachel has begun a quest for candy, root beer, and bubblegum.¡±

    Awkward silence again.

    ¡°I think she¡¯s been playing too many board games with Teresa, and Ruby¡¯s craziness has rubbed off on her,¡± Sonya replies, unperturbed.

    ¡°Yeah, I know! That¡¯s what I said too. Crazy, right?¡±

    What? A faint smile from her? I think it¡¯s time to give her the¡­ wait. Did her hand just reel away from where my right hand was a second ago? Uh oh. Why is she glaring at me?

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Sigh. Absolutely nothing,¡± she pouts as she stares at the ground and crosses her arms across her chest.

    What did I do this time?

    ¡°I have a surprise for you,¡± I say.

    ¡°W-What is it, Luke? You know I don¡¯t really like surprises,¡± she says as her eyes briefly light up in interest.

    ¡°I know but close your eyes for a minute.¡±

    ¡°Sigh. You know I don¡¯t like closing my eyes. It makes me feel uneasy,¡± she says sternly but with a hint of a smirk on her lips.

    ¡°Relax. You¡¯ll love this.¡±

    ¡°Sigh. Oh my god,¡± she softly mutters.

    Here I go.

    ¡°Wait!!! Is it chocolate?!¡± She shrieks.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not chocolate.¡±

    ¡°Ok¡­ I¡¯m allergic to chocolate,¡± she calmly reveals. ¡°It gives me¡­ diarrhea.¡±

    ¡°Wait, seriously?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m just kidding, Luke. That was my attempt at humor. The others say I lack a sense of comedy. How¡­how did I do?¡± She asks in a soft tone.

    ¡°It was funny. A little gross, but funny.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just happy to know that I can make you the one who smiles for once,¡± she grins as she twirls her hair.

    ¡°Here. May I see your hand?¡±

    ¡°You may, my subordinate,¡± she says with a malicious smirk.

    ¡°Wait a second.¡±

    ¡°Another attempt at humor. How was that one?¡± She laughs.

    ¡°A+ Sonya.¡±

    ¡°Ok, I¡¯m done. Stop making me wait.¡±

    She¡¯s like a completely different person. Happier. Here, Sonya. I hope you like it.

    ¡°You can open your eyes now.,¡± I say.

    Damn it! This is scarier than the time I got a bit! Does she like it? Hate it? Come on, give me something, anything!

    ¡°I like it,¡± she says in her signature tone as she holds it to her heart.

    ¡°Great, I¡¯m glad you like it. I thought I should give you a gift or a cool memory of us, so, uh, yeah.¡±

    What else did Rachel say? Umm, why are you staring at me so hard, Sonya?

    ¡°Luke, aren¡¯t you forgetting something?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right, you extraterrestrial conqueror jerks! I¡¯m goin¡¯ to collect all of these rare wrappers of bubblegum, and you can¡¯t stop m¡­zzz,¡± Rachel mumbles in her fake sleep.

    Right. Thanks, Rachel.

    ¡°Let me put it on for you if you don¡¯t mind, Sonya.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Luke,¡± she says as she turns her back to me.

    Oh. I can see your Black Scorpion tattoos. Ah, what does it matter? You are and will always be my best friend.

    ¡°It¡¯s on,¡± I say.

    Our shoulders are touching now? Huh. I wonder what you¡¯re thinking about. The moon is so mysterious, but the damn Zodiacs and Azrael are visible tonight!

    ¡°Can¡¯t even look at the moon sometimes, because of those bastards,¡± I say.

    ¡°Then we¡¯ll just look at the stars. Did I ever tell you about the time I saw a shooting star?¡± She asks as she places her head on my shoulder.

    ¡°No, but what did you wish for?¡±

    ¡°Hmm. Freedom and happiness. I have one and the other is a lot closer than you realize,¡± she answers in a faint tone.

    Another Zodiac passing by.

    ¡°Have you seen a shooting star before, Luke? What did you wish for?¡±

    ¡°I did see one, but I think I made the shooting star deity angry when I wished for too many things, which is probably why they haven¡¯t granted my wish yet.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like something you¡¯d do,¡± she says with a chuckle. ¡°My biggest fear is the dark. Not nighttime, but the feeling of emptiness if that makes sense. I lack um, empathy is the word. I¡¯ve done a lot of shitty, fucked up things that you and the others would hate me for. My dream is to liberate the friends I¡¯ve left behind and to kill the King of Scorpius. No wait, it¡¯s not a dream, because I¡¯ll make it a reality. But enough about me. What¡¯s your biggest fear, Luke?¡±

    ¡°Centipedes and millipedes. They have too many legs. It creeps me out.¡±

    ¡°Luke, promise me that you¡¯ll never change who you are,¡± Sonya states chuckling.

    ¡°What? Of course. I promise.¡±

    ¡°Hmm. Spectacular,¡± she says with a warm smile. ¡°Now ten minutes of silence, Luke. I need rest,¡± she demands as she cuddles closer.

    ¡°You¡¯re so bossy, Sonya.¡±

    Time is moving slowly again, huh?

    ¡°Luke, you know I could hear you and Rachel the whole time, right?¡± She suddenly reveals.

    Agh! My heart!

    ¡°Ha, t-this is another attempt at humor, right? Right??¡±

    ¡°Hmmmm. Perhaps,¡± she teases in a nonchalant tone.

    ¡°Please tell me you¡¯re kidding.¡±

    ¡°Heh. Maybe I am. Maybe I¡¯m not. You¡¯ll never know.¡± She laughs.

    ¡°I can tell Teresa is rubbing off on you now.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you mean the mischievous Teresa?¡± She mischievously chuckles.

    ¡°So you did hear us!¡±

    ¡°Noooo. We both know that Teresa is smarter than all of us combined.¡±

    ¡°Oh. My. God. Will you two just fornicate already and go to bed? I. Am. Tired!¡± Ruby yells into her pillow.

 Chapter 20: The Battle Begins

    June 24, 2075

    0900 CDT

    Outskirts of Winner, South Dakota

    <u>Luke Miller''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°What?! This is bullshit! The C should stand for cowardly,¡± Ruby protests after receiving the news from Duy.

    This open, grassy field brings back memories, but the number of troops on standby and the weather is a lot different. Warm weather and dark clouds, a storm¡¯s approaching.

    ¡°You can say that again, Ruby,¡± Teresa agrees as we exit our cargo truck.

    ¡°If we all die, then someone has to be alive to tell the story, I guess,¡± Drew says in a snarky tone.

    ¡°Oooooh. If we all die, then someone needs to be alive to tell the story, I guess,¡± Ruby mocks in frustration. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll have a great view of our gruesome deaths in hi-definition. Who knows? Maybe they¡¯ll even write a book about us,¡± she continues in a sarcastic tone as she crosses her arms.

    ¡°Enough bickering! Both of you! We don¡¯t have a say in our superior¡¯s decisions, so there¡¯s no point in arguing. Charlie Battalion¡¯s role is to set up and place down a Trident, a mobile radio station, far away from danger,¡± Duy explains.

    ¡°I know what a trident is!¡± Ruby wildly flails her arms in frustration and disbelief.

    ¡°Communication is essential,¡± Duy continues. ¡°Medics will stay behind until the battle is almost over, due to the scarcity of doctors and medical supplies. And in case you guys forgot, this is the protocol for a bite wound; Keep fighting and continue the mission. Bites are fatal, but as long as you can walk and shoot, you¡¯re expected to continue your duties. Taking the coward¡¯s way out while you can still be useful is extremely dishonorable and selfish to your allies and the loved ones you¡¯re fighting for. You can choose how your life ends only when you are rendered a total liability,¡± Duy quotes.

    A cruel but understandable rule, but not everyone will follow through with it.

    ¡°That was pretty fucking depressing, Captain Muscles. How about some words of inspiration before we go into battle?¡± Ruby requests.

    Why are you looking at Teresa? You rely on her too much, fearless leader.

    ¡°Sigh. We are the mighty Squad Zeus, and nothing can defeat us. The zombies will be the ones fearing us after this battle. We will not die in this battle because our story is just beginning. Let¡¯s give them hell, boys and girls,¡± Teresa says in a discouraged tone.

    *

    30 Minutes Later

    0930 CDT

    Near South Winner, South Dakota

    *

    Winner, a metropolitan city just like Olympia, albeit a bit smaller. The only thing between us and the crowded town is this small ditch that surrounds the city. Battalion B has divided into three companies, one in the south, one in the north, and one in the east, all awaiting the signal.

    We¡¯re ready.

    ¡°So, those are the zombies, huh?¡± Ruby quietly whispers among us.

    ¡°Yeah, they smell as gross as they look,¡± Rachel comments.

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    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe that they used to be people,¡± Drew joins in.

    ¡°I¡¯d have more sympathy for them if they didn¡¯t want to eat us,¡± Sonya comments.

    ¡°Remember, they¡¯re beatable when alone, but unstoppable when together,¡± Duy says in support. ¡°Stay calm, remember your training, and trust one another. People will die, and it¡¯ll be gruesome. But we will preserve through this shit no matter what happens!¡±

    Explosions near Battalion A¡¯s location, the signals! The herd in our twelve is noticing! Any moment now.

    ¡°I love you guys!¡± Rachel exclaims with fear in her eyes as she chews on her pink bubblegum.

    ¡°CHARGE!¡± A superior orders.

    There it is again, the adrenaline! Stay focused and clear a path. That¡¯s all we have to do for now.

    ¡°OPEN FIRE!¡± Another superior orders.

    Keep moving! Keep shooting! We have to kill as many as possible with near-perfect accuracy before we can even get close!

    ¡°Sonya, Billy, switch to your weapons!¡± Duy commands.  ¡°Everyone else excluding Rachel, use the bayonets on your rifles!¡±

    Perfect timing, the zombies are practically breathing on us now!

    It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen you ugly bastards. Formation time! Sonya and Billy are leading the charge, Rachel is behind them, Drew and Ruby are protecting her three and nine, and Teresa, Duy, and I are in charge of the group¡¯s six! All we have to do is create a gap big enough to safely slip into the city!

    ¡°Stay together! Keep fighting!¡± Duy shouts over the noise of the automatic gunfire and zombies.

    ¡°Aye, Aye, Captain!¡± Sonya responds in a stressful tone as she slices through the undead with her Halos.

    Assault and Battery, I mean Alpha and Omega. She¡¯s making this look easy with her blue retractable razor-sharp twin swords. It¡¯s no wonder she¡¯s leading this assault! Billy is trying his best to keep up with his silver machete, but he¡¯s only able to catch the few strays she misses.

    ¡°HELP!!!¡± A man screams out in distress.

    What the? To our three is Roberto from Squad Hades?! Shit! He¡¯s been bitten in the throat.

    ¡°Luke, you fool! Stay focused!¡± Duy reminds me sharply.

    ¡°Roberto, calm down! We need you! Please keep fighting!¡± Squad Hades¡¯s leader, Michelle Fox, pleads in anguish.

    I need to stay focused on my fight, but it sounds like Roberto is breaking formation. He¡¯s gonna get his squad killed!

    ¡°Shut up! How can you fucking tell me to fucking calm down when there¡¯s blood gushing out of my fucking neck?! I¡¯m fucking fucked!¡± Roberto screams in fury at Michelle.

    ¡°You still have time! We need you! Please!¡± Michelle hopelessly begs.

    ¡°No way. I am not turning into one of those fucking things, Michelle! I refuse to be eaten alive by those monsters! I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m just a dead man walking, and I¡¯ve suffered enough in this fucking rotten world of zombies! I-I¡¯m, I¡¯m tired. No more pain. There¡¯s only one way to prevent our impending fucking fate, and we all know it!¡± Rico continues to shout.

    ¡°What the hell are you? You better not be saying what I think you¡¯re saying! We can¡¯t do this without you! We need you, Roberto! Plea-¡± Michelle pleads.

    Holy shit. He shot himself in the head.

    ¡°That idiot! Our formation is broken! Make a break for the city! GO! GO! GO!¡± Michelle screams in a calm horror.

    Rest in Peace, Roberto.

    ¡°Luke, your six!¡± Duy alerts.

    Shit! I¡¯m not getting bitten again, no matter what! Fucking die!

    Got you right in the brain, bastard! This feeling again. It¡¯s strangely satisfying.

    ¡°We¡¯re almost there, k?!¡± Rachel notifies.

    ¡°Woah, what the?¡± Teresa startles in confusion.

    What?! A woman enveloped in blood and dirt is scrambling towards us! What¡¯s her problem?! She¡¯ll ruin our formation if she continues to run over here.

    She tackled Teresa!

    ¡°Get off of me!¡± Teresa shrieks in pain as she drops one of the bags of extra ammo! ¡°J-Julie?! I-is that, is that you?!¡± She ponders in horror.

    We¡¯re so close to the city, but Teresa¡¯s in trouble.

    ¡°Y-you, guys. Please!!! Help! My squad, They¡¯re all¡­ they¡¯re all fucking dead!!! Those monsters broke through and, and killed them, and I-I ran away before they got,¡± Julie struggles to explain.

    Sonya finally opened a gap into the city, but-

    ¡°Let her go! NOW!¡± Duy orders as the two of us rush to Teresa¡¯s aid.

    ¡°Julie, let me go! We need to leave before they get us!¡± Teresa begs for her life.

    Damn! The gunfire is causing the zombies to scatter in every direction, but there¡¯s still a few converging on our position, completely undeterred. If Duy shoots now, then he¡¯ll attract countless more to our location! Sonya and the others can¡¯t risk retreating, so we¡¯ll need to save Teresa, without getting killed in the process.

    I don¡¯t think Duy has it in him to shoot Julie, at least I¡¯m hoping so!

    ¡°Luke, help me out!¡± Duy realizes what he has to do and orders as he holsters his pistol.

    I¡¯m so sorry about this, Julie.

    ¡°WAIT! I¡¯M SORRY! PLEASE HELP ME!¡± Julie implores in despair as we pull Teresa off of her.

    God no. They¡¯re pulling Julie apart from her lower half.

    ¡°TERESA!!! HELP ME!!!¡± Julie hopelessly whimpers in agony.

    Don¡¯t look. I just have to follow Duy.

    ¡°Luke!¡± Duy shouts as he picks up and carries Teresa. ¡°Let¡¯s get the fuck out of here!¡±

    Julie¡¯s screaming created a gap in the horde. Damn it! Nobody deserves to die like this! I feel so powerless! Rest in Peace, Julie.

 Chapter 21: Dead End

    5 Minutes Later

    June 24, 2075

    0935 CDT

    South Winner, South Dakota

    <u>Luke Miller''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Oh my god! Shit! Shit!¡± Teresa exclaims as we catch our breath.

    They¡¯re on our ass! This empty two-story auto repair garage has a few windows inside of it and a staircase that leads to the roof. We need to go before we get-

    ¡°This is fucking bad. We have to find a way to return to the others.¡± Duy says as we attempt to catch our breath.

    ¡°They¡¯ll be ok, Duy. We need to worry about ourselves right now,¡± I say.

    Poor Teresa.

    ¡°Oh, God! J-just give me a second!¡± Teresa urges, followed by her vomiting.

    ¡°Heh. We-we¡¯re in trouble,¡± she chuckles in sadness.

    She¡¯s drenched in her cousin¡¯s thick blood and guts from top to bottom, and¡­ I couldn¡¯t do a damn thing to stop it.

    ¡°What, what the hell, guys? H-how could you shits just leave her to die?!¡± She cries as she strikes Duy¡¯s chest. ¡°J-Julie is my only cousin! She¡¯s my blood! She¡¯s an Olympian! She¡¯s my friend! Sh-She¡¯s our friend! An¡­and you guys just, what the fuck?! Is, is this what the world is really like outside of our bubble?! It¡¯s so scary!¡± She quickly panics and nods her head as her voice cracks, her eyes filled with disbelief. ¡°N-nobody should suffer like that. Nobody should ever have to suffer like that! That¡¯s-¡± she vents with mixed emotions in her face.

    Duy is hugging her.

    ¡°Julie!¡± She achingly yelps into Duy¡¯s shirt.

    A hug is the only thing we can do. Being powerless is depressing, wait. Maybe I can try this.

    ¡°Teresa, we know where you¡¯re coming from. Julie was our friend too, but she¡­ put us in a life-or-death predicament. Duy and I were forced to make a tough choice.¡±

    ¡°Shut the fuck up, Luke. Just shut your fucking piehole,¡± she says with intense hatred in her eyes as she approaches me.

    Agh! I¡¯m so stupid! I should¡¯ve waited to tell her that. She¡¯s already straightening up by wiping away the blood and tears from her face.

    Oh. That¡¯s not the face of recovery. It¡¯s the face of defeat. The innocent, sly, wise-cracking, mischievous, caring, candy-loving, book collecting, Teresa Young I knew for six years is long gone, and that¡¯s how things are out here, just as I remember. Julie and the rest of today¡¯s casualties should¡¯ve lived happy, carefree lives! We¡¯re all so young and shouldn¡¯t be forced to fight for our lives every day. Something about this world, this system has to change.

    ¡°I don¡¯t remember much about my parents. I only know my aunt and uncle,¡± Teresa calmly reveals. ¡°Kiko and Julie were my everything. Julie gave me a comic book when we were kids, and that changed my entire life. It inspired me to read so many books and learn as much as I could about everything. Her baby cousin became a bookworm, and she was proud. Kiko, Julie, and I were nothing like most girls, which made us as rare as a diamond,¡± she reminisces with a faint chuckle. ¡°Only dummies dared challenge the might of us, three goddesses. Well, Kiko and I were the brains, and Julie was fine with being a cheerleader because it made her happy to see me happy. Unfortunately, time is an unwinnable matchup, and I was the only one who couldn¡¯t grow up figuratively and literally. I get treated like poop because of my appearance. No matter what I do, I¡¯ll always be dubbed as zombie bait. I have no choice but to embrace it, but if it weren¡¯t for Julie, zombie bait is all I would ever be, and now she¡¯s, dead!¡± She tearfully grieves with all her heart.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if what I¡¯m about to say seems heartless, but we have to keep moving,¡± Duy promptly urges her. ¡°We¡¯re still in deep shit, and need to reunite with the others,¡± Duy explains as she slowly stands upright.

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    You¡¯re a good leader, Duy. Experience is the only thing keeping my own head together.

    ¡°Yeah. I-I get it. I¡¯m sorry for being the weak link as usual. Not only did the group split up because of me, but I dropped one of our extra bags of ammo when Ju- when I fell. Sorry,¡± Teresa apologizes.

    You¡¯re the strongest one of us all, Teresa.

    ¡°Luke, take out your communicator. We need to figure out where,¡± Duy ord-

    Shit! The windows shattered! They¡¯re getting in!

    ¡°Upstairs! GO!¡± Duy commands as he immediately opens fire on the zombies.

    ¡°Teresa, let¡¯s go!¡± I say.

    Not good, hurry! Up the stairs!

    The door to the roof is fucking locked! Rookie mistake! Wait. Duy has a crowbar!

    ¡°Teresa, can you help me fight? The door is jammed, but Duy¡¯s crowbar can open it. We¡¯ll have to switch places with him and fight the dead until he can open the door.¡±

    ¡°Ok, ok,¡± she says with a few deep breaths. ¡°I-I can do it. I refuse to continue to be dead weight,¡± she assures as we run downstairs.

    So many of them! They¡¯re close to flooding the entire garage!

    ¡°Duy! Switch with us! Use your crowbar to open the door! We¡¯ll handle things downstairs!¡± I say.

    ¡°Son of a bitch! Of course, it¡¯s locked!¡± He yells out as we run past each other.

    ¡°Teresa, you shoot. I¡¯ll use my knife to kill the ones that get too close. We still have to conserve ammo, and I¡¯ll give you my rifle if you run out. We¡¯ll have to retreat upstairs after we run out of breathing room. Remember they¡¯re stupid, and we¡¯re smart. You¡¯re probably the smartest person in the squad.¡±

    No mutated zombies from what I can see, but luck always runs out.

    ¡°Probably the smartest you say?¡± she says with a soft smirk as she opens fire.

    One of them got too close for comfort but I was able to kill it. We¡¯re making good progress. Hurry up with the door, Duy!

    ¡°Luke, give me your gun!¡± Teresa anxiously orders as we slowly back toward Duy.

    Come on, Captain Unibrow!

    ¡°It¡¯s open!¡± Duy announces as the zombies break through the staircase window from outside.

    Fuck! They must be piled up to be able to reach this height!

    ¡°Teresa, keep shooting at your twelve!¡± Duy says.

    Only a few made it through the window, but they¡¯re blocking the way to Duy.

    ¡°Watch it, Luke!¡± Duy yells as he rushes down the stairs.

    He¡¯s obliterating the ones in the window with his crowbar, while I exterminate the ones on the floor.

    Silence? T-Teresa? She stopped firing! There¡¯s no way!

    Sigh.

    She¡¯s alive but isn¡¯t shooting! She can¡¯t be out of ammo already, but she¡¯s backing away in fear of something.

    Oh. It¡¯s Julie. She¡¯s staring at her reanimated cousin. Julie¡¯s intestines are hanging out of her body, her bright brown eyes are now blood red, half of her hair and body are missing, and her youthful skin has become as dull and grey as the rest of the monsters. Julie has become a zombie, and she¡¯s failing to comprehend that fact!

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I say as I stab Julie in the head.

    That you have to see her die twice.

    ¡°Time to beat feet, Teresa!¡± I say as I grab her hand and run upstairs.

    *

    Fresh air!

    ¡°Luke, I¡¯m sorry! I froze up and almost got us killed,¡± Teresa weeps.

    ¡°You¡¯re fine, Teresa. You shouldn¡¯t have had to see that. Killing someone you knew is always different.¡±

    The next test is about to begin, now that we¡¯re on the rooftop. There¡¯s nothing up here except some old AC units and the door we came in from. Damn! Nowhere to escape, and it¡¯s not secure enough to camp in!

    ¡°The fucking door won¡¯t close!¡± Duy struggles to say while pushing the door.

    We gotta help him!

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing,¡± THUD! ¡°Up here to barricade the door with!¡± Teresa shouts.

    ¡°No way! We¡¯re not dying here! I refuse to let that happen,¡± Duy yells out to us. ¡°We all have big brains, so we need to think of a way to avoid becoming zombie meat!¡±

    Zombie meat? Julie¡¯s blood! We could cover ourselves in the undead¡¯s blood and blend in with them, but there¡¯s no time for that because they¡¯re knocking on our door! Another option is¡­ The only other option that I could think of is if someone became zombie bait as a distraction! Duy won¡¯t approve of my dangerous plan, and he¡¯d rather sacrifice himself before letting one of us die.

    Someone sacrificing themselves doesn¡¯t change the fact that we¡¯re still surrounded by hundreds of them. It¡¯s a horrible thought, but one of us could purposely let one zombie come up here, to allow enough time for the other two to kill it and play possum using its blood and guts. But that would mean we¡¯d have to silently watch the sacrifice be torn apart in front of us. Ugh. Don¡¯t throw up! I¡¯ll be the sacrifice; I don¡¯t give a damn if Duy approves of it or not! I won¡¯t let my friends die, but that means I¡¯ll never get to see Sonya and the others again.

    ¡°Alright, Captain. You won¡¯t like this plan, but¡­¡± I say.

    Automatic gunfire from the street? An armored truck is making its way towards us, with a gunner lighting up every zombie bastard in sight!

    ¡°Holy shit!¡± The three of us say.

    Jinx.

    I can¡¯t believe it! They¡¯re mauling through the zombies like it¡¯s nothing! Although¡­ they don¡¯t have a choice but to keep driving! If they stop the truck, then they won¡¯t be moving ever again.

    ¡°Are you two thinking what I¡¯m thinking?¡± Duy asks as we continue to struggle with the door.

    ¡°We¡¯ll have to jump on top of the truck when they get closer, right, Captain?¡± Teresa answers hesitantly.

    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll only have one shot. If we mess up, we¡¯ll die,¡± Duy clarifies.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll make it,¡± I say.

    I can¡¯t waste time thinking about the pain in my arms! The truck¡¯s getting closer!

    ¡°Ok, we¡¯ll let go of the door on 3! 1¡­.2¡­3!¡± Duy orders.

    Don¡¯t look back! Just run! They¡¯re slowing down, but barely! Teresa¡¯s on my left, and Duy on my right! We all look so fucking terrified, but we just need to go at the same speed, and carefully time our leap of faith when the truck reaches a jumpable distance!

    ¡°Jump!¡± Duy says.

 Chapter 22: Friend or Foe

    Meanwhile

    June 24, 2075

    0935 CDT

    Central Winner, South Dakota

    <u>Rachel Cooper''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Still no word from them?¡± Lieutenant Grey asks Private B. Cooper in a slightly worried voice.

    ¡°None. I don¡¯t think being in this indoor parking garage is helping either, ok?¡± B. Cooper responds in the same tone.

    ¡°Yeah yeah,¡± Lieutenant Grey answers in an agitated tone.

    Time to cheer her up!

    ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯re aight y¡¯all! I just know that we¡¯ll be reunited in no time!¡± I say.

    ¡°Thanks, Rachel. Your optimism is always astounding,¡± Lieutenant Grey replies with a blah expression.

    ¡°Nooooo problem. We all shouldn¡¯t be gloomy all the time like my pal Drew here.¡±

    Drew is so cute and easy to tease. Gosh. Walking up and up the ramps of this indoor parkin¡¯ garage sure is takin¡¯ forever. Lieutenant Grey said it was best to stay off the streets. Her instincts are correct, given what we witnessed, but anyway. It¡¯s a bit dark in ¡®ere, but the sun is providin¡¯ some sort of light. We¡¯re surrounded by several abandoned cars, but danger can appear from anywhere, therefore I. Must. Stay. Sharp-eyed.

    Oh God. I¡¯m-I¡¯m so tense! Ruby¡¯s too quiet, and Drew is even fainter than usual! Ah! You¡¯re so dense, Private Rachel Cooper! Be more empathetic of their feelings. Do something, anythin¡¯ to ease your nerves! Wait. You¡¯re chewin¡¯ on bubblegum, silly.

    I popped my bubblegum. Now I feel much better.

    ¡°Rachel¡± Lieutenant Grey glares at me.

    ¡°Whoops. Sorry. I-I¡¯m just nervous,¡± I say.

    You¡¯re still supportin¡¯ me even though you¡¯re not ¡®ere, Young. Gosh, get your act together, Private R. Cooper. Look at their faces! Now isn¡¯t the time for conversation. Gasp!

    ¡°Guys, two uglies at twelve o¡¯clock!¡± I say.

    Remember what Captain Duy said. You have the best vision in the squad, which means they¡¯re all counting on you to see the threats before any of us.

    ¡°Ok, me and Billy will-,¡± Lieutenant Grey ord-

    ¡°Let me whack these two. Please, I need it,¡± Redheart brazenly interrupts Sonya. ¡°Let me borrow this, Drew,¡± she requests in a stern tone.

    Gasp! A crowbar? Oh my! I¡¯ve never seen her this furious before, but I understand her emotions.

    ¡°I¡¯m already sick of you smelly motherfuckers!¡± Redheart blasts in anger as she whacks the two uglies with the crowbar.

    Oh, my goodness! She¡¯s goin¡¯ in! Two dynamic swings to the head made them drop tango uniform.

    ¡°Fucking vanish!¡± Redheart screams in rage as she continues to hit them.

    I-I want to feel sympathy for these creatures, but they have caused so much pain. I can¡¯t feel sorry for them, even while they¡¯re hopelessly flailin¡¯ their arms at Redheart, desperately clingin¡¯ to life as they lay defeated.

    They¡¯re dead for good.

    ¡°Ruby Redheart is a-ok guys,¡± Redheart affirms. ¡°I needed to cool off. These fuckers are terrible, and they smell like shit! I swear, their scent will kill me before their bite does,¡± she notifies as she returns Howard¡¯s crowbar.

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°Woah! Holy shit!¡± A hostile man¡¯s voice yells out from above.

    Get behind cover and aim! Wait! I-I don¡¯t want to shoot!

    ¡°Quiet, Zachary,¡± a hostile woman¡¯s voice demands from up top.

    We were expecting uglies, not people! Maybe they¡¯re friendly. No, no, don¡¯t be stupid, Private R. Cooper. Ah! I don¡¯t know what to do! I¡¯ll ask Lieu- she¡¯s gone.

    ¡°Sis,¡± Private B. Cooper whispers as he cautiously advances towards me.

    ¡°B. Cooper! Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot?! Where¡¯s Grey?!¡± I ask.

    ¡°She said she wants us to distract them while she sneaks up on them,¡± B. Cooper answers nonchalantly.

    ¡°WHAT?¡± ¡°You gotta be kidding,¡± Redheart protests. ¡°They could be Olympians, and she¡¯s gonna attack them?! I knew she was crazy!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the craziest one here, Ruby,¡± Drew chimes in.

    ¡°Oh hush, Drew,¡± she responds, annoyed by his tone.

    ¡°She¡¯s our current leader, and I don¡¯t want to kill strangers, so we need to trust her!¡± I say. ¡°She¡¯s got this, k?!¡±

    You could¡¯ve warned us before you decided to turn into a ninja, Lieutenant! Gulp. Oh boy. We¡¯re stuck between a rock and a hard place, as Young would say. Oh no. Who¡¯s in charge?! Ahhhh! Wait! J-just breathe. Calm down, Rachel. Um, resort to the process of elimination, as the Captain advised you. Howard is a higher rank than me, but he despises social interactions. Redheart prefers to act before thinking and will unknowingly endanger us. B. Cooper is too timid and soft-spoken, so that means¡­

    ¡°Identify yourselves!¡± I say.

    Good. I yelled out loud enough to communicate with them, but not loud enough to attract any nearby uglies.

    ¡°You first,¡± the woman calmly answers. ¡°You¡¯re at a strategic disadvantage, so get to talking before we light this place up,¡± she sharply demands with full intent in her words.

    Why, why, why, why is this happenin¡¯?! Try to think like Lieutenant Grey! How would she handle this? She would disappear. Ok! Maybe she isn¡¯t the best choice. What if I try to predict scenarios based on my provided data and knowledge? There¡¯s a chance that the enemy is black on ammo, but she¡¯s right. They do have a better angle on us, and Private Young warned me of the crappy dangers that come with assumin¡¯. Gosh! I can¡¯t risk that; people will get hurt!

    ¡°Rachel, I don¡¯t like how she¡¯s talking to us,¡± Redheart softly reports, undeterred by the circumstance. ¡°Send me up there. I¡¯ll pretend to be their ¡°friend¡± and then beat their asses with Drew¡¯s crowbar.¡±

    ¡°Quiet, Ruby. Let Rachel work,¡± Drew quickly urges.

    Work?! I surrender!

    ¡°Wait! Don¡¯t shoot! I¡¯m Private Rachel Cooper of Squad Zeus. We¡¯re members of the Olympian army!¡± I say.

    T.M.I, dummy! They could be bandits or Black Scorpions.

    ¡°Well, what a coincidence. We¡¯re Olympians as well,¡± the woman confidently reveals.

    Hooray!

    ¡°You could be lying, though, so send someone up now! I¡¯ll ask a few questions that only Olympians know. This will protect both you and me,¡± she demands in a grim tone.

    Me? There¡¯s a high probability that you are the trickster, then again, your actions are just as rational as ours. Oh lord. This equation contains too many unknown factors!

    ¡°Rachel, girl, send me up there,¡± Redheart politely asks. ¡°Look, if things go south and I get killed, then you¡¯re the other¡¯s best chance at victory. I doubt it¡¯ll come to that, but it might, because Sonya is taking all freaking day. And before you deny me, I promise that I¡¯ll keep my mouth shut¡­ for a few minutes. We¡¯re out of time to think of a better plan, Rachel!¡± She explains in haste.

    I don¡¯t like this at all!

    ¡°Just be careful, Ruby,¡± I say.

    ¡°Drew, I need ya crowbar again because I¡¯m definitely gonna bust their asses with it, first chance I get,¡± Redheart requests in a menacing tone.

    ¡°Ma¡¯am, we are sending someone up. Don¡¯t shoot!¡± I say.

    *

    End a human life? As if¡­

    ¡°Relax, Rachel, we got this,¡± B. Cooper affirms as always.

    ¡°Yeah, totally, we got this,¡± I say.

    We don¡¯t got this.

    ¡°They could¡¯ve shot us when we were out in the open, so we¡¯ll probably be ok,¡± Howard explains in uncertainty.

    ¡°From above!¡± B. Cooper alerts in shock.

    Lieutenant! Do my eyes deceive me? She appears to be kicking butt!

    ¡°Unbelievable!¡± B. Cooper shouts.

    She incapacitated one hostile and put the other in checkmate in less than a few seconds! She truly is invincible. Gasp! I lost sight of Ruby. She already turned around the corner.

    ¡°We need to help Ruby!¡± I shout.

    Please be ok. Please be ok. Please be ok!

    ¡°Don¡¯t fuck with Squad Zeus,¡± Ruby chuckles as she celebrates over the fallen unfriendly.

    Wow! Ruby and Sonya are so talented at delivering butt whoopins¡¯! Ruby must¡¯ve won based on how much pain her groveling opponent appears to be in, and the way he¡¯s clenching his privates!

    ¡°Here¡¯s your crowbar, Drew. Sigh. Turns out, there was no ass for me to bust,¡± Redheart reveals in disappointment as she returns the multipurpose tool. ¡°Now, as you can all see, Sonya kicked ass, and yours truly came in with the assist,¡± Redheart excitingly informs. ¡°To accurately describe it, he was waiting around the corner to get me, but he got distracted by Sonya¡¯s secret agent skills. So moi used the crowbar to smack the gun away from his hand, and then I kneed him where it hurt! He got got! You guys should¡¯ve seen it! I mean, what did you think was going to happen to the amazing Ruby Redheart?¡±

    Oh, I¡¯m gonna cry!

    ¡°You could¡¯ve been had, you reckless girl. You¡¯re always so reckless, k?¡± I say as I hug her.

    ¡°Hey, I was only gone for a few minutes, ya big baby,¡± Ruby laughs in false confidence. ¡°Besides, if you start crying, then I can¡¯t help myself, and I¡¯ll start-¡±

    ¡°Cryin¡¯. I¡¯m just happy you¡¯re safe,¡± I say.

    ¡°Talk or your head goes flying,¡± Sonya threatens the woman with murderous intent in her voice.

 Chapter 23: Squad Hades

    June 24, 2075

    0945 CDT

    Central Winner, South Dakota

    <u>Drew Howard''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Ok, ok! I swear, it¡¯s just us!¡± The woman calmly appeals as Lieutenant Grey pushes the blade closer and closer to her neck. ¡°The others didn¡¯t make it. Our squadmate Roberto got bit, freaked out, and fucked up our formation! We decided to hide out in this parking garage for safety, but then we heard you guys. Can you really blame us for being so wary of strange voices in the dark after witnessing that massacre on the streets? That guy¡­ you just knocked out¡­is Maurice Llaf,¡± she glances at the man. ¡°The little man on the ground, holding his groin is Zachary Ax¡± she introduces as she carefully extends her right hand. ¡°¡­and I¡¯m Captain Michelle Fox. We¡¯re all that¡¯s left of Squad Hades.¡±

    You can never be too careful in The New World.

    ¡°If you¡¯re expecting me to let my guard down because of a sob story, then try again,¡± Lieutenant Grey turns down, smacking Captain Fox¡¯s hand away. ¡°If you are a captain, then you wouldn¡¯t mind telling me the security code to confirm it, correct?¡±

    ¡°One-two-zero-one-two-zero,¡± Captain Fox answers in haste.

    ¡°Sonya is righteously cautious, but is all of this really necessary?¡± B. Cooper whispers to me as he fidgets.

    ¡°Her crude method will reduce our chances of getting stabbed in the back later, B. Cooper,¡± I say.

    ¡°She¡¯s about to slice her head off with a ninja blade, even though she¡¯s unquestionably friendly! No way, man, I can¡¯t, I can¡¯t keep quiet on this,¡± the idiot refuses to listen. ¡°Lieutenant! She¡¯s clearly one of us, so can we just leave her alone and keep movin¡¯, ok?¡± B. Cooper insists.

    ¡°You don¡¯t know what people are like out here, so just shut your damn mouth, and let me work!¡± Lieutenant Grey responds in a sharp tone.

    ¡°Your friend is right, we¡¯re wasting time. The universal security code is 2095 if that¡¯s what you were going to ask next,¡± Captain Fox solidifies her innocence. ¡°Your worries are understandable, and if I heard your obscene friend correctly, you are all members of Squad Zeus. All Olympians know of the infamous unit full of misfits, outcasts, and ass-kickers, but your popularity is because of you most likely,¡± Captain Fox explains in full confidence as she stands tall against Lieutenant Grey¡¯s glare. ¡°You must be Lieutenant Sonya ¡°The Invincible¡± Grey because I don¡¯t know anyone else in Olympus who can do what you just did.¡±

    Wow, she figured it out like it was nothing despite having a blade to her throat. Captains are something else, but Lieutenant Grey is far beyond the level of a captain.

    ¡°What if I am her? What would you do?¡± Lieutenant Grey inquiries without budging an inch as she tightens her grip on her Halo.

    ¡°Well, if you are her, then I¡¯d be honored to fight alongside you. To see you in action versus the undead and not against my friends and me here. I would also appreciate keeping my head attached to the rest of my neck as well,¡± Captain Fox pleads with a chuckle.

    ¡°You¡¯re surprisingly calm,¡± Lieutenant Grey smirks. ¡°Most people in this situation would be begging for mercy right about now.¡±

    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    ¡°I¡¯m honestly terrified, but that fear is being overwhelmed by the need to protect my friends and complete my mission,¡± Michelle replies as her body suddenly begins to tremble.

    ¡°We want the same thing, but there¡¯s a significant difference between us, Michelle. I¡¯m willing to kill for my friends, but your body language says otherwise. People reveal their true colors when they¡¯re about to die, and you¡¯re obviously mere seconds away from pissing yourself, which means,¡± Lieutenant Grey states as she retracts her sword, and places it on her belt. ¡°¡­you¡¯re no killer. This was a test, and your continuous intake of oxygen is your certification of completion.¡±

    This is fucking crazy!

    *

    ¡°Hey. Hey. Big guy. Buddy wake the hell up,¡± Lieutenant Grey says as she slightly taps Maurice¡¯s face.

    ¡°Step aside, Sonya, because yours truly has got this,¡± Ruby confidently declares. ¡°Besides, that¡¯s your slicing arm, and ya need to save your energy for the zombies,¡± she explains as she approaches the unconscious Maurice. ¡°Jeez, Sonya, you knocked him the fuck out,¡± she exclaims as she inspects his condition. ¡°Nap¡¯s over! Wake the hell up!¡± She says as she smacks him.

    ¡°Ah! What the?!¡± Maurice yells in dismay.

    ¡°Welcome back to the land of the living! You didn¡¯t miss much, though. The dead are still walking, and they still want to eat us. You know, same shit different day,¡± Ruby explains in joy.

    ¡°What?¡± Maurice responds in confusion.

    ¡°You got a hearing problem?! I said un-ass because it¡¯s time to go!¡± Ruby replies in irritation.

    ¡°Captain?¡± Maurice asks as he looks at Michelle for an explanation.

    ¡°That group we ran into is friendly, and we¡¯re going to work together to get across the bridge we saw, Maurice. I¡¯ll explain everything,¡± Captain Fox answers.

    *

    <u>Ruby Redheart¡¯s Point of View</u>

    ¡°I have to know this before we discuss the plan. Are any of you bit?¡± Sonya asks Squad Hades as we all enter a big-ass huddle, save for Rachel.

    Sonya¡¯s so cool. Not cooler than me, though, of course.

    ¡°No, we¡¯re clean, but what about you guys?¡± Michelle answers with a question.

    Michelle is a black woman with short black hair up in a high puff, and a brown and yellow bandana tied around her forehead. I bet I can beat her ass.

    ¡°We¡¯re clean,¡± Sonya answers. ¡°Maurice, you¡¯re not dead or paralyzed, so your neck must be ok?

    ¡°I¡¯ll manage,¡± Maurice replies as he rubs the back of his neck.

    Maurice is a black man with a fresh fade and is a teeny bit chubby. He seems pretty chill.

    ¡°I have a question. Why are you guys so violent? I mean, you see a guy, and the first thing you do is knee him in the nuts?¡± Zachary asks, very rudely interrupting the flow of the conversation.

    Zachary is a skinny Caucasian man with short and bushy brown hair. He¡¯s a little cute but needs to shut his damn mouth!

    ¡°I have a question,¡± I say. ¡°Shut the hell up. We don¡¯t have any more time to be flapping our gums! Sonya¡¯s boyfriend, Captain Muscles, and big-headed Tuh-ree-sa are fighting for their lives right now while we¡¯re loitering in the dark!¡±

    ¡°What? Luke isn¡¯t, never mind. No es importante (Not important),¡± Sonya quickly denies the truth as her eyes flicker in surprise. ¡°Ahem. L-let¡¯s just get out of this place. There should be a bridge that connects to Winner Tower near the top floor of this building.¡±

    Ugh! What the hell does this idiot want?

    ¡°So, speaking of boyfriends. You got one?¡± Zachary brazenly asks as we begin to jog.

    ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Want one?¡± The silly man asks with a grin.

    ¡°Hahahahaha! You¡¯re funny, Zachary. You¡¯re asking me this, not even a few minutes after I kneed you in your balls. I won¡¯t judge your kinks, but I¡¯m afraid your application has been denied,¡± I say.

    Men are so, so silly.

    ¡°Damn. I guess humor can only take me so far, but this would¡¯ve given us something to look forward to,¡± he says in a dejected tone.

    ¡°Ha. The only humorous thing about you is your face,¡± I say.

    Wait. Why am I smiling? Well, a date wouldn¡¯t be too bad, I guess.

    ¡°So that¡¯s a yes?¡± He asks in overconfidence.

    ¡°Hmm. Upon further reconsideration, your request for temporary A-list celebrity status has been accepted, however, don¡¯t you dare lay hands on the merchandise without my explicit fucking permission, or else I¡¯ll be forced to bust your bo-jangles, in a literal and unpleasant fashion, ok?¡±

    ¡°Works for me. It¡¯s a date then,¡± he replies with an idiotic smile on his face.

    Sigh. Misery loves company. I wonder what you¡¯re up to, Teresa.

 Chapter 24: Secrets

    Meanwhile

    June 24, 2075

    0945 CDT

    Central Winner, South Dakota

    <u>Teresa Young''s Point of View</u>

    I threw up again. Disgusting. Why is vomit so gross? I¡¯m a mess. This is the worst day of my life. How in the world do they expect us to survive four years of this horror? I just want to go home.

    ¡°You gotta be fucking kidding me! Not in the car, you stupid girl,¡± Trevor rudely shouts, unfocused on the road.

    ¡°Don¡¯t call her stupid!¡± Duy and Luke shout back in unison.

    ¡°I can say anything I want because it¡¯s my truck, my rules, and I¡¯m the one who saved your guys¡¯ lives. Ungrateful fucks,¡± Trevor states in anger.

    ¡°Well, just back off of her,¡± Duy snaps back. ¡°She¡¯s just having a rough day.¡±

    ¡°Oh, boo fucking hoo. We¡¯re all having a rough fucking day, so what makes her so special? This bullshit is far from over anyway, so tell her to get her shit together,¡± Trevor grumbles back.

    ¡°Watch it, jackass. Just because you saved our lives doesn¡¯t mean you can act like a dick to us,¡± Duy responds, ready to fight.

    ¡°It¡¯s my truck, so I can say whatever the fuck I want. If ya¡¯ll don¡¯t like it, then use your legs to get to walking while ya¡¯ll still can. Son of a bitch. I never would¡¯ve saved ya¡¯ll from becoming a zombie buffet, had I known you were an ungrateful bunch,¡± Trevor rants for no reason.

    This truck is too cramped for arguing, but luckily there¡¯s plenty of exits for the inevitable danger. I, Duy, and Luke are right next to the back door, the roof has a small exit hole that¡¯s currently being occupied by the machine gunner, and Trevor can exit from the driver or passenger side door.

    Luke, he makes surviving look so easy. I suppose it¡¯s to be expected of Veronica Shinka¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦. He seems so desensitized to everything, especially since he killed, uh, without hesitation. Maybe I should attempt to break the unspoken rule and ask him for advice. The more I know about this world, the less of a burden I¡¯ll be.

    ¡°Any word on the others?¡± Duy asks Luke.

    ¡°No word, but I¡¯m sure they¡¯re ok. They¡¯re reasonably dealing with their own stuff right now,¡± Luke answers as he stares at his Communicator.

    ¡°They¡¯re probably dead,¡± Trevor chimes in.

    ¡°Hey buddy, we¡¯re having an A-B conversation. So kindly C your way out of it,¡± Duy responds in a calm-ish tone.

    ¡°F-u-c-k-y-o-u,¡± Trevor insults as he gives Duy the middle finger.

    ¡°Where are we going, anyway?¡± Luke quickly asks Trevor.

    ¡°I¡¯m taking y¡¯all to Winner Tower. It¡¯s located in the middle of the city, and it¡¯s where everybody else with common sense is goin¡¯. I don¡¯t understand why you dipshits were so rude earlier. Y¡¯all should be on your hands and knees thanking Ezekiel and me here. We would¡¯ve been there already, but Ezekiel has a kind heart and convinced me to save y¡¯all,¡± Trevor rudely explains.

    ¡°Why is everyone going to Winner Tower? What happened to the plan?¡± Luke coolly asks, striving to ignore his insults.

    Your poker face is still oh, so terrible, Luke.

    ¡°Look out the fucking window, dumbass. Do you see any flares in the sky? Noooooo. The only thing out there is failure. We fucking lost, stupid. The undead are unstoppable, and this shitty plan flopped! Everyone in the Bravo Battalion has been eaten, is in the process of being eaten, or is fleeing to Winner Tower. If your friends are alive and had any sense, they¡¯d be going to Winner Tower like everyone else.¡±

    I hate this guy.

    ¡°Now if y¡¯all don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d ¡®preciate y¡¯all shutting yer traps and stop talking to me. Y¡¯all are the worst passengers ever! So disrespectful to me after I saved y¡¯all lives,¡± Trevor whines and continues to complain.

    Mission failed? No, no way. I refuse to believe that Julie and thousands of others died in vain today! I-I bet everyone is ok. Ruby is making irresponsible decisions, as usual, Drew is a blah, Sonya is bossy, and the twins are goofy and clumsy as always. Heh. Just thinking about them is enough to cheer me up. Trevor is wrong. There¡¯s no way they¡¯re dead, especially since Sonya is with them, and nothing can stop Sonya the Invincible. She¡¯s a survivor who¡¯ll never let anything happen to her friends under her watch. Oh God. Stupid Trevor is grumbling something to himself.

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    ¡°Stupid bitch throwing up in my truck. Dumb ungrateful bastards,¡± he says.

    ¡°Excuse me?!¡± I say.

    ¡°Hey, knock it off, Trevor,¡± Ezekiel implores as he continues to scout atop the roofless part of the truck. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about my friend¡¯s actions. We¡¯re veterans who¡¯ve been serving for four years. We¡¯ll be able to retire after this mission, but Trevor lost someone he genuinely cared about. He and his fianc¨¦ were engaged and fought together for those four years. But lousy shit happened today, and now she¡¯s¡­no longer with him, so I hope you understand his behavior,¡± Ezekiel reveals.

    I can¡¯t take it anymore!

    ¡°I do understand, but that doesn¡¯t mean he can treat us like dirt! I watched those monstrosities tear my cousin¡¯s body apart right in front of me! The look of terror in her eyes and the way they snapped her like a twig will haunt me forever! And then (Stop crying!) I-I watched her die again! I don¡¯t know what the heck will happen next, but you don¡¯t fucking see me acting like him!¡±

    ¡°Well, girlie, people have different ways of dealing with their fucking problems!¡± Trevor ignorantly retorts.

    ¡°Clearly!¡± I say.

    ¡°And Ezekiel, don¡¯t go telling my fucking business to these folks. Just because we wear the same uniform don¡¯t mean shit. I don¡¯t know y¡¯all, and I don¡¯t want to know y¡¯all. I wouldn¡¯t even shed any fucking tears if zombies were to kill y¡¯all right now, and I damn sure wouldn¡¯t save ya¡¯ll again,¡± Trevor exhausts his anger like a moron.

    Jerk!

    ¡°Eat a dick! You¡¯re a terrible human being!¡± I shout.

    ¡°Kiss my rear end!¡± He fumes back in frustration. ¡°Ezekiel! We¡¯re not picking up the next group of stranded folk we find since people want to be so surly!¡±

    Damn it! His rage is understandable. What pride or honor is there in this suicide mission? No, I can¡¯t think like that! Can¡¯t think like him. General Farrington has no choice but to serve the Royals! I bet Trevor thinks he¡¯s hot shit because he survived for four years in this hellish world, but Luke has withstood this madness for twelve years! Oh god. I just realized that I grew up¡­ sheltered, figuratively and literally, and I don¡¯t even know whether it¡¯s a good thing anymore. I¡¯m so stupid. I¡¯m ill-prepared for this shit, and it¡¯s all my fault. I¡¯m sick, there¡¯s dirt, blood, and guts all over my smelly body, and I just, I just want the pain to go away!

    ¡°Teresa, I¡¯m just as scared as you are,¡± Luke suddenly sympathizes with me.¡± Life out here is so frightening, but you¡¯re adapting better than anyone else I¡¯ve ever seen,¡± he comforts with a mixture of hope, worry, determination, and sadness in his face.

    ¡°Our Communicators!¡± Me, Luke, and Duy say as our communicators buzz.

    Heh. Their buzzing reminds me of boot camp. I should test my memory, to make me and my brain feel better. Now, what did Lieutenant Raydeio Wayves say again? Communicators are silver-colored and round devices, the size of the average male¡¯s palm. It¡¯s similar to a flip-phone that allows for video and/or audio chat with other users while in the range of a nearby Trident. The fact that it¡¯s solar-powered, durable, and lightweight makes it an essential survival tool for expeditions. It¡¯s practically the equivalent of the smartphones of The Old World.

    ¡°Holy shit!¡± Me, Luke, and Duy say.

    ¡°Holy shit, back!¡± Drew exclaims as we open our video chat.

    ¡°Is everyone ok?¡± Duy anxiously asks.

    ¡°We are a-ok! Well, okay-ish,¡± Rachel reveals in the background.

    ¡°No, we¡¯re not. We are literally staring at a whirlpool of death,¡± Drew clarifies in distress.

    Drew. Such an honest fellow.

    ¡°Join the club, dude. You won¡¯t believe what we went through after we got split up,¡± I say.

    I¡­I have to hold back my tears. There¡¯s no time to be a crybaby anymore.

    ¡°Ruby has a boyfriend,¡± Drew unveils in hidden jealousy.

    ¡°What?!¡± I say.

    ¡°Aww, you jealous Drew?¡± Rachel teases in the backdrop. ¡°You guys won¡¯t believe how they met. I¡¯ll give you a hint, though. It involves nuts, but not the good kind,¡± Rachel mischievously implies.

    ¡°Drew, I don¡¯t think it would¡¯ve worked out, man,¡± Billy ignorantly states, clearly unaware of how love works.

    ¡°Ooooh, Michelle, though. I reckon she likes the strong and quiet boys,¡± Rachel further teases.

    ¡°I have no interest in either of those women,¡± Drew blatantly lies.

    ¡°That means he likes Michelle and Ruby,¡± Rachel snickers in the background as Drew tosses Sonya his Communicator.

    Heh. They¡¯re as normal as ever.

    ¡°Wait, who¡¯s Michelle?¡± I ask.

    ¡°We¡¯ll tell you guys everything later, but we need you to rendezvous with us at Winner Tower,¡± Sonya calmly orders.

    ¡°Already on the way. We don¡¯t have the best company, but we should be there soon,¡± Duy responds.

    ¡°Nah, our company has been the best. Five stars,¡± Luke jokes, making Sonya smile.

    ¡°Glad to see your sense of humor is still as fine as you,¡± Sonya unknowingly flirts, her eyes briefly lighting up in shock. ¡°I-I mean, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re ok. Ahem. All of you.¡±

    Heh. Awkward.

    ¡°We¡¯re glad you and the others are ok too,¡± Luke responds with a smile.

    ¡°Where the hell are you guys?¡± Duy intervenes.

    ¡°We¡¯re on a bridge that leads directly into the tower. We¡¯re making our way across now, Captain,¡± Sonya responds to Duy in a severe tone.

    ¡°She means we¡¯re above a bridge that¡¯s filled with glass windows and concrete,¡± Drew butts in.

    ¡°Above, below, or inside, it doesn¡¯t matter. The point is, we¡¯re going across a bridge,¡± Sonya says in irritation. ¡°There are too many zombies below us, so the only way across is to go above. We don¡¯t have a lot of time to explain, but we ran into a new squad named ¡°Squad Hades.¡± Captain Michelle Fox is the leader, and we¡¯ve decided to combine our numbers to reach the tower. Captain, what happened to you guys after we got split up?¡±

    ¡°We had some close calls, but the most important thing is that we¡¯re all ok,¡± Duy answers in a relaxed tone. ¡°Sonya, we should be able to join up in no ti--¡±

 Chapter 25: 605, Broken A/C & Dislocated Jaw

    Meanwhile

    June 24, 2075

    0955 CDT

    Near Winner Tower, South Dakota

    <u>Rachel Cooper''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Oh shit!¡± Captain Duy cries in horror as their car crashes.

    Gasp!

    ¡°What happened?! Report?! God fucking damn it!¡± Lieutenant Grey shouts into Howard¡¯s communicator as the connection slowly cuts off.

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m sure they¡¯re ok, k?¡± I say.

    ¡°It sounded like they just died in a horrific car crash,¡± Howard says in a snarky tone.

    I am fed up!

    ¡°Well, who asked you, Howard?!¡± I ask.

    ¡°I¡¯m just being realistic, R. Cooper,¡± Howard states with a shrug.

    ¡°No, you¡¯re bein¡¯ a real jerk! You shouldn¡¯t always assume the worst!¡± I say.

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t always assume the best, either,¡± Howard says. ¡°Life isn¡¯t always happy and positive. It¡¯s funny how you can¡¯t see how much trouble we¡¯re in, despite having the best vision in the squad. We are literally crawling on all fours against glass and concrete. Below us is certain death, the way we came from is flooded with zombies by now, and the only thing ahead of us is more death!¡±

    Popping bubblegum never ceases to relieve my stress so I will continue to do it.

    ¡°Your pessimistic juices are affectin¡¯ the rest of us!¡± I say.

    ¡°You say it¡¯s pessimistic juices, but I say it¡¯s reality. Maybe I should keep releasing my pessimistic juices because some people can¡¯t see how bad things are. God, your optimistic crap reminds me of the Captain. You both think everything will be alright for us when you should always assume the worst,¡± Howard impolitely nags.

    ¡°You¡¯ll never get chicks with that kind of negative attitude!¡± I say.

    ¡°Irrelevant,¡± Howard denies in haste.

    ¡°BOTH OF YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP!¡± Sonya roars like a tigress. ¡°Look, I get it,¡± Lieutenant Grey quickly calms down. ¡°We¡¯re all stressed out, and the day isn¡¯t even close to being over. Being on top of this bridge isn¡¯t helping things either, especially after hearing the connection with Duy and the others get cut off. But arguing back and forth about how bad shit is or isn¡¯t won¡¯t help anything. I¡¯m worried about them too, but we have to take care of ourselves first before we can help them. So just shut your mouths and keep moving forward. Understand?!¡±

    *

    <u>Ruby Redheart¡¯s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Do you guys always argue this much, Ruby?¡± Zachary asks in wonder.

    ¡°Only on the good days,¡± I say.

    Ugh! The Captain and the others are in trouble, and we¡¯re sitting here crawling like babies! Sigh. At least Zachary is keeping me company. He¡¯s near my three while Maurice and Michelle are several meters to my twelve. We¡¯re like halfway to the other end of the bridge, I think? Spreading apart from each other is smart. The last thing we need to deal with is the glass breaking. Moving across one by one became impossible when dozens of undead paparazzi decided to ambush us.

    ¡°The irritating one calling the others irritating is hilarious to me,¡± Michelle snickers like a little kid.

    ¡°We don¡¯t have room for another comedian, Ms. Vixen! And we just met, so don¡¯t act like you know me, k?¡± I say.

    ¡°Relax, cardinal. I¡¯m just trying to ease up the tension. I like you guys and no offense, but it doesn¡¯t take a genius to figure out that you¡¯re the annoying one in the group,¡± Michelle flaps her gums.

    ¡°What she means is that your personality makes you sparkle the most, Rubes,¡± Zachary defends me.

    Rubes must be my nickname! Wait a second. Nicknames are my thing! Ah, I guess my amazing amazingness is spreading faster than I realized.

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s totally what she means,¡± Maurice snickers in sarcasm.

    ¡°Hey, think what you want, but Squad Zeus would be boring without me. Just call it Squad Drew at that point, but this bad mofo right here keeps things exciting and unpredictable,¡± I say.

    I¡¯m so awesome, but these guys just don¡¯t know it yet.

    ¡°I believe it. I got to experience the wrath of Ruby Redheart firsthand,¡± Zachary says with a soft smile, slowly shifting into a gloomy one. ¡°My own squad was interesting like yours and kept me happy before they¡­¡±

    ¡°Maurice!!!¡± Michelle screams in horror.

    He fucking fell through the glass?! Fuck! We-we can¡¯t save him! He¡¯s reaching out, but we can¡¯t do a damn thi-

    ¡°Michelle!¡± Maurice bellows in agony as his body hits the floor.

    Shit! He landed right in the middle of the undead!

    ¡°Guys, h-help! I can¡¯t¡­ feel¡­ my legs! Please! I don¡¯t want to die!!!¡± Maurice begs in tears.

    ¡°Hang on, we¡¯re coming!¡± Zachary shouts back.

    Zachary put a rope anchor on the concrete?! Wait. He¡¯s not actually gonna-

    ¡°I¡¯m going down there to save him!¡± Zachary says.

    ¡°Agh! Fuck! Fuck! NO!¡± Maurice shrieks in sheer torment.

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    It¡¯s too late¡­

    ¡°Shit. I¡¯m coming!¡± Zachary foolishly rushes into action.

    ¡°Zachary, stop! We can¡¯t save him,¡± Michelle hopelessly pleads.

    He¡¯s already halfway down the rope!

    ¡°Screw you! I refuse to lose anybody else in this fucking world! I can¡¯t watch my friend get eaten in front of me!¡± He shouts back as he touches down, prepared to open fire.

    ¡°That idiot! I can¡¯t leave him behind, Ruby. He¡¯s the only one I have left,¡± she cries in a mixture of emotions as she quickly follows.

    I have to help them!

    ¡°Ruby! Don¡¯t even think about it,¡± stupid Sonya says as she slowly approaches. ¡°We can¡¯t save them. Maurice¡¯s death was an unfortunate accident, but the others made the rash choice of going down there. All we have to do is stay up here until we reach the tower,¡± she selfishly explains in her shallow calm, yet stern tone.

    Of course, she says that. She¡¯s willing to let others die and justifies it by saying she¡¯s protecting us. She did it to get us inside the parking garage, and now she¡¯s doing it again!

    ¡°Screw you, Sonya!¡± I say. ¡°We have to at least try because they¡¯re our allies! I can¡¯t just watch people die when I could¡¯ve done something about it! Not again. I¡¯m, I¡¯m not like you! I have a heart, and I don¡¯t care if you hate me, but I have to try.¡±

    Ignore her and go down the rope!

    Fuck. I¡¯m going to get in so much trouble for defying a superior¡¯s orders, but it¡¯s worth it because she¡¯s making the wrong call.

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t fucking get it. She just does what she wants whenever she wants,¡± Sonya rants aloud in frustration. ¡°Rachel, Drew, take a position on the other end of the bridge. Drew, you find a way in and Rachel, you cover us from above, and then throw down a rope for us so we can get back up!¡± She says.

    ¡°We?¡± Billy Boy asks in confusion.

    ¡°Be careful, ya¡¯ll!¡± Rachel pleads from above.

    *

    Ok, I might be in way over my head. The sound of automatic gunfire fills the air, Sonya and Billy are halfway down the rope from my six, and Michelle and Zachary are fighting for their lives at my twelve! Wait! Z-Zachary is getting a little too close to the zombies. Way too close!

    ¡°Zachary, get down!¡± I say as I shoot at the zombies that are close to him.

    Keep fucking shooting! Don¡¯t let them hurt him! Oh m-maybe coming down here was a stupid idea. E-especially since Maurice¡¯s shrieks of pain have stopped. I don¡¯t think, I don¡¯t know why this is happening. He must¡¯ve passed out from the pain, died of blood loss, his vocal cords torn out, tongue ripped, or¡­ all of the above.

    ¡°No, not again!¡± Zachary helplessly yells as the blockade of zombies prevents him from reaching Maurice.

    ¡°Zachary, it¡¯s too late! Step back before they get you too!¡± Michelle urges as she continues to fire.

    Wait, what¡¯s going on? Everything is slowing down. Everything has been muffled, and my chest feels so tight. Oh no! Not again! Everything¡¯s turning gray again! Maurice can¡¯t be dead. We were just talking to each other a few minutes ago! There¡¯s no way he¡¯s dead! But¡­ we had no chance of saving him. His last moments were filled with unimaginable pain, and the only thing his friends could do was watch. I wonder if his last thoughts were filled with betrayal or peace?

    I can¡¯t do this shit! The New World is so fucking scary!

    Wait. Something is slowly creeping by my left eye. Is that¡­ a gun barrel?

    What a loud ass gunshot! My fucking left ear hurts!

    ¡°What the hell are you doing?! Get up and get your shit together now, Ruby Redheart!¡± Sonya¡¯s ringing voice orders.

    I-I zoned out. She killed an ugly that was coming at me from my two! Umm, the gunfire is becoming less frequent, so that means that we¡¯re about to be fucked!

    Shit! A zombie at my twelve! Where¡¯s my fucking gun? Sonya?! She doesn¡¯t see it because she¡¯s covering my nine!

    ¡°Ruby! Duck!¡± Billy Boy shouts from my six, followed by him stabbing a zombie. ¡°Lieutenant?!¡± He pleads for help.

    Oh god! There¡¯s a shitload of dry blood dripping a mere few inches away from my face. I can¡¯t stop myself from looking up.

    Ugh! Don¡¯t fucking vomit. Billy¡¯s machete is wrenched deep into the disgusting guts of the zombie! He fucking missed, but Sonya just sent the fucker¡¯s head flying!

    Billy impaled it with a stab to the cranium to prevent a rapid mutation, while Michelle and Zachary were retreating!

    ¡°Is Ruby ok?! She¡¯s not-¡± Zachary quickly asks in co-

    ¡°She¡¯s fine. She just had another panic attack,¡± Sonya interrupts as she kneels to make eye contact with me.

    ¡°Th-They just devoured him,¡± I say. ¡°They fucking ate him alive, like he was fucking dinner! They treated him like an all-you-can-eat buffet! People are shitty, but what these fucking monsters do it¡¯s, it¡¯s terrible!¡±

    Ow. Sonya just slapped me.

    ¡°OWWW! The fuck, Sonya?!¡± I say.

    ¡°Ruby, you need to get your shit together. Fight now and cry later. All of us will need to hold them off for as long as possible until Rachel and Drew can set up the rope. That means we need the explosive, loud-mouthed, and energetic Ruby Redheart to use her creativity, so we don¡¯t become their next meal,¡± explains in a mean and empathic tone.

    She¡¯s right! I, I need to get my shit together! My friends are risking their lives for me, so it¡¯s only right if I protect them. No more feeling sorry for myself. My left ear is still fucked, but Sonya¡¯s speech gave me a fiery idea. These fuckers have been stinking up the joint for far too long, and they need to get their asses kicked for killing Maurice! Stand up Ruby Redheart, because it¡¯s time to rock.

    ¡°Listen up, minions! We¡¯re gonna run out of ammo at this rate, but I have a plan!¡± I say.

    Thank god there aren¡¯t any zombies behind us. Now I¡¯m no architect, so I hope this plan works.

    ¡°I¡¯m excited and concerned at the same time,¡± Michelle says as she carefully kills a few zombies with her machete.

    ¡°That makes two of us. Ruby is very imaginative, though, so I have faith in her,¡± Sonya explains as she slices and dices.

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna blow up half of this bridge and send those undead idiots into a fiery pit of death!¡± I say.

    At least that¡¯s what I expect to happen. If I do too much, then the entire bridge will collapse, and we¡¯ll all be fucked. If I do too little, then nothing significant will happen to the bridge, and we¡¯ll all be fucked!

    ¡°You have your explosives?¡± Billy foolishly asks as he continues to fight.

    ¡°Scoff! Do I have my explosives?¡± I say. ¡°Are you doubting the amazing Ruby Redheart? Billy Boy, I always have explosives on me.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Zachary asks in concern.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even trip, bae,¡± I say to Zachary. ¡°They¡¯re safely locked, kinda. Living wild keeps the blood flowing, and you have got to see my ultimate masterpiece one day. It¡¯s called-¡±

    ¡°Ruby. Less talking, more doing. Just tell us what to do and where to go,¡± Sonya intrudes.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need much, I just need you guys to cover me while I plant bombs on the left side of the bridge, the middle, and the right,¡± I say.

    Poor Maurice. Sigh. Fight now, cry later.

    ¡°We got your back,¡± Sonya reassures.

    *

    I¡¯ve made it to the left side with no problem. We gotta hurry the fuck up, though! Michelle is defending the middle, and Billy is protecting the right side. My bodyguard, Sonya, and my bodyguard intern, Zachary, are doing an excellent job of defending me.

    Oh, how I do adore my plastic babies, and they¡¯re small and light enough for me to carry and smuggle anywhere.

    Ew, a head just rolled past me! There¡¯s maggots on it!

    Sonya stepped on it and made it lose its mind! That-a-girl!

    ¡°Less daydreaming, more working, Ruby!¡± Sonya reminds me.

    Sigh. Goodbye, 605.

    ¡°He¡¯s armed!¡± I say.

    Now for the middle one.

    ¡°What? You can do it that easily?¡± Silly Sonya asks in surprise.

    ¡°You guys are always doubting my skills and underestimating me,¡± I say.

    ¡°How do I arm it?¡± Sonya asks in haste.

    ¡°Here!¡± I say. ¡°Take off the safety lock, flip the switch, put your thumb on the green button, and voila, it¡¯s armed! Oh, my bad!¡±

    Whoops. I guess my mind is moving too fast right now.

    ¡°Ruby!¡± Sonya yells in understandable anger.

    ¡°It¡¯s ok, it¡¯s ok!¡± I say. ¡°It won¡¯t go off. Just don¡¯t violently drop it, or it¡¯ll go kaboom! Actually, it¡¯ll be more like KABOOOM!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll go to the middle, and you two go to the right! Be careful!¡± Sonya quickly announces.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you always carry explosives on you,¡± Zachary absurdly comments as we rush to Billy.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you don¡¯t!¡± I say.

    ¡°Do you sleep with them?¡± he asks concerned.

    ¡°Every night,¡± I say.

    ¡°Ha. You¡¯re a lot of things Rubes, but boring isn¡¯t one of them,¡± he compliments with a light smile.

    He¡¯s hurting a lot more than I am. I honestly can¡¯t wait to get to know him more after this. But right now, it¡¯s time for us to kick ass and break this glass!

    Dislocated Jaw is armed! I just have to slide him into that small gap of the crowded zombies!

    ¡°Billy, fall back!¡± I say.

    With a quick thumbs up to Sonya and Michelle, aaaaand there¡¯s the confirmation.

    ¡°This is for Maurice,¡± I say before blowing up the bridge.

 Chapter 26: Chaser

    June 24, 2075

    1015 CDT

    Near Winner Tower, South Dakota

    <u>Ruby Redheart''s Point of View</u>

    Well, the explosion wasn¡¯t as spectacular as I expected it to be, but it got the job done. The bridge is still standing, but now there¡¯s a big-ass hole in the middle of it. Mission accomplished. I am so, so amazing.

    ¡°Maurice would¡¯ve loved that, Ruby!¡± Zachary happily praises.

    ¡°Good job,¡± Michelle congratulates me, obviously impressed with my talents.

    ¡°Nice work, Ruby,¡± Sonya compliments with a look of approval in her eyes.

    ¡°Wow!¡± Billy Boy says in awe.

    ¡°THAT WAS INCREDIBLE, RUBY!¡± Rachel screams from above.

    Ah, what perfect timing. My left ear is slowly getting better.

    ¡°Yeah, that was so cool. I¡¯m just happy that we¡¯re not saying hello to the pavement below. Now quit messing around and get your butts up here,¡± Drew yells in a monotonous tone as he tosses the new rope down.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be such a party pooper, Drew!¡± I say. ¡°We¡¯ll be right up there, you big hater!¡±

    ¡°Ruby, you¡¯re amazing,¡± Zachary states the obvious as he hugs me.

    Mmm. Warmth. I didn¡¯t know how much I needed this. Just hug him back and close your eyes. Even superstars need breaks.

    No pain, no worries, no anxiety, or sadness. The only thing I feel in his arms is peace and happiness, but it¡¯s not time yet. There¡¯s still so, so much work to be done.

    ¡°I am aware of how amazing I am, Zachary,¡± I say.

    ¡°We would¡¯ve died without you,¡± he responds as we slowly let go.

    ¡°Heh. I am aware of that as well,¡± I say.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get too full of yourself, Ruby Redheart. You saved us, but your recklessness and irresponsibility endangered us in the first place,¡± stupid Sonya chimes in with a sharp tone.

    So ungrateful!

    ¡°What?! We tried to save Maurice, but you were just going to watch him die!¡± I shout.

    ¡°Oh, I was going to watch him die? You mean exactly what you guys did when you jumped down there, thinking you could save him? He was dead the moment he fell through the glass, and you idiots need to get it through your thick fucking skulls. I don¡¯t care if you hate me, but you have to realize what a hopeless situation is, so you don¡¯t put yourselves and others in needless danger again,¡± Sonya snaps back.

    ¡°Shut your mouth! It wasn¡¯t a hopeless situation! I-I had to try. I didn¡¯t, I couldn¡¯t watch another one of my friends die in front of me!¡± Zachary responds in anger.

    ¡°But that¡¯s exactly what you ended up doing, dumbass,¡± Sonya rudely retorts. ¡°You need to understand that shit just happens sometimes.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t know shit,¡± Zachary declares in frustration.

    ¡°No. You don¡¯t know shit, which is why we¡¯re having this conversation,¡± Sonya quips back.

    ¡°Screw you, Sonya,¡± I say. ¡°You¡¯re just a heartless bitch that nobody likes! You wouldn¡¯t be talking shit if it was Luke who fell down the glass! Also, I¡¯m older than you, so I don¡¯t even have to listen to you!

    ¡°Ruby, you¡¯re acting like a childish brat for no fucking reason! You want to act like a kid? Then fine, I¡¯ll treat you like one. Your opinion of me is irrelevant because I¡¯m in charge of babysitting your ass,¡± Sonya states with her ugly glare. ¡°And how could you say that about Luke? Despite how I act, I care deeply about all of you, and I would be devastated if one of you died. My role is to safely lead you guys, but I can¡¯t do that if you¡¯re making selfish and idiotic decisions that will get everyone killed! I¡¯m not your mom, and I won¡¯t tell you how to behave. So you want to act like a fucking idiot, then go right ahead, but be aware that your actions don¡¯t just affect you. If you¡¯re older than me, then you need to grow the fuck up and act like it.¡±

    Fucking know-it-all!

    ¡°Whatever!¡± I say. ¡°You¡¯re, you¡¯re not even an Olympian! You¡¯re from The Scorpion Kingdom! A Black Scorpion! You guys murder people left and right for fun, so of course, you wouldn¡¯t understand the value of life!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never met someone so smart and yet so stupid before in my life until I met you, Ruby. You know what? Maybe you should have been the one who fell instead of Maurice!¡± Sonya finally shouts back.

    WHAT?!

    ¡°Huh?!¡± I say. ¡°What did you say?! Don¡¯t make me kick your ass!¡±

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    ¡°I¡¯d be happily obliged to humble your ass again!¡± Sonya states as she marches forward, unaware that she¡¯s about to get knocked the fuck out.

    ¡°Arguin¡¯ is so uncool! Both of you need to calm down!¡± Billy declares as he and Michelle, hold us back.

    ¡°I am calm!¡± Sonya and I say.

    Jinx!

    ¡°Both of you need to take a breather!¡± Michelle orders in anger.

    ¡°Whatever!¡± Me and Sonya say again.

    Double jinx!

    ¡°Captain, you¡¯re just going to let her disrespect Maurice like this?¡± Zachary asks Michelle.

    ¡°I never speak ill of the fallen. If I saw a way to save Maurice, then I would¡¯ve done it in a heartbeat. He broke his legs upon impact, so his fate was sealed the moment he fell. He had no chance of survival, and yet you put us all at risk anyway despite witnessing the same shit I saw,¡± idiot Sonya explains with her ugly scowl.

    ¡°You don¡¯t understand. I watched all of my squadmates get massacred by those monsters today, and there was nothing I could fucking do about it. I thought it would be different with Maurice; I wanted it to be. You don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like to helplessly watch your friends die,¡± Zachary answers in a depressing tone.

    ¡°Stop assuming what I know and don¡¯t know!¡± Sonya cries like the baby she is.

    ¡°Zachary, you need to calm your ass down,¡± Michelle orders as she stands in his way. ¡°And Sonya, you need to back off a bit and give him some space. We¡¯re not as experienced as you. Most of us know what we have to do, but doing it is a completely different story. We¡¯ll get there, but this is literally our first mission, and we¡¯ve already lost so much and gained so little. And Sonya is right, Zachary. I hate to say it, but you did put us at risk for no reason. Once he fell through the glass, the only thing we could do was grieve later and continue the mission, and maybe¡­ just maybe¡­ one of us could have just shot him in the head before he was ripped apart. God. What, what am I saying?!¡± Michelle says as she begins to tear up. ¡°This world is so fucked up. As a captain of the Olympian army, a mercy kill from a squadmate is the most logical course of action,¡± she cries out in tears. ¡°But what the fuck is wrong with this world?! It¡¯s making me think that putting my own friend down like a dog is the most humane thing to do! You don¡¯t know how much I just want to curl up in a ball and cry, but I can¡¯t allow myself to do that because I still have a mission to complete. We have to fight for our friends and allies who are still alive, risking their lives in battle as we speak! Don¡¯t forget that we¡¯re fighting for our loved ones and family back home in Olympus. We¡¯re fighting for a chance at a better world!¡±

    Silence¡­

    ¡°I¡¯ll never place human lives over a mission because it¡¯s wrong. I¡¯m not following leaders who¡¯ll prioritize a stupid mission over human lives. I¡¯m outta here.¡± Zachary storms off.

    He¡¯s not going up the rope?! No! Why is he heading towards that large dim hallway?! Even though it connects to Winner Tower, traveling without a light source is a stupid fucking decision! Maybe it¡¯s just dumb luck, but not even one zombie has emerged from that darkness!

    ¡°Don¡¯t Go! Stay together!¡± Michelle and Sonya order in unison.

    What?! W-why am I following him? Oh no. Teresa warned me about this, but Zachary is right. Sacrificing lives for a simple mission is inhumane. I didn¡¯t sign up for this shit, I was forced. I would¡¯ve stayed in jail, had I known life was this bizarre out here. And screw Sonya! I quit because I¡¯m reckless and irresponsible like she said, and I refuse to disappoint my fans and haters! Squad Zeus will have to learn how to take care of themselves without me because Ruby Redheart is going solo.

    *

    ¡°The others are assholes, but I¡¯m glad you came with me, Ruby,¡± Zachary reveals as we get closer to the dark corridor.

    ¡°Yeah, they just don¡¯t understand us, you know?¡± I say.

    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to them. You saved our lives. You almost blew us up, but you saved us in the process.¡± He says with a soft smile. ¡°Exploding isn¡¯t the way I thought I would die.¡±

    ¡°Heh. What¡¯s wrong with death by explosions? If you ask me, I say it¡¯s a pretty lit and boss way to go out. Going out with a bang, giving the finger to whoever did you wrong in your last moments, or just giving a finger to the world is cool too.¡±

    ¡°I have to disagree with you there, Rubes. Do you ever think about leaving all of this behind? Olympus, all this responsibility, and just explore the world?¡± Zachary asks me quietly.

    ¡°I actually do want to see The Eight Kingdoms! I am a talented guitarist and singer, and if this world didn¡¯t suck, then I¡¯d be able to share the magical gift that is rock & roll. Squad Zeus are, ahem, were going to be my bandmates. My world tour will begin with Prometheus first since nobody knows shit fuck about them.¡±

    ¡°I bet they have aliens,¡± he blurts out.

    ¡°Scoff! Aliens? If there was such a thing as aliens, then I guarantee that they would¡¯ve either saved us or exterminated the zombies by now.¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s to say they didn¡¯t bring the zombies here? I mean, nobody knows where they came from,¡± he states logically.

    ¡°Ah, touch¨¦.¡±

    ¡°Believe it or not, my squad was gonna desert before this mission started. Nobody in their right mind would willingly want to fight these undead bastards! Michelle inspired us to keep fighting, though. Her brother was a veteran who died in a past expedition, making her the only child of her family. I think his death motivated her to honor him and make her parents proud. Being a parent in this world must suck unless you¡¯re a Royal. Anyway, desertion might¡¯ve been the best option because maybe everyone would still be alive.¡± Zachary explains.

    ¡°But then we would¡¯ve never met, and you would¡¯ve been exiled from Olympus.¡±

    ¡°It probably would¡¯ve been for the best.¡±

    ¡°Scoff! Asshole.¡±

    ¡°Wait! I didn¡¯t mean it like that. I just mean, I know Michelle meant well, but look at where her leadership led Squad Hades,¡± Zachary badly explains as we near the dark corridor.

    ¡°Timeout! That¡¯s not fair, Zachary! I¡¯m sure she tried her best. Our superiors can¡¯t control everything! People will inevitably die, but the ones who live have to go on and keep fighting to honor the fallen and strive for a better world. GASP! I¡¯m so stupid! That¡¯s exactly what Sonya and Michelle were trying to tell us! We¡¯re so dense! Zachary, I think we should go back and apologize before something bad hap¡­pens.¡±

    *

    What, what is that? In the corner of my eye? What¡¯s Zachary¡¯s body doing on the ground right next to me? Get up, Zachary! No. No way! Not Zachary! Not Zachary! Why is there fucking blood spewing from his neck?!! H-his head is gone! No. Heads don¡¯t just disappear. Where did it go?! Is it behind me?! Something flew behind me before he fell! Why am I so terrified to turn around?! Stop body! Don¡¯t turn around, don¡¯t turn, don¡¯t turn, don¡¯t turn around!

    It, it all makes sense now. On all fours, sticking one of its blades through the severed head of Zachary while devouring him in the same way a person would eat a corn dog, is a mutated zombie! This is a monstrosity with throbbing blood-red skin, its body the size of a queen-sized bed, sharp blades attached on both forearms about half a meter long, a tiny head with even tinier eyes swollen deep into its face, and way too many sharp fucking teeth! Gulp!

    The Chaser threw Zachary¡¯s head at my feet like a fucking ragdoll, and now its gaze is focused on me!

    It¡¯s shrieking at me!

    I-I-I can¡¯t fucking move! Damn it, not again! The others won¡¯t make it in time! Is this how I die? I¡¯m not ready for retirement, god no! Somebody¡­ please save me! I-I can¡¯t watch. Mom, Dad, Scarlett, please¡­ somebody¡­ please¡­

 Chapter 27: The Amazing Ruby Redheart

    8 Years Ago

    March 17, 2067

    0630 CDT

    Central Olympia, Kansas

    Inside the Redheart Family''s Residence

    <u>Ruby Redheart''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Uh, oh.¡± Scarlett and I say in unison.

    Jinx, my-taller-and-way-less-amazing older sister. In hindsight, maybe working on this project was a bad idea. But I¡¯m so anxious! Today is the day, and I just have to solve this teeny, tiny little puzzle first.

    ¡°Ruby, is that supposed to happen?¡± Scarlett asks with slightly understandable worry.

    You lack style, sis. Your pink tank top, disgusting purple pajamas, short frizzy red hair, freckles, green eyes, and big ol¡¯ round glasses are totally ruining my vibe and my bed. Oh gosh. I always get so, so excited every time I look at the rock band posters scattered throughout my small room! The only downside to my enclosure is the stupid bunk bed. Ugh! Life is unfair. Why do I get bottom bunk?!

    ¡°Scarlett Redheart, are you doubting Ruby Redheart?¡± I ask.

    Well¡­ you might be on to something this time. This is gonna be a close call.

    ¡°What?! Never! Mom taught us to never doubt a Redheart, but I think this is bad. Like on a scale of one to ten, this is a hundred,¡± she clarifies in uncertainty.

    ¡°Listen, Scarlett, to be honest, we might blow up.¡±

    ¡°Ruby! OMG. I can¡¯t¡­I-I can¡¯t believe it,¡± she freaks out in anguish as her eyes widen.

    OBAE! One-Big-Ass-Explosion! At least I hope it¡¯ll be. No! I know it will be, if we survive, that is.

    Oops. Why is he beeping? He¡¯s not supposed to be beeping.

    ¡°Uh, oh,¡± I say.

    ¡°Uh, oh? What do you mean, uh oh? Don¡¯t say, uh oh. You don¡¯t say uh oh in a situation like this! Why is it beeping rapidly?!¡± She asks in hysteria.

    ¡°Hey, you said uh oh earlier! That means you can¡¯t counter my uh oh with your own, uh oh! You¡¯ve used up all of your uh oh¡¯s, rulebreaker!¡±

    ¡°What?¡± She asks in dumbfoundedness.

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know, Scarlett! My mind is very eccentric!¡±

    ¡°Girls! What¡¯s going on?¡± Mom nosily asks outside the door as she knocks.

    Such coincidently lousy timing. I don¡¯t like deception, but I must use it to save us all from incineration!

    ¡°Nothing, Mom. We¡¯re just, umm applying makeup,¡± I say.

    ¡°Sniff sniff. What¡¯s that smell?¡± Mom further pries.

    ¡°Ruby farted,¡± Scarlett snickers.

    Liar liar, your awful pants need to be set on fire! I can mock your laughter too! But first¡­

    ¡°Yeah, Mom! I have to take a deuce in a minute!¡± I lie.

    ¡°Ewww! Why do you have to say it like that? You are so, so unladylike Ruby Redheart,¡± Mom asks in disgust. ¡°When you¡¯re done dropping a deuce, I need you two to meet me in the kitchen for breakfast. Scarlett Redheart make sure your sister cleans her hands,¡± Mom annoyingly proclaims.

    Finally!

    ¡°Ruby, I¡¯m going to pester you forever in the afterlife if we die,¡± Scarlett quickly threatens with an angry scowl.

    You best watch your tone, Scarlett. Older sister or not, I¡¯ll still knock you the freak out.

    ¡°I got this. I just need the, um. I need it,¡± I say.

    ¡°It? What the hell is that?¡± Scarlett says.

    ¡°It! I need it! The-the thingy. It¡¯s a sphere. You put the sphere inside the sphere to prevent an unwanted explosion.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that thingy? I threw it outside the window,¡± she stupidly laughs.

    ¡°You did what?!¡±

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m kidding. Your reactions are just so priceless, Ruby,¡± she continues to giggle like an idiot. ¡°And if we¡¯re about to die, then I just have to see your reaction one more time. The sphere thingy is right on top of the dresser, see? Maybe you¡¯re the one who should be wearing glasses,¡± she explains with a smirk.

    How dare you make me do work on my special day?

    ¡°Oooooh! Maybe you¡¯re the one who should be wearing glasses.¡± Scoff! ¡°Whatever, Scarlett. That¡¯s why your hair is red.¡±

    OBAE¡¯s protective sphere is the only fashionable thing in here besides yours truly.

    ¡°Your hair is red too, dummy,¡± she states with a grin.

    ¡°Yeah, except my hair is way more amazing than yours, but don¡¯t worry, because I¡¯ll share some of my amazeness with you one day.¡±

    ¡°Amazeness? That¡¯s not even a word. Do you mean amazingness? See, this is why you should stay in school,¡± she lectures like a know-it-all teacher.

