Apologies for the erratic posting lately. Real life sucks! Hopefully back to at least one every two days for now. Thanks for waiting XD

The shotgun wielding man introduced himself as Allard. He was some kind of informal leader amongst the survivors, mainly because of his role in organising groups that left the safety of the mall to scour surrounding buildings for food and luxuries.

Oli kept his thoughts to himself for now, but he realised one thing. Allard would only become more and more powerful as time went on. Firstly, the people who left the mall the most would be the highest level, giving him a core of strong supporters. Secondly, as the mall began to run dry, the survivors would have to rely on him more and more. He would be a good person to get closer to, either to work with or to remove. Either way, he was important if they wanted to work with these people.

After leading them down a corridor heading further into the mall, Allard paused before a double door. He turned to their small group, consisting of Oli, Isaac and Bjorn, the blond deputy identified as Jenny, and the surly seeming driver who hadn't introduced himself.

"Ok, just a word of warning. Things have been getting a little tense since we brought in the Hughes Brothers. You'll be in front of the crowd I'm guessing, but just stay to one side and I'll keep you out of it."

"Hughes Brothers?" Oli asked.

"Loudmouths. They killed a few ratmen when this all started, and now they're stronger than the rest of us. They've started throwing their weight around, going all medieval. Harassed a couple of the girls, started a couple fights. We've kept them calm with guns for now, but they're gathering a small following. Best to stay out of their way, for you guys at least. They're my problem, not yours."

Jenny added her piece too. "They were thugs before this. Drunk and disorderlies, assault, intimidation. Small time but nasty. This just gives them more ammo. And you should be careful you don't underestimate them Allard, I would bet dollars to cents that they have an armoury of their own."

"Ha, ok, but we're new, we shouldn't be on the radar. Don't worry, we'll stay low key." Oli reassured them. Then he stepped forward and opened the doors, holding them open for the group. As he did so, he sent a quick mental message to Isaac and Bjorn.

’Keep an eye for these Hughes Brothers. In fact, keep an eye for troublemakers. I don't know how we're going to play this, so be prepared to back me if anything unexpected happens. Apart from that, just follow my lead!'

As they passed him, they both nodded quietly, letting him know they were on board. Oli waited until all the others had passed him, before following them. They emerged in a large cafeteria, with what looked like nearly two hundred people sat around. They were sat alone, or in pairs, or huddled in groups. Talking, laughing, crying, staring blankly into space...

Regardless, every face turned towards the small group as they walked in.

After a moment's silence, uproar rang out. Allard ignored individual shouts for attention, walking forward through the crowd, until he climbed onto a table near the serving area. He held out his arms for silence, waiting patiently. Meanwhile, Jenny and Surly followed him. Oli hesitated for a moment, before nodding at his companions, and following the group to the front. He would support Allard for now, see what came of it.

"Allard, when is this gonna end?"

"Yea, how long are we gonna be locked in here?"

Allard held his arms steady, waiting for quiet, not responding until the people shouting hushed. Only then did he begin to speak.

"Two of my people went out today. They drove round the surrounding areas, and were attacked twice. They then found three survivors, and decided to cut short and head back. The attacks that did occur were strays; one group of goblins wandering, and one group of dogs. Several goblins and 2 dogs were taken out. Unfortunately, the survivors took precedence over goods, so they didn't raid any properties."

"Did the goblins drop anything? Are those the survivors? Did you level up Jenny?" The crowd was full of questions.

Jenny answered succinctly. "We didn't check for drops but they all looked weak. These are the three we found. And no. No levels." She looked more than a little annoyed at the last. Obviously that had hit a nerve.

The teenager who had asked that didn't pick up on her annoyance however. "How is that possible, that makes three trips, no levels. Have they stopped working?"

Another man jutted in. "No, I levelled last time. This doesn't make sense. I only took out four goblins and a rat before I got to level 3. Why are you stuck at 2?"

"What did you use to kill them?" Everyone turned to look at Isaac, who immediately regretted speaking. He looked to Oli for support.