    ¡°School is so, so boring, but you won¡¯t believe what we learned in class this week.¡±

    Finished!

    ¡°VOILA! OBAE is complete. This silver sphere of destruction will completely annihilate anything! Aaaaand, before you flap your gums in concern, I promise that it¡¯s completely safe as long as it¡¯s in the sphere.¡±

    Hard work indeed does pay off! I¡¯ve outdone myself yet again! Hello? Ruby Redheart? Why yes, Ruby Redheart. I am aware of how amazing I am, Ruby Redheart. Thank you soooooo much, Ruby Redheart. I love you too, Ruby Redheart.

    ¡°Sigh, I definitely didn¡¯t want to disintegrate before breakfast,¡± Scarlett sighs in relief. ¡°I wonder what we¡¯re eating anyway,¡± She ponders as she flaps her gums in concern. ¡°Ruby, I think we should name the band ¡°An Explosive Breakfast¡± because it perfectly describes this incident.¡±

    ¡°No way. ¡°Evil on Tour¡± is wayyyyyyyyyy better.¡±

    *

    ¡°Happy birthday, Ruby!¡± My beautiful family praises as we enter the kitchen.

    Ah yes, the amazing Ruby Redheart has blessed this Earth for ten years straight. Dad, I can¡¯t believe you made it! You¡¯re the only non-redhead in the house, but I love you all the same. You look so tough with your brown hair, glasses, and brown trench coat. And Mom, you look as stylish as ever! Your red mohawk, green eyes, black short-shorts, and tank top with the words ¡°Evil on Tour¡± on it are so boss.

    ¡°Thank you, guys!¡± I say. ¡°I adore you all from the bottom of my heart. Now let¡¯s eat some breakfast because I¡¯m starving!¡±

    ¡°I made your favorite, Ruby,¡± Mom presents as Scarlett, and I join the table.

    ¡°Eggs and bread!¡± I say. ¡°Holy shi- I mean, thank you, Mom!¡±

    Time to chow down!

    ¡°Ok, ok. You guys won¡¯t buh-lieve what we learned in school this week.¡±

    That¡¯s some good ass orange juice.

    ¡°What did you learn, Ruby?¡± Mom and Dad ask in unison.

    ¡°It better not be what I think it is,¡± Scarlett says in concern as she gives a disapproving glimpse next to me.

    ¡°You have to guess. It¡¯s the birthday of moi, so that means I get special treatment.¡±

    ¡°Was it something educational?¡± Dad incorrectly presumes.

    ¡°Something innovative?¡± Mom asks in interest.

    ¡°Was it manners?¡± Scarlett asks, clearly lost in the sauce.

    So, so disappointing. This is why you are all way less amazing than moi.

    ¡°We learned about sex!¡± I say.

    ¡°SPIT! What?!¡± Dad questions in shock as he glances at his spilled coffee.

    ¡°Cough cough! Excuse me?¡± Mom asks, strangely startled about the birds and the bees.

    ¡°You have no filter,¡± Scarlett states the obvious as she nods her head.

    ¡°I¡¯d be upset at you all for lying about where babies come from, but today is Ruby Redheart Day, so I¡¯ll let it slide,¡± I say.

    ¡°Where does she learn to talk like this, Rosine?¡± Dad asks Mom.

    ¡°Definitely not from me, babe. That¡¯s from your side of the family,¡± Mom politely corrects.

    ¡°You mean yours,¡± Dad foolishly denies.

    ¡°That is such bullshit!¡± Mom exclaims angrily.

    ¡°I think she has too much freedom. We should lock her in a dungeon, so I can have the room to myself,¡± evil Scarlett chimes in.

    ¡°Um, I¡¯m right here,¡± I say.

    Adults are so weird, and sisters are so bothersome.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you a little too young to be learning about the birds and the bees?¡± Dad asks.

    ¡°Heh. You should hear the song lyrics they sang in The Old World,¡± I say. ¡°It¡¯s a strange conceptual concept, and I still can¡¯t believe that that¡¯s what those things are for. I guess they decided to teach us these things early on, because of, scoff, boot camp.¡±

    ¡°Wait. You¡¯re not going to tell them about, Drewwwwwww, Ruby?¡± Scarlett rudely teases! ¡°Ruby has a crush on Drew, so it¡¯s important that she learns about this stuff, in a neat and educated setting for the future.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re way too young. Besides, we all agreed,¡± Dad calmly spasms.

    Ugh! Here it comes.

    ¡°No boys until you¡¯re twenty five,¡± we all recite in unison.

    ¡°I agree that you¡¯re way too young. But, Patrick, Drew, is a good kid. Maybe they¡¯ll have something when they¡¯re older. Maybe when they¡¯re eighteen,¡± Mom backs me up.

    Hah! As if! You¡¯re quite a comedian, Mom.

    ¡°Anyway! Changing topics,¡± Dad quickly declares. So¡­ Ruby,¡± he asks in a puzzling tone.

    ¡°Soo, Dad,¡± I say.

    ¡°Have you decided?¡± he presses.

    ¡°Um, decided what? W-Why are you being so freaking vague and mysterious?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Ruby, you¡¯re a brilliant and talented young girl. I¡¯m trying to say that there are so many apprenticeship opportunities for you to choose from,¡± Dad nags.

    Oh boy, here we freaking go again!

    ¡°Ughhhhhhh! Come on, Dad! You¡¯re such a buzzkill as always! I¡¯m only ten! I don¡¯t wanna think about the future and stuff!¡±

    ¡°Ruby, you¡¯re always very dramatic, which you obviously get from your father,¡± Mom says. ¡°What he¡¯s trying to say is that at some point, you¡¯ll have to¡­¡±

    No, Mom! Don¡¯t say it, don¡¯t say it, don¡¯t say it!

    ¡°grow u-¡­¡± Mom says.

    ¡°Agh! M-My stomach! Cramps! Girl stuff! Th-this must be the puberty! And, and I have to finish taking that deuce! I¡¯ll be right back!¡± I say.

    ¡°Ok, Ruby, but hurry up, because I have a surprise for you,¡± Mom announces. ¡°Ask your sister or me for help if you need it! Everyone here loves you, and will always be here for you, no matter what!¡± She states in that mom-tone of hers.

    ¡°I¡¯ll help you with the girl stuff, but not the deuce,¡± Scarlett reassures.

    ¡°Agreed. We¡¯ve all changed your diaper plenty of times when you were a baby, so you better not take a deuce on yourself!¡± Mom shouts in worry.

    ¡°Can we stop talking about deuces? I-I just want to eat without thinking about that for a minute before I go to work,¡± Dad complains.

    *

    Finally, out of sight! Sigh. Grow up? I don¡¯t wanna. I wanna stay like this forever and ever! I wanna work on the band, and I wanna annoy Scarlett! I don¡¯t wanna be an apprentice, and I like my friends and school. My life couldn¡¯t be any more perfect! Growing up sucks! I-I want to explore The New World, but I also want things to stay like this for all eternity because it¡¯s safe here! Ugh! Stupid cramps! Stupid deuces! Life is cruel and unjust, and I hate it so, so dang much!

 Chapter 28: Harmony

    March 17, 2067

    0645 CDT

    Inside the Garage of the Redheart Family, Central Olympia

    <u>Ruby Redheart''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°No way! No fucking way!!!¡± I say.

    ¡°I¡¯ll let that swear pass, only because it¡¯s your birthday. But no more swearing Ruby,¡± Mom says as she nods her head in disapproval.

    No freaking way!

    ¡°It¡¯s so epic,¡± Scarlett states the obvious in awe.

    I can¡¯t believe it! Mom¡¯s the best!

    ¡°Mom, you¡¯re the best!¡± I say. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it! I can¡¯t wait to tune it! Oh my gosh! This is the best day ever!¡±

    ¡°Hurry up and tune it so we can start the day, Ruby,¡± Mom says with a heartwarming smile. ¡°You two still have to go to school today, and I still have work,¡± she says as she gives me my gift. ¡°Also, don¡¯t forget that Saturday is take your child to work day.¡±

    Holy shit! A brand-new guitar! The craftsmanship is so flawless, the strings are perfect. It feels and smells brand new, and it¡¯s blue, my favorite color! I wanna kiss it! I wanna marry it! I love it!

    I strummed it! This is the only thing in the world that¡¯s equivalent to my amazingness.

    ¡°I love you, Mom!¡± I say as I hug her.

    You¡¯re the best mom in the world, and I¡¯ll kick anyone¡¯s butt who disagrees.

    ¡°I love you too, Ruby,¡± Mom says with a chuckle as she hugs me.

    ¡°We¡¯re on the clock slowpokes!¡± I say. ¡°We¡¯ll have to work hard if we want people to take us seriously! Evil on Tour will be known by everybody in the world one day, but we have to put in the work for that to happen!¡±

    ¡°Ok, ok, Ruby. I¡¯ll get my drumsticks,¡± Mom chuckles as she lets go. ¡°By the way, your father wanted me to tell you that he loves you as well. He apologizes for being so busy, and he cherishes every moment he gets to spend with you and your sister,¡± she reassures me.

    ¡°It¡¯s ok,¡± I say. ¡°Dad is amazing, I mean-¡±

    ¡°Not as amazing as me, of course, but he is pretty amazing,¡± we say in unison.

    Ha-ha, jinx.

    ¡°I love Dad,¡± I say. ¡°He¡¯s very good at his job and risks his life every day to protect us. Now enough chit-chat. Time to practice!¡±

    ¡°Ruby, I still don¡¯t understand how I ended up on the bass even though I¡¯m the one who taught you how to play the guitar,¡± silly Scarlett complains.

    ¡°First of all, I¡¯m the one who started the band, remember?¡± I say. ¡°Secondly, my vocal cords have been blessed, which also makes me the lead singer. And finally, I¡¯m just simply wayyyy more amazing than you, Scarlett.¡±

    ¡°Oh my god. You are so full of yourself, Ruby. I can¡¯t wait until it¡¯s my birthday, because I¡¯m totally going to act like you for a day so you can see how annoying you are,¡± Scarlett flaps her gums.

    ¡°Huh? What was that?¡± I ask. ¡°Did you say something? Sorry, I don¡¯t speak second-place bass player.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s funny, considering you¡¯re the little sister,¡± Scarlett reminds me like a jerk.

    ¡°Oh yeah?!¡± I say. ¡°Well¡­¡±

    *

    2 Days Later

    March 19, 2067

    0930 CDT

    Inside Ink-Again, Central Olympia

    *

    I haven¡¯t been in here since forever! A small building with two exits, three open chairs on the right side, three closed chairs on the left, and the pathway in the middle leads into the backroom if I recall correctly. She must get zero complaints and highly satisfied customers, simply because of the amazingness I¡¯ve passed on to her.

    ¡°It looks like it¡¯s going to be a slow day, girls,¡± Mom notifies as she inspects her shop.

    ¡°Mom, is it true that you threw someone out of the front window for being a drunken slob?¡± Scarlett blurts out.

    So unbelievably badass.

    ¡°I¡¯m such a terrible role model,¡± Mom says in embarrassment and a facepalm.

    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    Wha?

    ¡°Um, if by terrible, you mean cool, then yes, you¡¯re terrible,¡± I say.

    ¡°She means we admire how you don¡¯t take crap from anyone,¡± Scarlett kindly clarifies.

    ¡°Damn right! We Redhearts and disrespect are like oil and water; they don¡¯t mix,¡± Mom reminds us in full confidence. ¡°Now, you two go sit in the guest area,¡± she orders as she points near the newly repaired window.

    ¡°What? That¡¯s so boring, Mom. What are we supposed to do all daaaaay?¡± I ask.

    ¡°I dunno, use your imagination,¡± Mom says with a shrug. ¡°Hello, how are you doing?¡± Mom greets a customer as she walks away.

    Ugh!

    ¡°Scarlett! I¡¯m boooooored!¡± I say.

    ¡°We just sat down¡± she scoffs.

    ¡°But I¡¯m bored! What if I die of boredom?¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t die of boredom, dummy,¡± she chuckles with a head nod.

    ¡°Oh yeah? And how do you know?¡±

    ¡°Oh shoot. Well, when you put it that way,¡± she ponders with a look of worry on her face. ¡°Wait, look!¡± She says as she scoots over to a coffee table at the end of the couch. ¡°Magazines. These will keep us occupied.¡±

    ¡°Ugh! Reading sucks! It¡¯s the complete opposite of amazing.¡±

    ¡°Ruby, you should be grateful that you can read. Many kids our age can¡¯t even read, because they don¡¯t care, and their parents don¡¯t either. And don¡¯t forget that school is completely optional,¡± Scarlett annoyingly points out.

    Zzzzzz. You¡¯re so lame.

    ¡°Huh? Did you say something, Scarlett? I was too busy imagining how awesome our band will be in our first performance.¡±

    Don¡¯t roll your four-eyes at me, jerk! Scoff! I can roll my eyes too!

    ¡°You¡¯re such a brat. People will only dislike you if you keep acting this way,¡± Scarlett explains as she flips through the magazines.

    ¡°Sucks to be them because they¡¯ll never get to see how amazing I am. So, anything interesting?¡±

    ¡°Umm,¡± she mutters as her big eyes widen.

    Um?

    ¡°Scarlett, what do you mean, umm?¡±

    ¡°Well, I found something, but ahem,¡± she flusters in worry.

    ¡°But what?! Oh my God. You¡¯re just like Dad. So freaking vague and mysterious for no reason.¡±

    ¡°If I¡¯m just like Dad, then you¡¯re just like Mom,¡± she scowls. ¡°Anyway, check this out,¡± she says as she tosses me the magazine.

    ¡°What the?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s filled with swimsuit models from The Old World. I think it¡¯s to appeal to male customers. Guys can be, how should I say this? Um, they can be easily entertained,¡± Scarlett slowly reveals.

    You act just like Teresa.

    ¡°You mean the male erection. Yeah, I know how it works. You show a guy your boobs, and then their mind just fucking explodes. (What is this crap?) This is what was considered sexy in The Old World? This is whack! (What is that old lady looking at?) ¡°Um, can I help you, grandma? D-do you need assistance? Aren¡¯t you too old to be getting a tattoo?¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you too young to be getting a tattoo?¡± Smart-ass grandma remarks.

    Touch¨¦ grandma.

    ¡°Excuse my irritating sister. She¡¯s been having girl problems recently,¡± Scarlett butts in.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even trip dear,¡± the old lady replies with a smile.

    ¡°Scarlett I totally had that under co-¡± I say.

    ¡°Shush!¡± Red-faced Scarlett rudely shushes! ¡°Look,¡± she says as she tosses another magazine.

    Oh!

    ¡°I think someone snuck in a dirty magazine,¡± she whispers. ¡°It¡¯s filled with a bunch of muscular men!¡± She says hurriedly.

    ¡°Holy crap!¡±

    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t look,¡± she quickly nods her head as she continues to look.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be a scaredy-cat. (Oooh.) Woah! Look at this dude! He has eight abs! How is that even possible?!¡±

    ¡°Oh my god. I-is this one glowing?? Hold up. Look at this one. I honestly thought that these were only for women,¡± she inspects as she points at a thong.

    ¡°His balls must¡¯ve been ready to burst! This magazine is so, so much more appealing than the other one. Wait, go back to this one! Wow! I can¡¯t believe that there are some that big!¡±

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯d be surprised,¡± a voice chuckles in my ear. ¡°Best believe this bad back did not come from old age.¡±

    Ah! The old lady!

    ¡°You two didn¡¯t hear this from me, but--¡± the perverted old lady cont-

    ¡°Ahem!¡± Mom interrupts!

    *

    1 Hour Later

    *

    Mom¡¯s playlist rocks! It¡¯s too bad I have to share an earbud with idiot Scarlett though. Sigh, Mom is so mad at us. Now we have to sit near her chair. Tattoos look so painful. I can¡¯t wait to get one!

    ¡°Wow, Rosine. You¡¯re just as beautiful as I remember,¡± a man greets as he walks through the front entrance.

    ¡°Hello, Tony,¡± Mom replies in obligation, utterly focused on her work.

    Wait, this is Tony Soleus. A former kickboxing champion of The Old World! He still looks like a douche! Greased spiky hair, clean shaved beard, white unzipped hoodie with no undershirt, olive green jean shorts, and admittedly stylish blue sandals.

    ¡°Rosine, baby, I know you¡¯re busy, so I¡¯ll make this quick. I am completely free and available for drinks whenever you¡¯re done working,¡± Tony blurts out.

    You jerk. You know she¡¯s married, but ya don¡¯t care! Ya best keep walking because you will never be my stepdad!

    ¡°A tempting offer¡­¡± Mom teases with a smirk. ¡°If I wasn¡¯t married,¡± she continues as she flexes her wedding ring. ¡°I know we have history, but that was a long time ago. Also, you¡¯re not my husband, so don¡¯t call me baby. Take a good look at that window,¡± she calmly threatens. ¡°Tony, I don¡¯t give a shit how many championship belts you¡¯ve won, and I¡¯ll say this as professional as possible. If you disrespect me again, I¡¯ll send your ass flying through that window just like the last person who called me baby.¡±

    ¡°I was right, Ruby,¡± Scarlett whispers.

    Mom is so cool!

    ¡°I¡¯ll just see my way out then,¡± Tony quickly leaves.

    ¡°Sigh, girls,¡± Mom says in a somber tone. ¡°Violence isn¡¯t always the answer, but sometimes you just have to send someone flying through a window so they can learn their lesson. I know I have a temper, but please don¡¯t end up like me. Be better than me.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the best mom in the entire world, though!¡± I say.

    ¡°We couldn¡¯t ask for a better mom,¡± Scarlett supports with a smile.

    I¡¯m curious.

    ¡°How in the world did you end up with Dad? He¡¯s so calm and blah, but you¡¯re so much cooler!¡±

    ¡°Umm,¡± Mom says in uncertainty. ¡°You two are old enough to know now,¡± she says in a slightly sad tone. ¡°I did a lot of stupid crap before I met your dad. I hung out with the wrong crowd and¡­  indirectly got my best friend killed because of my irresponsible and selfish actions. It¡­ it took her death and being framed for a crime for me to get my life together. I was in so much grief, but the thing about pain is that it can motivate you for better or worse. I had to learn humility and discipline before I became skilled and responsible enough to open this shop. Your dad was my first customer, and I was a bit of a flirt because I had no idea what the heck professionalism was at the time,¡± Mom reveals in a harmonious tone. ¡°He became my best friend, and eventually the love of my life,¡± she inappropriately daydreams about fornication. ¡°Mmmm. One night we-¡±

    ¡°We get it. You and Dad love each other,¡± Scarlett quickly interrupts.

    ¡°Yeah, Mom! T-M-I!¡± I say.

    ¡°Oh, sorry, girls. I just, he makes me happy,¡± she blushes with a sheepish smile. ¡°This family completes me,¡± she yet again reminds us with a happy smile.

    ¡°Huh?!! What the hell do you mean you can¡¯t pay?!¡± One of Mom¡¯s employees yells out in disbelief.

 Chapter 29: Triad

    March 19, 2067

    1035 CDT

    Ink-Again, Central Olympia

    <u>Ruby Redheart''s Point of View</u>

    Something is going down from about two chairs down on the left side of the shop.

    ¡°I don¡¯t work for free! I can¡¯t believe you wasted my time, you son of a bitch!¡± Mom¡¯s employee shouts at a customer getting out of his chair.

    ¡°Woah! Iagashah, chill out! What¡¯s going on?¡± Mom yells as she jumps into action.

    ¡°This jackass thought he could waltz into the shop and get a tattoo without paying. He has to get the window treatment!¡± Iagashah explains.

    ¡°Fuck off! I-i¡¯m not getting the window treatment!¡± The customer angrily declares.

    Oh no! He¡¯s got a gun! H-how did he get one?! Civilians aren¡¯t allowed to have one!

    ¡°Back the fuck up!¡± The customer shouts at Iagashah.

    ¡°Or what? What are you gonna do, shoot me?¡± Iagashah angrily protests as he approaches the customer.

    ¡°Iagasha, stop!¡± Mom screams in horror.

    Oh my god. H-he shot him, he actually shot him! He took two in the chest at point-blank!

    ¡°Yo, what the fuck?!¡± Mom¡¯s customer yells out in distress as he runs towards the front exit.

    ¡°Girls, get down!¡± Mom hollers in fear.

    More gunshots. M-mom¡¯s customer. His, his body.

    ¡°Hey, Ruby, relax. Look at me,¡± Scarlett whispers as we cower on the floor.

    A headshot. Half of his body made it out the door, and the other half was¡­ gulp¡­ Someone¡¯s bound to notice the commotion and the body. I¡¯m supposed to stay calm, but I-I can¡¯t!

    ¡°Dad and the police will be here in no time,¡± Scarlett reassures me as she holds my trembling hands. ¡°Mom and Dad deal with dangerous situations every day, so we just have to stay calm and let Mom work. She¡¯ll protect us, ok? She taught us to never doubt a Redheart remember?¡± She reminds in a calm tone as she maintains eye contact.

    ¡°N-Nobody fucking move! E-Everyone move to the center of the room! Now!¡± The murderer demands. ¡°You, redhead MILF in the booty shorts,¡± he points the gun at Mom. ¡°This is your fucking shop, right? Y-You better tell everyone to listen, unless you want another dead body in here.¡±

    ¡°Shit. Everyone do as he says and keep your hands up!¡± Mom orders to us and the five others in the shop.

    ¡°We¡¯ll be ok, Ruby,¡± Scarlett whispers as we walk to the center of the room with everyone else.

    My heart¡­

    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Mom asks as we all sit in a tight circle.

    ¡°D-Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± the criminal anxiously replies.

    The suspect is a Caucasian man with balding gray hair, a gray shirt, blue jeans, and appears to be fifty years old.

    ¡°I guess I should introduce myself first. My name is Rosine Redheart, and you just pissed me the fuck off. Do you know what the fuck you just did? You murdered my friend in cold blood, over some money! The police will be here any minute, so what are you going to do? What¡¯s your grand scheme? Your big escape? I wanna know the name of the man who fucked my day up,¡± Mom demands in a calm yet angry tone.

    ¡°Jack. My name is Jack. I¡¯m sorry. I-Shit! I fucked up. I fucked up!¡± Jack mutters in shame.

    ¡°It¡¯s not too late to fix this, Jack. All you have to do is drop the gun and surrender to the police. Nobody else has to get hurt,¡± Mom calmly explains.

    ¡°The police?! No! They¡¯ll never take me alive! I can¡¯t go to jail! Shit. I-I barely make enough to support myself, and I owe money to some bad people anyway. I just, I just wanted a stupid tattoo. I have grandchildren who¡¯ll be drafted soon, and they all wanted to start a stupid tradition of family tattoos. Oh god, what did I do?¡± Jack panics as he shakes his head.

    ¡°Jack, you fucked up. You made it clear that you don¡¯t wanna surrender, so now what? Let¡¯s say you do somehow escape. Where will you go? You can¡¯t stay here, and you don¡¯t seem like the type who can survive without a kingdom. Hell, even I can¡¯t survive without a kingdom,¡± Mom continues.

    ¡°Scorpius. I-I can make it,¡± Jack unconvincingly answers.

    ¡°You¡¯re unbelievable, but ok, Jack, I¡¯ll play along. So, let¡¯s say you do somehow make it across Hades and The Styx River. You¡¯d still have to get past the safe zones without a Halo or supplies. That pistol can only take down a certain number of monsters before it runs out of ammo, and then what¡¯s your game plan versus the groups of murderers, rapists, and thieves? Finally, if you do miraculously reach Scorpius, what will you do before they immediately rob and kill you?¡± Mom explains with authority.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll go to Athens! Shit bitch! What the fuck?!¡± Jack screams in rage as he continues to pace back and forth.

    ¡°Athens?! You¡¯ve completely missed my point, Jack. I¡¯m trying to say that your safest option is to face the consequences of your actions and surrender. There is no other alternative. Anything else you do will only make your life worse,¡± Mom smoothly unfolds.

    ¡°Worse? With how fucked up this world is, I doubt anything can get worse. We¡¯ve been imprisoned inside this bubble for years, and it¡¯ll stay like this forever!¡± Jack hopelessly cries out.

    ¡°Sigh, Jack, there¡¯s a light at the end of every tunnel. The Age of Zombies is only another obstacle for mankind,¡± Mom ends with a smile.

    I hear a beeping noise.

    ¡°Oh, fuck!¡± Jack screams out.

    ¡°Close your eyes gi-!¡± Mom yells bef-

    Another gunshot. Woah.

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    ¡°Fuck! That was close!¡± Jack cries out in relief.

    He-he shot Iagasha¡¯s corpse?

    ¡°Y-you were just stalling! I almost got bit!¡± Jack accuses as he points the gun at Mom.

    The beeping must¡¯ve been Iagasha¡¯s Thunderbolt.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. Just surrender already,¡± Mom rolls her eyes at Jack.

    ¡°Oh yeah?¡± Jack says in disbelief as he stomps towards Mom and kicks her in the face.

    Mom! Ummm, Jack? Why is he looking at me?

    ¡°Stop!¡± Mom shouts in fury as he snatches me away.

    Ow! My-My hair!

    ¡°Ruby!¡± Scarlett helplessly cries out.

    ¡°Let me go, you motherfucker!¡± I scream.

    It hurts, but he keeps dragging me.

    ¡°I¡¯ll slit your throat!¡± Mom yells as she gets up.

    ¡°I can easily crush this little girl¡¯s throat by continuing to apply pressure with my arm like this,¡± Jack says as he squeezes.

    Stop! Please!

    ¡°I-I¡¯ll let a hostage go, in exchange for direct negotiation with the police chief,¡± Jack reveals.

    ¡°You fucking coward! Take me hostage, instead, and leave my daughter alone!¡± Mom shouts in anger as tears fall down her face.

    ¡°Think again! I¡¯m the one with the gun, so I¡¯m in charge here! Piss me off or try to trick me again, and I¡¯ll tattoo your little girl¡¯s skull with lead!¡± Jack loudly threatens.

    I-I can¡¯t stop crying! I can¡¯t, I-I need air!

    ¡°Sir, my sister is dying!¡± Scarlett begs. ¡°I¡¯m practically the same age as her, so take me hostage instead! Please! She¡¯s having a panic attack!¡±

    Scar¡­lett?

    ¡°Fine!¡± Jack¡­ agrees as Scarlett takes my place.

    Cough, cough! Ow! D-dickhead.

    ¡°Ruby, it¡¯s ok. We¡¯ll be ok. We Redhearts always stick together no matter what,¡± Mom whispers as she hugs me tight.

    We¡¯ll be ok, Mom? Then why are we all crying so hard? Dad, please save us.

    *

    30 minutes later

    *

    ¡°Jack?¡± Dad announces near the front door. ¡°It¡¯s Chief O¡¯Connor. I¡¯m unarmed and coming in with my hands up,¡± Dad calmly declares as he slowly walks through the door.

    ¡°About time!¡± Jack shouts as he points the gun at Dad.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this, Jack,¡± Dad says.

    ¡°I¡¯ll give the damn orders here! Here¡¯s what I want, I want a bag of supplies that¡¯ll last me for months, a car with a full tank of gas, a safe escort out of the capital and the safe zone, and finally, I-I want a halo,¡± Jack nervously orders.

    ¡°You¡¯re unbelievable,¡± Dad states in disbelief.

    ¡°Nobody¡¯s walking away alive until I get what I want,¡± Jack responds as he continues to squeeze on Scarlett¡¯s throat.

    ¡°Ok, we can get you everything you want, but on one condition,¡± Dad promises as he gets on his knees. ¡°Let Scarlett go. Please, let my daughter go and take me instead. You only need one hostage. I¡¯ll handcuff myself and do anything you want. As a founding member, I swear that no harm will come your way with me as your hostage. Just please let her go,¡± Dad begs in grief.

    ¡°No can do, chief. Now quit stalling and g-get me what I want. My life is finished, and I¡¯ll never get to see my family again. I¡¯m already a murderer, so more bodies don¡¯t mean shit to me. This world is unforgivable,¡± Jack says as his body begins to tremble.

    ¡°It¡¯s not too late to surrender. You don¡¯t have to do this. Think about your children and grandchildren, Jack. You can still see them,¡± Dad kindly reminds him.

    ¡°T-They won¡¯t see me as their father or grandfather anymore. The only thing they¡¯ll see is a murderer,¡± Jack denies as he slowly lowers the gun.

    ¡°You¡¯re family. They¡¯ll love you no matter what happens,¡± Dad guarantees with a smile.

    ¡°Y-You think so?¡± Jack says as he tears up, and releases Scarlett.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been an officer of the law for over thirty years, so I can tell that you¡¯re not a bad man, but sometimes good people do bad things. Jack, give up before this gets any worse for you. Nobody else has to get hurt,¡± Dad peacefully pleads.

    Hero!

    ¡°I-I surrender,¡± Jack finally gives in.

    ¡°Troy don¡¯t!¡± Dad calls out.

    My fucking eyes! A-a flashbang?!

    ¡°Girls!¡± Mom screams, followed by the sound of rapid gunshots.

    Fuck, m-my eyes. Ow. Who, who tackled me? Am I dead?

    ¡°Ruby!¡± Scarlett cries out in shock.

    ¡°Suspect is down! We got the bastard!¡± A man¡¯s voice announces.

    ¡°Check on the hostages! Is everyone ok?!¡± Another man¡¯s voice calls out.

    Police? They must¡¯ve snuck in through the back. Yes! Finally! My vision is returning.

    ¡°Rosine!¡± Blurry Dad yells as he rushes over.

    ¡°Cough, cough, ow, well, this sucks,¡± Mom chuckles.

    Why, why is she on the floor like that?!

    ¡°Scarlett? What happened? What¡¯s wrong with Mom?! Stop crying like a baby and speak!¡± I say.

    ¡°I need a Doctor! NOW!!!¡± Dad calls out as he puts pressure on Mom¡¯s chest.

    ¡°Whose blood is on my shirt?! Scarlett, tell me what happened! Tell me now, four-eyes!¡± I yell.

    I¡¯m gonna beat you up if you don¡¯t tell me, Scarlett!

    ¡°Girls. Don¡¯t fight before I take away your instruments,¡± Mom warns with a smile. ¡°Cough, cough!¡±

    That¡¯s a lot of blood! No. No way. No fucking way!

    ¡°Rosine, stop talking. You¡­you have to save your strength,¡± Dad pleads as he holds Mom¡¯s right hand.

    ¡°Patrick¡­ come here,¡± Mom giggles, followed by her giving him a kiss.

    ¡°Two gunshot wounds to the chest? I¡¯m lucky to still be breathing, but we both know that I won¡¯t make it,¡± Mom outright lies with a smile. ¡°What I¡¯m¡­ about to say is more painful to me than my wound, but it looks like this will be Rosine Redheart¡¯s last day on Earth,¡± she says as she tears up and struggles to breathe.

    Don¡¯t say that, Mom!

    ¡°Mom, what the heck are you saying?! How is any of this lucky?!¡± I ask.

    ¡°Ruby, if the bullet hit her heart, then she would¡¯ve died instantly, but at least this way¡­¡± Scarlett sa-

    ¡°I get to say goodbye to my amazing family!¡± Mom interrupts with a smile. ¡°Good job, Scarlett. You¡¯re the best big sister in the world!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re being unfair! You told us that we¡¯ll all be ok! You said so! You said we¡¯ll all be ok!¡± I say.

    Why? Why is this happening?!

    ¡°Ruby, Mom saved our lives. Please, please don¡¯t do this,¡± Scarlett flaps her gums.

    Shut up, Scarlett!

    ¡°I don¡¯t have long, so listen up everyone,¡± Mom hastily declares. ¡°Patrick O¡¯Connor, my loving husband! My love for you will last forever. Our first date was very, very strange. It was the first time a man treated me with respect, and I had no idea how to react, so I gave you a hard time. I was so, so scared that I ran you off, but that fear went away after you saw through my childish act and asked for a second date. I barely remember the second date because I was having too much fun reminiscing about our first date. It¡¯s the second happiest day of my life,¡± Mom reveals in pain, yet maintains her smile.

    ¡°What was the first?¡± Dad cluelessly asks.

    ¡°Men. Hah, so oblivious,¡± Mom rolls her eyes. ¡°The happiest day of my life was when we got married, of course. Kiss. I love you, Patrick O¡¯Connor.¡±

    ¡°I-I love you too, Rosine Redheart,¡± Dad painfully cries in tears.

    He never cries. This can¡¯t be happening.

    ¡°Scarlett Redheart, the brains of the family. You are so, so intuitive. You¡¯re so smart that you even started to teach me about musical instruments, leaving me speechless and proud. You¡¯re so intelligent, brave, and cool-headed, traits you¡¯ve unmistakably acquired from me, of course. You¡¯ll be excellent at whatever you decide to do in life. You know what I think to myself every time¡­ I see you and your sister?¡± Mom asks as she holds Scarlett¡¯s hands.

    ¡°What do you think, Mom?¡± Scarlett asks in fear.

    ¡°How did a screw-up like me give birth to two amazing kids? I have no doubt that you two will change the world one day, and I know this because Redhearts are born to be amazing. Unfortunately, it seems that the world can only have so many amazing Redhearts at a time. It must be why I won¡¯t be able to see you two grow up to become the beautiful and strong women I know you¡¯ll become! That also means that¡­ you¡¯ll have to step up and look after your sister since I won¡¯t be able to do it anymore. I love you, Scarlett. You and your sister make me so, so happy.¡±

    ¡°I love you too, Mom!¡± Scarlett achingly shrieks as she and Mom hug each other.

    No. Don¡¯t say it. I can¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t do it. I¡¯m not ready. Not again. I-I.

    Scarlett helped me hug Mom?

    ¡°Ruby Redheart!¡± Mom says proudly.

    Everything is so calm now¡­

    ¡°My little troublemaker. You¡¯re so unpredictable, eccentric, and kick-ass, which you clearly get from your father. You have the voice of an angel, and you¡¯re a natural rockstar! I wish things weren¡¯t so bad because I would have been able to see you perform at your sold-out concerts. Front row seats and I would allow swearing in your songs, only because you and your sister are the only people who are more amazing than moi. And music isn¡¯t the only thing you¡¯re good at. You learn things extremely fast and notice the little details, so I have no doubt that Ruby Redheart will be a name that the entire world knows one day. Ruby, I know you probably won¡¯t, but try your best to stay out of trouble and stay away from boys until you¡¯re sixteen. You too, Scarlett, and make sure it¡¯s someone good like¡­ your father. Ruby, let¡¯s say it together. One more time, you know what I¡¯m talking about,¡± she says softly.

    ¡°Mom! I, I can¡¯t. This freaking sucks!¡± I say.

    ¡°Ruby, you can do anything,¡± Mom says.

    Mom¡­

    ¡°The Notorious, Punk Rock, Guitar Playing, Explosively Unpredictable, Unstoppable Redhead, Lead singer of ¡°Evil on Tour; The AMAZING Ruby Redheart!¡±

    ¡°I love you, Ruby Redheart,¡± Mom quietly says as she¡­ drifts away.

 Chapter 30: Coda

    2 Weeks Later

    April 2, 2067

    1200 CDT

    Olympia Cemetery, West Olympia

    <u>Ruby Redheart''s Point of View</u>

    This sucks! I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re actually gone, Mom. I¡¯m so cold. Why does it have to rain today, of all days?

    ¡°Ruby,¡± stupid Scarlett approaches from behind and kneels with me at Mom¡¯s grave.

    Why can¡¯t people just leave me the hell alone?!

    ¡°Go away, Scarlett. I want to be alone with Mom.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you space, but¡­¡± she whispers.

    ¡°But what?! Didn¡¯t you hear me? I know you have shitty vision, but I didn¡¯t know you were deaf too!¡±

    ¡°Ruby, you butthead. I miss her too,¡± Scarlett rudely ignores me as she gives me a hug.

    Why does everything suck?

    ¡°Scarlett? What¡¯s wrong with me? I¡¯ve been crying for weeks, and I can¡¯t fucking stop. I don¡¯t feel like doing anything. I don¡¯t even feel like eating, listening to music, or working on my creations. All I feel is¡­ everything! I¡¯m just so¡­ I can¡¯t! I¡¯ve been getting nothing but hugs these past few weeks! Even Drew hugged me, and I should have been happy, but I didn¡¯t feel shit! The hugs help, but they¡¯re not enough, and they¡¯ll never be enough because the one person I want a hug from is gone and never coming back!¡±

    ¡°Me too, Ruby. Things will never be the same without her. But we have to stay strong. Mom would want us to stay strong,¡± Scarlett badly explains as she finally lets go.

    ¡°Stay strong? How? H-have you seen Dad? He¡¯s a mess! Mom was the one who held us all together, and now she¡¯s dead, and the asshole who murdered her is still alive!¡±

    ¡°Yes, but he¡¯ll be imprisoned for the rest of his life. He won¡¯t ever hurt anyone again.¡±

    ¡°Glad to see you have all the solutions. Answer me this, Ms. Smarty-pants, why does that asshole get to live instead of Mom? Why is the world like this? Why do bad people live, and good people die?!¡±

    ¡°I, I don¡¯t know Ruby. Life isn¡¯t fair,¡± she admits in a defeated tone.

    ¡°The very thought of that man makes my blood boil! I-I want to hurt him! He has to pay for killing Mom!¡±

    ¡°Ruby, calm down! I¡¯m just as mad as you, but you can¡¯t talk like that. It¡¯s not right. He¡¯s already paid for his crime.¡±

    ¡°No, he hasn¡¯t! He¡¯s still alive, and Mom is dead! The only way he¡¯ll pay for his crime is if someone kills him. He doesn¡¯t deserve to fucking live. He doesn¡¯t even deserve a grave.¡±

    ¡°I understand how you feel, but he also has a family. Killing him won¡¯t bring Mom back, and it won¡¯t get rid of the pain. Let¡¯s say you do kill him, you¡¯ll be imprisoned for the rest of your life or kicked out of Olympus so kiss your freedom goodbye. Not to mention his loved ones will come after you for revenge, and then our loved ones will have to avenge you. You know what they called that in The Old World? They called it the cycle of hatred.¡±

    ¡°Well, you know what I call it in the New World? I call it street justice, and if you truly miss Mom as much as I do, then you would help me find Dad¡¯s gun so we can avenge her. That¡¯s what a sister would do, and it¡¯s what Mom would want.¡±

    ¡°Ruby, you¡¯re talking crazy. Mom wouldn¡¯t want that at all, and I don¡¯t want to do that either.¡±

    ¡°You know what, Scarlett? You¡¯re a terrible sister, the worst sister in the entire fucking world. I hate you, and I can¡¯t stand your ugly four-eyed face. I¡¯ll find Dad¡¯s gun myself.¡±

    ¡°Ruby, no!¡±

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    ¡°Let me go, Scarlett!¡±

    Oh no. I accidentally elbowed her in the face.

    ¡°Scarlett! I-I told you to let go!¡±

    ¡°Y-you broke my glasses? You broke my glasses! Do you know how difficult these are to get nowadays?!¡± Scarlett yells as she inspects her busted glasses.

    ¡°I don¡¯t give a shit! Ya should have gotten the fuck out of my way!¡±

    OW!!! She punched me in the face?! She actually hit me!

    ¡°You¡¯re unbelievable! When? When are you going to grow up?! Do you even understand how much of a fucking brat you¡¯re being?! I¡¯m a terrible sister? I saved your life! As tough as you fucking think you are, you have fragile skin remember?! That man would have crushed your throat beyond repair! I took that pain for you, so you¡¯d still be able to sing! My throat feels awful, and I don¡¯t know if it¡¯ll ever be the same again! I don¡¯t know if I can do this! I can¡¯t be the only one trying to keep the family together! Dad is in a terrible mental state, and you¡¯re being the biggest and brattiest girl in the world! You don¡¯t care about my glasses?! How dare you?! How would you feel if I smashed your new guitar? You need to learn respect! We¡¯re sisters, Ruby! We have to look out for each other! We have to be there for Dad! I know¡­ I know you wanted space, but this was too urgent. Mom is dead. Do you understand what I¡¯m trying to say? We can¡¯t be carefree little girls anymore, and I don¡¯t want either of us to get drafted. It¡¯s time for us to grow up.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, Scarlett?¡±

    ¡°I think we should study to become apprentices of the Police Force. We¡¯re capable of passing the required tests, and Dad is the police chief, so we have a great advantage. We¡¯ll still have to work our butts off to pass, but we can do it. It¡¯s our only option, Ruby. Neither of us can handle The New World because of my bad vision and your panic attacks. Doing this will make Dad well, and Mom would be happy knowing that we didn¡¯t get drafted,¡± she calmly explains in her damaged voice. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to lash out. It was wrong of me to hit you because you¡¯re my sister, and Mom told us not to fight. I love you, and I¡¯m sorry for what I did. I won¡¯t ever do it again.¡±

    Scoff, dumbass.

    ¡°Scarlett, you really are the worst sister in the world. I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re just going to disrespect Mom¡¯s legacy like that. So what about Evil on Tour? I thought that we were going to tour The Eight Kingdoms and play a concert in front of everyone, or did that elbow I gave you fuck up your ugly face and your memory?¡±

    ¡°Life is forcing us to grow up, and if you can¡¯t adapt, then¡­ you won¡¯t survive.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re unbelievable. Grow up? Adapt? And you¡¯re supposed to be the smart one of the family. You can¡¯t adapt to a bullet or a zombie bite. We¡¯re going to die one day no matter what, so that¡¯s why I choose to live life however the fuck I want, whenever the fuck I want. I don¡¯t wanna become a stupid, worthless cop because they couldn¡¯t even save Mom, so fuck you and the police. If you wanna become a useless narc, then do it. I¡¯ll be the only one to honor Mom¡¯s legacy by continuing to focus on the band, and I just realized something. I don¡¯t need you, Scarlett! I don¡¯t need you as a bandmate, and I definitely don¡¯t need you as a sister!!!¡±

    ¡°Ruby, please. I don¡¯t want you to get drafted.¡±

    ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t want Mom to get killed. I wanted my sister to help me honor our Mom¡¯s legacy, but I guess we don¡¯t always get what we want in life! But you¡¯re right about one thing, Scarlett, Mom, wouldn¡¯t want us to take revenge. She¡¯d want us to honor her legacy by continuing to play music because it makes us happy, so I¡¯ll just look for new bandmates and focus on my music since I¡¯m apparently the only one in the family who gives a shit about Mom¡¯s legacy. And my new bass player will be ten times more amazing than you! My bass player will be spectacular, my drummer will be cool, my bodyguards will be super strong, my promoter will be very handsome, my manager will be brilliant, and I¡¯ll even have a special friend with unlimited backstage passes because that friend will be the only person as amazing as moi!¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s what you want, then fine, but one day, you¡¯ll finally grow up! And when that happens, I pray that you¡¯ll realize how much of a childish, spoiled, and bratty sister you¡¯ve been! Mom taught us that family sticks together no matter what, and one day you¡¯ll see that I¡¯m honoring her legacy by trying to keep us together!¡±

    ¡°Family? Scoff. What family? This family died with Mom. Happy birthday, Scarlett. Hope you enjoy spending it alone cause I don¡¯t want anything to do with you anymore.¡±

    *

    3 Months Later

    July 2, 2067

    1200 CDT

    Inside the Redheart¡¯s Family Garage, Central Olympia

    *

    Stupid Stepmom. I can¡¯t believe Dad remarried so fast. Everyone just keeps ruining Mom¡¯s legacy! Ugh! I bet she only married him for wealth. Maybe they were even having an affair before Mom died!

    I think, perhaps a drum solo will cheer me up. Yeah. A drum solo. In memory of Rosine Redheart, the best Mom in the world! I have her drumsticks, and stupid Scarlett gave me her music player. ¡°Ooh, y-you need it more than me, Ruby! Please take it!¡± Whatever, she don¡¯t know shit.

    And I¡¯m sick of Drew, Teresa, Kiko, and the others constantly checking up on me. Why can¡¯t people just leave me alone? I¡¯m perfectly fine.

    Damn it. Let me just calm down and focus on this. I hope you¡¯re watching Mom because this one¡¯s dedicated to you. I¡¯ll continue pursuing my dream and honor your legacy, even if I have to do it all by myself. Redhearts are born to be great, and the entire freaking world will know who Ruby Redheart is one day!

    When am I gonna learn to stop being a crybaby? I¡¯m performing in front of an empty crowd because my number one fan is dead. I miss you so much, Mom. This isn¡¯t fair! I¡¯m sooo alone, and it hurts so fucking much.

 Chapter 31: Selflessness

    8 Years Later

    Present Day

    June 24, 2075

    1012 CDT

    Central Winner, South Dakota

    <u>Ruby Redheart''s Point of View</u>

    The Chaser is going to lunge at me at any second and kill me just like Zachary! This sucks! Death is so sca-

    A gunshot?

    What, it¡¯s dead?! Somebody shot it, but how? Its head is so small. Wait, that figure in the distance, between the top of the new rope and the broken glass. I gotta squint my eyes, shit, maybe I do need glasses. It¡¯s Rachel? Oh my god. She must have sniped it!

    ¡°Ruby, you ok?¡± Sonya asks in worry as she quickly rushes over.

    I¡¯m not ok at all! Zachary¡¯s death could have easily been me.

    ¡°Za-Zachary. H-he just-¡±

    ¡°Watch your six!¡± Billy alerts from my nine.

    What? Another Chaser is heading for us.

    ¡°Watch out!¡± Sonya says as she pushes me out of the way.

    She¡¯s so strong! She stopped the Chaser¡¯s deadly midair lunge with her swords!

    ¡°Bastardo (Bastard)!¡± Sonya exclaims in anger as she prepares to use her free arm.

    A fast impale to the head from Sonya exterminated it with ease.

    ¡°Get your shit together now, Ruby!¡± Sonya orders as she retracts and holsters her swords as the dead Chaser flies over our heads.

    ¡°I-I¡­¡± I say.

    ¡°Sonya, help!¡± Billy and Michelle call out in unison.

    Gasp! Two Chasers near the bridge, one running towards Billy on my three, and one running towards Michelle on my nine.

    ¡°They¡¯re movin¡¯ too fast, Lieutenant! I can¡¯t get a good shot, and Howard is still searchin¡¯ for a way insiiiide!¡± Rachel cries out in distress.

    ¡°You gotta be kidding,¡± Sonya exasperates in disbelief as she pulls out her pistol. ¡°Rachel, don¡¯t shoot!¡±

    What? How is she going to save both of them? Why would she tell Rachel that?! Damn it! This is all my fault! My friends are in unnecessary trouble because of me! Everyone is right about me!

    Sonya shot the Chaser near Billy, but missed its head!

    ¡°Hey! Come get me, you ugly fuck!¡± Sonya taunts the monster.

    The Chaser you shot was the one chasing Billy, and now it¡¯s coming towards us! The mutated are still zombies, only stronger which means their bites are guaranteed death! The last Chaser was focused entirely on me, so you were able to repel a big portion of its strength, but this one¡¯s attention is fixed on you, so what are you gonna do?! Your nickname isn¡¯t literal, Sonya!

    ¡°Ruby, I need you to listen to other people for once,¡± Sonya calmly orders. ¡°I haven¡¯t fought a Chaser in a long time, and I¡¯m not sure if I can overpower it, but now isn¡¯t the best time to test it. Ruby, if you panic, then I¡¯ll get decapitated, and then, you¡¯ll probably die next,¡± Sonya explains as she aims her pistol at the threat. ¡°You think I¡¯m a heartless bitch now? Scoff, just wait and see what zombie me will be like,¡± she chuckles as she straightens her posture. ¡°That is if you don¡¯t die, of course,¡± she finishes with a smirk.

    What¡¯s wrong with you?! You never smile!

    ¡°This is obviously my attempt at humor, in case you haven¡¯t noticed. Don¡¯t get used to it. Sigh,¡± she weirdly explains.

    ¡°Sonya?!¡± I say.

    ¡°This is my last bullet, by the way,¡± she answers.

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    WHAT?! Shit! The Chaser! It¡¯s almost here! It¡¯s getting closer and closer! STOP! L-listen to her, she¡¯s right. Everyone is right. It¡¯s time to stop living in a fantasy world. Ruby Redheart needs to come back to Earth. Sonya, I¡¯m sorry, I trust you.

    A gunshot from Sonya.

    ¡°Not today,¡± Sonya says with a smirk, as the Chaser¡¯s corpse flies over us.

    You¡¯re a hero¡­

    ¡°No!!!¡± Michelle screams in horror.

    ¡°Sonya, I got this!¡± I shout.

    Huh? What am I doing? My body is running directly towards Michelle and straight towards the Chaser!

    ¡°Hey, you ugly fuck!¡± I call out to the creature.

    The Chaser tackled Michelle to the ground, and Michelle is doing all she can to kick it off of her!

    I shot it. That got the fucker¡¯s attention.

    ¡°Ruby!¡± Sonya and Rachel call out in worry.

    ¡°You all seem to have forgotten the most important thing about me. (Blackout is armed and ready!) Never doubt Ruby Redheart. Eat this, you dismembered fire hydrant!¡± I say as I throw one of my explosives at the Chaser, followed by me shooting it.

    *

    Ow, my neck! Ya need to catch me better next time, Billy.

    ¡°Uh,¡± Billy hesitates.

    ¡°Sonya, I am so, sooooooo, sorry! I¡¯m such an idiot!¡± I say.

    ¡°I-I know. It¡¯s pretty obvious,¡± stupid Sonya rudely agrees as we all check on Michelle.

    ¡°Now wait a minute,¡± I say.

    ¡°Those Chasers attacked us because everyone started arguin¡¯, so quit it,¡± Billy pleads in concern.

    Sigh, you¡¯re right.

    ¡°Yes, please. Don¡¯t argue. I-I don¡¯t like it,¡± Rachel nervously chimes in from above.

    ¡°Hey, at least we¡¯re all ok,¡± I say.

    ¡°We¡¯re not all ok. I got bit,¡± Michelle whispers.

    Bullshit!

    ¡°What do you mean, you got bit, Michelle?¡± I ask.

    ¡°I mean I got bit! The Chaser got me which means I¡¯ll die in less than twelve hours,¡± Michelle accepts in sadness as she slowly gets up. ¡°I¡¯m the worst squad leader ever.¡±

    This is all my fault! I¡¯m such a stupid fuckup! Michelle and Rachel¡¯s tears aren¡¯t helping with this situation at all!

    ¡°Sonya, I-I have to ask. Why¡¯d you save Billy instead of me?¡± Michelle asks as she wipes off her tears.

    ¡°Saving both of you was impossible,¡± Sonya nonchalantly answers. ¡°I would¡¯ve been killed if two Chasers attacked me simultaneously, not to mention, I had to protect this one from herself,¡± she rudely points at me. ¡°It was my last bullet, but even if I had spare, I still would¡¯ve saved Billy. I like you, Michelle, because of your leadership and bravery. You¡¯re a much better person than I am, and I don¡¯t know why you and others think I¡¯m some kind of superheroine. I¡¯m just a fighter who¡¯s trying to protect my friends, and you don¡¯t fit into that category. I just met you and don¡¯t really know you, and I¡¯m aware of how that makes me a selfish person. If the situation was different and none of my friends were in danger, then I would have done everything in my power to rescue you, but there¡¯s no guarantee that I could have saved you. I¡¯m only human, and I can only do so much. If I had the power to solve all of mankind¡¯s problems and bring world peace, then I would do it in a heartbeat. I¡¯m sorry you got bit. I don¡¯t know if there¡¯s an afterlife, but I hope you find peace with the rest of your squad,¡± She calmly explains.

    Stop being an ass, Sonya!

    ¡°Wow,¡± Michelle chuckles in disbelief. ¡°You really are as merciless as the others say, but I would have done the exact same thing in your situation,¡± she reveals in a somber tone.

    You¡¯re both crazy!

    ¡°I guess I¡¯m a selfish person too,¡± Michelle ponders as she rubs her fatal wound. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re a bad person at all, Lieutenant Grey. I think you¡¯re one of the lucky people who¡¯ll get to witness life after The Age of Zombies. Sigh. I don¡¯t know when or how it¡¯ll happen but fantasizing about it made me happy. It gave me hope, something this world could use more of, and you¡¯re a badass symbol of hope. The fact that you¡¯re a woman makes it that much better,¡± she says with a prideful smile. ¡°Meeting and fighting alongside you is the happiest moment in my life, Lieutenant Sonya Grey.¡±

    Sonya pulled out one of her swords and pointed it at Michell¡¯s neck!

    ¡°As the protocol states, you¡¯re ordered to continue fighting until you become a liability,¡± Sonya threatens Michelle as she points a sword at her neck again! ¡°Will you obey, or will I have to end your misery before you panic and endanger everyone?¡±

    Gotta get in between them!

    ¡°Calm your tits, Sonya!¡± I say.

    ¡°Ruby, even you know the protocol,¡± Sonya states with a glare.

    ¡°Fuck the protocol! You can¡¯t just murder her!¡± I say.

    ¡°It would be a mercy kill. You¡¯d rather have her suffer?¡± She asks with a raised, ugly eyebrow.

    ¡°You¡­ Ah!¡± I say.

    Why is she so right?

    ¡°Ruby, it¡¯s ok,¡± Michelle reassures. ¡°This is partially my fault as well, so don¡¯t feel guilty. The Royals are to blame so, please move, Ruby,¡± Michelle quietly pleads.

    ¡°F-Fine,¡± I say.

    Fuck! I can¡¯t watch!

    ¡°Captain Michelle Fox of Squad Hades, as per protocol you¡¯re ordered to serve until the illness prevents you from carrying out your responsibilities. But as a friend of mine once said, Fuck the protocol. I¡¯ll end your suffering right now if you wish. I promise you won¡¯t feel a thing,¡± Sonya heartlessly vows.

    This sucks. How can something so inhumane be so merciful?

    ¡°Wait! I¡¯ve decided to keep fighting!¡± Michelle surprisingly rethinks. ¡°A certain heroine has recently inspired me to continue the mission! I have a mission to fulfill and people to honor! As the Captain of Squad Hades, I refuse to go out like this!¡± She shouts confidently. ¡°I already got bit, so what are they gonna do, bite me again?¡± She chuckles as she nods her head.

    Michelle¡­

    ¡°Michelle, your bite! What does it feel like? I just want to know,¡± I say.

    ¡°Physically, it burns like hell,¡± Michelle reveals as she scratches it. ¡°It wasn¡¯t even a deep wound, but a bite is a bite. Mentally, I feel a combination of sadness and peace. I¡¯m sad that I¡¯ll never get to see Olympia and my parents again,¡± she says as she looks over the edge of the bridge. ¡°But if there¡¯s a life after death, then I¡¯ll be able to annoy my older brother again,¡± she happily discloses. ¡°You¡¯re pretty creative, so I¡¯m sure you can figure out the peaceful part.¡±

    ¡°I-I get it. I don¡¯t want to get it, but I understand. Thank you for sharing,¡± I say.

    ¡°Are you sure about this, Michelle?¡± Sonya presses.

    Yes, she¡¯s sure!

    ¡°I¡¯m sure, and something tells me that my final task will be worth it in the end,¡± Michelle answers with a hopeful yet somber look in her eyes.

 Chapter 32: Headhunter

    Meanwhile

    June 24, 2075

    1012 CDT

    Central Winner, South Dakota

    <u>Teresa Young''s Point of View</u>

    Ow, my head. We must¡¯ve crashed.

    Shit! They surrounded the truck!

    ¡°The asshole driver¡¯s dead! We have to get the fuck out of here!¡± Duy orders in haste as he checks on us.

    Luke?! H-he¡¯s ok. That¡¯s good. Trevor was a jerk, but he didn¡¯t deserve this. He must¡¯ve driven into the herd of zombies and couldn¡¯t stop in time. The crash hopefully knocked him unconscious before they dragged him out of the truck. Ew! I¡¯m gonna get sick! E-Ezekiel¡¯s legs are on the ground, but where¡¯s his other half? There¡¯s so much blood. I don¡¯t want to see intestines and bones ever again. We¡¯re freaking screwed! The front windshield is gone, and the only thing that¡¯s stopping the zombies from getting inside is themselves. They¡¯re too packed together and now they¡¯re shaking the truck!

    They¡¯re gonna flip the truck over, or they¡¯ll get in from above! Escaping from the back door is impossible and we¡¯ll go deaf if we shoot our guns in this enclosed space!

    ¡°Guys?!¡± I say.

    ¡°We¡¯ll get through this Teresa,¡± Duy promises as he holds my hands. ¡°Luke, I hope you¡¯re a good driver,¡± he says in a brash tone.

    What?

    ¡°This is something Ruby would think of,¡± Luke chuckles nervously.

    Wh-what are they talking about?!

    ¡°Look, all we have to do is get out of the middle of the fucking street,¡± Duy reassures. ¡°If we can make it into an alleyway or something, then we should be ok, hopefully. Teresa, we need you to watch our back and brace yourself. Luke and I will take care of the zombies on the hood, but we need you to kill any zombies that happen to come in through the roof,¡± Duy explains in too calm of a tone.

    A zombie fell through the roof!

    ¡°Die you fucking homicidal maniac!¡± I yell as I stab the zombie.

    ¡°Like that,¡± Duy and Luke say in unison.

    ¡°You¡¯re the soul of our Mighty Squad for a reason,¡± Luke kindly reminds me.

    ¡°Keep showing these bastards that they fucked with the wrong squad!¡± Duy orders confidently.

    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°You¡¯re lucky it wasn¡¯t a mutated! We¡¯d be dead meat if we had to fight a Behemoth or something!¡± I say.

    ¡°Don¡¯t jinx us, Teresa,¡± Duy nervously chuckles.

    ¡°Relax, our story won¡¯t end here, Teresa. We¡¯re just getting started,¡± Luke states arrogantly. ¡°The world won¡¯t remember us if we die in our first mission,¡± he says as Duy picks up Trevor¡¯s rifle.

    We¡¯re gonna die!

    ¡°Cover your ears!¡± Duy orders as he aims at the windshield, followed by him firing upon the zombies.

    He cleared a path for Luke to get in the driver¡¯s seat.

    ¡°Floor it, kid!¡± Duy yells out in anguish.

    ¡°Wait, I¡¯m not wearing my seat be-¡± I say as the truck zooms forward.

    ¡°I am flooring it, unibrow!¡± Luke shouts back.

    ¡°What?!¡± Duy screams back.

    ¡°Oh, fuck!¡± The three of us scream.

    Jiiiiinx!

    *

    Ow. Don¡¯t tell me we¡­

    ¡°Teresa, you won¡¯t believe this, but we just crashed again,¡± Luke quickly states the obvious.

    ¡°I-I believe it,¡± I say.

    Whiplash is such a pain in the neck.

    ¡°Is everyone ok?¡± Luke asks in worry.

    ¡°Luke, you¡¯re a horrible driver. Not only did you crash, but you managed to flip the truck on its side,¡± Duy says in disbelief.

    ¡°Duy¡¯s fine, but how about you, Teresa?¡± Luke asks in concern.

    ¡°Teresa, what¡¯s he saying?! Is he talking shit?! He better not be talking shit. I¡¯ll kick his ass if we survive this!¡± Duy loudly threatens as we all crawl out of the roof of the truck into an alleyway.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine! Can you boys please stop acting so tough?! We almost died, again!¡± I say.

    How can they be so cool and aggravating at the same time?

    ¡°We should be safe for now, but it won¡¯t take long for those bastards to make it over the truck.¡± Duy loudly explains. ¡°The fact that this alleyway is empty is probably the only good thing that¡¯s happened to us all day. We¡¯re almost at the tower. Let¡¯s not waste any more ti-¡±

    ¡°Wait, this alleyway isn¡¯t empty,¡± Luke says as he points at the fast-approaching figure in the distance.

    ¡°What?!¡± Duy screams in frustration.

    No, no way. It can¡¯t be!

    ¡°It¡¯s a Headhunter!¡± Luke shouts into Duy¡¯s ear. ¡°The same mutated that killed my mom!¡± He reveals in anger.

    The Headhunter, a mutated with similar features to The Chaser! These monstrosities, however, walk on two legs, have powerful upper bodies and a huge nasty second mouth with several sharp teeth on their stomachs! This big boy is standing between us and the tower! Luke is furious based on how hard he¡¯s gritting his teeth and gripping the handle on his pistol! The only thing that can make this situation even worse is¡­what the? Something hopped on top of the truck?!

    It''s a second headhunter.

    ¡°Duy, get down!¡± Luke yells as he dives towards Duy.

    It almost killed us all with one swipe. Thankfully being little saved my life.

    ¡°Teresa!!!!¡± Luke warns in horror as the nearby Headhunter shrieks at me.

    Gulp. This creature standing in front of me sees me as its next meal, and I can¡¯t do anything about it. I¡¯m not as tough as The Invincible Sonya Grey, as swift as Red Riding Hood Annie O¡¯Carroll, or as fierce as The Exterminator Jian Zhi. I can¡¯t defeat it, I¡¯m only an eighteen-year-old little girl who¡¯s stuck in a living nightmare. I¡¯m just a liability, zombie bait, a failure, and a fraud! I¡¯m all the negative things that people call me! I miss Julie so much, and I¡¯m about to see her and my parents in the afterlife! I miss Kiko, Auntie, Uncle, and I miss annoying Ruby!

    Luke and Duy are suffering because I was stupid enough to think that I could be something other than zombie bait. Squad Zeus would have completed their role in the mission by now if I didn¡¯t screw up my one simple job, which is why nobody will miss me! The other bag of ammo could have potentially saved more lives, and I fucking dropped it! People will die because of my mistake! Because of me! I¡¯m such a loser! It¡¯s probably for the best that I die like this because I won¡¯t be an annoyance to anyone ever again!

    So go ahead, tough guy! Give it your best shot!

 Chapter 33: The Mischievous Teresa Young

    7 Years Ago

    February 12, 2068

    1500 CST (Central Standard Time)

    Drink-N-Forget, North Olympia

    <u>Teresa Young''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Heh, so what¡¯s it gonna be, pardner?¡± I ask.

    I can see you trembling in fear from all the way across this table, Pumpkin Pie. Mwhahahaha! Following your imminent defeat, I shall feast upon candy bars once again! Yes, with my best friends Kiko Farrington and Julie Young at my side, I am unstoppable!

    ¡°This is bullshit! You¡¯re cheating you little scoundrel¡± Pumpkin Pie accuses angrily.

    How rude. Time to hit him with the puppy eyes.

    ¡°What? Me? Cheating? I would never,¡± I say.

    I¡¯m a lot of things, but a cheater is something I¡¯m not. Adults are just sore losers. Fast Food, Soda, Caffeine, Chips, and Ice Cream were no match for my superior intellect, and now even Pumpkin Pie is about to split like a candy bar. Poker is the ultimate test of seeing who¡¯s full of crap and who¡¯s not. The best hand always wins, and victory is oh, so satisfying.

    ¡°Stop it! You are far from innocent,¡± Pumpkin Pie replies in desperation.

    ¡°How about you put a shirt on and calm your tits?¡± I ask.

    ¡°WHAT?!¡± He spews in anger as he slams his fist on the table.

    ¡°Nice one, Teresa,¡± Julie chuckles.

    ¡°Ahem. What she means is, she would like for you to continue the match,¡± Kiko kindly clarifies.

    ¡°Quiet! Just give me a minute,¡± he shouts with a worried look on his face. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t understand how you¡¯ve been getting such a good hand all game.¡±

    ¡°Heh. There¡¯s this thing called Lady Luck,¡± I say. ¡°The goddess of gambling has clearly blessed me. You saps have underestimated me because of my physical appearance, and now you¡¯re going to pay the price, with candy!¡±

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°Are you serious?!¡± Pumpkin Pie asks in disbelief.

    ¡°I have no interest and am far too young for adult beverages,¡± I say. ¡°I only gamble for candy and, soon my wrath will spread throughout the entire kingdom! Hide your kids, hide your wife because Diamond will inevitably own the night! Mwhahahahaha!¡±

    ¡°You seriously only gamble for candy?¡± Pumpkin Pie stupidly asks.

    ¡°Of course. Why do you gamble?¡± I say.

    ¡°Hah! How kind of you to ask. I gamble for¡­!¡± Pumpkin Pie says.

    ¡°Ah, I don¡¯t care. It¡¯s time to finish this match, Pumpkin Pie. My eyeballs are tired of looking at your ugly face.¡±

    Mind games. You¡¯re scared, Pumpkin Pie, and it¡¯s easy to see why. Everyone in this entire stinky bar is focused on this final moment! A red diamond nine, a red diamond ten, a red jack, a red queen, and a red king are the last cards on the table! Heh. This is as rare as my namesake. If Pumpkin Pie has a straight flush, then I¡¯ll be one sad little girl, but that will never happen because Lady Luck is always on my side.

    ¡°Ladies first, right?¡± Pumpkin Pie snickers as he looks at his hand.

    ¡°Lady? (Time to enter the crybaby phase.) I¡¯m just a sweet little girl. You have to believe me! I honestly didn¡¯t think I would make it this far! I don¡¯t really know what I¡¯m doing! I¡¯ve been getting lucky! Please, I¡¯m not a thief or a cheater! Everything I do is legit! I earn money through hard work and savings! I just wanted to gamble with grown-ups! So¡­ please have mercy on me! I¡¯m sorry for deceiving you!¡±

    ¡°Hah! I knew all of this was just a fluke! Lady Luck, my ass!¡± He laughs with the entire bar.

    ¡°Please, can you just reveal your hand first? It¡¯s my final request for the game,¡± I say.

    ¡°Welllllll, I suppose so. Only because you swallowed your pride and admitted that you got lucky. Feast your eyes on this! It¡¯s a straight flush girly! This silly game is over!¡± He and the crowd cry in an uproar.

    A red diamond six, red diamond seven, red diamond eight? Not bad, but bad enough. The Old World had quite a few intelligent people, but I¡¯m the smartest person in The New World. Had I been born in the previous generation; I would¡¯ve ruled the casinos with an iron fist! Nobody would¡¯ve been able to defeat me. Sadly, that life is a fantasy, and this bullcrap is the closest simulation I¡¯ll get. Nonetheless, people will never again look down on me one day! Diamond and Teresa Young are names that will be known across The New World and The Eight Kingdoms one day!

    ¡°Heh, you¡¯re correct,¡± I say.

    ¡°Woah-¡± Julie begins.

    ¡°Damn!¡± Kiko finishes in shock.

    ¡°HMMMM?!¡± Pumpkin Pie grunts in confusion.

    A silent crowd, as predicted.

    ¡°This game is over, for you!¡± I say. ¡°Heh. Hook, line, and sinker. Mwhahahaha!¡±

    ¡°MWHAHAHAHAHAHA!¡± Me, Julie and Kiko laugh.

    Yes! Laugh with me, sisters!

    ¡°What?! What the hell is your hand?! Show me!¡± Pumpkin Pie spews in fear.

    ¡°Heh. Don¡¯t judge a book (slowly reveal my cards) by its cover,¡± I say.

    A red diamond ace assures my victory for a¡­

    ¡°Royal Flush,¡± I say.

    ¡°Impossible!!!¡± Pumpkin Pie cries in despair.

    ¡°And before you try anything funny, my friend Kiko here is the daughter of our legendary general,¡± I say.

    ¡°No, you mean?¡± He asks in gradual realization.

    ¡°She¡¯s the daughter of Brian Farrington, which makes us untouchable, figuratively and literally. I¡¯d say good game, but the deception has ceased at the time of your embarrassment,¡± I say.

    Heh, another delightful victory for the almighty Diamond.

 Chapter 34: Ante

    The Next Day

    February 13, 2068

    North Olympia, Kansas

    1630 CST

    Inside the Young Family''s Establishment

    Teresa & Julie''s Room

    <u>Teresa Young''s Point of View</u>

    Move, door!

    ¡°Julie, I got the stuff!¡± I say as I kick open the door.

    God, this box is so heavy.

    ¡°That¡¯s great, Teresa,¡± she pouts as she continues to lie on the bed and daydream at the ceiling.

    I¡¯m struggling, Julie! Sigh, you¡¯re still the best cousin I could ever ask for. Strange, you¡¯ve cut your hair. It used to be in a long ponytail but now it¡¯s short, and your bangs cover your entire forehead. No! Don¡¯t tell me! Eh, it¡¯s probably nothing.

    ¡°We gotta read them! Now!¡± I say.

    ¡°Mmm,¡± Julie mumbles.

    Yes! This one looks so cool.

    ¡°Julie, look! This one is about Sci-Fi in the tun-tun-tun-tundra! It¡¯s about a female warrior who was forced to dishonor her homeland to save the entire world! However, all actions have consequences, and she must now battle her former allies to escape from her beautiful country! It¡¯s called, Purple, Cool, right?¡±

    ¡°It sounds ok,¡± she shrugs with no reaction.

    Huh? That¡¯s not your usual reaction, Julie.

    ¡°Ok? What do you mean, ok? Scoff, never mind. Anyway, check out this one! A teenage girl is forced to turn to crime to keep up with the outrageous expenses of her sumptuous city. But with crime comes betrayal, and upon her capture, she must learn how to see things from a different viewpoint if she wishes to survive. It¡¯s called Wonderful Pain.¡±

    ¡°It sounds-¡±

    ¡°Wait, this is my favorite! A samurai who failed to see the bigger picture and vows his remaining days on exacting revenge and regaining his honor! It¡¯s called Hidden Courage!¡±

    ¡°I think-¡±

    ¡°And then there¡¯s this one! A tyrannical pirate who unknowingly holds the power to change the world. But with power comes enemies, and this outlaw has countless! Power also corrupts, and this fugitive soon becomes tempted by outside forces who vow to be rid of his foes in exchange for resources and loyalty! It¡¯s called¡­¡±

    Wait. You¡¯re not even listening! You¡¯re staring at the ceiling!!!

    ¡°HEY! Earth to Julie!¡±

    ¡°Huh?!¡± She jumps in surprise. ¡°W-What? It sounds good,¡± she answers in a short tone.

    ¡°Oh yeah? What did I say?¡±

    ¡°Teresa, are you accusing me of not listening? That¡¯s mean!¡± She states in disgust.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say you weren¡¯t listening.¡±

    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    ¡°Ok, good because I wasn¡¯t. I¡¯m sorry,¡± she shamelessly confesses.

    Jerk.

    ¡°You like these stories way more than me, but you seem unfocused,¡± I say.

    Oh no! Don¡¯t tell me! No!

    ¡°Sigh. It¡¯s a boy,¡± she reveals in a lovestruck tone.

    ¡°What?! A boy?! Boys are stupid!¡±

    ¡°Maybe, but I don¡¯t know. I just can¡¯t stop thinking about him,¡± she says with a big smile.

    ¡°I knew it! I knew you were no match for adolescence!¡±

    ¡°Pfft, whatever,¡± she nods her head with a smirk.

    ¡°Julie, who am I going to discuss these books with if you¡¯re chasing boys? Who¡¯s going to be my guinea pig for my gambling strategies?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I want to live in the real world!¡± She shrieks in anger.

    What?

    ¡°Are you talking about The New World? Are you crazy?! Why would you ever want that?¡± I ask.

    ¡°I¡¯m not talking about that. I¡¯m talking about us, Teresa. We¡¯re getting older,¡± she says as she twiddles her thumbs.

    ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m becoming interested in other things.¡±

    ¡°Like stupid boys?¡±

    ¡°Yes! Stupid boys!¡± She yells in frustration.

    ¡°You should avoid stupidity, not go towards it. Anyway, let¡¯s read these new books.¡±

    ¡°No. I don¡¯t want to anymore,¡± she declines as she crosses her arms and turns away from me.

    ¡°Huh? Are you sick?¡±

    ¡°No, I just, I want to do other stuff.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you gotta be kidding me. You are sick! Sick with love!¡±

    ¡°What?! No, I¡¯m not! I just like a boy. He¡¯s very strong and handsome!¡± She claims as she turns back around.

    ¡°This is ridiculous! I can¡¯t even! Nothing good ever comes from teenage love!¡±

    ¡°How would you know?¡± She asks in doubt.

    ¡°Because I read about it in a book.¡±

    ¡°Books are just stupid fantasy! The stories aren¡¯t even real!¡± She rudely insults.

    ¡°GASP! You jerk! Take that back!¡±

    ¡°No, because it¡¯s the truth. Excuse me for wanting to live in reality instead of fiction.¡±

    ¡°Julie, undead monsters rule the Earth, and the remnants of humanity live in eight zombie-proof shelters spread across the world. Our government takes advantage of that and makes us follow unjust rules by threatening us with a giant freaking space laser¡­ from space! That¡¯s reality. That¡¯s our life and it sucks, so excuse me for wanting to live in fiction instead of reality.¡±

    ¡°Whatever, Teresa. You¡¯re just jealous because you know that nobody would ever want to date someone as mean and mischievous as you!¡±

    ¡°I cannot believe this! Love produces nothing but heartbreak and babies! It¡¯s how our brain tricks us into reproducing! Everything has an end, Julie, especially relationships. Boyfriends, girlfriends, and¡­ best friends.¡±

    ¡°Teresa, this isn¡¯t about the boy, is it?¡± She asks in worry.

    Oh God, I¡¯m gonna cry. You saw through my poker face!

    ¡°Julie, you¡¯re right. I¡¯ll probably never get a date because of how I am. I hate social interactions, and you, you know that more than anyone. You, Kiko, Drew, Jaliyah, Duy, and Ruby are my only friends. You and Kiko are growing up much faster than me, figuratively and literally. Drew and Jaliyah don¡¯t really go outside much and all Duy does is look at his muscles! Ruby is, uh, figuring stuff out. Losing myself in my hobbies makes me feel happy, and they help me in my endless battle against loneliness. One day I realized that I was born alone, and I¡¯ll die alone too. Everyone will eventually, and that fact is so depressing. Having friends and hobbies helps me cope with life¡¯s end. Julie, you and Kiko are my best friends in the entire world. I¡¯m sorry for being such a meanie. I was just jealous and scared that you¡¯d spend more time with this boy instead of me. I¡¯m scared that you¡¯ll leave me alone.¡±

    ¡°Teresa, you¡¯re my cousin, so I¡¯ll always be here for you no matter what,¡± she comforts in determination. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for being mean too, but you can¡¯t always cling to me for comfort. I know that hanging out with close friends makes you happy, but what about me? I have the right to pursue happiness, and so do you. You¡¯re family, which means I¡¯ll always love you forever and ever, but¡­ you have to be responsible for your own happiness.¡±

    This can¡¯t be happening! Why can¡¯t I grow up, figuratively or literally? Why can¡¯t I stop time? Why does life suck? I¡¯m about to lose my best friend in the entire world, and there¡¯s nothing I can do to stop it.

    ¡°Heh. I guess I¡¯m no match for adolescence either or love,¡± I say.

    Wipe away your tears, Teresa.

    ¡°You did say that love is the most powerful emotion,¡± she replies with a chuckle.

    ¡°The boy¡¯s name. What¡¯s his name?¡± I ask.

    Why did I ask that? Stupid brain.

    ¡°Oh. That? His name. I-it¡¯s Duy.,¡± she reveals with a look of guilt.

    ¡°Duy? How wonderful! I-I¡¯m happy for you, Julie. You two will look oh, so cute together. You go get em! I¡¯ll be ok! I¡¯ll probably be too consumed in my stories to even notice you, so just yell in my ear or something to get my attention if you need anything!¡± I say as I hug her.

    Don¡¯t let me go!

    ¡°I understand, my bookworm cousin,¡± she says with a smile as she begins to cautiously walk away. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll see ya at dinner later, tonight. In the house. My parents own. The house we live in. Together,¡± she awkwardly announces as she finally leaves.

    Duy? Duy!!! Damn it, Julie! Of all of the boys in Olympia, how could you pick Duy?! I have feelings for Duy, you doo-doo head!  And¡­you know that¡­

 Chapter 35: Roll the Dice

    The Next Day

    February 14, 2068

    1600 CST

    Brian Farrington''s Mansion, Central Olympia

    Inside the Main Kitchen

    <u>Teresa Young''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Heh. Checkmate, Kiko,¡± I say.

    ¡°You¡¯ve beaten me yet again, Teresa,¡± she admits with a look of confusion as she looks at the board.

    You are such a better person than my stupid and disloyal cousin, Kiko.

    ¡°Poker and Chess are my favorite games in the entire world!¡± I say.

    ¡°I know Teresa,¡± she chuckles with a yawn as she rubs her frizzy hair. ¡°You tell me all the time.¡± she leans back, stretching.

    ¡°Kiko buddy, you¡¯re my best friend in the entire world! Together, we can do anything!¡±

    ¡°Hah. Are you ok, Teresa? It¡¯s not like you to blurt things out like that,¡± she questions as she adjusts her bar stool.

    ¡°Kiko, do you think I¡¯m annoying?¡±

    Why did I ask that?

    ¡°No, Teresa. I don¡¯t think you¡¯re annoying. Are you asking me this because of your big fight with Julie?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s such a gigantic jerk! I hate her and her ugly doo-doo headface! I never wanna see her again! I wish she was dead!¡±

    Damn! She smacked me from across the table?!

    ¡°Ow! What the H, Kiko?¡±

    ¡°Teresa, you need to take a chill pill. She¡¯s your cousin! She¡¯s your blood! You only get one family, so you shouldn¡¯t take them for granted!¡±

    ¡°She betrayed me, for an idiot and not at all suave boy! It¡¯s my fault though for living in fantasy worlds instead of real life. I¡¯m so stupid for believing that someone would ever date someone as short and mean as me. Maybe I¡¯m destined to be alone forever until my body withers away, and a loved one has to put me down to prevent resurrection. And maybe that loved one will be that stupid former best friend. That¡¯d be poetic justice. Or maybe I turn before anyone can prevent my death, and then I¡¯ll have to die twice. Maybe I¡¯ll remember the second death, maybe I won¡¯t. Nobody knows, but either way, I¡¯ll die, and my corpse will become food for maggots. I¡¯ll just be bones, and eventually, I¡¯ll wither away into dust¡­¡±

    ¡°Holy shit, Teresa. I think you¡¯re exaggerating,¡± she accuses in surprise.

    ¡°It¡¯s true, though! Everyone dies once or twice, but no matter what we do, death is unavoidable!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think this is about Julie¡± she realizes with a look of concern.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be alone, Kiko, but I also don¡¯t want to be bothered by anyone! What¡¯s wrong with me?! I-I love my aunt and uncle, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s the same as loving my parents!¡±

    ¡°Teresa, you¡¯re not alone. I know how you feel,¡± she comforts sadly.  ¡°My mom died a long time ago too, and my dad is rarely around, so I just sit in this mansion and think about the undead all day. I know it¡¯s weird right, but I just can¡¯t help but wonder about them,¡± she says in a slightly cheerful tone. ¡°I think to myself, who or what made them? Where did they come from? Why did they show up? Why is everyone infected? What causes a mutation? Why can they only be killed with the destruction of their brain? How did humanity lose against them eighteen years ago?¡± She ponders curiously.

    Kiko, you¡¯re so pretty when you think like this. The way your eyes sparkle when you ramble is mesmerizing. You will never betray me, and your status and personality make me feel oh so secure. Huh? Damn it, brain! What¡¯s going on with me?

    ¡°¡­and the more I learn, the more questions I have,¡± she continues to digress into space. ¡°The Eight Kingdoms! What¡¯s the world like? What are the other kingdoms like? Maybe, just maybe, there¡¯s someone in another kingdom who¡¯s immune to the infection. And it¡¯s bizarre that the only kingdom we have any real information on is Scorpius, but then I wonder¡­¡±

    The world is indeed one big mystery, Kiko.

    ¡°What if one day, The Eight Kingdoms decided to trust each other long enough to eliminate the zombie threat? It¡¯s a silly fantasy, but I can¡¯t help but wonder what the other kids are like in the other kingdoms. It¡¯s like how people back then would wonder if there was intelligent life outside of Earth,¡± Kiko continues to brainstorm.

    ¡°Heh, you have a good point. For all we know, the other kingdoms could be filled with aliens.¡±

    ¡°Hah. It¡¯s somewhat rude to compare them to extraterrestrials, but it helps with my point,¡± she answers with a crazed look. ¡°What if there are super smart people that reside in the other kingdoms? Like astronauts or scientists?! What if all these super-smart people combined their big ass brains to defeat the zombie threat or do the impossible and create a cure?! It¡¯s another silly fantasy, but I can¡¯t help but wonder.¡±

    A cure? No, it wouldn¡¯t work.

    ¡°Remember the stories our teacher told us about the Halos?¡± She quickly asks in excitement. ¡°The mysterious zombie-killing superweapons that someone or something distributed throughout the world eighteen years ago. I think they were created to combat the zombie threat, but who would do such a thing, and why? And since people are often dense, the Halos only turned The New World into the Wild West, further increasing the chaos. There¡¯s so much I must learn about The New World, but my obsession with thanatology comes first,¡± she suddenly explains as she leans over the table, getting closer and closer to my face.

    ¡°If we become apprentices, then we won¡¯t even have to worry about em¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Yes! But that¡¯s the thing! Don¡¯t you see?!¡± Kiko continues in her crazed tone. ¡°All I do is worry about the zombies! It¡¯s my passion! I know how crazy and dangerous and stupid it sounds, but I just want to learn everything about them!¡±

    You¡¯re crazy, girl!

    ¡°Um, everyone has obsessions, but you have a death wish,¡± I say.

    There are safer options and I don¡¯t want you to get hurt, Kiko.

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    ¡°Hah. You¡¯re one to talk,¡± she laughs as she finally backs off. ¡°I bet you¡¯d gamble with the devil if you had the chance.¡±

    Heh, you know me so well.

    ¡°You are absolutely correct, Kiko, and I would kick the devil¡¯s ass and claim my throne as the she-devil of hell!¡±

    ¡°Hmm, speaking of she-devils. What do you think about you-know-who?¡± She asks as she quickly paces back and forth near the table.

    Ugh! Her.

    ¡°Veronica Shinka?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Yes, Teresa! The controversial Veronica Shinka!¡± She reverts to her crazy tone and eyes.

    ¡°Who cares about her? I don¡¯t know her, and I don¡¯t want to know her. All I want to do is eat candy, gamble, and read. Wasn¡¯t she exiled a long time ago anyway?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but supposedly nobody knows why though, which is total B-S,¡± she answers in frustration as she continues to pace and rub her frizzy hair.

    ¡°She probably did some bad shit.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, she probably did do some bad shit.¡±

    ¡°Kiko, I know that I was the one who was being a big baby, but I can see that you¡¯re hiding something from me. Friends don¡¯t do that, especially best friends.¡±

    ¡°Did you know that Olympus had a research division?¡± She asks in a sudden ominous tone.

    Something isn¡¯t right¡­

    ¡°Yes, I did. Kiko, you better not be saying what I think you¡¯re saying.¡±

    ¡°Veronica Shinka was in charge of the research division, and their job was to gain intelligence on the zombies,¡± she says what I think she¡¯s saying. ¡°The Styx River, Hades, and the Thunderbolts must¡¯ve been their idea! No random pack of fools could come up with such a brilliant design, so they¡¯re the prime suspects! I¡¯m starving! May I have a candy bar?¡± She rambles aloud in excitement.

    ¡°Sure, sure. Continue,¡± I say as I toss her a candy bar.

    ¡°What happened to the research division, and why did Veronica Shinka get exiled?!¡± She excitedly ponders as she chews with her mouth open. ¡°Think about it! If Veronica oversaw the research division, then that must mean she had help. She had to have apprentices, but then¡­what happened to them? Did they just disappear along with her? It doesn¡¯t make sense! It¡¯s so confusing and infuriating, but at the same time, it¡¯s so addicting and fascinating to theorize about! The research division disbanded with her exile, which is ridiculous! Our leaders, minus my dad, of course, are STUPID doo-doo heads! Nobody was brave or smart enough to step up and continue the research. Some say Veronica Shinka is evil reincarnated, but others say she¡¯s Olympus¡¯s savior. Hah. I¡¯m rambling again, aren¡¯t I?¡± She says as she sits down on the stool to my left.

    Oh. I wanted you to keep talking, though¡­

    ¡°Heh. It¡¯s ok,¡± I say.

    ¡°Teresa, my curiosity helps me forget how lonely I am inside this big ass mansion,¡± she reveals sadly but with a soft smile.

    Gulp. T-time to roll the dice.

    ¡°Yeah, I know how you feel,¡± I say as I slowly move my hand closer to hers.

    Come on, Teresa! Just put her hand in your palm.

    ¡°Kiko, are you familiar with the saying, Misery ummm, enjoys company?¡± I ask.

    Yes! Our hands are touching! I love this feeling! This warm exhilaration that¡¯s running through my heart right now! I-is this my obsession?! I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening to me! I can¡¯t stop! I don¡¯t want to stop! I¡¯m so happy!!!

    ¡°I¡¯m familiar with the saying, Teresa,¡± she says with a warm smile. ¡°Misery does enjoy company! But!¡±

    But? But what? Oh no, why¡¯d you pull away?! Stop¡­ stop making eye contact with me!

    ¡°I have a role to fulfill,¡± she reveals as she goes back to pacing back and forth. ¡°Uncovering the mystery and the origins of everything is my current purpose, but I also enjoy spending time with you, because you¡¯re my best friend in the entire world, so hear me out,¡± she says with a nervous look on her face ¡°Veronica Shinka¡­¡±

    What about her? Forget her! Damn it, Kiko.

    ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m listening,¡± I say.

    ¡°If the stories are true, and that¡¯s a big if, then she¡¯d be able to survive anything The New World throws at her,¡± she says in a calm tone, a look of determination on her face. ¡°She¡¯s someone who can persevere on her wits alone, and she¡¯d be able to conquer people and zombies alike! She¡¯s not someone who would take unnecessary risks, but the more intelligent and valuable of a person you are, the more trouble you¡¯ll attract. I know that because that¡¯s how life worked in The Old World. An influential person could use their talents to bring positive energy to the world, but the opposite is possible as well. Some people saw these beings as role models and inspirations, but others saw them as hindrances, which led to envy and jealousy, which led to pain and sorrow.¡±

    Weird. For the first time in my eleven years of life, I can¡¯t read someone, but why? Is it because I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m thinking? What am I thinking? I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m doing or why I¡¯m doing it.

    ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t think Veronica Shinka is a bad person,¡± Kiko continues aloud. ¡°I think she¡¯s an extremely dangerous person, but I also believe that she had her reasons. My dad¡­ has to do similar things sometimes, not because he¡¯s bad, but because life is forcing him to be bad. Human beings were the world¡¯s biggest danger and now, it seems like we¡¯re getting a taste of our own medicine. It¡¯s the end of the world, and we¡¯re still murdering each other, so a part of me thinks that we deserve to go extinct. Mankind does more harm than good, but mankind also contains a plethora of good people. I think I believe that people like my dad and Veronica are good people who¡¯ve been driven to do bad things. I used to think that my dad was immortal, but then I realized that the only way that could ever happen was if he got bit. Oh, I said that so nonchalantly. Maybe something is wrong with my head. I mean, I wake up every morning half-expecting Commander Zhi to deliver the news of his death to me. Ahem,¡± she quickly explains, eyes tearing up. ¡°Sorry, I went off-topic. I think it¡¯s umm¡­¡±

    ¡°Adolescence?¡±

    ¡°Hah. Yeah, adolescence. Let¡¯s blame adolescence,¡± she laughs sadly.

    I completely understand.

    ¡°Teresa, I love my dad with all my heart, and I don¡¯t want him to be deathless,¡± she declares in new determination as she finally stands still. ¡°I want to create a cure that will protect my dad forever and ever, and it will also help humanity end The Age of Zombies in the process, bring order to The New World, and establish world peace! Veronica Shinka is a survivor just like my dad, which is why I believe that she¡¯ll return home one day! And once she¡¯s home, I¡¯m certain that she¡¯ll reform the research division so humanity can learn more about the zombies! And I¡¯ll be the first one ready and waiting for her! I¡¯ll impress her with my plethora of intelligence and high status! She¡¯ll be so impressed that she¡¯ll have no choice but to accept me as an apprentice! Then I¡¯ll devote my life, sacrifice it if needed, so the research division can create a cure or something that¡¯ll help humanity defeat the zombies!¡± She explains with a mixture of awe, determination, uncertainty, and excitement on her face.

    Kiko¡­

    ¡°And after I help her with her research and save the world, she¡¯ll walk towards me, kneel to my level, give me a hug, look me in the eye, smile, and say, I¡¯m proud of you. Then my passion will end,¡± she says in relief as she holds my hands. ¡°My journey will be complete, and I¡¯ll begin to fantasize about something new, until I obsess about it, and turn it into a reality again. The cycle will go on and on until I inevitably croak, and I would be ok with it because it makes me happy. Most importantly someone will be proud of me, and I¡¯ll feel a little less alone. I know this is just another fantasy, but fantasizing is fun and exciting. Isn¡¯t that why you read your books? I also daydream about meeting my mom, but that is one fantasy that will never come true. The undead look like people, but they¡¯re far from human. Their only purpose is to kill and consume, and I don¡¯t know why, but maybe this is how God is punishing humanity for its sins,¡± she says in a somber tone. ¡°Teresa, I want you to join me. It¡¯s¡­like you said, we can become apprentices in any field, so we don¡¯t even have to worry about the zombies, but what if we deliberately went toward the danger?!¡± She proposes.

    You¡¯re insane! Let go of my hands!

    ¡°Kiko, the point of becoming an apprentice is to avoid the zombies!¡± I say as I pull my hands away from hers.

    No, why did I do that?

    ¡°Listen, Teresa, I know it¡¯s an insane thought, but you¡¯re my best friend in the entire world, remember? I¡¯ll always be there for you, no matter what! Plus, we¡¯ll have to pick a field to study for the test eventually, so let¡¯s pick the perfect field for big-brained people like us! We¡¯re some of the smartest people in the entire kingdom. When Veronica returns, she¡¯ll be looking for people like us! You¡¯re way smarter than me, so you¡¯d easily be able to do it! We have to be there for her! Please, Teresa!¡± Kiko begs.

    Huh? W-why am I running away? Why am I crying?! No! Go back, stupid!

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Kiko. I¡¯m selfish, and I¡¯m a coward. That¡¯s why I can¡¯t stand to see you do something as dangerous as study the zombies, let alone join you! I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m so sorry.¡±

    ¡°Teresa, wait!¡±

    So unfair! There were no rules, no time for preparation, and no strategy for this ultimatum! My life is just a big, humongous, comedic tragedy! I¡¯m little, ugly, mean, selfish, a coward, and insecure but most importantly¡­ I¡¯m so stupid! I¡¯m simply one humongous, stupid DOO-DOO head! And that¡¯s all I¡¯ll ever be because I¡¯m too scared to face my fears. Heh. Life is oh, so awful.

 Chapter 36: Fish

    February 14, 2068

    1616 CST

    South Olympia, Kansas

    <u>Teresa Young''s Point of View</u>

    This is the worst day of my life, and this warm and sunny weather isn¡¯t helping at all! It¡¯s like the universe is telling me to cheer up, but that¡¯s simply impossible! Being little, eating candy, gambling, and reading are the only things I know how to do! I¡¯m destined to be a loner until the end of time because I¡¯m Teresa Young, the biggest loser in all of Olympia!

    Ow! What the shit?! A rock?

    ¡°We finally caught her slackin,¡± a gruff voice states from behind.

    Oh no!

    ¡°OW!¡± I scream.

    Let go of my hair! Shit! Don¡¯t take me into that alleyway! I-is this¡­?

    ¡°Howdy,¡± Nia laughs as she drags me away.

    M-My nose! She punched my nose. I think it¡¯s broken!

    ¡°You must have a death wish, Teresa Young,¡± Nia taunts with an evil smirk. ¡°Roaming around this part of the city by yourself? Heh, couldn¡¯t be me.¡±

    ¡°I guess she isn¡¯t as smart as she thinks,¡± Rico laughs like a jerk.

    ¡°Leave me alone, you bullies! What did I ever do to you?!¡± I say.

    ¡°Rico, did you hear that? It sounded like she just asked for another beating,¡± Nia states with a head nod.

    ¡°I heard her loud and clear, pardner,¡± Rico says as he cracks his knuckles.

    ¡°No, don¡¯t!¡±

    My stomach! Now he¡¯s picking me up by my hair! This is terrible.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like privileged, smart-ass people who think they¡¯re royalty, and prance around the capital like they run shit,¡± Rico says full of hate.

    No, don¡¯t throw me against the wall!

    ¡°Ugh!¡± I say.

    Ow, my back.

    ¡°Let me get a piece!¡± Nia yells as she rushes over.

    ¡°Gagh!¡± I say.

    She kicked me in my ribs!

    ¡°Rico, that felt oh, so good. You should kick her next,¡± Nia snickers.

    ¡°I told you it¡¯s fun to release pent-up rage and aggression, Nia,¡± Rico says as he slowly shifts his attention to me. ¡°You¡¯re super smart, Teresa, so can you guess what¡¯s gonna happen next?¡± He asks in malice.

    Shut up, you doo-doo head. Go away.

    ¡°Not talking, huh?¡± Rico continues to provoke with a look of contempt in his eyes.

    ¡°You probably threw the bitch too hard and now she can¡¯t talk. You should¡¯ve gone for the ribs like me,¡± Nia says.

    ¡°Nia shut the fuck up! I know what the fuck I¡¯m doing!¡± Rico hisses. ¡°Teresa, if you haven¡¯t figured it out, we¡¯re about to brutally beat the shit out of you until your brain falls out of your big fucking head. You¡¯ll be nothing, but just another dumbass kid on the street after we¡¯re done with you.¡±

    Oh. I see.

    ¡°Another dumbass kid? Heh. You mean like you two?¡± I say.

    Why did I say that? He¡¯s just going to get mad. Maybe I do have a death wish.

    ¡°Fuck you say?!¡± Rico says.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about doing something as stupid as crying for help,¡± Nia threatens me with a glare as she crosses her arms. ¡°Your screams will only give us a headache, and we¡¯ll have to hit you even harder for punishment.¡±

    Stolen story; please report.

    Heh, it seems like Lady Luck won¡¯t help me today.

    ¡°HEY! BATTER UP DIPSHIT!¡± A girl shouts from behind the two bozos.

    Yes! A blow to the gut was enough to knock out Rico!

    ¡°How many times do I have to teach you, idiots, this lesson?¡± The girl asks angrily.

    ¡°Wait, wait. We was just kidding. It was all a prank. A joke!¡± Nia nervously explains.

    ¡°Oh?¡± The girl questions, unconvinced. ¡°Beating my friend to a bloody pulp is a joke, huh? Well, I can tell jokes too. Have you heard the one about the stupid, instigating girl whose boyfriend got knocked out by the baseball bat known as Joy, for messing with my friends? Oh! You won¡¯t believe what happened next! That girl was faced with two choices! One. Scram, or Two. Face the wrath of Joy! Can you guess which choice she picked?¡±

    ¡°Sh-she picked choice number one!¡± Nia says in a hurry as she scrams.

    ¡°Good choice, buddy,¡± my savior gloats with a smile.

    ¡°There¡¯s gonna be a day where we catch you slippin¡¯ too, Ruby! And your joke was awful, by the way!¡± Nia shouts as she carelessly looks back while running.

    ¡°Teresa, watch this. This is going to be so, so amazing,¡± Ruby chuckles as she slowly approaches me.

    A fist! Nia¡¯s face was met with a fist from around the corner!

    ¡°Fucking bully,¡± a familiar voice says as Nia¡¯s body falls hard onto the ground.

    Can it be? There¡¯s no way. She hates me!

    ¡°Ruby, I can¡¯t believe that worked,¡± Kiko states in disbelief.

    KIKO?

    ¡°Teamwork makes the dream work,¡± Ruby quotes with a grin. ¡°Am I right, Teresa, or am I right?¡±

    I just threw up and there¡¯s blood in it. Well, that¡¯s not good.

    ¡°Oh shit. We gotta get you to a doctor,¡± Ruby says concerned.

    ¡°Ruby, your plan of me waiting to deliver someone a knuckle sandwich, while you do the dirty work, was genius. I can¡¯t believe I knocked her out,¡± Kiko quickly says as she approaches and inspects her left hand.

    ¡°See, I¡¯m the brain and the brawn. I¡¯m ninety-eight percent brain, and you two are two percent brain,¡± Ruby says with a smirk as Kiko checks on me.

    ¡°What about the brawn percentage?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Teresa, do I look like a mathematician?¡± Ruby asks.

    ¡°Heh, you¡¯re underestimating yourself, Ruby,¡± I say.

    ¡°Math is whack,¡± Ruby says, followed by me throwing up again.

    ¡°My stomach hurts!¡± I yell.

    ¡°Oh, no!!! You¡¯ve been infected too!¡± Ruby shrieks in horror as she places her hands on her cheeks.

    Heh, you¡¯re so silly, Ruby.

    ¡°Ahem, Ruby. I-I think you skipped a few classes in school,¡± Kiko says. ¡°It¡¯s not an infection. It¡¯s just Mother Nature¡¯s way of telling us that we¡¯re growing up and can have babies.¡±

    ¡°One. Mother Nature is a shithead,¡± Ruby protests in frustration. ¡°And Two. Who asked if I wanted babies? I don¡¯t want a baby because the world can only handle one amazing Redheart at a time.¡±

    ¡°Anyway, two. Teresa needs a Doctor ASAP. I think a rib pierced one of her lungs, so you stay here while I run and get help,¡± Kiko politely brushes off Ruby¡¯s rant.

    ¡°Ugh! You guys are so infuriating! I guess I¡¯ll take the blame for beating up these two knuckleheads. Jeez. And they just released me from jail too. You guys are welcome by the way,¡± Ruby says in frustration.

    ¡°Thank you, Ruby. You¡¯re the best,¡± Kiko says with a smile as she runs for help.

    ¡°I know I¡¯m the best,¡± Ruby proudly supports with a smile.

    ¡°Thank you, Ruby,¡± I say.

    ¡°Teresa Young!¡± Ruby rudely points at me.

    ¡°Ruby Redheart!¡± I say.

    ¡°Teresa, I am so, so disappointed in you. You¡¯re supposed to be the smartest girl in all of Olympus, but you¡¯re acting like the world¡¯s number one dumbass!¡± She yells as she invades my personal space.

    What?

    ¡°Ugh! I would slap some sense into you if you weren¡¯t such a mess,¡± she warns with a mixture of emotions. ¡°Why are you roaming around South Olympia by yourself? You know how rough it can get around here!¡± She cries as she tears up and shakes me.

    What, why is she crying? Why am I crying?

    ¡°Damn it, Teresa! I do the reckless and irresponsible stuff, and you do the clever stuff! I don¡¯t know what I would do if I lost you! I¡¯d have to kick someone¡¯s ass!¡± Ruby says as she hugs me.

    ¡°You¡¯re right! This isn¡¯t like me! I was just feeling sorry for myself for no reason! Ruby, I¡¯m so sorry!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll only accept your apology on one condition, Teresa.¡±

    ¡°I-is it about your band?¡±

    ¡°No, you idiot! This is more important than my band! Listen! You have to promise that you¡¯ll never do something like this again ever again! A little girl like you roaming around here all alone is a recipe for a catastrophic disaster! You¡¯re better than this! You have friends, people who care about you! If you¡¯re ever feeling like this ever again, you go talk to them! If you do something like this again, I¡¯ll never forgive you! Don¡¯t ever do some shit like this again, or else you can consider our friendship to be OVER!!¡±

    No. I can¡¯t lose another friend.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. Thank you, Ruby. I¡¯m so sorry. I won¡¯t ever do this again.¡±

    ¡°You better not or else I¡¯ll kick your zombified ass, and then once I croak, I¡¯ll track down and kick your spirit ass in the afterlife,¡± she kindly threatens with a look of relief on her face.

    ¡°I guess I would miss you and your big head. I don¡¯t know what I was thinking.¡±

    ¡°Huh? My big head? Your head is freaking enormous. I bet it can take up all of the space inside a, uh football goal.¡±

    ¡°Heh. I bet your big head can take up the entire space of The Styx River.¡±

    ¡°You little.¡±

    ¡°Teresa! The doctors are here!¡± Kiko announces as she and the doctors rush to my aid.

    ¡°Teresa you¡¯ll be ok! They¡¯ll take care of you! You¡¯re lucky that I bumped into Ruby, though,¡± Kiko explains as the doctors put me on a stretcher. ¡°As your best friend and partner in crime, I¡¯ll always be there for you no matter what happens. I won¡¯t be able to join you on your gambling adventures as much as I used to because I¡¯ll be studying for the apprenticeship test, but don¡¯t go by yourself! Just come over and get me before you decide to go on one of your quests. Nobody will dare harm you if I¡¯m at your side because of my father¡¯s status. Remember, we¡¯ll always be best friends forever and ever! Friends will always have your back, no matter what happens!¡± Kiko promises as the E.M.T¡¯s put me on a horse carriage.

    Heh, living is oh so hilarious.

 Chapter 37: Lady Luck

    7 Years Later

    Present Day

    June 24, 2075

    1021 CDT

    Central Winner, South Dakota

    Teresa Young''s Point of View

    Gasp, D-Duy shot the Headhunter¡¯s knees! Wait, that¡¯s right! All mutated have a weakness, and this one¡¯s is its legs! Headhunters have enormous upper body strength but don¡¯t understand the concept of leg day.

    Luke put the Headhunter in a full Nelson?!

    ¡°I got it, Duy,¡± Luke announces as he continues to wrestle with the Headhunter. ¡°Teresa! Move!¡±

    I want to move, Luke, but I¡¯m so scared! Its teeth. Just being a mere few meters away from its teeth is sending so many icy chills down my spine. How many are there? One hundred, one thousand? Why does it have a second mouth on its stomach? If my skin even grazes one of those horrific teeth, I¡¯ll be dead meat!

    I can¡¯t run! All I can do is continue scooting my butt backward, but I¡¯m gonna inevitably run into the wall. It¡¯s still pursuing and swiping at me on its knees, despite its injuries. Not to mention, the fact that the zombies will make it over the damaged truck at any moment. And as if things couldn¡¯t get any worse, a second Headhunter is coming our way! What are we gonna do?

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    ¡°Not good!¡± Luke yells out as Headhunter A begins to violently shake its body, similar to how a wet puppy dries itself.

    It sent Luke flying down the alleyway, towards Headhunter B!

    ¡°Teresa, I got you!¡± Duy assures as he puts Headhunter A into his own Full Nelson.

    My hero! You¡¯re much stronger than Luke so you¡¯ll be able to save me. Um¡­ what in the?

    ¡°HAH!¡± Duy shouts as he puts his hands on the monster¡¯s waist and thigh, using all of his strength to lift it for a¡­suplex.

    ¡°Look out, Duy!¡± I yell.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Duy asks in confusion like a dummy, followed by the monster headbutting him.

    The monster¡¯s recovery speed is astronomical, and it¡¯s still focused on me.

    ¡°Run, Teresa!¡± Duy yells out in pain.

    Run? Run where?!

    ¡°Teresa! Use this!¡± Luke yells as he slides me a metal pipe.

    This is ridiculous. Oh no, here it comes!

    I can¡¯t believe this. One slight scratch would¡¯ve easily killed me, and somehow I mustered up the strength to do such an insane thing. It can¡¯t bite me with that pipe in between its stomach and mouth. Ah, no more! I have to run, now!

    ¡°Eat this!¡± Luke yells out as he throws a trash can at Headhunter B¡¯s legs. ¡°Monster!¡± He shouts angrily as he bashes its head in with a brick.

    ¡°Teresa, look out!¡± Duy and Luke yell out in unison.

    Shit! Headhunter A!

    What the fuck? From above, a human body just fell and crushed Headhunter A before it could get me. It¡¯s not a zombie or a mutated? It was a living human being?! Someone just¡­ no! This is too much. To be saved by such a horrific act, shit! The zombies are coming from both sides of the alleyway now, and Headhunter A is slowly healing.

    ¡°Duy!¡± Luke calls out in worry.

    ¡°Hey, you three! Get the fuck inside, quick!¡± A man yells out from a newly half-opened door.

    Heh, and I¡¯m the first one to sprint to safety. Nothing¡¯s changed. I still can¡¯t grow up, and I¡¯m still such a selfish coward.

 Chapter 38: Selfishness

    June 24, 2075

    1026 CDT

    Inside Generic Clothing Store, Central Winner

    <u>Teresa Young''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Are you guys, ok?¡± Our savior asks as he quickly locks the door behind us.

    Huh, he¡¯s just a kid like us. A redheaded boy who¡¯s wearing the same uniform as us and appears to be having a similar shitty day based on how much blood is on his outfit. Still, there¡¯s a chance that he¡¯s an enemy despite his identical outfit and the fact he risked his life to save us. It¡¯s freaking dark in here, but I think we¡¯re near the back of some clothing store based on what I can see in this hallway. Several worn-out cardboard boxes are scattered randomly throughout, some filled and some empty, with a few clothes inside of them, damaged posters of fashion models on the concrete walls, a doorless frame that most likely leads into the shop, and an ominous-looking large closet stands at the end of the hallway.

    ¡°What the fuck?!¡± Our rescuer yells out in confusion as Duy and Luke jump him.

    ¡°Confirmation code! Now, asshole! Luke, check him for bites,¡± Duy orders with authority.

    ¡°Why can¡¯t you check him, Duy?¡± Luke questions in annoyance.

    ¡°Because I¡¯m the motherfucking captain, and as your superior, you have no choice but to follow my orders,¡± Duy rudely explains.

    ¡°I can¡¯t see shit in here,¡± Luke responds in frustration. ¡°Let¡¯s take him somewhere brighter.¡±

    How can they be so cool and so stupid at the same time?

    ¡°You fuckheads. I could¡¯ve just left you out there to die, assholes!¡± Our new friend rightfully complains in anger as he gets dragged away into the shop.

    I was correct, this place is a clothing store. Most of the clothes are missing or have been ripped to shreds, but there¡¯s two large windows located in the front of the store. A wooden counter where the cash register most likely was is right next to us and the doorless frame. Even the torn window curtains are blood-red, but there¡¯s a dim ray of sunlight shining through them. Winner Tower is located directly across the street, but countless zombies stand in between this shop called Generic Clothing Store and the rendezvous point. Heh, the only things that are creepier than the undead are the (gulp) mannequins in the shop. Did people really pose like that? So weird.

    ¡°He¡¯s clean. No bites,¡± Luke says as he finishes inspecting the man.

    ¡°The code is 0-6-2-1,¡± The man explains in anger as Duy releases him. ¡°My name is Connor Idinex of Squad Dolos. You assholes are welcome by the way,¡± he introduces in rage as he sniffles.

    ¡°Thank you, Connor, now shut up. What happened to your squad?¡± Duy responds, frustrated.

    ¡°The same thing that¡¯ll happen to every squad, they fucking died! Connor explains in rage.

    How sad.

    ¡°I understand how you feel, man,¡± Duy says sympathetically.

    ¡°I doubt it,¡± Connor quickly denies.

    ¡°This nightmare is almost over, though. Winner Tower is within our sights,¡± Luke explains in optimism as he scratches the wound he received from the Headhunter on his back.

    ¡°You must be fucking stupid!¡± Connor blurts out.

    ¡°Hey, shut up before they hear you!¡± Duy yells back.

    ¡°Shhh!¡± I say.

    Why are boys so aggravating?

    ¡°What¡¯s your problem, Connor?¡± Luke asks.

    ¡°What do you think is going to happen at Winner Tower?¡± Connor angrily asks Luke.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to regroup and come up with a plan to defeat the zombies,¡± Luke answers in a sudden stern voice.

    ¡°You are fucking stupid because only idiots still believe that we can defeat the zombies,¡± Connor says. ¡°If there was a way for humanity to defeat the zombies, do you think we¡¯d be living such fucked up lives?¡±

    He¡¯s right¡­

    ¡°I guarantee that everyone in Winner Tower is hopelessly sitting on their asses waiting for someone to end their suffering because this plan and our lives suck! And since we failed our mission, then that means that every person in Battalion A, including our bastard General, will be slaughtered as well! This big, glorious battle for resources is a complete joke!¡± Connor continues to vent aloud.

    ¡°We have to keep fighting. Giving up is never an option,¡± Luke responds in determination.

    ¡°Keep fighting? What¡¯s the fucking point? Even if we do win this battle somehow, there are just more zombies waiting for us. Pfft, and they expect us to do this shit for four years? Our lives are complete bullshit,¡± Connor says in a fed-up tone as he sulks by a wall. ¡°This is it. This is life for us.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what the future has in store for us, but I do know that we can make it to Winner Tower by playing possum. It¡¯ll be smelly and extremely horrifying, but it¡¯s possible,¡± I say.

    I don¡¯t care how bad things are or how scared I am. I¡¯m not dying without seeing Ruby and the others one more time. I still have an extra bag of ammo, so maybe someone can develop a good plan.

    ¡°Pfft, why? We¡¯re all gonna die anyway. That¡¯s why I had to do it,¡± Connor chuckles.

    What?

    ¡°What do you mean do it? Do what?¡± Duy asks in suspicion.

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    ¡°What did you do?¡± Luke questions in a similar tone.

    ¡°Wh-what happened to your squad exactly?¡± I ask.

    ¡°The same thing,¡± Connor begi-

    Fuck! Let go of me, Connor!

    ¡°¡­that¡¯s going to happen to you and every other Squad in this pointless battle!¡± Connor threatens as he pulls out a pistol.

    Shit! He¡¯s crazy!

    ¡°Oh god! Help me, guys!¡± I say.

    ¡°You son of a bitch! Let her go!¡± Luke and Duy demand in unison.

    Gasp! The zombies are banging on the windows! We¡¯re making too much noise! They¡¯ll bust through the glass at any minute!

    ¡°Hopeless, this is all so hopeless,¡± Connor laughs like a creep as he pushes the gun against my temple.

    My day just keeps getting worse and worse! I thought that my life would end with a zombie bite, but instead, it¡¯s going to end with a bullet to the skull by my own species.

    ¡°Everything about our lives is a horrific nightmare. We live inside our bubbles for eighteen years, just to die a gruesome, miserable death for our pathetic kingdom. All we¡¯ve done and will ever do in our short lifespans is sit around on our asses and wait until we¡¯re the next victims. There¡¯s nothing positive about our lives, and the fact that we inevitably get attached to people just makes our lives that much more painful. Everybody eventually dies, and there¡¯s nothing we can do about it. So that¡¯s why¡­ when someone in my squad got bit, I decided to save them,¡± Connor spews in craziness as he sniffles his nose.

    He¡¯s fucking crazy!

    ¡°Save them? What exactly did you do?!¡± Duy asks angrily.

    ¡°What happened? Tell us the truth,¡± Luke requests in a calm, yet serious tone.

    I don¡¯t know if they have any ammo left, but even if they did, I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll risk taking a shot! The only advantage we have in this situation is that Connor has to kneel down to hold me hostage! Heh, my size is helping me once again. If he kills me, then Luke and Duy will be on top of him in no time. But the longer this goes on, the more dangerous it becomes. Once again, I¡¯m a liability to my friends, and I can¡¯t stand it! I don¡¯t wanna die without seeing Ruby and the others one more time! I¡¯m so scared! I¡¯m gonna pee myself! Wait a second.

    If I die right now, then all of my pain will be gone! I won¡¯t be scared anymore. I won¡¯t suffer anymore. Yes, maybe death is the only logical solution for someone like me. If he kills me then, I¡¯ll be able to see Julie and my parents! We¡¯ll be able to live in peace like the families in the Old World! But. If he kills me, then I won¡¯t be able to see Ruby and Kiko and the others. Damn it, Kiko! You were right! I should¡¯ve taken things more seriously! Writing down the wrong answers on purpose is the dumbest decision I¡¯ve ever made! It¡¯s my fault I¡¯m here! I reap what I sow, after all! Connor, being a liability, and the zombies aren¡¯t even the scariest things about this situation! It¡¯s the freaking mannequins! They¡¯re so creepy! I would¡¯ve devoured more candy if I knew things would be this bad! Wait. I-if I die right now, then I won¡¯t be able to enjoy my feast. Heh, but on the other hand, heaven might have an endless supply of candy.

    Decisions, decisions.

    ¡°We ran through that same alleyway the three of you came from,¡± Connor calmly explains. ¡°I was fed up with this shit the moment we stepped inside. They wanted to play possum as well, so that¡¯s when I decided¡± Connor snickers. ¡°I had to save them! I had to save them from this excruciating pain! So I pulled out my gun on them and ordered them to go into the closet, and anyone who talked back or threatened to retaliate caught a bullet between the eyes! I didn¡¯t do it because I was some kind of monster or evil. I did it to save them! Don¡¯t you get it?¡± Connor maniacally explains.

    What a lunatic.

    ¡°We¡¯re in hell! This life is our hell! The real monsters aren¡¯t the undead,¡± he continues to snicker like a clown. ¡°It¡¯s us! The Royals abandoned Earth because we¡¯re God¡¯s ugly fucking creatures! We¡¯re not supposed to be here! We¡¯re supposed to die so we can move on to our next lives! They would¡¯ve never understood, so that¡¯s why I saved them! Shot them all right in the fucking head! They¡¯re not suffering anymore, because I saved them!¡± Connor screams like a lunatic.

    ¡°You¡¯re fucking crazy!¡± Duy shouts in anger.

    ¡°You murdered your friends for no reason!¡± Luke yells in a similar tone.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what you guys think, because you can¡¯t deny the fact that they¡¯re not suffering anymore,¡± Connor replies calmly as he ceases his laughter.

    ¡°They¡¯re not doing anything anymore because you killed them!¡± Luke corrects in anger. ¡°Someone can make a cure, or a weapon strong enough to slaughter all of these undead bastards! Maybe your friends you killed would¡¯ve helped with something like that, but you stole that chance from them! You fucker! You don¡¯t get to decide who lives and who dies!¡±

    ¡°Really? This gun says otherwise,¡± Connor retorts as he points the gun at Luke. ¡°Witness God¡¯s judgment!¡±

    ¡°Luke, watch out!¡± Duy shouts.

    A gunshot?! No!

    ¡°Hands off!¡± I yell as I elbow Connor, followed by a loud gunshot.

    I barely dodged that one! I need to get out of the line of fire!

    ¡°Ah, son of a bitch!¡± Duy seethes in pain.

    ¡°You¡¯re fucking insane!¡± Luke yells out.

    Ew, the second gunshot made me pee myself. Gross, I really am just someone who¡¯ll never grow up. I can¡¯t even fight back without a gun, so all I can do is keep my head down, continue to crawl, and be useless, sniff, as usual.

    ¡°Insane?! I¡¯m the sanest person in the entire world!¡± Connor laughs hysterically.

    ¡°Teresa,¡± Luke whispers as we safely reunite. ¡°Are you ok?¡±

    No.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine, Luke. What happened to you guys?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Duy saved my life, so we¡¯re one-for-one right now,¡± Luke explains. ¡°But, he took a shot to the shoulder in the process. I hate to say it, but we might have no choice but to¡­¡±

    ¡°Kill him? It¡¯s the most logical choice of action,¡± I say.

    Huh? Why did I say that? What¡¯s wrong with me?

    ¡°Sigh, you might be right,¡± Luke supports in a somber tone.

    ¡°This is the worst day ever. Have you ever been in a situation like this before?¡± I ask.

    ¡°I have, and it didn¡¯t end well. Long story short, Veronica handled it,¡± Luke quickly explains in slight irritation.

    ¡°Connor! Get the fuck out here so I can kick your ass!¡± Duy yells out.

    ¡°I should¡¯ve let those headhunters turn you three into shish kababs!¡± Connor screams back.

    ¡°Fuck you!¡± The three of us say.

    Heh, jinx.

    ¡°You know, I think I finally get it,¡± Connor falsely states in hysteria. ¡°God doesn¡¯t want me to be your savior. He wants his weapons to do it. Yes. Yes! It¡¯s so clear now! I¡¯m not meant to kill you directly! I¡¯m only meant to assist!¡±

    Oh no.

    ¡°We¡¯ve been cramped inside here for far too long! I think we could all use some fresh air!¡± Connor yells as he fires at the windows.

    ¡°I¡¯ll see you all in the next life. Farewell,¡± Connor states with a bright smile.

    Don¡¯t put the gun in your mou-

    ¡°Stop!¡± I yell as he pulls the trigger.

    Wow. Heh. Maybe we are in hell¡­

    ¡°We need to hurry up and kill one of those bastards and then haul its ass back to the closet!¡± Duy explains in haste as he prepares to combat the undead. ¡°Playing possum is our only option of escape!¡±

    *

    Oh. The bodies smell so bad, and they died with such a gruesome look of betrayal on their faces. People are terrible.

    ¡°Teresa, get your knife out,¡± Duy quickly commands.

    Oh. Right. We have to play possum. We start by slicing the zombie¡¯s body open.

    This is too easy. Huh? A nametag? Must¡¯ve been an employee from a different store. That¡¯s right. Zombies were once people. His name was, is? Rath Angel? Weird. And his identification card says that he was a resident of Winner, and was born on April 15, 2022, an obsolete time period. Huh. No. Shouldn¡¯t think like that. Maybe Duy and Luke don¡¯t care that he had a name, wife, children, perhaps grandchildren, job, but most importantly, he had a story to tell. A story that¡¯s been lost in the wave of victims. No doubt, we¡¯ll all try to forget this moment, so in a way, his story is meaningless, because his intestines are the only things that are of importance. Huh, maybe we are the monsters of Earth.

    Rath¡¯s blood feels gooey and cold. I¡¯m sorry, Rath, for violating you, but I need to rub your blood on me, so I don¡¯t end up like you.

    ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± I say.

    ¡°Ok. We all know the drill, but three things before I open the door. One. We can¡¯t clump together no matter what. We have to move out of their path and stay out of their way. Two. Don¡¯t fall down. Three. Staring too intensely in their eyes will put you in a trance in this situation, so avoid eye contact at all cost,¡± Duy explains as he very slowly opens the door.

    Is this what it¡¯s like to be a zombie? Heh, I guess this is just a free trial, and getting bit is a lifetime subscription¡­

 Chapter 39: Two of a Kind

    Meanwhile

    June 24, 2075

    1026 CDT

    The Streets of Northern Winner, South Dakota

    <u>Anna Robinson''s Point of View</u>

    Unbelievable.

    ¡°I¡¯m telling you two, this is the correct thing to do,¡± Rico explains in an arrogant tone.

    ¡°But we¡¯re supposed to go up, not down,¡± I say.

    ¡°I¡¯m Squad leader, so whatever I say goes! Defying my orders means I¡¯ll have an excuse to shoot you. Trust me,¡± Rico says with malice as he stomps towards me.

    Unhand my collar, you buffoon!

    ¡°All I need is one excuse,¡± he warns with a look of pure hatred in his eyes as he pushes me away.

    ¡°Step aside, bitch,¡± Nia threatens.

    Ow! She tripped me! Assholes, the both of you! The fact that you two are still my squad leaders is unfathomable! Our superiors are stupid. This entire plan is ridiculous! Hmph! It¡¯s like a ghost town around here, regardless we must remain vigilant. I wonder how the other battalions are doing. What if we¡¯re the only survivors? No. If that¡¯s true, then Rico and Nia can just shoot me now.

    ¡°I mean, if you don¡¯t wanna follow my orders, then you¡¯ll probably end up like the rest of our squadmates,¡± Rico snorts as we make our way down some stairs that lead into a subway station. ¡°It¡¯s why you two dumbass bitches need to stay with me.¡±

    Ugh! Such an arse.

    ¡°I hate him,¡± Nia mutters under her breath as she walks next to me.

    And? You¡¯re just as bad as him, Nia.

    ¡°Then why do you put up with him?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Because he¡¯s all I got, all I¡¯ve had, all I¡¯ve ever known, and all I will know at this rate,¡± Nia whispers as she rubs her arm. ¡°I can do it, Anna. We might be out of ammo for our rifles, but we still have our pistols. It¡¯d be so easy to do it,¡± she says in hatred as she violently glares ahead at Rico. ¡°Bang!¡± She quietly mouths as she points a finger gun at Rico. ¡°The number of ways that we can die is hilarious,¡± she softly chuckles.

    ¡°I despise both of you, but girl to girl, killing him is not in the mission quota,¡± I say.

    ¡°Right, our mission. I completely forgot that there was a reason we were here,¡± she says in a somber tone. ¡°Sigh, I just feel like we were sent here to die.¡±

    Huh, you might be on to something. No, what am I saying? She is nothing but a low-class peasant. As if I could ever be friends with rubbish like you.

    ¡°Despite how much I hate Rico, let me tell you something, i-if you¡¯ll listen,¡± Nia struggles to say with a sorrowful look in her eyes.

    Hmph! I won¡¯t fall for your deceitful two-faced ways. You and Rico can be incinerated and forgotten for all I care.

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll listen to you, Nia.¡±

    ¡°Ok. Girl to girl?¡± She says.

    ¡°Ugh. Girl to girl.¡±

    This better not be some immature prank.

    ¡°A part of me wants to run away with him forever, but another part of me wants to slit his throat in his sleep,¡± Nia calmly reveals.

    Good lord!

    ¡°I hate him and love him at the same time. Stupid, right?¡± She softly chuckles.

    ¡°Have you ever thought about oh, I don¡¯t know, simply dumping his abusive arse?¡±

    ¡°What a bright idea. Why did I never think about that?¡± She says in sarcasm. ¡°Give me some credit, Anna. I¡¯m not that stupid.¡±

    ¡°Well, what would you like me to say? I don¡¯t even like you, and you don¡¯t even like me. You and Rico are such assholes to me because I was born in a Zodiac, and you weren¡¯t!¡±

    The audacity! And of course, all you can reply with is a deep sigh.

    ¡°What was I thinking? Someone like you could never understand my situation,¡± she says in a defeated tone.

    ¡°What situation? The situation of being a bully or the situation of being a massive jerk?¡±

    ¡°The situation of being alone! I don¡¯t even know why I¡¯m talking to you! An elegant princess like you will never understand someone like me!¡± She spews in anger.

    What? Oh, we¡¯re entering a dark tunnel now. I think this is where the residents of The Old World put some kind of card or currency inside this machine to legally gain access to the station below, but most people just hopped over the bars¡­like so.

    ¡°I¡¯m an only child and an orphan who grew up in South Olympia,¡± she continues. ¡°I ate fucking garbage and stole food to survive. Sometimes I did stupid shit to get tossed into jail just so I could get a free fucking meal. Other times I¡¯d go hungry for several nights if I didn¡¯t have the energy to get myself into trouble, and if I was lucky, I¡¯d wake up to someone taking a piss or throwing garbage on me. Shit like that gave me enough energy to start my pathetic fucking day, so when people call me a disgusting fucking whore, skank, or hussy, I don¡¯t even get mad anymore. I mean, why get mad about the truth, right?¡± She reveals in too calm of a tone. ¡°And school? Why even fucking bother? What the fuck was I supposed to learn? Attending or skipping school wouldn¡¯t change my dogshit life. Ironically, I learned more about life this way. I learned that when you¡¯re born, God, or who the fuck ever created everything, flips a coin. Heads, you¡¯re blessed. Tails, you¡¯re cursed. We both know which one I clearly got, and we both know which one you got. My life was fucked the moment I was born. There were and still are so many nights that I closed my eyes and begged to almighty God that I didn¡¯t wake up because my greatest wish is eternal rest. I often think about a dream world where everything is peaceful and happy, but, sigh, dreams are just fantasies our minds create in our sleep, and the only way we can wake up is with death,¡± she explains with an empty look in her eyes.

    Jeez.

    ¡°I¡¯m almost fucking done, so don¡¯t be rude!¡± She angrily whispers. ¡°My life was and is still shit, until one day, I met Rico and his family,¡± she says in a slightly joyful tone. ¡°He was my first friend, my only friend, and my lover. He made my life less shitty. Made me feel like a princess who finally found her knight in shining fucking armor until his eldest brother got drafted. His brother was killed by zombies, of course, and as you can guess, Rico was devastated by it,¡± she says in an agitated tone. ¡°He grieved and grieved and grieved, and I did my best to comfort him until his grief turned to anger and he took it out on me.¡±

    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    My God¡­

    ¡°I was hurt, of course. Physically, mentally, and emotionally if you need clarification, scoff, your majesty,¡± she rudely explains. ¡°But I took the abuse because if I fought back, I¡¯d be alone again, and I didn¡¯t want that. Being alone hurts too much, even more than the beatings. His frustration increased as time went on, and he continued to take it out on me. But it¡¯s not his fault,¡± she chuckles. ¡°It¡¯s a combination of the Royals and the zombies. Simple math, really.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, it¡¯s not his fault? How could you say that? He doesn¡¯t have to hit you. He chooses to!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I know that, damn it! I¡¯m not stupid, ok?! I¡¯m just damaged. I¡¯m cursed, and my illness is irreversible. Nobody gives a shit about a little garbage-eating fucking girl like me anyway,¡± she replies with a smile.

    ¡°Ugh! No damage is irreversible! There¡¯s always a way to fix things!¡±

    ¡°Hmm. The only way to fix things is if I stab him in the fucking throat,¡± she contemplates. ¡°I chose to be his punching bag because I didn¡¯t want to be alone. I only do what he says because it makes him happy. He wants me to break a bitch¡¯s ribs? I¡¯ll do it. Support him in a fight? I¡¯m his dirty little cheerleader. Grab a bitch by the hair? I¡¯m not afraid to get my hands dirty. I¡¯ve been doing dirt since I was born, so it suits garbage like me. If Rico is happy, then I¡¯m happy, because that means he won¡¯t hit me. It means I can happily reminisce about the time we first became friends. Happiest moment of my life before his brother got drafted. Before the beatings¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°No, you¡¯re not! You¡¯re just happy that you weren¡¯t born in my situation!¡±

    Well, what do you want me to say?! Of course, I¡¯m lucky, and I am perfectly fine with that! Still, peasant or not, it¡¯s such a sad story¡­

    ¡°Nia, I¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Anna. I¡¯m being me. The real me. I¡¯ve been Rico¡¯s punching bag for so long that I¡¯ve completely forgotten what it was like to be myself. I-I know you¡¯re trying to make me feel better, and I appreciate it,¡± she says with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve never told anyone this before because I¡¯ve never had anyone to tell it to. Although, high-class royalty like you associating with a lowly peasant like me is somewhat intriguing,¡± she reveals. ¡°Anyway, enough about me. Tell me, what was space like?¡±

    ¡°The Zodiacs were considerably admirable. Mother Gaia, Hephaestus, Prometheus, Athens, Sarpedon, the moon, the sun, hurricanes, the River Thames, dust storms, The Himalayas, volcanoes, The Great Pyramids, The Grand Canyon, The Great Barrier Reef, and small portions of what¡¯s left of The Amazon Rainforest are all visible. We could stargaze for hours on end, and it never got old. The food was exquisite, the school was so fun, and the boys weren¡¯t the cutest, but they had potential. We even had hot tubs and astonishing tanning booths!¡±

    Oh, how I do miss home. I¡¯d give anything to return to where I truly belong.

    ¡°Must be nice,¡± Nia says with a faint smile.

    I think I did something wrong. What is this feeling? I think it starts with a p?

    ¡°Hey,¡± Rico calls out to us from several meters down below at the end of the stairs. ¡°Get down here, you stupid fucking bitches,¡± he orders with an intense look of hatred in his eyes.

    A full view is impossible due to the lack of sunlight, but this has got to be the filthiest place on Earth! It¡¯s making me shiver. There seems to be a long train that stretches from the ominous-looking tunnel on our nine to the ominous-looking tube on our three. It¡¯d be wise to avoid a fight with the undead here at all costs. And the tracks behind this train appear to be vacant. The opposite side resembles an identical stairwell like ours.

    Why are we even down here anyway? I¡¯m the only sane one left. Or maybe I¡¯ve always been the sane one. Of course! It¡¯s only natural due to my former Royal status. Nothing can ever change my bloodline, and nothing ever will.

    ¡°You are so unnecessarily rude, Rico,¡± I say. ¡°Why do you keep disrespecting us for no reason? Did your mother not love you enough?¡±

    I should keep quiet, but damn it. I¡¯m so fed up with you!

    ¡°As Squad leader, I can say and do whatever the fuck I want, whenever I want,¡± Rico retorts with a glare.

    ¡°Well, as Squad leader, the least you can do is call us by our correct names,¡± I say.

    ¡°Names? Pfft, ok,¡± Rico says. ¡°Ugly girl number one and ugly girl number two bring your asses down here now!¡± Rico orders, ending his sentence with a finger pointing toward the ground in front of him.

    ¡°Rico is losing it, Anna, but I can¡¯t live without him. I love him so much that I¡¯ll kill him before he snaps if it comes down to it,¡± Nia quickly whispers as we carefully tread down the stairs.

    Goosebumps on my arms? Not good. The cold eeriness and silence aren¡¯t helping either, even though I don¡¯t sense any zombies nearby. Our breathing and our footsteps are the only audible sounds I can currently hear, but¡­ that can change at any moment.

    ¡°Rico, I demand you to explain your suspicious and questionable actions,¡± I say. ¡°Ow!¡±

    ¡°Rico!¡± Nia yells out as she checks on me.

    Damn it! He smacked the shit out of me! Bastard!

    ¡°You¡¯ve forgotten that I¡¯m permitted to murder you if you continue your insubordination.¡± Rico reminds as he taps his pistol. ¡°But royalty like you is too good for something as merciful that. If it comes down to it, I¡¯ll make sure that your execution is long and painful, a fate that all royals should meet. Now, we¡¯re all gonna sit inside the subway car and wait, but first,¡± he explains as he extends his right hand out. ¡°Your guns. Let me hold on to em¡¯. I¡¯m the best shot here, remember?¡±

    No way! Access denied!

    ¡°Here,¡± Nia immediately gives in as she slides her gun across the floor.

    You imbecile!

    ¡°Anna,¡± Rico says as he taps his gun. ¡°Don¡¯t you trust me?¡±

    ¡°N-. MMM!¡± I say.

    Unhand your filthy palm from my mouth, Nia!

    ¡°Anna, the captain knows what he¡¯s doing. He¡¯s our superior, so that means we must obey his orders,¡± Nia practically begs.

    It can¡¯t be! Your eyes say, ¡°If you die, then I¡¯ll be left all alone with this wicked man.¡±

    ¡°Fine! I concede!¡± I say as I slide my gun across the floor.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Rico smiles as he kicks our pistols to God knows where. ¡°Now let¡¯s all chill inside this subway car. Please.¡±

    We¡¯re so screwed! He must weigh 136 kilograms of pure muscle. Running around in the dark isn¡¯t an option either! Damn it! Why am I, a blessed child of the old ones being forced to live in this hellish nightmare? This is unbelievable! I hate Earth, I hate Olympus, and I hate Rico! I don¡¯t hate Nia as much anymore. Huh. Strange.

    *

    I was wrong. This cable car is the filthiest place on this hellish earth. The windows are smashed, there¡¯s blood from the ceiling to the floor, tons of rubbish lying about, damaged seats, and broken glass everywhere, but thankfully there are no corpses from what I can discern.

    Being able to see anything down here is a miracle at this point. Sunlight continues to make its way down here, albeit very dimly.

    ¡°Hell yeah. This will do,¡± Rico says as he lies down on the floor and stares at the ceiling.

    ¡°Rico, what are we doing down here?¡± I ask.

    ¡°We¡¯re giving up, so just relax, ok?¡± The fool answers in a carefree tone.

    ¡°Give up? Relax? My ears must be deceiving me because I¡¯ve never heard you say something as idiotic as that! We should be up there fighting right now! Why are we hiding?!¡± I ask.

    ¡°Watch your mouth, Royal bitch,¡± he grumbles.

    ¡°Or what? You going to shoot me?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tempt me. Besides, why do you care about other people? You¡¯re not and will never be a true Olympian. You¡¯re a true fucking royal pain in my ass,¡± he insults in a sharp tone.

    ¡°I care about completing the mission, and I am very aware that I will never be accepted as an Olympian because of people like you, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Because of people like me?!¡± Rico snaps back. ¡°You mean victims?!¡±

    ¡°How many times do I have to tell you?! I didn¡¯t have anything to do with Azrael or Rion!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, well news flash princess. Your people were the ones who destroyed Rion! You know what? I don¡¯t even care anymore. What¡¯s the fucking point?¡± Rico says in frustration. ¡°Woah. Jackpot!¡±

    No. You have got to be kidding me.

    ¡°Beer. Someone left a fucking full bottle of beer here!¡±

    Don¡¯t¡­Sigh, take it to the esophagus.

    ¡°Hey, Nia!¡± Rico says as he snaps his fingers. ¡°Fuck is wrong with you? If you¡¯re mad about something, then you need to open your damn mouth and speak!¡± he violently demands.

    ¡°Why?¡± Nia says with an intense glare as she pouts. ¡°It¡¯s not like you ever listen to me.¡±

    ¡°Because you¡¯re so fucking boring!¡± He says with a slur. ¡°We-we both know that mouth of yours is only good for one thing,¡± he provokes with a drunken laugh.

    How cruel!

    ¡°Listen, you two. In case you haven¡¯t noticed, we are FUCKED, with a capital fucking F,¡± Rico drunkenly rants. ¡°As Squad leader, I order that we sit down here and wait for the pain to go away. I¡¯d share some of the beer, but there wasn¡¯t much to go around,¡± Rico says as he sits himself up against the wall.

    Nia was right, Rico is losing it, but we can¡¯t do anything as long as he has the gun.

    ¡°Hey¡­Nia,¡± Rico calls out.

    ¡°What?¡± Nia responds in an irritated tone.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ve had a threesome with a girl yet. We sh-should change that,¡± he reveals with a disturbing smirk.

    Huh?

    ¡°Anna, take off your shirt,¡± Rico demands.

    You can¡¯t be serious.

    ¡°What did you say?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Come on, you heard me. Take off your shirt,¡± he repeats as he begins to stand up. A dumb whore like you clearly needs specific directions, so start with unbuttoning your uniform,¡± he requests with the creepiest grin I¡¯ve ever seen in my life!

    ¡°No, you¡¯re insane, Rico. You¡¯re not fit to be the Squad Leader, and you never were you heartless freak!¡±

    Woah he made a big dent in the wall with his fist. Gulp.

    ¡°I won¡¯t fucking ask again,¡± he orders in a sinister tone. ¡°Take¡­¡± he continues as he points the gun at me. ¡°off your shirt now, Anna Robinson.¡±

 Chapter 40: Hope & Despair

    Meanwhile

    June 24, 2075

    1033 CDT

    Central Winner, South Dakota

    Winner Tower

    <u>Teresa Young''s Point of View</u>

    Oh, we somehow made it inside. A large dried-up fountain and a shattered statue of some essential-looking guy are in front of us, the securely barricaded glass doors we came in from behind us, behind the fountain is a large staircase that leads to the fifty stories above, to the left and right are empty stores and barricaded exits, and a skylight is on the ceiling. Sigh, teenagers had it so good in The Old World. I would¡¯ve eaten all the junk this place had to offer if I had the chance. Heh, actually, it would¡¯ve been more beneficial to create my own unhealthy establishment. But no matter where I look, everyone shares that same look on their face, that look of despair and the sound of dead silence. Sigh, time to sit down on the fountain and join them, I guess.

    ¡°TERESA?!¡± A girl¡¯s voice screams from several floors above.

    ¡°SHHHHH!¡± Everyone shushes her.

    ¡°Oh, go, SHH, yourselves!¡± The girl shushes back.

    ¡°Quiet, Ruby,¡± Sonya loudly whispers.

    Oh my god!

    *

    ¡°Ok, ok, ok. I can¡¯t buh-lieve Duy got shot, though!¡± Ruby vociferously whispers in the huddle.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe I got shot either,¡± Duy whispers as he shakes his head.

    ¡°Di-did it hurt?¡± Rachel asks.

    ¡°Yes, it hurt!¡± Duy responds in frustration.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Rachel says with a blank face.

    ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± Clueless Billy asks.

    ¡°Yes, it still hurts!¡± Duy replies in disbelief.

    ¡°We¡¯re even now Duy, just in case you forgot,¡± Luke says with a proud look on his face.

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be keeping track! Boys are and will always be oh, so stupid!¡± I say.

    ¡°We¡¯re all about to die, and you guys are being immature,¡± Drew chimes in with a snobby tone.

    ¡°Drew man, we¡¯re all just excited that everyone is ok,¡± Luke kindly explains.

    ¡°Yeah. We¡¯re ok, for now,¡± Drew says in a snappy tone as Rachel offers him her hand. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want any bubblegum, Rachel!¡±

    ¡°But it¡¯s delicious!¡± Rachel pleads with a dejected look on her face.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s stale and is probably 147 years old,¡± Drew smartly denies.

    ¡°You¡¯re 147 years old,¡± Rachel mutters under her breath.

    ¡°Captain, what¡¯s the plan?¡± Sonya asks Duy.

    You¡¯re as intuitive and focused as always, Sonya. At least when you and Luke aren¡¯t unknowingly flirting. Heh. Who am I kidding? Flirting undoubtedly gives you a power-up, but love is like a double-edged sword. It can make you feel like crap, but it can also make you feel like the strongest person in the universe.

    ¡°Well,¡± Duy says as he scratches his head. ¡°I want to, but at the same time, I don¡¯t want to listen to how Battalion A is doing,¡± Duy nervously explains.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s worth a try,¡± Rachel cheerfully says as she takes out her communicator.

    ¡°NOOO!¡± Battalion A shrieks in horror.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Rachel says as she turns off her communicator. ¡°I-I regret that,¡± she pouts as she sits down and puts her face into her knees.

    ¡°Well, Captain? What the fuck are we going to do?¡± Drew asks Duy.

    ¡°I don¡¯t fucking know, Drew!¡± Duy answers back.

    ¡°You¡¯re the Captain, so do your job!¡± Drew whines.

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°Drew, shut up,¡± Sonya demands.

    ¡°No, you shut up. You¡¯re the strongest soldier in our Battalion, so why are you just sitting on your ass?¡± Drew inquires angrily.

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t tell her to shut up!¡± Luke says as he steps forward towards Drew.

    ¡°You two are the most experienced, but you haven¡¯t accomplished shit!¡± Drew points out. ¡°You¡¯re in the same grave as us!¡±

    ¡°Drew, we¡¯re friends, man, but I¡¯ll beat your fucking ass if you continue to talk down on Sonya and me,¡± Luke threatens in a serious tone.

    ¡°Oh, did I offend the lovebirds? Well, too fucking bad! And who said we were friends? I don¡¯t know you. You, your guardian, and your girlfriend have shady pasts. I wouldn¡¯t even interact with you if we weren¡¯t squadmates,¡± Drew angrily continues.

    ¡°Hey, nobody is kicking anybody¡¯s ass without my permission, and I don¡¯t recall giving my permission,¡± Duy steps in.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t fight,¡± Rachel and Billy plead as they get in between Luke and Duy.

    ¡°No fighting! We should be spreading peace and positivity, yo!¡± Rachel cries in desperation.

    We¡¯ll kill each other before the undead does at this rate.

    ¡°Listen, you, idiots,¡± Ruby says as she approaches Luke and Drew. ¡°People are dying while we sit on our asses and pout and fight amongst ourselves! If anybody needs their ass kicked, it¡¯s all those zombies out there for fucking up our world and hurting our friend! So instead of arguing, we need to figure out a way to send all of these zombies to hell!¡± Ruby whispers loudly. ¡°Teresa Young!¡± Ruby says as she turns her attention to me.

    ¡°What Ruby?¡± I ask.

    ¡°You need to stay strong because you¡¯re the spirit of the squad, remember? I mean, I know I hog all the style, personality, and sexiness, which I do promise to share one day, but you¡¯re the most intelligent one here. When the Captain and even Sonya don¡¯t have an answer to a situation, we all turn to you,¡± Ruby explains to me.

    I guess¡­

    ¡°Teresa, we¡¯ll have plenty of time to pout and be sad later, but we can¡¯t do that if we¡¯re dead, so listen,¡± Ruby says as she kneels to my level and grabs my shoulders. ¡°You have the largest head of us all. That means you¡¯re the smartest one here, and knowledge is power which also makes you the strongest, despite the hindrance your anxiety provides,¡± Ruby says with a calm look in her eyes.

    Ruby, you¡¯re finally growing up.

    ¡°Heh. Only someone with a head as large as yours would say something like that, but the truth is, I-I don¡¯t see a way out of this,¡± I say. ¡°I¡¯m honestly not sure what to do for once.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± A wide-eyed girl says as she approaches us. ¡°There¡¯s only one thing left for us to do now,¡± she says as she reaches into her pocket and pulls out a knife.

    Shit! Sh-she fucking cut her own wrist!

    ¡°Selena!¡± A boy quietly screams as she rushes to her aid.

    I thought I got used to this shit, but I haven¡¯t! I can¡¯t, and I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s a good or bad thing! How can I ever expect to survive The New World if I can¡¯t even handle something as small as this?!

    ¡°Look at the sky!¡± Billy says as he points at a bright green flare.

    Our communicators are buzzing!

    ¡°Hello? Battalion B? Is anyone there?¡± A girl¡¯s voice calls out as we all open our communicators.

    ¡°It¡¯s Michelle!¡± Ruby announces excitedly.

    ¡°¡­ to anyone who¡¯s listening,¡± Michelle continues. ¡°I¡¯ve been bitten, so I don¡¯t have a lot of time left on this earth. It¡¯s so scary, knowing when you¡¯re going to die. It¡¯s like watching a countdown timer to your own death. You can feel your own body slowly get weaker and weaker, but the infection doesn¡¯t even compare to the cold realization that you¡¯re never going to get better. It¡¯s the last time you¡¯ll ever be sick again, no matter how much you try to trick your brain into thinking otherwise. This plague or whatever truly is an incurable disease, but that doesn¡¯t mean we should stop fighting. Never stop fighting, no matter what. We might not have been able to experience what it was like to be normal teenagers like the ones in The Old World, but that¡¯s all the more reason to fight. I don¡¯t know if there will ever be a cure or a weapon strong enough to kill all these zombies, but I do know that I don¡¯t want the next generation to go through the¡­ the hellish nightmare we¡¯ve been thrown into. The difference between us and the undead is that our hearts are beating, and there aren¡¯t. We are all living, breathing, beautiful creatures capable of doing anything we put our minds to. The undead are just the soulless corpses of our fallen brothers and sisters. They might look like someone we once knew, but don¡¯t let those devils deceive you. The zombies are evil, monstrous creatures with only one goal in mind. Eat. We are currently in a new age, The Age of Zombies, however, this is just another obstacle in humanity¡¯s path. The Zodiacs, Azrael, and even the Halos are all dangerous things to think about, but never forget that human beings are the ones who invented these things, which proves we¡¯re capable of ending The Age of Zombies. I, along with many others, will never see that day, but as long as someone gets to see the next age, then I believe that all of this pain and suffering is worth it! Never forget that we are all humans! This is our Earth! Our kingdom! Never forget that everyone fighting here today are all Olympians! We are all brothers and sisters in arms! This horror must not reach the next generation! Our generation must find a way to cure this plague and annihilate every single zombie motherfucker that roams across this earth! All I can do is hope that my words and actions will bring people out of despair for one last final push. Battalion A is relying on us, and we¡¯re relying on them. All we have to do is be brave enough for one last push. I gave everyone the first spark of hope, and all I can do is pray that it was enough inspiration. This is Michelle Fox, Captain of Squad Hades, over and out.¡±

    Heh, There¡¯s that noise again.

    ¡°There¡¯s more!¡± Someone suddenly yells out as they point towards the inspiring green flares in the sky.

    Maybe, just maybe we¡¯ll get a happy ending after all. A happy ending is the least we deserve.

    ¡°Well?¡± Luke says as he stands on top of the fountain ledge. ¡°You all heard Michelle. We can do this! We have to do this! Battalion A has the firepower to annihilate every single one of those ugly bastards, and all we have to do is distract those fucks long enough for them to safely set up the Deathbringers!¡±

    ¡°One final push!¡± Duy says as he stands beside Luke.

    ¡°For our kingdom!¡± Billy and Rachel say as they stand beside Luke and Duy.

    ¡°For Michelle Fox and Squad Hades!¡± Ruby says as she stands with them and drags the reluctant Drew along.

    ¡°For our fallen brothers and sisters!¡± Sonya says as she stands beside them as well.

    Heh. I guess I¡¯m next.

    ¡°I¡¯m so little. Hungh!¡± I say as I climb on the fountain with help from my friends.

    ¡°For Olympus!!!¡± I yell at the top of my lungs.

    ¡°FOR OLYMPUS!!!¡± A mixture of voices yells in unison from the very bottom to the top of the mighty tower.

 Chapter 41: Tunnel Vision

    Meanwhile

    June 24, 2075

    1026 CDT

    North Winner, North Dakota

    <u>Anna Robinson''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Anna,¡± Nia says as she grabs my shoulder and whispers into my ear. ¡°Just play along for now.¡±

    This is preposterous! There¡¯s no way that I can trust you, but I don¡¯t have any other option. Rico wasn¡¯t bluffing when he said he¡¯s the best shot. Maybe I¡¯ll be able to escape if I render him immobile with my knife.

    ¡°Hmph! Fine, Rico,¡± I say.

    Forcing me to unbutton my uniform? Despicable! I will not allow you two to shame me, no matter what. You¡¯ll have to kill me before I let you get the chance.

    ¡°This is good,¡± Rico says with a smile as I throw my jacket on the ground.

    Fucking pervert! I must cross my arms, so he won¡¯t get any more minging ideas.

    ¡°Are you happy now?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Fuck no. Are you kidding? We haven¡¯t even gotten started,¡± he chuckles as he looks at Nia. ¡°Nia, take off the bitch¡¯s shirt but be gentle. She¡¯s royalty, so make sure to do it all slow like.¡±

    ¡°Whatever you say,¡± Nia says as she walks behind me. ¡°Raise ¡®em,¡± Nia says in a menacing tone as she lifts my arms.

    ¡°WOW!¡± Rico says in cruel excitement as Nia throws my shirt on the ground. ¡°I knew she had it going on, Nia,¡± he continues as he circles and inspects me with a sinister look.

    I¡¯m crossing my arms again, and I swear to God, I will not let you violate me.

    ¡°I hate you, Rico,¡± I say.

    ¡°Feeling¡¯s mutual, Anna. Now quit being fucking shy and let me see what you got,¡± he snickers as we make eye contact.

    ¡°No. AH!¡±

    My stomach! Rico punches so bloody hard!

    ¡°Nia! Take off her bra,¡± Rico says as he unbuckles his belt.

    ¡°You, you monsters!¡± I scream.

    I¡¯ll get him! I¡¯ll get him while his hands are full!

    ¡°What the fuck?!¡± Rico yells in shock as I lunge at him with my knife.

    I don¡¯t care about Nia. I just have to make sure this monster can never walk again! I have to escape. I need to escape! Oh no.

    ¡°AGH!¡± I yell.

    He elbowed me in my right eye! Damn it! I¡¯m so stupid! How could I ever think about taking you down?! I¡¯m such a dope!

    ¡°Absurd,¡± Rico says as he picks me up by my hair. ¡°This is fucking great! You¡¯re as messy as Nia now! I wanted to keep you as clean as possible before the real fun began, but I guess that won¡¯t fucking happen now because of how fucking stupid you are!¡±

    ¡°You¡­ you are the biggest piece of shit to ever exist!¡± I say.

    I got him with a headbutt! I fucking got him right in the bloody nose! Rico might be all muscle, but that doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s invincible.

    ¡°You, you bitch!¡± Rico shouts in fury as he covers his nose.

    Fuck! M-my neck! He grabbed my neck! He¡¯s so fast!

    ¡°You just made this so much harder on yourself,¡± Rico says as he viscously clutches my throat.

    ¡°L-let me go!¡± I scream.

    I¡¯m fucking pathetic! Why did I follow him? I should¡¯ve run away from him a long time ago.

    ¡°Stop!¡± I yell as he slams my face against the wall again.

    The metal wall hurts so much. I-I can barely see him out of the corner of my eye now. Only the darkness of the cable car and the unrepairable seats are visible. But I can feel it! This is so fucking obscene. Get your fucking minging pelvis off of my butt!

    ¡°Yes! Yes, Anna Robinson! Cry harder for me, you nasty fucking bitch!¡± He says.

    ¡°Sh-Shut up!¡± I yell as he continues to slam my head against the wall.

    ¡°Don¡¯t fucking speak! Just keep whimpering!¡± He says. ¡°Nia, what¡¯s wrong? You can have fun after I¡¯m done with her,¡± he snickers to her.

    Nia. Help me.

    ¡°Have fun with your new tool. Don¡¯t break it before you get bored. I¡¯m leaving,¡± Nia states in disgust.

    ¡°Wow! I thought you¡¯d be happier with a girl!¡± Rico shouts in anger. ¡°Well, good-fucking bye! I don¡¯t need someone as ugly as you as a girlfriend anyway!¡±

    Nia, y-you really are two-faced.

    ¡°Rico, I thought the monsters of Earth were the zombies, but you are a much bigger monster¡­ than they will ever be,¡± I say.

    ¡°HAHAHA! More fun for me!¡± He laughs as he continues to forcefully push his body against mine. ¡°I¡¯m going to enjoy this!¡± He whispers in my ear as he finally lets go of my neck to rough up my breasts with one hand, and uses the other hand to slowly slide down my belly, aiming directly for my-

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    ¡°Rico, stop,¡± I demand.

    ¡°I know for a fact that a stuck-up Royal like you is a virgin, which makes this even more enjoyable,¡± he says in a sinister tone. ¡°Just look at it this way, Anna. At least you won¡¯t die a virgin,¡± he says as he violently twists.

    God, fuck! You fucking monster! This hurts so much. The only positive thing that I can think of about this situation is that I still have my bra on, and I can breathe now, but there¡¯s no telling how long either of those things will last.

    This is hopeless. Do I truly deserve this for merely being a former Royal? Maybe he¡¯s right. Maybe this is my punishment. Maybe, I do deserve this. Perhaps if I just simply made it easier for him, he wouldn¡¯t be hurting me so much¡­

    NO!

    What the fuck am I thinking? I have to get out of this situation immediately! I can¡¯t, I refuse to be violated any further! I have to think of something.

    Yes! That¡¯s it! That move I learned from Mother and Father if something like this were to ever happen to me! I just need a distraction. Anything! It¡¯s a fact that he, like all men, shares the same weakness.

    ¡°Rico, I order you to cease the downward movement of your right hand! This is your last chance to stop!¡± I say.

    ¡°It¡¯s funny how you think you¡¯re in control of this situation. Your stupid ass stopped being a threat the moment you gave me your gun. Now stop talking and go back to whimpering. This will be much easier for you if you don¡¯t struggle.¡±

    ¡°No, Rico! I will not let you ravish me any further! You are a sick, evil man, and you¡¯ll have to kill me before I let you advance any further!¡±

    ¡°Kill you?¡± He laughs like a maniac. ¡°That¡¯s the fucking plan,¡± he says as he moves his hands even further down my stomach, slowly lifting my knickers with his fingertips.

    Ew ew ew! You did not just fucking lick my neck!

    I have to do it. I have to do it now!

    ¡°Anna, I want you to know that you deserve this¡­¡± he murmurs in my ear.

    ¡°Oh shit! Run!¡± A man¡¯s voice says from the opposite stairwell, followed by the sound of gunfire.

    ¡°What?¡± Rico says in confusion as he loosens his grip, allowing me the opportunity to deliver a powerful headbutt.

    Now to¡­

    ¡°Son of a bitch!¡± Rico says in a high-pitched voice as I violently squeeze his testicles.

    ¡°Rico, I just want you to know that you deserve thi¡­¡±

    Damn it! He smacked me in my face! I have to move while I still can!

    Yes! I can use this! Forget fleeing. You are the worst thing that¡¯s ever happened to me since my arrival to Olympus! Your bullying shall cease today.

    ¡°You. Are. Dead!¡± He yells as he fiercely marches towards me.

    ¡°Bring it,¡± I say as I conceal my newly picked-up weapon.

    Yes! I stabbed you with the glass shard right in your bloody thigh! Now to seize control of the situation by taking his gun.

    ¡°Fucking bitch!¡± He says as he reaches for his gun.

    No! Not enough time! Wait! I still have that!

    ¡°Ahh!¡± I scream as I fire the flare gun.

    I-it¡¯s too bright! I have to do something before your eyes adju-

    Gasp! He¡¯s shooting randomly?! Damn, I need another distraction.

    ¡°Come out, Anna! NOW!¡± He says as he continues to indiscriminately shoot.

    Now¡¯s my chance. Please, please watch over me, God.

    ¡°Got you!¡± He yells like a plonker, firing his weapon at the sound of the piece of glass I threw.

    ¡°You¡¯re so stupid, Rico!¡± I yell as I tackle him to the ground.

    This is it! Whoever takes control of the gun will be victorious. This is a matter of life and death! I won¡¯t die! I refuse to die, no matter what!

    ¡°Holy shit!¡± Nia reappears and yells out in shock.

    ¡°Help me, Nia!¡± Rico and I yell out in unison.

    Help me! Please! He¡¯s too strong!

    NO! He fucking knocked the gun away!

    ¡°You¡¯re finished, you fucking slut!¡± Rico gloats.

    AGH! N-not again! You¡¯re on top of me! How minging! Get off! My throat¡­

    ¡°You won¡¯t even be recognizable anymore after I¡¯m done with you,¡± he taunts as he continues to squeeze.

    I hate my life. I hate my life so¡­ much. He¡¯s going to kill and defile me or carry me somewhere discreet and keep me conscious as he does it. I hate everything. I¡¯m such a laughable failure. This is the story of Anna Robinson. On my grave, if I even get one, I just know that they¡¯ll write: ¡°Here lies Anna Robinson, a forsaken daughter who accomplished nothing and died being beaten and raped.¡±

    Holy shit, Nia! What a brutal blow to his head with that pipe.

    ¡°Nia?! What the fucking fuck?!¡± He says in confusion as he grovels on his back in pain.

    She¡¯s got a knife in her hand.

    ¡°AHHH! WHAT THE SHIT NIA?!!!¡± He screams in pain as he holds his crotch.

    Th-their shadows on the wall tell their entire story! A victim of abuse who¡¯s finally had enough, as she stares down her pleading abuser. The fight is over, and we can escape now. Rico deserves to be arrested, but I don¡¯t think that we can lift his massive arse back up the stairs. Not to mention the fact that the zombies will surround the train any minute.

    ¡°Nia, let¡¯s go,¡± I say.

    ¡°Nia, listen to me,¡± He says in pain with one hand on his crotch, and a palm out towards Nia. ¡°You¡¯re making a big fucking mistake. You¡¯re hurting the only person in the world who loves you, and who will ever love you. You¡¯re not shit without me, and you know it, so stop acting fucking crazy and kill the Royal bitch. I mean, come on, we both know that the only thing you are and will ever be good at it is bending over like the garbage fucking slut you are,¡± Rico pleads in arrogance.

    Damn! She jumped on top of him, knees first.

    ¡°What the fuck are you looking at bitch?¡± He says. ¡°You know you enjoyed all of those times we fucked, especially when I brought a friend because that¡¯s who you are. You are Nia Esrun of Olympia, everyone¡¯s favorite cum rag,¡± he painfully provokes.

    Gasp!

    ¡°STOP TALKING! SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!¡± She screams with a mixture of pain and sadness in her voice after slicing his throat open. ¡°I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU! DIE DIE DIE! FUCKING DIE AND EAT SHIT!¡± She shrieks with a mixture of tears and laughter as she ferociously and rapidly stabs him all across the body, with no sign of relenting.

    Oh my God. T-the green flare has been illuminated blood red, due to the¡­ gulp, blood splatter. Rico was a cruel evil man, but nobody deserves to be murdered, especially like that. Oh shit. The zombies!

    ¡°Nia!¡± I call out to her.

    Ow! She pushed me away! So stubborn!

    ¡°I did it! I actually killed him! I¡¯m finally free from him, but oh my god! Rico! PLEASE COME BACK! I¡¯m sorry, I love you! I¡¯ve been a bad girl! PLEASE! COME BACK AND PUNISH ME, DADDY! PLEASE! I LOVE YOU! I love you! I love you. Don¡¯t go! Don¡¯t leave me!¡± She cries out a lifetime''s worth of tears as she holds his corpse tight.

    ¡°Nia, we have to get out of here! He¡¯s gone!¡±

    ¡°No! Don¡¯t you understand? It wasn¡¯t supposed to be like this! This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen. I can¡¯t live without him, Anna. I love him. I don¡¯t have anyone else, but you do. T-take the gun and finish the mission. Don¡¯t argue,¡± she says as she tosses me Rico¡¯s flare gun. ¡°Please, for our squad. For me, just please finish the mission. Just leave me alone with Rico and tell our superiors that we all died. They¡¯ll believe it and won¡¯t bother investigating.¡±

    ¡°Nia, h-he¡¯ll turn at any second. I thank you for saving me, but that doesn¡¯t mean I trust you any more than I did him. I¡¯ll do it. I¡¯ll leave the both of you down here.¡±

    ¡°Anna, when Rico turns, I¡¯ll just let him bite me. It¡¯ll be our final act,¡± she says in her normal voice as she hugs him even tighter while rubbing his hair. ¡°It¡¯s the only way to preserve our love.¡±

    ¡°Ok fine! If that¡¯s what you want, then I won¡¯t save you!¡±

    ¡°Anna, Wait!¡± Nia says.

    ¡°What now?!¡±

    ¡°D-do you think that maybe, if things were slightly different. Do you think that¡­ you know? Do you think we could¡¯ve maybe, possibly been friends?¡±

    What? Such a foolish question, but then again¡­

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. You¡¯re a peasant, and I¡¯m an outcast with nowhere to belong. We have nothing in common. I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m leaving!¡±

    No, this isn¡¯t right. I, damn it! As if I could ever save a peasant! Hmph!

    ¡°NIA!¡± I yell out as I aim my gun.

    Oh, who am I kidding? Sigh. Ta ta¡­ and good riddance, Rico.

    ¡°Get your butt up, Nia!¡± I say as I holster my gun. ¡°We¡¯re leaving!¡± I say as I grab her.

    ¡°What? No! What are you doing?!¡± She cries out in apprehension. ¡°Stop! Let go of me, you harlot!¡±

    *

    ¡°I hate you,¡± Nia reminds me as we reenter street level.

    ¡°Hmph! I despise you as well. Wait a second. Look at the sky! We have to complete the mission, Nia. We have to complete it together.¡±

    ¡°Fine! Whatever! But we need to talk after this, Anna,¡± she reluctantly agrees.

    Never in my life did I imagine that Earth¡¯s beautiful blue sky would be illuminated by a bright green light.

 Chapter 42: Pain & Sorrow

    June 24, 2075

    1045 CDT

    On a Rooftop in North Winner, South Dakota

    <u>Anna Robinson''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°We did it. We actually did it,¡± I say.

    The rain, it¡¯s so chilly. At least I have your jacket since I forgot mine at the station, and no way in hell am I going back to retrieve it. But you don¡¯t have a coat now, so that means we¡¯re both going to get drenched. Sigh, this view of the street from this high up, is quite interesting.

    ¡°Anna, why did you save me?!¡± Nia yells out in anger.

    ¡°I think that you and I are more alike than we realize.¡±

    ¡°What? You¡¯re on one!¡± She rudely points at me.

    That¡¯s a new one.

    ¡°Hmph! You are definitely not how I imagined my first real friend on Earth to be.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe that I¡¯m stuck on this rooftop with you. I should just kill myself now,¡± Nia says bluntly.

    ¡°Ouch. How harsh. You are unbelievably rude.¡±

    ¡°Sigh, I¡¯m sorry,¡± she apologizes in a disheartened tone. ¡°Ignore me. I don¡¯t mean to be so rude. Let¡¯s start this conversation over.¡±

    Your stomach¡¯s rumbling? You¡¯re either peckish or¡­

    ¡°I-I have some beef jerky,¡± I say.

    ¡°I¡¯m a vegetarian! Yeah, I know, ironic, right?¡± She impolitely rolls her eyes.

    ¡°Well, excuse me for trying to be lush.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Anna,¡± she kindly thanks with a look of sincerity in her eyes.

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡±

    I think I should apologise.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for calling you a peasant. I-it was rude of me, and I didn¡¯t mean it. I¡¯m still adjusting to life on Earth.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been here for four years, and you¡¯re still adjusting?¡± She chuckles with a head nod. ¡°Girl, you might never fit in here, but that¡¯s ok. Standing out has its pros and cons.¡±

    ¡°All I ever do is stand out, though. It¡¯s very lonely not having anybody to relate to. All of my friends are on the cruisers, and my B-F-F in the entire solar system stopped texting me shortly after I arrived on Earth.¡±

    ¡°Huh? What are you talking about?¡± She asks with a look of confusion. ¡°Your best friend is right here,¡± she confirms with a bright smile.

    Wow, I¡¯ve never seen you smile before.

    ¡°HAHAHAHA!¡± She laughs maniacally.

    Gasp, deception?

    ¡°Listen, that was a test. If you¡¯re going to be my best friend, you¡¯ll need to increase your clout,¡± she reveals with a smug look on her face.

    ¡°My what?¡±

    ¡°C-l-o-u-t.¡±

    ¡°I know how to spell it! Hmph! I was just a little baffled. I am still adjusting to earthling slang.¡±

    Clout? I must memorize.

    ¡°Earthling slang?¡± She slightly giggles. ¡°And what does earthling slang sound like?¡± She asks as she puts her hands on her hips and raises an eyebrow.

    ¡°You know. Turn up. On fleek. Lit. Deceased ass. Large yikes. Going off. Flex. Bottom key. Acquiring bread. And finally, casting shade.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re hilarious, Anna.¡±

    ¡°That must mean my c-l-o-u-t has increased.¡±

    As to be expected of my perfect phenomenal performance.

    ¡°Hmm. Y-e-s,¡± she says with a worried look on her face. ¡°I think it¡¯s time to talk about the elephant in the room.¡±

    ¡°The elephant in the room? That is not slang. It is a metaphorical idiom.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m aware of that!¡±

    ¡°We can talk about it if you¡¯re ready, but we don¡¯t have to, Nia.¡±

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    ¡°I want to keep Rico¡¯s death a secret. I murdered him, Anna. I¡¯ll be in so much trouble!¡± She says with a look of worry on her face.

    ¡°You saved my life, Nia! Not only did he disobey orders, but he went nuts, got drunk, and attempted to rape and kill me! I am certain that our superiors will understand after we inform them of what happened. That¡¯s why I think we should tell them not because you¡¯ll get in trouble, but because of the opposite. Olympus needs to know how horrible of a man he was.¡±

    ¡°I¡­I didn¡¯t mind the name-calling, because he was the only thing I had, so I endured it despite the pain. But one day,¡± she says as she gazes deeply across the green horizon. ¡°I was late and woke up with morning sickness. I don¡¯t know if it was his or not, and I¡¯ll never know. It probably was because of how much we did it. He¡¯d practically beg, and even force me sometimes because it was one of his methods of relieving stress. And he had a lot of stress. But sometimes, he¡¯d bring a friend or two and, uh yeah.¡±

    ¡°I get it.¡±

    ¡°I was scared to tell him because One. I was afraid he¡¯d leave me and Two. I was afraid that he¡¯d kill our baby. So instead of doin¡¯ something, I just sat and pretended everything was fine. I was too stupid to worry about the inevitable baby bump, but it didn¡¯t even get to that point,¡± she says as a single tear falls from one of her eyes. ¡°He was extremely pissed off one day. I¡¯ve never seen him so mad before. Of course, I, being the stupid girl I was and still am, tried to comfort him instead of leaving his ass. He didn¡¯t even say anything. He just walked up, looked me in the eyes, and started beating the shit out of me. It was the worst beating he ever gave me in my life,¡± Nia, sniffing, reveals in tears.

    I¡¯m going to give her a hug.

    ¡°Anna, you have to believe me!¡± She says as she hugs me back. ¡°I tried! I tried to protect my stomach! I tried so hard, but you know how strong he is and how hard he hits!¡±

    ¡°Nia, I believe you. I truly am sorry that this happened to you.¡±

    ¡°Will I be forgiven? Do you think I¡¯ll be forgiven?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I can¡¯t answer that.¡±

    ¡°It was only after, that I started to despise Rico. It¡¯s so stupid! It took an unborn child¡¯s death for me to finally give a shit about my life!¡± She vents as we end the hug.

    You don¡¯t deserve this, Nia.

    ¡°Anna, wait. Let me treat your eye,¡± Nia says as she pulls out an icepack from one of her pouches.

    ¡°It¡¯s so cold, Nia!¡± I say as she taps the ice pack on my eye.

    ¡°Well, it is an ice pack,¡± she rolls her tear-filled eyes at me.

    ¡°Ha, ha. That was a sarcastic laugh.¡±

    ¡°Oh, really? I couldn¡¯t tell,¡± she chuckles in her own sarcastic tone. ¡°Anna, you know they¡¯re going to transfer us into different squads, right?¡± She says quietly.

    ¡°Huh?!¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t really fight herds of zombies with two people. Only Red Riding Hood and The Exterminator can do that, but they¡¯re practically zombie-slaying machines, so it doesn¡¯t really count. It¡¯s probably why they¡¯re in Battalion A because their mission is more dangerous than ours. Trapping yourself in a roadblock is way more terrifying than the shit we went through. Let¡¯s face it, Squad Eirene is dead. I¡¯ll be transferred to fill in another squad, and the same thing will happen to you. I don¡¯t know if we¡¯ll be on the same squad, but we¡¯ll probably never see each other again for a long time.¡±

    What?! How unfair! I, I must hold back my tears.

    ¡°I see, Nia.¡±

    ¡°Anna, I dunno why people gossip about you all the time. People be casting shade on you for no reason, but I don¡¯t understand why. I can only wish to be as strong as you one day.¡±

    ¡°Strong? Rico beat my arse.¡±

    ¡°What you lack in physical strength, you make up for in spirit,¡± she says with a slight blush. ¡°Don¡¯t ever forget it.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Nia. W-what do you plan on doing after you get transferred?¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll top-key try not to die,¡± she answers with a chuckle.

    ¡°Ditto.¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯ll probably learn more about medicine whenever I can. I studied it to help cope with Rico¡¯s¡­ you know. Ok, this will sound mad corny girl, but I also want to help and save people just like how you saved me,¡± she struggles to say. ¡°What will you do after the transfer, Anna?¡± She asks with a bright look of curiosity in her eyes.

    ¡°I-D-K yet. I¡¯m just trying to survive for now.¡±

    ¡°We all are, but I think that you¡¯ll be someone the world looks up to someday,¡± she says proudly.

    ¡°Me? Amusing. Nobody even likes me.¡±

    ¡°Yet. Nobody likes you yet. I don¡¯t even like you T-B-H, but we¡¯re best friends now, so I¡¯ll tolerate you,¡± she says with a soft smirk. ¡°I¡¯m kidding, and I apologize for calling you a harlot. It was insulting.¡±

    ¡°Apology well accepted.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not so bad, Anna; for a former Royal. Thank you, for everything.¡±

    *

    Meanwhile near Winner Tower, Central Winner

    <u>Luke Miller¡¯s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Keep moving!¡± Duy yells out as we continue to fight our way through the streets.

    Same formation as earlier, and our ammo is fully replenished, thanks to Teresa! This fight is almost over. We¡¯re almost at the target location, a large office building with plenty of floors to protect us until the Deathbringers are ready. Even though we¡¯re surrounded by hundreds of zombies, we can do it. We just have to keep fighting!

    ¡°Oh shit! Get out of the way!¡± Duy yells out in fear.

    A semi-truck?! Those bastards are flipping over a parked semi-truck near the curb, and she¡¯s in the way!

    ¡°TERESA! LOOK OUT!¡± I yell as the truck flips over.

    No, fuck! Damn it, we¡¯re so close! The door is right there, but Sonya and the others have gone ahead to clear the pathway up the stairs.

    ¡°My legs!¡± Teresa shrieks in agony. ¡°I can¡¯t feel my legs! Help! Duy! Luke! Help! I¡¯m gonna¡­¡±

    No no! Not Teresa! I¡¯m so tired of these fucking zombies.

    ¡°Duy, we have to help her!¡± I say.

    ¡°No shit! But the zombies are closing in on us, and the path that the others cleared will be gone soon! You know how fast they clump up!¡± Duy yells as we struggle to free Teresa from the rig of the semi.

    I have to save her; I can¡¯t let her die!

    ¡°Luke, buddy! I¡­ we can¡¯t do it. It¡¯s too fucking heavy!¡± Duy says, trying to free Teresa.