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Oli sighed. So much for not drawing attention. "How did you kill them? What weapons?"

Jenny replied quickly. "I shot them. How else?"

"Look, Jenny, I'm not trying to pry here, just help. Ok, how bout you buddy?"

"Baseball bat, and a knife."

Oli continued his line of thought. "Ok, anyone else? People that have levelled up, what did you use?"

"Knife."

"Machete."

"Axe."

"Hmmm, ok. So close quarters gives experience maybe?" Oli mused aloud. This time however, Allard rejoined the conversation.

"No, I levelled with a hunting bow before I got here. Not range. But technology maybe?"

Jenny rejoined, becoming more interested. "I'm at level 2, but it could be because I finished a few of them off with a knife." She looked a little embarrassed by this, as she hastened to explain. "I was conserving bullets, I didn't do it for kicks."

Oli thought for a moment, and then spoke out. "When the notification came, all communications were cut. They haven't come back up, at least that I know. Maybe that extends to all technology. Cars and guns are harder to cut off, so instead they're made useless. People that rely on them will eventually be out-levelled and killed off. We're being forced to go medieval if we want to live. That fits the classes that were made available, they're all like something from a fantasy game."

Allard continued his thoughts, sounding more and more concerned. "If that logic follows, then there is also a good chance we will lose power next. And water maybe. Even if you're wrong, we can't take the risk, we need to prepare for the worst."

A tall bald man holding a child in his arms interrupted him. "Two attacks on one trip, and now we find out that guns don't help? Are things getting better or worse? We need some kind of plan here, we can't just stay holed up." His voice grew louder and louder as he continued.

"At this moment, we don't know enough to-" Allard was cut off as a burly man with a leather jacket and a shaved head stood up and shouted.

"Enough!" 

The room turned to look, but no one dared to stop him. Even Allard stopped and stared at him contemplatively, letting him finish. Another three men had stood up at the same time, looming behind the speaker.

"This is all bullshit Allard, and you know it. I'm going to take a few of my boys and go take a look myself. Enough of listening to your rules. You wanna stop me, then you gotta shoot me."

Oli saw Allard had no immediate response, and was losing control of the situation. While he had no real interest in the power struggles of this group, he had a feeling that Allard and his people would be a lot more useful in gearing up for a journey than the thuggish skinhead. Added to that, he had to admit he didn't like the look of the group now about to leave. Isaac had already managed to draw attention to the trio, no avoiding that now. And so he stepped forward.

"You think you're strong enough to survive out there? Then go for it, but don't cry later little man!" His tone was clearly provocative, mocking the intimidating figure in front of the whole group. Oli was betting he wouldn't take it lightly. However, he had underestimated Hughes.

"And who are you? Why should I give two shits what you think?" Hughes calmly replied, holding a hand in front of his clearly more aggressive siblings as they were riled up.

"I'm one of the people that is surviving out there. Trust me, you don't have what it takes."

Isaac and Bjorn, sensing that Oli was purposefully picking a fight stepped in. Isaac stood up and placed a hand on the hilt of the falchion at his side, sneering at Hughes' companions. Bjorn, playing on the fact that everyone there saw him as just a child, openly laughed.

But again, Hughes was cautious. He held back his angry followers and snorted in response. "Whatever you say kid. I've seen what's out there. I can handle it." He turned once more and began to head towards the doors that led to the outside. More than a few people in the crowd wavered, on the verge of following him.

At this point, something happened that Oli hadn't expected. A pretty woman in her late twenties leapt up from her seat at the back. She was dressed like an office worker; shirt, skirt and jacket, expensive looking but rumpled, as though she had worn it for days. She had red hair, beautifully curled behind her and held in place with a black clip.

"Oli? Oli, it is you! I knew you'd be ok honey!"

She ran forward and literally threw herself at him. He caught her from reflex, but then she turned in his arms, making it look like a hug. Isaac and Bjorn looked on questioningly but they didn't say anything.

"I knew you'd find me!" She exclaimed in a girlish squeal. And then, before anyone could react, she grabbed the sides of his face and pulled him into a deep kiss.