    ¡°Shut up, Duy! It¡¯s Teresa!!! We¡¯re not leaving her!¡±

    ¡°I know who it is! I¡¯ve known her a lot longer than you!¡± he snaps back at me.

    ¡°Everything isn¡¯t a competition, Duy!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m in love with her, Luke! All the more reason I don¡¯t want to see her suffer!¡± Duy admits.

    ¡°Suffer?! She passed out from the pain! She has no fucking idea what¡¯s going on!¡±

    ¡°Luke, we can¡¯t save her. The right thing to do is to give her a mercy kill,¡± he says sounding defeated.

    ¡°What?! You just said you love her! How could you say that?! She won¡¯t be able to hear your confession of love if she¡¯s dead!¡±

    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re still a kid. You wouldn¡¯t understand,¡± Duy says as he prepares to execute her with his pistol. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Teresa, for everything.¡±

    Damn it! You¡¯re right! Killing her in her sleep is the most humane thing to do but still! I won¡¯t let her die!!!

    ¡°AHHHHHH! I CAN¡¯T TAKE IT ANYMORE! TERESAAAAAAA!¡± I scream at the top of my lungs as I deliver a powerful punch to the truck.

    What? No fucking way? Did I just do that? Did I really just do that?!

    Did I seriously just punch the truck down several blocks and kill hundreds of zombies in the process?!

    ¡°Duy¡­ I¡­¡± I say.

    ¡°Upstairs!¡± Duy yells out as he gently picks up the unconscious Teresa. ¡°Now!¡±

    What just happened? What the fuck just happened?!

 Chapter 43: Fear

    June 24, 2075

    1100 CDT

    On in a Rooftop in Central Winner, South Dakota

    <u>Sonya Grey''s Point of View</u>

    Damn it. What¡¯s taking them so long?! Ugh! Sixty stories high or not, they should know better than to fall behind by now. At least we¡¯re safe for now. The only thing up here is us, the rooftop door, and endless rainwater. Our urban camouflage-colored ponchos aren¡¯t shit, so continuous pacing will help with the shivering. The others are, understandably, exhausted, so they¡¯re content with sitting down and catching a cold.

    ¡°Do you think they¡¯re ok, Lieutenant?¡± Billy asks as he fires the flare.

    ¡°Yes,¡± I say.

    ¡°How do you know?¡± Drew asks.

    ¡°Because I do,¡± I say.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s convincing,¡± Drew replies with a snarky tone.

    I¡¯m sick of his shit!

    ¡°Drew! It¡¯d be in your best interest to stop testing me,¡± I warn.

    ¡°''ere, they come!¡± Rachel announces as she peeks through the door crack. ¡°Hola, welcome to casa de oh my lord!¡±

    Teresa! Oh no.

    ¡°What happened?!¡± I ask.

    ¡°Teresa?!¡± Rachel shrieks in concern as she closes the door.

    ¡°Wha?!¡± Ruby yells in horror as she checks on Teresa.

    ¡°A ton of zombies tipped over a semi-truck, and her legs got caught in the crash!¡± Duy explains.

    Teresa¡­

    ¡°What? Those things weigh several tons. H-how did you save her?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Yeah, about that,¡± Duy says as she reaches for his gun and aims it at Luke.

    ¡°What the hell, Duy?!¡± Luke yells out.

    ¡°Shut the fuck up, Luke, or whoever you are!¡± Duy screams out in anger.

    ¡°Duy, calm down! What are you talking about?!¡± I ask.

    ¡°You wanna know what the fuck happened?!¡± Duy says in disbelief. ¡°Luke here suddenly gained fucking s-superpowers and turned that semi-truck into a bowling ball, and the countless zombies were the pins!¡±

    Huh?

    ¡°And then, get this, his eyes turned blood red, just like a zombie!¡± Duy explains.

    What?! N-no. No. Duy must have been seeing things, but¡­Teresa¡¯s legs and Luke is looking pretty woozy himself.

    Still¡­

    ¡°Move your ass, Sonya!¡± Duy orders as I stand in his line of fire.

    ¡°No,¡± I say.

    ¡°Lieutenant Sonya Grey of Squad Zeus, I¡¯m ordering you to move out of my line of fire.¡± Duy threatens with a determined glare.

    ¡°I refuse. You¡¯ll just have to shoot me for disobeying orders,¡± I say.

    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°I¡¯m feeling more and more tempted to do that as each second passes by. Besides, for all I know, you¡¯re in on this little fucking monster¡¯s conspiracy,¡± Duy replies.

    ¡°You¡¯re crazy,¡± I say.

    ¡°I don¡¯t give a shit what you say. I know what I saw! You, Luke, and Doctor Shinka all have shady ass fucking pasts. Not even someone as intuitive as you can deny that fact, so yeah, you being a suspect in this conspiracy makes complete fucking sense. Especially with the undeniable truth that the three of you came into the capital together!¡± Duy shouts.  ¡°You know what I think?! I think Luke was bitten by some kind of unknown mutated zombie, and it gave him superpowers!¡± He astutely theorizes.

    ¡°You¡¯re being ridiculous, Duy. You¡¯ve been reading too many of Teresa¡¯s books,¡± I say.

    ¡°For all I know, you and Veronica are exactly like him!¡± Duy threatens.

    ¡°That¡¯s bullshit,¡± I say.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what the fuck is going on with Luke, but I¡¯ll prove he¡¯s infected. Luke, throw me your Thunderbolt, slowly,¡± Duy angrily orders.

    ¡°Fine, Duy!¡± Luke promptly complies.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see what we got,¡± Duy says as he opens Luke¡¯s Thunderbolt. ¡°Well, would you look at this?¡± He says as he displays the device for us to see. ¡°It''s been tampered with. It''s been made to say that the user is fine, no matter what! Scorpius lacks technological resources, so it must have been Veronica¡¯s doing!¡±

    Luke? It can¡¯t be.

    ¡°Ok,¡± Duy says as he removes his own Thunderbolt. ¡°Try on mine, Luke. Let¡¯s see what happens,¡± Duy says as he throws Luke his bracelet.

    ¡°Fine!¡± Luke says as he puts on Duy¡¯s bracelet¡­

    Duy was seeing things! Luke can¡¯t be infected!

    ¡°What? That¡¯s, there¡¯s no way!¡± Luke cries out in disbelief as the Thunderbolt buzzes.

    ¡°You better start talking, Luke, before I fucking pull the trigger!¡± Duy rightfully threatens.

    I¡­ Sh-should I move?! Is Luke a mutated? No. He can¡¯t be. He¡¯s a human, not a zombie, but he¡¯s infected!

    ¡°I¡¯m so stupid,¡± Luke chuckles in pain. ¡°I-I didn¡¯t want to believe, I wanted to forget what happened at The King¡¯s Mansion!¡±

    ¡°What the fuck happened at the mansion, man?!¡± Duy continues to threaten.

    ¡°Veronica and I got bit,¡± Luke explains as he reveals that scar. ¡°We ran and hid inside a safe room where she then¡­ injected herself with some kind of syringe and then injected me with a similar needle. Next thing I knew, we¡­ we were safe. No enemies, no zombies, and¡­ no bite. Just a scar,¡± he calmly reveals. ¡°This means that Sonya has nothing to do with this!¡± He asserts in rage. ¡°So, if you¡¯re going to shoot someone, shoot me!¡±

    ¡°What are you, Luke?!¡± Duy asks as Luke crumples to the ground and cries.

    ¡°I, I don¡¯t know, Duy.¡±

    Fuck this shit.

    ¡°Listen! In case you forgot, we still have a mission to complete!¡± I say. ¡°That loud machine-like rattling among the thunder is obviously the Deathbringers! Luke isn¡¯t the priority, and Teresa needs a doctor!¡±

    ¡°Huh?! Sonya, wait!¡± Duy uselessly orders.

    *

    The 59th Floor of the Building

    *

    Well, this is a spectacular sight. The door at the end of the hallway leads into the building¡¯s main stairwell. Except now, there¡¯s five shrieking Headhunters in the way.

    Here comes the opening two! The closest one will strike with its right blade first!

    An easy backstep to evade it! Now to dispose of it!

    Blood splattered on my uniform and the walls. A nasty, and yet clean decapitation. But how I feel is irrelevant. All that matters is the kill. Now to deal with Headhunter two!

    I was forced to block its attack! Shit! I forgot how strong these fuckers are! Gotta end this quick, but I need space! Another backstep from me!

    Your shrieking is so loud. I get it. You want to eat me but don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll give you something to chew on in a minute. It¡¯s going to come in for two more swipes!

    Two more backsteps from me, but I have to be careful, so I don¡¯t corner myself!

    I blocked both of its blades with my own!

    ¡°HAH!¡± I shout.

    One powerful push with my legs gives me enough strength to leave this fucker wide open for a leg sweep! Now to finish it with a stab to the head!

    Here comes Headhunter three! Dodge its swipe, Sonya!

    Too easy. Now to jump over its body, using its head as a base.

    I need to make a safe landing¡­

    ¡­and then roll under Headhunter Four¡¯s blade.

    Then use all of my arm and leg muscles to deliver a robust handspring kick aimed directly at Headhunter Five¡¯s ugly fucking chest!

    ¡°Eat this,¡± I say.

    A quick stab to its head from my blade ends its life.

    Shit! My leg! How did I not notice this little zombie fuck?! I need to quickly stab it!

    Damn it! The Headhunter is coming!

    ¡°Sonya, duck!¡± Billy and Rachel alert in unison as they open fire.

    They killed them. They¡­

    ¡°Are you ok?¡± They ask in unison.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t need your help! I had everything under control!¡± I say.

    ¡°It didn¡¯t look like it,¡± Rachel says in worry.

    ¡°We came to help because, like you said, the mission isn¡¯t over yet, ok?¡± Billy explains. ¡°And it¡¯s way too tense up there! Luke passed out, and Teresa is still unconscious! Ruby promised to watch over them and said she¡¯ll make sure nothing happens to them, while the captain and Drew stand guard.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re a team, and nothing will ever break our bond, k? Just like Teresa said, remember?¡± Rachel reminds me with a soft smile.

    ¡°Billy, Rachel I, I don¡¯t know how to feel about Luke¡­¡±

 Chapter 44: Monster

    June 24, 2075

    3 Hours Later

    1330 CDT

    Outskirts of Western Winner, South Dakota

    <u>Luke Miller¡¯s Point of View</u>

    I don¡¯t understand. We¡¯re just sitting and resting here by a truck again, acting like everything¡¯s fine. Battalion A fought for their lives in this drenched grassy field of blood and dirt for three hours. Operation Aurora was a success, but everyone still has that depressing look of anxiety and hopelessness on their face. Commander O¡¯Carroll and Commander Zhi are being called the heroes of Battalion A, while my squad and Captain Michelle Fox are being named the heroes of Battalion B. I don¡¯t believe we¡¯re heroes. Michelle is the true heroine, we just capitalized on her momentum.

    ¡°Squad Zeus!¡± Commander Zhi calls out.

    Not good.

    ¡°At ease!¡± Commander Zhi says.

    Phew.

    ¡°I empathize with Private Young¡¯s disturbing injury, but she and the other wounded are currently en route to Olympus¡¯s general hospital where they will be treated for their damages,¡± Jian explains. ¡°Due to Private Young being wounded in action, a new soldier will be added to your squad as her replacement, effective immediately.¡±

    ¡°Hello,¡± Anna greets in a somber tone as she approaches.

    Yeesh. That¡¯s a nasty black eye.

    ¡°I like the pink scarf on your neck,¡± Rachel compliments with a smile.

    ¡°You look like shit,¡± Ruby blurts out.

    ¡°Ruby!¡± Rachel yells in disbelief.

    ¡°Listen here,¡± Ruby warns as she gets in Anna¡¯s face. ¡°Don¡¯t think that you can just show up here and replace our dear friend Teresa!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t mean to intrude, but I don¡¯t have much choice,¡± Anna apologizes in exhaustion.

    ¡°Ugh! Nevermind. I¡¯m too tired to deal with you right now.¡± Ruby says in frustration.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Anna says in similar low energy.

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t mean it, Anna. We¡¯ve all just had a long day,¡± I say.

    ¡°Holy mother of fucking shitfuck!!! What¡¯s that monster doing here?!¡± A male soldier yells in horror as he points at me. ¡°Shoot him! Someone shoot him! He¡¯s infected!¡±

    What??! No!

    ¡°Calm down, soldier!¡± Annie says after smacking him.

    ¡°Explain,¡± Jian questions.

    ¡°I saw him,¡± the soldier hyperventilates. ¡°He is not fucking human!¡± He straight-up punched a semi-truck and sent it flying away like a frisbee! His eyes turned blood red, and his skin dried up like chapped lips when he did it too! He¡¯s not normal, a zombie in disguise! He¡¯s a fucking mutated!¡±

    This can¡¯t be happening¡­

    ¡°Jian, boo,¡± Annie says with a smile as she shifts her attention towards me. ¡°I just noticed that my favorite cutie pie, Luke here, ain¡¯t wearin¡¯ his Thunderbolt,¡± she says as she pulls out her revolver and aims it at me.

    ¡°Luke, why aren¡¯t you wearing your Thunderbolt? You know the rules,¡± Jian asks in worry as he approaches.

    Now the crowd¡¯s starting to mutter and stare at me.

    ¡°STAY BACK!¡± I yell.

    No! I just made it worse! Now everyone is pointing their guns at me.

    ¡°Everyone in Squad Zeus needs to place their hands behind their heads and kneel! NOW!¡± Jian orders as he pulls his gun out next.

    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    ¡°Shit! Scoff, I knew that being this beautiful would come with a price.¡± Ruby cries out in disbelief.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on here, Jian?¡± General Farrington asks as he arrives.

    ¡°Apparently, Luke is either a superhero or infected? One of our soldiers witnessed him punching a truck down several street blocks, followed by his eyes turning blood red,¡± Jian calmly explains.

    ¡°Uh-huh. Is this true, Luke?¡± General Farrington asks.

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true!¡± A woman yells out in the crowd. ¡°I witnessed it too! That freak needs to be killed! He¡¯s just like the monsters that murdered our friends!¡±

    ¡°Look!¡± Sonya yells as she steps in front of me. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on with Luke, but I know that he¡¯s not a monster. Operation Aurora is over, and yet you dumbasses are still trigger-happy! If you¡¯re gonna shoot him, then you¡¯ll have to shoot me as well because I¡¯m not leaving his side no matter what!¡±

    Sonya¡­

    ¡°Yes!¡± Billy yells as he shields me next. ¡°Luke is super cool! He¡¯s my friend, not an evil monster! Don¡¯t kill him!¡±

    Billy¡­

    ¡°This isn¡¯t spectacular at all!¡± Rachel yells as she shields me next. ¡°Luke is my friend! I love him, so you better not harm him, or else I¡¯ll give all of you the hands! If you¡¯re gonna hurt him, then you¡¯ll have to get through me first!¡±

    Rachel¡­

    ¡°Jeez!¡± Ruby yells as she shields me next. ¡°Luke is an amazing ride-or-die, friend! Messing with Luke is like messing with me and nobody, and I mean, nobody messes with Squad Zeus or me. I¡¯ll shove my guitar straight up the ass of anybody stupid enough to mess with us, and I ain¡¯t going back to jail no matter what happens so just shoot us now and get it over with!¡± Ruby yells as she flips off everyone.

    Ruby¡­

    ¡°We¡¯re going to get in so much trouble if we survive this,¡± Duy says as he shields me next. ¡°I think that Luke is a suspicious fuck up, but now that I¡¯ve had time to think about it, I think we should give him to the research team to see what happens! It¡¯s a much better decision than just gunning him down!¡±

    Duy.

    ¡°Hmph!¡± Anna says as she comes to shield me next. ¡°Surviving this hellish day full of undead only to be gunned down by our own people is such a tragic tragedy. I am a member of Squad Zeus now and how anybody feels about that is irrelevant,¡± she says as she gives Ruby a look. ¡°¡­because I just joined not even five minutes ago and I¡¯m about to be shot. I think of Luke as a cordial acquaintance, but with just one transparent glimpse at him, I can tell that he is such a big dork and not some kind of monster.¡±

    Even Anna¡­

    ¡°Huh?? Ya got a problem with me, Your Highness? I heard that shade throw!¡± Ruby says in disgust.

    ¡°Hmph! If you suspect that I was tossing shade, then I was perhaps tossing shade,¡± Anna clarifies in a snobby tone.

    ¡°Ugh! Tossing shade? You sure do make a lot of grammar mistakes for a fancy, girly girl,¡± Ruby insults.

    ¡°Your feeble attempt at disrespect does not vex me one bit, taking into account your coarse, crude, unladylike behavior and the inordinate words that exit your scatological and scurrilous fly trap,¡± Anna calmly explains as she inspects her own fingernails.

    ¡°Screw you and your big fancy words,¡± Ruby states as she puts her middle finger in Anna¡¯s face.

    ¡°I would only expect a childish, boorish insult from a harlot like you,¡± Anna fires back with a quick finger flick to Ruby¡¯s finger.

    ¡°What did you call me?¡± Ruby cries out in pure confusion.

    They¡¯re going to kill each other before our own people do at this rate.

    ¡°Nobody shoot!¡± General Farrington orders. ¡°Nobody do anything!¡±

    ¡°What? Y-You heard the witnesses!¡± General Dakari orders from far away in the background.

    ¡°Stand down, General Dakari!¡± General Farrington pleads.

    ¡°Hell no! He¡¯s a mutated! That means he needs to die!¡± General Dakarai responds fearfully.

    No, I-I won¡¯t let them kill me. I can¡¯t! I didn¡¯t ask for this! Veronica, what did you do to me?

    ¡°LEAVE ME ALONE!!!¡± I scream.

    *

    Ah, m-my head. Damn it, I blacked out for a second. What happened?! Oh, why is everyone looking at me like that?

    ¡°Holy shit, dude!¡± Ruby yells out with a look of horror in her eyes.

    Ow. M-my arms hurt. Wait. What the fuck??!! A sword! My arms mutated into a large white and red sword?! Just¡­ just like a¡­No NO! I can¡¯t be a mutated!

    ¡°His eyes! They¡¯re blood red!¡± Someone in the crowd confirms my reality.

    Duy was right, everyone was right, I am a monster.

    ¡°Luke, play dead,¡± Sonya quickly mutters under her breath.

    Play what? Oh. She¡¯s gonna punch me in the face. This is going to hurt.

    *

    Meanwhile

    Onboard the Space Station ¡°Apollo¡±, Earth¡¯s Orbit

    <u>Angela Blackwood¡¯s Point of View</u>

    Well, well, well, what an enthralling ray of sunshine.

    My communicator is buzzing.

    ¡°Hello? Yes, I just received the news. I see. Sigh, yes. I¡¯ll repeat.

    Primary objective: Capture the she-devil and a founding member of Olympus, Doctor Veronica Shinka.

    Yes, I know to capture her alive. I am aware that dead people can¡¯t talk, but that might be untrue if these rumors are indeed fact.

    Secondary objective: Interrogate Veronica Shinka¡¯s apprentices/Olympian researchers; Commander Harold Smith and Commander Kiko Farrington.

    Yes, I shall make it excessively thorough. You of all people should know that I am very meticulous with my work.

    Tertiary objective: Interrogate the legendary Olympian General, Brian Farrington.

    Yes. I shall make sure to capture him alive as well.

    Quaternary objective: Capture the teenager that Doctor Shinka has made herself the guardian of, known as Private Luke Miller, the leading cause of this investigation.

    Yes, I shall make sure that he kneels before the might of the Royals, Edit.

    I know. We only need the boy¡¯s brain, which means that he can be captured dead or alive.

    Do not fret for these are but introductory tasks for the Death Angels. Operation: GodSlayer shall be completed without fail, and as the Royal¡¯s elite enforcer, I am aware that I¡¯m permitted to eliminate anyone I see fit, should they stand in my way. Heh heh. This shall be a piece of cake. Angela Blackwood, signing off¡­¡±

    *

    END OF ACT 2: Operation: Aurora

 Act 3: Minerva. Chapter 45: Pandemonium

    The Next Day

    June 25, 2075

    0700 CDT

    Central Olympia, Kansas

    Inside Thunder Castle

    <u>Kiko Farrington''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°You ready for this, Kiko?¡± Harold Smith asks in worry.

    Hell no I¡¯m not ready.

    ¡°Life just got a bit more chaotic,¡± I say.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t answer my question at all,¡± he notifies with a raised eyebrow.

    Oh, my most trusted, and now only colleague is so smart, tall, and handsome. Mixed with Black and Caucasian ethnicity, dazzling brown hair, and one hell of a sexy beard! He¡¯s a muscular young man who¡¯s the same age as me. You¡¯re most girls, but surely not my dream man. As if I could ever date a coworker because that is exceptionally unprofessional. You¡¯re wearing the same, very itchy urban camouflage-colored uniform as me, except today, we woke up with some bondages.

    ¡°Harold, I have an itch!¡± I say.

    ¡°Seriously, Kiko?¡± He asks.

    No! This is so embarrassing! Why there of all places?!

    ¡°Yes. Seriously,¡± I say.

    ¡°Where?¡± He innocently asks.

    ¡°Ummm¡±

    Why¡¯d you have to ask?

    ¡°Kiko, I told you to see if they had bigger sizes, but you insisted on wearing the tightest one you could find.

    How rude. I¡¯m going to kick him now.

    ¡°OW!¡± He shouts.

    ¡°Harold, that is not what you say to a lady! Hah. Men will never understand the fashion sense of a woman, and for future reference, if we survive this situation, never ever mention weight in front of a lady again, ok?¡±

    ¡°But I didn¡¯t say anything about the heaviness of your body.¡±

    ¡°Ah, just stop talking. I will pretend that you did not just insult me.¡±

    You¡¯re such a¡­ Ugh! But that¡¯s not important right now. Sigh.

    Never in my life did I think that I would end up being detained here. The interrogation room is the size of an average two-door car garage. This cold metal chair should be illegal, and this big-ass yellow table in front of us should be banned as well, the ominous-looking red metal door in the top right corner is clearly made of pure evil, and the sizeable one-way window to the left of it is smart. But the four concrete walls that surround us make me feel like I¡¯m trapped in a box.

    ¡°I can¡¯t take it anymore. Harold. Y-you have to take care of my itch.¡±

    ¡°What? I don¡¯t know how much help you expect me to be. Have you forgotten about our little accessories?¡± He says as he eyeballs our handcuffed hands behind our backs.

    ¡°But we can still move our feet.¡±

    ¡°That sounds like a bad idea, Kiko.¡±

    ¡°Harold! Puh-lease! It itches so much!¡±

    ¡°Fine, but I don¡¯t even know where your itch is. You didn¡¯t tell me,¡± he points out.

    ¡°Because you didn¡¯t give me a chance!¡±

    ¡°Fair enough. So, where is it?¡±

    ¡°Oh, ummm¡±

    This is going to be so awkward and unprofessional.

    ¡°Kiko?¡± Harold says.

    ¡°Harold, what¡¯s the seventh planet in our solar system?¡±

    ¡°Uranus. Oh.¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    Why is this happening?

    ¡°Kiko, you¡¯re kidding, right?¡± He asks shyly.

    ¡°I wish,¡± I say as I move the chair with my feet. ¡°I-it¡¯s the right one, Harold.¡±

    ¡°This means nothing!¡± We say in unison as he adjusts his seat until we¡¯re back-to-back.

    As embarrassing as this situation is, I¡¯m glad that you¡¯re someone who will and always have my back. Doctor Shinka informed us of the value of loyalty. Next to Teresa, I couldn¡¯t ask for a better¡­

    ¡°EEEEK! HAROLD!¡±

    ¡°What?!¡±

    ¡°You know what! Stop being a pervert!¡±

    ¡°What???¡±

    ¡°I said right cheek, not left!¡±

    ¡°You gotta be kidding. I thought you meant your other right.¡±

    ¡°This is the most embarrassing day of my life.¡±

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± he says after he finishes helping me out.

    ¡°Thank yo-Ahhh!¡±

    No! He tripped! We¡¯re gonna fall!

    Ow. S-something broke my fall. Was it Harold? Oh my. You¡¯re even more handsome than I realized this close. Your chest feels so comfortable. Yes! I just want to sleep in it. It¡¯s so warm. I can¡¯t help but imagine what your naked chest looks like. I just wanna rip your shirt off and find out. Your beard! Mmm. Sooo sexy. Your eyes are so mesmerizing. O-M-G! We¡¯ve locked eyes! My heartbeat, it¡¯s getting faster! I¡¯ve been blessed! Oh, just being this close to you is so relaxing! Your lips, they look so luscious. So soft. I just want to¡­ wait a second. We¡¯re chest to chest and can¡¯t get up! Oh, how embarrassingly unprofessional!

    ¡°My back!¡± Harold cries out in pain.

    ¡°What in the world?¡± Commander Scarlett Redheart asks as she busts through the door.

    ¡°It¡¯s not what it looks like!¡± Harold and I say in unison.

    *

    Thank you, Scarlett, for putting us upright again, but this is so embarrassing. The formal way you¡¯re wearing your uniform is more reserved, but you should have more confidence in yourself.

    ¡°Harold Smith, Kiko Farrington, the two of you chose a very odd time to fornicate,¡± Scarlett says with an eyebrow raised as she sits down.

    ¡°That¡¯s not what happened!¡± Harold and I say in unison again.

    ¡°Oh, so you were trying to leave?¡± Scarlett inquires as she shakes her head. ¡°You two are horrible escape artists!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re researchers, Scarlett! Not magicians!¡± I say.

    ¡°I noticed, but enough time-wasting,¡± she says. ¡°You¡¯ve been brought in because of what happened yesterday. The main suspect, Luke Miller, is being securely held in a classified location. This phenomenal incident has caused mass pandemonium among the founding members. It¡¯s the biggest problem this kingdom has dealt with in years. I can only imagine how the other kingdoms and the Royals will react once the news reaches them if it hasn¡¯t already. You two, along with Doctor Shinka, are Luke Miller¡¯s main suspected accomplices, but now we have another incident on our hands that¡¯s only adding to the panic,¡± she continues in a serious tone as she stands up. ¡°The Police Force raided Doctor Shinka¡¯s house, but she was nowhere to be found. The only thing they found in her room was a peculiar piece of paper origami in the shape of a goose. Nobody saw or reported her leaving the kingdom. It¡¯s like she just vanished off the face of the Earth! You two are her most trusted subordinates, which makes you suspects in her disappearance, but you two are also the only people in the kingdom who can make sense of¡­ Luke Miller and figure out what the hell he is. Basically, what you two say next will determine whether you are a friend or foe. Your lives, and potentially our entire kingdom are on the line, so choose your next words very wisely.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t know anything about Luke Miller¡¯s transformation or Doctor Shinka¡¯s disappearance,¡± Harold quickly notifies Scarlett.

    ¡°It¡¯s the truth! We¡¯re just as lost as you are! If anybody is a magician, it¡¯s her!¡±

    ¡°Do you know why the eight kingdoms simply don¡¯t kill each other for resources?¡± Scarlett calmly asks.

    ¡°Yes, because nobody wants to live in The New World,¡± I say. ¡°Each kingdom is equipped not only with a form of defense against the zombie army but also superweapons equivalent to the nuclear weapons of The Old World. These superweapons act as a natural deterrent against humans and discourage kingdoms from attacking each other. If two kingdoms were to disregard these superweapons, it would lead to another kingdom taking advantage of this situation. While kingdoms A and B are fighting, kingdom C will simply lurk in the distance and wait to strike the winning side as they¡¯re recovering from their victory. Like a dangerous lion stalking an unsuspecting antelope.¡±

    Studying was so tedious, but worth it.

    ¡°Of course, this will lead to another kingdom attacking kingdom C, while they¡¯re busy with their fight,¡± I say. ¡°The cycle will repeat with all eight kingdoms, with the end result being Armageddon. A world full of life, devoid of intelligent beings. A sad form of irony, however, all of this is based on the assumption that the outside force, aka, the Royals, don¡¯t intervene. This is also based on the assumption that each kingdom¡¯s superweapons have been dealt with by their foes. Nobody truly knows exactly what each kingdom is capable of, which is probably for a good reason because knowledge is power. Permission to discuss Olympus¡¯s superweapon, since it is only council members of Olympus here?¡±

    ¡°Permission granted,¡± Scarlett responds.

    ¡°Most Olympians believe that the large turrets atop Hades are our superweapons. These weapons are indeed capable of delivering mass destruction, but Doctor Veronica Shinka is Olympus¡¯s true superweapon. In the Old World, she was a renowned scientist who earned a Ph.D. in biology by the age of twelve. In the New World, she helped build Olympia from the ground up with the other founding members¡¯ help, before her mysterious exile, along with the former research division. (I still don¡¯t know what she did or what happened to the others, and it frustrates me to no end!) She and the former research division are the reasons why we have so much knowledge about the undead and their mutated forms. These are a few reasons why I believe that Doctor Shinka is the only person on this planet capable of creating a cure!¡±

    Gotta¡­ catch my breath.

    ¡°Scoff, a cure?¡± Scarlett denies in disbelief. ¡°Instead of working on a cure, I¡¯m led to believe that you three have been hiding a never-before-seen mutated right here in the heart of Olympia! Luke Miller is practically a ticking time bomb for all we know, and trust me, I know all about bombs!¡±

    Huh?

    ¡°Why did I say that? Forget that I said that! It¡¯s a story that we don¡¯t have time for!¡± She says in embarrassment. ¡°Ahem, anyway, preventing Armageddon or disintegration by Azrael is our priority,¡± she says in a slightly nervous tone.

    ¡°What exactly do you want from us?¡± Harold asks.

    ¡°I want to know where Doctor Shinka is! You two are the obvious suspects, so just hurry up and tell me!¡± Scarlett demands with urgency.

    ¡°We don¡¯t know!¡± Harold and I say in unison.

    ¡°Damn it!¡± Scarlett seethes.

    ¡°The last time we saw her was three days ago, inside this very building, in fact. She didn¡¯t tell us anything! She just vanished!¡± Harold explains.

    ¡°Like a magician!¡±

    ¡°This is going nowhere. Look,¡± Scarlett says in frustration as she places a palm to her face. ¡°If I simply tell the council that you two are enemies of Olympus, then you¡¯ll be imprisoned or executed. A huge waste of talent and intelligence if I must say, but as dubious as you two are, you are also some of my only friends,¡± she says in sincerity. ¡°Don¡¯t test me by using this fact as a weakness. I am showing you my entire hand because I consider you friends, and I don¡¯t want to see my friends die. I believe that we apprentices must stick together. I have many reasons not to believe you, and few reasons to believe you, but I will give you two the benefit of the doubt because well, as cold as this might sound, you¡¯re more valuable alive than dead,¡± Scarlett explains as she unlocks our handcuffs.

    ¡°So we¡¯re basically hostages,¡± Harold clarifies as he rubs his wrists.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, and I hate doing this, but I don¡¯t have many other options left,¡± Scarlett kindly confirms. ¡°This is too much power for one person. I don¡¯t even like guns or fighting. I only became an apprentice because I thought it was the right thing to do,¡± She sadly confesses.

    ¡°Scarlett, I believe that you¡¯re doing the right thing. I would probably do the same thing in your shoes. Whether you believe us or not, I just want you to know that Harold and I are truly as clueless about this situation as everybody else.¡±

    ¡°I just hope that Ruby is alright,¡± Scarlett says softly. ¡°She can be so stupid and always attracts trouble wherever she goes. Speaking of Squad Zeus, I¡¯ll be interrogating them soon after the next step.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what¡¯s the next step?¡± Harold asks.

    ¡°Oh come on. You two aren¡¯t getting out of our annual meetings this easy,¡± Scarlett says with a smirk.

    ¡°Aw shit. I forgot,¡± Harold says with a facepalm.

    ¡°No! Meetings are so boring!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, well, this meeting might be our very last one ever, depending on what you two think about Luke Miller. Now that I¡¯ve ¡°proven¡± your innocence, the keys of fate are in your hands,¡± she says with a worried chuckle.

    Our lives have been spared only for us to decide the fate of another¡­

    ¡°Commander Harold Smith and Commander Kiko Farrington, You two hold Olympus¡¯s entire future in your hands!¡± She states loudly. ¡°No, this is a decision that will affect the entire human race. In a minute, I will escort you two to the Room of Judgement, where our leaders will ask your opinion of Luke Miller! You two must decide whether Private Luke Miller is an ally of Olympus or a threat to the entire human race. Will he lead us to salvation or extinction?¡±

 Chapter 46: Hello, Old Friend

    2 Hours Later

    0900 CDT

    Outskirts of Olympia, Kansas

    Olympia''s General Hospital, 3rd Floor

    <u>Kiko Farrington''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Teresa!¡± I say.

    ¡°Oh, hello Kiko,¡± Teresa greets in a depressing tone as I close the door.

    This room is uncomfortably tiny! It¡¯s the size of a small bedroom, and has closed navy blue curtains, but you¡¯re sitting in the hospital bed as you gaze out the window. Your hair isn¡¯t in your usual floppy pigtails. It¡¯s in a ponytail now, and you hate ponytails. You look so miserable. I can¡¯t even imagine what¡¯s going on in your mind right now. Your aunt and uncle must¡¯ve visited earlier before they went to the mass funeral. Rest in peace, Julie, and everyone else. I¡¯ll make sure to visit as soon as possible.

    ¡°Oh, come on. Are the handcuffs really necessary?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Heh. It¡¯s understandable, given everything that¡¯s going on,¡± she says in a sad tone as she looks at her feet. ¡°Kiko, I can¡¯t feel anything. I don¡¯t feel anything. Nothing, nothing at all. I¡¯m trying to wiggle my toes, but I can¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Did they say how bad it was?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll live, but I¡¯ll probably never walk again. The truck crushed my legs from the knees down,¡± she explains as a single teardrop slides down her cheek. ¡°What hurts more is that Luke gained superpowers all of a sudden, and I missed it. I was out for a long time, and the next thing I know, I¡¯m handcuffed to a hospital bed with a cop and the doctor telling me everything that happened.¡±

    ¡°Teresa¡­¡±

    ¡°No, Kiko!¡± She says as she rejects my hug. ¡°I¡¯m weak and small and stupid! I lost Julie, and now I might lose my entire squad!¡±

    ¡°None of it is your fault though.¡±

    ¡°I feel powerless. Every single one of my friends is so cool, but then there¡¯s dysfunctional me. The only thing I¡¯m good at is being useless dead weight,¡± she vents as she places her hands on her face.

    ¡°You¡¯re a lot stronger than you realize, Teresa.¡±

    ¡°Sure¡­¡± she says as she stares outside with an empty look in her eyes.

    ¡°Here, let me¡­¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Teresa yells as I attempt to open the curtains.

    ¡°Oh. Sorry, Teresa.¡±

    ¡°Just let me be sad! I¡¯m going to be sad for a long, long time, but I¡¯ll be ok, Kiko! I don¡¯t want you to feel sad for me, ok? I hate when people look down on me. Figuratively and literally! I don¡¯t want my best friend in the entire world to pity me, when there¡¯s more important things to worry about, like Doctor Shinka or your relationship with Harold!¡±

    ¡°Teresa, there¡¯s not much I can do about Doctor Shinka. I honestly don¡¯t know where she is. And my relationship with Harold? Wait a second. Um, what do you mean by relationship?¡±

    ¡°Duh. You guys are dating, right?¡±

    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    Huh?

    ¡°Teresa! We¡¯re coworkers! O-M-G! That would be very unprofessional.¡±

    ¡°Heh. Love strikes again,¡± she says with a soft smirk. ¡°It¡¯s ok if he makes you weak in the knees. I don¡¯t mind, just as long as you two are happy together, and he treats you right,¡± she says with a blank stare.

    ¡°Hah. You¡¯re still delirious from the drugs they gave you.¡±

    ¡°If you say so.¡±

    ¡°My extremely professional, appropriate, ordinary, trusting, friendship with my very handsome and muscular colleague, whom I¡¯m not attracted to, by the way, has been tense recently.¡±

    ¡°Heh. A lover¡¯s quarrel,¡± she misunderstands with a smile.

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°This must be the first one,¡± she says chuckling.

    ¡°¡­ Shut it!¡±

    ¡°Your poker face is oh so bad.¡±

    At least you¡¯re smiling again. Sigh. Nostalgia.

    ¡°You¡¯re still so mischievous, Teresa.¡±

    ¡°So, what did you two lovers argue about?¡±

    ¡°My associate and I argued about what should happen to Luke. He¡¯s so scared of the big bad Royals that he doesn¡¯t want to take this opportunity to study Luke before they send some crazy fancy soldier lady who probably smells like mildew, to capture him.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±

    ¡°Like, this is probably our only chance to learn more about the zombies and make a cure, but this fool is going to let that chance go to waste! Like! Ugh! I can¡¯t even. I¡¯m so¡­ Ugh!¡±

    ¡°People are stupid, especially boys,¡± we say in unison.

    ¡°I think you¡¯re making the right choice, Kiko, as always. I¡¯m sure things will work out the way they¡¯re supposed to. I just hope our friends will be ok.¡±

    ¡°Teresa! I heard Ruby blew up a freaking bridge, Sonya, Ruby, Billy, and Rachel eliminated five headhunters and four Chasers! Duy suplexed a headhunter?! I heard you even stuck a pipe inside the stomach and mouth of a headhunter! What the hell, by the way?! But wow, Squad Zeus and Michelle Fox played a big role in yesterday¡¯s victory! You guys should be treated like heroes, not villains! You all are practically famous!¡±

    ¡°Heh. You mean infamous,¡± she says as she shakes her handcuff.

    ¡°Kiko!¡± Ugh, Harold says as he, Dad, and Scarlett walk through the door.

    ¡°Ew! What do you want?¡± I say. ¡°Only supporters of Luke are allowed in this room.¡±

    ¡°Kiko, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Harold mutters.

    ¡°No! There¡¯s no I in team! We¡¯re supposed to stick together, especially since Doctor Shinka decided to become a part-time magician! My friends have been wrongfully arrested, Olympus is on high alert because it¡¯s only a matter of time until the other kingdoms hear about Luke, and the stupid Royals are sending an unsophisticated mildew lady to come bully us, so I thought that you, my partner would support me in doing what¡¯s best for humanity!¡±

    ¡°Kiko I¡­¡± Harold says.

    ¡°We¡¯re all that¡¯s left of the research division, Harold! For all we know, we¡¯re humanity¡¯s last hope of ending The Age of Zombies. I can¡¯t believe you! I¡­¡±

    ¡°Enough, Kiko,¡± Dad says as he puts a hand on my shoulder.

    Dad¡­

    Emotions. Come on Kiko. You¡¯re a big girl now. A grown-ass woman. Now¡¯s not the time to cry. Too many people are relying on you, so stay sharp. If Harold doesn¡¯t want to help, then you¡¯ll just have to carry humanity on your back by yourself.

    ¡°After you left the meeting, I convinced the others to let you and Harold study Luke as much as you can, and since Olympians have become paranoid of outsiders, I¡¯ll be taking a few members of Squad Zeus on a secret mission,¡± Dad kindly explains.

    Huh? This doesn¡¯t sound like your usual goodbyes.

    ¡°I¡¯m proud of you, Kiko, and I know that your mother would be so proud of you too,¡± Dad says as he looks me in the eyes.

    What? W-why would you say that? How could you say that?!

    ¡°Proud? I haven¡¯t even done anything! All I¡¯ve done is help a mysterious woman turn my friend into a monster, and now Armageddon and a mildew lady are fast approaching because of me!¡±

    ¡°Kiko,¡± Dad says softly. ¡°I love you. You¡¯ve done so much better than you¡¯ve realized. I don¡¯t mean to be inconsiderate, but we have to leave immediately. We¡¯ll be going to Luke Miller¡¯s and Squad Zeus¡¯s location, so¡­¡±

    ¡°Kiko!¡± Teresa yells out.

    Teresa¡­

    ¡°Go help save the world, ok? I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Teresa says with a hopeful smile.

    ¡°I love you, Teresa,¡± I say.

    ¡°Heh. Love is for suckers. I value our friendship as well, Kiko.¡±

    I¡¯m so sorry, Julie, and everyone else who gave their lives in Operation Aurora. I¡¯ll have to postpone my visit. Please forgive me.

    ¡°Time is of the essence, Kiko. We only have one week until Angela Blackwood arrives,¡± Dad calmly explains.

    ¡°Understood,¡± I say.

    Teresa, you¡¯ll be ok, but even if you do end up walking again, you still have to finish serving the mandatory four years of service. Sigh. Sometimes I wish I was a magician so I could make the problems of everyone I care about disappear.

    One week. Seven days. Luke, I won¡¯t rest until I figure out what the heck is going on with you¡­

 Chapter 47: Hasta Pronto (See you Soon)

    11 Hours Later

    June 25, 2075

    2000 MDT (Mountain Daylight Time)

    Mount Olympus, Near Colorado Springs, Colorado

    <u>Scarlett Redheart''s Point of View</u>

    I still can¡¯t believe it. The general of legend is walking with me through this dark, creepy tunnel that¡¯s dimly lit up by white, black, and grey colored lanterns. We¡¯ll be seeing Ruby and the other imprisoned members of Squad Zeus any second now. How could she leave without saying goodbye?! Freaking brat. Knowing her, she¡¯s probably saying something like-

    ¡°What? Afraid to get your ass whooped by a girl?!¡± Ruby says to the guard on watch. ¡°Let me outta here so I can introduce you to my friends lefty and righty, and I¡¯m not talking about my boobs, so get your mind out of the fucking gutter you double-chinned asswipe!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been flapping your gums for several hours now. How much energy do you even have?¡± A woman with a British accent asks.

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t even get me started on you, Tiffany,¡± Ruby insults.

    ¡°It¡¯s Anna, and you are aware of that information,¡± Anna corrects her.

    ¡°Tiffany, bimbo, it doesn¡¯t matter. I can¡¯t believe that someone as obsolete as you just waltzed into our circle,¡± Ruby says, her voice getting louder the closer we get.

    ¡°Ruby you¡­ talk too¡­ much,¡± Sonya says in between breaths.

    Sonya must be exercising.

    ¡°I HAVE TO PEE!¡± Rachel announces.

    ¡°I¡¯m hungry¡­¡± Billy reveals.

    ¡°You guys are so loud!¡± Drew says in an irritating tone.

    Squad Zeus!

    ¡°General! Sergeant! They¡¯re all yours,¡± the guard on watch says in annoyance as he walks away. ¡°Thank God,¡± he mutters under his breath.

    To the left is the boy¡¯s cell, and to the right is the girl¡¯s cell.

    ¡°General! Scarlett!¡± Everyone except for Ruby and Anna happily greets.

    ¡°Nice to see you all,¡± I say.

    Sigh, here we go.

    ¡°Ruby I¡­¡± I say.

    ¡°Achoo! Oh, my allergies. Must be the bacon,¡± Ruby says as she turns her back on me.

    ¡°Bacon?¡± Billy questions.

    ¡°Yes, Billy. The kind that comes from a disgusting fat pig,¡± Ruby replies with a mean snicker.

    ¡°Ruby, you don¡¯t mean that,¡± I say.

    ¡°Can I have some bacon?¡± Billy asks.

    ¡°No, Billy! We don¡¯t talk to pigs!¡± Ruby loudly shouts.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Billy responds sadly.

    ¡°Why are you even here, Scarlett?¡± Ruby asks sharply.

    ¡°I¡¯m here for extra security, to interrogate Squad Zeus, and to check on my bratty baby sister.¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah? Then let us out of here.¡± Ruby responds.

    ¡°No, you¡¯re prisoners for a reason,¡± the guard reminds her.

    ¡°You can¡¯t put shackles on my creativity, dumbass,¡± Ruby clarifies as she turns around and rattles the bars. ¡°Give me enough time, and I¡¯ll find a way to escape from this prison.¡±

    ¡°Ruby stop acting like you weren¡¯t crying about Scarlett and Teresa,¡± Sonya says as she finishes exercising.

    ¡°W-what? I-I wasn¡¯t crying! You are so, so silly Sonya,¡± Ruby chuckles as her voice starts to crack.

    ¡°I missed you too, Ruby,¡± I say.

    ¡°Scoff, Whatever.¡±

    ¡°Ok, interrogation time! Were any of you aware of Luke¡¯s abilities?¡± I ask.

    ¡°No!¡± They all answer in unison.

    ¡°What a stupid question,¡± Ruby shouts in disgust. ¡°Come on, Scarlett. If we or Luke knew he had superpowers, don¡¯t you think he would¡¯ve used them to simply slaughter all of the zombies, and save countless lives? Just because we¡¯re wrongfully being treated like criminals, doesn¡¯t make it so,¡± she explains.

    Good point.

    ¡°Ok then, interrogation over. Your turn, ahem, G-General Farrington. Ruby, please show respect to our general. He¡¯s a founding member with the highest rank in the army.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re innocent, Mr. Chiseled Chin, so let us outta here!¡± Ruby yells as she flips the general off.

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    ¡°Ruby, show respect! He¡¯s the general! He¡¯s important!¡± I say.

    ¡°I don¡¯t give a fuck who he is! I¡¯ll kick his ass too if that¡¯s what it takes for us to leave!¡± Ruby expresses as she rattles the bars. ¡°Besides, nothing is currently more important than letting Rachel pee! She starts making weird cat noises and becomes delirious if she can¡¯t appropriately relieve herse- mmm!¡±

    Thank you, Sonya, for muffling her vulgar mouth.

    ¡°Ew, it tastes like dirt and sweat!¡± Ruby says in a stifled voice.

    ¡°General Farrington?¡± Sonya asks.

    ¡°I¡¯ll cut to the chase,¡± General Farrington explains. ¡°Recent events have made the council members and civilians even more paranoid about outsiders. You Sonya Grey, Luke Miller, along with Anna Robinson, are the biggest potential threats in the eyes of most Olympians, because none of you were born in Olympia. Rachel, Duy, and Billy Cooper are seen as less severe threats, because they were born in the Olympian settlements, Brackettville and Port Arthur, Texas, but are nonetheless viewed as threats.¡±

    ¡°Billy and Rachel a threat? Don¡¯t make me laugh. They wouldn¡¯t hurt a fly,¡± Ruby says in a soft voice.

    ¡°This is entirely absurd. What in the world did I do?¡± Anna asks as she inspects her nails.

    ¡°Sonya Grey, you are a former Black Scorpion. Anna Robinson, you are a former Royal. Both of these factions have bad history with Olympus. I came here specifically for you two, and I won¡¯t force you, but I suggest that you two, along with one other volunteer who isn¡¯t Ruby Redheart, come along with me for a top-secret mission,¡± General Farrington reveals.

    ¡°Screw you! Like I would go anywhere with you!¡± Ruby angrily says in a muffled voice as she flips off the General again.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Sonya says in a calm tone, glaring at Ruby.

    ¡°What exactly is this top-secret mission?¡± Anna asks as she brushes dirt off of her uniform.

    ¡°Admiral Minerva Silva of the kingdom Athens has been poisoned from fighting a Behemoth. Athens lacks medical supplies, so they asked us for assistance,¡± General Farrington explains.

    ¡°Traveling from North America to South America. That¡¯s quite a journey,¡± Sonya says in a curious tone.

    ¡°A journey that must be completed in seven days or less, which is why we won¡¯t be going to South America,¡± General Farrington clarifies. ¡°The Royals are sending an elite soldier named Angela Blackwood, along with several troops to investigate the rumors of Luke Miller¡¯s abilities. This new threat will arrive in less than a week. The council has revealed that I am also a prime suspect in this investigation along with Doctor Veronica Shinka, her apprentices Harold Smith, and my daughter Kiko Farrington.¡±

    ¡°Scoff, great! The shitheads are sending a little turd after us!¡± Ruby complains in a sarcastic, deadened voice.

    ¡°Kiko, Harold, and I must return to Olympia before her arrival,¡± General Farrington continues. ¡°The meeting point is located near The Undead Forest, next to Scorpia, Mexico. We will be wearing cloaks for this mission, of course, because causing trouble with Scorpius is the last thing we need right now.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll go,¡± Sonya agrees in seriousness.

    ¡°I suppose anything is better than listening to Ruby¡¯s creative, vulgar insults all day,¡± Anna agrees.

    ¡°Ok, so I just need one more volu¡­¡± he starts to say.

    ¡°General! Let me go on this mission, please!¡± Billy yells out as he grabs the bars.

    Wow. He¡¯s usually so quiet.

    ¡°Minerva is one of Olympus¡¯s oldest allies and a powerful one at that. She is very influential across South America and has great knowledge of the sea, water tunnels, and bridges. Losing someone like her is something that we absolutely cannot allow to happen. Are you willing to sacrifice your life if needed, Private Billy Cooper?¡± General Farrington warns as he walks towards Billy.

    ¡°Yes, sir! If it means helpin¡¯ my kingdom, then I will sacrifice my life for the sake of the mission if needed! I will do anythin¡¯ to bring Olympus one step closer to reclaimin¡¯ Brackettville!¡± Billy answers proudly.

    ¡°Are you willing to take a life if needed?¡± General Farrington asks as they meet almost face to face.

    ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Billy hesitates.

    ¡°Billy, you and Rachel are the most passive ones here, and that¡¯s ok,¡± Duy steps in. ¡°I can go instead of you.¡±

    ¡°Billy, you don¡¯t have to go,¡± Sonya kindly says. ¡°If you¡¯re not ready for this, then¡­¡±

    ¡°I want to go! Please! I¡¯m tired of playing support!¡± Billy pleads. ¡°In¡­ in Winner, all I did was pick up your scraps! I felt so worthless! I want a chance to prove myself as a squadmate, but most importantly, as a man! Please! I volunteer!¡±

    ¡°Open their cells, soldier. Release Anna Robinson, Sonya Grey, and Billy Cooper. And, please allow Rachel Cooper to¡­ handle her business,¡± General Farrington orders.

    ¡°Billy!¡± Rachels yells out.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Rachel,¡± Billy says with a faint smile. ¡°I can¡¯t keep hiding behind people forever. I have to learn how to take care of myself,¡± Billy explains with a smile.

    ¡°Go kick ass, Billy Boy!¡± Ruby cheers on.

    ¡°Give them hell!¡± Duy yells out.

    ¡°General, wait. I¡¯m not leaving without saying goodbye to Luke,¡± Sonya says with a slight blush.

    ¡°I see. Very well, but make it quick,¡± General Farrington grants Sonya. ¡°Scarlett here will escort you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, General,¡± Sonya thanks with a hopeful look in her eyes.

    *

    Upstairs, Beneath Mount Olympus¡¯s peak

    The Pillar of Judgement

    *

    Mount Olympus is surprisingly beautiful. The Pillar of Judgement is roughly half the size of a football field and resembles an airplane hangar, to the left is the barracks, to the right is unusable wreckage and a firing squad. Above are the platforms where another firing squad is in position. Is that an electronically operated elevator in the background? Unbelievable! Yet the strangest thing about this place so far is the oddly placed large metallic pillar-like structure in the middle of the room where Luke Miller is chained up and being judged. Olympus appears to retain its reputation of ridiculous nicknames for structures, even outside of the capital.

    ¡°Sonya! I¡­¡± Luke quickly calls out.

    ¡°Luke, I don¡¯t have much time, so here,¡± Sonya says as she gives Luke a quick sip of root beer. ¡°Rachel wanted you to have some. Said she didn¡¯t mind sharing this one time,¡± Sonya says in a gentle voice.

    They¡¯re so cute.

    ¡°Listen, I gotta go away on a dangerous mission with General Farrington, Anna, and Billy, but one or all of us will probably die,¡± Sonya explains in a nonchalant tone. ¡°Luke, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on with you, or why you never told me that you got bit, but none of that is important right now. I¡¯m going to ask you a simple question, and I want you to answer truthfully. You¡¯re my best friend, so I obviously know you better than anyone else,¡± Sonya says in a very serious tone. ¡°Are you still Luke?¡± She asks with a curious, bright look in her eyes.

    ¡°Yes, Sonya. I¡¯m still me. I¡¯ll always be me,¡± Luke says.

    ¡°Then that¡¯s all that matters,¡± she says after the two share a long kiss.

    ¡°Sonya, I¡­,¡± Luke says in a confused, energetic tone.

    ¡°You¡¯re Luke Miller!¡± Sonya interrupts with a hidden smile, bright look in her eyes, and a big blush on her cheeks as she crosses her arms beneath her chest. ¡°You¡¯re my boyfriend, and as your girlfriend, I am asking you to train your butt off for the next seven days so we can convince Olympus that you¡¯re not a monster, but a human being who has been experimented on by a mysterious woman. Luke, with your powers, I believe that we can end The Age of Zombies and find a cure for you at the same time. Kiko and Harold won¡¯t let you die. They¡¯ll do everything possible to help you, but they can only do that if you¡¯re focused on training.¡±

    What an interesting woman.

    ¡°Scarlett, I¡¯m ready to go,¡± Sonya announces to me. ¡°Hasta Pronto (See you soon), Luke,¡± she says with a soft smile as she holds her heart and walks away with me.

    ¡°You ok, Sonya?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s just, Mmm. He¡¯s an excellent kisser, Scarlett. I was caught off guard,¡± Sonya smirks.

    ¡°You kissed him first, and you were the one who was caught off guard?¡± I say.

    ¡°Scarlett, he tasted like root beer,¡± she explains with a slightly devilish grin.

    So lucky. As bad as things are, I suppose that every cloud has a silver lining. Sigh. Love is one mystery that I doubt I¡¯ll ever solve.

 Chapter 48: Hercules

    June 25, 2075

    2025 MDT

    Mount Olympus, Near Colorado Springs

    <u>Kiko Farrington''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Hercules!¡± Ruby blurts out as she and the others are brought in to spectate Luke¡¯s training.

    ¡°Huh?¡± I ask.

    ¡°It¡¯s Luke¡¯s new nickname, and it¡¯s non-negotiable, so take it or leave it,¡± Ruby clarifies as a few soldiers free him from his chains.

    ¡°That¡¯s actually pretty amazing,¡± I say.

    Ruby never ceases to surprise me.

    ¡°Hold your applause, everybody,¡± Ruby says with a look of satisfaction in her eyes.

    ¡°Ruby, don¡¯t you ever get tired of hearing yourself talk?¡± Drew asks, annoyed.

    ¡°No way,¡± Ruby says with confidence. ¡°Sometimes when I¡¯m bored I play game shows, like the ones from The Old World, in my head. The host, competitors, and audience are all yours truly, of course. We were the number one show in the country at one point.¡±

    ¡°I hope y¡¯all enjoyed your free trial of eternal rest because sleep is something that will not exist for the next seven days! Luke Miller! Are you ready to train?¡± I announce.

    ¡°I¡¯m ready!¡± Luke says, full of energy.

    Hah. Love is the number one motivator for humans.

    ¡°Just so you know, Annie and Jian will be watching your every move and will eliminate you without hesitation if you turn on us,¡± Harold warns Luke as they glance at the spectating Annie and Jian from above.

    ¡°Luke, baby! Don¡¯t turn evil, or else I¡¯ll have to write I love you on your heart,¡± she warns in an ominous tone. ¡°In a heart!¡± she clarifies with a creepy smile and cheerful tone as she eats her hair and taps her revolver.

    ¡°Killing you is something that I would like to avoid, due to your potential, but if you truly are a monster and try to hurt anybody here, then I will immediately decimate you without hesitation,¡± Jian says in a serious tone as he glares at Luke. ¡°It¡¯ll be ugly, but it¡¯ll be justice, and justice always prevails. There are also numerous amounts of soldiers ready to shoot you at all times, should you go berserk.¡±

    ¡°Luke, I need you to undress,¡± I say.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Luke asks in understandable confusion.

    That sounded much better in my head than out loud.

    ¡°We all smell bad enough already, but we¡¯re underground now, so the smell will be even worse, especially since you¡¯ll be all sweaty. So¡­ ahem. Remove the clothing from your torso,¡± I say.

    ¡°Fine. Whatever it takes,¡± Luke says with determination as he begins to remove his uniform.

    ¡°Ooooh. I¡¯m telling Sonya,¡± Scarlett chuckles.

    ¡°I thought you were the mature Redheart sister,¡± I say to Scarlett. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not like that. Everything I do and say is always professional. That¡¯s just the kind of woman I am.¡±

    ¡°Right. Because the way you mounted Harold back in the interrogation room was very professional,¡± Scarlett says with a grin.

    ¡°Scarlett! O-M-G. You know that¡¯s not what happened. I had an urge! An urge that required the assistance of a trusted cohort.¡±

    ¡°Most of us have urges, but what¡¯s important is that you learn when to control them and when to let loose,¡± Scarlett annoyingly explains.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t like that,¡± I say.

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    ¡°I mean, based on my astute observation of the situation, and years of experience as a police officer, it looked like you two were going to get freaky had I not walked in,¡± Scarlett states.

    ¡°Ugh! Definitely, maybe, probably!¡± I say.

    ¡°You two know I¡¯m still here, right?¡± Harold reminds us.

    ¡°I said that out loud, didn¡¯t I? Forget what I said! Sometimes my thoughts are very, very unprofessional. Luke, are you done alr-¡­ oh my.¡±

    He¡¯s hot.

    ¡°Ok. Sorry for the wait. What are we doing first?¡± Luke says as he throws his shirt onto the floor, causing Annie to give out a loud wolf whistle.

    Ah! I have to stop staring at his abs. It¡¯s unprofessional, and you are a professional, sophisticated woman, Kiko. Don¡¯t forget that humanity is counting on you. His abs aren¡¯t worth drooling over. Ok, maybe if humanity wasn¡¯t at stake, they would be, but Sonya would kill you. You can¡¯t do that to your friends.

    ¡°Ooh, Yas!¡± Annie shouts in glee as she hops down and hugs Luke. ¡°You just got upgraded from cutie-pie to hottie! Sigh. Kiss me like you kissed Sonya,¡± she pleads with too much happiness in her voice. ¡°I promise I won¡¯t tell. It¡¯ll be our little secret between us, and it won¡¯t be the only thing between us,¡± she says in a seductive tone with a devilish smirk as she rubs her index finger on his chest and gets a bit too close to his lips.

    ¡°Luke, what were you feeling the first time you activated your powers?¡± Harold asks with haste.

    ¡°No way! Is he jealous? Well, I suppose it makes sense from his point of view. I mean, how do you compete with a handsome eighteen-year-old young man with superpowers and a six-pack? But it doesn¡¯t matter right now. Whether Harold is jealous or not isn¡¯t important. What¡¯s important is learning as much about Luke¡¯s powers as possible before mildew lady and her moldy troops arrive. That¡¯s why I can¡¯t allow Harold¡¯s need to be the alpha male get in the way of the mission. Luke Miller, his powers, and his alluring six-pack are all required to save the world. Oh, stop kidding yourself, Kiko. His enticing six-pack is exactly the kind of risqu¨¦, racy, and sensual motivation you need in your life! Hah. Just think of it as a sweet, sweet bonus for all your hard work! Oh, if only he and Sonya weren¡¯t together. Damn it! Sonya is so clever. She knew exactly what she was doing by sealing the deal with that prolonged, ardent kiss in front of everyone before she left!¡±

    ¡°Kiko, you¡¯re thinking out loud again,¡± Scarlett reminds me.

    Ah! Don¡¯t look at their faces!

    ¡°Ahem, enough talk! What were you feeling, Luke?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Luke says as he gently rejects Annie and covers his gorgeous abs with his arms.

    You ass! Oh, what am I saying? Hah. It¡¯ll take a lot more than buttery abs for me to break my professional attitude.

    ¡°I was extremely enraged. We almost finished the mission without any major injuries, but then¡­ Teresa. If I could describe what I felt in two words, it would be pain and sorrow. The pain of watching my friend undeservedly suffer like that. The sorrow of knowing that the only way to save her was to release her from this hellish world. I didn¡¯t want to admit it, and I honestly don¡¯t know if I could¡¯ve done it, but luckily Duy knew what had to be done before me. He¡¯s the captain for a reason. He was ready to kill the person he loved if it meant she didn¡¯t have to suffer. I don¡¯t think I could ever commit a mercy kill to anyone in Squad Zeus. They¡¯re the first friends I¡¯ve ever had,¡± Luke calmly explains. ¡°Eventually, I realized that a mercy kill was the only option left and then, I don¡¯t know. I-I just punched the truck out of frustration, and then the next thing I know, Teresa is free, and the truck is flying down several blocks.¡±

    Intriguing.

    ¡°And the second time?¡± Harold asks in an irritated tone.

    ¡°I felt scared. I didn¡¯t want to die, and I didn¡¯t want to hurt anyone. I don¡¯t want anybody to die. Not even the Royals, despite how unjust they are. Human life is precious, and taking a life is insane, but sometimes it¡¯s the only way to protect yourself and the people you love in this world,¡± Luke says with a somber look on his face. ¡°Next thing I knew, I woke up with a massive headache before Sonya knocked me out for my own and the Squad¡¯s safety.¡±

    He¡¯s a good man, and Sonya knows it.

    ¡°So, the common factor is emotion,¡± Harold and I say in unison.

    ¡°What if we¡­¡± I say.

    ¡°Recreate these experiences!¡± Harold finishes our sentence.

    ¡°Yes! We just have to recreate this scenario until Luke¡¯s eyes turn red. ¡°Attention!!! We need Luke to reexperience the severe, agonizing pain that activated his powers! We need pure borderline torture!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re saying you need someone to kick Luke¡¯s ass?¡± Ruby inquires.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Luke asks worried.

    ¡°Yes! And no holding back! If my superb hypothesis is correct, then we don¡¯t need to worry about any serious injuries to your body!¡±

    ¡°If?¡± Luke asks again.

    ¡°Do we have any volunteers, ladies, and gentlemen?! Who here wants to kick Luke Hercules Miller¡¯s ass?!!¡±

    ¡°I volunteer,¡± Duy, Jian, and Harold, along with several other male soldiers shout.

    ¡°Oh, boy,¡± Luke says with a sigh.

    ¡°Whatever it takes, Luke,¡± Harold reminds him as he stretches.

    ¡°Luke, you¡¯ll probably be struggling to breathe soon, but if it makes you feel better, struggling is just a part of the journey to success,¡± I say.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make me feel better at all,¡± Luke replies with a confused look on his face.

    ¡°Well, it be like that sometimes, Luke,¡± I say.

    Sigh. Daydreaming about lovely unprofessional things is so fun, but nothing compares to doing the one thing you¡¯re passionate about. Experimenting! It¡¯s such a thrill to learn new things. I get lost in the zone and lose track of time, and I absolutely freaking love it.

    But Dad, Sonya, Anna, Billy, this is a silly fantasy, but I¡¯m constantly praying that nothing terrible will happen in your mission. All I can do right now is play my role and hope for the best.

 Chapter 49: Encounter

    2 Days Later

    June 27, 2075

    1900 CDT

    The Undead Forest, Near Mexico City

    <u>Sonya Grey''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Hurry!¡± General Farrington yells the moment we arrive at the entrance to The Undead Forest and hop off of our motorcycles.

    ¡°That¡¯s quite an unpleasurable sight!¡± Anna yells as she points at our new guests.

    Shit!

    ¡°Look out!¡± Billy yells as he alerts us to the hundreds of zombies inside the entrance of the forest.

    Zombies at our twelve and Scorpios at our six! As I remember, The Scorpios resemble the South African Fattail Scorpion, only these creatures are far more deadly. Black gooey oozing skin and flesh, about the size of a bulldozer, fast as a horse at top speed, capable of scaling up surfaces, two razor-sharp pincers, an extremely lethal poison tail that can also shoot out skin melting acid, a hard protective shell to protect the top of its body, but luckily and intriguingly, it¡¯s the only mutated unequipped with teeth.

    These bastards don¡¯t even have teeth to eat people with, but they still mindlessly murder for shits and giggles like the rest of the zombies. But as terrifying as they are, they share the same weakness as all mutated! Its brain is located in a narrow gap under its shell, directly behind its ugly fucking face, directly in its kill zone.

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    ¡°Ready?!¡± General Farrington orders us as we all prepare our new gadget. ¡°Now!¡±

    Bullseye! Anna and the General¡¯s Lightning Bolt, high-powered and rare grappling hooks, landed right on the tree branch.

    ¡°NO!¡± Billy yells out as he misfires.

    Oh my fucking god.

    ¡°Billy!¡± Anna and General Farrington cry out.

    ¡°Damn it!¡± Billy yells as he reels his Lighting Bolt back to try again.

    He doesn¡¯t see them!

    ¡°Billy, look out!¡± I say.

    Shit! Too close! A Scorpio almost impaled his chest with its deadly tail. He would¡¯ve been a goner if I hadn¡¯t pushed him out of the way.

    ¡°Indigo, I¡­!¡± Billy says as he fumbles with the Lightning Bolt.

    ¡°Billy, get the fuck outta here!¡± I yell.

    Bringing him along was a mistake.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Billy whines as he zips away to safety.

    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± General Farrington yells out to me.

    A Scorpio to my three, two fast approaching from the desert, and thousands of zombies in the forest.

    They¡¯re all unknowingly about to be turned into mincemeat, courtesy of my Halo¡¯s Alpha and Omega.

    ¡°Hey!¡± I yell.

    Someone just swooped down from the trees and grabbed me?!

    ¡°You¡¯re very brave for a lady!¡± My next victim says as we land on a tree branch.

    I¡¯m not fucking stupid. I know exactly what you¡¯re after.

    Underestimating a victim because of their sex is a stupid move, which is why you¡¯re now pinned to the ground with a blade to your neck.

    ¡°Hands above your head, slowly,¡± I say to him.

    A simple slice to his windpipe would be all it takes to end him if he doesn¡¯t comply. He¡¯s an older black guy with rough-looking black hair, a brown cowboy hat, black eyepatch, and a large beard. He¡¯s wearing a brown cloak and dark blue jeans. His poor life decisions have led him here, alone in the dark forest surrounded by zombies as he wonders, when. When is this little girl going to slice my throat open? It¡¯ll be any moment now.

    Wait a second. This guy looks familiar. And, that eyepatch. That bulletproof vest. This technology. Could it be?

    ¡°You first!¡± A boy yells from a nearby tree branch.

    ¡°We have your friends! Let him go!¡± A girl says as she points a gun at my captured friends.

    ¡°Sonya¡­ Grey?¡± My captive asks in a curious tone.

 Chapter 50: Trouble Comes in Threes

    June 27, 2075

    1905 CDT

    The Undead Forest, Between the Gulf of Mexico and Mexico City

    <u>Sonya Grey''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Seina! Jake! Stand down!¡± My hostage yells out to his comrades, his voice echoing throughout the trees.

    The Undead Forest, an overgrown forest that spans across the coast for miles and miles and is filled with countless amounts of undead. Moonlight is the only source of light in this dusky forest when the sun sets. Traveling on the ground is suicidal, so the smart thing to do is to use the disproportionate tree branches to get to where you need to go. These freakishly large and sturdy branches are like a vast spider web with the way they connect and intertwine with each other.

    Seina and Jake are the names of my hostage¡¯s cohorts. Seina must be the Hispanic redheaded girl with loosely braided hair, freckles, dark cloak, pistol, and an eyepatch just like my prisoner. Zero body expressions, but your facial expression says, ¡°I don¡¯t want to do this, but I will to survive.¡±

    Jake, a bald Caucasian boy with a small circular-shaped device, sticking out of his throat. You¡¯re equipped with an assault rifle, but you know better than to point it at me. No eyepatch, but they¡¯re obviously in a group, so this confirms my suspicions even further. Your body expressions clearly make him the more nervous of the two.

    You two seem oddly familiar.

    ¡°Dwayne! I-I can do it! It would only take a second!¡± Jake yells out.

    ¡°If you point that gun at me or hurt my friends, then you¡¯ll get to see the insides of your friend¡¯s throat,¡± I say. ¡°From his minuscule tonsils down to his fucking trachea.¡±

    ¡°Dwyane?¡± Seina asks in concern.

    ¡°Listen, girly. I don¡¯t feel like dyin¡¯ anytime soon,¡± Dwayne says to me in slight apprehension.

    ¡°The terrifying thing about death is that you never know when it¡¯s going to come for you,¡± I say to Dwayne. ¡°Being born is just a death sentence, and unfortunately for you three, you just met your executioner.¡±

    ¡°I get it. I get it. You¡¯re dead serious. Seina! Let them go!¡± Dwayne helplessly orders.

    ¡°What? I thought we were gonna¡­¡± Seina trails off.

    ¡°NOW, SEINA!¡± Dwyane shouts in fear.

    ¡°Yes sir,¡± Seina complies.

    ¡°Are you satisfied now?¡± Dwayne asks me.

    ¡°Almost,¡± I say to Dwayne. ¡°Tell Jake to empty the clip in his rifle and throw the gun down below.¡±

    ¡°I would comply with that request if it wasn¡¯t for all of those Scorpios slowly making their way up the trees,¡± Dwayne points out.

    ¡°You think I give a shit about that?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Indigo! We must go! Now!¡± General Farrington annoyingly reminds me.

    ¡°Fine!¡± I say as I cut his cloak. ¡°But you¡¯re not leaving my side, Dwayne. Don¡¯t forget who I am.¡±

    Huh, no wonder you¡¯re so desperate. Upon removing your cloak, I can see that you have no weapons at all, only a black bulletproof vest.

    *

    10 Minutes Later

    <u>Billy Cooper¡¯s Point of View</u>

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Seina says as we slowly make our way from branch to branch.

    ¡°For what?¡± I ask.

    ¡°You know, for almost killin¡¯ you¡± she admits.

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, oh?¡± She giggles as she brushes her hair.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m not very good with conversations.¡±

    I can¡¯t wait to go to sleep. Being in the middle of the group with General Farrington is boring. Sonya and Dwayne are on point, while Jake and Anna are covering our six.

    The New World is something else, though! I¡¯ve never seen trees this tall before in my life! We must be hundreds of meters off the ground. Gulp. It¡¯s probably not a good idea to look down.

    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    ¡°Hey, Billy. Don¡¯t look down. There¡¯s nothin¡¯ down there except death and a few animals that you can hunt,¡± Seina explains. ¡°Just ignore the muertos vivientes (living dead) and keep looking straight.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for the advice.¡±

    ¡°Sooo, you look to be around my age. How old are you if you don¡¯t mind me askin¡¯?¡± Seina asks with a smile.

    ¡°I¡¯m eighteen. How old are you?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to ask a lady about her age,¡± Seina chuckles.

    ¡°Oh. But you asked for my age, so it¡¯s only right if I ask about your age too, OK?¡±

    ¡°Sigh. That¡¯s true. I¡¯m nineteen years old if you must know.¡±

    ¡°Nice to meet you, Seina.¡±

    ¡°Nice to meet you too, Billy. Sigh. I was just messin¡¯ with you ¡®bout the whole age situation. I think the norm between men and women is all silly. Men are expected to behave a certain way, and women are expected to do the same thing, but all of society¡¯s rules don¡¯t exist in The New World. Out here, everyone just behaves like wild animals, which makes sense because we are mammals. I like to think that The New World was created to, um, raise the curtain on humanity. Underneath all the smoke and mirrors that society creates, is this world! I believe that all of this chaos is humanity¡¯s true form!¡± Seina says with an odd smile.

    ¡°That¡¯s um¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I¡¯m comin¡¯ on too strong. I just don¡¯t get to meet new people often and when I do¡­ um, forget it. Sorry. Jake and Dwayne are cool but hangin¡¯ out with the same people every day can be exhaustin¡¯. I was just so excited to see people my age, especially a boy,¡± she says.

    ¡°What happened to your eye, Seina?¡±

    ¡°Oh! Um! N-nothin¡¯. Just an accident. A bad accident!¡± Seina says as she touches her eyepatch. ¡°I don¡¯t know much about you, but you do know about the unspoken rule, right?¡±

    ¡°Of course! I forgot for a second.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re smart,¡± she says with a soft smile. ¡°And cute¡±

    ¡°Thank you again, Seina. I think you¡¯re bea-¡±

    ¡°Despite how I feel about this world, I can¡¯t stop myself from imaginin¡¯ all of the magical things I could¡¯ve done in the previous world! Back then, you only needed a shit ton of money to have a good life, but nowadays, you need a certain¡­ something for safety. Anyway, what would you have done for a career back then, assuming you were stuck with one job for life?¡± she continues to say.

    ¡°Um, probably the same thing I do¡­ did now, ok?¡±

    ¡°Hmm. Interestin¡¯. I would¡¯ve been a famous, world-class, breath-taking magician! Thank you for asking, by the way. I would¡¯ve blown the crowd¡¯s minds away with my incredible tricks. People would¡¯ve paid hundreds of dollars to watch me perform. My cash would¡¯ve been as high as the tree branches we¡¯re walking on. But most importantly, like how all magicians were, I would¡¯ve never revealed my tricks; not for free at least,¡± she says smiling.

    ¡°Magicians, huh? Magic is pretty cool.¡±

    ¡°Somethin¡¯ tells me that fate will decide if you¡¯ll get to see me perform one day, Billy,¡± she says as she walks closer to me.

    ¡°Anything¡¯s possible, Seina.¡±

    ¡°Soooo, Billy. Do you have a, ummm you know, a girlfriend?¡±

    *

    <u>Anna Robinson¡¯s Point of View</u>

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t have a boyfriend, Jake,¡± I say to Jake.

    ¡°Want one?¡± Jake asks.

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Oh. Ok.¡±

    Why is everyone on Earth so annoying?

    ¡°I wish I had a girlfriend,¡± Jake blurts out.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡±

    ¡°Seina doesn¡¯t like b-bald guys.¡±

    ¡°How dreadful.¡±

    ¡°I asked her why,¡± he continues.

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    ¡°She said because sunlight reflects off of my h-head and hurts her e-eye.¡±

    ¡°Uproarious.¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯m a s-survivor. I can¡¯t help that I¡¯m fighting two wars.¡±

    ¡°Survivor?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, this device in my t-throat helps me b-breathe. They called it tracheostomy.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°For what? It¡¯s not your fault. I had an accident.¡±

    I don¡¯t know what to say. As far as I¡¯m concerned, you¡¯re not an enemy or a friend, but I don¡¯t know much about life out here other than what they taught us in our training. The best thing I can do is follow General Farrington and Sonya¡¯s¡­ Indigo¡¯s lead. Billy has the medicine and is being very friendly to the Seina girl. Sigh. I wanted to talk to the girl. Boys are so gross and smelly.

    ¡°Whatcha thinking about, Anna?¡± Jake asks as he digs into his nose.

    ¡°About how bad I need a show¡­ I mean, wash.¡±

    ¡°Oh. I don¡¯t like washing, but I try to clean my teeth whenever and however I can. It compliments my hairless h-head,¡± he says proudly.

    ¡°¡­ Ok.¡±

    ¡°But I don¡¯t wanna bother you too much. I just wanted to express my love of sports cars to someone who wasn¡¯t Dwayne or Seina. Dwayne never has any reactions, and Seina just tells me to wear a hat whenever I try to tell her how good of a racer I would¡¯ve been. So, it was a nice change of pace to meet someone who understands my love of cars as much as me. Thank you, Anna. I¡¯ll never forget you,¡± Jake says as he flicks his booger into the darkness below.

    I don¡¯t know whether to be pleased, angered, or terrified right now.

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome, Jake.¡±

    ¡°Indigo, we need to stop,¡± General Farrington quietly orders.

    ¡°Indigo? How ironic. Is that what you¡¯re going by now, or is that some kind of codename?¡± Dwayne whispers to Sonya.

    ¡°Shut it,¡± Sonya calmly shouts at Dwayne.

    ¡°Oh, come on. Who could forget those bright brown eyes of the one and only Sonya Grey?¡± Dwayne laughs.

    You know her identity?! Then that must mean they¡¯re¡­

    ¡°So, my suspicions were correct,¡± Sonya responds to Dwayne.

    ¡°We¡¯re not affiliated with the Black Scorpions anymore though, whether that makes a difference or not,¡± Dwayne says as he slowly reveals his Black Scorpion shoulder tattoo. ¡°And uh¡­ about...¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter anymore, Dwayne,¡± Sonya quickly interrupts.

    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Dwayne says with a disappointed head nod. ¡°Jake! Seina! It¡¯s time to rest!¡±

    ¡°You three aren¡¯t doing shit!¡± Sonya says in a serious tone.

    ¡°Sonya, your friends are exhausted. It¡¯s clear to me that y¡¯all have been awake for days. Trouble in paradise, I¡¯m assuming. Anyway, you might be able to stay up another night, but your new Olympian friends aren¡¯t as reliable as you,¡± Dwayne explains.

    ¡°Sonya, it¡¯s ok,¡± General Farrington says as he gives us a hand motion to stop walking.

    ¡°I can stay up another night, which is why I¡¯ll keep watch,¡± Sonya warns as she kneels beside a tree.

    I suppose we¡¯ll have to use our cloaks as blankets. How atrocious.

    ¡°Goodnight, Anna,¡± Jake says as he suddenly appears in front of me.

    ¡°Don¡¯t just pop up from out of nowhere, Jake!¡± I say. ¡°Hmph! I¡¯m sleeping by Billy!¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Jake says in a sad tone. ¡°Sorry, I just thought we were friends.¡±

    ¡°Stop being so clingy, Jake. Buenas noches (good night) my number one fan, Billy,¡± Seina says as she walks towards Jake.

    ¡°We¡¯re splitting up the moment the sun rises, Dwayne,¡± Sonya explains as she gives Dwayne a frightening glare.

    ¡°Goodnight, Sonya Grey,¡± Dwayne snickers in a chilling tone.

 Chapter 51: Ace of Spades

    12 Hours Later

    June 28, 2075

    0701 CDT

    The Undead Forest, Between the Gulf of Mexico and Mexico City

    <u>Billy Cooper''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Sunlight! Finally!¡± Seina exclaims in glee.

    ¡°What are you doing man?!¡± Anna yells out in horror.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I just get too sweaty when I sleep,¡± Jake explains as he puts on his pants.

    ¡°I wish you¡¯d just disappear sometimes, Jake,¡± Seina says as she stretches in disbelief. ¡°Abracadabra alakazam,¡± she chants, using her fingers as an imaginative magic wand.

    ¡°Sonya Grey,¡± Dwayne greets as he stretches. ¡°How the fuck are ya?¡±

    ¡°Fantastic,¡± Sonya responds in her usual calm, yet serious tone.

    ¡°So, where y¡¯all headed?¡± Dwayne asks with a smile.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Sonya replies.

    ¡°We know this forest better than anyone else, Sonya,¡± Dwayne bargains.

    ¡°I wonder why,¡± Sonya says as she continues to maintain eye contact with Dwayne.

    ¡°I¡¯m trying to say that we can, uh be your navigators,¡± Dwayne clarifies.

    ¡°We¡¯re not tourists,¡± Sonya declines.

    ¡°Sonya,¡± General Farrington calls out to her. ¡°I think we could use Dwayne¡¯s help.¡±

    We could?

    ¡°Understood,¡± Sonya complies. ¡°We¡¯ll walk in the same formation as yesterday, but it would be best if we maintained a larger distance from each other¡­ if that¡¯s ok with you and your friends, Dwayne.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s perfectly fine with me, Sonya. I mean, you never know what dangers could be lurking out here,¡± Dwayne answers with a grin.

    ¡°Psst, Billy,¡± Seina quietly whispers near me while looking straight ahead as we begin to walk. ¡°No matter what happens, I¡¯m glad I got to meet a fan, my only fan, in fact. I still can¡¯t believe that you changed your mind and wanted to stay up late with me and um, it just meant the world to me that I met someone who paid attention to all of my card tricks.¡±

    ¡°Of course. What are friends for? I think you would get along with a certain friend of mine, but she¡¯s more into gambling than card tricks.¡±

    ¡°Well, both rely on deception and sleight of hand. They¡¯re two sides of the same coin in a way, so it sounds like I would get along with your friend,¡± she says smiling.

    ¡°You¡¯re pretty cool, Seina.¡±

    ¡°Stay still for a second,¡± she says as she gets close to me.

    No way! A kiss on the cheek, my first kiss!

    ¡°Billy, there¡¯s something behind your ear,¡± Seina quickly notifies.

    ¡°Huh? Oh, wow!¡±

    A black ace of spades playing cards with a red kiss mark and the words ¡°Pretty Cool¡± written on it. You are a great magician, Seina.

    ¡°Think of it as my autograph,¡± she explains with a wink.

    ¡°Thank you, Seina. I¡¯ll hold on to it for memory.¡±

    *

    <u>Anna Robinson¡¯s Point of View</u>

    I guess I¡¯ll take your advice and give him one of your hats, Billy.

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Jake, I have a gift for you,¡± I say.

    ¡°Oh. Thank you, Anna,¡± Jake, thanks with a smile as he adjusts his new baseball cap. ¡°So, what¡¯s O-Olympus like?¡±

    Seina wasn¡¯t kidding about you and the sun¡¯s reflection.

    ¡°Terrible. What was Scorpius like?¡±

    ¡°Terrible. I guess we finally have something in common,¡± he states as he puts on the cap.

    ¡°I suppose so.¡±

    It¡¯s so peaceful now, but the temperature is heating up like wildfire. Oh, how I do miss the cold air conditioning of the Zodiacs.

    ¡°What do you think happens to us after we d-die? The natural d-death I mean,¡± Jake asks as he flosses his teeth.

    ¡°I don¡¯t freaking know!¡±

    ¡°I think that we¡¯ll suffer from eternal d-darkness, or maybe we¡¯ll get to live out our wildest dreams in paradise, but who knows?¡± Jake continues.

    ¡°Yeah, who knows?¡±

    Just stop talking to me, you idiot.

    *

    5 Hours Later

    1256 CDT

    <u>Billy Cooper¡¯s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Dwayne. You don¡¯t want to do this,¡± Sonya alerts Dwayne up ahead.

    ¡°Sorry, Sonya, but you know how it is!¡± Dwayne chuckles as he reaches into his vest.

    He pulled out a knife?!

    Holy Shit.

    ¡°Dwayne!!!¡± Seina screams in terror.

    Sonya just fucking sliced Dwayne¡¯s throat open!

    And General Farrington just shot¡­

    ¡°SEINA! DWAYNE!¡± Jake screams out as he opens fire on Sonya.

    Sonya¡¯s usin¡¯ Dwayne¡¯s corpse as a human shield, but¡­SEINA?!

    ¡°Billy! Anna! Get down!¡± General Farrington orders as he returns fire on Jake.

    ¡°Fucking bastards!¡± Jake curses as he slides down a tree trunk for safety.

    ¡°Seina?! No, why?!¡± I say.

    ¡°She¡¯s dead, Billy,¡± General fucking Farrington says. ¡°We have to g-¡±

    ¡°Shut the fuck up, you fuckin¡¯ murderer! You just killed our new friends, and I¡¯m not gonna let you kill our last one!¡±

    ¡°Billy, stop!¡± General Farrington calls out.

    I can do it! I can save Jake; I have to save Jake.

    *

    ¡°Oh shit!¡± Jake yells out in fear the moment I reach the ground.

    Sonya¡¯s down here already?! She¡¯s so fast!

    Jake¡¯s shooting at her but is missing!

    ¡°Stop!¡± Jake says, followed by Sonya kicking his gun away and stabbing him in the stomach, trappin¡¯ him against the tree. ¡°Ugh! It hurts! It hurts so much!¡± Jake cries out in pain.

    Now she just sliced his left arm off with no hesitation whatsoever.

    ¡°I have no sympathy for bandit thieves, regardless of our past. You three should¡¯ve left us the fuck alone.¡± Sonya states in rage.

    ¡°Sonya, how could you-¡± I say.

    ¡°Billy Cooper!¡± Sonya says. ¡°Open your fucking eyes, dumbass! If I hadn¡¯t taken Dwayne hostage last night, then we all would¡¯ve been food for the zombies by now! Don¡¯t you fucking understand?! They were after my Halos and were just waiting for the first opportunity to kill me! You¡¯re not in Brackettville anymore, so grow the fuck up and enter reality like the rest of us! Not everyone you meet is your friend, and I won¡¯t take shit from anybody, especially an ungrateful baby who¡¯s about to criticize me for the dirty shit I have to do to protect everyone!¡±

    She just cut off Jake¡¯s other arm.

    ¡°This will be enough,¡± she says as she chops up his right arm into bits and pieces and puts them into one of her pouches. ¡°Billy! In case you¡¯ve forgotten, there¡¯s a certain mutated that¡¯s attracted to blood. You know, the one we should always avoid no matter what?! Yeah? Well, guess fucking what? We¡¯re in the undead forest where God knows how many Behemoths reside. That means we need to haul ass immediately!¡± Sonya says as she removes her blade from¡­ Jake¡¯s gut and prepares to fire her Lighting Bolt.

    ¡°But can¡¯t we give him a mercy kill?! Sonya! He¡¯s sufferin¡¯!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re all suffering, Billy. What makes him so special?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s bleedin¡¯ out!¡±

    ¡°Precisely. His blood and his screaming and the chopped-up pieces of his arms I¡¯ve collected will be used as bait to allow us time to escape.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t leave him here.¡±

    ¡°Damn it, Billy! I¡¯m sick of your shit! I thought you wanted to be better! We¡¯re in The New World now! The real world! Life doesn¡¯t give a shit whether you¡¯re a tyrant or a saint because we all share the same fate in the end! The only thing that matters is protecting yourself and your loved ones, and you¡¯re going to learn that the hard way at this rate!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care if you hate or abandon me! I¡¯m not leavin¡¯ him like this!¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have the guts, and neither does he, so let¡¯s go!¡±

    Gulp. You¡¯re right, Sonya.

    ¡°You¡¯re evil, Sonya.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m whatever I have to be to protect my friends,¡± she says as she approaches the half-dead Jake. ¡°Jake, tell Dwayne I said, ¡°you know how it is,¡± if you reunite with him and Seina in hell.¡±

    You just stabbed him in the head, like it was nothin¡¯.

    ¡°Billy, stop crying!¡± She says. ¡°Fuck! Dwayne!¡± She shouts in fear as we use our grappling hooks to reunite with the others.

    *

    ¡°Sonya, we need to leave!¡± General Farrington yells as he finishes collecting pieces of¡­ Seina¡¯s mutilated arms.

    ¡°Is Dwayne mutating?¡± Anna asks in concern.

    ¡°Yes, he tried to wait until I was tired before he attempted to kill me, but he obviously miscalculated and paid with his life,¡± Sonya explains. ¡°In case you forgot, Halos are identified by the faint blue tint they give off and, a side effect of Halos is that they indirectly speed up mutations of a corpse upon contact with the skin, which is why only the most skilled fighters are entrusted with one. I ended up slicing his throat open by mistake, but I could¡¯ve fixed it if someone hadn¡¯t gotten in my way as I dealt with Jake.¡±

    I think this was my fault¡­

    ¡°Can¡¯t we just kill him now?!¡± Anna asks in worry.

    ¡°And risk attracting even more zombies to our location?¡± Sonya says. ¡°Bad idea, not to mention the fact that we don¡¯t know what kind of creature he¡¯s mutating into, which means his brain could be anywhere by now.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not sticking around to find out,¡± General Farrington says.

    ¡°Exactly. Our best option is to get the fuck out of here while we still can,¡± Sonya explains.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sonya,¡± I say.

    ¡°I¡¯ll accept your weak-ass apology after we complete the mission, Billy.¡±

 Chapter 52: Behemoth

    June 28, 2075

    1302 CDT

    The Undead Forest, Between the Gulf of Mexico and Mexico City

    Billy Cooper''s Point of View

    ¡°Keep moving! We¡¯re almost there!¡± General Farrington yells out.

    The only thing I¡¯ll have left to remember you by is this freakin¡¯ Black Ace of Spades card! You three deserved better. Rest in peace.

    ¡°Billy! You need to keep up!¡± Sonya orders as we hop and zip from tree branch to tree branch.

    ¡°I hate you,¡± I say.

    ¡°Excuse me, Billy?¡± Sonya says as she abruptly halts and stops me.

    ¡°What are you two doing?!¡± Anna yells out in confusion as she and General Farrington stop as well.

    ¡°I just saved you, you ungrateful fuck,¡± Sonya shouts in my face.

    ¡°You murdered two people and didn¡¯t even flinch, Sonya!¡± I say.

    ¡°They were going to do the exact same thing to us, Billy!¡± Sonya continues.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make it ok to kill! It¡¯s never ok to kill!¡± I say.

    ¡°Billy, grow the fuck up,¡± Sonya says. ¡°You¡¯re better than this, and you know it. I did what I had to do to survive and protect my friends.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡± I say.

    ¡°Are you seriously crying over Seina?¡± Sonya laughs like a jerk. ¡°You barely knew her! You¡¯re fucking ridiculous.¡±

    ¡°Stop,¡± I say.

    ¡°No, because you need to hear the truth and accept it.,¡± Sonya continues.

    ¡°Please, stop,¡± I say.

    ¡°Seina didn¡¯t give a fuck about you or your feelings. She only pretended to like you to gain a strategic advantage over me. Had Dwayne killed me before I killed him, she would have shot you and General Farrington without a hint of hesitation! I knew Seina better than you, and I know that she had too much heart to become a sociopath. She would¡¯ve felt sad about your death, but she would¡¯ve eventually gotten over it for one simple fucking reason. She did what she had to do to survive, the same exact thing we do every day. They could¡¯ve simply ignored us, but they chose to pick a fight. Billy, life is cruel, cold, and unfair. If you want to prove yourself out here, then you need to grow a pair of testicles, get Seina¡¯s titties out your mouth, and get the fuck over it.¡±

    I need to stop cryin¡¯!

    ¡°Sonya, I think you went too far,¡± Anna says as she checks on me.

    ¡°If you believe that, then you¡¯re just as much of a dumbass as him,¡± Sonya says.

    I¡¯m scared. I¡¯m so scared. I can¡¯t stop shakin¡¯. This can¡¯t be happenin¡¯. This can¡¯t be happenin¡¯! Being a man is so hard.

    ¡°Listen, Billy,¡± Sonya says.

    ¡°BILLY, LOOK OUT!¡± General Farrington yells out as he dives at me.

    Ah! General?!

    S-something smacked the General! Something big! H-he went flyin¡¯ across the air so fast and landed violently against a tree!

    ¡°Anna! Billy! Get the General and leave! I¡¯ll take care of this!¡± Sonya yells out as she prepares to combat this new enemy.

    ¡°What?! N-No way! I-Is that a¡­?¡± I say.

    ¡°Billy! We have to help the General!¡± Anna yells out.

    Shit! You¡¯re right. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m so sorry, everyone. Sonya is right. I¡¯m a dumbass. This is all my fault.

    *

    <u>Sonya Grey¡¯s Point of View</u>

    Well, this could be worse.

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    Currently unleashing a mighty roar to my twelve, on the opposite tree branch about 4.5 meters away, on all four limbs and roughly the size of a school bus in terms of both width and length, physical features that resemble a mixture of a crocodile and a Komodo dragon including a long tongue, thousands of sharp teeth, numerous amounts of claws, a pair of tiny and yet always menacing blood-red eyes that become more frightening by the second, a tail; one-fourth the size of its abnormal body behind it, and a durable rock-like shell protects its flesh, but more specifically, its brain.

    Behemoths, how terrifying. And yet.

    They¡¯re the perfect challenge for me.

    Here it comes. It¡¯s about to jump!

    Fuck! Too close! Slow reactions will get you killed, Sonya. Wake up!

    Luckily, it crashed into the tree on my six with its snout and not into me! I¡¯m starting to remember that this mutated is much, much faster than it looks.

    Escaping on foot isn¡¯t an option since they can move up to 144 kilometers per hour on land, combined with an equally extraordinarily killer lunge, one much more devastating than a Chaser! And as if they couldn¡¯t get any more annoying, they¡¯re capable of traversing up all types of terrain as well as being able to swim!

    ¡°Ugh!¡± I say as I make a rough landing.

    A very rough landing, but pain is good. Pain proves that I¡¯m still alive, but it also shows that the life I live is indeed real and not a dream.

    Ok, ok. Calm down. Catch your breath. It¡¯s above you now and has taken its blood-detecting snout out of the tree. Remember, Sonya, the mutated are just disfigured human corpses. No matter how strong they are, they¡¯re just as stupid as regular zombies, and that means that you can outsmart them.

    All zombies have a weakness, even a Behemoth, which means I can kill it.

    But I can¡¯t let it touch my skin, no matter what.

    It jumped down and exposed its weakness in the process. I gotta time this next attack perfectly! I just have to¡­ leap under it and.

    Slice its belly! I got it, but its tail is going to hit me!

    ¡°AGH!¡± I scream. ¡°Ugh!¡±

    My back! It grazed one of my legs with its tail, but I¡¯ll be ok. As long as it doesn¡¯t touch my skin, I¡¯ll be fine. It didn¡¯t send me as far as General Farrington, and I landed on another tree branch, but my luck will eventually run out. Shit! I have to try harder. I managed to slice up its belly, but it wasn¡¯t deep enough. The Behemoth has most likely regenerated its stomach by now, which makes this so much more difficult! All I have to do is cut deep enough into its gut to reach the brain so I can destroy it!

    Fuck! Not good. I¡¯m coughing up blood and here comes the Beheomth! I need to jump now!

    I gotta use my Lighting Bolt to ascend!

    No!

    Its tongue! My leg! It¡¯s gonna reel me in and eat me! I have to cut it!

    I did it and it unleashed another roar in response. Sadly, its tongue will regenerate as well, but at least I get a chance to breathe. Now¡­ what¡¯s my next move going to be?

    Shit! This bastard¡¯s relentless! It¡¯s climbing up and about to lunge!

    Gotta get under it!

    I jumped and it destroyed another branch, but now it¡¯s exposed!

    I cut its stomach open and it roared again! Now to finish it!

    Its brain is located in between its neck and chest if I remember correctly, and that¡¯s precisely what I aimed for.

    Easy kill.

    Safe landing, now I just have to.

    ¡°Ugh!¡± I say.

    Fuck! N-no! W-when did it touch me?! N-no. Don¡¯t pass out. Don¡¯t even think about it! You have to get to the others! T-they¡¯re in¡­ trouble. I-I can feel it¡­

    *

    5 Minutes Later

    <u>Billy Cooper¡¯s Point of View</u>

    ¡°He¡¯s too heavy!¡± Anna yells out as we spread our human bait across the ground.

    This is bad! So bad! Not only can we not use the tree branches for travel anymore, but we¡¯re surrounded by zombies! The bait will distract Behemoths, but not the zombies! We can¡¯t even shoot them because it¡¯ll only make things worse! Gulp! Guess I¡¯ll have to use my machete.

    ¡°Anna, I-I¡¯ll take care of them!¡± I say.

    ¡°Nonsensical!¡± She yells.

    I took down one!

    ¡°Billy, look out!¡± Anna yells out to me.

    A Headhunter?!

    ¡°N-no! Don¡¯t shoot!¡± Sonya calls out from above.

    Sonya?! You¡¯re covered in blood and guts, but you¡¯re alive and well! Y-you actually killed the Behemoth?! By yourself?!! But something¡¯s wrong! You can barely stand up straight.

    ¡°Billy, move!¡± Sonya warns as she jumps down.

    A quick stab behind the head from Sonya ends the Headhunter¡¯s life.

    ¡°Wait!¡± She slurs as she rushes to fight another Headhunter. ¡°I got i¡­,¡±

    You collapsed?! Shit! I don¡¯t have a choice but to shoot the Headhunter now.

    A clean headshot! Rachel and Pa would be so proud.

    ¡°Sonya! No! W-what happened?!¡± I ask.

    ¡°I¡­ Behemoth¡­ p-poison,¡± Sonya says.

    That¡¯s right! The protective shell of a Behemoth is laced with poison, capable of paralyzin¡¯ its prey within a mere few minutes. Not only that, but the poison¡¯s toxins inflict irreversible damage to the body after seven days.

    ¡°Billy, your six!¡± Anna yells out.

    A zombie?!

    ¡°NO!¡± I yell. ¡°S-Sonya?¡± I say after Sonya stabs the zombie in the head.

    ¡°D-don¡¯t give me the antidote. N-not yet. F-finish the mission,¡± Sonya orders as she passes out.

    You used the last of your strength to save me, but we¡¯re still surrounded by zombies, and Behemoths are fast approachin¡¯! Damn it! And we¡¯re so close to the coast!

    ¡°Billy, listen!¡± Anna calls out to me. ¡°The zombies may have the advantage when it comes to quantity; however, they lack intelligence, which means we¡¯ll always have a chance against them! You¡¯re smart, Billy, and a faster runner than me, which means you have the best chance of completing the mission! I¡¯ll take care of Sonya and the General! Nothing bad will happen to them! I promise! I¡¯ll hide out with them somewhere nearby and wait for as long as I have to, but you must complete the mission! This can¡¯t all be for nothing!¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡±

    ¡°Billy! We¡¯re all depending on you! We all believe in you! Sonya and General Farrington have entrusted this entire mission to you! Your friends and your sister are all waiting for our safe return! You can do this!¡±

    ¡°Anna¡­ You.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine, you dope! Go! Go, Billy!¡±

    You¡¯re right. Gulp, everyone¡¯s counting on me¡­

    *

    5 Minutes Later

    *

    Almost there! I can see the coast!

    No! I-it can¡¯t be!! From above?! What a loud roar!

    It¡¯s a Behemoth! The only thing standin¡¯ between me and the coast is, gulp, a¡­ a Behemoth! I can¡¯t do this! I can¡¯t! I¡¯m not Sonya! I¡¯m not Duy! I¡¯m a nobody! There¡¯s no way I can do this!

 Chapter 53: The Reclusive Billy Cooper

    Six Years Ago

    March 1, 2069

    1700 CST

    Outskirts of Bartlesville, Oklahoma

    <u>Billy Cooper''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°So what are you gonna do, Billy?¡± Pa asks as we finish our work for the day.

    ¡°Oh, I think I want to be a mechanic, Pa,¡± I say.

    ¡°That¡¯s a mighty good choice, son. You¡¯re always studyin¡¯ and gettin¡¯ your hands dirty on all of the machinery you can find.¡±

    ¡°Boo!¡± Rachel says as she appears from outta nowhere.

    ¡°D-d-d-damn it, Rachel!¡± Pa exclaims in shock. ¡°You¡¯re goin¡¯ to give your old man a heart attack,¡± he says with a soft chuckle.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, guys. I just felt like doing something spontaneous and exciting!¡± Rachel explains.

    Ah, I lost focus. Daydreamin¡¯ is too addictin¡¯, but I can¡¯t stop myself from wondering what the outside world is like. It¡¯s such a gentle breeze out in this grassy field, but the weather is startin¡¯ to feel a bit too strange.

    ¡°We did it y¡¯all! We finished early!¡± Rachel yells in glee.

    ¡°Yeah, but we still finished first,¡± a familiar boy¡¯s voice says from behind me.

    ¡°Sally and Paul Hoover, what could you two possibly want?¡± Pa asks in irritation.

    Sally Hoover, a mean ol¡¯ bratty girl with dark brown hair and an olive-green shirt. Paul Hoover, an insultin¡¯ jerk with the same hair color and clothin¡¯ as his sister.

    ¡°Nothin¡¯ really. We were just goin¡¯ around the farm, checkin¡¯ on the livestock before we saw you three,¡± Paul explains.

    ¡°We confused ya¡¯ll for cattle until we stepped forward for a closer view and realized our big mistake. You three are much, much more repulsive than cattle, so we apologize for our mistake, but you gotta admit, ya¡¯ll smell as bad as they look, so I¡¯m sure y¡¯all can understand the reason for our blunder,¡± Sally insults with a smirk.

    ¡°The only mistake round here is you two,¡± Pa replies with a chuckle.

    ¡°You best watch your mouth,¡± Paul says in anger.

    ¡°Calm your temper, brother. The trash is just simply jealous because of the undeniable fact that no matter how hard they work, they¡¯ll never ever be able to accomplish the things our family can do,¡± Sally rudely boasts.

    ¡°We are number one for a reason. The apprenticeship spot will go to us simply because we have no competition,¡± Jake taunts.

    ¡°Ya¡¯ll are such big jerks!¡± Rachel shouts in frustration. ¡°All of us work hard every day to feed countless people, so it shouldn¡¯t even matter who does the job better than who as long as it gets done!¡±

    ¡°Y-yeah! We¡¯re all Olympians, so we should work together and be friends instead of trying to figure out who¡¯s better than who!¡± I say.

    ¡°Um last time I checked, there are only two apprenticeship spots for our field,¡± Sally says. ¡°Apprentices bring in so much power and prestige to a family, so of course we¡¯re working hard to maintain our status. Besides, it¡¯s only a matter of time until one of the ranches gets attacked, and when it does, I want to be in the comfort and safety of the zombie-proof capital instead of out here in the dog shit. Gasp! Wait! Don¡¯t tell me you think that the Olympian army can actually protect us from a zombie attack! See, not only is your family stupid, but they¡¯re also so na?ve that it¡¯s almost driving me to tears. But not really because I have no reason to cry over worthless garbage.¡±

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    ¡°Sis, don¡¯t even waste your breath over their stupidity,¡± Paul rudely chuckles.

    ¡°Boy, you better¡­,¡± Pa shouts out.

    ¡°Ha! W-what?! You gonna hit me? Shoot me?! We Hoovers are the most valuable family in these parts, so you should know what¡¯s gonna happen to you if you do somethin¡¯ to us,¡± Paul provokes.

    ¡°Harmin¡¯ me, my brother, or any Hoover will only prove my brother¡¯s point about the Coopers,¡± Sally incites in support.

    ¡°Don¡¯t say anythin¡¯, sis. Let the big man hit me. I don¡¯t give a shit if they all get exiled or even executed on the spot because an image of horseshit pops up into my head every time I see or even think about Cooper,¡± Paul urges with an arrogant smile.

    Pa¡­ please don¡¯t do anythin¡¯ rash.

    ¡°You two are rotten, bratty kids,¡± Pa says as he shakes his head.

    ¡°We know,¡± they say.

    ¡°The Hoovers have skill, I¡¯ll admit, but that¡¯s the only nice thing I can say about ya¡¯ll,¡± Dad explains. The Hoovers have no sense of compassion, empathy, or kindness, which makes them as empty as the undead. If the only thing you pursue in life is power and status, then you¡¯ll lose your humanity in the process. The Hoovers are better ranchers than us, but who cares? If we can guarantee a meal for every Olympian, then that¡¯s all that matters. Now, please go away because you¡¯re bothering my family.¡±

    The dinner bell is ringing.

    ¡°Tch. This ain¡¯t ova,¡± Paul says in disgust as he walks away.

    ¡°Rachel, go find the rest of your brothers. You know how rebellious and wild they can be, which is why they¡¯ll probably ignore the lunch bell,¡± Pa says.

    ¡°Ok, Pa!¡± Rachel says as she and Pa exchange a hug.

    You¡¯re so cool, Pa. I can only hope to be a man as good as you are someday.

    ¡°Pa. H-how do you do it?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Do what?¡± He asks.

    ¡°Be a man. You always make it seem so easy.¡±

    ¡°Billy, being a man is one of the hardest things you¡¯ll ever do in your life, so it¡¯s ok when you inevitably stumble and fall. The people who love you look up to you as an invincible pillar of strength and it¡¯s easy to lose yourself and make regrettable decisions, but if you¡¯re able to own up to your mistakes and learn from them, then you¡¯ll be ok. Sometimes it¡¯ll feel like it¡¯s you against the entire world, but don¡¯t forget who you are and what you¡¯re fightin¡¯ for. If you don¡¯t forget and stay true to yourself, then you¡¯ll be ok, Billy. I promise.¡±

    Pa¡­

    ¡°Hey, hey! Everyone gather all the livestock you can,¡± a man warns in the distance. ¡°A massive fucking funnel cloud¡¯s been spotted, and it¡¯s headin¡¯ our way!!!¡±

    *

    12 Minutes Later

    Underneath an Olympian Outpost

    *

    I¡¯m in trouble.

    ¡°Pa, I¡­¡± I say.

    ¡°Billy, there¡¯s a fine line between bravery and stupidity,¡± Pa states with an eyeful of tears as he hugs me. ¡°What you did was just plain ol¡¯ reckless and crazy. You¡¯re a smart boy, but you¡¯re too impulsive with your decisions! You¡¯re goin¡¯ to be a better man than me one day, but you need to think ¡®bout what you¡¯re doing before you decide to burst into action! Don¡¯t you get it?! We can get another horse, but we can¡¯t get another you, Billy.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Pa. I¡¯m so sorry!¡±

    Embarrassing Pa, needlessly endangerin¡¯ myself and Paul, and wettin¡¯ my pants. I¡¯m a disgrace.

    ¡°Billy, I¡­ I won¡¯t be here one day, but that¡¯s why I¡¯m doing the best I can to make sure that you can take care of yourself. If somethin¡¯ ever happens to me, then I just want to make sure that you¡¯re ready to step up and be the man of the family. You know how your mom is, and your sister might be the oldest, but she¡¯ll need help until the others are capable of taking care of themselves. I¡¯m just askin¡¯ you to please value your life more. You are so young and have so much to live for. We all gotta go someday, and nobody ever truly knows when it¡¯ll happen, and the only thing we can do is live life as best as we can and appreciate our loved ones while they¡¯re still here. But I understand why you tried to save Jackie. It hurts to admit, but you¡¯ll be lookin¡¯ death in the eyes very often in this New World. I promise it¡¯ll get better one day because people are filled with pros and cons, but one of our best pros is that we are survivors, and The Eight Kingdoms prove that! If you ever end up looking death in the eyes again one day, just try your best to make smarter decisions and remember that it¡¯s ok to run. There¡¯s no shame in retreatin¡¯ from a fight you can¡¯t win, but if runnin¡¯ away isn¡¯t an option, then as a Cooper, it¡¯s your duty to kick ass and not go down without a fight!¡±

 Chapter 54: As Easy as One-Two-Three

    Six Years Later

    Present Day

    June 28, 2075

    1322 CDT

    The Undead Forest, Between Mexico City and the Gulf of Mexico

    Billy Cooper''s Point of View

    What am I doin¡¯?! I-I know how to fight a Behemoth. As strong as these creatures are, they¡¯re not invincible. Captain, thank you for being relentless in our trainin¡¯, and thank you, Lieutenant, for inspirin¡¯ me.

    ¡°Come and get it, you monster!¡± I say as it continues to roar.

    Two more Behemoths fell from above and landed right in front of me?! T-they¡¯re blockin¡¯ my path! Damn it! Fightin¡¯ three Behemoths at once is impossible, but aimlessly flyin¡¯ across the treetops is equally as dangerous. Oh gosh, what do I do? Maybe I was wrong, maybe I¡¯m not cut out for this mission! You should¡¯ve taken my spot, Captain! I should¡¯ve kept quiet as always. I¡¯m sorry, Rachel. I¡¯m not as brave as you thought.

    Huh? What¡¯s that blue light?

    What an explosion!

    ¡°Dara, I got him!¡± A voice shouts from above.

    Who the?

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    Someone grabbed me from above?!

    ¡°Darn,¡± a man says in disappointment as he sets me aside on a tree branch.

    ¡°Thank you, sir!¡± I say.

    You look to be about the same age as me. Black, long dreadlocks, grey cloak, and a super cool lookin¡¯ faintly tinted blue bow, along with a quiver full of arrows.

    ¡°Not yet,¡± the man replies. ¡°Dara, anytime now!¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s Dara?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Um, drumroll, please?!¡± A woman¡¯s voice shouts from the skies.

    Dara, you appear to be my age as well. Black, shaved head, grey cloak, some kind of small earpiece is inside your ears, and I can barely see some sort of device with a faint blue tint attached to your legs.

    But why the heck did you jump in the middle of the Behemoths?!

    ¡°You three aren¡¯t my type, so please stop drooling!¡± Dara laughs as her Halos begin to charge up?! ¡°One-one-thousand,¡± she continues as she winds back to prepare for some kind of attack with her legs.

    She sent a Behemoth flying away like a soccer ball?!

    What¡¯s goin¡¯ on? She¡¯s so athletic! So flexible! She¡¯s listenin¡¯ to music and effortlessly dodging two Behemoths! The way she¡¯s movin¡¯ her legs, it looks like she¡¯s dancin¡¯ and fightin¡¯ at the same time. That¡¯s so cool! Damian and Dara must be the Athenians.

    ¡°Sigh. Z-z-z,¡± Dara says with a yawn before lying down on the ground.

    ¡°She¡¯s crazy!¡± I say.

    ¡°Well, the crazy ones are quite interesting,¡± Damian says in a too-calm tone. ¡°Dara, we¡¯re on a tight schedule, remember?¡± He shouts in urgency.

    ¡°Two-one-thousand aaaand three-one-thousand,¡± Dara says as she enters a handstand-like fightin¡¯ stance and does a split with her legs, while her devices charge up again.

    She sliced the two in half like it was nothing. A double K-O.

    ¡°Did you get that?¡± Dara yells out to Damian as she grapples to our position.

    ¡°My apologies, but I forgot to press record,¡± Damian says as he inspects a video camera in his hands.

    ¡°You¡¯re the worst,¡± she says in disappointment.

    ¡°Do you remember?¡± Damian asks me with a glare.

    ¡°Huh?¡± I say.

    ¡°Ah shit, Damian!¡± Dara yells out in disbelief.

    They¡¯re arguin¡¯ in Portuguese?

    A bullet just whizzed past my head¡­

    ¡°Falar!¡± Dara shouts in anger as she continues to point the gun at me.

    ¡°What?¡± I ask.

    ¡°You have to speak in English, woman,¡± Damian explains with a head nod.

    ¡°I know that!¡± Dara says with an embarrassed look on her face. ¡°Listen, I¡¯m asking, do you remember?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t let her artistry grace phase you because she will kill you,¡± Damian quickly warns.

    Oh!

    ¡°Laura,¡± I say.

    ¡°He¡¯s an Olympian!¡± Dara and Damian say in unison.

 Chapter 55: Admiral Minerva Silva

    June 28, 2075

    1327 CDT

    The Undead Forest, Between Mexico City and The Gulf of Mexico

    <u>Billy Cooper''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Do you have the medicine?¡± Dara asks as she helps me up.

    ¡°Are there any chicks with you?¡± Damian asks in worry.

    ¡°Yeah, wait a second. I thought there were supposed to be four people with you?! Don¡¯t tell me they¡­¡± Dara asks in confusion.

    ¡°I have the medicine, but the others are in trouble, and yes, there are two women with us!¡±

    ¡°Where¡± Damian quickly asks.

    ¡°Simping will get you nowhere,¡± Dara says with an eye-roll.

    ¡°They should be that way¡­¡± I say as I point.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Damian says as he rushes off.

    ¡°He¡¯s so thirsty,¡± Dara says in disappointment.

    ¡°Should we help him?¡± I ask.

    ¡°No. He¡¯s got it. Besides, I have to take you to¡­ ugh! Minerva,¡± she explains in irritation. ¡°I forgot to introduce myself. I¡¯m Dara, and the deviant, no charm of a flirt is Damian, and you are?¡±

    ¡°Billy Cooper. Dara, you¡¯re so cool! It¡¯s like you were dancin¡¯ and fightin¡¯ at the same time, ok?!¡± I say.

    ¡°Thank you, Billy Cooper. It¡¯s called Capoeira, and I¡¯d love to educate you all about it, but those Behemoths won¡¯t stay down for long. Their minuscule brains don¡¯t match their bodies, therefore it¡¯s difficult for me to slice through them on the first try. They¡¯re gonna regenerate and be super-duper pissed off, so it¡¯d be smart to leave while we still can,¡± she explains as she adjusts her earpiece. ¡° However, I must warn you! Admiral Minerva Silva is a great leader, but she¡¯s such a freaking deviant! I swear, people only listen to her because of her big, floppy breasts!¡± Dara says as she mockingly sways her chest. ¡°And then she has the utmost nerve to act like why she gets so much extra attention!¡±

    ¡°Wow! It sounds like you two are great friends!¡± I say.

    ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t! Billy, one time she told me to pilot the boat ¡°onward!¡± I said, where? She said, ¡°To victory!¡± And I told her that I don¡¯t know where the hell that is! But then she said, ¡°Dara, you must look within.¡± And I¡¯m like what does that even mean?¡±

    *

    Meanwhile

    <u>Anna Robinson¡¯s Point of View</u>

    ¡°You two are so heavy!¡± I say as I drag Sonya and General Farrington.

    ¡°That¡¯s not nice, Anna,¡± Sonya barely manages to say.

    I am demanding a promotion after this. Better yet, a pedicure. Dragging you two into who knows where is the hardest thing I¡¯ve ever done in my life. I am not built for this. This is so utterly disgraceful, and I deserve better than this. How am I not dead? How are we not dead? Oh, what am I saying? I just hope Billy made it, otherwise, this mission will have been for naught.

    ¡°Anna,¡± Sonya points at a zombie headed our way.

    You¡¯re supposed to be paralyzed. How are you still moving?

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I got it,¡± I say.

    Wait, what¡¯s that? How curious. A blue light?

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    What the?! An explosion? Wait! Who is that?!

    ¡°The Olympian was correct,¡± A man says as he approaches with his hands up.

    ¡°Identify yourself?!¡± I say.

    ¡°Don¡¯t shoot! Do you remember?¡± He asks.

    Remember? Oh. The password.

    ¡°Laura?¡± I say.

    ¡°Corrigir (correct),¡± he says as he suddenly kneels in front of me. ¡°The name¡¯s Damian Arquiero.¡±

    ¡°What on earth are you doing?¡± I ask.

    ¡°I can tell that you¡¯re not from Earth because your beauty is out of this world,¡± he says.

    ¡°Excuse me? Ah!¡± I say.

    Why are you so close to my face?!

    ¡°I see,¡± he rudely inspects. ¡°38-32-41. Ouch.¡±

    He deserved that smack in the face from me.

    ¡°What the hell is wrong with you, Damian?!¡± I ask.

    ¡°My apologies. The brave boy with the machete, hat, and shaggy hair sent me to save you,¡± he says.

    Billy! So, he made it. My suspicions were correct. You¡¯re not just a pervert, you¡¯re an Athenian.

    ¡°Undoubtedly, Damian?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve come to save you from being single,¡± he says.

    *

    10 Minutes Later

    On a Beach Near the Gulf of Mexico

    Admiral Minerva¡¯s Speedboat

    <u>Billy Cooper¡¯s Point of View</u>

    ¡°So, the more momentum you have, the more power they build up, Dara?¡± I ask her.

    ¡°Your fundamentals are superb, Billy,¡± she says.

    ¡°That is so cool! Your Halos fit your fightin¡¯ style so perfectly!¡± I say to Dara.

    ¡°If we don¡¯t get eaten alive, shot, stabbed, or tossed overboard, then I¡¯m gonna have to teach you how to dance and I¡¯d like you to teach me about cars and stuff because I don¡¯t really understand the shit,¡± Dara says as we exchange a fist bump. ¡°Sigh, I wish Damian wasn¡¯t such a perverted flirt.¡±

    ¡°What does Damian¡¯s Halo do,¡± I ask.

    ¡°Nothing really. My Halos are very graceful while his Halo just blows shit up,¡± she explains in irritation as we continue to be on the lookout. ¡°It can do other stuff too, but the blowing shit up function is very effective. Basically, he tags you with a blue chemical or something, shoots an arrow at you, and then boom! Shit blows up!¡±

    ¡°I have a friend who would like that,¡± I say.

    ¡°I bet they¡¯re just as annoying as Damian then,¡± Dara says.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. She kinda reminds me of you a little bit, ok?¡±

    ¡°Oh, so she¡¯s breathtaking and awe-inspiring.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but angrier and vulgar.¡±

    ¡°Dara!¡± Damian yells out in the distance.

    *

    5 Minutes Later

    1345 CDT

    *

    ¡°Billy, I can¡¯t believe we actually completed the mission. So early too,¡± Anna says with a smile as she rubs her neck wound.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± I say.

    Seina. I¡¯ll never forget you.

    ¡°The New World really is as unpredictable and chaotic as they say,¡± Anna chuckles as she daydreams at the bright sky. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but I¡¯m going to miss Jake and the others. I hate to admit it, but they did what they had to do, and Sonya and General Farrington did what they had to do as well,¡± she explains with a sad look in her eyes. ¡°I froze up too, so don¡¯t feel too bad. You did nothing wrong.¡±

    ¡°Wow, Anna. Even though you¡¯re not from Earth, you¡¯re adaptin¡¯ much faster than I ever will,¡± I say.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if that¡¯s a good thing or bad thing though, Billy,¡± Anna says in a somber tone as she inspects her nails.

    ¡°You drive me crazy!¡± Dara yells out in anger as she and Damien enter the deck.

    Uh oh.

    ¡°Another lover¡¯s quarrel,¡± Anna chuckles.

    ¡°Of course, we all listen to her. Have you seen her chest?!¡± Damien says in a calm tone.

    ¡°You¡¯re so stupid! There¡¯s no association between her chest and¡­ and her leadership skills!¡± Dara cries in frustration.

    ¡°Well, both have enormous mass,¡± Damien explains as he inspects one of his arrows.

    ¡°Ugh! Men only care about one thing when it comes to women!¡± Dara continues to vent.

    ¡°Not true. We care about two things, but they bear no importance to the most critical attribute of a woman,¡± Damien explains as he looks Dara in the eyes.

    ¡°And what would that be?¡± Dara asks with a painful-looking eye-twitch as she crosses her arms.

    ¡°Personality,¡± Damien unfolds.

    ¡°Yes! Air! Green air!¡± A woman shouts in excitement as she leaps onto the deck.

    ¡°Admiral wait! You still need time to recover!¡± A girl¡¯s voice shouts in exhaustion near the deck¡¯s entrance.

    ¡°Nonsense, Aayushi! I feeleth fine, and I must congratulate my saviors before they depart!¡± Minerva explains as she observes the beautiful view of the beach.

    Admiral Minerva Silva! A very beautiful tall woman with black, long braided hair, brown eyes, grey cloak, and a bright smile. And it looks like Damian was right about her chest.

    ¡°Billy, stop staring at her. You are too pure for this world,¡± Anna says with a look of disapproval.

    ¡°Billy, Anna!¡± Sonya says in a troubled tone as she runs towards us. ¡°We¡¯ve just been notified that Angela Blackwood and her troops will be arriving in Olympus tomorrow!¡±

    What?!

    ¡°The Royals are so intelligent,¡± Anna says in a mixed tone.

    ¡°W¡¯rry not about going backeth through the f¡¯rest!¡± Minerva says. ¡°I oweth mine own life to thee all, which is why mine own crew and I shall risketh our liveth to traveleth through the dang¡¯rous Gulf of Mexico so thee can reunite with thy loved ones!¡± Minerva says in a lively tone.

    ¡°You¡¯re annoying,¡± Dara says in irritation.

    ¡°Dara! Damien! I kneweth I could rely on mine own most wondrous soldi¡¯rs f¡¯r this mission!¡± Minerva thanks as she embraces the two.

    ¡°I hate you,¡± Dara says as she reluctantly returns the hug.

    ¡°Anything for you, Minerva,¡± Damien says as he happily returns the hug.

    ¡°You heard our friend,¡± General Farrington announces as he enters the deck. ¡°I hope none of you suffer from seasickness.¡±

    ¡°Hmm. No rest for the weary, huh?¡± Sonya asks with a slight smile.

 Chapter 56: You Thought

    Meanwhile

    June 28, 2075

    1400 CDT

    Near Colorado Springs, Colorado

    The Pillar of Judgement, Mount Olympus

    Kiko Farrington''s Point of View

    ¡°Interesting,¡± I say.

    ¡°Can I go to sleep now?¡± Luke asks as he stretches.

    ¡°Sleep is death¡¯s cousin, Luke, so no,¡± I say.

    ¡°What?¡± He asks in confusion.

    I can¡¯t think! We¡¯ve been up for days.

    ¡°How about this? We¡¯ll rest after we review everything we¡¯ve learned,¡± I say to Luke.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Luke agrees as he rubs his eyes.

    ¡°We¡¯ve learned that your powers activate when your body is pushed to its physical, emotional, and/or mental limits. This is proven with the transformation of your irises. Other symptoms of your conversion include accelerated dehydration, visible stress, reduced stamina, and increased aggressiveness. Zombie bites do not affect you because why? Well, we don¡¯t know yet. Whatever Doctor Shinka injected you with turned you into a half-human-half-zombie-badass. We don¡¯t have an official name for you yet, but I have no doubt that we¡¯ll think of one soon,¡± I say.

    ¡°You are also capable of regenerating body parts, just like a mutated,¡± Harold kindly explains as he combs his flattop. ¡°We don¡¯t know and can¡¯t risk finding out if you can regenerate vital organs such as your heart or lungs. Regeneration, tremendous strength, immunity, sudden high bursts of speed, and partial shapeshifting are your main strengths that we¡¯re aware of so far. Since these are common traits of mutated, then it¡¯s safe to assume that you also share the same weakness as a zombie.¡±

    ¡°Right. Sigh, my brain,¡± Luke recognizes in disappointment.

    ¡°But other than that, you¡¯re completely fine, buddy!¡± I say.

    ¡°So, can I go to sleep now?!¡± Luke mistakenly asks in relief.

    ¡°Hah. No way! I have one more theory I want to test. Harold, help me, please,¡± I say.

    This black bulletproof suit that I¡¯m putting on is so heavy and clunky. I feel like a bomb squad soldier.

    ¡°Are you sure this is a good idea?¡± Harold asks in worry.

    ¡°No, but it¡¯s an idea,¡± I say.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Luke asks in reasonable concern.

    ¡°I am doing what¡¯s necessary for humanity!¡± I say. ¡°This is a big risk, but sometimes in life, you have to risk it to get the biscuit!¡±

    ¡°Oh no,¡± Luke says in disbelief.

    ¡°Oh yeah! Harold, I¡¯m doing it!¡± I say.

    ¡°You¡¯re doing it?¡± Harold asks in surprise.

    ¡°She¡¯s doing it?¡± Annie and Jian question in unison.

    ¡°Luke Miller! I am about to shoot you in the face with this shotgun!¡± I say.

    ¡°You¡¯re gonna what?¡± Luke asks in shock.

    ¡°This bad boy has been used in several wars, it¡¯s semi-automatic, carries six rounds in its magazine, and has a maximum range of forty-one meters!¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t help!¡± Luke complains.

    ¡°My point is this was created for one simple reason,¡± I say. ¡°To kill. I think it¡¯s a sad fact that humanity would have brought itself to extinction if it weren¡¯t for the zombies. So, in a weird way, the undead not only slowed down our self-destructive lifestyle, but they forced us to make smarter decisions to survive. Speaking of the zombies, I found something extremely interesting in my six years as a researcher, and this experiment will prove my hypothesis. One second. Harold!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?!¡± Harold asks in lovely concern.

    ¡°I can¡¯t load the gun because my gloves are too stubby! This suit was built for smelly grown-ass men, and I¡¯m a grown-ass professional woman.¡±

    ¡°Here, Kiko,¡± Harold says as he helps me out.

    ¡°I¡¯m about to die,¡± Luke unwisely states in doubt.

    ¡°That¡¯s not a fact, Luke, that¡¯s a hypothesis, one we¡¯re about to test. Now, I have to get closer. This will only work if I¡¯m point-blank. Also, I forgot to mention but try to stay calm.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a gun in my face,¡± Luke asks as he fearlessly stares down the gun barrel.

    ¡°I noticed, but if you accidentally activate your powers too early, then not only will my test be ruined, but my feelings will be hurt.¡±

    ¡°T-then, we need a timer or something to prevent that!¡± Luke makes a good point.

    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± I say.

    ¡°Annie!¡± Luke and I say in unison.

    Why are you always eating your hair?

    ¡°Read ya¡¯ll like a novel,¡± Annie laughs from above as she prepares to sing ¡®Ring Around the Rosie,¡¯ most likely. ¡°Ahem.

    Ring around the Rosie,

    Squat among the posies,

    Ring around the roses,

    Pocket full of posies,

    One, two, thr-¡±

    Oh, come on!

    ¡°You gotta be fucking kidding me! I can¡¯t pull the trigger! Harold! Put something on to protect your arms, stand directly behind me and pull the trigger, ok?!¡±

    ¡°Aight,¡± Harold complies like a sweetheart.

    ¡°My heart,¡± Luke says as he clutches his heart.

    ¡°On three! 1¡­2¡­¡± Annie and I say.

    Sweet Mary! That¡¯s a lot of recoil! Fighting is definitely not my specialty.

    ¡°This hurts. Ah, my titty. Oh, but at least I¡¯m back in Harold¡¯s chest,¡± I say.

    It looks like my theory is partially correct so far. The bullet ricocheted off your head and almost destroyed my suit in the process. Hah. Teresa, you are a mixture of influences on me, and I wish you were here.

    ¡°Kiko, I need air!¡± Harold cries out in pain.

    ¡°Are you calling me fat? Wait! Luke!¡± I say.

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Please don¡¯t be dead. Please don¡¯t be dead.

    ¡°You¡¯re not dead!¡± I say.

    ¡°I feel like I am¡­¡± Luke chuckles as he lays flat on the ground.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re ok! Sonya would¡¯ve put me in the blender if you died!¡± I say.

    ¡°You¡¯re a crazy good scientist, Kiko,¡± Luke compliments with a smile. ¡°So, what exactly was your hypothesis again?¡±

    ¡°I got bad news, everyone!¡± Jian announces.

    Fuck.

    ¡°No! That¡¯s the worst kind of news!¡± I say.

    ¡°Angela Blackwood and her troops will be arriving tomorrow afternoon!¡± Jian says.

    The.

    ¡°That¡¯s way too early!¡± I say.

    ¡°And she¡¯s demanding to see Harold Smith along with Kiko Farrington and General Farrington for a personal interrogation!¡±

    What?

    ¡°What the fuck?!¡± I say.

    *

    The Next Night

    June 29, 2075

    1900 CDT

    Central Olympia, Kansas

    Inside Thunder Castle¡¯s Court Room

    *

    ¡°Shit!¡± I say.

    ¡°I know, Kiko. We¡¯re super late,¡± Harold says in haste as we near the entrance.

    Sigh. I still can¡¯t believe it. This entire journey started with interrogation, and it looks like it¡¯s going to end that way as well. The Royals destroyed an entire kingdom, killing billions in the process, so I can only imagine what their interrogations are like! No. Can¡¯t think like that. I just have to stay calm, analyze, and adapt to whatever happens.

    ¡°Ready Kiko?¡± Harold says as he slowly opens the door to the council room.

    ¡°I¡¯m ready, Harold. Let¡¯s do this.¡±

    Watch over me, Mom.

    ¡°We don¡¯t know where Doctor Shinka is, and we sure as hell ain¡¯t disclosing Luke Miller¡¯s location to assholes like ya¡¯ll!¡± A council member yells out.

    Not good!

    ¡°Heh heh. I see. You fools are of no use to me, but¡­¡± she says as she begins to make her way towards Harold and me. ¡°I¡¯m certain that our late arrivals know better than to beat around the bush if they¡¯re as smart as I hope they are,¡± she says with an overconfident smirk.

    Angela Blackwood! An Asian woman who appears to be in her mid-twenties, almost two meters tall, a long black braided ponytail, wearing a high-tech looking suit of black and white armor that protects her from the neck down, a pink cape attached to the back of it with a black inked design of a lioness on it and the suit¡¯s chest, a small grenade launcher attached to her thigh, a holstered pistol on her waist, an assault rifle in her hand, a holstered combat knife on her chest and I can barely see the hilt of a sword on her back.

    And she has a cat? It appears to be an abbysian if I¡¯m correct.

    ¡°I know, Artemis,¡± she says as she kneels to pet her cat. ¡°This hunt shall be completed in no time, and then we¡¯ll be able to return to our lush, lavish life of luxurious luxury,¡± she says in a sinister tone.

    What a bitch.

    ¡°I thought that you were going to arrive next week, Angela,¡± I say.

    ¡°Heh heh,¡± she arrogantly chuckles as she continues to approach us with a smug smile. ¡°You thought, bitch.¡±

    We could kill you, easily, and you know it, which is why you left your head exposed. Killing you is unwise, but I¡¯m just so mad at you. Wait. Am I scared of you? Hah. No. No way.

    ¡°Fear is a normal reaction when one has been blessed with the sight of the Death Angels,¡± she says as she quickly pulls out her pistol.

    My¡­ my hat! She shot my hat off with a pistol?! What a sharpshooter!

    ¡°That¡¯s for not taking me seriously,¡± she says as she begins to aim at Harold.

    Another gunshot from her.

    ¡°And that¡¯s for being late,¡± she says as she holsters her pistol.

    She shot Harold!

    ¡°My shoulder!¡± Harold groans out in pain.

    ¡°Harold!¡± I say.

    That look in her eyes. How horrifying. It¡¯s the look of an evil, cold-blooded, calculating tyrant.

    ¡°So, now that I nipped your behavior in the bud, allow me to inform you two peasants, of how this interrogation shall work,¡± she says as she stretches her arms. ¡°I shall ask a few questions, and if I¡¯m not satisfied with the answers, then I shall put a bullet in the head of a council member,¡± she says as she reloads her pistol. ¡°Hmmmmm. Starting with him!¡±

    No!

    ¡°Bang. Heh heh. Just kidding,¡± she says with that evil smirk of hers. ¡°Ah. I needed that brief moment of amusement. It¡¯s not every day that I get to see peasant worms squirm for their lives. It truly is an entertaining, yet pathetic sight,¡± she says as she sits on a bench with her legs crossed and a jaded look on her face.

    Is this a game to you?!

    ¡°I¡¯d rather avoid a fight here, despite my methods, and I¡¯m hoping to leave Olympia with a mutual understanding, so please try to see things from my point of view,¡± she explains as she looks up at the ceiling. ¡°To me, there¡¯s simply no difference between the peasants of Earth and the zombies,¡± she says with a shrug. ¡°Sigh. Every mission is the same, no matter where I go. Most of my interactions are with the dead, the only difference being some talk, and some don¡¯t, but the result is always predictable. They simply end up dying or die a second death, and I¡¯m sure you can imagine how stodgy and mundane that is for someone of my talents. So, picture how enthusiastic I was when I heard that a new mutated was spotted in Winner, South Dakota, and this mutated was not only an Olympian but a human. A teenage boy, barely an adult!¡±

    You¡¯re cuckoo.

    ¡°From my perspective, this is potentially the biggest challenge of my life, which is why I shall show my cards as a gesture of good faith,¡± she says as she stands up and walks towards us again. ¡°I give two shits about Veronica Shinka. Conducting a wild goose chase disinterests me, however, I¡¯m certain that she shall turn up sooner rather than later because she can¡¯t escape from her inevitable fate no matter where she decides to hide. We have eyes and ears everywhere in places you least expect,¡± she says as she taps on her communicator with a smirk. ¡°She is simply an old woman who made the biggest mistake of her life by defying us. Someone as supposedly intelligent as her should know that going against The Royals is the equivalent of getting bit by a zombie,¡± she says as she slowly slices her own throat with a thumb.

    Fucking shit-talker.

    ¡°You two, along with General Farrington, are irrelevant to my mission because I have no doubt that you¡¯ll just say, ¡°We don¡¯t know!¡± if I ask you about Luke¡¯s location,¡± she says. ¡°The only thing I currently seek is a duel with Luke Miller, as this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to test my abilities to the fullest. Two brilliant scientists should be perceptive enough to know that the right thing to do is to simply give me the location of the boy to ensure Olympia¡¯s safety. As the Royal¡¯s elite enforcer, I shall inform you that I always keep my word and never lie. If you grant me this simple request, then I shall leave your kingdom immediately. Trust me, I don¡¯t want to be in this filth longer than necessary. This foul kingdom is shit compared to the beauty that is, Mother Gaia.¡±

    I¡¯ve about had it with you. You talk way too much.

    ¡°Your presumption of me is probably one of an evil bitch who was sent from the heavens to raise hell on earth, and¡­¡± she says with a soft snicker. ¡°you¡¯re correct. Sadly for you, your analytical assessment of me, akin to your pointless lives, is insignificant,¡± she says with that fucking smirk. ¡°Heh, heh, but regardless of your opinion of me, don¡¯t forget that I¡¯m doing this for the good of humanity! I was sent to capture the brain of mankind¡¯s greatest threat! Luke Miller is just another one of Earth¡¯s lifeless monsters who must be dealt with as soon as fucking possible. That is why it is not only an honor for me to be the one to do it, but I¡¯ll potentially be the one who saves all of humanity. I mean, it¡¯s not like peasants deserve to be saved, but, oh well. There¡¯s only so much one person can do.¡±

    ¡°Hah. Harold, it looks like my assumption of her was correct. She does smell like mildew!¡± I say.

    Ow! Why the fuck did you backhand slap me?

    ¡°Silence, peasant. In case you didn¡¯t realize it, I have full authority to execute you, should I see fit,¡± she says with a cold glare.

    ¡°Go ahead and do it then,¡± I say. ¡°If you kill me, then you¡¯ll have a lot more than Luke Miller to worry about.

    ¡°Let go of me!¡± I say.

    She¡¯s about to slam me on the ground!

    ¡°Ugh!¡±

    Damn it! Get your disgusting butt off of my back.

    ¡°Big talk for someone who¡¯s eating the floor,¡± she says.

    ¡°Angela!¡± Harold calls out in anger.

    ¡°Relax, Harold. I just had to put her in her place,¡± she says as she slowly gets off of me.

    Nasty. She just spit in my hair. Wait, why are you talking to Harold like that?

    ¡°As a Royal, it¡¯s paramount that I remind peasants on who runs shit around here,¡± she says. ¡°We don¡¯t make frequent visits, for good reason, so I can understand how easy it is to forget who¡¯s the judge, jury, and exe-fucking-cutioner.¡±

    ¡°Agh!¡± I yell.

    She kicked me in my ribs.

    ¡°Kiko!¡± Harold yells as he rushes over to help me.

    ¡°Harold, my¡­ my lungs¡­¡± I say.

    She definitely broke something.

    ¡°Well, it is only natural that I leave one speechless with my presence,¡± Angela brags as she unsheathes her sword. ¡°But, insult me again, and I¡¯ll fucking leave you headless as well,¡± she threatens with an intense look of coldness in her eyes as she points the sword at me.

    A big, mouth and a big ego, but her bite is much more painful than her bark.

    ¡°Angela! We¡¯ve discovered Luke Miller¡¯s location!¡± One of her soldiers with short green hair announces.

    What?! How?

    ¡°Excellent, Li, but I must interrogate one more target before we can depart,¡± she says as she sheathes her sword.

    Dad.

    ¡°Like I said, eyes and ears everywhere. Consider this a reminder that you peasants are simply pawns in our little game of chess,¡± she says with a pleasant smile.

    Hah. I just spit right in your face. Blood mixed with saliva.

    ¡°Eat shit, Angela,¡± I say.

    Oh no.

    ¡°AGH!¡± I yell.

    My arm, fuck! She¡¯s as fast as Sonya! No! Even faster!!! And stronger! All it took for her to break my arm was a simple chop to my elbow.

    ¡°Learn to silence your tongue, peasant,¡± she exclaims in anger as she takes a big leap forward.

    My fucking knee! She kicked me in my knee!

    ¡°Senseless girl,¡± she says as she wipes off the spit from her face. ¡°You have 203 unbroken bones left, and I just thought of an excellent way to kill time until your daddy shows up!¡±

    ¡°Angela, stop!¡± Harold yells as he gets in between us.

    Finally.

    ¡°Heh heh. I suppose I shouldn¡¯t ruin my appetite, if my target is as strong as the rumors say,¡± Angela says with a shrug as she walks away. ¡°I¡¯ve inflicted zero permanent damage on you fools, as a gesture of good faith. Your wounds shall heal, but unfortunately for you, I don¡¯t know when and simply can¡¯t be bothered enough to care.¡±

    No. I¡¯m not going out like this.

    ¡°Luke¡­ Luke is going to wipe that smirk off your face!¡± I yell.

    ¡°Your hypothesis shall be tested within the next few chapters of my valorous adventure. Nevertheless, I have my doubts, considering I only know of two people who can do such a thing, and¡­,¡± she proudly states as she stretches. ¡°Luke Miller is not one of them. Notwithstanding, this interrogation has reached its dull conclusion, peasant.¡±

    You¡¯re so stupid. You didn¡¯t even ask any questions.

 Chapter 57: The New World

    Meanwhile

    June 29, 2075

    1900 MDT (Mountain Daylight Time)

    Near Colorado Springs, Colorado

    On the Peak of Mount Olympus

    Drew Howard''s Point of View

    ¡°Please stay away from my ear,¡± Commander Zhi says in haste.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Rachel asks in her typical confusion.

    ¡°Sigh. One day, Annie thought it would be ¡°romantic¡± if she licked my ear, and uh, it wasn¡¯t, so now I get paranoid about people being near my ear. It¡¯s my only weakness, so please respect my wishes,¡± Commander Zhi explains as he gazes across the horizon.

    ¡°Understood, Commander Zhi,¡± Rachel politely complies.

    That¡¯s our greatest soldier¡¯s weakness?

    ¡°Excuse me for a minute,¡± Commander Zhi says as he walks away and holds his right ear.

    This nation¡¯s government had a hidden military base built into this rocky hill that overlooks the city. Genius! It gives a perfect view of the calm blue skies, you can feel the cool breeze of the wind, there¡¯s enough food and water to last several people for months if rationed correctly, and we have a strategic advantage over potential enemies from up here. The perfect hideout. History books are one thing but witnessing Earth¡¯s wonders with my own eyes just feels more authentic.

    ¡°So, as a fellow redhead,¡± Annie says to Ruby. ¡°You ever looked at a man and said, ¡°Ooh yas, I want you in my bed. Beloved, my love for you is myriad, and if you¡¯d like I can make you a dad,¡± she rhymes with a big smile. ¡°I know that I lack a motherin¡¯ r¨¦sum¨¦, but it¡¯s a fact that I just want to have twelve babies with you one day!¡±

    ¡°What kind of fucking drugs are you on?¡± Ruby asks in disbelief.

    ¡°The strongest drug known to mankind, of course!¡± Annie explains with a crazy smile. ¡°It¡¯s the one that makes you blind, and you hope it doesn¡¯t end in a divorce,¡± she says with a look of disgust on her face. ¡°It can make you feel like a mighty skyscraper, but both require lots of hard work and labor. It even makes you feel like a pathetic loser when things go south, after ya¡¯ll both play the unsympathetic accuser, regrettin¡¯ the words that left ya¡¯ll¡¯s big ol¡¯ mouths,¡± she says as she plays with the glass jar where her pet spider resides in. ¡°It¡¯s symbolized by a beautiful white dove. Ruby,¡± she says with an eye roll. ¡°You ain¡¯t that dense, I¡¯m talkin¡¯ ¡®bout love.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re insane,¡± Ruby says as she rolls her eyes.

    ¡°Insanely lovestruck!¡± Annie exclaims. ¡°Sigh. The one I love doesn¡¯t seem to love me, though,¡± she says with a pouty look on her face. ¡°I always throw him constant hints and try to make him jealous, so he¡¯ll pay attention to me, but I honestly don¡¯t know how Jian feels about me.¡±

    ¡°Have you ever asked him?¡± Rachel asks in curiosity.

    ¡°I did, but his answer just left me even more bruised and confused. Sigh. One day I finally gained enough courage to ask him, ¡°Jian, where do your romantic interests lie?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t buh-leave what that fool said!¡± Annie says in frustration as she throws her arms in the air. ¡°H-he just stared deeply across the horizon with those whimsical eyes of his, and¡­ and said,¡± she says as she prepares to mimic Jian¡¯s serious face. ¡°¡­ With justice¡­,¡± she says in a deep voice. ¡°I mean the sexy way he said it made me want to rip his shirt off, but¡­¡± she says in her normal voice. ¡°his response has left me so discombobulated. I didn¡¯t know what to do after that statement, so I licked his ear, but ¡­¡± she explains as she pouts again. ¡°he didn¡¯t like that, and now he hates me!¡±

    ¡°How long have ya¡¯ll known each other?¡± Rachel asks.

    ¡°I met him after my debut performance!¡± Annie answers as she chews on her own hair. ¡°He¡¯s not only my bestest-estest friend in the world, but he¡¯s the one who reduces stress and drives me to success. Jian and General Farrington are the best teachers that I could ever ask for, and I¡¯ll fucking kill anyone who thinks otherwise!¡±

    ¡°Nobody thinks that. You need to calm your tits,¡± Ruby says as she rolls her eyes.

    ¡°Calm your tits!¡± Annie shouts at Ruby as she points at her.

    ¡°Um,¡± Rachel says as she steps in front of the enraged Ruby. ¡°It sounds like Jian might like you, but he seems to be super focused on something, k?¡±

    ¡°I guess.¡± Annie pouts.

    ¡°Your rhymes were spectacular! What made you do that?¡± Rachel ponders.

    ¡°Rachel, patrollin¡¯ is necessary, but can be extremely wearyin¡¯!¡± Annie explains as she licks a small rock. ¡°I just felt like tryin¡¯ something new while we¡¯re stuck in this brief intermission of our lives, awaitin¡¯ the next chapter. Ooh, I bet there¡¯ll be a lot of action. Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I have to deliver this rock to Jian,¡± she explains as she playfully skips away.

    What? Why would you do that?

    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate those two,¡± Scarlett warns as she approaches her sister.

    ¡°I can take em¡¯,¡± Ruby boasts. ¡°This kingdom ain¡¯t big enough for more than one redhead anyway.¡±

    ¡°I also exist, Ruby,¡± Scarlett says as she rolls her eyes. ¡°Anyway, Jian is the strongest soldier for a reason. He has over 12000 confirmed zombie kills along with more than 250 completed missions and expeditions.¡±

    ¡°Ok and? But can he whoop me?¡± Ruby says in disbelief. ¡°Scoff. I don¡¯t think so. Besides, I heard about those expeditions. One time they went all the way to Canada, and the only thing they came back with was a shit ton of candy from a warehouse. Teresa ended up winning and hoarding most of the candy to further enlarge her head, so woopity-doo for expeditions!¡±

    ¡°Annie is the most unpredictable soldier we have, however, her talents come with a troubled past,¡± Scarlett says. ¡°Long ago, Olympus entered a war with a group of cannibals after they pillaged several of our settlements. Their leader wielded powerful Halos, making him virtually unapproachable to our troops. Olympus pushed through and managed to corner their army into their headquarters, which was a warehouse that resembled a human cattle/sex trafficking facility. ¡°Red Riding Hood¡± Annie O¡¯Carroll, her entire family, and village were victims and lived in horrible conditions as they awaited their turn. But by the time Olympus reached the factory, they only saw the dismembered limbs of the enemy and victims alike. They found the leader dead, his Halos nowhere to be found, but they did discover one sole survivor. General Farrington found a little girl with a scythe-shaped Halo, a string necklace with an ear, nose, eyeball, tongue, tooth, and bottom lip attached to it, and a black widow spider on her forehead. This girl was happily eating the leg of the leader and just smiled before offering General Farrington a piece until she tried a sneak attack with her scythe only to collapse from her wounds. She was wearing a red hoodie covered in the blood and guts of everyone in the facility, and it didn¡¯t take long for the soldiers to figure out that she single-handedly slaughtered everyone inside the facility. General Farrington assured her that she was safe now, but her response was, ¡°No. Not until I kill Medusa.¡± as she hummed herself to sleep. This little girl became to be known as ¡°Red Riding Hood¡± Annie O¡¯Carroll for the red hoodie she wears in battle.¡±

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    ¡°Zombies to our twelve!¡± A soldier announces.

    ¡°We got this,¡± Jian says as he and Annie rush into battle to deal with the zombies traversing up the mountain.

    ¡°Ruby, who do you think you stand a better shot against?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Well, Drew, Annie gets on my nerves the most, so of course I have to kick her ass first,¡± Ruby chuckles.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget to take notes, kids!¡± Annie yells out to us as she takes out a small cylinder-like device from her waist, and presses a button, revealing a fierce-looking scythe. ¡°Yeet!¡± Annie shouts as she throws the scythe at a zombie.

    A clean impalement.

    ¡°Yas! My 2021st kill!¡± Annie exclaims as the scythe¡­ somehow returns to her hand from thin air.

    Or wait, is that a metal string? And those gloves on her hand? That faint blue ominous glow. Could it be?

    ¡°Ok, so I can¡¯t beat her yet,¡± Ruby finally admits. ¡°But Jian has punk written all over him, so I bet I could knock his ass out.¡±

    ¡°HAH!¡± Jian yells as he delivers a killer roundhouse kick to the zombie, knocking its head right off.

    ¡°While most people prefer weapons,¡± Scarlett explains. ¡°Jian prefers ¡°beatin¡¯ the shit out of zombies with his bare hands and feet,¡± she says in air quotes.

    ¡°That¡¯s quite a sight,¡± a familiar woman¡¯s voice states in a calm tone.

    ¡°Sonya!¡± Rachel yells as she hugs Sonya.

    ¡°Guys!¡± Duy yells out in excitement.

    ¡°And we¡¯ve brought friends. Old and new ones,¡± Sonya explains. ¡°Our new ones are waiting for us, while the old one is already here.¡±

    Old one?

    ¡°Heh. Did ya¡¯ll miss me?¡± Teresa says as a soldier pushes her in her wheelchair.

    Teresa¡­

    ¡°Teresa!¡± Ruby cries in tears as the two exchange hugs.

    ¡°It looks like you finally turned me into a jailbird, Ruby,¡± Teresa says in tears.

    ¡°You don¡¯t know how much I¡¯ve missed you and your big head,¡± Ruby laughs.

    ¡°We¡¯ll have to cut this reunion short,¡± Sonya interrupts. ¡°General Farrington has been arrested, and Angela Blackwood is heading this way as we speak. Thankfully, we¡¯ll be traveling to Athens with two Athenians who will be escorting us. The fastest way to Athens is to cut through the Gulf of Mexico, but the waters are far too dangerous to risk a trip with this many people. We barely made it back here ourselves.¡±

    ¡°So, The Mighty Squad Zeus will be going rogue as they take their chances in The New World,¡± Commander Zhi says in a calm tone.

    ¡°You got a problem with that?¡± Duy asks.

    ¡°No problem at all, seeing as to how you guys managed to escape from us,¡± Commander Zhi says with a soft grin.

    ¡°Thank you, Commander,¡± Duy says.

    ¡°But beware!¡± Annie exclaims. ¡°The New World ain¡¯t nothing like the undead forest or Winner, South Dakota. Like love, it¡¯s a giant, swirly cesspool of mayhem! You must stay on your p¡¯s and q¡¯s at all times if you want to survive, but sometimes that¡¯s not even enough! Sometimes, you just get fuuuuucked by life, and die like ¡°bleh¡± no matter what you do! The New World is brimming with tons and tons of dangers such as millions, billions and kajillion zombies, powerful mutated, The Suicide Gates, The Deadliest Kingdom, mercenaries, The Seven Sharks, The gorgon sisters, the Seven Wonderful Wonders, the meanie Royals, The King of Scorpius, but the most important dangerous foe is¡­ eh, it don¡¯t matter,¡± she says as she rambles to her pet spider. ¡°Ya¡¯ll won¡¯t even get that far because Squad Zeus is a rookie squad filled with babies who poop their pants! And, and STAY SAFE YA¡¯LL! I love all of you equally, but I love Ruby the most! X-O¡­x¡­o,¡± she explains as she slowly curls herself into a ball and passes out.

    Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. You really are wise, Teresa.

    ¡°One more thing,¡± Sonya says with a grin as she glances down the hill. ¡°You can come out now!¡±

    I can¡¯t believe it. How?!

    ¡°Hello, Drew,¡± Jaliyah says as she rushes to hug me.

    Jaliyah?!

    ¡°What the hell are you doing here?¡± I say as I hug her back.

    ¡°Ooh. Just because you¡¯re eighteen doesn¡¯t mean you can swear. If I can¡¯t swear, then you can¡¯t either,¡± Jaliyah says with a chuckle. ¡°It¡¯s not just me, by the way. Everyone¡¯s parents are here!¡± She says with a big smile. ¡°The soldiers brought us here so we can send off you vile miscreants as you transition into a life of crime!¡±

    You shouldn¡¯t be so enthusiastic about this.

    ¡°Well, Ruby,¡± Scarlett says in a slightly proud tone. ¡°You always wanted to live outside the law,¡± she says as she gives Ruby a hug. ¡°Do your best to stay safe. Mom will be watching over you, so make sure you ¡°kick ass,¡± she says in tears.

    ¡°Scarlett, ya crybaby!¡± Ruby says with a voice crack as she returns the hug. ¡°If you start crying then I¡¯ll start to¡­,¡± Ruby says as she cries.

    ¡°I know. I know. You¡¯re my baby sister for a reason,¡± Scarlett says with a laugh as she wipes off her sister¡¯s tears.

    ¡°Scarlett, I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry for breaking your glasses all those years ago,¡± Ruby says as the two end the hug. ¡°I never apologized for it, k? I was being a major brat, and I just wanted to apologize, before Evil on Tour begins its world tour,¡± Ruby says in a heartfelt tone.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for socking you in the mouth and abandoning you,¡± Scarlett apologizes. ¡°I was just so sad. I should¡¯ve been there for you when you needed someone the most. I¡¯m the worst sister in the world.¡±

    ¡°No, Scarlett. You¡¯re the big sister for a reason because you¡¯re the best. I couldn¡¯t ask for a better sister. I mean, I wouldn¡¯t have minded a cooler one though,¡± Ruby says with a soft smile.

    ¡°So, the baby finally admits that I¡¯m the best,¡± Scarlett laughs.

    ¡°Yeah, the best at being laaaaame!¡± Ruby laughs out loud. ¡°Scar, let¡¯s say it. Come on.¡±

    ¡°Sigh. Fine,¡± Scarlett reluctantly agrees with a grin as she shakes her head.

    ¡°The,¡± Ruby and Scarlett begin to say in unison. ¡°Notorious, Punk Rock, Guitar Playing, Explosively Unpredictable, Unstoppable Redhead, Lead singer of ¡°Evil on Tour; The AMAZING Ruby Redheart! And, The Infamous, Bona Fide, Bass playing, Limitless Intellectual, Fierce Redhead, The Best Sister in The Whole Freakin¡¯ World, The MAGNIFICENT Scarleeeeeeet Redheart!¡±

    ¡°My eldest children have earned a place on the most wanted list!¡± Rachel and Billy¡¯s Pa yells out in a proud voice.

    That¡¯s nothing to be proud of.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sad, and yet so proud!¡± Their Pa says as he gives them a tight hug. ¡°I just want you two to stay safe as best you can and protect your friends! Remember, we Coopers are unstoppable! We¡¯re prepared for all the shit the world will throw at us, and nothing will stop us from reclaiming Brackettville!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll make you proud, Pa,¡± Billy replies.

    ¡°As long as I find root beer and bubblegum, then I¡¯ll be able to conquer anything!¡± Rachel says as she smacks her stale bubblegum.

    ¡°Teresa, I have to tell you something,¡± Duy says as he approaches Teresa.

    ¡°Just because I can¡¯t move my legs doesn¡¯t change anything,¡± Teresa says as she crosses her arms.

    ¡°But?¡± Duy continues to approach.

    ¡°No ifs, ands, big butts, or whatchamacallits, Duy,¡± Teresa denies as she shakes her head. ¡°Oh god, you¡¯re too tall,¡± she says as Duy kneels to reach eye-level. ¡°Heh,¡± she chuckles as her face glows red. ¡°I-I think you skipped a few steps.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve put you in check, Teresa,¡± Duy says as he leans forward and kisses her. ¡°I¡¯ll put you in checkmate when I come back,¡± Duy states after he finishes.

    ¡°Y-you better not flirt with any women out there,¡± Teresa says in embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯m warning you, Duy. Women are more terrifying than zombies when enraged.¡±

    ¡°You fool!¡± Ruby blurts out. ¡°You gotta give a kiss on the lips,¡± she says as she grabs me. ¡°Like this!¡±

    Ruby?!

    ¡°The hell are you looking at, Drew?!¡± Ruby yells as she looks at me with a mixture of emotions. ¡°You were never going to make the first move!!!¡± She says as her face glows red.

    ¡°Yay!¡± Jaliyah yells out as she claps her hands. ¡°I can finally plan out the wedding!¡±

    ¡°Are you sure about this, Ruby?¡± I ask.

    ¡°We are about to march into a shitpool of shit, so it¡¯s only right that yours truly begins her amazing transition into the new, improved, always cool, me.¡±

    ¡°Luke!¡± Sonya says with a warm smile as she quickly approaches the elevator.

    ¡°They briefed me on everything,¡± Luke says as the two hug.

    ¡°Luke Miller!¡± Ruby yells as she points a finger at Luke. ¡°You have superpowers now, which means we¡¯re unstoppable! The Royals can¡¯t compete with you in a contest of hands anymore!¡±

    ¡°Ruby, you¡¯re forgetting about Veronica,¡± Luke explains as he holds his head in pain.

    ¡°She can get the hands too,¡± Ruby says as she shrugs.

    ¡°No, she¡¯s my guardian. I have to find out where she is, what she did to me, how, and why,¡± Luke says.

    ¡°We already know what she did, silly. She turned you into a badass,¡± Ruby clarifies in excitement.

    ¡°No, I feel like a monster,¡± Luke says in sadness.

    ¡°I think we should come up with a better plan once we reach Athens,¡± Duy announces.

    ¡°Heh. Well, whatever you guys decide to do,¡± Teresa says. ¡°¡­ just make sure that you kick ass. I¡¯ve already predicted our fate, remember? Defeating Angela Blackwood and the Death Angels is just the first step in our perilous quest for safety and answers. You delinquents better stay safe! And bring back souvenirs!¡±

    *

    END OF ACT 3: Minerva

 Act 4: Angela â€œThe Lionessâ€ Blackwood. Chapter 58: The Restless Ho V?n Duy

    10 Years Ago

    June 1, 2065

    2000 CDT

    Port Arthur, Texas

    Near the Gulf of Mexico

    <u>Ho V?n Duy''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Check out what I got, Duy!¡± Little Sinh screams in excitement.

    You¡¯re only six years old, Sinh, and even though your black hair in a bowl cut makes you look uncool, you¡¯re the fastest learner I know. Already a fantastic fishing prodigy with only one year of practice. You managed to capture a mackerel all by yourself on this beach.

    ¡°Not bad, Sinh. Not bad,¡± I say.

    ¡°Oh, here we go,¡± Sinh pouts.

    ¡°What?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Here comes the part where you one-up me! You and Quan always turn everything into a competition!¡± Sinh shouts as he points a finger at me.

    ¡°Hey, if we didn¡¯t keep you humble, then you would become too big-headed, and that¡¯s when bad stuff happens. Just think of it as tough love,¡± I say.

    ¡°Yeah yeah. So how did you manage to outdo me this time?¡± Sinh asks.

    ¡°Heh. Check it out broham!¡± I say.

    ¡°No way!¡± Sinh says.

    ¡°Yes, way!¡± I say.

    ¡°How did you manage to capture a swordfish?¡± Sinh asks in awe.

    ¡°With hard work and determination, of course! Not to mention my.

    Bird poop just fell on my head¡­

    ¡°HAHAHAHAHAHA! See! That¡¯s what happens when you get too big-headed!¡± Sinh points and laughs. ¡°Birds poop on your head!¡±

    ¡°Yeah yeah. Anyway, where the heck is your shirt, Sinh? You¡¯ll catch a cold,¡± I say.

    ¡°Then you and Quan should lead by example. I¡¯m only copying Quan as I let my guns show for the ladies,¡± he says as he flexes his nonexistent muscles.

    ¡°Sinh put a shirt on!¡± Boisterous Quan yells out as he approaches.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    Your height and black mohawk don¡¯t make up for your stupidity, Quan.

    ¡°Great. Here comes the part where he one-ups us,¡± I say.

    ¡°Yeah, Duy. Deja vu,¡± Sinh says as he rubs his chin.

    ¡°Sinh! Duy! My puny brothers. You two may have caught a mackerel and a swordfish, but I, the mighty Quan, with the assistance of my muscly muscles, have caught a giant yellowfin tuna!¡± Quan gloats like a jerk. ¡°Do not fret my siblings. For I will guide you into a righteous path of muscles, glory, and awesomeness!¡±

    ¡°As long as we got food, then that¡¯s all that matters. The village will be so proud! We¡¯re like superheroes!¡± I say.

    ¡°We¡¯re actually more like nitwits,¡± Sinh clarifies.

    ¡°Superheroes? Nitwits? I am unsure of the terms, but whatever they are, I am the best as always!¡± Quan says in excitement.

    ¡°You might be better than us right now, Quan, but one day we, along with our muscles, will catch up to you!¡± I say.

    ¡°Yeah yeah. I am looking forward to it, young Duy. There¡¯s a reason why I must constantly keep you two humble. Competition and rivalries are healthy and build character. Now, let us go home before the sun sets. We all know the rules,¡± Quan says.

    Right. Curfew. The soldiers won¡¯t be able to patrol as well at night.

    *

    Inside the Ho Family¡¯s House

    A Wooden Cabin Located Not Too Far from the Beach

    *

    ¡°A mackerel, swordfish, and a giant yellowfin tuna?!¡± Dad says in disbelief as he observes the prizes on the table. ¡°Ha-ha. I love you guys!¡±

    Sinh gets his whack haircut from you, father.

    ¡°Oh, Dung, we should attempt to bring a girl into the family, again,¡± Mom grossly flirts with Dad. ¡°I love you all with all my heart, but being surrounded by men and boys who reek of fish and sweat all day is starting to take a toll on my sanity, especially since I¡¯m homeschooling you three,¡± Mom says as she makes the final dinner preparations.

    I must¡¯ve been inspired by your tomboyish short black-haired, mother.

    ¡°B?a t?i ???c ph?c v? (Dinner is served),¡± Mother says with a prideful smile.

    Sweet! A burger all the way from the ranches. Yup. No doubt about it. This is the best family ever.

    Someone¡¯s knocking on the door.

    Father gave us the nonverbal hand signal. The signal to hide and get the guns.

    He¡¯s putting himself in a strategic location by the door, so he can safely ask the secret codeword.

    ¡°Do you know the muffin man?¡± Father asks in a serious tone.

    ¡°That lives in Drury Lane?¡± The man answers correctly. ¡°We need to change that fucking ridiculous password, Dung.¡±

    ¡°Richard, hello!¡± Father says as he opens the door and greets his friend.

    ¡°Put those things away, kids,¡± Mother says. ¡°You know they¡¯re only for emergencies, and the only current emergency is that nobody is eating the delicious food I slaved away all evening to make!¡±

    Technically, you didn¡¯t make it. You only cooked it on a solar cooker, but I like eating so I won¡¯t say anything.

    ¡°Mother! You did not make the food! You only cooked it on a solar cooker!¡± Dumbass Quan blurts out.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, did you say you wanted extra homework?¡± Mother asks with a smile.

    ¡°No. I said¡­¡± Quan s-

    ¡°Quan just got too much water in his ear, Mom,¡± Sinh interrupts. ¡°He doesn¡¯t know what he¡¯s thinking.¡±

    ¡°What? Cannibals? Ridiculous!¡± Father says in disbelief as he continues his conversation at the door.

    ¡°Yeah yeah. Watch out for them,¡± Richard calmly warns. ¡°Anyway, I just wanted to check up on my best pal. You make sure you hold on tight to your family. As a father myself, I know how important family is to a man¡¯s sanity.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Mother says with a bright smile as she gets in between Father and Richard. ¡°We. Are. Hungry. Please. Leave. NOW!¡±

    ¡°The Ho¡¯s were always my favorite family¡­,¡± Richard says in a strange tone as he complies with Mom¡¯s request.

    Who is that in the distance?

    A rocket launcher whistle?! MOM!

 Chapter 59: Dreams of the Ocean

    5 Minutes Later

    June 1, 2065

    2020 CDT

    Port Arthur, Texas

    Near the Gulf of Mexico

    <u>V?n Duy¡¯s Point of View</u>

    I¡¯m coughing and my neck fucking hurts, oh no! Gunfire, screams, smoke, and¡­

    blood.

    A voice is shouting from outside in a foreign language.

    No! Not them! How did they get past the soldiers without setting off the alarms?

    ¡°The Njord Sharks are back, bitches! Just in time for supper!¡± The enemy shouts among the sounds of automatic gunfire.

    Pirates! Fucking bastards! M-my head! Ow. How long was I out?! Everything is ruined, and Father and Quan are nowhere to be seen! Sinh is here at least, but he¡¯s not looking good! He¡¯s bleeding out!

    ¡°Mom?!¡± I call out.

    ¡°She¡¯s gone, Duy,¡± Sinh struggles to say.

    Fuck! A fucking sharp piece of wood penetrated deep into his lungs.

    ¡°Stop talking, you idiot! We gotta get you to a doctor!¡± I say.

    It looks so painful, but you¡¯re not even crying! Only six-years-old, but already a tougher man than I¡¯ll ever be.

    ¡°No, not yet,¡± Sinh says as he denies my help. ¡°Quan and Father went to fight and look for a doctor, but realistically, we all know I¡¯m¡­ as good as dead. Just like Mom.¡±

    ¡°What the fuck? How the fuck could you say that?¡±

    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°I¡¯m young, not stupid. I know how the world works. Be thankful you didn¡¯t have to see Dad shoot his friend in the face after Mom was obliterated.¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡±

    ¡°Watch out,¡± Sinh says as he points at a zombie.

    Shit! Where is it?! Where¡¯s my fishing spear?

    There it is!

    ¡°Duy!¡± Sinh cries out.

    ¡°I got it!¡± I say as I prepare to stab the zombie.

    Easy kill.

    ¡°Fuck! This is fucking crazy! Where¡¯s the army?!¡± I yell.

    ¡°Duy, you¡¯re not stupid either. You know they¡¯re dead. Father is dead. Quan is dead. And I¡¯ll be dead¡­ soon.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk like that, Sinh!¡±

    ¡°We all die, but you have the best chance of surviving. We both know that the Njord Sharks will only leave after the reinforcements arrive. That¡¯ll be when they¡¯ve lost the element of surprise,¡± he continues as he struggles to breathe.

    ¡°I said, shut up! We¡¯re both leaving!¡±

    ¡°Where are we gonna go? There¡¯s nothing out there except more of this, and we both know that any surviving doctors are¡­ taking care of themselves first. It¡¯s the¡­ smart thing to do. It¡¯s what I would do.¡±

    The panic room, under the cabin! I¡¯ll take you there.

    ¡°Come on, Sinh!¡±

    ¡°STOP! IT HURTS!¡± Sinh screams as I pick him up.

    Shit! They definitely heard that.

    ¡°We have to hide, Sinh!¡±

    ¡°Maybe you are stupid,¡± he says as tears fall from his eyes.

    *

    The Panic Room

    *

    Damn, it¡¯s dark in here, and cramped. About the size of a small latrine.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do it, Duy,¡± Sinh whispers.

    ¡°Do what?¡±

    ¡°You can let me turn. I won¡¯t mind. You¡¯ll just have to cut off my arms and smash my teeth in, so I won¡¯t be an immediate threat to anyone.¡±

    ¡°Shh!¡±

    ¡°You know, even though we¡¯re fishermen, we¡¯ve never set sail into the open ocean.¡±

    ¡°You know how dangerous that is. The Njord Sharks control everything from the Gulf of Mexico to the North Atlantic.¡±

    ¡°Duy, if you let me turn, then there¡¯s a chance that I¡¯ll be able to¡­ explore the vast ocean one day!¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t listen.¡±

    ¡°Please! Please, big brother! Just let me turn!¡±

    ¡°Sinh, they¡¯re gonna hear us! I can¡¯t protect you unless you stay quiet!¡±

    ¡°Duy you¡¯ve done all you can to protect me. You and Quan are the best big brothers I could have ever asked for. Mom and Dad were awesome too. Unfortunately, The New World is based on survival of the fittest. And¡­ as you can see, I¡¯m dying and unfit. I feel so cold, but¡­ comfortable knowing that the nightmare is about to end,¡± Sinh says with a smile.

    Damn it, Sinh!

    ¡°At first I was so scared when I realized that I was going to die. I thought to myself  ¡°Mom is so lucky. Her death was quick and painless. Didn¡¯t even¡­ see it coming.¡±

    ¡°Please, Sinh¡­¡±

    ¡°Now, I¡¯m happy that I get to die a slow death. I get to think about the¡­ happy memories in my short, short life, but most importantly¡­ I get to dream about the ocean and hope¡­ my corpse can make its way to sea!¡±

    ¡°ZOMBIES!¡± Voices scream from above as the automatic gunfire quickly resumes.

    Fuck. Fuck. Fuck! Shit. Shit. Shit! What do I do?!

    ¡°Duy, I¡¯ve been enough of a burden on everyone. Please¡­ let me turn,¡± Sinh begs.

 Chapter 60: Sharpshooter

    10 Years Later

    Present Day

    July 1, 2075

    2000 CDT

    Outskirts of Alejandro, Mexico, A Small Town Located Near Scorpia/Mexico City

    <u>Ho V?n Duy¡¯s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Duy!¡± Billy yells out.

    ¡°AH!¡± I yell.

    ¡°AHHH!¡± Billy screams in shock.

    ¡°STOP FUCKING SCREAMING!¡± Sonya roars.

    God damn it.

    ¡°What the hell, Billy?!¡± I ask.

    ¡°Y-you were s-shakin¡¯ in your sleep again, captain,¡± Billy says in a soft tone.

    ¡°Oh,¡± I say.

    God, what a week. I still can¡¯t believe that this new week is beginning exactly like the last one. In the back of a cargo truck.

    ¡°Do you wanna talk ¡®bout it?¡± Rachel asks with a look of innocence in her eyes.

    ¡°Wha? Talk about what?!¡± I ask.

    ¡°Are you ok, Duy?¡± Freaking Luke asks.

    ¡°I said, I¡¯m fine!¡± I say.

    ¡°No, you didn¡¯t,¡± Billy points out.

    ¡°Whatever. What¡¯s our E.T.A?¡± I ask.

    ¡°We¡¯re almost there,¡± Sonya answers in irritation.

    ¡°Heh. We look so damn cool with the way we¡¯ve dressed,¡± Ruby says with a smile. ¡°So clean, and yet so, so mean. Being able to bless this world with my beauty brings me so, so much joy.¡±

    She¡¯s right. Teresa brought our favorite clothes with her before she and a few soldiers snuck out of Olympus to help us. Ruby is in her signature black ¡°Evil on Tour¡± shirt with the stomach part cut out and has on a beanie, black short shorts, along with many pouches wrapped around her waist where she¡¯s most likely hiding her volatile ¡°babies.¡± Rachel is in a black ¡°Evil on Tour¡± tank top, black baseball cap, blue shorts, and is wearing her signature black colored headband. Billy is wearing an ¡°Evil on Tour¡± beanie as well, along with sunglasses, a white t-shirt, and blue shorts. Freaking Luke is wearing a purple Hawaiian button-up shirt with puppies on it, white shorts, and a black ¡°Evil on Tour¡± snapback. Drew is wearing a black evil on tour collared shirt and brown shorts. Sonya is wearing a black and white ¡°Evil on Tour¡± tank top, olive green combat shorts, and a silver baseball cap. And Teresa brought my favorite ¡°Evil on Tour¡± V-neck, black sunglasses and blue jean shorts. But poor Anna. Her parents didn¡¯t even show up and is acting like she¡¯s fine but looks terrible. I never welcomed her to the squad now that I think about it. Luckily, Red Riding Hood lent her a spare dress, so now she¡¯s wearing a worn-out light blue summer dress that looks to be her size, but I don¡¯t know shit about dresses.

    ¡°Captain, please stop analyzing me,¡± Anna says as she pouts and looks outside the entrance. ¡°I am fine.¡±

    Tough girl.

    ¡°Sonya Grey!¡± Ruby shouts. ¡°The Black Scorpions dress up like stereotypical biker gangs, correct?¡±

    ¡°They don¡¯t dress up like them. They are them, Ruby,¡± Sonya explains in frustration.

    ¡°But their colors are red and black, which just so happens to be the color of my hair and shirt. Do ya think I could blend in as one of them based on my hypothesis?¡± Ruby asks in optimism.

    ¡°Hmm. That depends. Are you ready to slit someone¡¯s throat open on command?¡± Sonya answers as she stands up. ¡°Stop fucking around, Ruby. They will kill you without hesitation if you so much as breathe the wrong way.¡±

    ¡°Sonya,¡± Ruby chuckles. ¡°I was just joking, ok? For the laughs.¡±

    ¡°And yet, I¡¯m not laughing,¡± Sonya says with a glare. ¡°Speaking of cold-blooded murder,¡± Sonya says as she brings the room¡¯s attention to her. ¡°Up to now, none of you have had to kill another human being, so consider yourselves blessed. But that blessing turned into a liability the moment we left Mount Olympus. Being cutthroat is the only way to survive out here. I don¡¯t give a flying fuck if it¡¯s a fucking kid. It doesn¡¯t take much to pull a trigger, so if a kid pointed a gun at me or any one of you, then I would put them down without hesitation, and I expect all of you to do the same. If you have a fucking problem with it, then you can get the fuck out of the truck, march your ass back the way we came, and surrender to Angela and the Death Angels.¡±

    ¡°The truck stopped!¡± Rachel and Billy announce in unison.

    *

    5 Minutes Later

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    2005 CDT

    On the peak of Alejandro, Inside a Wooden Cabin

    *

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys happy that we made it before sundown?¡± Our Athenian escort Ethan asks.

    Ethan, Caucasian, appears to be in his early thirties, with bushy brown hair, a grey baseball cap, grey cloak and was personally handpicked by Admiral Silva for this mission for his navigational and survival skills.

    ¡°Let¡¯s make a new rule of not asking dumbass questions for the rest of the trip,¡± Sonya says as she peers out the front window that overlooks the entire village and dessert.

    The fact that we not only avoided getting shot but managed to secure the best cabin in the village for the night is a miracle! Ethan sure knows how to hassle without causing trouble. Having a safe place to sleep for the night is worth the trade of our truck keys, along with half our gas.

    ¡°You seem tense, Sonya¡± Aayushi says in a nervous tone as she checks on Sonya.

    Aayushi, Asian, mid twenties¡¯s, mid-length black hair, bangs that cover her right eye, skinny, wearing a grey cloak, and was handpicked for her superb medical skills.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like it here,¡± Sonya announces as she continues to glare outside. ¡°I¡¯m getting goosebumps.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s too risky to be here, but we¡¯re not robots, Sonya,¡± I say. ¡°As the group leaders, we have to make the best decisions for the group, and this is the correct thing to do right now.¡±

    ¡°I know, Captain,¡± Sonya says as she plops down on the couch.

    ¡°She barely sleeps,¡± Luke reveals as he puts a blanket on her. ¡°If anyone¡¯s a robot, it¡¯s her.¡±

    *

    Meanwhile

    Outside Alejandro¡¯s Walls

    <u>Angela Blackwood¡¯s Point of View</u>

    Heh heh, this is too easy, but I must admit, Alejandro has phantasmagorical architecture. It¡¯s an Aztec village that¡¯s been altered to fit the needs of this New World. Built atop a hill, roughly the size of a football field and four fifteen-meter-high stone walls with patrolling guards atop it surrounds the entire settlement.

    ¡°Are the Death Angels prepared, Li?¡± I ask.

    ¡°We¡¯re awaiting your signal, ma¡¯am,¡± Li says.

    ¡°Excellent,¡± I say.

    Nevertheless, this brief game of cat and mouse shall soon end with the help of our two Mammoths, tanks that contain our fuel, Tridents, ammunition, water, and other necessities. Not only that, but my Death Angels have quietly surrounded the perimeter of this foul settlement. These peasants have such feeble security. I can¡¯t even imagine how they avoid Behemoths and other mutated. Maybe they just scurry about and hide like the pests they are, waiting for the monsters to leave. Notwithstanding, the show is about to begin.

    ¡°Death Angels, activate the P.A. system!¡± I order.

    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡± My soldiers quickly comply.

    ¡°Hola (Hello), weak-minded peasants!¡± I shout into my microphone.

    The front gate. I predict that my target shall rush out the front door like a fool, so I shall stand a safe six meters away.

    ¡°?Qui¨¦n diablos (Who the hell)?¡± A Black Scorpion yells out from above.

    ¡°Mi nombre es (My name is) Angela ¡°The Lioness¡± Blackwood, the Royal¡¯s elite enforcer, and my subordinados (subordinates) are the ¨¢ngeles de la Muerte (Death Angels)! Do not fret (Two above)! I wish to be your friend and am only here for one simple reason! We are tracking a dangerous fugitive who appears to be hiding inside one of your cabins (One on my nine and another on my three)! I am asking you to surrender your weapons and let us search the village so we can bring this beast to justice (Two at the front door)!¡±

    ¡°And why the fuck would we do that?¡± The Black Scorpion near the front gate responds.

    ¡°For two simple reasons, fool,¡± I answer. ¡°Our guns are not only better than yours, but they¡¯re bigger!¡±

    Heh heh. Men have such fragile egos.

    ¡°And should you continue to oppose us, we shall be forced to deliver a swift execution upon all Black Scorpions residing inside Alejandro,¡± I say. ¡°Like I said, I wish to be your friend, so make sure you think very hard about your response.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± The fools respond in anger.

    ¡°The Black Scorpions are the doltish of all kingdoms, but they make up for it in pride and loyalty! Last chance! Do you really want tonight to be your last night on Earth?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it! Kill her!¡± The Black Scorpion near the front gate orders.

    Such impudent behavior.

    The two above me have been eliminated by me.

    ¡°What?!¡± The fools to my twelve shout in confusion as I quickly drop their allies one by one.

    Not even a challenge.

    Eliminating the ones who had the most unobstructed shot at me was the most strategic choice, which is why the two above me had to go first. The two in front of me had to be the next choice due to their high chances of landing a fatal shot on me, and the two that covered my sides posed the lowest threat, due to the fact that they were the farthest away. But, heh heh. None of that matters. The real challenge has yet to come.

    ¡°You fools have underestimated my quickdraw capabilities,¡± I say as I reload my weapon. ¡°To all remaining Black Scorpions, as well as my target. I did not wish to do that, but I¡¯ll do it again in a heartbeat until I get what I want. This is simply an appetizer to me. My main course is out of sight, but very far from out of mind. Now, I grow weary of chasing men, which is why I shall not move from this spot until Luke Miller decides to grow a pair and properly introduce himself to a lady. And for being such rude guests, I shall deliver the second entr¨¦e to all the peasants inside Alejandro. Death Angels! Raid the village. Deliver suppressing fire! Force everyone inside until Luke Miller decides to man up and face me.¡±

    *

    Inside Squad Zeus¡¯s Stone Cabin

    <u>Luke Miller¡¯s Point of View</u>

    No!

    ¡°She¡¯s gonna kill them!¡± I say.

    ¡°That¡¯s obvious,¡± Sonya says in a nonchalant tone.

    ¡°Sonya! I know you don¡¯t like them, but some of them are innocent people,¡± I say. ¡°I don¡¯t know how they tracked us, but we led them here. This is our fucking fault!¡±

    ¡°How? We¡¯re not the ones indiscriminately shooting at people. Shit happens,¡± Sonya shrugs.

    ¡°Damn it! I¡­ I have to stop her. This is our fault. This is¡­ my fault.¡±

    ¡°Luke, wait!¡± Duy yells out as he grabs me.

    ¡°Let go!¡± I say.

    ¡°We don¡¯t know the full extent of your powers yet, man!¡± Duy exclaims in worry.

    ¡°Well, we¡¯re about to find out!¡± I say.

    ¡°Be careful, Luke!¡± Everyone yells out as I barge out the door.

    *

    Front gate of Alejandro

    *

    Speed. When I concentrate, I can make quick bursts of inhuman speeds, equivalent to the lunge of a Behemoth or Headhunter. She won¡¯t even see it coming! I don¡¯t want to hit a woman, but she¡¯s a fucking psychopath who¡¯ll kill innocents to get what she wants. I have to stop her! I¡¯m the only one who can.

    There she is! A helmet? Damn! That armor she has on looks very hi-tech and assumingly built to withstand hard body shots from the neck down. I¡¯ll have to knock off her helmet first before I can knock her out.

    ¡°Agh!¡± I yell.

    Damn it! Harpoons?! From above?! Two Death Angels in armor similar to hers from above?! Shit! They went straight through my kneecaps from behind my knees. I can¡¯t¡­ stand up!

    ¡°Heh heh. Well well well,¡± Angela says as she approaches while slowly taking off her helmet. ¡°If it isn¡¯t Luke Miller,¡± she says with her helmet fully removed, revealing an evil smirk on her face.

 Chapter 61: Luke Miller vs Angela Blackwood

    July 1, 2075

    2008 CDT

    Outskirts of Alejandro, Mexico

    <u>Luke Miller''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Do I really intimidate you that much?¡± she chuckles as she whips her hair back. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because you¡¯ve never been face to face with a mature woman of my status and figure such as me before, but you should know,¡± she says as her face slowly shifts into an angry glare. ¡°That it¡¯s eminently rude to keep a lady waiting.¡±

    Keep talking¡­

    ¡°Wow! The rumors are true!¡± She says in surprise. ¡°Red eyes, dry skin, and superhuman-like powers! I suppose the chase can be worth it from time to time. Now then, peasant, I¡¯ve been ordered to capture you dead or alive, but I¡¯ve learned that people are the real threat in the world. Henceforth why I shall be delivering your head to my superiors. Don¡¯t take it personal. People are much, much simpler to deal with when they¡¯re not breathing, but first¡­¡± she reveals as she continues to give me a cold glare. ¡°Properly introduce yourself to me, child.¡±

    ¡°My name is Luke Miller, and I¡¯m the guy who¡¯s going to kick your crazy ass, Angela!¡±

    My harpoon wounds have healed! Regeneration is one, damn good blessing.

    Now time to wipe that stupid smirk off your face.

    What?! My punch sent you back by at least six meters, yet you¡¯re still standing.

    ¡°Impressive,¡± she chuckles with that damn smirk of hers as she takes off her cape.

    No way! Th-that punch had the same amount of power as the punch I used to save Teresa. I¡¯m sure of it! Did I underestimate your reactions or am I not moving as fast as I think?! I went straight for your jaw, but you still managed to block in time. Damn! But luckily for me, you¡¯re very prideful, which means I won¡¯t have to worry about the Death Angels for now.

    ¡°Time for the main course,¡± she says as she puts on her helmet. ¡°Let¡¯s dance, honey,¡± she says as she enters a fighting stance.

    No weapons? You¡¯re too arrogant, but powers or not, you¡¯re clearly an experienced fighter, which means I¡¯ll have to rely on the element of surprise to defeat you.

    ¡°Heh heh. You fool,¡± she says with a quick burst of speed as she rushes towards me.

    Shit! You¡¯re faster than I thought. I have to block.

    You¡­ would¡¯ve broken my nose if I didn¡¯t block that punch.

    ¡°Foolishness, child!¡± She shouts as she prepares to attack.

    ¡°Agh!¡± I yell.

    She kneed me in my groin. Oh no. Not the face.

    ¡°Ugh!¡± I yell.

    A kick to the face. Fuck! My nose! You¡­ almost sent me flying back all the way to the harpoons.

    ¡°Pathetic. Truly pathetic, Luke Miller,¡± she arrogantly chuckles.

    How are you so strong? And fast?! You have no Halo as far as I can tell, and it doesn¡¯t appear to be the suit¡¯s doing. Could it be?

    ¡°My vigor, equivalent to my allure, is name brand,¡± she boasts in arrogance. ¡°You, Luke Miller, however, are of the nonproprietary merchandise!¡± She points and laughs.

    ¡°You talk too much!¡±

    ¡°Then come and shut me up!¡± She says with that smirk as she reenters her fighting stance. ¡°If¡­ you think you can, child!¡±

    All I have to do is knock off your helmet and then knock you the hell out. My next move will be a lunge, followed by a barrage of punches.

    ¡°Oh, come now, child!¡± She says as she dodges my flurry of punches. ¡°Fight like your life¡¯s depending on it! Maybe your friends will provide me with the entertainment I seek! I hear¡­ one of them is a traitorous Royal! And the other¡­ a former Black Scorpion!¡±

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    I managed to hit her right in the chest. That got you to shut up!

    ¡°Ugh! D-did I strike a nerve?!¡± She asks in annoyance, as she starts to go on the offense.

    Stay focused. I¡¯m¡­ adapting. Blocking more. Following your footwork, maintaining eye contact, reading her body language. Ah, damn it! It is a dance. You have a superb advantage over me in every aspect, except raw power.

    Time to go for a headbutt.

    ¡°Damn it!¡± She yells out in frustration.

    You¡¯re wide open.

    Got you! Right in the mouth. Another blow that sent you sliding back by another six meters. But wait? Your armor didn¡¯t even crack?!

    ¡°Heh heh,¡± she laughs as she readjusts her helmet. ¡°Humanity¡¯s greatest threat? Such utter foolishness! More like humanity¡¯s greatest pet because you fight like a bitch!¡±

    ¡°I would think that the fancy Royals would have good dentists, but your breath said otherwise, Angela,¡± I say as I begin to mutate my right arm into a blade.

    That armor can absorb anything, but what happens if I try to cut it?

    ¡°Is this truly how you wish to continue this dance?¡± She snickers as she pulls out a katana. ¡°Utter foolishness. En garde, peasant!¡± She yells as we both advance.

    A clash of blades. How did your sword not break? I¡¯m using all my power!

    ¡°Tsk. Olympians are so heroic!¡± She yells, retreating with a quick back-step.

    ¡°Royals are so arrogant!¡±

    We¡¯re both trading blows with our swords, trying to gain an advantage over one another, but neither of us can land a solid hit.

    I don¡¯t know shit about kenjutsu, but fortunately, I can rely on my power, toughness, and heightened reflexes for the moment, and because of that, I¡¯ve found a weakness. You may be able to defend against my strength, but you¡¯re incapable of overpowering me, and you know it. And that armor must be weak against cuts, hence the blade. You¡¯re an extraordinary fighter, Angela, and I hate to admit it, but you¡¯re even better than Sonya. Unlike Sonya, who specializes in close-range combat, you are an excellent all-around fighter who prefers long-range combat, because of your low-risk, high-reward fighting style. You have peak athletic physique, as nimble as an acrobat, as strong as a lioness, and as smart as a world champion of chess. My heart is beating so fast. I¡¯ve never fought anyone like this before in my life.

    But I feel a strange sense of calmness, and¡­ and fun? It¡¯s like we¡¯ve both entered a different dimension, focused only on the fight and nothing around us, and for good reason. One mistake will cost either of us our life. I hear nothing. Nothing except me and you. I can hear your heartbeat, your breaths. I can hear my heartbeat, my breaths. Ironic how we¡¯re so different, but so synchronized like a pair of swimmers. We have the same goal in this fight but are polar opposites of each other, and it¡¯s so sad. If you weren¡¯t a psychotic, super soldier, assassin lady trying to kill me and my friends, I think you would¡¯ve been a great mentor, and maybe a friend. Unfortunately, life has dealt us a different hand that¡¯s led us to this intense battle of our fates. Nobody gets to choose what life they¡¯re born into, but everyone has the right to choose what they want to do with it. My choices have led me to this conflict, and if I don¡¯t defeat you and the Death Angels, then not only will I have failed in my mission to find Veronica, but everyone I know and love will be made an example of with a ¡°swift execution!¡± That¡¯s why¡­

    ¡°It¡¯s time to end this!¡± We say in unison, followed by another clash of our swords.

    I¡¯ll power through this time!

    ¡°It¡¯s over, Angela!!!¡± I yell.

    With more power, I can¡­

    ¡°Impossible!¡± She yells out in disbelief as I disarm her.

    Yes! Your blade went flying.

    ¡°Ah. Looks like you¡¯ve been disarmed, Angela.¡±

    ¡°Tsk,¡± she says as I rush forward to deliver the final blow.

    Damn! She pulled out a knife and blocked my attack?!

    ¡°Utter¡­¡± she says as she does a backflip. ¡°Foolishness!¡± She says as she kicks me while in the middle of her backflip.

    That hurt! But you¡¯re still unarmed! I can still end this.

    I¡¯ll turn my left arm into a second blade and lunge at you for the final attack of the fight! You won¡¯t even see it coming.

    ¡°You¡¯re not getting away, Angela!¡± I yell, followed by a powerful lunge.

    ¡°How foreseeable, peasant!¡± She mysteriously states.

    What?!

    ¡°AGH!¡± I yell.

    My left arm. You fucking cut it off. It hurts! But when did you¡­?

    ¡°Heh heh. Always keep your eyes on the prize, honey,¡± she chuckles as she steps forward. ¡°Acrobatics are such a great tool for sleight of hand.¡±

    The backflip! You used the backflip to conceal the retrieval of your sword.

    ¡°Well, it looks like you¡¯ve been disarmed, Luke Miller,¡± she mocks with a shrug. ¡°Allow me to lend a hand in your swift execution,¡± she says as she spins her katana.

    No! Not like this! I¡¯m fucked!

    Ow! She kicked me in my kneecaps!

    ¡°Kneel, peasant,¡± she says as she winds her left hand back.

    Not the backhand smack!

    I can¡¯t move.

    ¡°Feel the wrath of the Archangelic Royals!¡± She yells as she prepares another attack.

    ¡°Agh!¡± I yell.

    What the fuck are the Royals feeding you?! You¡­ sent me flying about three meters into the air with a rising up-kick!

    Ugh! A deep cut from her sword¡­ across my chest.

    ¡°Adios (Goodbye), Luke Miller,¡± she says as she whips out a grenade launcher and fires.

    *

    Interior of an Empty Cabin, Inside Alejandro

    *

    Damn. I¡­ I can¡¯t regenerate! Everything hurts.

    ¡°We¡¯ve located the target, ma¡¯am!¡± Three Death Angels notify Angela as they approach me.

    No¡­ No!

    ¡°STAY BACK!¡± I yell.

    The only thing I can do now is surround myself in a shield of armor with my hands, but¡­ then what?!

    ¡°Roast him!¡± A Death Angel orders.

    I smell fuel.

    ¡°Like a barbeque!¡± The hostile continues as they fire their flamethrowers!

    No! I¡­ I don¡¯t know what to do! Veronica! Mom! Somebody save me!

 Chapter 62: The Valiant Luke Miller

    10 Years Ago

    January 1, 2065

    1200 PST

    Oakland, California

    Inside a School''s Gym

    Luke Miller''s Point of View

    ¡°Ow!¡± I yell.

    ¡°You have no fighting talent whatsoever,¡± Mom says as she checks on my cheek after punching me.

    ¡°No fair! Not only are you twice my size, but you¡¯re thrice my age, Mom!¡±

    ¡°My age has nothing to do with this, Luke! You¡¯re making me feel old!¡±

    You¡¯re an awesome mom and an excellent teacher. Black, short black hair, tall, white tank top, black cargo shorts, and a furious look on your face.

    ¡°Right. Let me quote you, Mom. ¡°X is a woman¡¯s age. Y is the current conversation. Never ever, freaking (fucking) ever in life will there be a correlation between x and y.

    ¡°You are a freaking smart-ass.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fifty percent you though, soooo there¡¯s only one other person that could¡¯ve made me a miniature version of you.¡±

    ¡°Ugh! Make sure you clean your face!¡± Mom says as she stomps away.

    I think I went too far.

    ¡°Mom! I love you!¡±

    ¡°I love you too,¡± she says with a warm smile as she picks up and dribbles a basketball.

    ¡°Mom, do you miss it?¡±

    ¡°Miss what?¡±

    ¡°The Old World.¡±

    ¡°Of course I do. I miss everything about it,¡± she says with a somber look on her face.

    ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll ever get to have a normal childhood? I mean it¡¯s ok if I don¡¯t. I¡¯ve never had a friend my age, but at least I have you. I¡¯ll always have you, right? I mean you¡¯re you, Mom.¡±

    ¡°Luke,¡± Mom says with a deep sigh as she approaches and kneels to my level. ¡°You know how the world is, and it¡¯s going to get a lot worse before it ever gets better. I¡¯m not a good teacher. I get¡­ very impatient, but I¡¯m doing my best, and it¡¯s obviously working because you¡¯re a super-smart boy who¡¯ll one day grow up to be a strong man with plenty of friends.¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we just go to a kingdom? We¡¯re right next to Gaia, and Olympus is also cl¡­¡±

    ¡°NO! Damn it! Stop asking!¡±

    There you go again.

    ¡°But they have people! People my age!¡± I say.

    ¡°People aren¡¯t always good for you. My teachings won¡¯t be worth anything if you won¡¯t listen.¡±

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    Unfair.

    ¡°Fine!¡± I say.

    ¡°You better fix that attitude right now, Luke Miller!¡±

    ¡°Or what?!¡±

    ¡°I,¡± she says, followed by a sigh. ¡°Luke, I¡¯m so strict and tough on you, because one day I won¡¯t be here.¡±

    ¡°What?! How could you say that?!¡±

    ¡°The truth often hurts, Luke, besides all things have an end. Moms are no exception.¡±

    ¡°But I can¡¯t live without you!¡±

    ¡°Luke, you¡¯re only limited by the things you believe you can¡¯t do. If you believe that you can¡¯t live without me, then not only am I a horrible teacher but a mother who failed in raising her child,¡± she says with a stern look on her face. ¡°Every little bird needs to grow up and leave the nest,¡± she says as she gives me a hug. ¡°And you¡¯ve left that nest a long time ago. You¡¯re growing up too fast,¡± she cries as I feel wet tears fall on my shirt.

    ¡°Ok, but I don¡¯t want to live without you.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t either, but¡­ anything can happen. Hence I¡¯m preparing you for everything this world has to offer.¡±

    ¡°T-then what about this sparring session? You¡¯re a freaking skyscraper, Mom, and built like a tank!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if that was an insult or a compliment, but watch your language,¡± Mom says with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°How do I beat someone who¡¯s just way better than me at everything?¡±

    ¡°If running doesn¡¯t work, then sock them in the mouth! Cave their chest in if you have to!¡±

    You¡¯re not getting it.

    ¡°But what if neither of those is an option? What if I have to?¡±

    ¡°Luke, I pray you won¡¯t ever have to do that,¡± Mom says as she holds my hands. ¡°Murder is and will always be wrong.¡±

    ¡°But you¡¯ve killed, and you even do it today when you have to, for me.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not proud of it. They were going to hurt the people I cared about in The Old World, and it¡¯s the same shit in The New World. Luke,¡± she says with sincere eye contact. ¡°¡­the world is a beautiful place that¡¯s been plagued by a terrible disease. Sadly, as long as humans exist, then people will always kill people. Sometimes it¡¯s self-defense, sometimes it¡¯s just plain old senseless, but murder is murder regardless. Killing is bad. Don¡¯t ever forget that, but to answer your question,¡± she says as she slowly stands up. ¡°If someone ever tried to harm you or me, then I will do everything in my power to give them a taste of living hell. Murder will be the last thing I¡¯ll resort to you, but yes, to protect myself and my loved ones, I will do it with zero hesitation. Human life is precious, but so is living, and everyone has the right to defend themselves in this unjust world. Sometimes there truly is no other option. You need to understand that it¡¯s an evil deed and that you must live with the consequences and guilt of knowing that you just took the life of somebody¡¯s child. Do you¡­ understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mom.¡±

    ¡°Ok,¡± Mom says with a depressing look in her eyes. ¡°Some lines should never be crossed, and you know right from wrong and are capable of surviving on your own. Whatever decisions you make, I¡¯ll be fine knowing that you did what you thought was best. I mean, I have no doubt you won¡¯t do what you thought was right. You¡¯re my smart, kind, and caring son whom I love and will always love with all my heart,¡± she says with a bright smile as she dribbles the basketball. ¡°Now stop stalling. There¡¯s no shame in losing to a girl. It teaches humility.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I finally get a rematch! Just like you, your skills are getting old, Mom!¡±

    ¡°Wow. And I was about to put a wager on this match,¡± she says with a grin.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°I was going to say that if you beat me, then I¡¯ll think about us traveling to Olympus together, but since you¡¯re such a smart-ass¡­¡±

    ¡°Wait! Wait! I¡¯m sorry!¡±

    ¡°Too late!¡± She says with a big laugh. ¡°I¡¯ll take it back¡­ if you¡¯ll let me pick your girlfriend for you when you get older. I¡¯ll make sure she¡¯s as badass as me.¡±

    ¡°Captain Miller!¡± One of her soldiers yells out as he enters the room.

    So unfair.

    ¡°We have soldiers pinned down in Seattle by several zombies and Headhunters. They¡¯ve managed to acquire numerous amounts of valuable supplies but are unable to escape the city. They need our help!¡± The soldier says.

    ¡°You¡¯re kidding! Mom yells out in frustration.

    But.

    ¡°Mom,¡± I say.

    ¡°Luke,¡± Mom says as we exchange a tight hug. ¡°Our friends need help.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ uh, yeah. I know. Another day, another mission.¡±

    ¡°Love you.¡±

    That kiss on the forehead doesn¡¯t make me feel better, Mom.

    ¡°Love you too¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, I¡¯ll give you your rematch when I get back, but you have to keep up with your schoolwork,¡± Mom says with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in two weeks before you realize it.¡±

    Mom¡­ please don¡¯t leave me.

    *

    2 Weeks Later

    *

    Mom?! Huh? Wait. Who is she?!

    ¡°Wait! Don¡¯t shoot me, Luke Miller!¡± The strange decrepit woman yells with her hands up and a frightened look on her face.

    ¡°Identify yourself, ancient vessel!¡±

    ¡°My name is Veronica Shinka, and I¡¯m a friend of your mother¡¯s,¡± she cries out as tears fall from her eyes. ¡°There¡¯s been a heartbreaking accident.¡±

 Chapter 63: Hybrid

    10 Years Later

    Present Day

    2015 CDT

    July 1, 2075

    Alejandro, Mexico

    <u>Luke Miller''s Point of View</u>

    I managed to impale one of the Death Angels. They¡¯re weak to cuts. Just like I thought.

    ¡°John!¡± A Death Angel cries out in shock.

    John. The name of my first kill is John. A simple plunge through his heart with my mutated blade was all it took to end his life. His face. His fucking helmet blocked his face. Fuck! I wanted to look at my first victim right in the eyes as I ended his life.

    Blood. Blood on my hands. Blood on the walls. Blood on the floor. It¡¯s so appealing. So warm. So thick.

    ¡°Let him go!¡± A Death Angel screams out in fear.

    ¡°Silly Royal. He¡¯s already dead,¡± I say as I toss John¡¯s body off of my blade. ¡°And you¡¯re next!¡±

    ¡°Fucking peasant!¡± He yells out above the gunfire.

    The bullets. I see. They¡¯re a lot slower now. My reactions, speed, and power have all increased exponentially. I guess life is a lot easier when you can be yourself, but I don¡¯t have long. I¡¯ll kill the two inside here and then finish my fight with Angela.

    I¡¯ll continue with a lunge!

    ¡°Woah!¡± The soldier screams out.

    With the strength, durability, reactions, and speed of a Behemoth.

    I¡¯m unstoppable. Another impalement through the heart.

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    ¡°You fucking monster!¡± The next soldier cries out.

    A simple slice through his chest kills him instantly.

    A monster? No. I¡¯m something in between. I¡¯m a mess. A bloody mess. I have to kill the rest. Have to protect my friends.

    *

    Outside the Wooden Cabin

    *

    ¡°Astonishing!¡± Angela yells out in wonder as I exit the cabin. ¡°You¡¯re still breathing?¡± She says as she prepares to fire from her single-shot assault rifle. ¡°Allow me to fix that!¡±

    Angela¡¯s in front of me, no structures behind her, an empty road to my three and nine, and The Death Angels have surrounded me from every angle.

    Angela just fired two bullets aimed at my lungs. An excellent markswoman, just like Rachel.

    An easy side-step from me to dodge.

    ¡°What?!¡± She yells out in disbelief.

    Now I can kill you.

    ¡°You¡¯ve fucked up, Angela!¡± I yell as I lunge at her and punch.

    Damn! That was my most powerful attack yet, but you still managed to block in time. But at least your suit¡¯s been damaged, and I¡¯ve sent you flying by at least seven meters, so you¡¯re definitely still stunned. I¡¯ll go in for an immediate follow-up attack before you recover.

    ¡°Impossible!¡± She cries out in surprise as she presses a button on her wrist.

    ¡°Die, Angela!¡± I yell as I lunge at her again.

    This will be the killing blow. I¡¯ll stab you right in your fucking heart and end this madness.

    ¡°You first, Luke!¡± She screams as she ascends through the air.

    I missed?! Damn! You had a jetpack?¡±

    What the heck did you drop?!

    ¡°?Bombas de distancia (Bombs away)!¡± She yells out as she presses a button on her wrist, followed by an explosion.

    *

    Inside Squad Zeus¡¯s Cabin

    <u>Drew Howard¡¯s Point of View</u>

    ¡°What in the fuck is going on?!¡± Ruby screams out.

    ¡°He¡¯s still alive!¡± Sonya yells out.

    Luke¡­ seems so different, but also the same!

    ¡°Get her, Luke!¡± Ruby cheers.

    He got her! He somehow survived the explosion and jumped up at least twenty-one meters in the air behind her. This is it! But¡­

    ¡°I can¡¯t see anythin¡¯!¡± Rachel yells out as she tries to shield her eyes from the garish sunset.

    I think Luke cut her.

    What a sight. The New World really is¡­ something else.

    ¡°He got her!¡± We all yell in unison.

    ¡°No, he only managed to destroy her jetpack,¡± Sonya clarifies as a Death Angel saves her.

    ¡°Where¡¯s he going?!¡± Duy cries out.

    ¡°To destroy the tanks outside!¡± Sonya explains.

    ¡°Oh my god,¡± Billy and Rachel say in disbelief in unison.

    ¡°H-he¡¯s killing all of the Death Angels one by one. Anyone who¡¯s standing in his way is getting¡­ decimated,¡± I say.

    ¡°He¡¯s not human!¡± Duy says. ¡°But he¡¯s not a zombie either! He¡¯s like something in between!¡±

    Indeed.

    ¡°A hybrid. Luke is¡­ a hybrid,¡± I say.

    ¡°That¡¯s so smart, Drew,¡± Ruby says with a soft smile.

    ¡°They¡¯re retreatin¡¯!¡± Rachel cries out.

    ¡°Into the forest!¡± Billy says.

    He did it. He actually defeated Angela Blackwood and the Death Angels.

    ¡°Luke!¡± Sonya yells out and rushes outside in worry as Luke collapses.

 Chapter 64: Up Up & Away

    30 Minutes Later

    July 1, 2075

    2049 CDT

    Alejandro, Mexico

    Outside Squad Zeus''s Cabin

    Rachel Cooper''s Point of View

    ¡°Good news, the civilians don¡¯t wanna kill us, and the walls are still standing,¡± Duy explains.

    ¡°Bad news, the guards are dead, and the sun¡¯s set,¡± Sonya clarifies.

    ¡°The smart thing for us to do is to leave at daybreak,¡± Ethan joins in.

    Luke¡¯s hurt; people are injured everything is so sad.

    ¡°How¡¯s Luke?¡± I ask.

    ¡°He¡¯s ok, Rachel,¡± Sonya notifies. ¡°He¡¯s just exhausted and super dehydrated. Aayushi said he lost a lot of blood and suffered from an abundance of injuries,¡± Sonya says with a sad look on her face. ¡°His wounds would¡¯ve long killed a normal person if it wasn¡¯t for his regeneration abilities,¡± she says as her face transitions into her normal scary expression. ¡°If the fight went on for any longer, then Luke, as well as all of us would have died painful deaths. He saved our lives.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s a hero!¡± I say.

    ¡°Of course, he is!¡± Ruby exclaims. ¡°Everyone in my band must be capable of kicking ass when the time calls for it!¡±

    ¡°Will they come back?¡± Billy asks in worry.

    ¡°Not if they know what¡¯s good for them,¡± Sonya says as she inspects her pistol. ¡°I¡¯ll be watching over Luke in the meantime. The rest of you should guard the cabin¡¯s perimeter.¡±

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    ¡°Hey, Sonya, don¡¯t forget that this is my squad,¡± Duy says in an angry tone.

    ¡°Ok, you big baby! Everyone listen to the captain even though he¡¯s obviously out of his element!¡± Sonya yells as she stomps towards Duy. ¡°Teresa isn¡¯t here to tell your ass what to do anymore, so you need to put me in charge of Squad Zeus before it happens one way or another.¡±

    ¡°Halo or not, you¡¯re over your head if you think I¡¯m putting you in charge. I¡¯m the leader for a reason!¡± Duy fires back.

    ¡°A stupid reason!¡± Sonya shouts in anger.

    ¡°Tough titties, Sonya!¡± Duy shouts back.

    ¡°Ugh!¡± Sonya screams as she stomps inside.

    You¡¯re the toughest woman I know, but even you have limits.

    ¡°W-what do we do now, ya¡¯ll?¡± I ask.

    Wait. What¡¯s that¡­ down the hill? To my three.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious, Rachel? All we have to do is stay beautiful,¡± Ruby says with a big smile. ¡°¡­ and try not to di¡­¡±

    Gasp! A rope!

    ¡°Look out!¡± I yell.

    ¡°¡­eeee!!!¡± Ruby yells as she goes flying into the air along with Billy.

    ¡°An abduction!¡± I yell.

    ¡°Son of a bitch!¡± Duy screams out in frustration.

    ¡°What the fuck?!¡± Sonya yells out as she runs outside. ¡°Damn it, Duy! I told you to put me in charge! Now I have to save them before sunrise!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve had it!¡± Duy exclaims in fury. ¡°You¡¯re out of line!¡±

    ¡°Untrue. All I do is babysit you guys because none of you, except for Luke, are willing to cross the line that¡¯s needed to survive out here,¡± Sonya rudely explains. ¡°You¡¯re all a bunch of scared little pussies, which is why you need to stay here and guard Luke!¡±

    Sonya!

    ¡°I strongly disagree, Sonya!¡± I say.

    ¡°You think I give a shit, Rachel? You¡¯re the biggest pussy out of all of us!¡± She yells as she gets in my face. ¡°A sniper who¡¯s not willing to kill a human being is a dangerous liability out here. It means if Angela Blackwood were to point a gun at my, better yet, your brother¡¯s head, and you were the only one who could save him, you¡¯d rather let her blow his brains out instead of saving your brother to protect your fragile conscious.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ not true!¡± I say.

    Is it?

    ¡°I strongly disagree,¡± she says, followed by an eye roll.

    I need bubblegum!

    ¡°You¡¯re makin¡¯ me uncomfortable, Sonyaaaaa¡­¡± I say.

    ¡°Well, you better get used to it, because that¡¯s life out here!¡± Sonya shouts. ¡°Either woman up or drop dead, Rachel!¡±

    ¡°Despite your nickname, I¡¯ll remind you that you¡¯re not bulletproof, Sonya!¡± Duy clarifies.

    ¡°Squabbling will do us no good,¡± Anna says. ¡°Sonya is correct. The only way to save Ruby and Billy before sunset is by committing a horrible act. Nonetheless, Sonya should stay here to guard Luke, along with Aayushi, Drew, and Ethan, because of the precise fact that we are ¡°pussies¡±. If Black Scorpions, bandits, an angry civilian, or Death Angels were to suddenly attack, then Sonya, and maybe the Athenians, would be the only ones who would return fire with no hesitation. The rest of us are more likely to freeze up and get someone killed, but do not fret, for I have a low-risk solution.¡±

 Chapter 65: The King of Scorpius

    Meanwhile

    2049 CDT

    July 1, 2075

    Outskirts of El Coliseo, Scorpia, Formerly Mexico City

    <u>Veronica Shinka''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°We have arrived at your destination,¡± Helios says with a soft smirk as he parks his bright chariot. ¡°Perchance your concluding one.¡±

    ¡°Remind me again why you haven¡¯t been killed yet?¡± I ask. ¡°You travel around the world in a rather illuminating, hovering, golden chariot.¡±

    Helios, my old friend. You¡¯re wearing your usual orange cloak and brown cowboy hat.

    ¡°Quite simple, really,¡± he says as he tips his hat. ¡°Nobody wants to shoot the messenger.¡±

    Right. Because of them. Such vile creatures are attached to his chariot.

    ¡°I¡¯m taking my leave,¡± I say. ¡°It¡¯ll be best if I do this now while I still can. Your services are appreciated Helios. Thank you¡­ old friend.¡±

    ¡°Veronica Shinka,¡± he says with a chuckle. ¡°I am neither your friend nor your enemy. I am simply the messenger,¡± he bids adieu with the tip of his hat.

    Using the secret underground bridges to escape Olympia was the easy part. Unfortunately, this will be the hard part. Sigh. Black Scorpions are so unpredictable.

    ¡°Hey! Who the fuck?!¡± A guard yells out as he aggressively approaches me.

    *

    5 Minutes Later

    El Coliseo, Outside the King of Scorpius¡¯s Throne Room

    *

    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe you¡¯re real,¡± the moronic guard says as we reach the door.

    ¡°Sigh. I have no time for childish games,¡± I say to the guard. ¡°When can I see him?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t get to see him, she-devil! He sees you!¡± He says in a belligerent tone.

    ¡°Quiet, Johnny Donuts. This is why everyone makes fun of you because you always embarrass yourself,¡± the female guard kindly says.

    ¡°Whatever, Boonsri. People only like you because you¡¯re a doctor,¡± Johnny says.

    ¡°Well, nobody even likes you, and the only reason you¡¯re still alive and kicking is because you know how to fix those ugly ass motorcycles!¡± Boonsri fires back.

    Prove your worth or end up in the dirt. Another Black Scorpion motto.

    ¡°Sigh. I can do without the lover¡¯s quarrel,¡± I say to the guards. ¡°If you want my advice, you two should get a room. I suggest one without weapons. What¡¯s going on in there anyway? They appear to be listening to some rap song about the irresponsible misuse of previously prohibited narcotics.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s probably getting high as shit,¡± the lovers explain in unison.

    ¡°Cough, cough! Wait, wait. Turn it down,¡± the muffled voice says from beyond the large door as the volume of the music lowers. ¡°Fuck. W-who¡¯s at my door? ¡­ Veronica Shinka?! What?! Charlotte, get my rocket launcher! Ok, ok. Fuck. L-let the bitch in!¡± My target says as the door slowly opens.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Sigh. Let¡¯s get this over with.

    ¡°Well, well, well,¡± he says in a gruff voice as he leans forward on his throne. ¡°If it isn¡¯t Veronica Shinka.¡±

    I almost forgot that this place resembles the famous Flavian Amphitheatre. On the opposite end of the room is my target¡¯s throne room, several columns scattered about, a dreadful-looking carpet with a picture of a large spitting thick tail Black Scorpion is in the middle of the room, and there are countless under the influence and yet armed guards located throughout. A soft breeze is coming in due to the numerous amount of windowless arches this smelly room contains.

    ¡°Well, well, well, if it isn¡¯t Andres Alarico Caesar, or should I say¡­ The King of Scorpius.¡±

    Andres, Hispanic, grey hair, mid-sixties, a hirsute beard, black eyepatch, blue jean shorts, shirtless, multiple tattoos, and is surrounded by several women. Numerous amounts of random drugs and empty bottles of alcohol represent this kingdom perfectly.

    Despite their behavior, they¡¯re smart enough to capture Scorpios, place armor on them, and control them like puppets with handheld machinery, to protect themselves from zombies and humans alike. They might be the least intelligent of all kingdoms, but they¡¯re unfathomably erratic and own several gun factories, which makes them a high threat and not to be underestimated.

    ¡°Now,¡± he says with a violent cough. ¡°It might be because I¡¯m fucking high as shit right now, but I can¡¯t believe what the fuck I¡¯m seeing. You¡¯re a sight for sore eyes, she-devil,¡± he says with a glare.

    ¡°Funny, given the fact that you only have one eye now,¡± I say.

    ¡°Why the fuck are you even here? Motherfuckers always try to sneak in and steal my guns, booze, drugs, and/or women,¡± he says as he throws his hands up in the air. ¡°So which fucking one is it?¡±

    ¡°Your rocket launcher, monsieur,¡± a young woman with a French accent and cigarette in her mouth says as she hands Andres a rocket launcher.

    ¡°Thank you, angel. So,¡± Andres says as he stands up and takes aim. ¡°I bet you¡¯re here for my drugs, right? It¡¯s understandable because we still have all the good shit.¡±

    ¡°I do not care for your vast assortment of narcotics; however, you should know that there are a plethora of faster ways to end yourself. Nevertheless, I did not come here to criticize nor save you. I came here to make a deal with you, Andres.¡±

    ¡°I thought you were a doctor, not a comedian!¡± He says with a snort. ¡°We already have a clown, so fuck off, doc!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re wasting time, Andres. Just kill her,¡± a young man with a Spanish accent interrupts.

    ¡°Quiet, Jose! I¡¯m having fun!¡± Andres blurts out in anger.

    Charlotte and Jose must be Andres¡¯s apprentices. How interesting.

    ¡°Holy mother of fuck! Get that fucking thing out of here!¡± Andres yells out in horror as my cat meows.

    There, there, Akemi. I¡¯ll be there for you, no matter what happens.

    ¡°Aw. What¡¯s wrong, Andres? Scared of a little pussy?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m allergic to cats, beyotch. Now then, give me one good reason why I shouldn¡¯t blow you and that spawn of Satan up to fucking smithereens,¡± he says as he grips harder on the rocket launcher handle.

    Do or die time¡­

    ¡°Kill me, and you, along with the entirety of Scorpius, won¡¯t live long enough to see the sunrise!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re full of shit,¡± he denies in malice.

    ¡°Andres, honey. We both know that I don¡¯t bluff, and we both know how easy it is for a kingdom to fall. You should know better by now. My influence reaches the heavens above and the hell on earth. My name is feared throughout The New World and The Eight Kingdoms. I have allies in places you least expect, in addition, complete control of arsenals far more calamitous than a nuclear weapon. Sigh. Even a numbskull like you is capable of comprehending what I¡¯m trying to say. I am preparing for a war that I¡¯ve already won. I¡¯m showing you my cards, simply because I have no reason to bluff in a game that I have absolute control over. My crusade has already succeeded, regardless of what happens to me, but I would like to live long enough to see it until the very end.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re all talk, but where¡¯s your fucking bite, bitch?¡± Andres asks as he prepares to fire.

    Sigh.

    ¡°It might be because you¡¯re high as shit, but you¡¯ve failed to notice the red dots on the head of you and your soldiers,¡± I say.

    ¡°How the?!¡± He and his guards scream out in surprise.

    ¡°Technology is such a wonderful thing, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°You fucking¡­¡± He quickly spews in anger.

    ¡°In case you need further incentive!¡± I say.

    With an effortless raise of my arm to give the signal for a warning shot.

    Remarkable! She shot Charlotte¡¯s cigarette out of her finger with such precision. She truly is the best.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to fight, Andres, but if we were to fight, I would win again, of course. I don¡¯t even need you and the Black Scorpions alive, but we have a common viewpoint when it comes to one of your mottos. ¡°People are much more valuable alive than dead. So¡­ what do you say?¡±

    ¡°Living in this world is already a life of hell, so do you really think I give a shit about your death threats?¡± He asks.

    ¡°I know you don¡¯t because you are the most stubborn man I¡¯ve ever met in my life.¡±

    ¡°Aw. Love you too, baby girl.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ think about the legacy of the Black Scorpions.¡±

    Appealing to one¡¯s interest. An elementary tactic of manipulation.

    ¡°Andres, I can be your best friend or your greatest enemy. I honestly hope that we can disregard the past because I have something that¡¯ll interest you¡­ for your inconvenience¡­¡±

 Chapter 66: Hunter & Hunted

    20 Minutes Later

    2110 CDT

    July 1, 2075

    The Undead Forest

    <u>Billy Cooper''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Now listen here, lady!¡± Ruby shouts in anger at Angela. ¡°Don¡¯t think I can¡¯t beat your ass, just because you know martial arts!¡±

    ¡°Silence, carrot top,¡± Angela responds. ¡°For your information, my exquisite fighting techniques include a mixture of Karate, Krav Maga, and Tae Kwon Do.¡±

    ¡°I Tae Kwon don¡¯t give a fuck, so why don¡¯t you and the other shitheads ca-rawl away before Luke knocks your heads off your entire stinking bodies!¡± Ruby fires back in frustration.

    You¡¯re going to get us in trouble, Ruby! I still can¡¯t believe that we allowed ourselves to get kidnapped. The last thing I saw before they blindfolded us was the undead forest, so we must be at least a few hundred meters high off the ground. This Angela gal is smart. She must¡¯ve chosen this location to lure Luke out into an area that gave her a better battle advantage. Not only do the Death Angels have more cover, but they¡¯ll be able to attack him from several locations at once. Luke barely defeated them the first time and is still resting, so I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s going to do. Maybe Sonya can do somethin¡¯, but she¡¯s just one person, and Angela seemed to be leagues above her in terms of fightin¡¯ skills. Maybe the others can do somethin¡¯?!

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    ¡°Your tongue is quite sharp, heathen,¡± Angela says in a sinister tone as she grabs Ruby¡¯s tongue.

    ¡°Agh! thy thung!¡± Ruby cries out.

    ¡°But I have a theory that my katana is even sharper. Keep talking, and I might just have to put this theory of mine to the test,¡± she says in a cold tone.

    Oh no.

    ¡°What the hell is that?!¡± Angela asks in anger.

    OBAE must¡¯ve fallen out of your pocket, Ruby!

    ¡°If I told you it was makeup, would you believe me?¡± Ruby asks in a serious tone.

    ¡°Why is it glowing?¡± Angela asks in a curious tone. ¡°No, don¡¯t tell me. It must be treasure.¡±

    ¡°Angela, to be honest, neither yours truly, nor Hercules are the ones you should be worried about,¡± Ruby calmly warns. ¡°My boy, Billy, here is an uncontrollable beast.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Is this true, Billy?¡± Angela asks in too interested of a tone.

    ¡°No!¡± I say.

    ¡°He¡¯s just being humble!¡± Ruby chuckles. ¡°He defeated not one, not two, but three Behemoths with his bare fucking hands!¡±

    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t,¡± I say.

    ¡°Damn it, Billy!¡± Ruby yells out in disbelief. ¡°Can¡¯t you see that I am trying to intimidate the enemy?¡±

    ¡°Gag them,¡± Angela orders.

    ¡°Gag your breath!¡± Ruby screams out.

    *

    1.6 Kilometers Away

    <u>Rachel Cooper¡¯s Point of View</u>

    One Angela Blackwood, and eight Death Angels. Anna and the captain are hidin¡¯, awaitin¡¯ the signal. No wind and I¡¯ve hidden in an obscure position. Everythin¡¯ is to my advantage, but¡­ gulp. Can I really do this? I have the latest equipment, a semi-automatic sniper rifle equipped with a high-powered night-vision scope, armor piercin¡¯ rounds, and an extended magazine, but the problem ain¡¯t the weapon. I¡¯m so nervous! I-I can¡¯t do this! I¡¯ve never been so scared before. Rachel, they¡¯re relyin¡¯ on you! The New World is a battlefield, remember? You can do this, but if I do, then I¡¯ll be a murderer. But she¡¯ll kill Ruby and Billy if I don¡¯t do it! No no no no no. What do I do?!

    ¡°From our twelve!¡± A Death Angel screams out above a sudden eruption of automatic gunfire.

    The signal!

 Chapter 67: The Buoyant Rachel Cooper

    6 Years Ago

    May 5th, 2069

    0600 CDT

    Brackettville, Texas

    <u>Rachel Cooper''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Another headshot, Pa!¡± I say as I reload my sniper.

    ¡°You¡¯re a better shot than yer old man now!¡± Pa says in awe.

    ¡°I learned from the best!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m proud of you, baby doll,¡± he says as he hugs me.

    Target practice in the grassy field before work is always so excitin¡¯! Today¡¯s my lucky day! I can feel it.

    ¡°Well, we better get to work. Remember¡­¡± Pa begins to say.

    ¡°The early bird gets the worm!¡± We say.

    Jinx! Ha-ha! Pa is the best!

    *

    11 Hours Later

    1500 CDT

    *

    Hooray, Sally¡¯s ¡®ere! You¡¯re always lurkin¡¯ round these parts durin¡¯ my evenin¡¯ target practice for some weird reason.

    ¡°Sally!¡± I say to her.

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    ¡°Ew!¡± She says.

    ¡°I have brought you an apple as a token of my appreciative friendship!¡±

    ¡°One, we¡¯re not friends. Two, I don¡¯t want anythin¡¯ from trash like you,¡± she says as she walks away from me. ¡°You probably poisoned it so you can steal my guaranteed apprenticeship spot.¡±

    So mean¡­

    ¡°Sally, I promise, the only thin¡¯ it¡¯s poisoned with is my love and affection for you!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d rather die of lethal poison!¡± She yells.

    ¡°Sally, please!¡±

    ¡°No! Stop botherin¡¯ me!¡±

    ¡°But you¡¯re the only girl in Brackettville my age.¡±

    ¡°So? That doesn¡¯t mean we have to be friends, Rachel. I don¡¯t like you, so get o¡¯er it.¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you like me?¡±

    ¡°Because you¡¯re ugly, annoyin¡¯, and¡­ and you smell like corn!¡±

    Corn?

    ¡°Oh,¡± I say.

    ¡°Yeah, oh! Now stop botherin¡¯ me. Just because we¡¯re the same age, same sex, and have the sameish hair color, doesn¡¯t change the undeniable fact that I¡¯m better than you.¡±

    ¡°What does skill have to do with friendship?¡±

    ¡°You dumbass. I¡¯m high class, and you¡¯re stinky garbage. I can¡¯t allow myself to associate with trash like you if I wish to become an apprentice.¡±

    ¡°But!¡±

    Owwww. She pushed me.

    ¡°I said, leave me alone!¡± She screams in anger.

    But you were ¡®bout to trip on that rock. I was tryin¡¯ to save you.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sally¡­,¡± I say.

    ¡°Hmph. Fucking crybaby. Nobody likes you, Rachel, so do everyone a favor and kill yourself.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sally¡­¡±

    ¡°Ugly skank,¡± she says as she walks away.

    Nobody likes me? Is that why I don¡¯t have any friends? No. That can¡¯t be true. But it is true, Rachel. I have no friends because I¡¯m ugly? And annoyin¡¯! I hate it. I hate it! I hate myself! I¡¯m such an ugly girl! Nobody will ever like me! I¡¯ll never have a friend! I¡¯ll just, I¡¯ll just end myself, so I never bother anyone with my annoyin¡¯ and unattractive face ever again! You¡¯re so ugly and stupid and smelly, Rachel! Just kill yourself!

    I¡¯ll just cut my wrist with my knife. Like this!

    Gasp! My blood, so much blood is oozin¡¯ out of my wrist! What the fuck did I do?! It freakin¡¯ hurts!

    ¡°Rachel!¡± Sally screams out in fear as she quickly runs towards me! ¡°Kill it!¡±

    Yikes! A zombie!

    ¡°H-how did it get past the soldiers, Sally?!¡± I ask.

    ¡°Who fuckin¡¯ cares?! I dunno how to shoot, so hurry and kill it before it eats me! What the fuck happened to your wrist?!¡±

    What¡¯s wrong with you, Rachel? You know better! No matter how hard things get, life is always worth livin¡¯ and fightin¡¯ for, so why end it early?! But this ain¡¯t good! I¡¯m ¡®bout to¡­ pass out. I only have¡­ one chance. Lord please¡­ please forgive me.

    ¡°Move, Sally!¡± I say as I push her out of the way.

    Another¡­ headshot.¡­

 Chapter 68: Brainless

    6 Years Later

    Present Day

    The Undead Forest

    2114 CDT

    July 1, 2075

    Li Wu''s Point of View

    Gasp! A gunshot from our six?! The peasants are using a pincer maneuver?!

    ¡°Impossible!¡± Commander Blackwood screams out in shock.

    O-Oscar?! That was a fifty. caliber armor-piercing round! It fucking ripped through his helmet like nothing!

    ¡°Damn! Everyone get to cover! Protect the hostages!¡± Commander Blackwood orders.

    H-how? We were prepared for Luke ¡°Hercules¡± Miller, not a deadly sniper and¡­ and¡­

    ¡°No!¡± Leroy screams out.

    ¡­a swarm of Behemoths. Leroy! His body¡¯s been ripped in half! This cannot be happening! This was supposed to be a simple assassination mission, but we¡¯re on the verge of extinction! No fuel, retreating isn¡¯t an option, and reinforcements won¡¯t be arriving until daybreak!

    Another sniper bullet from our six. Another death.

    ¡°Li!¡± Commander Blackwood yells out to me as she shoots at a Behemoth. ¡°Secure the hostages! Before¡­ son of a bitch!¡±

    The hostages are gone!

    ¡°Fuck!¡± Angela screams out in pain as she holds her cheek.

    The commander¡¯s been hit by a sniper bullet! Wait. Is that?

    ¡°Help!¡± A familiar voice loudly shouts above the gunfire.

    Gasp! Forget the hostages! On the lower branches is Xiangjuan! What the heck you doing?! I need to use my grappling hook to get to her!

    No! Too much speed! I¡¯m falling too fast, but I have no choice but to keep going, she needs me!

    I have to push her out of the way!

    Too close! We narrowly dodged the Behemoth!

    ¡°Xiangjuan, why did you freeze?!¡± I ask. ¡°You know better!¡±

    Oh no¡­

    ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t,¡± she struggles to say as she stares at her missing hands in shock.

    A Behemoth just¡­

    ¡°Li?¡± She asks in pure confusion and horror.

    Let go of her waist, monster! Let her¡­ fucking go!

    ¡°Li, let her go!¡± Abbas yells as he rushes over to help me.

    ¡°I¡¯m not letting her die, Abbas!¡± I yell.

    ¡°There¡¯s three more Behemoths incoming! Xiangjuan is already¡­!¡± Abbas informs.

    ¡°Shut up! I can still save her!¡±

    Xiangjuan?! She¡¯s been ripped in half!

    ¡°Hold on tight!¡± Abbas yells as he grabs me by the waist and grapples away.

    No¡­

    Abbas, you were right. Three Behemoths have joined the bask. How gruesome. What¡­what am I going to tell her son? How do I tell my nephew that her mother¡¯s body was ripped in half by a Behemoth, and the only thing I did was hold on to her and make her suffering even worse?!

    ¡°We need to regroup with the commander,¡± Abass says in a sad tone as he gently drops me off on a tree branch away from danger.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care about Hercules anymore, Abass. Whoever the sniper was I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m going to make sure they suffer until they beg me to kill them.¡±

    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Sniffle. Rest in Peace, Xiangjuan. You didn¡¯t deserve this fate.

    *

    <u>Angela Blackwood¡¯s Point of View</u>

    Tsk. That bullet barely grazed my cheek. Had it been any further to my three, I would¡¯ve been dead by now. Damn that Luke Miller for destroying my helmet, and damn that sniper for turning this mission into a living hell! How pathetic. We, the impregnable Royals, have been forced to scurry up this oversized tree to escape the Behemoth bask below. Li and Abass are waiting for us at the top; however, this is the largest tree in the vicinity, and the Behemoths have no intention of slowing down.

    Disgraceful. We started with twenty Death Angels, and now only a mere five remain. Combating a Behemoth is suicidal; nonetheless, I absolutely refuse to die here. I am Angela Blackwood, the Royal¡¯s elite enforcer, leader, and Commander of the noble Death Angels, and because of that, I shall not return to Mother Gaia without successfully completing my mission!

    ¡°Commander! What are your orders?!¡± Subordinate Kyle asks as we reunite with Li and Abass.

    ¡°Death Angels, you are all thoroughly aware of the illustrious decree that was set forth by our superiors,¡± I say. ¡°Attempting to deceive a superior officer will emanate in an immediate, swift execution. I am reminding you of this because I must ask you all one relatively easy question. This inquiry will require absolute honesty and will determine how I proceed with my next action. So, show of hands¡­ who¡¯s been bitten?¡±

    Gasp. Impressive! An immediate raise of three hands! Heh heh. I¡¯ve trained you well. Sigh.

    So, everyone except for Li and Abass is infected.

    ¡°My love and devotion for you all know no bounds!¡± I say.

    Three gunshots from me.

    ¡°May you be reunited with your fallen comrades in the afterlife!¡± I say.

    A weakness exists in the Death Angel¡¯s suits. Their helmets contain a soft spot located directly in front of the glabella. An excellent and efficient way to allow a superior officer to deliver an immediate swift execution if faced with insubordination.

    I heard their bodies hit the ground.

    ¡°I will make sure that your names are evoked for all eternity!¡± I say. ¡°Your brave actions against humanity¡¯s greatest threat shall never be forgotten, and your loved ones shall be forever compensated for your honorable sacrifice!¡±

    ¡°Commander?¡± Li asks in fear.

    ¡°Relax. We can make our leave now¡­¡±

    Rest in peace, brave soldiers¡­

    *

    8 Hours Later

    On a Beach Near the Gulf of Mexico

    <u>Li Wu¡¯s Point of View</u>

    Eight hours. Eight hours of complete silence. We¡¯ve successfully escaped, but at what cost? I wish¡­ I wish every single earthling was dead! The Commander was right, there is simply no difference between a peasant and a zombie! They both mindlessly kill for no reason. That is why we have been blessed with the skills to punish peasants for their wrecked sins and bring an end to The Age of Zombies! I swear, anyone and I mean anyone, lower-class man, woman, or child will feel the might of the Royals, should they disobey us in my presence. And I¡¯m going to rip that fucking sniper¡¯s throat out the next time I see them! Xiangjuan didn¡¯t deserve such a fate. For her life to end the way it did¡­

    ¡°Damn it!¡± The commander screams out to the heavens, as an abundance of tears rush down her face.

    ¡°Commander?¡± Abass and I ask in unison.

    ¡°Do not dare speak of my brief moment of weakness to anyone,¡± she says with a vicious glare as she wipes away her tears. ¡°Losses are inevitable; however, I shall hold a proper funeral for our fallen comrades after we collect Luke Miller¡¯s head as well as his friends¡¯ in Squad Zeus.,¡± she says in her usual calm and collected tone as she inspects her nails. ¡°I think of failure as a learning opportunity, and I¡¯ve learned so much in this battle,¡± she says with a soft smile. ¡°I admit, I¡¯ve severely underestimated my opponents, but I am not someone who foolishly makes the same mistake twice. Hercules and Squad Zeus have revealed too much in their hand, which is precisely why they will suffer a devastating defeat the next time we cross paths.¡±

    Gasp! It can¡¯t be!

    ¡°Are¡­ are you going to summon her?¡± I ask.

    ¡°No, because I fucking despise that bitch!¡± Commander Blackwood sharply clarifies.

    ¡°Still?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Fear not, Li, for these foolish fools have yet to feel the true might of the Royals!¡± She says with a grin. ¡°This skirmish was the main course of our mission; however, Hercules and Squad Zeus will get their just desserts after I summon ¡°The Seven Deadly Sins!¡± She says as an acacia skipper butterfly lands on her index butterfly and her cat, Artemis, begins to climb on her shoulder.

    Commander Blackwood, despite the dominant and ominous presence you give off, you somehow maintain a natural ability to attract animals to your side.

    ¡°The sins? Are you sure they¡¯re ready?¡± Abbas asks in surprise.

    ¡°Hmm. Envy is the most capable for this mission; however, he is too standoffish, always meddling with the Prometheans, and is too busy chasing ghosts. Sloth will be uninterested due to her lackadaisical personality. I do not trust Lust to be within 160 kilometers of me. Pride can be unnecessarily brash. Greed can be overconfident, stubborn, and reckless. Gluttony is still too green, and Wrath has yet to return from his extraordinarily thoughtless vacation. Nevertheless, they are all capable warriors who can complete any task given to them, should the need arise,¡± she calmly says as she observes the beautiful ocean horizon.

    ¡°So who will you summon for this mission, commander?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Heh heh. That will be a surprise, Li, but as the brilliant strategist I am, I have already chosen the ones who will be able to complete this mission without fail. Our foolish foes are currently unaware that their lengthy journey has reached its midst,¡± she says as she pets Artemis. ¡°They shall be allowed to relax for now in their brief intermission, but they should know that fleeing is futile. Peasants are so easy to exploit,¡± she says with a grin. ¡°They¡¯ve been downloaded which has already ensured my superlative triumph, per contra another exasperating faux pass must be averted at any cost, henceforth why I¡¯m summoning ¡°The Seven Deadly Sins¡± as¡­ the icing on the cake,¡± she says as she inspects and smiles at her katana.

    *

    End of Act 4: Angela ¡°The Lioness¡± Blackwood

 Act 5: Athens. Chapter 69: The Calm Before the Storm

    1 Week Later

    July 8, 2075

    0649 FNT (Fernando de Noronha Time)

    The Atlantic Ocean

    Near Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

    Anna Robinson''s Point of View

    This is Athens? I¡¯ve underestimated Earth yet again¡­

    ¡°Athens is the most pulchritudinous phenomenon I¡¯ve ever witnessed in my entire life,¡± I say.

    ¡°You¡¯re annoying, Anna Robinson,¡± vexatious Ruby blurts out in pain while holding her abdomen as we all observe the capital of Athens from the small electric motor yacht¡¯s starboard side.

    Sunrise? What impeccable timing. Now we can see Athenia in all its beauty. Even though we¡¯ve entered Earth¡¯s austral fraction, the climate is relatively tantamount to Olympus and Scorpius, albeit slightly cooler. Winters are purportedly brimming with blizzards and ice; however, I have yet to observe such a thing since my advent on this outlandish planet.

    ¡°Ruby, that¡¯s the first time you¡¯ve reverently addressed me by my proper patronymic,¡± I say. ¡°Disregard the fact that I contributed to your lifesaving is your explanation for this?¡±

    My nails are a mess.

    ¡°Regardless of whatever just came out of your scatological and scurrilous fly trap, I still stand by what I said. You will never ever replace Teresa. Your head isn¡¯t as large as hers yet, but it¡¯s getting closer every day,¡± Ruby reveals with a somber look in her eyes.

    ¡°Your shoddy endeavor at rapport is farcical as to be expected; nevertheless, I accept your piss-poor hassle at companionship,¡± I say.

    ¡°Wow,¡± Ruby says with a broad smile. ¡°I might make room for you in my band with an attitude like that. I¡¯ll admit you¡¯re cool, but obviously not as cool as yours truly,¡± she says with a nauseated look in her eyes as she rubs her stomach.

    ¡°Our kingdom is glorious, eh?¡± Ethan says as he joins us on the deck.

    ¡°It¡¯s positively spectacular,¡± Rachel says with a soft smile and a look of sadness in her eyes.

    ¡°Welcome to Athenia, the capital of Athens!¡± Ethan proudly introduces. ¡°A vast, exotic, breathtaking solar-powered floating metropolitan city located directly next to the archipelago islet, Fernando de Noronha. Not only do we control all of Brazil, but we also possess a powerful naval fleet. We are very welcoming, but those who wish us harm will find themselves to be a fish out of water at the sight of our navy. Like Olympus, only the capital is genuinely zombie-proof. We¡¯ve only established control in Brazil, which is why we had to stay in the cargo truck until we entered the kingdom¡¯s territory.¡±

    ¡°How do you deal with the zombies?¡± Duy asks.

    ¡°Our navy defends the island¡¯s surface, Admiral Minerva likes to personally combat the zombies on the homeland, and the last form of defense is another kettle of fish that I can¡¯t wait to show you all later,¡± Ethan answers. ¡°I think that the Styx River is awesome, but trust me, the sky truly is the limit when it comes to The New World and the eight Kingdoms,¡± Ethan says in a prideful tone. ¡°Just make sure to keep your cloaks on for now, ok?¡±

    *

    15 Minutes Later

    0704 FNT

    On the Streets of Downtown Athenia

    *

    Athenians are equipped with Thunderbolts too? Interesting; however, I entirely understand why we weren¡¯t given one to wear. Sigh. Being a wanted fugitive is not how I imagined my life as an eighteen-year-old. At least this kingdom appears to be much livelier than Olympus and not as precarious as Scorpius. The streets are more populated, the people seem happier, electric cars are zooming throughout the perplexing roads, and traffic lights and armed guards keep order. Is¡­ is that a sporting arena? Astounding. The fact that Athenia and Fernando de Noronha are connected by a bridge is even more impressive; however, naivety is not my forte. Despite the sounds of this strange soothing music and the remarkable skills of the street performers, I can tell that this is all eye candy. A red herring perhaps?

    ¡°Athenia and its people are as graceful as a swan,¡± Ethan announces as he leads us to stairs that lead¡­ underground.

    Oh no. Ok ok. Calm down, Anna. Sweating makes you smell bad and being stinky is unladylike. Sigh. I wonder how Nia is doing. Will I ever see her again? Will I ever see Li again? Will I ever see my parents¡­ no. I shall disregard the very thought of them. I hate them with all my heart, but everything is happening so fast. I killed Royals, yet I don¡¯t feel anything. What¡¯s wrong with me? I know I¡¯m not a peasant, but I¡¯m not a Royal either, so¡­ what am I? Maybe I¡¯m just a vile heathen who¡¯s destined to live a short, painful life of crime. How disgraceful. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s right or wrong anymore. I did what I thought was the correct thing to do, but then why do I get the feeling that something devastating is going to happen soon?

    ¡°That music. What¡¯s it called?¡± Luke asks.

    ¡°Sa-sa-sa-samba!¡± Ethan answers in excitement. ¡°You like it?¡±

    ¡°Next to rock and roll, it¡¯s the second-best thing I¡¯ve ever heard in my entire life,¡± Luke replies.

    ¡°Music being kick-ass is a universal tune,¡± Ruby explains in confidence.

    Ruby appears to be the only one who¡¯s retained her high spirit. Everyone else in Squad Zeus, excluding ¡°The invincible¡± Sonya Grey, is woebegone. We¡¯ve won the battle and made it to Athens, but¡­ the things we had to do to get here, and I have no clue of how to help.

    ¡°We have instruments for rent,¡± Ethan reveals. ¡°New music is hard to come by nowadays, so you¡¯ll be able to keep yourself busy with a guitar.¡±

    ¡°I am a walking blessing,¡± Ruby says with a smile.

    ¡°I can tell that you¡¯re all in the doldrums, understandably so, but I guarantee you that Athenia is safe,¡± Ethan quietly explains. ¡°I attract too much attention, but it appears that you¡¯re all free to roam the capital,¡± he says as he looks around the crowded station. ¡°But first¡­¡± he says as we enter a massive, circular grey elevator. ¡°allow me to introduce the rest of Athens,¡± he says as the immense elevator starts to descend, with at least hundreds of people on board.

    *

    Underneath Athenia

    *

    No way¡­

    ¡°Welcome to ¡°A Bela Cidade (The beautiful city)!¡± Ethan proudly presents as we exit the elevator.

    Athenia isn¡¯t just a floating city, it¡¯s an underwater city as well. Its appearance mirrors the metropolitan above in almost every way, minus the vast amount of sea life that¡¯s visible through the enormous glass dome that protects the city. From what I can see, there must be at least five other domes just like this one. Underwater tunnels connect to each one, and A Bela Cidade is presumably the central one. And what on earth is that in the distance?

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    ¡°This is how we deal with the zombies,¡± Ethan says as he points at the curious object in the deep distance as we all exit the elevator and enter a newly crowded subway-like station.

    Unbelievable.

    ¡°Athenia¡¯s form of defense against the zombies is¡­Coruja (Owl)! A one-of-a-kind, far-reaching, indestructible, fishing net that surrounds the capital and Fernando de Noronha!¡± Ethan proudly explains. ¡°Anyone or anything that tries to go through him gets repelled back into the open waters! It¡¯s anchored by four unimaginably tall pillars located and protected by the naval blockade that defends and circles the capital and the island.¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡± Dara yells out as she aggressively approaches Sonya.

    ¡°Back the fuck up,¡± Sonya says in her signature calm, yet serious tone.

    ¡°Careful, Dara,¡± Damian says as he approaches. ¡°I think you¡¯re about to bite off more than you can chew.¡±

    ¡°You owe me a fight,¡± Dara reveals as she points at Sonya.

    ¡°You still want to fight me?¡± Sonya asks as she crosses her arms.

    ¡°I still want to fight you,¡± Dara clarifies in anger.

    ¡°Tough titties,¡± Sonya says in a relaxed tone.

    ¡°Oh, I see. You¡¯re scared. Understandable, amiga,¡± Dara shrugs with a smirk on her face. ¡°This just proves that Athens is the greatest kingdom of all time.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Sonya asks with a look of absolute disgust on her face.

    ¡°This chick is mad!¡± Ruby joins in. ¡°Sonya, you need to kick her bald ass.¡±

    ¡°Sonya, as squad captain, I give you permission to show her what Olympians are capable of,¡± the captain says in support.

    ¡°Sonya, you can do it,¡± Luke says as he holds Sonya¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Be careful, Sonya,¡± the twins say in unison.

    ¡°The next person who says my name is getting a boot in the ass!¡± Sonya yells out in frustration. ¡°Fine! I swear to god, peer pressure is going to be the death of me!¡±

    ¡°Fighting here is a bad idea, Dara. This place is always packed like sardines,¡± Ethan explains.

    ¡°I¡¯m aware of that, Ethan,¡± Dara says with an ecstatic smile. ¡°I¡¯m not as crazy as a loon, so I¡¯ll lead them to Minerva¡¯s hideout. She needs to talk to them anyway. Don¡¯t forget that the world is your oyster, so excuse me for being excited for a unique opponent.¡±

    ¡°I hope you have stretchers here,¡± Sonya says as she stretches her arms.

    ¡°We do, and I¡¯ll have Damian pick one up for you on our way to our destination,¡± Dara says with a smirk.

    ¡°On second thought, catfights are great sights; therefore, I will not further attempt to stem the tide,¡± Damian says in a calm tone.

    ¡°Squad Zeus sure knows how to make waves, eh?¡± Ethan says with a chuckle.

    We sure do¡­

    *

    10 Minutes Later

    0715 FNT

    Minerva¡¯s Hideout

    <u>Luke Miller¡¯s Point of View</u>

    Is that an owl near the ceiling?

    ¡°Runneth the hands!¡± Minerva announces, permitting Sonya and Dara to fight on the gym mat.

    This gym brings back memories. In the center is a grey sparring mat, to the right is a small fish tank, to the left, is a kitchen, and beyond the mat is what appears to be Minerva¡¯s bedroom. A tall, modest building located near the edge of the city, but the large glass window still provides an unimaginable view of the city. The Earth is 70% ocean, but most shit happens on land, and I hate the fact that I¡¯m the only person in the world who can defeat the zombies, and the only thing that¡¯s preventing me from doing that is¡­ people! What am I saying? I¡¯m so alone. Nobody will ever understand me. I¡¯m not human. Not a zombie. I¡¯m a hybrid. I¡¯m a target, and the only person who can explain everything is also a target, nowhere to be found. Veronica. What did you do to me, and why?

    ¡°The coast is cleareth, palmy Squad Zeus. Thee shall all beest free of dang¡¯r within seven days,¡± Minerva begins to say.

    ¡°What do you mean, Minerva?¡± I ask.

    ¡°I cannot reveal too much quite yet, but I am permitted to inform you that the Royals will no longer squander in humanity¡¯s war against the undead. Veronica Shinka and I are old friends, and she has entrusted me with Squad Zeus¡¯s escort and safety to Athens,¡± Minerva explains in surprisingly perfect English. ¡°Even children should know better than to judge a book by its cover,¡± she says with a smirk. ¡°The world is truly horrific, and the act is how I cope with it,¡± she says as she gazes outside the window and observes A Bela Cidade¡¯s skyline.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening in seven days?¡± Duy asks.

    ¡°A Promethean will arrive to escort you to Prometheus, located in Northern Russia,¡± Minerva says as she gives us all a glare. ¡°I honestly have no clue who, what, how, or where she is. The only thing I do know is that she is simply known as ¡°The Best.¡± Her assignment is to take you all far away from the world-changing dangers that are about to proceed.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going to happen, Minerva?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s a wise question, Luke Miller. I have no idea,¡± she says with a shameless chuckle.

    Was it an act?

    ¡°Whatever it is, children have no reason to partake in it,¡± she says in a severe tone. ¡°Despite your brave endeavors in Winner, Alejandro, and The Undead Forest, you are all only 18 years old, which is why you all need to kick your feet up and relax for seven days until our comrade arrives,¡± Minerva says as she takes off her shirt.

    ¡°Um¡­¡± I say.

    Did you forget that there are people here?

    ¡°Just like my ladies, I believe that we shall all be free of oppression soon,¡± she says as she blatantly adjusts her sports bra. ¡°Veronica Shinka is the smartest person in the solar system, which is why I entrust her with my life, despite her ruthless past. Nay, the fact that she¡¯s so cunning and dangerous is more of why I trust her. She could easily contribute to the Royal¡¯s tyranny, but she hasn¡¯t. She¡¯s a founding member of Olympus, which means she¡¯s on the side of humanity, and anyone on the side of humanity is someone I consider a friend.¡±

    ¡°But what did she do to me?!¡± I ask.

    ¡°Ah, an excellent question, Luke Miller. One that I cannot answer,¡± she says with a shrug.

    You¡¯re no help.

    ¡°Minerva, my very existence has made me and my friends a target,¡± I say. ¡°Innocent people were killed because of me, and Veronica is the only one who can explain. Where is she?! I have to know! Please!!!¡±

    ¡°Ah, a superb question! One that I can answer!¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but you don¡¯t need to know. What happened at Alejandro was awful, but it wasn¡¯t your fault. Squad Zeus aren¡¯t the ones who murdered innocent people, Angela Blackwood and the Death Angels are,¡± Minerva badly explains.

    Damn it! Nobody wants to help!

    Oh no! I didn¡¯t mean to punch the wall that hard.

    ¡°Bullshit!¡± Dara yells out in defeat as she taps out to Sonya¡¯s leg-lock submission.

    ¡°Luke?¡± Sonya asks in worry.

    ¡°No, I-I¡¯m sorry, Minerva. That¡¯s a big hole in your wall,¡± I say.

    ¡°Are these fighting words?¡± Minerva asks in curiosity with a raised eyebrow as she carefully inspects and points at the wall.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­ ever since this happened, my mind has been so fucked up. I-I can¡¯t think sometimes.¡±

    ¡°Red eyes and dried skin,¡± Minerva says as she inspects me. ¡°Just like a zombie!¡±

    I know.

    ¡°However, if this is a challenge, then I shall warn you of this; I can easily wipe the floor with the Angela Blackwood, so what makes you think you stand a chance against me?¡± Minerva reveals in a solemn tone. ¡°Regardless of your powers, young Luke Miller, you are not only a child but an inexperienced fighter who has no fucking idea how vile things are in The New World. You are mere bacteria, trying to pick a fight with blue whales. You better learn to control your rage before you really do become the cause of an innocent¡¯s death. Life is already so short, so don¡¯t be in a rush to enter the lion¡¯s den when you don¡¯t have to,¡± she says as she continues to inspect the damaged wall. ¡°Also, I am thirty-six years old. Today is my birthday.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t understand, Minerva,¡± I say.

    ¡°I do, Luke. I too know the experience of being young and hasty, and I¡¯ve been living with the consequences of my unwise decisions ever since,¡± she says with a somber look in her eyes. ¡°I know the stubbornness that comes with youth, so I¡¯ll reveal Veronica¡¯s location to you¡­ in private. Please, accompany me to my bedroom.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    *

    Minerva¡¯s Bedroom

    *

    ¡°I know that I¡¯m not normal, Luke Miller,¡± Minerva says as she closes the door and flips on the light switch.

    Wow. Your room is much smaller than I imagined. It¡¯s more like a large closet than an actual bedroom. It¡¯s colorful and fascinating.

    ¡°We all struggle with demons, so just know that you¡¯re not alone,¡± she says with a soft smile.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°You are ok. I believe that you and your friends will be feeling much better when the Promethean arrives.¡±

    ¡°How do you know Veronica?¡±

    ¡°Ah, another exquisite question, however, certain uncontrollable factors restrict me with enough time to answer only one question. Do you want to know how I know her, or do you want to know her location?¡±

    ¡°Location! Please!¡±

    ¡°Very well,¡± she says with an eye roll. ¡°Based on the message that General Farrington relayed to me, by now Veronica Shinka has just left Scorpius and is currently en route to the kingdom, Inpu, otherwise known as ¡°The Deadliest Kingdom,¡± located in Japan, nowhere near your destination.¡±

    Japan? That¡¯s so far¡­

    ¡°I see. Thank you, Minerva.¡±

    ¡°Veronica loves you, and I believe that she had a good reason to do what she did, despite what you¡¯re probably thinking. All should be explained when the Promethean arrives, so relax. Enjoy your seven days free from danger, and make sure your girlfriend is taken care of. She¡¯s the type to get jealous fast, but I can tell that she¡¯s a keeper. She¡¯s someone who will have your back no matter what, and strong women like us are quite picky with our men, so consider yourself lucky, Luke Miller.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re very wise, Minerva. Sorry about your wall again.¡±

    ¡°Opening up isn¡¯t easy, but it¡¯s gratifying and will free your entrapped soul,¡± she says with a soft smile as a single tear falls down her eyes. ¡°Oh! Sorry! It¡­ it¡¯s not you! I was just reminiscing about someone who¡¯s not quite dead, but unable to be a part of my life anymore.¡±

    ¡°Happy Birthday, Admiral Minerva Silva,¡± I say as I give her a hug.

    ¡°You¡¯re a good man, Luke Miller,¡± she says as she returns the hug.

 Chapter 70: Tranquility

    24 Hours Later

    July 9, 2075

    0720 FNT

    Inside Admiral Minerva''s Hideout, A Bela Cidade

    <u>Billy Cooper''s Point of View</u>

    Huh? That smell. Food? Food!

    ¡°I have to pee!¡± Rachel yells as she rushes to find the latrine.

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to tell, but I think we slept for almost twenty-four hours,¡± Duy says as he gets out of his sleeping bag.

    ¡°This gym brings back memories,¡± Ruby says as she quickly leaps out of her sleeping bag. ¡°I¡¯d probably challenge you to another fight, Sonya if we weren¡¯t in such boiling water. I still believe that your ass got lucky last time,¡± she says with a grin.

    ¡°Um, The Mighty Squad Zeus?¡± Aayushi says as she enters the gym from the kitchen with several plastic cards in her hand. ¡°I have credit cards for you all, courtesy of Minerva. The hot showers are ready, we have new clothes for you, and there¡¯s also plenty of freshly made mouth-watering food in the kitchen, and¡­¡±

    ¡°FOOD!!¡± We all yell.

    ¡°Enjoy your vacation,¡± Aayushi says.

    *

    3 Hours Later

    1020 FNT

    Downtown Athenia

    *

    ¡°Hey!¡± Ruby shouts to the stranger in the fast-passing car, as she shakes her fist. ¡°Watch it, you punk-ass motherfucker!¡± She says as she gives him the finger as we cross the busy street by a hair.

    ¡°Ruby!¡± Rachel yells out with a look of disbelief on her face. ¡°We¡¯re not supposed to attract attention to ourselves, remember?¡± She reminds her in a soft voice. ¡°We¡¯re notorious!¡±

    ¡°In a ginormous way!¡± I say.

    ¡°Well, I can¡¯t help that I¡¯m so, so amazingly beautiful,¡± Ruby says with a shrug. ¡°I mean, have you seen me? The supermodels of The Old World don¡¯t have shit me!¡± She says as she proudly shows off her new clothes.

    She¡¯s wearing a bright blue one-shoulder crop top with a grey owl on the center of it, a black mini skirt, and her usual ¡°Evil on Tour¡± beanie. Rachel is wearing a white, sleeveless shirt and skinny blue jeans with two holes in the knee area, and I¡¯ve been given a white T-shirt and brown shorts.

    ¡°Look!¡± Ruby yells as she points at the store sign in front of us.

    ¡°A sign!¡± Rachel notifies us.

    ¡°Read the sign!¡± Ruby responds.

    ¡°Adivinha??o?¡± Rachel and I read in unison.

    ¡°It obviously doesn¡¯t mean avocado, but I think I know what it means,¡± Ruby says. ¡°Sigh. Teresa could¡¯ve been the world¡¯s biggest con artist if she wanted to.¡±

    Wait a second. Seina told me about something like this.

    ¡°Fortune¡­ telling?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Correct, Billy!¡± Ruby yells as she gets into my personal space. ¡°The three of us are about to begin another perilous adventure, just like old times!¡± Ruby says as she opens the door.

    ¡°Shh!¡± The shopkeeper says with an annoyed look on her face, followed by her angrily biting into an avocado.

    This shop is so cool. It¡¯s about the size of a gas station store, the curtains are heavily dimming the sunlight, and there¡¯s so much jewelry and fashion accessories here. The shopkeeper looks to be in her early twenties, Black, brown eyes, shiny purple robe and hat, and a cool white scarf.

    ¡°You¡¯re so loud! And even though you¡¯re like a duck to water, you scare easy, ruiva!¡± The woman says with an angry look on her face.

    ¡°Me?! Um, Ruby Redheart, and being scared have no correspondence, lady!¡± Ruby yells back in confidence.

    ¡°Ha! Cry me a river!¡± The lady says.

    ¡°Ew! What the fuck just landed on my face?!¡± Ruby cries out in horror with her hands on her face.

    ¡°You lack proper etiquette. His name is HaKiko, and he is an Amphisbaenian,¡± the mysterious woman clarifies. ¡°Desculpa, he mistook you for a porco.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s a what?!¡± Ruby asks, rubbing her lips as HaKiko begins to slither away.

    ¡°A legless worm. Despite your rudeness, HaKiko and I have decided to bless you with good luck,¡± she says as she puts HaKiko in a cage. ¡°Now, Ms. Popular, that will be 11894.73 currency,¡± she says as she holds her hand out.

    ¡°Ha! Well, joke¡¯s on you lady, because that¡¯s¡­ exactly how much cash I have¡­¡± Ruby says with a dejected look on her face as she hands over her card.

    ¡°Hello there!¡± Rachel greets as she walks towards the counter. ¡°We would like to have our fortunes told. My name is Rachel Cooper, this is my twin brother, Billy Cooper, and our loud friend is the amazin¡¯ Ruby Redheart. What is your name?¡±

    ¡°Oh my,¡± the shop owner says with a look of awe in her eyes. ¡°Mmm. Why didn¡¯t you just say so?¡± She says as she leans forward and bites into her avocado. ¡°Meu nome ¨¦ Bushra (My name is Bushra), Rachel Cooper, and I foresee a doting encounter between you and me, before your anniversary date,¡± she says as she adjusts her scarf. ¡°Allow me to read your palm, free of charge,¡± she says as she extends her hand.

    ¡°What an interestin¡¯ term,¡± Rachel says with a smile as she gives her hand to Bushra.

    ¡°It got in my mouth, Billy,¡± Ruby says with a sad look on her face. ¡°Death by car or lizard is not how I imagined my grand exit.¡±

    Girls are so weird.

    ¡°Soft-pedal, loud girl! I must focus!¡± Bushra yells out in anger,

    and hot-tempered!

    ¡°Rachel Cooper, your future is filled with numerous amounts of internal and external conflict, leadership, joy, root beer, and stale bubblegum. You are a tough woman with a pure soul, capable of going through fire and water. You¡¯re a walking inspiration, but you must keep your head above water, should you wish to reach your full potential. The confidence you lack within yourself is replaced by your belief that blood is thicker than water; however, you tend to forget to love yourself and focus more on loving others. Take heed, your instability will cause you to make hasty decisions that will haunt you forever, but calm your dismay because time heals all wounds. Your rash decision-making will soon be water under the bridge,¡± she says with a soft smile.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Rachel asks in confusion.

    ¡°Billy Cooper, your souvenir! Free of charge!¡± Bushra yells as she gives me a strange card with a picture of a woman and a lioness on it.

    ¡°Strength?¡± We all ask in unison.

    ¡°You tadpoles done messed with a big fish,¡± she says in disbelief. ¡°HaKiko and I envisage a rapidly approaching storm, so please exit, as we have other fish to fry before it happens,¡± she says as she holds the door open for us, followed by her speaking Portuguese to Rachel.

    ¡°Wait a second, Ms. Avocado,¡± Ruby asks in disgust. ¡°What about my palm reading?¡± She asks as she extends her hand out.

    ¡°No, outlaw,¡± Bushra quickly declines.

    ¡°Why not?¡± Ruby asks in irritation as Bushra motions for us to leave.

    ¡°Because I don¡¯t like you,¡± Bushra clarifies, followed by her slamming the door in our faces.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like her or HaKiko,¡± Ruby says. ¡°She¡¯s fake and creepy. Fortune-tellers don¡¯t even hold water, so let¡¯s blow this popsicle stand.¡±

    ¡°Ruby¡­¡± Rachel says with a nervous look on her face as we begin to walk down the street.

    What the?! Rachel kissed Ruby!

    ¡°Ruby, I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m just so scared, and I don¡¯t know what to do!¡± Rachel quickly reveals in sadness as she backs away. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t wanna die alone!¡± She says with a look of embarrassment on her face as she begins to cry and looks away.

    ¡°Um, Rachel¡­¡± Ruby says as she hugs Rachel from behind. ¡°You¡¯re so, so silly. You won¡¯t die alone, because you have us, and you¡¯ll always have us¡­no matter what happens,¡± she says in a calm tone. ¡°I mean, if our lives were a book, it¡¯d be titled ¡°The Mighty Squad Zeus vs. Fancy Dipshits & Smelly Zombies.¡± It¡¯s us against the world, and I wouldn¡¯t have it any other way. Nobody really knows what the future has in store for us, but I do know that we¡¯ll be ok, come hell or high water. Teresa once told me that every cloud has a silver lining, so even though we¡¯re in deep shit right now, you have to keep looking forward, because you can¡¯t see what¡¯s in front of you if you keep looking down, you crybaby,¡± she says as she wipes off tears from her own eyes.

    ¡°Everyone¡­ has been talkin¡¯ so weird ever since we got here!¡± Rachel cries out in tears.

    ¡°Sniffle. You¡¯re not wrong,¡± Ruby says with a chuckle. ¡°Also¡­ I¡­ I like men,¡± Ruby explains as she ends the hug.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. Please don¡¯t hate me,¡± Rachel pleads.

    ¡°Rachel Cooper, don¡¯t get wrapped around the axle,¡± Ruby says with a deep sigh. ¡°The only thing I hate right now is the fact that we¡¯re still standing here. I can feel the wrinkles coming, so let¡¯s hurry and do something fun.

    *

    Meanwhile

    Est¨¢dio da Coruja (Owl Stadium), Downtown Athenia

    <u>Luke Miller¡¯s Point of View</u>

    ¡°OBJETIVOOOO (Goal)!¡± The crowd roars as the star player scores a goal.

    Soccer, er, football is exciting. There must be at least a few thousand people in Owl Stadium. I can¡¯t believe such a thing exists in this world. Nosebleed seats or not, this is incredible.

    ¡°Luke?¡± Sonya says in a soft tone as she cuddles closer to me.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Don¡¯t ever go into another woman¡¯s bedroom again if you want this exclusive relationship to work out, because I swear, I will leave you,¡± she says with a cheerful smile.

    ¡°Gotcha, Sonya,¡± I say, followed by us giving each other a kiss on the lips.

    ¡°Mmm. My boyfriend is a half-human half-zombie. Sounds like the title of one of those books that Teresa reads,¡± she states as she gets closer to cuddle.

    *

    Meanwhile

    Praia da Coruja (Owl Beach)

    <u>Drew Howard¡¯s Point of View</u>

    ¡°But I don¡¯t know how to ride a jetski, Duy,¡± I say.

    ¡°Me neither, but there¡¯s a first time for everything. I mean, what¡¯s the worst that can happen? I feel like nothing can stop us after the shit we¡¯ve been through,¡± Duy says as we observe the populated beach.

    *

    Meanwhile

    Downtown A Bela Cidade, Beneath Athenia

    <u>Anna Robinson¡¯s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Hmph! The rhythmic movement of my body to a captivating musical melody, specifically my hips and buttocks, is not my forte,¡± I explain to Aayushi and Dara.

    ¡°You¡¯re only saying that because you¡¯ve never had a girl¡¯s night out before,¡± Dara says as she and Aauyshi lead me to some loud club.

    ¡°Dara is right, Anna,¡± Aauyshi attempts to convince me. ¡°You¡¯ll be a stiff in the first minute, but then you¡¯ll be dancing as soon as the beat drops. I am speaking from experience,¡± she says with a grin.

    I just want to be left alone.

    ¡°I appreciate the kind gesture; however, I don¡¯t even know how to dance nor twerk,¡± I say.

    ¡°Ah, your brain doesn¡¯t know how, but your body sure does, specifically your hips and buttocks,¡± Dara clarifies.

    ¡°Having fun is in every woman¡¯s D.N.A.,¡± Aauyshi says.

    ¡°What is the point of a club anyway? It seems very reckless and ignorant,¡± I say.

    ¡°The point of a club is to have fun and forget about how messed up things are for as long as you want¡­ or until you pass out, which I don¡¯t recommend. Despite how glamorous things seem, I assure you that the streets are far from safe,¡± Dara explains.

    ¡°We won¡¯t let anything happen to you, Anna,¡± Aauyshi reminds me.

    ¡°Sigh. Thank you,¡± I say.

    This music is pleasing.

    ¡°As Minerva¡¯s number two apprentice, I have VIP access to everything in Athens. Including¡­¡± she reveals as she slowly pulls out a special badge and presents it to the bouncer. ¡°Clubs,¡± she says as the bouncer lets us inside¡­

    ¡°Holy shit!¡± I say.

    ¡°I said the same thing,¡± Aauyshi says with a laugh. ¡°See! Your body is already moving, Anna!¡±

    This music has cast a spell upon my body.

    ¡°You should relax while you can, Anna. Fun is hard to come by nowadays,¡± Dara says as she guides us through the crowded club. ¡°We¡¯ll teach you how to dance, although there¡¯s really nothing to it. Just relax and let your body do all the work¡­¡± Dara says as the three of us enter the dance floor.

    *

    5 Days Later

    July 14, 2075

    Minerva¡¯s Hideout, A Bela Cidade

    2300 FNT

    <u>Drew Howard¡¯s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Cake is the best thing I¡¯ve ever tasted!¡± The twins yell out in unison as we all finish our dessert.

    Cake is pretty fucking good. I almost forgot it was their birthday today.

    ¡°Sonya, I still can¡¯t believe that you¡¯re such a good singer!¡± Ruby yells out in disbelief as she retunes her new guitar.

    ¡°We have to talk about what happened in Alejandro before we leave tomorrow,¡± Sonya says in a stern tone.

    Here we go¡­

    ¡°We kicked ass, back-to-back,¡± Ruby says.

    ¡°No, we got lucky and almost died. We killed people!¡± Sonya loudly explains in frustration, ¡°Murder changes you. So¡­ who wants to talk first?¡± She asks as she scans the room.

    What kind of question is that?

    ¡°I feel terrible,¡± Luke says first. ¡°I just¡­ lost myself and went into survival mode. It was so easy but so unreal. I hate thinking about it because I feel like a monster. Sometimes I think that I am a monster. I don¡¯t know if I could do it again, but I probably could if I had to. It¡¯s not the same as killing a zombie. Zombies are just corpses, but people¡­ people have souls. It¡¯s what makes us human.¡±

    ¡°I feel terrible as well!¡± Rachel cries out. ¡°I hate fightin¡¯, but I will always protect the ones I love, no matter what! But I-I don¡¯t ever want to kill a human being again!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that easy, Rachel,¡± Sonya says with a deep sigh. ¡°Anna, Captain? What do you two have to say?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d rather not talk about it,¡± Duy says in a sharp tone.

    ¡°I concur,¡± Anna responds.

    ¡°Fine, but I think that we should talk about it before we go to Prometheus,¡± Sonya says with an annoyed look on her face.

    The week went by so fast, and tomorrow we¡¯ll be going to Prometheus to do who knows what.

    ¡°Ooh! I have an idea!¡± Ruby announces. ¡°Let¡¯s play, ¡°Spill the Beans!¡±

    ¡°Spill the beans?¡± We all ask in unison.

    ¡°As you¡¯re all aware, I have issues with authority, and some of you don¡¯t know why. The reason for that is because of the stupid unspoken rule,¡± Ruby says in an excited tone. ¡°So I say, fuck the unspoken rule and let¡¯s spill all the beans. It¡¯s time for us to reveal¡­ our so, so tragic backstories because sharing traumatic experiences brings people closer. The future is filled with a ton of crazy shit, and we¡¯re obviously prepared for it, but¡­ accidents happen. Anyway, as the most amazing member of our notorious squad, I will go first. There are only two rules in ¡°Spill the Beans.¡± One. The speaker chooses who¡¯s up to bat next, and Two. Your backstory must be told in full graphic detail. Don¡¯t hold back any punches, compreendo (understand)?¡±

    *

    7 Hours Later

    Minerva¡¯s Hideout, A Bela Cidade

    0600 FNT

    <u>Anna Robinson¡¯s Point of View</u>

    Huh? Why on earth are you pacing?

    ¡°What troubles you, Sonya?¡± I ask.

    ¡°T-there¡¯s a storm approaching. Literally and figuratively,¡± she answers with a nervous look on her face.

    An alarm is going off?!

    ¡°An enemy warship is approaching!¡± Aauyshi alerts us as she enters the gym. ¡°We don¡¯t think they¡¯re Prometheans! They appear to be¡­ Royals!¡±

 Chapter 71: Crossroads

    July 15, 2075

    Minerva''s Hideout, A Bela Cidade

    0602 FNT

    <u>Luke Miller''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Bem, bem, bem (Well, well, well),¡± a familiar woman¡¯s voice says from Minerva¡¯s communicator as she enters the gym. ¡°If it isn¡¯t Admiral Minerva Silva,¡± the voice continues to speak as Minerva silently motions for us to hide.

    ¡°Telefone novo, quem ¨¦ esse (New phone, who is this)?¡± Minerva asks with a confused look on her face.

    It can¡¯t be!

    ¡°Cease the pig-headed act, Admiral,¡± the voice demands. ¡°You know damn well that you¡¯re conversing with the big cheese of this bitch.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Angela Blackwood! To what doth I oweth the pleasure of this conv¡¯rsation?¡± Minerva responds in joy.

    ¡°Heh heh. I have reasons to believe that you¡¯re harboring wanted fugitives, and as the Royal¡¯s elite enforcer¡­¡± Angela says as Minerva discreetly mocks her voice with a ¡°blah blah blah¡± hand gesture.

    ¡°An int¡¯resting tale, f¡¯rest wench, howev¡¯r we big gudgeon art extremely busy, so please skipeth to the pointeth,¡± Minerva interrupts.

    ¡°I wish to avoid a fight, Minerva,¡± Angela says with a deep sigh. ¡°My only desire is to bring home the bacon, and you of all people should know the dangers of messing with bad eggs. Deliver Squad Zeus to me, and I¡¯ll assure you that you and your kingdom won¡¯t end up swimming with the fishes¡­permanently.¡±

    ¡°Thou art only bringing birds of the night to Athens, Angela, howev¡¯r given thy stubb¡¯rn track rec¡¯rd, I shall p¡¯rsonally esc¡¯rt thee to mine own lair, so we can cease furth¡¯r unnecessary hostilities,¡± Minerva says in a calm tone.

    ¡°A wise decision,¡± Angela says in an arrogant tone. ¡°Furthermore¡­¡± she continues.

    You hung up on her, Minerva?!

    ¡°We¡¯re fucked!¡± Ruby cries out in horror as Minerva tosses her communicator outside.

    ¡°These wat¡¯rs art forsooth v¡¯ry troubling,¡± Minerva says as she enters deep thought.

    ¡°Minerva, what¡¯s the plan?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Ah, what a wond¡¯rful questioneth, Luke Miller! I has¡¯t nay clue,¡± she replies with a look of worry on her face.

    No! Not again!

    ¡°What if I just surrender myself? The only one she wants to swiftly execute is me, right?¡± I ask.

    ¡°I think that ship has long sailed,¡± Duy answers. ¡°Nobody is surrendering.¡±

    ¡°Fighting isn¡¯t an option either, Duy! Innocent people will get killed again because of us! Angela will arrive before the Promethean does, and there¡¯s nowhere else to run to!¡± I yell.

    ¡°Admiral,¡± Ethan begins to say as he steps in. ¡°Should we summon him?¡±

    ¡°Hmm. I feareth yond night bird of the night shall only furth¡¯r Angela¡¯s suspicions, howev¡¯r we has¡¯t becometh limit¡¯d on options,¡± Minerva says with a great look of concern on her face.

    ¡°How did they even know we were here? We all tossed our communicators back in Colorado so they couldn¡¯t track us, right?¡± Ruby asks in worry.

    ¡°Fleeing is our only option, but that would make Minerva and all of Athens accomplices,¡± Sonya explains. ¡°Even if we did find somewhere to run to, someone would have to stay behind and pretend that they¡¯ve been captured by the Athenians.¡±

    Damn! She¡¯s right! We¡¯re all at risk, no matter what happens. So¡­ who¡¯s it going to be? Who¡¯s going to stay behind?

    ¡°Sigh,¡± Anna says as she steps forward. ¡°It¡¯s clear that I am the self-evident choice,¡± she says in confidence. ¡°As a former Royal, my chances of death upon sight are significantly lower than a peasant¡¯s. My parents aren¡¯t completely worthless, for they still hold a small amount of power and influence as former Royals. However, this means¡­¡±

    ¡°What do you mean you¡¯re leaving?!¡± Ruby cries out in sadness as she hugs Anna. ¡°Your big head has just reached the size of Teresa¡¯s!¡±

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°All things must come to an end,¡± Anna says as she exchanges the hug. ¡°This has been the most fun I¡¯ve had in my entire life; however, I cannot continue to follow The Mighty Squad Zeus in their perilous adventure around The New World. My intuition tells me that my adventure has only begun, should I survive the encounter with Angela Blackwood,¡± she confidently announces. ¡°I¡¯ve learned a lot in my four years as a non-Royal. I learned how to have fun, take risks, be open-minded, an abundance of new swear words, different cultures, fashion, and how to twerk. I¡¯ve realized that Earth isn¡¯t as bad as our teachers led us to believe. It is a beautiful world filled with ugliness. A place that brings out both the best and the worst in people, but most importantly, it¡¯s a place that needs to be protected and preserved. I don¡¯t know who¡¯s good or who¡¯s bad, but I do know that The Eight Kingdoms and the Royals share a common enemy. The horrific undead army. The more we kill each other, the stronger the undead army becomes. Our conflicts only expeditiously advance our extinction date, and it must stop! I¡¯ve lived a purposeless life up until now, for I envision a world without zombies! A world without an oppressive, tyrannical government! A world where The Eight Kingdoms are unified! I am aware that this is a foolish dream that may never come to fruition, however starting now, I vow to unify The Eight Kingdoms and find a peaceful solution to end the Royal¡¯s tyrannical rule, so humanity can focus on eradicating Earth¡¯s true threat, the zombies! This¡­ is my role, and I am willing to die for it.¡±

    You¡¯re a great speaker, Anna.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to miss you, Anna,¡± Duy says as they exchange a handshake.

    ¡°If you see Teresa, tell her that her assumption of fortune-tellers was correct! They¡¯re just con-artists hiding in plain sight!¡± Ruby yells out. ¡°And¡­tell my parents and Scarlett about our badass adventures!¡±

    ¡°Safe travels, Anna!¡± The twins yell out in unison. ¡°Tell our family that we miss them!¡±

    ¡°Tell Jaliyah I said to stop eating so much junk food,¡± Drew says next.

    ¡°Try not to die,¡± Sonya says with a soft grin.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad I met you, Anna,¡± I say.

    ¡°As am I, Luke,¡± Anna says. ¡°I hope that you find your guardian. Thank you all for everything. I wish you the safest of travels.¡±

    ¡°About that escape plan,¡± Ethan says as he steps forward¡­

    *

    40 Minutes Later

    0648 FNT

    On the Main Deck of Admiral Minerva¡¯s Warship

    <u>Anna Robinson¡¯s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Advance foul wench!¡± Minerva yells as she pushes me forward towards Angela.

    Rain, how I despise you. Forget sunrise. This awful thunderstorm is going to last for ages, and the rope tied around my hands is too tight! Sigh. I suppose that this must look convincing.

    ¡°Well, well, well,¡± Angela says as she approaches. ¡°You¡¯re only the tip of the iceberg, Anna Robinson. Would you care to enlighten me on the whereabouts of your playmates?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± I say.

    ¡°Minerva?¡± Angela asks Minerva.

    ¡°Ah, a splendid question! I hasn¡¯t the slightest clue!¡± Minerva says in pride.

    ¡°A predictable response,¡± Angela says with a chuckle. ¡°Excessive bodily harm to receive information is not my cup of tea, but my worries have long ceased. The only reason that your head is still attached to your body is because of your bloodline, traitorous Anna Robinson. Your sentence shall be carried out upon your escort and return to Olympia,¡± she explains as Minerva hands me over to the Death Angels. ¡°You and your friends deserve what¡¯s coming to you.¡±

    ¡°You talk too much,¡± I say to Angela.

    OW! She smacked me in my jaw!

    ¡°Heh heh. I only speak the truth,¡± she says with an arrogant shrug. ¡°This brief quiescency of advancement has ceased. Squad Zeus are mere tadpoles fucking with big fish; however, I¡¯ll admit that doing this without the mole would¡¯ve been significantly more difficult.¡±

    What?

    ¡°Mole? What mole?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Blood is always thicker than water, foolish turncoat,¡± the witch chuckles.

    ¡°Gasp! Angela! Is it¡­?!¡± I ask.

    ¡°You¡¯re one smart cookie if you¡¯ve figured it out already, however, do not fret, for all of their heads shall be displayed in Olympia to prevent further troubles,¡± Angela says.

    I¡¯m so stupid! I should¡¯ve known!

    ¡°Their deaths shall be executed swiftly, Anna Robinson, for I have some of the Royal¡¯s cream of the crop at my side to aid in this assignment,¡± she continues to brag.

    ¡°We don¡¯t have to fight, Angela!¡± I say. ¡°Imagine a world where The Eight Kingdoms are unified! A world without a tyrannical government! A world without zombies!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but you¡¯ve confused me for someone who gives a fuck,¡± the harlot says with a laugh as she twirls her braided ponytail. ¡°I like being in power, so why would I ever give it up to fulfill a hypocritical little girl¡¯s dream? A little bird has informed me that it was you who attracted the Behemoth swarm. You killed several of my subordinates, and you killed my right-hand¡¯s sister, you fucking monster. Now there¡¯s a little boy in this world that¡¯s going to grow up without a mother because of you!¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± I say.

    Liar! No. I-is she right?! What did I do? What the fuck did I do?! Am I really¡­ a monster?!

    ¡°That¡¯s a sight,¡± Angela says as she observes a plane soar through the skies and the quick exit of a speedboat in the distance. ¡°Well, you were the least likely to get killed,¡± she says with a shrug. ¡°But, Minerva,¡± she says in disappointment. ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk. You¡¯re aware of the air travel ban,¡± she says with a smirk.

    ¡°A few trait¡¯rous Athenians must¡¯ve stolen the plane and a boat. Oh nay. Those sons of braches,¡± Minerva says in a nonchalant tone.

    ¡°Your acting skills require immediate work,¡± Angela says as she shakes her head. ¡°However, my business is concluded; therefore, I shall spare you and your kingdom. Death by disintegration must be painful, so consider this a kind gesture. Now, before I depart, remember this; your naval fleet is extraordinary; nevertheless, we have the giant fucking space laser of death, so think thrice before you decide to fuck us over again,¡± Angela warns in a stern tone and a cold glare in her eyes.

    I don¡¯t know if I made the right choice. All I can do is pray for your safety, Squad Zeus.

    ¡°Hello¡­,¡± A familiar voice says. ¡°Anna. Or should I say¡­ traitor?¡±

    ¡°Gasp! Li?!¡± I say.

    Oh no.

    ¡°What goes around comes around, Anna¡­¡± Li says in an angry tone and a fierce look of animosity in her eyes as she points a gun at my head.

 Chapter 72: The Remarkably Noble and Illustrious Anna Robinson

    4 Years Ago

    July 2, 2071

    1700 GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)

    Onboard the Space Station "Apollo," Earth''s Orbit

    <u>Anna Robinson''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Tantalizing,¡± I say to Li.

    My ice cream cone is wonderful.

    ¡°Lick! Rapturous,¡± Li says after she licks her unholy mint chocolate chip ice cream cone.

    ¡°Hmph! Engrossing.¡±

    ¡°Hmm. Winsome. Anna Robinson, are you sure that you¡¯re one of the chosen ones?¡± She unfathomably questions with a grin. ¡°Consuming a cookies and cream ice cream cone is very unsophisticated. Everyone knows that if it¡¯s not mint, then it¡¯s not high-class, and if it¡¯s not high-class, then it belongs in the trash,¡± she falsely pronounces with a shoulder shrug.

    Li Wu, my bestest friend of all time. Asian, identical age, dyed emerald green hair in a straight back ponytail, and wearing a beautiful bright green top with a super cute picture of the endangered panda species, and a gorgeous green skirt to match. Her top has the hanzi character, ¡°J¨©ngm¨§i,¡± meaning exquisite, written in the center of it.

    ¡°How sagacious, Li, per contra, your presupposition is gainsaid by the brass tacks that you¡¯re consuming the sacrilegious flavor that is, mint chocolate chip. Mint flavored ice-cream is commensurate to pineapples on pizza. Their very existence brings about a great imbalance to the universe.¡±

    Conversing with you is always delightful and educational. The ever-so-beautiful mall on this space station never ceases to amaze me, but then again, it¡¯s only right that we live in luxury, for we are the blessed ones. My life is a blessing, and I can never ask for anything better. This populated food court and delicious ice cream are a constant reminder of my beautiful life.

    ¡°The only imbalance in the universe is how crowded the tanning booths always are,¡± she says as she looks at her skin in disgust. ¡°The lines are always too long and crowded. It makes me believe that lowly peasants have somehow snuck aboard,¡± she says with a smirk.

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    ¡°Nonsense. The peasants are simply uneducated, dirty monsters whose only roles are to be smelly, eat, and die.¡±

    ¡°Just like a zombie!¡± We both say in unison! ¡°HAHAHA!¡±

    ¡°I hear that you can¡¯t even tell them apart, but who cares,¡± Li happily snickers. ¡°They¡¯re not human, and they serve no function to Mother Gaia. They are simply a waste of space. It¡¯s a miracle that they haven¡¯t all died of stupidity already, but it¡¯s only a matter of time.¡±

    ¡°I concur, Li, however, I can¡¯t help but wonder what it¡¯s like to set foot on Earth.¡±

    ¡°Hmm. I imagine that it¡¯s like going a week without a pedicure, Anna. Very ghastly,¡± she says with an exaggerated look of horror on her face. ¡°Your curiosity is contagious, so let¡¯s go sightseeing after we finish our delicacies.¡±

    *

    ¡°If I could go anywhere on Earth, it would be to China, my parent¡¯s homeland,¡± Li says as we gaze outside the large window that provides a comprehensive view of Gaia. ¡°I wish to see an exquisite panda with my own eyes,¡± she says with a somber look in her eyes.

    ¡°Anything¡¯s possible, Li. The undead may have won the battle, but not the war. There will be a day when all of the zombies are annihilated, and this unknown disease that plagues us will be cured.¡±

    ¡°Funny,¡± she says with a scoff. ¡°We¡¯re orbiting Mother Gaia, and yet we ignore all of the things around us. Imagine what else humanity would¡¯ve achieved if it weren¡¯t for the zombies. Imagine what Mars or Venus is like.¡±

    ¡°¡­ or Uranus,¡± we say in unison. ¡°HAHAHAHA.¡±

    ¡°Come now. We are no longer children, Li. We must behave like the mature adults we¡¯ll soon be. It is our¡­ duty to make our parents proud. And you know that we mustn¡¯t upset our superiors. My lungs take great delight in healthy oxygen.¡±

    ¡°Do you think there are any cute boys on Earth?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Nothing!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s plenty of cute boys here, Li.¡±

    ¡°Shi (Yes), but I have deposited them into the inescapable friend zone, Anna, for not a single one fits my exquisite taste,¡± she says with a shrug.

    ¡°Because nobody likes pineapples on pizza or mint-flavored ice cream!¡±

    ¡°My gut tells me that there might be a peasant who does, and my motto is to always listen to my gut,¡± she says with a rebellious grin. ¡°Uh oh. My gut is now telling me that I have some unpleasant business to attend to,¡± she says with a look of embarrassment on her face as she rubs her stomach. ¡°I will be right back, Anna. Don¡¯t do anything crazy until I return.¡±

    Such an unpredictable girl.

    ¡°Stop!¡± A man screams out in horror.

    ¡°We didn¡¯t do it!¡± His friend screams out as they get dragged away by Death Angels.

    Sigh. When are people going to learn not to defy the Royals?

    ¡°Anna Robinson, please report to Gemini. Anna Robinson, please report to ¡°Gemini,¡± Mrs. Kunshu says on the P.A. system.

    Darn. Being late is not a good idea, but I didn¡¯t get to say goodbye to you, Li. Sigh. There¡¯s always tomorrow, I suppose.

 Chapter 73: The Exquisite Li Wu

    12 Minutes Later

    Apollo, Earth''s Orbit

    July 2, 2071

    1720 GMT

    <u>Li Wu''s Point of View</u>

    Phew. I have defeated you once again, puny intestines. Huh? Where¡¯d you go, Anna?

    ¡°Li!¡± Father says as he rushes over with a look of distress on his face.

    Something¡¯s wrong.

    ¡°Family meeting, now!¡± Father says to me.

    *

    30 Minutes Later

    Outside the Robinson¡¯s Family Apartment on the Cruiser, ¡°The Savior¡±

    *

    I¡¯m knocking on the door, but nobody¡¯s answering!

    Come on! Where the hell are you? When I need you the most too.

    My communicator is beeping. It¡¯s a text from Anna.

    My family and I have been forced to vacate because of my inane father! We¡¯re being sent to live in Olympia against our will! I hate it! I hate my parents! I hate our leaders! I hate my life! I hate everything! The only thing that I don¡¯t hate is you! You are my BFF, and the fact that I didn¡¯t even get to say farewell to you hurts me more than a heartbreak. I love you, Li. You are the only inseparable thing in my life, and the realization that I might never see you again is killing me from the inside out. My fate is sealed. I have already accepted the fact that I will die on this miserable planet, sad, alone, and single. I urge you to not cause any trouble regarding our departure, for I fear that your family¡¯s fate won¡¯t be as merciful as mine. Li, please don¡¯t wait for me. Find a new best friend, pursue your dreams, and be happy.

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    Just like a panda, you are angelic. The mere thought of you comforts my inescapable fate as a relic.

    Like the sun, your warmth is seemingly infinite, in addition to the fact that I can¡¯t even imagine my life without you in it.

    I now fantasize about a silly hope that you will one day visit, so that we can gossip about who¡¯s cute and who isn¡¯t.

    Jejune poems are not my forte, but I often dreamt of us introducing our future kings to each other one day.

    Reminiscing, and chattering from summer to spring, as we flawlessly show off our exquisite wedding rings.

    I send this text with immense stress, as I prepare to embark on an unjust quest.

    With wholehearted equivocation, ¡°Anna Robinson,¡± your BFF forever and always.

    You left?! How¡­ how could you?! You jerk!!! AHHHHH! NO! No. Calm down, Li! A crisis is an opportunity riding the dangerous wind. So what, your best friend is gone forever, and your thirteen-year-old delinquent sister took things too far, and now we can¡¯t afford to take care of Chi, which means you¡¯ll have to work your butt off to become a Death Angel so you can help your family. It¡¯s not a big deal, Li. It just means that your dream to become a fashion designer has been put on hold¡­ indefinably. No big deal. If this is rock bottom, then by logic, that means it can only go up from here! I mean, you¡¯re only a fourteen-year-old girl, expected to do impossible tasks, but you¡¯re Li Wu. You can handle anything. You can do anything! Sniffle. Better, return the text, and let¡­ Anna know how I feel. She is my BFF. My sister from another mister. Oh, how I miss her. Ok. Here I go!

    K.

    Send!

    Perfect!

 Chapter 74: The Death Angels

    The Next Day

    July 3, 2071

    0900 GMT

    The Dome, Apollo

    <u>Li Wu''s Point of View</u>

    I have on shock-absorbent and bite-resistant gold and blue armor, I¡¯m equipped with a rubber assault rifle and a rubber pistol. All clean and ready to go.

    ¡°Li?¡± Abbas asks in confusion as he approaches.

    Abbas, an inquisitive boy who¡¯s the same age as me. Middle-Eastern ethnicity, tall, muscular, reserved, handsome, glass eye, and a natural-born genius.

    ¡°What happened to Anna?¡± He asks in genuine concern.

    ¡°Don¡¯t know, and don¡¯t care. She¡¯s not here, and that¡¯s all that matters.¡±

    ¡°But I heard¡­¡±

    ¡°Drop it! She¡¯s gone and is never coming back! (Damn it. I must lower my voice.) Thanks for the concern, but we shouldn¡¯t be discussing such controversial things, especially here. It¡¯s in my best interest to not get flushed.¡±

    I can¡¯t think about her. I have to focus on my training. Becoming a Death Angel is the only way I can help my family.

    I hear sarcastic slow clapping from the podium.

    ¡°Salutations, new recruits!¡± A woman with a British accent says. ¡°For those who are pathetically unaware, I am the beautiful Commander Edit Grace, and it brings me enormous joy to welcome you all into The Dome,¡± she says with a big, over-welcoming smile.

    On the large podium inside this vast, dim empty room is Commander Grace, a mildly beautiful woman who plays a significant role in our security. Caucasian, late twenties, brown hair, a bright blue pendant around her neck that¡¯s stylized to look like a full moon, and an eye-catching turquoise dress. But her hair! It¡¯s so obnoxious! The top half looks like the poofy hairstyles that American women rocked in the 1980s, and the bottom half has four large braids tied into a ridiculous ponytail. It¡¯s like she¡¯s having some kind of identity crisis or something. Sigh. Maybe when I arise in the ranks, I can use my skills to give her and our uniforms a much-needed makeover.

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    ¡°Everything you are currently viewing is virtual. It is dark and cold now, but that shall be irrelevant once your training begins. Soon you shall experience the inferno warmth that is, hell on earth,¡± Commander Grace says in a nonchalant tone as she twirls her hair. ¡°The Dome¡¯s purpose is to prepare you to deal with the vile heathens below,¡± she explains as she smiles at her expensive-looking glass of red wine. ¡°Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, I shall not be the one to train you new recruits,¡± she says with a disappointed look on her face. ¡°My fabulous teaching methods can be quite tormenting, so perhaps it is for the best,¡± she says with a crazed look in her eyes. ¡°Nevertheless, my¡­ ew¡­ disciple, shall be the one to teach you,¡± she struggles to say as she rolls her eyes and clenches her teeth.

    ¡°Eschew your threadbare tongue, Edit,¡± a young woman rudely interrupts in full confidence as she takes her place at the podium. ¡°Heh heh. I apologize for the cunning linguist¡¯s extensive explanation, but I, the royal¡¯s elite enforcer, shall be the one to prepare you for hell,¡± she proudly announces as Commander Grace glares at her and takes a large sip of wine. ¡°However, due to my hard work and achievements, I believe I am owed a proper introduction,¡± she says as she slowly returns her attention to General Grace. ¡°Ahem, Edit? If you don¡¯t mind?¡± she asks in an arrogant tone and a despicable smirk.

    ¡°CLAP¡­ Clap¡­ clap,¡± Commander Grace claps as she lets out a wicked laugh. ¡°Well, well, well,¡± she says with synchronized claps as she meets this woman¡¯s glare, neither surrendering to the other. ¡°The insignificant chicken head has finally left the nest,¡± she says in a sharp tone as she slowly returns her attention to us. ¡°Sadly, my skills are needed elsewhere, for now, be that as it may, I have an astute feeling that we shall meet again upon the sequential conclusion of your story,¡± she says as she aggressively shoves her empty glass into her disciple¡¯s hand. ¡°My classless and unsophisticated disciple, although admittedly skilled, can have problems finishing her plate,¡± she says with another wicked laugh. ¡°Allow me to properly introduce the lady of the evening, and the new leader of the Death Angels, Angela Blackwood!¡± She proudly introduces, followed by everyone giving a round of applause.

    A round of applause is the-

    ¡°CLAP¡­ Clap¡­ clap,¡± General Grace loudly interrupts. ¡°With this unfortunate resignation, I bid you all farewell! May Mother Gaia look after you all! Have a marvelous day¡­¡± she says as she slowly walks away, extensively exaggerating her hip movements.

 Chapter 75: Best Friends Forever

    1 Month Later

    August 5, 2071

    1700 GMT

    Apollo''s Food Court, Earth''s Orbit

    Li Wu''s Point of View

    Such a ridiculously long text! Befriend a peasant? You¡¯ve been corrupted, Anna Robinson. Your foolishness doesn¡¯t even deserve a response. Therefore, I shall leave you on the almighty ¡°read¡± for all eternity.

    ¡°The filthy cookies and cream ice cream cone is not your foe, Li¡± Abbas calmly declares from across the table, as he raises an eyebrow.

    ¡°It must be defeated, Abbas!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s ok to miss your friend. I miss her too.¡±

    ¡°Shut up! You know nothing of friendship nor quality ice cream!¡± I say as I prepare to continue licking the ice cream.

    This is disgusting!

    My communicator is buzzing.

    ¡°Your table manners are lacking,¡± Abbas says in a calm tone as he interlocks his fingers.

    ¡°I see. The commander has requested my presence.¡±

    *

    Inside Angela Blackwood¡¯s Private Quarters

    *

    Wow! The commander lives more humbly than I thought. It¡¯s the size of a large bedroom and is decorated by pink lamps and posters of nature and animals.

    ¡°I am often misjudged, Li,¡± she says in a genuine tone as she feeds her cat. ¡°I¡¯ll cut to the chase. Trust is something I severely lack, however, to succeed in life, I must pick and choose my allies wisely. As tough as I am, I¡¯ve learned that I am quite sensitive; nevertheless, I cannot allow my emotions to compromise my tasks. The overuse of emotions can result in one¡¯s death; therefore, my decisions are based on logic and intelligence. Li Wu, you, along with Abbas, are my top soldiers. For obvious reasons, I¡¯ve only invited you here to discuss confidential info,¡± she explains as she slowly approaches. ¡°What if I told you that I was responsible for the Robinson family¡¯s disappearance?¡±

    ¡°What?!¡±

    ¡°Heh heh. I shall make this easy for you,¡± she says as she hands me a pistol. ¡°The safety¡¯s off, it¡¯s fully loaded and ready to use,¡± she says as she kneels and places her forehead onto the barrel of the gun. ¡°Let¡¯s see how well you were listening,¡± she says with that damn smirk.

    You sent Anna and her parents away?! Why?! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?! I¡­ I¡­

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    ¡°Prove it, Commander,¡± I say.

    ¡°Such utter foolishness. Have you forgotten to whom you are speaking?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Prove it, Li.¡±

    ¡°Because you¡¯re you, Commander Blackwood, and¡­ (Put the gun down, Li!) you never lie.¡±

    ¡°An excellent response,¡± she says as I return her gun. ¡°I prefer to nip things in the bud in order to prevent catastrophic failure,¡± she says with a deep yawn as she stretches. ¡°You¡¯ve passed my test and gained my trust; however, I propose you calm your rage before it consumes you. But hey, it¡¯s your life and your choice,¡± she says with a shoulder shrug. ¡°You may leave now.¡±

    ¡°What about Abass?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve already assessed the intelligent boy, and I¡¯ve determined that there are no immediate actions I must take to gain his trust,¡± she says as I slowly open the door. ¡°Li Wu, if Anna Robinson were to one day foolishly oppose the Majestic Royals, who would you side with?¡±

    *

    4 Years Later

    June 24, 2075

    1200 GMT

    Inside Angela Blackwood¡¯s Private Quarters

    *

    ¡°I was about to die of unsatisfaction, Li, but the news of this Luke Miller child has revitalized my appetite!¡± She says with a bright smile. ¡°We shall be able to assert our supreme dominance and save Gaia with his or his guardian¡¯s brain! Oh, but I must have a duel with him if I wish to surpass them,¡± she quickly says in excitement with a mixture of emotions on her face.

    ¡°You have ants in your pants, Ms. Blackwood.¡±

    ¡°Ah, appreciations, Li,¡± she says as she calms down. ¡°I cannot help but be constantly driven by thoughts of the future. Imagining life without zombies is a common foolish dream among us, a dream that I shall soon turn into a reality, upon the swift execution of one little teenage boy.¡±

    ¡°One life over a million is the correct thing to do. I am prepared to help in any way I can.¡±

    ¡°Heh heh. There¡¯s a twist in your statement that I shall shortly address, but for now, I must commemorate you. The Death Angels would not be the same without you. Not only did you soup up our apparel, but you even managed to make Edit not look like a complete dumpster fire,¡± she says with a hug.

    This is unexpected.

    ¡°I-I only do what I love,¡± I say as I hug her back.

    ¡°No need to lie, Li, for I am perfectly aware that your heart resides with art, and there¡¯s nothing wrong with that. There¡¯s a lot of hardship and difficulty involved in pursuing a passion, but I believe that it¡¯s all worth it at the end of the journey,¡± she says as we finish the hug. ¡°Upon the separation of Luke Miller¡¯s head from his torso, I shall honorably discharge you and your sister from your military services. Operation: GodSlayer is humanity¡¯s greatest mission, and success means that your cute nephew, Chi, will be able to live in a safe world with no zombies. This is not a manipulation tactic, despite how it sounds, however, this is a mission that I will not be able to complete without everyone¡¯s help. I¡¯ve foolishly grown attached to the Death Angels. If anyone were to die under my command, then that would pain me more than any injury I have and will ever receive. I love every single Death Angel, and I will do my best to minimize casualties. Sadly, death is inevitable, and all birds must eventually leave the nest,¡± she says as she slowly stops herself from crying.

    ¡°We will not disappoint you, Angela.¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, the ones who hurt you the most, tend to be the ones closest to you,¡± she says in a menacing tone, combined with a cold stare.

    ¡°I know the feeling¡­¡±

    ¡°As do I,¡± she says as she stretches. ¡°Li Wu, due to the events in Olympus¡¯s Operation Aurora, your old friend, Anna Robinson, has been transferred to Squad Zeus.¡±

    Anna?

    ¡°To put it simply, if she still believes herself to be a Royal, then she shall capture and detain all members of Squad Zeus as soon as she gets the chance. Virtual simulations and real-life combat are very different. The peasants are proof that life on Earth corrupts you, but my policy is to always give people the benefit of the doubt; however, I fear that Anna Robinson may have turned traitor.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    ¡°Due to these extraordinary circumstances and your prestige, I must ask again. If Anna Robinson has become a threat to Mother Gaia, I am curious to know what it is you shall do, Li Wu?¡±

    *

    End of Act 5: Athens

    *

 Act 6: The Seven Deadly Sins. Chapter 76: Hope

    Present Day

    5 Days After Squad Zeus Was Forced to Leave Athenia

    July 20, 2075

    1500 JST (Japan Standard Time)

    On a Beach Near Nagoya, Japan

    <u>Sonya Grey''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°That was so badass!¡± Ruby loudly exclaims in excitement.

    ¡°I told ya¡¯ll I was a good driver!¡± Billy says in surprising confidence.

    ¡°If I die from anything, it¡¯s going to be from stress or peer pressure,¡± I say.

    We barely escaped Athens, crossed the Panama River, and have been smooth sailing beside the intercontinental land bridge, now known as the suicide gate Aquarius in a lightweight submarine-car. Thalassophobia is obviously an irrational fear of mine that I may or may not ever overcome.

    Fortunately, my survival instincts override my aquatic b¨ºte noire, and the new clothes that we¡¯ve been given by Minerva are quite useful. Bulletproof military thermal wet-suits have pouches that are capable of storing our equipment and allow us easy access to our weapons, and the extra accessory is the kind of technology we need to even the odds. Thank you, Minerva, for everything.

    ¡°Ok, we need to get our bearings and head to Inpu,¡± Duy explains as he inspects our paper world map. ¡°Inpu is near Hiroshima, so we head west.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure they all miss us already, ok?¡± Billy says in excitement as he navigates the decimated highway. ¡°I hope they have good food in Inpu. Rachel is probably hoarding all of the root beer and bubblegum she can find!¡±

    Sigh. Time to be a buzzkill again.

    ¡°We need to split up,¡± I say. ¡°Angela knows exactly where we are and where we plan to go. The longer we stay together, the faster we¡¯ll be paying our death tax.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re being paranoid again, Sonya. There¡¯s no way they know where we¡¯re going,¡± Duy naively retorts.

    ¡°My paranoia keeps us alive, Duy.¡±

    ¡°What are you trying to say, Sonya?¡± Drew asks in confusion.

    ¡°I¡¯m saying that one or more of us here is a spy, working for Angela.¡±

    Yup. There they go again. That familiar look of confusion and doubt.

    ¡°Prove it,¡± Duy says in disbelief.

    ¡°Alejandro and Athenia are all the proof you guys need. We abandoned our communicators back in Colorado, and yet Angela knew exactly where we were at all times.  People are easy to manipulate. All it takes to bring someone to their knees is a threat or a promise that appeals to their needs or wants. I suspected that Anna was the traitor at first since she had the most to gain; however, my doubt was shattered, and she earned my trust after she came up with the plan to use the Behemoths and Rachel for the rescue mission. Luke being the traitor, is ludicrous, and Rachel being the traitor is unlikely, but a possibility. This process of elimination supports the fact that the traitor is one or more of us. Lieutenant Sonya Grey, Captain Ho V?n Duy, Corporal Drew Howard, Private Billy Cooper, and Private Ruby Redheart. One of us has betrayed The Mighty Squad Zeus for their own personal gain and are currently leading us to the grim reaper.¡±

    I would¡¯ve been such a good lawyer or detective in The Old World.

    ¡°You¡¯re being freakin¡¯ ridiculous, Sonya!¡± Ruby yells in disbelief.

    ¡°I guarantee that Private Teresa Young is going to die of heartbreak after she learns of the tragic ending to our story,¡± I say.

    I¡¯ve made them uneasy and quiet. A positive and a negative.

    ¡°I refuse to point fingers because that will only result in our squad¡¯s implosion, but death from within is a humorous way to conclude our tale, and Anna isn¡¯t around to save us this time,¡± I say. ¡°I guarantee that Angela is currently ¡°heh heh¡±-ing her face-off, as she prepares to set up an ambush that will result in our swift execution. The longer we wait, the slimmer our chances of survival are. You¡¯re all my friends so I won¡¯t abandon you, but I¡¯d rather die fighting with a chance to escape, than with my hands tied behind my back as I stare at my impending death.¡±

    Of course. More silence.

    ¡°Sigh. All this dead air matches this fallen city perfectly,¡± I say. ¡°Have you all forgotten that we¡¯re currently traveling in the ruins of Rion? We¡¯ll be joining all of these skeletons any minute now, and I can already imagine Angela smirking at the thought of our final resting place.¡±

    ¡°Billy, stop the car!¡± Duy orders, followed by a loud screech of the car. ¡°Have you lost your head, Sonya?!¡± Duy shouts in confusion.

    ¡°Not yet,¡± I say.

    ¡°Oh, great!¡± Duy says. ¡°Since you¡¯re ¡°The Invincible, Secret Agent, Sonya Grey,¡± what do you suggest that we do?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s your squad, not mine,¡± I say. ¡°Your call, Captain.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I¡­ Fuck!¡± He hesitates as we all exit the car. ¡°Ok¡­ ok. If there is a traitor or two, then that means we¡¯re already fucked. Angela could be anywhere, and I think that she¡¯ll try to kill Sonya first since she¡¯s her biggest threat. Splitting up into two groups increases our chances of survival by fifty percent. Since Sonya and I are leaders, it makes sense that we lead one group each. Sonya¡¯s group will be driving the car on the interstate, while I¡¯ll be leading my group in another direction.¡±

    Smart. I¡¯ve underestimated you, Captain.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Drew joins in. ¡°How do we know that Sonya isn¡¯t the traitor?¡±

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    Sigh. Now I have to represent myself.

    ¡°Unlike the case with Anna or Luke, I have no way to answer nor prove your dumbass question,¡± I say. ¡°Therefore, I plead the fifth to increase our chances of surviving this trap. Speaking of survival, there is one way that can all escape from this trap.¡±

    What I wanted to say was ¡°I escaped my ruthless blood family to find a loving one, you stupid fuck!¡±

    ¡°And what would that be?¡± Drew asks in suspicion.

    ¡°If the traitor really regretted their decision, then they would make the correct choice of acting as a decoy, but I guarantee they won¡¯t do that.¡±

    *

    30 Minutes Later

    Outskirts of Rion

    <u>Drew Howard¡¯s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Hey, Drew?¡± Duy asks as he smoothly maneuvers around the immobile zombies and debris on the highway.

    ¡°Yeah?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Did you know that when most people in The Old World caught a fish in sports, they returned it to the ocean?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°And the hungrier the fish is, the easier they can be caught.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡±

    ¡°The ocean was the most beautiful thing I¡¯ve ever seen,¡± Duy says as he stops the car and puts his hands on the wheels.

    Laser sights coming from above the ruined bridge to our twelve, and more soldiers arriving inbound in every other direction.

    ¡°Damn, now I wish I had a jetpack,¡± he says as several Death Angels surround us in all directions. ¡°Fucking bastards!¡± Duy screams in anger as he gets dragged out of the car.

    Of course, they let me out safely.

    ¡°Not you again!¡± Duy yells as two soldiers restrain him.

    ¡°Heh heh. Well, well, well,¡± Angela Blackwood taunts as she effortlessly lands on the ground and takes off her new helmet. ¡°If it isn¡¯t Captain Duy of the Mighty Squad Zeus,¡± she says as she approaches Duy.

    ¡°Go to hell!¡± Duy fires back.

    ¡°Unfortunately for you, you¡¯ll be saying hello to Akuma much sooner than I shall,¡± she says as she pulls out her katana. ¡°I¡¯ve learned my lesson. Underestimating targets, both major and minor is something that I shall never do again, but I must admit, ¡°The Invincible¡± Sonya Grey is quite a deceptive witch. I suspected that she might pull a bullshit tactic such as this; however, gambling is something that I have no talent or interest in. Nonetheless, she, along with Ruby Redheart and Billy Cooper, shall be accompanying you in hell soon.¡±

    ¡°Angela,¡± a mysterious man in a Costa Rican-colored flag hoodie and black jean shorts says in a deep voice and a thick Spanish accent as he approaches. ¡°This muchacho (young man) is not Luke Miller,¡± he realizes in disappointment.

    ¡°Your observation skills are spectacular, Pride. Patience is but a virtue, so hold your horses. You shall get your jab at Luke Miller soon,¡± Angela calmly explains. ¡°Heh heh,¡± she says as she returns her attention to Duy. ¡°I¡¯ve called upon The Seven Deadly Sins to assist me in my operation as insurance. Pride here will demolish Hercules, and my old friend Greed is currently en route to kill Sonya Grey and the other two worms. Upon the conclusion of our business in this graveyard, we shall march to Inpu, where Luke Miller and Rachel Cooper shall meet the swiftest of executions. You all shall soon collapse like a row of dominoes,¡± she says as she inspects her deadly katana. ¡°I am informing you of your squad¡¯s cruel fate because, as I leader myself, I too constantly worry apropos of my subordinates. However, I believe myself to be quite humble, so I must admit that none of this would¡¯ve been possible without the help of Drew Howard here.¡±

    Shut up¡­

    ¡°He¡¯s a smart cookie. He knows that fighting against the side with the giant space laser of death is pure, utter, foolishness,¡± Angela says in an overconfident tone as one of her soldiers snatches my communicator out of my pocket. ¡°Now, I quite enjoy soap operas, so¡­ do you have any last words to say, Captain Ho V?n Duy?¡±

    ¡°Drew¡­ I had a feeling it was you, but I didn¡¯t want to believe it. I thought we were friends! How could you do this to us?¡± Duy asks in disbelief.

    ¡°Angela is right, Duy,¡± I say. ¡°We can¡¯t beat them. Not only do they have a space laser, but they have complete dominance over the entire fucking world! Fighting against them is stupid! I¡­ I tried to keep us all together! We should¡¯ve surrendered a long time ago!¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on, man,¡± Duy says with a laugh. ¡°You¡¯re going to have a hard time regaining the trust of the others.¡±

    ¡°You idiot. I¡¯m not returning. I¡¯m done¡­ with everything. My family has been granted immunity, and we¡¯re going to be living in Gaia soon, as promised.¡±

    ¡°And who made such a stupid fucking promise to you?¡± Duy asks in doubt.

    ¡°Harold¡­ back in Colorado,¡± I say.

    ¡°Ah, that makes sense,¡± he says with a deep sigh. ¡°Teresa is going to kick your ass, man, and so is your sister.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a fool, Duy,¡± I say.

    ¡°Well, this fool kicked your ass in a race with jetskis,¡± he says with a chuckle. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re a bad guy, man. I just think that you got scared and made a bad decision. It¡¯s a part of being human, but I wish that you had more faith in us. We¡¯re the Mighty Squad Zeus, and our kickass story has just begun, Drew.¡±

    ¡°Goodbye, Duy,¡± I say.

    ¡°Nice knowing you too, asshole,¡± he says as he slowly returns his attention to Angela. ¡°Mildew lady, are you going to at least give me a chance to fight?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re quite a masochist,¡± Angela accepts as she sheathes her sword. ¡°Ignominy before your impending death is an odd request, nevertheless I shall honor your last wish,¡± she continues as she gives a signal for the guards to release Duy. ¡°I am one who never lies, and I always keep a promise; therefore, I shall reward you with a swi-,¡± she says as she and Duy enter a fighting stance.

    ¡°Whatever, lady. If Luke can take you, then so can I,¡± Duy responds in full confidence.

    ¡°How poetic that the majority of your squad¡¯s final resting place shall be among the last bevy of fools who dared oppose us,¡± she says with a chuckle. ¡°Saigomade baka (Stupid until the end),¡± she says in¡­ Japanese as she shakes her head, followed by a sudden lunge towards Duy from her.

    She¡¯s so fast! Duy!

    She delivered a spinning back-kick to the gut.

    ¡°Fuck,¡± Duy says in agony as blood and vomit exit from his mouth.

    ¡°Hizamazuku n¨­min (Kneel peasant)!¡± Angela screams in rage as she prepares to deliver another blow.

    She¡­ she broke his kneecaps with two powerful kicks and forced him to kneel.

    ¡°This mercy is an honor, considering what you did to my subordinates!¡± She states in anger as she prepares another attack.

    A skull-crushing double hand-chop to both sides of the temple!

    ¡°Foolishness,¡± Angela says in an ominous tone as she unsheathes her katana.

    ¡°N-no matter what¡­ happens t-to us,¡± Duy struggles to say as his body begins to spasm, mouth covered in blood and vomit, with dilated pupils. ¡°Always, always r-remember who this squad i-is named after¡­ after,¡± he says with a chuckle and a smile. ¡°Ju-just like Zeu¡­ Zeus, we are the mightiest! The bo-bo-bond this squad sh-shares w-w-will be unbroken¡­ f-for-forever! The, the en-entire world w-will remember u-us one day! We¡­ will n-nev-never be¡­ forgotten¡­¡±

    ¡°Sono y¨­ na mattaku no oroka-sa (Such¡­ utter foolishness),¡± Angela says in pity as she prepares to strike with her sword.

    ¡°Teresa¡­¡± Duy softly says as he slowly loses consciousness.

    An impalement straight in his mouth?! She¡¯s taking her sword out and is about to.

    Decapitate him.

    What¡­ what the fuck did I do?

    ¡°Are you happy now, Angela?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Heh heh. Happiness, just like freedom, is an illusion,¡± she says as she gently kicks Duy¡¯s kneeling headless corpse into the ground. ¡°I don¡¯t enjoy doing this; however, I do enjoy serving Mother Gaia. Hmm. One would think that Azrael would be enough of a deterrent to keep foolish peasants in line; however, there¡¯s always that one imbecile who dares to try us,¡± she says as she puts Duy¡¯s head into a large pouch. ¡°Drew Howard, I consider myself to be quite honorable and honest, however¡­¡± she says as she¡­ lunges towards me?!

    WHAT?!

    Fuck! My jaw! She fucking broke it with her backhand?! Fuck! Shit! I gotta¡­ I gotta get up and run!

    ¡°Ah!¡± I yell.

    I¡­ I can¡¯t move! She stabbed me in my knee! Fuck! I¡¯m gonna die!

    ¡°Harold is quite dishonorable and dishonest,¡± she says in an ominous tone as she points her pistol at me. ¡°No need to cry over spilled milk, child. Peasants simply aren¡¯t allowed to dine at the table of royalty.¡±

    Mom, Dad, Jaliyah, Ruby, Duy, Luke, ¡­ I¡¯m so, so sorry.

 Chapter 77: The Solitary Drew Howard

    6 Years Ago

    February 20, 2069

    0800 CST

    Central Olympia, Kansas

    Inside Drew Howard''s Bedroom

    <u>Drew Howard''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°What¡¯s the move?¡± Jaliyah asks as she bursts through my bedroom door.

    ¡°Reading. And knock next time!¡± I say.

    ¡°Why is it so dark in this small bedroom filled with books, maps, and a giant globe?¡±

    ¡°Your precise over-imagery of my room is comedic.¡±

    ¡°Well, I do enjoy entertaining audiences,¡± she informs in confidence. ¡°Anyway, whatcha readin¡¯?¡± She asks in an innocent tone as she approaches.

    ¡°A book.¡±

    ¡°Wow, I never would¡¯ve guessed,¡± she says with a look of disbelief on her face as she rolls her eyes and sits on the bed. ¡°So big brother¡­¡± she says as her innocent face switches to a devilish one. ¡°When are you and Ruby gonna become official? It¡¯s ok if and when you do. As your little sister, I approve of her and her very large head.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re like ten years old, so your approval means nothing.¡±

    ¡°Well, I am a firm believer in love at first. You two are destined to be together forever.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a firm believer that little ten-year-old girls don¡¯t know what they¡¯re talking about when it comes to something as silly as love.¡±

    ¡°Whatever. Just let me know when you confess your love to Ruby so I can start the wedding arrangements.¡±

    *

    Later That Day

    Central Olympia, Kansas

    1345 CST

    *

    ¡°So how was school today, you two?¡± Mom asks with too much optimism as we begin our walk home.

    Imani Howard. The best mom and nurse in the world! Black, long curly hair, and is wearing her usual purple scrubs.

    ¡°Fantastic!¡± Jaliyah exclaims in glee.

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    ¡°Terrible.¡±

    ¡°Terribly fantastic is what he means,¡± Jaliyah says with a chuckle.

    ¡°Olympia needs more books, Mom. I¡¯ve read every book in all of the libraries twice already.¡±

    ¡°Good things come to those who wait, Drew,¡± Mom says with a smile.

    ¡°Imani,¡± a man says in a strange tone from behind us. ¡°A woman walking the streets by herself is just asking for trouble.¡±

    ¡°Gary, I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ll be meeting up with your brother any minute now,¡± Mom replies in a kind tone.

    Uncle Gary, an odd man with a flattop and white medical scrubs.

    ¡°You two have very nice teeth,¡± Uncle Gary says in haste as he rapidly approaches. ¡°A trait you all get from me.¡±

    O¡­k? And?

    ¡°Uncle Gary,¡± Jaliyah says in excitement, followed by Mom stepping in front of her.

    ¡°Is it alright if I accompany you three?¡± Gary says with a smile. ¡°Family is the only thing that matters after all.¡±

    I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re family or not. I don¡¯t trust anyone who goes to bed with shoes on.

    ¡°How¡¯s everything at the dentist¡¯s office?¡± Mom asks in a kind tone.

    ¡°Sparkling,¡± Gary replies with a deep sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t mind taking you in for a free personal appointment, whenever you¡¯re available. I assure you that my adroit hands are capable of multitasking. I promise that you¡¯ll feel right at home,¡± Gary says as he quickly rubs his hands.

    Weird.

    ¡°No, thanks, Gary. I should get going. It¡¯s getting late,¡± Mom says in a hurry.

    ¡°Wait, Imani!¡± Gary yells as he blocks our path. ¡°Please take this gift!¡± He says as he hands Mom a small package of dental floss. ¡°Make sure¡­ you get between the teeth.¡±

    ¡°Gary?¡± Dad asks in concern as he approaches us with haste.

    *

    The Next Day, After School

    1415 CST

    *

    ¡°Drew! We¡¯ve been waiting for approximately thirty minutes. Where¡¯s Mom?¡± Jaliyah asks in fear.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but it¡¯s weird. She¡¯s never been late before.¡±

    ¡°Drew, Jaliyah?¡± Dad says as he approaches the open front gate of the school. ¡°Nobody came home, so I got worried and decided to look for you,¡± Dad notifies us in worry.

    Sebastian Howard, the coolest man, and best carpenter in the world. Black, black afro, tall, and is wearing a red t-shirt and blue jeans today.¡± Come on. I¡¯ll take you two home,¡± Dad says in an uneasy tone.

    *

    10 Minutes Later

    Outside the Howard¡¯s House

    *

    Oh no. Someone broke in¡­

    ¡°Drew, take your sister and get help!¡± Dad screams as he barges into the house to deal with the intruder.

    ¡°Jaliyah, we gotta go!¡±

    ¡°NO! I¡¯m not going anywhere without Mom,¡± she rebelliously screams in anger as she follows Dad.

    Fuck! How can someone so little be so fast?!

    ¡°Jaliyah, stop!¡± I yell.

    ¡°YOU PIECE OF SHIT!!!¡± Dad roars out in fury as we reach the main bedroom.

    Gasp! Mom?! Jaliyah!

    ¡°What?¡± Jaliyah asks in utter confusion.

    Gotta avert her gaze from the trauma. Damn it. I¡¯m gonna be sick¡­

    ¡°Drew?¡± Jaliyah asks in an innocent tone as I lead her outside.

    ¡°We need to leave, Jaliyah. We don¡¯t need¡­ to see that.¡±

    Gary, how the fuck could you do that? I hope Dad fucking crushes your throat, you piece of shit, fucking monster.

    ¡°Mom was beaten, mutilated, and raped by Gary,¡± Jaliyah says in too calm of a tone. ¡°He tied her bruised, naked body to the bed and stuck all kinds of tools in places where they don¡¯t belong,¡± she says as she continues to vividly describe what she saw. ¡°This is what I saw before Dad started strangling Uncle Gary. Gary impregnated Mom, and that means that we¡¯re going to have a new brother or sister within nine months, depending on Mom¡¯s decision about his seed. It¡¯s not our fault, but if we didn¡¯t wait for Mom after school, then Dad wouldn¡¯t have left the house, and Gary never would¡¯ve been able to sneak Mom inside after he kidnapped her. Now, Dad is going to kill Uncle Gary, and I think he deserves it¡­¡± she says in a nonchalant tone.

    What the fuck?!

    ¡°Jaliyah! Drew!¡± Dad yells in tears as he approaches us. ¡°Always¡­ protect each other,¡± he cries out as he gives us a tight hug. ¡°No matter what.¡±

 Chapter 78: Ambush

    8 Years Later

    Present Day

    July 20, 2075

    1530 JST

    The Ruins of Downtown Rion, Japan

    <u>Sonya Grey''s Point of View</u>

    Duy, I hope you¡¯re ok¡­

    ¡°So, who the fuck was it, Sonya?¡± Ruby asks in disgust.

    Be on constant alert, Sonya. It¡¯s evening, grey cloudy skies, and a few roaming zombies that are of no immediate concern. I see no urgent threat, and yet I feel like we¡¯ve escaped one trap, only to be caught in another one. Damn it! I don¡¯t know when, where, or how we¡¯re going to get attacked, and I can¡¯t stand it. Billy and Ruby are scared shitless right now, so it¡¯s up to you to keep them safe, even though you¡¯re the one who¡¯s worried the most. They¡¯re still too soft for The New World, and I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going to happen, but I can only increase our chances of survival if they¡¯re willing to shoot back when shit hits the fan.

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you two later. For now, we need to focus, keep scanning the streets, stay on guard, and keep your voices down.¡±

    ¡°Whatever,¡± Ruby says in frustration. ¡°Oh, jackpot. I¡¯ve found your souvenir, Billy,¡± she says in joy as she kneels to pick up some kind of plastic toy cat.

    Wait, a laser sight?! Shit!

    ¡°Billy, get down!¡± I yell as I prepare to tackle him.

    Too close! Those gunshots from the rooftops! We¡¯re sitting ducks out here!

    ¡°Get the fuck out the street!¡± I order.

    ¡°What the fuck?!¡± Ruby screams in fear as she follows me.

    Dodge the bullets and run inside the¡­ hotel!

    ¡°Inside!¡± I say as I prepare to kick the door open. ¡°Now!¡±

    ¡°Good evening, girly,¡± a deep voice whispers near my ea-

    That was a loud gunshot!

    And that was way too close! My ear! Ok, ok, calm down. You have less than a second to deal with this hostile who¡¯s less than a meter from your twelve. Quickly assess. A shotgun, the user is approximately two meters tall, heavily armored from head to toe, most likely a male in his thirties and you¡¯re surrounded by an unknown number of hostiles. Your best chance at survival is to quickly kill this man and escape to a latrine. Phew. Ok. You got this girl.

    A deep slash across his left to right arm to stun and disable him.

    ¡°Wait, don¡¯t!¡± He cries out in agony as his disgusting blood spews out from his body.

    ¡°Good night,¡± I say.

    A quick stab through his exposed neck to finish him.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± I order.

    *

    Inside the Hotel¡¯s Male Latrine

    *

    ¡°Holy shit, Sonya!¡± Ruby yells out in disbelief.

    This latrine is dank! Ew! Just¡­ gotta make this quick.

    ¡°Thank me later,¡± I say ¡°Minerva said the exit was somewhere underground, and yet we couldn¡¯t find any safe entrances into the sewers that weren¡¯t flooded with water and zombies. So, Ruby, I need you to do what you do best and fast!¡±

    ¡°Um¡­ right,¡± Ruby says in uncertainty as she prepares her explosives.

    ¡°Sonya, what are you-¡± Billy asks.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to make our own damn entrance with Ruby¡¯s explosives. Listen, it¡¯s ok to be scared right now, but the only way we¡¯re going to survive is if we escape into the tunnels of death, and yes, I am aware that it¡¯s a terrible name! Ruby, Billy, the three of us are gonna have to do some crazy-ass shit to get out of this! My left ear is fucked right now, and I can¡¯t do my job if you guys are going to hesitate to shoot back! To put it simply, it¡¯s either them or us!¡±

    ¡°Right¡­¡± Billy says in worry.

    ¡°That¡¯s not the correct response, Billy!¡± I say.

    ¡°I mean, damn right, ok?!¡± Billy reassures in confidence.

    ¡°Double Rainbow¡± is ready!¡± Ruby says. ¡°I don¡¯t wanna kill anybody, but I don¡¯t wanna be killed either! I¡¯m too sexy to be decapitated, so I got your back, Sonya! Ok!¡± She prepares as we all take cover far away from the bomb. ¡°C major, D major, F¡­¡±

    A hostile just threw a frag grenade inside here?! It¡¯s going to explo-.

    *

    Inside the Tunnels of Death

    *

    Ow¡­ my head. Sewer water? How disgusting. Ok, get your bearings, Sonya. What the fuck happened? You¡­ somehow survived that mass explosion, and then you nearly drowned, but you didn¡¯t. The water brought you down¡­ here. Ok. So now, what do you see? A labyrinth similar to where I was held prisoner by Olympus. Bright orange lanterns are illuminating the walls, there¡¯s tons of debris, water is leaking from the walls, and it¡¯s flooded from the neck up.

    ¡°Grah!¡± A zombie says as it suddenly appears to my twelve from under the water.

    It¡¯s going to drag me down!

    Underwater and wrestling with a zombie. Just stay strong. Keep fighting! Keep its arms away from you! Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t let it bite you! Don¡¯t drown, and don¡¯t freak out!

    ¡°GR-A-A-A-H,¡± a zombie from below me utters.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    ¡°You gotta be shitting me. The longer I wait, the longer I sink like a rock, and I can¡¯t let go of Smelly¡¯s arms, which means I can¡¯t reach my weapons. Shit! Don¡¯t panic, Sonya! Think! Fight! Wait! That¡¯ll work, but damn! This is going to be so risky.

    Quickly let go and!

    Poke its eyeball and puncture the brain with my finger!

    M-My wrist?! Too close! Poking the bastard¡¯s eyes out and puncturing the brain wa-.

    No! The one below! Get the fuck off my braid!

    A splash from above? Beeping noises?

    Gotta cut off my braid. Agh. Can¡¯t¡­ breathe.

    Ok, my braid has been cut. Now to grab the corpse from above before the explosion happens.

    *

    2 Minutes Later

    *

    ¡°Cough cough! Gasp! Holy shit!¡± I say out loud.

    ¡°CPR is a lifesaver!¡± Ruby says in a cheerful tone. ¡°I am so, so talented.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re in trouble, Sonya!¡± Billy says. ¡°These guys aren¡¯t Death Angels!¡±

    ¡°No, they must be mercenaries from Hephaestus,¡± I say.

    ¡°Ahem. You¡¯re welcome, Ms. One-and-a-half braid,¡± Ruby says in annoyance as she rolls her eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯ll thank you when we get out of this shithole,¡± I say. ¡°Now, where the fuck are we?¡±

    ¡°We must be inside of a rectum, because it¡¯s gloomy, ominous, and filled with shit,¡± Ruby horribly explains.

    ¡°Not helpful,¡± I say.

    ¡°Well, we¡¯re in a t-shaped tunnel from what I can observe. There¡¯s zombies behind us, and mercenaries approaching from ahead, ok?¡± Billy properly explains.

    We have to follow the light to reach our destination, which means we must go right, and the only thing standing in our way is the mercenaries.

    ¡°Disgusting rats!¡± A man¡¯s voice loudly says from above with a heavy German accent, most likely with some kind of P.A. system. ¡°Your leader is dead, and you vill be joining him all too shortly!¡± He says in an arrogant ass tone. ¡°You¡¯ve killed von of us, which is quite impressive, but I¡¯m afraid that you don¡¯t have enough experience points for this part of the world yet. To put it simply, you Olympians are not in Kansas anymore! You¡¯re in checkmate, and there is no escape, so do us a favor and surrender!¡±

    ¡°Sonya, I still have OBAE,¡± Ruby says.

    ¡°Rion has already been nuked once, Ruby,¡± I say. ¡°Twice will not only kill us all but is fucking overkill.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the plan, captain?¡± Ruby and Billy ask in unison.

    Captain¡­ That¡¯s right. I am the squad leader now. Poor Duy. May you and your family rest in peace. Billy and Ruby took the news surprisingly well, and I can tell what they¡¯re thinking. They¡¯re deeply upset, the same as me, but they understand that there¡¯s no time to be crying right now. Fight now, grieve later. I¡¯m¡­ so proud of them. Ok. The water here only reaches our ankles, which is a significant relief. The secret passageway should be located in some kind of pillar room apparently, and the only way to get there is to follow the orange lanterns.

    ¡°The plan is obvious,¡± I say. ¡°These assholes are trained killers, but so am I. They made me ruin my hair, so now I¡¯m fucking pissed! They obviously know who we are, our strengths, and our weaknesses thanks to the mole, so we¡¯re going to pull a Ruby, and fuck them up with some crazy, unexpected shit.¡±

    *

    2 Minutes Later

    Inside the Tunnels of Death

    *

    ¡°Dibs on the redhead. I heard she¡¯s got a big mouth and a sweet ass,¡± a guard says above me, as he cautiously advances.

    ¡°Quiet, you sick fuck,¡± another guard says above me. ¡°We¡¯re only in this mass graveyard for one reason, and that¡¯s to get paid. You can worry about getting your dick sucked by a bitch after we return home.¡±

    The optical camouflage function on the wetsuit is superb. They won¡¯t be able to detect me as long as I remain flat, stay silent, and not get in their way. Minerva, you¡¯re secretly a genius who acts like a ditzy woman. Ruby, we¡¯d be long dead if it weren¡¯t for your babies, and Billy, I hope you¡¯re ready for what¡¯s about to happen. We¡¯re only getting one shot at this.

    A quick decapitation to the freak on the left from me.

    ¡°Fuck!¡± The guard on the right yells out in surprise as he quickly turns around.

    Stabbed him. Right in the fucking chest.

    ¡°How many of you are there, mercenary?!¡± I ask.

    ¡°Smile, bitch,¡± he painfully says with a chuckle and a cough. ¡°You¡¯re on camera,¡± he reveals as he points down the other end of the passageway.

    Shit! More mercenaries?!

    ¡°Down here!¡± A merc orders in retaliation.

    Get down, Sonya!

    ¡°Ruby, Billy, shoot!!!¡± I order.

    ¡°Suck on this, ya stupid fucking soldiers of misfortune!¡± Ruby yells out in confidence.

    The gunfire is so loud! Ow! My ear¡­ just try not to think about it. Stay low and keep¡­ crawling¡­

    ¡°We¡¯re currently exchanging fire with our targets, Greed. We¡¯ll be able to finish these kids off, as soon as you rendezvous to our position,¡± a soldier relays to his superior as I quietly slip behind their formation.

    Four soldiers. All males, heavily armored like the rest. They¡¯ve no idea what¡¯s about to hit them.

    A simultaneous double decapitation from me! Only two to go.

    ¡°Behind us, Hiroshi!¡± A guard yells out in horror.

    Damn! They react fast! Ok, time to improvise! I¡¯ll start with a roll and then¡­

    Gut them both like a fish.

    ¡°No way¡­ n-no¡­ fucking way¡­¡± a guard painfully says in disbelief as his insides spill out from his body.

    The other guy¡¯s torso has been separated from the rest of his body, and yet this guy is still standing. Damn, I¡¯m out of practice, but I know the perfect way to retrieve my killer instinct. Something tells me that I¡¯m going to need it. First, I¡¯ll kick this bastard¡¯s gun out of his hand.

    A takedown to pin him to the ground.

    And then remove his helmet so I can look him in his eyes as I choke him with my bare hands.

    ¡°You deserve this, Andres!¡± I yell.

    Squeeze, Sonya. Squeeze harder! He deserves to suffer!

    ¡°Holy shit, Sonya! Stop!¡± Billy screams out as he pushes me off of him.

    ¡°What the fuck, Billy?!¡± I yell.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to make him suffer, ok?!¡± He foolishly explains.

    You stupid idiot! He¡¯s reaching for his pistol!

    ¡°Billy, get down!¡± I say as I prepare to tackle Billy out of the way.

    No, I¡¯m too late!!

    A gunshot?

    What¡­?

    ¡°Oh, shit,¡± Ruby says in a shaky tone, with a look of fear in her eyes. ¡°What¡­ what the fuck did I do?!¡±

    Wow. A clean headshot.

    ¡°It¡¯s obvious what you did,¡± I say. ¡°You saved us, Ruby.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡­ I killed someone,¡± Ruby sadly comprehends as she falls to her knees.

    ¡°Murder increases your odds of survival in The New World,¡± I say.

    ¡°This is my fault. I fucked up,¡± Billy realizes in horror.

    ¡°That¡¯s obvious,¡± I say.

    ¡°Damn it, Sonya!¡± Billy yells out. ¡°You went too far! Where¡¯s your sympathy?!¡±

    ¡°What?! Are you fucking serious right now?! Wow! And here I thought that you were gonna finally man up!¡± I say.

    ¡°You could¡¯ve ended him quickly! He was human! Show some empathy!¡± Billy shouts back.

    ¡°Empathy is the last thing he would¡¯ve shown us if he snuck behind us. Chances are he would¡¯ve killed you, tied Ruby and me up, forcibly shove his nasty, veiny, hairy dick inside us, before delivering us to Angela, where we would meet a swift execution just like Duy, ok? Or did this fact go over your head? People are and will always be shitty, and if you don¡¯t grow a sack and do what it takes to survive, then you¡¯ll die just like Duy!¡±

    Ow! Ruby slapped me?!

    ¡°You¡¯re not talking like ¡°The Invincible, Sonya Grey¡± captain of The Mighty Squad Zeus. You¡¯re talking like Scorpius Sonya Grey of the despicable Black Scorpions. They¡¯re two different people, and I refuse to follow the one without a heart,¡± Ruby says in tears. ¡°I¡¯m not taking sides, because Duy, Drew, Anna, and Teresa wouldn¡¯t want us to die from our own stupidity. We¡¯re all on the same side, ya dummies, so stop acting like assholes to each other. Luke and Rachel are waiting for us in Inpu, and we gotta warn them that another kingdom is in danger because of us! Now, this ain¡¯t the kind of world tour I wanted, but all of us need to get our shit together if we want to survive this cruel, cruel, smelly, New World. Fight now, cry later.¡±

    You¡¯re¡­ right¡­

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Billy and I quickly say in unison.

    You almost lost them, Sonya. You¡¯re better than that.

    *

    1 Minute Later

    Near the Orange Pillar Room

    *

    ¡°We made it!¡± Ruby yells out in glee as we carefully rush forward.

    Wait, something¡¯s wrong.

    ¡°It¡¯s too bright!¡± Billy says in pain as our eyes adjust to the light.

    What is that?! Some kind of¡­ hat flying at us from above at high speed?!

    ¡°Hit the deck!¡± I order as I prepare to block it with my swords.

    What?! Alpha and Omega couldn¡¯t cut through it?!

    ¡°Careful now, little girl,¡± a man on top of the pillar says with a chuckle, as the hat circles back into his hand like a boomerang. ¡°Don¡¯t lose your head.¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on! You¡¯re kidding me!¡± Ruby yells in disbelief as we all hide.

    ¡°Quite the contrary, fiery paprika-headed girl,¡± he says in an arrogant tone as he puts the hat on top of his head. ¡°My name is Lanze Kaiser, of the Royal¡¯s Seven Deadly Sins,¡± he reveals as I catch a peek of him spinning the brim of his hat on top of his head. ¡°My sin is greed, my objective is to make you three bleed before I send you to Angela, where you shall plead on your knees,¡± he says as he pulls out a pistol.

 Chapter 79: The Sin of Greed

    July 20, 2075

    1545 JST

    The Orange Pillar, Beneath Rion

    <u>Sonya Grey''s Point of View</u>

    Life is never easy. Sigh. This room¡¯s structure is identical to Mt. Olympus¡¯s pillar of death. A massive circular-shaped room, with a tattered nine-meter-tall pillar in the room¡¯s center. There are three parts to this room from what I can see. The pillar in the inside, large concrete ruins in the middle, and a concrete, semi-roofed passageway with walls and broken windows on the outside where we¡¯re currently located. We¡¯ve entered this structure from the south side, took cover in the southeast, and the secret entrance should be in the northeast.

    The only thing that¡¯s standing between Inpu and us is the man standing atop the large pillar. Lanze Kaiser, Caucasian, approximately two meters tall, most likely armored from the neck down, an eyepatch on the right eye, short stubbly beard, short black hair, a robust smelling cigar in his mouth, and equipped with a black cloak.

    ¡°Frisbee, man,¡± Ruby says in a stern tone.

    ¡°What?¡± I ask.

    ¡°His nickname is Frisbee Man,¡± Ruby clarifies.

    ¡°Fine. Whatever,¡± I say.

    Even though it¡¯s not a frisbee, it¡¯s still a deadly Halo.

    ¡°Listen up, children!¡± Frisbee Man yells. ¡°Angela Blackwood, The Sin of Pride, and the Death Angels vill be here in less than twenty minutes. I¡¯m impressed that you managed to kill those mercenaries; however, I am leagues above those imbeciles. To the paprika-headed girl and boy of a million hats, I have no interest in fighting worms. I seek a duel vit ¡°The Invincible¡± Sonya Grey. Fighting Black Scorpions is nothing new to me; however, I vish to kill a strong warrior of the self-destructive kingdom in one-on-one combat! Sonya Grey, you are the rarest of Black Scorpions! A psychotic, homicidal, and suicidal little girl who¡¯s pretending to play hero, in the foolish hope of liberating a doomed kingdom!¡±

    ¡°Shut your goddamn mouth, Lanze!¡± I say.

    ¡°You foolish little girl! Take it from a mercenary, you can never escape the past! You cannot unmurder someone, which means you are no different from me, Angela, or The King of Scorpius!¡± He continues with an arrogant laugh. ¡°Your backstory is comical; therefore, I vill continue to laugh until you face me!¡±

    Bastard. I can¡¯t wait to slit your throat!

    ¡°Sonya, he¡¯s baiting you,¡± Billy reminds.

    ¡°I know that!¡± I say.

    ¡°Don¡¯t fall for it, Sonya,¡± Ruby says. ¡°You¡¯re letting your emotions control you!¡±

    Damn it! I can¡¯t do anything with you two here.

    ¡°I have to distract him,¡± I say to the two.

    ¡°What?¡± They both ask in worry.

    ¡°Perhaps, you need a little encouragement,¡± Lanze says as I catch a glimpse of him preparing to throw his fris¡­ Halo.

    Here it comes!

    Shit! Through the window?! No! It¡¯s¡­ curving?! It¡¯s going around the wall?!

    ¡°You need to expect the unexpected to survive as a mercenary, little girl!¡± Lanze cackles as he prepares to fire his pistol.

    There¡¯s no way those bullets should pierce the wall! Wait! He¡­ shot it at the flying Halo?! It¡¯s gonna ricochet!

    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    ¡°Get down!¡± I order.

    ¡°AH, MOTHERFUCKER!¡± Ruby screams out in pain as she holds her eye.

    Ruby! Fuck! The Halo! It¡¯s still flying towards us! I need to stop it! Here it comes!

    It¡­ curved again? Downward?

    What? M-m-m-m-my other braid? It cut off my other braid.

    ¡°I¡¯m tired of this,¡± Billy chuckles in distress as we all keep low to the ground.

    T-the Halo stopped! It¡¯s stuck in the wall! But¡­

    ¡°Foolish children! My Halo, ¡°Kopflos,¡± is the most potent in all of Japan! You do not stand a chance!¡± Lanze boasts as he continues to cackle.

    The Halo¡¯s reactivating!

    ¡°Wait, stop it!¡± Billy cries out as he crawls away in horror as the Halo quickly makes his way towards his groin.

    I don¡¯t know if Kopflos has a mind of its own, but I do know what Lanze is about to do¡­

    ¡°Billy, catch!¡± I say.

    He needs my sword!

    ¡°Oh!¡± Billy yells out as he catches my sword, prepared to defend himself.

    Kopflos curved upward and missed Billy. What a powerful Halo.

    ¡°Luck appears to be on your side today, children,¡± Lanze says in annoyance as he puts Kopflos back on his head.

    ¡°You fucking piece of shit!¡± Ruby screams out in anger as she unloads a barrage of bullets, aimed directly at Lanze. ¡°You fucking ruined my eyebrow!¡± Ruby cries out in tears.

    ¡°I¡¯ll aim for your foul mouth next time!¡± Lanze replies as he quickly hops off the pillar.

    ¡°Ruby, calm down! You¡¯re letting your emotions control you, and you also got hit in the shoulder!¡± I say.

    ¡°I don¡¯t give a fuck, Sonya!¡± Ruby replies in frustration. ¡°I-I can¡¯t go on stage like this!¡± She says as she points at her eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯ll be known as the one-browed-gal! My career is ruined!¡± She cries out as she reloads.

    ¡°It¡¯ll grow back, but your head won¡¯t so calm your tits. Ruby, Billy, listen up. I can probably beat him, but not with you two around.¡±

    ¡°Oh, so we¡¯re just dead weight?¡± Ruby asks in offense with a non-raised eyebrow.

    Laugh on the inside, Sonya.

    ¡°Precisely the opposite. I¡­ love you two, and this entire squad. You keep me human and bring out the best in me. You¡¯ve shown me how to be the best version of myself, but I can¡¯t beat him as Olympian Sonya. The only way I can defeat him is if I become that person you saw in the sewers. Lanze Kaiser is the strongest opponent I¡¯ve ever fought in my entire life, and Olympian Sonya can¡¯t defeat him, but Black Scorpion Sonya can. She can¡¯t do it if she¡¯s constantly worried about you two, though, which is why I¡¯m going to distract him while you make a run for the secret entrance. And as your captain, I¡¯m ordering Ruby to blow up the fucking entrance if I¡¯m not back in twenty-five minutes!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the craziest gal I¡¯ve ever met in my life, Sonya,¡± Billy says in surprise.

    ¡°Damn right,¡± I say.

    ¡°Ugh!¡± Ruby cries out in frustration. ¡°I was wrong, k? There is no Olympian Sonya or Black Scorpion Sonya! There¡¯s only ¡°The Invincible¡± Sonya Grey, captain of Squad Zeus, the badass chick we all love, and what she did in the past doesn¡¯t define who she is now! You¡¯re Sonya Grey, our captain, and friend! Don¡¯t ever forget who you are,¡± Ruby says in tears with a quick hug. ¡°Promise me two things. One. Come back alive, ''cause we both know that neither Billy nor I are ready to be captains, and¡­ I¡¯ll die of heartbreak if I lose three of my friends in one day! Two. Kick Frisbee Man¡¯s ass for fucking up our hair!¡±

    So silly.

    ¡°I promise, Ruby,¡± I say.

    ¡°Here,¡± she says in a somber tone as she shoves some kind of plastic toy cat in my suit. ¡°I-I think it¡¯s¡­ good luck.¡±

    ¡°Tell Luke, I love him!¡± I say.

    Why did I say that?!

    ¡°We aren¡¯t your damn messengers of love, Sonya!¡± Ruby yells out in annoyance. ¡°Tell him yourself!¡±

    Lanze threw something in our area. A grenade?!

    ¡°Fuck outta here!¡± Ruby yells out as she throws the grenade back at Lanze.

    ¡°Billy, Ruby, run, and don¡¯t come back!¡± I order.

    Good luck, you two.

    The grenade is about to explode. I¡¯ll use the explosion as a chance to catch him off guard.

    ¡°About time, Sonya Grey!¡± Lanze finally says without a laugh after dodging my surprise attack. ¡°Careful! Those things are sharp!¡± He cries out as he continues to back up and avoid my strikes.

    You¡¯re surprisingly evasive, but all it takes is one fuck up!

    ¡°Keep¡­ talking! (I destroyed his pistol!) You¡¯re giving me the perfect target!¡±

    ¡°Little girl,¡± he says with a chuckle as I begin to pin him to the pillar. ¡°Do you know why I¡¯m called the ¡°Sin of Greed?¡± He asks with a grin as he takes off his eyepatch.

    No¡­ something¡¯s wrong. This is too easy!

    ¡°Now how in the¡­ fuck would I know that?¡± I ask.

    Lanze isn¡¯t sweating at all. I messed up somewhere. Something¡¯s coming! Brace yourself, Sonya!

    ¡°It¡¯s because I love to collect as many Halos as I can!¡± He reveals as a bright red beam of light appears from his blind eye.

    A laser?!

    ¡°Agh!¡± I yell.

    Right in the chest! Shit! The blast sent me flying! You¡¯re gonna hit the wall, Sonya!

    ¡°AGH!¡± I yell.

    That¡­ fucking¡­ hurts. Shit! My vest is on fire. Gotta take it off. Did you seriously just shoot me with an eye laser?

    ¡°Foolish little girl!¡± Lanze says in a serious tone as he takes off his dark cloak, followed by the wielding of a lance in his left hand. ¡°I am Lanze Kaiser, The Sin of Greed, of The Royal¡¯s Seven Deadly Sins! Who the fuck are you?!¡±

    I can¡¯t stop shaking! I¡¯ve never been this scared before! Damn it, Sonya Grey! Don¡¯t ever forget who you are! But¡­ who¡­ am I?

 Chapter 80: The Callous Sonya Grey

    6 Years Ago

    May 3, 2069

    0200 CDT

    El Coliseo, Scorpia/Mexico City

    <u>Sonya Grey''s Point of View </u>

    ¡°You lose, Eduardo,¡± I say to Eduardo.

    ¡°Oh¡­ I guess you¡¯re right,¡± Eduardo says with a heartwarming laugh.

    Laughing when you¡¯re pinned down to the ground with a knife against your throat?

    ¡°C¨¢llate (Shut up)! Why are you smiling? There is absolutely nothing to smile about in this world!¡±

    Eduardo Morales Perez, Hispanic, twelve years old, black mohawk, and a black mole along with a gaping hole in his left cheek.

    ¡°You¡¯re such a lousy liar, Sonya,¡± Eduardo says in a calm tone and a bright smile, as a single teardrop falls from his eye.

    I can¡¯t do this. This is wrong. I have to stop.

    ¡°Ahem. Sonya? The clock is ticking, and it only moves forward,¡± Father expresses in a disapproving tone.

    ¡°It¡¯s ok, Sonya,¡± Eduardo comforts as he holds my right hand. ¡°Take care, girasol (sunflower),¡± he says with a smile of joy.

    Kill him. No, spare him! You have to kill him. He¡¯s your boyfriend! Release him! Free him! One quick slice! Let go of the knife! Father is watching. He¡¯s not you! Become a Black Scorpion! You don¡¯t have to be a Black Scorpion! You¡¯re nothing without the Black Scorpions! You¡¯re free without the Black Scorpions! This should be Charlotte, not Eduardo. Run to Olympia with Charlotte! Olympians hate us. Reveal the truth to them. You¡¯re leaving Cici?! You¡¯ll come back for Cici. Cici is better off dead. Cici still has time to decide her future. You¡¯re a murderer! You¡¯re a killer! A psychopath. Why leave?! This kingdom is perfect for you. No other kingdom will accept you. You were born and raised here. This is all you are, and all you¡¯ll ever be. Kill Eduardo and cement yourself as a full-fledged Black Scorpion.

    ¡°Your voice is annoying, Eduardo,¡± I say as I prepare to cut his throat open.

    Good job, Sonya Grey.

    Eduardo, Charlotte, Nikki, and Tobias believe that you can be so much better, Sonya, so¡­ why don¡¯t you believe that for yourself? Isn¡¯t it obvious, Sonya? It¡¯s because there¡¯s no such thing as empathy in this world.

    *

    20 Minutes Later

    Inside the King of Scorpius¡¯s Throne Room

    *

    ¡°Finally! My favorite daughter is getting her Black Scorpion tattoos!¡± Father cries out in joy as the tattoo artist Estacia works on me.

    Fuck, this hurts! Sigh. Pain is temporary, death is permanent. Just¡­ keep repeating this to yourself.

    ¡°Sonya, angel,¡± Father says as one of his servants refills his empty jug of toxic liquid. ¡°I¡¯m so proud of you. You¡¯re becoming more and more like your king every day. Recount your number of direct human kills for me, please?¡± He asks in pride as he stumbles about like the drunken idiot he is.

    ¡°One. My mother, due to complications at birth. Two. A nonessential girl in El Coliseo at age four. Death by suffocation. Three. A nonessential boy in El Coliseo at age five. Death by drowning. Four. A traitorous Black Scorpion man at age six in El Coliseo. Death by brain trauma. 5. A rapist who snuck in and defiled a servant. This was a team kill, with the assistance of Charlotte. We were sent to his hideout to act as bait. After he grabbed us, I stuck a toothpick inside of his dickhole before he could shove it in my mouth at age eight. Charlotte finished the job by injecting him with a cesspool of lethal drugs. Death by being a sick fuck. Six. A servant who cheated on you with your best friend, at age ten. I captured and nailed her to a pillar in front of El Coliseo, and then personally kept her alive as long as possible until she soon died of starvation. Seven. A toddler whose family was tricked by Charlotte and me at age eleven. We manipulated them into stopping their car on the road by playing victim, allowing fellow Black Scorpions to run their pockets and kill them as they were deemed weak and unessential. The little boy suffered enough, so I decided to shoot him in the head, so you couldn¡¯t hurt him. Eight. Eduardo Perez. My ex-boyfriend whom you forced me to kill in battle, as your fucked-up lesson about love, just twenty minutes ago.¡±

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°You¡¯re twelve years old, so the attitude is understandable, although your sister was completely different. She barely spoke and chose her words very carefully,¡± Father explains as two of his whores cuddle upon him. ¡°But you, Sonya, are like me. You give no fucks, whatsoever, and that¡¯s why you are my favorite daughter. It¡¯s also why you have the harshest training of all the Black Scorpions.¡±

    ¡°I hate you.¡±

    ¡°Now that I don¡¯t understand,¡± Father replies in frustration. ¡°What exactly did I do wrong? All I¡¯ve ever done is prepare you for The New World. A parent must make sure their child is ready for life.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re supposed to provide unconditional love for me. Tobias said so.¡±

    ¡°Coddling you would¡¯ve been a waste of my nutsack. You killed your mom the moment you popped out of her vagina, so your destiny was already sealed. A killer upon birth, a natural Black Scorpion, and I¡¯m so fucking proud.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk about my mother!¡±

    ¡°Your mother was an amazing whore, whose tits were so fucking delicious that I forgot to pull out during my love explosion.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a fucking pig!¡±

    ¡°Sigh. As I¡¯ve explained before, I¡¯m more like the big bad wolf. I huff, I puff, and I fuck your shit up.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna kill you one day.¡±

    ¡°Sonya, I honestly thought that you were an accident, but it turns out that you have a purpose. Your calling is to kick ass and lead us to victory in our inevitable battle against Olympus. Veronica Shinka might be gone, but the Olympians are still alive and well. That deceitful bitch and her soldiers almost destroyed our kingdom, yet somehow we¡¯re the bad guys? And the uptight Royals believe that we¡¯re a bunch of dumb fucks and rank us as the worst kingdom in the world! What a load of fucking bullshit!¡± Andres vents in frustration.

    ¡°You¡¯re wrong about her! My mother was a brave woman who did what she had to do to survive! Nikki told me so!¡±

    ¡°Sonya, who do you like more? Tobias or Nikki?¡± Andres asks as Estacia finally fucking finishes my tattoos.

    ¡°Tobias is a better father than you¡¯ll ever be! He taught me that there¡¯s more to life than just sex, drugs, and murder! You know what? He is my father, and you¡¯re just a greedy, stupid, smelly, lazy piece of fucking shit who¡¯s going to die of idiocy any day now! The clock is ticking, Andres, and it only moves forward.¡±

    That should shut you the fuck up.

    ¡°Ouch. you¡¯re breaking your old man¡¯s heart,¡± Andres says in obvious fucking sarcasm as he places a hand on his heart. ¡°Now, I have no choice but to break yours, yet again. This is just tough love, Sonya. Somebody drag Tobias in here! I want someone to plunge cotton swabs into his ears as far as they can!¡±

    ¡°You better not!¡± I say.

    ¡°Let go of me, Estacia!¡± I yell.

    ¡°With loss comes strength, Sonya¡± Andres says in a calm tone as one of his women hands him his machete.

    ¡°Dad, stop! Please! I¡¯m sorry!¡±

    ¡°What the fuck, Andres?¡± Tobias asks as guards throw him against the floor.

    Tobias, Black, late thirties, bald, tan t-shirt, and blue jean shorts!

    ¡°I¡¯ve only tolerated your inappropriate relationship with my daughter because you¡¯re my right-hand man and advisor. You and Nikki are supposed to educate the gladiators about school shit, not teach them how to be decent human beings! What the fuck is wrong with you?!¡± Andres asks in anger.

    ¡°You¡¯re making a mistake, Andres,¡± Tobias pleads in distress. ¡°Think about what you¡¯re doing!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fixing a mistake, you two-face fuckface,¡± Andres responds in anger with a punch to Tobias¡¯s face.

    Stop¡­ hitting him¡­ please¡­

    ¡°STOP!!!¡± I scream as I elbow Estacia so she¡¯ll release me.

    I¡¯m sorry, Estacia!

    Time to use my Halos.

    I¡¯ll fucking kill them all with Alpha and Omega! Starting with Andres!

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna slice your fucking head off, you fucking monster!¡±

    ¡°Woah!¡± Andres cries out in horror.

    I leap towards him!

    And slice his fucking neck off!

    Damn it! Not enough strength to pierce into his brain. I¡¯m still too weak!

    ¡°My eye!!!¡± Andres screams as a gush of blood drops out of his eye socket. ¡°Discipline her, you idiots!¡±

    ¡°Try me! I¡¯ll kill all of you!¡±

    ¡°S-s-Sonya,¡± battered Tobias barely mutters. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be¡­ one of them. I-it¡¯s never too late to change¡­ who you are.¡±

    A gunshot from father?! He shot¡­

    Tobias?!

    ¡°Enough of your poisonous words, Tobias! The legacy of the Black Scorpions will live on forever!¡± Andres gloats with a menacing laugh.

    Not Tobias! I¡­ this isn¡¯t real! Is that a fist?

    ¡°Agh!¡± I yell.

    My nose!

    ¡°Stomp her out!¡± Andres commands. ¡°Sorry, Sonya. Loyalty above all, and such. And clean yourself up after your ass beating! You¡¯re a lady, and you need to learn common decency!¡±

    Eduardo and Tobias? This is unreal. Another beating¡­ I don¡¯t care anymore. I just wanna die. Shooting stars, love, and friendship are all fables. The only thing that¡¯s real is death. You¡¯re a killer, and far from innocent. You¡¯re the villain in everyone¡¯s story, not a hero. Olympians are brave heroes, and you¡¯ll never be an Olympian. Suicide is the only way to end your nightmares, but you¡¯re so much of a fucking coward that you can¡¯t even kill yourself. You¡¯re a vicious Black Scorpion, Sonya, and you deserve everything that¡¯s coming to you.

 Chapter 81: Make a Wish

    4 Hours Later

    May 3, 2069

    0600 CDT

    Underneath El Coliseo, Scorpia

    Sonya Grey''s Point of View

    Everything hurts.

    ¡°We leave tonight,¡± Charlotte quietly whispers as she finishes her cigarette and gazes outside our prison cell. Charlotte Renee De Sylvet, the best sniper in the kingdom. fifteen-years old, Afro-Latina, curly and long black hair, grey headband, tan tank top, and a black skirt.

    ¡°The Olympians will shoot us on sight,¡± I say. ¡°We¡¯ve been branded like animals, Charlotte.¡±

    ¡°An accurate assumption as always, Sonya, however staying here is unwise,¡± she explains as she walks towards our locked prison bars, lighting up another cigarette. ¡°I wish to be happy, and I cannot achieve that by staying here. I¡¯m willing to risk everything to achieve freedom, et toi (and you)?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be free after I slice Andres¡¯s fucking head off! He gave us assault rifles for the holidays, Charlotte! How can you not hate him?!¡±

    ¡°Andres is a monster; however, you do not have to be bound by revenge,¡± she explains as she leans against the prison bars and gazes outside our cell. ¡°We do not have to be tied by our past and can choose to live life; however, we wish. I don¡¯t want to be Charlotte Renee De Sylvet, le tireur d¡¯¨¦lite ¨¤ sang froid (the cold-blooded sniper), of Scorpius. I only wish to be Charlotte.¡±This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    ¡°My dead boyfriend, dead teacher, and bruised ribs brought me back to reality. Wishes don¡¯t come true, Charlotte. You¡¯re just as fucked up as me, and you can¡¯t run away from who you are. That¡¯s why we need to stay here and kill Andres!¡±

    ¡°Are you trying to convince yourself or me, Sonya?¡±

    ¡°Wh-what? I know what I¡¯m talking about.¡±

    ¡°There are healthier ways to express yourself, and you know that,¡± she explains as she makes her way towards her stupid flute. ¡°You have a beautiful singing voice, and I wish to hear it one more time while I still can.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t wanna fucking sing, Charlotte! We¡¯re Black Scorpions! Nobody gives a fuck about our talents! Look at our tattoos! This is how we let the world know that we¡¯re murderers who won¡¯t hesitate to kill anyone who gets in our fucking way!¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± she says with a dejected look on her face as she puts down her flute. ¡°A shame,¡± she continues as she makes her way back towards the bars. ¡°I love you, Sonya. You and Sierra mean the world to me.¡±

    ¡°Shut the fuck up. What are you gonna do if you get killed?¡±

    ¡°Eat,¡± she chuckles with an amused look in her eyes. ¡°But I would wish to be put down immediately. Violence saddens me,¡± she says as she flicks her cigarette outside.

    ¡°What if you die and don¡¯t come back?¡±

    ¡°I would be free, and then I¡¯ll be happy,¡± she explains as she lights up another cigarette. ¡°Although I wish to visit Paris and perform a concert with you before that happens.¡±

    ¡°What would you do if Andres killed Cici or me?¡±

    ¡°I would kill him.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a fucking hypocrite!¡±

    ¡°Perhaps, but I am only human. I come with many flaws and imperfections; however, these shortcomings are the source of my creation, and I am comfortable with knowing who I am. I don¡¯t know if there is any purpose to our lives, but I wish to live it as best I can, before my imminent extinction.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d stop smoking those if that was true. They¡¯re bad for you, Charlotte.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± she contemplates with a deep exhale. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re right,¡± she accepts as she tosses her last cigarette outside.

    ¡°Girls,¡± Nikki whispers as she appears by the cell. ¡°It¡¯s time,¡± she reveals with a mixture of sadness and determination on her face.

 Chapter 82: The Invincible Sonya Grey

    1 Hour Later

    May 3, 2069

    0700 CDT

    Outskirts of Scorpia, Mexico

    <u>Sonya Grey''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Not good!¡± Nikki panics as we finally secure a vehicle.

    Nikki, the best teacher in the world. Mid-thirties, Black, two beautiful and long black braids, and is wearing a black and red cloak just like us.

    ¡°Girls! I-I¡¯ll distract them!¡± Nikki decides as I hop in the front passenger seat of the military car.

    Hurry your ass, Charlotte! Start the car!

    ¡°What about Cici?!¡± I ask.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of her,¡± Nikki replies with a smile. ¡°I promise that nothing bad will happen to Cici as long as I¡¯m here,¡± she continues as she hands Charlotte and me our Halos.  ¡°Humans are meant to be free, and I¡¯ll be praying that you two complete your mission and find happiness in Olympia. You two girls are¡­ angels. Angels who were forced to do bad things to survive, and don¡¯t ever let anybody tell you different! I know evil, and I know you two better than anyone else in the world! Neither of you has the slightest bit of evil inside your soul, and something tells me that Sonya Grey and Charlotte Renee De Sylvet are the greatest things that will ever happen to this kingdom,¡± she explains as Charlotte finally starts the car.

    ¡°Good¡­ goodbye Nikki. Take care,¡± I say.

    Don¡¯t cry. There¡¯s nothing to cry about in this world.

    ¡°Au revoir (Goodbye), Nikki,¡± Charlotte says as she puts on sunglasses.

    ¡°Make sure you wear your seatbelts!¡± Nikki yells out, and waves as the car zooms forward.

    *

    12 Hours Later

    May 3, 2069

    In a Ruined Alleyway in Allende, Coahuila, Mexico

    1900 CDT

    *

    ¡°They¡¯re still on our tail, Charlotte!¡±

    ¡°Men can be quite persistent,¡± she responds in a calm tone as she hides the car in an alleyway.

    ¡°We can kill them! All of them! It¡¯ll be easy!¡±

    ¡°Sonya, the only reason that we haven¡¯t been killed yet is because we are the King of Scorpius¡¯s daughters,¡± she explains as she turns the car off. ¡°Toutefois (however), we can use that to our advantage.¡±

    What the fuck?!

    ¡°Have you lost your damn mind? Get that fucking gun out my face, Charlotte!¡±

    ¡°Sonya, I have long realized that I have obtained our father¡¯s negative trait of ruthlessness. I will kill anybody to survive,¡± she reveals with a cold glare in her eyes.

    ¡°Backstabber!¡±

    ¡°In toto the opposite. Your rage is blinding you from the fact that our paths are about to divert from one another,¡± she explains as she takes off her sunglasses.

    ¡°What the fuck are you saying?¡±

    ¡°C¡¯est un aurevoir (This is goodbye), little sister,¡± she says as a stream of tears falls down her cheeks.

    What? Ch-Charlotte you¡­ never cry! Because you¡¯re invincible. Nothing can hurt you!The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t understand,¡± I say. ¡°Everyone is leaving me. Soon I¡¯ll have¡­ nobody¡­¡±

    ¡°C¡¯est la vie (That¡¯s life), Sonya. The King of Scorpius is the most stubborn man on the planet, and you have inherited said stubbornness. I cannot harm someone I love, but I will not let an opportunity for freedom pass by,¡± she explains as she continues to point the gun at my head.

    ¡°So you¡¯re gonna shoot me in the face?¡±

    ¡°Mind your temper, Sonya¡±

    ¡°Whatever, Charlotte. Just pull the trigger. Murder is our specialty, remember?¡±

    ¡°Sigh. Look at the friendship bracelet on our wrist,¡± she says as she puts the gun down. ¡°Sierra made them for us because she thinks we¡¯re superheroines. Lies ruin lives; therefore, I wish to liberate our friends in El Coliseo with the help of the powerful Olympian army. Nobody should ever have to grow up and do what we did, especially Sierra. This wish is one of the reasons I want to escape, but life is an undefeated opponent. As your older sister, it is my responsibility to watch over you.¡±

    ¡°You could just shoot me.¡±

    ¡°I could,¡± she says with a chuckle. ¡°But the day I kill someone I love is the day I become a walking corpse. Nevertheless, here is your ultimatum, Sonya Grey!¡±

    What?!

    Damn! She slammed my head against the window and had a knife against my throat. I should¡¯ve been prepared! You¡¯re still so fucking weak, Sonya!

    ¡°Life is funny, huh, Charlotte?¡±

    ¡°Une tragicom¨¦die paradoxale (A paradoxical tragicomedy),¡± she says as she slowly moves the knife against my throat. ¡°Either you let me distract them while you escape to Del Rio, or I end your life right now, and I¡¯ll soon join you in the afterlife.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a fucking-.¡±

    ¡°You talk too much¡­¡±

    You¡¯re serious!

    ¡°Ok, ok! You win, Charlotte!¡±

    ¡°Please forgive me,¡± she quickly apologizes as she drops the knife, followed by a hug.

    ¡°I love you, Charlotte. Tell Cici I love her. I¡¯ll¡­ make you two proud,¡± I say as I hug her.

    ¡°Do not live for me, Sonya. My wish is mine alone, and not a burden for you to carry. I only ask you to be happy and never forget about us. You are not bound by your past, and you deserve to live a life of freedom. After all, it is a right that all human beings deserve,¡± she says with a bright smile as she starts the car.

    Gotcha.

    ¡°Looking for these?¡± I ask as I shake her cigarette box.

    ¡°You¡¯re a crafty cat,¡± she says with a head shake.

    Knowing you, these will kill you before anything else does, Charlotte.

    ¡°Old habits die hard. Adios (Goodbye), Charlotte. Take care of yourself.¡±

    ¡°Adieu (farewell), Sonya,¡± Charlotte says as she puts her sunglasses back on.

    *

    36 Hours Later

    May 5, 2075

    0700 CDT

    Del Rio, Texas

    *

    So¡­ hot. Sand, cacti, dry air, and blazing heat. You¡¯re about to run out of water, Sonya. No! Stay awake! Fight! You¡¯re almost there. Oh, but wouldn¡¯t it be funny if you did all this work just to die? And what perfect timing! Ha-ha! A Scorpio is coming at you, 1.6 kilometers ahead! It¡¯s approaching at full speed. Hilarious!

    Time to take out my Halos!

    ¡°This is it! This is finally it! My suffering will end soon. Will it be from dehydration, starvation, heat stroke, poison, a bite, or all the above?! This is so exciting! I can¡¯t wait to die!¡±

    *

    10 Minutes Later

    *

    Mmm. Sand is so tasty. Just keep eating it, Sonya! Who cares if it kills you? You deserve to die anyway. Everyone you care about is dead and never coming back. There¡¯s nothing out here except more death. Olympus doesn¡¯t even exist. The only thing that¡¯s real is death. Everything dies! You¡¯re gonna die, so why bother living? All you do is kill and consume. You¡¯re no different from the zombies. Alpha and Omega are pretty sharp, and your neck is soft. You can do it if you really try. It¡¯ll be as easy as killing Eduardo.

    ¡°Hello?¡± A boy¡¯s voice says from above me.

    Tackle him!

    ¡°Ah, holy shit!¡± The enemy screams in fear from under me.

    ¡°This for your own good, little boy!¡± I yell.

    ¡°My, my,¡± a woman¡¯s voice says in a calm tone as a gun barrel touches my temple. ¡°You¡¯re quite a feisty one. You¡¯d do best to drop the Halos immediately, and slowly put your hands in the air.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re obviously not Black Scorpions,¡± I say as I drop my Halos and slowly raise my hands.

    ¡°No, but I can see that you are, given your fresh tattoos. Or were. Has the kingdom fallen due to their own stupidity, yet?¡± The woman asks in a curious tone.

    ¡°Veronica, don¡¯t!¡± The boy pleads. ¡°Look at her! She¡¯s breaking down!¡± He continues as he hands me a¡­water bottle.

    ¡°Thank you! Thank you so very much!¡± I say.

    Let it out, Sonya. Let it all out. ¡­

    ¡°My my. We¡¯ve just passed a dead Scorpio, with its carcass removed. Your handy work, I presume?¡± Veronica inquires.

    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± I answer.

    ¡°You are quite interesting, little girl. My nephew, Luke Miller here, and I are recruiters for the kingdom Olympus. I would like for you to join us as soon as you tell us who you are and how you ended up here,¡± Veronica says.

    ¡°My¡­ my name is Sonya Grey. I am a former Black Scorpion. I¡¯ve killed a total of 2095 zombies and eight humans to date. I am a natural-born killer, having killed before I could even read, walk, or write. My mother was my first victim. My father is¡­ Andres Alarico Caesar, The King of Scorpius. I have one older half-sister and one younger half-sister. I¡¯ve escaped hell, for the slim chance at finding freedom and happiness in a new kingdom. You two do not owe me anything, and I believe that I deserve to rot, and yet I selfishly ask that you escort me to Olympia.¡±

    ¡°Interesting,¡± Veronica says in an analytical tone as she holsters her gun and offers her hand. ¡°Upon hearing your story, one would think that you¡¯re quite invincible, Ms. Sonya, Grey.¡±

    ¡°Nice to meet you, Sonya Grey,¡± Luke Miller greets with a warm smile.

 Chapter 83: Sonya Grey vs Lanze Kaiser

    6 Years Later

    Present Day

    July 20, 2075

    1553 JST

    The Orange Pillar Room, Beneath Rion

    Sonya Grey''s Point of View

    ¡°Hahahahaha!¡± I laugh.

    ¡°What is so funny, child?¡± Lanze asks in a serious tone.

    ¡°Do you know how many legs are on a scorpion, Lanze?¡±

    ¡°Enlighten me, little girl,¡± he replies in a curious tone as I slowly get back on my feet.

    ¡°Eight. Scorpions have eight legs. To become a Black Scorpion, you must kill a total of eight people, as part of the initiation.¡±

    ¡°How scary,¡± Lanze snickers in sarcasm.

    ¡°Trinity Grey, Jos¨¦ Garcia Hern¨¢ndez, Camila G¨®mez S¨¢nchez, Samuel Diaz Ortiz, an unnamed adult male, Lucia Sanz Castro, Diego Cortez Guerrero, Eduardo Medina Vargas, Dwayne Murphy, Jake West, and six unnamed Hephaestian mercenaries. These are the people I¡¯ve killed in my eighteen years of life. I don¡¯t know if there¡¯s an afterlife or not, but I do know that you¡¯re about to find out.¡±

    You¡¯re six meters to my twelve, but I can use the ruins for cover to narrow the gap between us. But still, you¡¯re such a powerful opponent. That damn Lance of yours protects you at close range, and I don¡¯t know the maximum range of his eyeball laser or frisbee of death yet, but the only way I can kill him is if I take considerable risks to get in close. That fucking laser incinerated my body armor; therefore, I can¡¯t afford to take another shot to the chest. Sigh. Calm down.

    ¡°Big talk from such a short girl! The Rionans were brave warriors just like you; however, the fools met their extinction when they decided to take arms against the Royals! Silly girl! Your enemy is the entire world! You cannot win! I guarantee that you¡¯ll be pushing up daisies in less than five minutes!¡± He yells out with a laugh, as he prepares to resume his attack. ¡°I vill now take your Halos, along with your life, Sonya Grey!¡±

    You¡¯re going for the eye laser again.

    Move! Get behind cover!

    That was close!

    ¡°That vas close, little girl!¡± Lanze snickers. ¡°But, you are only delaying the inevitable!¡±

    Cocky bastard! You¡¯re out in the open!

    ¡°You better start saying your prayers, Lanze.¡±

    Aim and light him up, Sonya!

    ¡°How pitiful!¡± He yells out as he quickly ducks behind cover. ¡°Your greatest enemy is yourself! How can you expect to defeat me, if you cannot even defeat yourself?!¡± He asks as his Halo Kopflos begins to zoom around the room, its path diverting directly towards me. ¡°Behold the might of The Sin of Greed!¡±

    If I stand up, I¡¯ll get shot, but if I stay here, then I¡¯ll be decapitated! Shit! I have to¡­

    Use my Lighting Bolt¡¯s hook to escape. I¡¯ll land right on top of his arrogant ass head!

    ¡°Unm?glich!¡± He startles out in German as he hastily prepares to defend himself.

    ¡°I¡¯m not impressed, Lanze.¡±

    A clash of Halos, Swords, and Lance, but based on the previous close-range encounter, I should have the upper hand now!

    ¡°Careful,¡± I say as we continue to attack each other. ¡°That Lanze is pretty sharp.¡±

    ¡°Tch. You¡¯re very creative, Black Scorpion,¡± he nervously says as we continue to clash with each other¡¯s Halos, both of us attempting to break through the other¡¯s defense.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    ¡°Why¡¯d you get rid of the smile, mercenary? It was¡­ the¡­ perfect target for me!¡±

    Got you.

    An upward slash, starting from his chin to the forehead, but is it enough?!

    ¡°Foolish woman! Have you forgotten already?!¡± He yells as he takes a quick backstep. ¡°I am Lanze Kaiser! The Sin of Greed! I own the most powerful Halo in all of Japan!¡±

    Oh shit.

    Fuck! You knocked my sword out of my left hand with that damn hat!

    ¡°Resistance is futile, Sonya!¡± Lanze cackles as he prepares to shoot another laser.

    Shit! I¡¯m out in the open. No time to dodge! I¡­ I hope this works.

    Here comes the laser!

    ¡°Impossible!!!¡± Lanze yells out in disbelief.

    I¡­ was correct. I knew that you would aim at my heart for a swift execution; therefore, I made the right choice to¡­ defend that area with my sword so I could deflect the blast. But I know he¡¯s not done yet.

    ¡°¡­is what I would say if I wasn¡¯t the prestigious Sin of Greed,¡± he continues as he holds his right palm forward.

    Recalling the frisbee, just as I predicted.

    ¡°For all those Halos in your possession, you¡¯re quite a one-trick-pony, Lanze!¡±

    An easy side-step to avoid it. I didn¡¯t even have to look. Now to rush in and finish this!

    ¡°You are eleven years too early to be challenging me, little girl,¡± Lanze says in a serious tone as he prepares to throw his hat again.

    No¡­ something¡¯s wrong. You¡¯re smarter than this, Sonya. He¡¯s baiting you.

    ¡°Now die!¡± We both yell out in unison as we launch our final attacks.

    ¡°Ladies first,¡± Lanze snickers as his lance begins to extend forward.

    An obvious prediction! All I have to do is avoid it, and the hat and I win!

    ¡°You¡¯re so dense, Lanze. You should¡¯ve figured out that I am leagues above you.¡±

    A quick leap to gain the height advantage, so I can deliver the final strike!

    ¡°Do not underestimate me!¡± he responds as his body suddenly propels backward.

    Rocket-boots?! You gotta be fucking kidding me!

    ¡°Game over, Sonya Grey!¡± He yells.

    You¡¯re gonna reshoot the laser, and I have no fucking clue as to where you¡¯ll aim this time!

    ¡°Hold on to this for me, Lanze Kaiser!¡± I yell.

    Throw the sword at him, Sonya.

    ¡°AGH!¡± We both scream, followed by an explosion from his laser.

    A¡­ a trade. No¡­ no way. He¡­ Ruby¡¯s toy cat saved my heart. Lanze¡­ Lanze should be dead. Alpha went right into his bad eye. He has to be dead!

    ¡°Sonya Grey!¡± Lanze Yells out from directly above, his entire body engulfed in flames.

    What the fuck?

    ¡°You are the second strongest opponent that I have ever faced in my entire life!¡± He yells out as he dives at me at high speed, headfirst. ¡°Ve are warriors bound by combat! Ve live to fight, and fight to live! The devil has a special place in hell for people like us, but as The Sin of Greed, I must send you to meet him before I do. This fight vill be my last fight on Earth as a Hephaestian, and as a Deadly Sin!¡± He explains as he wields his lanze for the grand finale.

    Nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. This is it, Sonya! Equip your Halos and end this!

    ¡°The Black Scorpions and the Olympians didn¡¯t raise a coward, so give it your best shot, Lanze!¡± I yell.

    What?! The sharp end of his Lanze opened up?! Wait a second¡­

    ¡°Vielen¡­ Dank,¡± Lanze mutters as he closes in, preparing to fire a laser from his Lance.

    ¡°You lose!¡± Lanze falsely presumes, amidst the explosion.

    ¡°Careful now, Lanze,¡± I say as I float above him.

    Sneaky bastard, you almost got me. The laser on the lance nearly killed me, but I managed to avoid the blast by using my Lightning Bolt to get above you. Sigh. You¡¯re right, Teresa. Death does sneak up on you.

    ¡°Don¡¯t lose your head,¡± I say as I prepare to decapitate him as we fall through the air.

    *

    20 Minutes Later

    The Tunnels of Death, Beneath Rion

    <u>Angela Blackwood¡¯s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Heh heh. I¡¯m dying from excitement to see the work Lanze has done today, Li! He and his soldiers have yet to give me a sitrep, and I can¡¯t handle the suspense anymore. Oh, the foolish man must be trying to win me back with a surprise gift,¡± I say to Li.

    ¡°He is an excellent soldier, Commander,¡± Li supports as we cautiously navigate through the disgusting sewers.

    ¡°I¡¯m not biased if that¡¯s what you¡¯re thinking! I merely admire his work ethic, proficient features, and elongated h-¡±

    ¡°Ok, commander,¡± Li replies in her usual supportive tone.

    Halo. Scoff. I can feel that eye-roll, young lady. Gasp. Inconceivable! My eyes must be lying and that¡¯s¡­

    ¡°Impossible! L-Lanze?!¡± I yell.

    ¡°The Hephaestian mercenaries and the Sin of Greed have been killed in action defending Mother Gaia,¡± Abbas says.

    ¡°No fucking shit! Motherfuck! How¡­ how could they lose?! This is¡­ fuck! Damn it! Damn it! Those fucking peasants keep killing my friends! They¡¯ll send her at this rate, and I absolutely loathe her! This was supposed to be a simple assassination mission, and somehow we are losing more soldiers than them! Sonya Grey! That fucking girl is so smart!¡±

    ¡°Ahem. Commander, we are awaiting your orders,¡± Li reminds me.

    Right. Cool your jets.

    ¡°Apologies for my emotional outburst, Death Angels. Lanze was a stubborn, overconfident, and reckless fool. Nevertheless, he was a great ally to Mother Gaia, and we shall all attend his funeral once this is all over. His death is the handiwork of The Invincible Sonya Grey, who is long gone by now, along with Ruby Redheart and Billy Cooper. My informant has alerted me of their concluding destination, where they shall reunite with Hercules and Rachel Cooper. Their options are limited; therefore, it¡¯s safe to assume that the Mighty Squad Zeus and Veronica Shinka are currently residing within Inpu. With both targets in the same location, I shall be able to kill two birds with one stone. Heh heh. I suppose every dog has its day. In any case, this has been a lengthy operation, but fear not, for I promise that the conclusion to this story shall end soon. Yes. This game of cat and mouse shall wrap up in¡­ The Deadliest Kingdom.

    *

    End of Act 6: The Seven Deadly Sins

 Act 7: The Deadliest Kingdom. Chapter 84: Inpus Guardians

    4 Days Earlier

    July 16, 2075

    1800 JST

    Above the Skies of Inpu, Located Near Osaka, Japan

    Rachel Cooper''s Point of View

    ¡°So here¡¯s the good news; we¡¯ve reached our destination!¡± Ethan happily notifies us in haste on the plane¡¯s P.A. system.

    ¡°Spectacular, Ethan!¡± I say.

    ¡°Bad news; the Royals have launched several heat-seeking missiles at us!¡± Ethan reveals.

    ¡°That¡¯s not spectacular at all!¡± I say.

    ¡°I probably should¡¯ve asked but have any of you ever jumped out of a plane before?!¡± Ethan calmly asks.

    ¡°No!¡± We all yell in unison.

    ¡°Fair enough, but have any of you ever been on a plane before?¡± Ethan asks again.

    ¡°NO!¡± We all yell again.

    ¡°There¡¯s always a first time for everything, huh?¡± Ethan responds with a chuckle. ¡°Oxygen is your best friend, so if you wanna continue your relationship with O2, you better get to jumping out of the plane!¡±

    ¡°A.S.A.P?!¡± We all ask.

    ¡°As soon as possible, friends! See you around, everybody!¡± Ethan says.

    ¡°This is so confusin¡¯!¡± I say as I struggle.

    ¡°I appreciate you, Rachel. You too, Aayushi,¡± Luke says as he helps me with my parachute.

    ¡°I¡¯m the squad¡¯s sniper, so of course, I¡¯ll always be there to support you, buddy!¡± I say to Luke.

    Rachel, how could you kiss your best friend, you idiot?!

    ¡°No thanks needed, Luke. I¡¯m your doctor, so it¡¯s only natural that I assist you,¡± Aayushi explains.

    ¡°Guys! I¡¯m acrophobic!¡± I yell.

    ¡°Since when?!¡± They ask in unison, with a look of worry on their faces.

    ¡°Since now! But momma didn¡¯t raise a chicken, so I¡¯m gonna show you two chumps how it¡¯s done! It¡¯s time to hit the silk!¡±

    No guts, no glory, Rachel. Jump!

    *

    Six Minutes Later

    Inpu, Japan

    *

    Ow! My head. Yep. T-that¡¯s definitely a concussion. This is what you get for bein¡¯ such a klutz, Rachel. Ok, let¡¯s see what¡¯s lurkin¡¯ round here. Hmm. This place is very similar to the undead forest. Quite spectacular, if I must say so myself. Ok! Time to get your bearins¡¯. You¡¯re on ground level, and there¡¯s no uglies or mean people around, but there¡¯s also no Luke or Aayushi! Oh no! I¡­ I can¡¯t be alone! I can¡¯t take it. Ow, calm down, Rachel. Ya need to find Aayushi A.S.A.P. And¡­ wait a second. The ground feels weird. It feels like¡­ a net?!

    Gasp! A trap!

    ¡°AHHHHH!¡± I scream.

    ¡°Easy,¡± a woman¡¯s voice says into a p.a. system. ¡°Too easy. You¡¯re not alone. Where¡¯s your friends?¡±

    The trap has me hanging¡­ upside down and it¡¯s making me dizzy.

    ¡°Help, I¡¯m sorry!¡± I yell at the woman.

    ¡°Humans don¡¯t just fall out of the sky, girl. Your uniform is a military wetsuit, which means you¡¯re from Athens; however, navies tend to reside in the ocean and not the air. The Royals, Olympians, Prometheans, and Hephaestians are also influenced by the fallen militaries of The Old World, so¡­ which one are you? And don¡¯t lie because it¡¯s not nice.¡±Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    She¡¯s so knowledgeable.

    ¡°An Olympian! My name is Rachel Cooper of the mighty Squad Zeus! My heart and soul reside with Olympus, so pleeeeeease don¡¯t kill me!¡±

    ¡°Squad Zeus? No way!¡± The woman says as the net rapidly descends.

    This is gonna hurt!

    ¡°Ah!¡± I yell.

    Phew. Too close.

    ¡°A few more centimeters and my head would¡¯ve gone splat,¡± I say. ¡°Thank you for not killing me!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me yet, Olympian,¡± she says as she drops down from above.

    She¡¯s gorgeous! She appears to be my age, Black, beautiful long and wavy dreadlocks, cool camouflage green goggles on her forehead, a holstered machete on the right side of her hip, a quiver full of fancy sharp-looking arrows on the left side of her hip, wearin¡¯ spectacular looking black gloves on her hands, a pretty camouflage green tank top and black short-shorts, a camouflage green cloak, small pouches equipped across her belt and torso, and she has numerous amounts of dazzlin¡¯ tattoos on her arms and legs.

    ¡°Darn it. You don¡¯t look so tough,¡± she says in an irritated tone.

    ¡°I need medical attention!¡± I inform.

    ¡°And I need a challenge, Rachel Cooper! Provide one for me, and I¡¯ll take you to a doctor!¡± She replies in an angry tone as she grabs a twig.

    ¡°What are you gonna do with that stick?!¡±

    Everything is¡­ becoming blurry¡­

    ¡°Experimenting. Humans tend to do extraordinary things in desperation,¡± she says in an ominous tone and a fierce smile. ¡°My name is Nala Talibah. Nice to meet you,¡± Nala says as she gets closer.

    ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you t- hahahahahaha! Why¡­ why are you tickling me?! Please stop!¡±

    ¡°The disease poisons your immune system. I know I¡¯m weird, but your laughter would¡¯ve sounded completely different if you were an Angel,¡± she says as she ceases the tickling. ¡°Watch your head, Rachel Cooper,¡± she continues as she unties the net.

    ¡°Thank you, Nala! I thought that I was about to die! This is stressful. I need bubblegum.¡±

    ¡°Bubble¡­ gum?¡± She asks with a raised eyebrow as she inspects my head.

    ¡°WHAT?!¡±

    ¡°You never answered my previous question,¡± Nala reminds in a stern tone.

    ¡°Rachel!¡± Luke yells out as she rushes into action.

    ¡°Wait, Luke!¡± I yell out to him.

    Wh¡­ what? What¡¯s wrong with Luke? He would¡¯ve killed Nala, had she not gotten out of the way in time. Oh no. Don¡¯t tell me they¡¯re about to¡­

    ¡°Finally, some action!¡± Nala exclaims in excitement as she puts on her goggles and pulls out a small cylinder-like device from one of her pouches.

    ¡°Leave her alone!¡± Luke fires back as he rips his mutated arm-sword out of the tree bark.

    ¡°What in the world?¡± Nala asks in confusion as she presses a button on her doohickey, turning it into a stupendous-looking silver bow. ¡°You move just like a Behemoth,¡± Nala says in a serious tone as she shoots an arrow at Luke.

    ¡°Stop it, guys!¡± I plead.

    ¡°I¡¯m not a Behemoth,¡± Luke says as he slices through the arrow. ¡°And I¡¯m not human either,¡± Luke continues as he takes a powerful dash towards Nala.

    ¡°So fast!¡± Nala yells in a calm tone as she drops the bow and pulls out another silver mechanism.

    Gasp! Nala is full of surprises. She¡­ she blocked Luke¡¯s blade attack with a shiny-lookin¡¯ metallic silver spear.

    ¡°This is exciting!¡± Nala blurts out in laughter as Luke begins to overpower and pin her to the ground.

    Is he¡­ really going to kill her?!

    ¡°You¡­. interest me¡­zombie boy,¡± Nala struggles to say as she smiles. ¡°Which is why I¡¯ll hold back,¡± she continues as her spear begins to hum and illuminate in a light blue color.

    No way!

    ¡°A Halo?!¡± Luke and I yell out in unison.

    Wow! A brutal kick to the groin by Nala!

    ¡°Here lies zombie boy,¡± Nala says in a serious tone as she points the head of the spear at Luke. ¡°Gone, but not forgotten.¡±

    What in the world?! She¡­ she sent Luke back flying into a tree?! But how? I would¡¯ve seen whatever she did.

    ¡°Are you a sorceress, Nala?!¡± I ask.

    ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as magic, Rachel Cooper,¡± Nala laughs as she takes off her goggles. ¡°The Old World may have collapsed, but everything still runs on technology,¡± she explains in pride. ¡°Sigh. If Angels didn¡¯t rule the world, then robots would¡¯ve enslaved us all eventually,¡± she says in a disappointing tone as she sits down on the ground, turning her attention to Luke. ¡°Zombie boy! This victory has continued my flawless reign of being the uncontested, undefeated, undisputed, and undeniable world champion of the world! Now, I can close the curtains in an honorable or dishonorable way, but as the creator, producer, director, writer, costume designer, and starring actress, I shall allow you to pick the role in your grand finale.¡±

    My head hurts¡­

    ¡°Elaborate,¡± Luke says as he struggles to sit up.

    ¡°Scenario raqm wahd. Let¡¯s call this the bad ending,¡± Nala begins to explain as she quickly scribbles down something into her notepad. ¡°I take Rachel Cooper and your other friend who¡¯s hiding in the bushes prisoner. Safiya, my little drone companion who¡¯s quietly hovering above you, kills you dead,¡± she explains in a stern tone. ¡°Or should I say¡­ deader. Wait, is that a word?¡± She asks as she scratches her head.

    What in the world is goin¡¯ on?

    ¡°Scenario number two,¡± Nala says. ¡°You cease hostilities, we get Rachel to a doctor, and I give you a grand tour of¡­ The Deadliest Kingdom. Nina, Safiya, and I are the guardians of the Alnitak tribe, so you three have a great hostess at your service.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Luke apologizes as he reverts to normal. ¡°We¡¯re just looking for Doctor Veronica Shinka.¡±

    ¡°Gasp! Veronica Shinka?! That woman is a conniving, manipulative, sorceress!¡± Nala says in disbelief.

    ¡°She¡¯s my guardian, Nala,¡± Luke calmly explains.

    ¡°Wow, what¡¯s your point?¡± Nala laughs as she doodles into her notepad.

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk bad about her!¡± Luke yells in anger.

    ¡°One. Gossip and facts are two different things. Two. You¡¯re very bossy for someone who just got their ass kicked. Three. You¡¯re extremely handsome, and I don¡¯t see a ring, so keep enticing me, and I might be tempted into giving you a private tour of my pied-¨¤-terre,¡± Nala chuckles as she puts her goggles back on.

    ¡°What exactly does¡­ Nina do?¡± Luke inquires.

    I think I can see the light¡­

    ¡°Close your mouths, my habitu¨¦s! It¡¯s about to get real gross up in here!¡± Nala announces as a Behemoth suddenly appears from above and lunges at her. ¡°Presenting¡­¡± she says as she dodges the attack and sticks Nina into the Behemoth¡¯s stomach. ¡°the strongest Halo in the world!¡± She boasts as the Behemoth explodes into a kajillion pieces. ¡°Come one, come all! Nina can make all of the angels fall!¡± She celebrates with a bow to an imaginary audience.

 Chapter 85: Revelations

    20 Minutes Later

    July 16, 2075

    1830 JST

    <u>Luke Miller''s Point of View</u>

    You are a sorceress.

    ¡°Were you holding back versus me?!¡± I ask Nala.

    ¡°A lady is entitled to her secrets,¡± she replies with a chuckle and a wink as she guides us to her village. ¡°I¡¯ve earned a Ph.D. in ass-kicking, and I also consider myself to be quite an interesting, inquisitive, intellectual. I¡¯ve asked my other personalities, and they¡¯ve agreed. However, they also suspect that our lives are bound by strange, written, predetermined fates, and that everything we say, think, and do is out of our control. According to them, we¡¯re just playing horrific roles of a story, but hey, I don¡¯t listen to them anymore because they¡¯re cray-cray,¡± she says as she inspects Nina.

    ¡°Can you explain to me what Nina does?¡± I ask.

    ¡°She kicks ass,¡± Nala badly explains.

    ¡°But how?! I-I don¡¯t know how I lost,¡± I say.

    ¡°You¡¯re fun to tease,¡± Nala laughs with a devious look in her eyes.

    ¡°Oooh,¡± Rachel blurts out in a childish tone as Aayushi, and I gently carry her. ¡°Sonya won¡¯t approve of this, Luke.¡±

    ¡°Sonya Grey?! Black Scorpion, Sonya Grey? The Invincible Sonya Grey?!¡± Nala exclaims with a look of excitement in her eyes.

    ¡°How do you know so much about everything?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Because I¡¯m me, and I¡¯m amazing, as Ruby Redheart would say. I gotta get her autograph. Also¡­ I¡¯m in possession of a Hephaestian communicator,¡± Nala says in confidence as she shows off her communicator. ¡°Sadly, I can only listen to some of their conversations, and can¡¯t communicate back,¡± she says in a somber tone.

    ¡°How did you get a communicator from them?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Sigh. I¡¯d love to tell you, but something tells me that we¡¯re limited on film,¡± Nala pouts. ¡°Don¡¯t be too disappointed, though, because I¡¯ll tell you all about it on our second date,¡± she says with a sly smirk.

    ¡°Huh?¡± I say.

    ¡°Shame, Luke,¡± Rachel and Aayushi say in synchronized disapproval.

    ¡°It¡¯s not like that! She¡¯s-,¡± I say.

    ¡°Just a friend,¡± Rachel and Aayushi finished with a harmonized eye-roll. ¡°That¡¯s how most relationships start.¡±

    ¡°Ok, I¡¯m done tormenting you,¡± Nala snickers. ¡°Excuse me for being such a suspenseful flirt, but it¡¯s only logical, given my lonely life of solitary. Inpu is a wonderful kingdom with many problems and few solutions,¡± she says with a somber look in her eyes. ¡°This kingdom is very small in terms of size and population. Humans tend to fear the unknown, which is why we¡¯re the ¡°Deadliest Kingdom.¡± If Olympus¡¯s form of protection is The Styx River, then Inpu¡¯s natural form of defense is ¡°The Wall of Angels.¡±

    ¡°The Wall of Angels?¡± The three of us ask in unison.

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to know. Also, if Veronica Shinka and the Deathbringers are Olympus¡¯s not-so-secret super-weapons, then Galvatrost is Inpu¡¯s equivalent of a hell-raiser,¡± Nala badly explains.

    ¡°You¡¯re very vague,¡± I say.

    ¡°Anyhoo, that¡¯s all I can reveal for now, and what a coincidence! We¡¯re here,¡± Nala informs as we enter the village. ¡°Welcome to Alnitak!¡±

    Nala was right. This is a very small kingdom. Down below is a valley that¡¯s filled with colorful structures and several Inpuians. A massive dome, made of what appears to be numerous amounts of metal chains, encases Alnitak from the end of the forest, to far beyond the horizon!

    ¡°What the hell is that?¡± Rachel asks in a delirious tone as she points at the stargazing phenomenon.

    ¡°Oh, I almost forgot about him,¡± Nala acknowledges as she continues to escort us down the dirt road that leads to a heavily guarded six-meter-high stone wall. ¡°That¡¯s Zeta Orionis. He¡¯s pretty cool.¡±

    ¡°Nala!¡± A young male guard exclaims as he approaches us with a look of tense hatred in his eyes. ¡°What in the world are you doing here with that forbidden technology, and with outsiders?!¡±

    ¡°They fell from the heavens, brother! The leaders were correct! Shit is about to go down!¡± Nala explains in haste. ¡°They are members of The Mighty Squad Zeus! The ones I tried to inform you and Father abo¡­¡±

    ¡°Enough! Outsiders and technology are forbidden!¡± Her brother fires back in anger. ¡°You are naive, overconfident, and weak to deception, Nala! Your youth brings recklessness, which is why I expect you to repeat your mistakes until you grow up!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t yell at her!¡± I say.

    ¡°Silence, foreigner! Anyone who¡¯s not an Inpuian is an enemy to me,¡± Her brother says.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know who shit in your cereal, but you shouldn¡¯t talk to your family like that!¡± I say.

    ¡°You are both brave and stupid!¡± He says as he drags Nala away and gives a signal. ¡°Kill them,¡± he orders his archers.

    ¡°Stop, Abasi! The boy is¡­¡± Nala cries out.

    No!

    ¡°I have to pee!¡± Rachel exclaims in horror as Aayushi takes full support of her body.

    Create a shield¡­ and protect them!

    I-I can¡¯t keep doing this. Damn it, Veronica! Nobody sees me as a human anymore, all because of you. Everyone tries to execute me on sight, as they should. I¡¯m a monster, and¡­ monsters deserve to die.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Veronica Shinka¡¯s protege,¡± Nala explains as her allies¡¯ eyes widen in disbelief at the sight of my mutation.

    There¡¯s the stares again. I can¡¯t believe it either.

    ¡°Abasi, take the girls to the infirmary,¡± Nala orders in haste. ¡°I¡¯ll take the boy to his guardian. Something tells me that he¡¯s the only one who can stop the she-devil from unleashing Armageddon,¡± Nala announces as she holds my now-normalized hands.

    ¡°Thank you, Na¡­¡± I say.

    ¡°I¡¯m dragging you three out of here as soon as the pink-haired girl makes a full recovery,¡± Nala interrupts in a serious tone. ¡°Outsiders are nothing but trouble,¡± she finishes as she wipes her eyes.

    *

    5 Minutes Later

    Alnitak Mountain

    <u>Veronica Shinka¡¯s Point of View</u>

    There, there, Akemi. This will all be over soon. Hmm. Overseeing the phenomenal valley from this fortress is almost enough to bring me to tears.

    ¡°Mrs. Shinka,¡± Chief Akils says as he approaches me from across the podium.

    Ah, yes. I almost forgot about my final piece of the puzzle. Technology is very awe-inspiring. The combination of machinery and human ingenuity has allowed hundreds of Inpuians to kneel before me inside this stronghold. Yes! As I stand atop this altitudinous podium, I can see the unaccomplished structure of The Old World, the resplendent light-green lanterns that illuminate this room, as well as my new fellow subordinates that will aid in my conquest. Sherane should be making her final preparations against the Hephaestians, Kentaro should be guarding safeguarding my most prized possessions, K should be beyond frustrated with his extended stalemate, and the soft targets should be in Zasha¡¯s care by now! Yes! Everything is going perfectly according to my calculations.

    ¡°We have agreed to your terms,¡± Chief Akils announces as he kneels.

    As predicted.

    ¡°As I¡¯ve explained before, Chief, this is it. Now, take my hand and stand with me.¡±

    The show is about to begin.

    ¡°Arise, my subordinates!¡± I yell. ¡°The Age of Zombies and the oppression of the Royal Government shall all be ancient history soon! With Chief Akils¡¯s truce, I have unified the Mintaka, Alnilam, and Alnitak tribes in the pursuit of a common enemy. Olympus, Athens, Scorpius, and now Inpu have agreed to join me in my crusade. Sarpedon, Prometheus, and Gaia are all sworn allies to the Royals, which is an asinine decision that they will regret soon. And I have recently learned that the Hephaestians have betrayed me, as they have chosen to side with the Royals. Fear not, for your rival kingdom will soon experience what happens when you go against me. I am aware of the fables that have been told about me, and I assure you¡­ that they are no mere fables. I am exactly what people say about me; however, I do not care about irrelevant people¡¯s notions. You¡¯ve all been informed of my goal, and I assure you that your kingdom will not need to do anything of great risk for now. Once the fighting begins, I hope that you all keep your promise in the same way that I always keep mine. Additionally¡­¡±

    It can¡¯t be!

    ¡°Luke Miller, what in the world are you doing here?!¡± I ask.

    ¡°What the hell, Veronica?!¡± Luke asks as he angrily stomps towards me. ¡°You owe me an explanation! Now!¡±

    Oh, dear! This wasn¡¯t a part of my calculations. However, I may be able to use this unfortunate situation to my advantage.

    ¡°You and your friends should be in Prometheus by now!¡± I say.

    ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject! Explain!¡± Luke roars as his eyes begin to glow red.

    ¡°Luke, everything I did and do was for you. I saved your life, in case you forgot! You¡¯re eighteen-years old now, so it¡¯s about time you behave like an adult! Throwing tantrums won¡¯t get you anywhere!¡±

    ¡°Veronica, I know how you operate. Stop¡­ playing with my head¡­ please,¡± Luke pleads as his eyes revert back to brown.

    ¡°Sigh. Very well, Luke. I used your first mission as an opportunity to escape from the Royal spies in Olympia. I¡¯m not sorry for keeping it from you because it was for your own good.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t be trusted.¡±

    Bastard!

    ¡°Luke, I saved you, you ungrateful¡­ you would¡¯ve died if it wasn¡¯t for me!¡±

    ¡°How?! I would¡¯ve been better off without you!¡±

    That hurts¡­

    ¡°You brat! I¡­ I¡­ changed you in order to save you! I kept a promise to your mom, and I damn well intend to keep it! I¡¯m not sorry for what I did! Luke, don¡¯t you understand?! You¡¯re¡­ you¡¯re practically invincible. In time, you can be a walking superweapon like me if you choose. You¡¯re immune to bites, and no harm should ever reach your head. Observe, Luke.¡±

    Aim at his head with my pistol and fire!

    As predicted. You¡¯ve outdone yourself, Veronica, but perhaps¡­ you¡¯re doing it again.

    ¡°Veronica?¡± Luke cries out as his forehead rehumanizes.

    ¡°And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen! My ultimate creation! My prot¨¦g¨¦, Luke Miller, is the preeminent form of life! An invincible hybrid between angels and humans! My crusade will not fail; however, I will admit that the future can be unpredictable at times! Therefore, Luke Miller is my final ace in the hole! A being capable of annihilating the angels with ease! A weapon to eclipse Azrael! I give you my word, with him as our trump card, our victory is all but assured! Only when the kingdoms unite against a common foe can our children live in a world without angels and a tyrannical government! Assist me in my Revolution, and I will lead you all to victory!¡±

    ¡°REVOLUTION! REVOLUTION! REVOLUTION!¡± The crowd roars with energy.

    Mmm. Succession truly is the ultimate form of satisfaction.

    ¡°This is music to my ears, Luke,¡± I say to my nephew.

    ¡°I hate you,¡± Luke says softly. ¡°I thought that I was a monster, but now I realize¡­ that the monster is you,¡± he explains with an intense look of hatred in his brown eyes.

    Stop.

    ¡°Luke, you don¡¯t mean that. Please¡­ don¡¯t say that. Y-you¡¯re breaking my heart.¡±

    ¡°Everyone was right about you, Veronica,¡± he continues as a stream of tears drips down his cheeks. ¡°You¡¯re Veronica Shinka, the cold, ruthless, and cunning she-devil of this world!¡±

    Stop.

    ¡°Luke, I believe that you¡¯re the only person in this world who doesn¡¯t believe that, and I know you¡¯re only hurting me out of spite.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care about you or your crusade,¡± he responds in a monotonous tone. ¡°I¡¯m not helping you with anything. My squadmates and I are getting as far away from you as possible, as soon as Rachel¡¯s health normalizes. You¡¯re an evil woman, Veronica, and I wish I killed you back at the gym.¡±

    Oh. This¡­ this hurts¡­

    ¡°I see. I-I shall accept your wishes. I¡¯m sorry for troubling you. Ahem. My Promethean friend is an excellent tracker, and I predict that she¡¯ll arrive here within a week or so. She¡¯ll take you and your friends to Prometheus for¡­ safekeeping from the upcoming events, and you will never have to see me again. Think of it as a parting gift. Luke, I¡¯m going to take my exit now.¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡±

    ¡°Sigh. What now?¡±

    ¡°During the mansion incident, the red syringe made me¡­a hybrid, but I-I don¡¯t know what the blue syringe made you. You¡¯re the smartest human being to have ever existed, which means you have the skills to acquire anything you want. Veronica, what did you gain from the blue syringe, and how did we escape from the mansion?¡±

    *

    Four Days Later

    Present Day

    July 20, 2075

    1800 JST

    The Angel¡¯s Den, Near Alnitak

    <u>Luke Miller¡¯s Point of View</u>

    ¡°The forest that surrounds Alnitak is known as The Angel¡¯s Den,¡± Nala explains as we observe the sky from atop her treehouse.

    ¡°Thanks for the clarification, and the water,¡± I say.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget about the food, shelter, clothing, and most importantly, entertainment,¡± she says with a smirk. ¡°I¡¯m teasing, but seriously, don¡¯t stress out too much because you¡¯ll pass out again,¡± she pleads in worry. ¡°The Angel¡¯s Den is a great place for hunting, but¡­ I wanna know what life is like outside Inpu. I wanna see it, and not just vividly imagine it through radio talk.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s terrible.¡±

    ¡°Oh, give me a break. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s time for your emo phase yet, Luke,¡± she replies with an eye-roll.

    ¡°I miss Veronica,¡± I say.

    ¡°Luke!¡± A blood-soaked Sonya calls out from down below.

    ¡°Hello, welcome to Inpu!¡± Nala waves.

    ¡°Luke, get your ass down here, dude! We¡¯ve been had!¡± Ruby yells.

    What?!

    ¡°Don¡¯t ignore me!¡± Nala yells out in frustration.

    ¡°There was a snake in our grass!¡± Sonya cries out in distress.

    No¡­

    ¡°Such interesting figures of speech,¡± Nala says as she jots down something into her notepad.

    ¡°Uh, oh.¡± Nala realizes in horror as her communicator spazzes out.

    ¡°Angela Blackwood and the Death Angels are about to breach through the giant fucking wall of zombies that surround this kingdom!!!¡± Sonya exclaims in horror.

 Chapter 86: The Sin of Pride

    July 20, 2075

    1807 JST

    Anubis, 3 Kilometers Away from Alnitak

    Angela Blackwood''s Point of View

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, we are rapidly approaching the conclusion of our heroic tale,¡± I say to my comrades. ¡°I do not wish to slaughter a kingdom, but if Chief Alkins fails to deliver the she-devil and the villainous Squad Zeus, then we shall have no choice but to annihilate him and whoever else dares to challenge us!¡±

    I despise this kingdom with all my heart. Anubis is, without a doubt, the most horrifying thing on this planet. I will never get over the preposterous fact that this kingdom¡¯s natural form of protection against the zombies is, ironically, zombies. Surrounding this kingdom is a 365-meter-high metal net, containing who knows how many zombies, within it. The net is anchored by the immovable and seemingly indestructible mountains that encircle Inpu if I recall correctly. Countless amounts of metal chains reside above the kingdom, allowing it to connect to the mountains, thus preventing Anubis from collapsing. However, the net is a double-edged sword. For obvious reasons, the top of the net has not been sealed, thus allowing an exiguous amount of zombies to plop out and terrorize trespassers. The only way to enter Inpu on foot is by entering the trench full of zombies and navigating through the eerie caverns below Anubis. But since I am the Royal¡¯s elite enforcer, my Death Angels and I have no need to resort to such terrifying methods to succeed.

    ¡°Angela Blackwood,¡± Chief Alkins greets as he fearlessly approaches us. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time.¡±

    The Chief is a good man with a big heart; however, those traits are his very weakness. For him to challenge us is foolishness. With the assistance of the Sin of Pride, four Mammoths, incoming Hephaestian reinforcements, and fifty of my Death Angels at my side, neither Squad Zeus nor Veronica Shinka shall be able to prevent my assured victory. The fools have yet to realize that they¡¯ve been trapped like rats in a cage.

    ¡°Chief Alkins,¡± I say. ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk. I was expecting Squad Zeus to be handed to me on a silver platter; however, I know better than to put all my eggs in one basket; therefore, I¡¯ve decided to bring half of my army here as encouragement for you to make the correct choice today. Use your noodle, Chief. You have no chance against us.¡±

    ¡°Angela, if I were to ask you to go away, would you oblige?¡± He asks in a calm tone.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°Did you seriously just ask me that?¡±

    ¡°Sigh. You traveled through the fallen kingdom, did you not?¡±

    ¡°That question is irrelevant to the conversation, old man. I now suspect that you¡¯re stalling; therefore, I shall inform you of what¡¯s about to happen. You will be taken hostage, in exchange for Squad Zeus and Veronica Shinka. My troops will then fly over Anubis and eliminate anyone who gets in our way until we get what we want. Whatever you¡¯ve been promised is nothing but a terminological inexactitude, on account of the fact that we possess the greatest weapon known to mankind! Nothing on this Earth can compete with Azrael¡¯s destructive power, henceforth why peasants should obey our might if they wish to continue breathing!¡±

    ¡°Two devils have knocked on my front door, and I have no choice but to side with the stronger one. Angela, I cannot oblige to your commands. Azrael is indeed quite powerful; however, I now believe that Veronica Shinka is a being who¡¯s capable of delivering far more devastation than the Archangel of death. Destruction and creation are two sides of the same coin, but choosing oppression will not set my tribe, nor my kingdom free. I trust that Veronica Shinka¡¯s uprising will not only grant my people freedom but will also lead humanity into the next age of life,¡± Chief Alkins explains as he lights a cigar. ¡°Do what you wish, but I warn you that my people will retaliate in full force.¡±

    He''s giving off a signal¡­

    ¡°How lamentable,¡± I say. ¡°You dishonor your tribe, Chief. Tsk tsk. This ain¡¯t it. And despite my angelic character, I wasn¡¯t born yesterday (Where is he¡­). Luke Miller, I may have intimidated you with my immaculate power and delicacy during our first fiasco of a meeting, but that doesn¡¯t give you the right to be so apprehensive, considering your sins! You and your friends embarrassed me in Alejandro; therefore, I demand a rematch! I¡¯ll admit, hors d¡¯oeuvres are quite detestable; nevertheless, I shall settle for an amuse-bouche! Unfortunately, your friends weren¡¯t prepared for seconds, especially your former captain, who couldn¡¯t even stomach the pre-appetizer!¡±

    With the snap of my finger¡­

    ¡°Luke, I fucked up, but don¡¯t fall for it!¡± Drew Howard announces as my troops drag him out.

    ¡°Drew Howard, contrary to Duy, lacks testicular fortitude,¡± I say. ¡°Not only did he sell your squad out in an attempt to save his own ass, but he got your oh, so brave captain killed! I am aware that actions speak louder than words, so allow me to present the evidence, as a gesture of good faith!¡±

    Once again. With the snap of my finger.

    ¡°Behold, the zombified head of the former captain of the not-so-mighty Squad Zeus!¡± I say as my troops throw Duy¡¯s head across the ground. ¡°I¡¯ve reassured my honesty, and now Drew Howard shall suffer a similar swift execution if you don¡¯t regenerate a pair in three¡­two¡­¡±

    ¡°ANGELA!!!¡± Luke explodes in fury as he leaps out of the trenches.

    The main course has acquired new apparel. He¡¯s now wearing a camouflage green cloak over a navy blue wetsuit.

    ¡°Like a moth to a flame, you can¡¯t help but be attracted to my exquisite, irresistible, and blazing charm!¡± I say. However¡­¡±

    Ouch. That punch looked like it hurt. Splendid protection, Pride.

    ¡°Psych!¡± I say. ¡°You thought! As you can see, I¡¯ve moved on to bigger and better things! You¡¯ve been downgraded to a side dish, Hercules, for I now seek a duel against The Invincible Sonya Grey, as you no longer suit my taste! No hard feelings, though, right, Luke?¡±

 Chapter 87: GodSlayer

    July 20, 2075

    1807 JST

    Anubis, 3 Kilometers Away from Alnitak

    <u>Luke Miller''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Death Angels, raid the village! Locate and capture Veronica Shinka, kill Squad Zeus, and eliminate anyone who foolishly opposes you!¡± Angela commands as she and her soldiers fly over the wall. ¡°Have fun against The Sin of Pride, Luke Miller!¡±

    Damn it! Sonya and the others haven¡¯t had enough time to evacuate Alnitak yet. All I can do is hope that they escape to the hideout in time. Right now, I have to save Drew and Chief Alkins, and the only thing that¡¯s standing in my way is this man who broke my jaw with that damn punch of his!

    The Sin of Pride?! A young man who appears to be slightly older than me, Hispanic, wearing a Costa Rican flag-colored cloak, matching boxing shorts and boots, and designer sunglasses.

    ¡°Commander Blackwood informed me of your regeneration ability,¡± he discloses in a serious tone as he takes off his cloak, revealing his black-haired mohawk, body tattoos, boxing gloves, and some kind of machinery attached to his arms. ¡°She promised me an unbreakable punching bag, and I¡¯m excited to see that her words continue to hold true. That punch would¡¯ve knocked your head off your shoulders if you were truly human.¡±

    ¡°Shut up, and get out of my damn way, you bastard!¡± I yell as I prepare to lunge at him.

    I¡¯ll end this quickly by taking off your fucking neck!

    ¡°You¡¯re too slow!¡± Pride screams back as he prepares another punch.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    ¡°Agh!¡± I yell.

    That hurt. My stomach! How?! He¡­he managed to slip under me in the blink of an eye!

    ¡°The name is Guillermo Ramirez Jimenez, but you will address me as the Sin of Pride, peasant!¡± he states in a cold tone as he winds up for another punch.

    Damn it! Gotta protect my face!

    ¡°Amateur!¡± Guillermo yells out as he aims for¡­ my ribs?!

    Shit!

    I can¡¯t keep getting hit like this!

    ¡°Your resistance is preventing mankind from exterminating the undead! Alejandro and now Inpu are the products of your selfish intransigence. Their blood is on your hands, pendejo (stupid)!¡± Guillermo shouts as he continues to attack my ribs.

    ¡°I never volunteered to be a guinea pig!¡±

    ¡°If I were in your shoes, I¡¯d have surrendered the moment I discovered my powers!¡±

    Fuck! My stomach! My arms¡­ I need to¡­ rest.

    ¡°Commander Blackwood briefed me of your pathetic fighting prowess. What good are those powers if your combat skills are non-existent?¡± Guillermo sneers as he aims his left fist at¡­ my face. ¡°You and your friends deserve to die for your narrow-minded desires. Why can¡¯t you fools understand that the lives of many outweigh the lives of a few?¡±

    I can¡¯t move. My body¡­ it¡¯s getting worse¡­

    ¡°Enough, Pride!¡± Chief Alkins shouts as he gets between us.

    ¡°Out of my way, anciano (old man)!¡± Guillermo threatens with a glare.

    ¡°Luke Miller is this world¡¯s savior!¡± Chief Alkins yells at Guillermo. ¡°A blessing, who will not only end the Age of Angels but the unlawful oppression of the Royals. You speak of justice and the greater good, but you conveniently forget the fact that you annihilated billions! The Eight Kingdoms only follow you out of disquietude, and now that a being has emerged to end your tyranny, you¡¯re scattering like ants in an attempt to reestablish control!¡±

    Chief¡­

    ¡°Stupidity knows no bounds,¡± Guillermo says as he shakes his head. ¡°Like I said¡­ greater good.¡±

    Gasp!

    ¡°Chief!!!¡±

    He¡­ he¡­

    ¡°The giant gaping hole in the chief¡¯s head, courtesy of my rocket punch, is also your fault, Hercules. You need to learn that all actions have consequences!¡± Guillermo yells out as he prepares another attack.

    No. No more¡­

    ¡°Hahahaha! HAHAHAHAHA! I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m going to enjoy devouring your flesh!!!¡±

    Why did I say that? What¡¯s wrong with me?! Stop laughing! Just¡­ give up. Nobody will ever accept me for who I am. I¡¯ll endanger anyone who comes near me, no matter where I go. Maybe Guillermo and Angela are correct. Maybe I am the biggest threat to mankind. Yeah. That makes sense. After all, there¡¯s no place on this planet for a hybrid¡­

 Chapter 88: Distress

    Meanwhile

    July 20, 2075

    1818 JST

    Inside Alnitak''s Infirmary

    <u>Rachel Cooper''s Point of View</u>

    This smell, it¡¯s not root beer. It¡¯s gunpowder. Ow! My head still hurts! Um, ok, Rachel. Get your bearin¡¯s! Alnitak is clearly under attack, but you¡¯ve been informed of the plan so, get your butt up, grab your sniper, and flee to the mountain. And you have to accept the possibility that everyone who didn¡¯t escape from ¡®ere is dead. Growing up is so hard, Rachel, and it¡¯s true that things don¡¯t always work out how you want them to.

    ¡°Grah!¡± An undead growls from the doorway.

    Oh. He must¡¯ve been the person sent to rescue me. Sigh. You can¡¯t make any noise. You have to be as quiet as a mouse, or else you¡¯ll be killed by the Royals. The New World is like another math assessment, but makin¡¯ even one error will cost you your life. You lack talents in any other subject, but you have yet to make a single mistake when it comes to mathematics. This proves that you¡¯re capable of overcomin¡¯ any obstacle thrown your way. Why? Because you¡¯re a survivor, Rachel.

    *This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    Three minutes later

    Outside the Infirmary¡¯s Entrance

    *

    Holy moly! Corpses, Royals, blood, gunfire, smoke, and tear gas! According to Nala, the Alnitak tribe has a great distaste for modern weaponry, so it¡¯s no wonder that things are so bad. There¡¯s just too many obstacles in my way between here and Alnitak mountain, and of course, I have to help the villagers. I don¡¯t have no choice but to fight. I¡¯ll have to kill once more if I wish to survive. I¡¯m so sorry, Lord. Please forgive me once more.

    Wait! The moment I fire my gun will be the moment they¡¯ll converge on my position. But I have to help somehow! Stop overthinking! Just get behind cover and start with the three hovering in the sky, Rachel!

    They¡­ won¡¯t even feel a thing.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I mouth as I shoot three shots.

    Wait. Gasp! The school is on fire. Aayushi might be in there with the children!

    That ting noise, was that¡­is that a grenade?!

    Ow! This is the worst headache I¡¯ve ever had in my entire life. Ok, get your bearin¡¯s again. Your face is in the dirt, and things are super distorted. You can¡¯t do anything like this, so just slowly¡­ turn¡­ arou¡­- Lord!

    ¡°Grah!¡± the undead growls in front of me.

    Not good!

    A Royal killed it?! Even worse!!!

    Ew, he fell on you. He¡¯s so sticky and smelly! Gasp! Stay still, Rachel. Don¡¯t you dare move.

    ¡°You fools! I specifically ordered you to not blow the sniper up to smithereens,¡± a young woman¡¯s voice shouts in frustration. ¡°Ugh! Nevermind! We must continue our assault! We are so close to ending the Age of Zombies!¡± She continues as she flies away with the others.

    The school! It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s burning down to the ground. Dang it, Rachel! You¡¯re so useless. But what could you have done, anyway?! You¡¯re not a muscular firefighter. You¡¯re just a stupid, clingy girl who can¡¯t even do anything without help. You can¡¯t even protect the ones you love the most. You can¡¯t protect yourself, your squad, and you can¡¯t even protect children.

    Wait. That sound, it¡¯s¡­ gasp! Adrian!

 Chapter 89: Begone

    Meanwhile

    July 20, 2075

    1823 JST

    The Angel''s Den, Alnitak

    <u>Sonya Grey''s Point of View</u>

    ¡°Heh heh. Since your life shall be expiring soon, I shall let the cat out of the bag, as a parting gift, Invincible Sonya Grey,¡± Angela gloats as she continues to chase and fire from above.

    Stay focused, Sonya. Keep running and keep using the trees for cover. Billy, Ruby, and Nala are counting on you to stall the enemy as long as you can. The children and elderly stand no chance against the Royals, so you¡¯re the only thing preventing Angela from massacring another Kingdom.

    ¡°Luke was right, Angela. You never stop talking!¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be as jealous as a cat, Black Scorpion. I am the Royal¡¯s elite enforcer after all, so it¡¯s only natural that I be the apple of one¡¯s eye, even among lowly peasants,¡± she continues to boast as she closes in.

    She¡¯s wearing a new helmet, so the only way that I can beat her is if I knock it off her head just as Luke did. Luke failed to deliver the killing blow, but I won¡¯t make the same mistake!

    ¡°Huh?¡± I say. ¡°Did you say something? Get closer so I can hear you better.¡±

    ¡°Underestimating peasants is a mistake that I shall never repeat; nevertheless, you¡¯re not a hard nut to crack,¡± she replies in an arrogant tone. ¡°I shall avoid any further unnecessary risks; by the same token, it is only natural that I continue to stand above you, in all figures of speech.¡±

    Shit! Not good. There¡¯s no more cover! Just an empty field. I didn¡¯t even get a chance to use¡­

    ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk,¡± Angela says as she lands on a nearby tree branch. ¡°What can I say? Death is undefeated,¡± she states in a cold tone as she aims her rifle at me.

    No¡­

    What the?

    What an explosion.

    ¡°An Explosive arrow?!¡± Angela questions in shock as she begins to hover in the air.

    ¡°A jetpack, huh? How interesting,¡± a woman¡¯s voice says above the trees. ¡°But I say it¡¯s about time to even up the playing field,¡± she continues to speak in a confident tone as a small device gets launched into the sky.

    It couldn¡¯t be.

    Nala launched her E.M.P. grenade!

    ¡°Impossible!¡± Angela cries out in confusion as she flies sporadically through the sky.

    She crashed into a tree and landed on a branch! Now¡¯s my chance!

    I¡¯ll use my Thunderbolt to grapple over to her location!

    ¡°How could a peasant acquire such technology?! This is inconceivable!¡± Angela shouts in frustration, unaware of what¡¯s about to come.

    Damn it! I tried to decapitate her, but she managed to pull her sword out and block in time. And yet, I still hold the advantage. She knows damn well that she can¡¯t contest with me at close range, so she¡¯ll try to get away from me as quickly as she can.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? (She¡¯s good, but just keep pushing her towards the edge of the branch! She dropped her rifle, but she still has many tools at her disposal! Don¡¯t hesitate! She will kill you the moment you mess up!) You seem to be very out to lunch.¡±

    ¡°Silence, peasant!¡± She responds in anger as she continues to defend against my assault.

    Almost¡­ got her!

    ¡°Aww. (Fucking die already, Angela!) Cat got your tongue?¡±

    ¡°Impressive, for a psychopath!¡± Angela says as she leaps off the branch and begins to slide down the tree.

    She pulled out her pistol! Get down, Sonya!

    ¡°Heh heh,¡± she says as she fires. ¡°Only a fool would bring a knife to a gunfight!¡± Angela states as she lands on the ground.

    If only I had some ammo¡­

    ¡°How about a spear?!¡± Nala says as she clashes with Angela. ¡°The name¡¯s Nala, and this¡­ is Nina! She¡¯s a certified ass kicker. Look closely, and you¡¯ll see the engraving!¡± She continues as Nina begins to glow light blue.

    ¡°No! It can¡¯t be! It¡¯s a¡­¡± Angela realizes in horror as Nala manages to briefly break through her guard.

    Wow!

    Nina is unbelievable! Not only did she knock off Angela¡¯s helmet, but she sent her crashing into the tree directly below me! It¡¯s now or never, Sonya!

    ¡°Fuck!¡± Angela screams as she quickly regains her bearings.

    Here I come!

    What?! She stopped my sword and my momentum, with her forefoot?! Just how strong is she?!

    ¡°Halos represent holiness, Angela, and you are far from that!¡± Nala states as she rushes to my aid.

    ¡°Foolishness!¡± Angela denies in anger.

    This is gonna hurt like hell.

    My eye! She kicked me in my eye!

    ¡°I require no need for a Halo!¡± Angela explains as she begins to focus her assault on Nala. ¡°Your Halo uses sonic booms to slay its foes!¡± she deduces as she quickly overwhelms Nala. ¡°Such a Halo is too powerful for a rebellious peasant! Allow me to hold on to such a burden, lowly Alintak warrior!¡±

    ¡°Nala!¡± I yell.

    ¡°What the?!¡± Angela cries out as her upside-down body zips in mid-air!

    A trap?!

    ¡°You¡¯ve forgotten that this lowly Alnitak warrior has the homecourt advantage!¡± Nala states as she aims her bow at Angela.

    ¡°And you¡¯ve forgotten that I have a fucking gun, peasant!¡± Angela reminds us as she begins to open fire.

    Damn it! Gotta get behind cover! This ¡­ this tree is big enough to work!

    ¡°Heh heh,¡± Angela chuckles as she cuts herself free, and graciously lands on the ground. ¡°Knowledge is power, foolish girls. No matter how skilled your martial arts are, or how powerful a Halo you possess, a gun is and will always be the ultimate form of defense! Now, it¡¯s nearly time to wrap this nonsense up; therefore, I shall end this battle with an explosive present!¡±

    Her grenade launcher.

    ¡°Knowledge is indeed power, Angela!¡± Nala yells as she uses Nina to reflect the explosive round back at Angela.

    Gasp! She shot Nala!

    ¡°Peasants are so foreseeable!¡± Angela laughs as she narrowly dodges her grenade launcher round.

    This is it! I have to use it and end this now!

    ¡°Hey, Angela!¡± I yell. ¡°Catch!¡±

    Lanze¡¯s Halo, Kopflos, will catch her off guard, and then I can use the distraction to get in.

    ¡°Dishonorable peasant!¡± She startles as she narrowly dodges Kopflos.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Angela! You¡¯ll reunite with him soon enough!¡± I yell as we engage in our final swordfight.

    ¡°Heh heh. You appear to be as mad as a hornet, Sonya Grey! Your knowledge of firearms is only natural, given your birth kingdom!¡±

    ¡°Just die already!¡±

    ¡°Foolishness! You cannot get rid of the star of the show so easily!¡±

    Damn it! She cut my thigh! I thought I had the upper hand at close range. Angela is¡­ too skilled of an opponent. I can¡¯t¡­ defeat her.

    ¡°You, however, equivalent to trash, are disposable!¡± Angela continues as she rushes in.  ¡°My role is to save all of humanity, and you are merely an obstacle in my prestigious quest!¡±

    I fucked up.

    Someone kicked Angela from above?!

    ¡°You¡¯re not the only one who can hover, Angela!¡± Nala reveals as she lands, blood leaking out of her left ear.

    Nala must¡¯ve used Nina to hover in the air.

    ¡°Inconceivable!¡± Angela cries out in confusion.

    Now, Sonya.

    Slice off her hand!

    ¡°No!¡± Angela screams.

    You can¡¯t talk much shit with just one hand, huh Angela?

    ¡°Do it, Nala!¡± I yell.

    ¡°Impossible!¡± Angela shouts in fear.

    ¡°Think again!¡± Nala responds in anger as she leaps towards Angela, aiming Nina directly at her upper chest. ¡°BEGONE, ANGELA!!¡±

    Nina sent her flying!

    ¡°I¡¯ll finish her off, Nala!¡± I say as I run towards Angela.

    You¡¯re the strongest opponent I¡¯ve ever fought, Angela. However, you will always hunt us down and kill whoever gets in your way as long as you live. I know that your death won¡¯t bring us safety, but it¡¯ll be a hell of a start as we continue to make sense of this crazy world. Goodbye, Angela Blackwood.

    ¡°Commander!¡± Two Death Angels call out as they open fire.

    No! Damn it! We were so close!

    ¡°Get her out of here! Our mission is complete! The Sin of Pride has defeated Hercules! Let the peasants deal with those incoming Seekers!¡± The reinforcements say as they rescue Angela.

    Luke¡­?

    ¡°Sonya, watch out!¡± Nala warns from my six.

 Chapter 90: Humans & Monsters

    Meanwhile

    July 20, 2075

    1820 JST

    Inside an Alnitak House

    Rachel Cooper''s Point of View

    ¡°All peasants deserve death!¡± A young woman¡¯s voice shouts out in hatred from another room.

    Gunfire?

    Gasp! Run! Run Rachel! Adrian needs you!

    ¡°Woah,¡± the Death Angel quietly mutters as Adrian shrieks in horror.

    This is¡­ the Askers family¡¯s main bedroom. It¡¯s just a simple bedroom, like any other. Dimly lit, a queen-sized sleeping mat takes up the majority of the room, and there¡¯s a baby crib beside it. But the blood¡­ so much blood.

    ¡°What is wrong with you?!¡± I yell at the Death Angel.

    ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t,¡± she softly replies as she takes off her helmet. ¡°Earth is¡­ filled with nothing, but monsters. I-I was ordered to kill monsters. I¡­ I¡­¡±

    She¡¯s just a teenage girl like me! Hispanic, with long black hair, and a look of horror on her face. But¡­ I can¡¯t. Not this time.

    ¡°Those were that baby¡¯s parents! You¡­ you killed them for no reason! I bet they were just trying to hide from you! Look at what you fuckin¡¯ did! He¡¯s lyin¡¯ in his dead mom¡¯s hands because of you! If you think Earth is filled with monsters, then fine! I¡¯d rather be a monster than a Royal! You turned Adrian into an orphan, you bastard! When¡­ sniffle. When will you stop killin¡¯ innocent people?!¡±

    ¡°No,¡± she denies as she shakes her head. ¡°Earth is filled with nothing but heartless monsters,¡± she continues as her body shivers, followed by her dropping her gun.

    ¡°The only heartless monster here is you!¡±

    Attack, Rachel! Push her against the wall!

    I knocked her out! She should be lucky that all I gave her was brain trauma. She, just like every other Royal, doesn¡¯t deserve to live! I¡¯m so sorry, Adrian. If only I arrived sooner, but I¡¯ll take care of you now. I¡¯ll strap you onto my back, so we can reunite with everyone at Alnitak mountain. You¡¯re not even a year old. Sniffle. You don¡¯t deserve to suffer like this.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Christina, we must leave immediately!¡± Another young woman¡¯s voice yells as she barges through the house¡¯s front door.

    Just another problem to deal with. I¡¯ll hide behind the door and wait for her to come in. I¡¯ll get you to safety soon, Adrian, even if it costs me my life.

    ¡°Christina?¡± She asks in confusion as she enters the room.

    Push her, Rachel!

    Damn! She spotted me!

    ¡°Sniper!¡± She yells out in hatred above Adrian¡¯s cries of terror as I tackle her to the ground.

    I managed to knock off her helmet!

    ¡°Why won¡¯t you just leave us alone?!!¡± I scream.

    ¡°You killed my sister, Rachel Cooper!¡±

    No! She¡­ she cut m-my old wrist wound!

    Ow, she kicked me in the gut!

    Gasp! Don¡¯t land on your back! Stay on your feet!

    ¡°Karma says, hello!¡± The green-haired woman declares in a vengeful tone as she reaches for her pistol.

    Thank you, Captain, for teachin¡¯ me how to be resourceful.

    ¡°Hands in the air, Royal! Now!¡±

    ¡°You stole my gun? Fucking peasant!¡± She seethes in anger as she complies.

    ¡°Li?!¡± A male Death Angel calls out from outside the hallway.

    Be smart, Rachel.

    ¡°A peasant has me, hostage, at gunpoint, Abass, but it¡¯s only a matter of time!¡± She answers in an arrogant tone.

    She¡¯s smart!

    ¡°Shut up!¡± I order.

    Ow! This¡­ this is way too much blood! Think, Rachel, think! Solve¡­ the problem!

    Shoot her.

    ¡°You fucking monster!¡± Li screams out in severe hatred.

    ¡°Christina¡¯s gonna suffer from that new piece of jewelry that I just put in her mouth, but¡­ there¡¯s also the chance that Adrian¡¯s parents will finish her before that even happens! You can prevent that by lettin¡¯ me and Adrian go peacefully! Please! I don¡¯t want to do this!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re just a murderer, Rachel Cooper!¡± Li responds in frustration.

    ¡°I know I am, and I¡¯ll fuckin¡¯ do it every time you try to hurt the ones I love!¡±

    ¡°Your resistance is futile! Death is inevitable, and my gut is telling me that yours is fast approaching!¡±

    My arms¡­ my head¡­

    ¡°Tell your friend and anyone else who¡¯s out there to drop their weapons immediately! You of all people should know how good of a shot I am.¡±

    ¡°Stand down, Abass! Let the peasant pass through! She doesn¡¯t even realize the magnitude of the shitstorm she¡¯s about to walk into!¡±

    Finally.

    *

    Outside the Asker¡¯s Family¡¯s House

    *

    Ok, Rachel. Diagnosis time! You¡¯re sufferin¡¯ from burn wounds, a massive headache, dehydration, blurry vision, inconsistent breathin¡¯, and severe blood loss, but¡­ you have to keep pushing through it. You¡¯ve wrapped your headband around your cut, but now you can barely see anythin¡¯, and it¡¯s not because of the tear gas. It¡¯s because of your stupid bangs! What an embarrassin¡¯ way to die. Somethin¡¯ terrible must¡¯ve happened! The Royals are nowhere to be found, and the kingdom is filled with more zombies than there were villagers, and they keep pourin¡¯ in! Gulp. At least¡­ Adrian calmed down. Coverin¡¯ myself and a baby in undead guts is somethin¡¯ that I¡¯ve never ever dreamed of doin¡¯. This¡­ might be it. No! You¡­ have to keep movin¡¯ forward! It¡¯s not just your life in your hands, it¡¯s Adrian¡¯s! He¡¯s relyin¡¯ on you! He needs you! Just¡­ get to Alnitak mountain. Don¡¯t die¡­ Rachel¡­ Cooper. O-oh¡­ you¡¯re getting¡­ dizzy.¡­