And as such we where sneaking through the city and taking out any stray zombies we could. If we were noticed by too large of a group we would use our high dexterity to escape. This continued as a set pace for us until…
We found something worse than the undead.
Five men in a store raping a woman and her seven year old looking daughter while the father lay dead at the side. The absolute lowest of humanity.
I like the apocalypse because I’m a thrill seeker and find the normal world boring and sick. Depression screwed with me a lot so to me it’s the best thing which has happened to me. They are the sort of people however that like it for the pure chaos, death and misery. Acting as the scum of humanity… rape is already bad. Seeing a little girl screaming in pain as a fat guy is raping her made me snap. Before I had even thought about it there was two knifes flying at the back of two of their heads leaving only three left. One more knife followed into another head before the last one landed in a shoulder as they narrowly dodged. Two against two however while one was injured and they where both naked was bad odds for them, not to mention our stats and training. They died almost as soon as they tried to fight back. It hit me even harder when this happened.
[You have levelled up x1]
[As you have reached level ten you will now get six stat points per level. Every time you hit the next group of ten a single stat point will be added.]
[As a level ten player you have officially survived the initial opening of the apocalypse! As such the shop has been unlocked and a money inventory!]
Somehow I gained off of those sick and depraved scum, making me feel sick.
“I’m sorry… if we had arrived sooner this wouldn’t have happened… I’m truly sorry” I said as I crouched down to make myself as unthreatening as possible.
For half a dozen minutes after that they sobbed together after clothing themselves. The child probably understands partially what happened but the mother understands it much more. To be raped along with your daughter with your dead husband next to you… just how horrible would that be?
I’ve always had this intense dislike against rape even before I understood what it was. I’m not sure why, maybe it’s another memory I have forgotten like the bug room or maybe it’s just instinct but it terrifies me. I’m not scared it will happen to me, I’m scared it will happen to the people I care about. Every time I hear about it I feel angry and am utterly disgusted that people could do such a thing to others so seeing this hit me hard, harder than the whole apocalypse did. I know that there isn’t a way I could have stopped it from happening but it still hurts.
“I don’t know you or your personal circumstances and personality but with an apocalypse, his death and then… this, I imagine your feeling pretty crappy right now. If I could have prevented that I would of but I couldn’t. Now all I can do is offer you to come with us or go to the Shining Hope school a few kilometres away for safety. I’m sorry that I can’t do more but in this situation we’re kind of limited in just how much we can do. It’s up to you and I will wait for your decision. Do you want some time alone?” She nodded with a weak smile so I walked out onto the street with Leo.
“Are you okay?” I asked him softly.
“Y-yeah, kinda… I never thought I’d be in this position once again, completely helpless and weak despite having strength…” He laughed bitterly.
“I’m sorry.” I told him simply as I brought him into a hug. His childhood friend was just like that little girl but unlike them, he was forced to watch, helpless, as the person he cared most about was raped for two days straight. Afterwards… she made him promise to survive one sided and then killed herself. I know how much that impacted him when it was because of his status that they where kidnapped for ransom so I knew he was having a breakdown right now even though he tried to hide it.
Being important… isn’t always as happy as people think it is.
Sure enough he began crying as soon as I hugged him but five minutes later he stopped and pushed me away with embarrassment. Even if they are your best friend and your on the verge of a meltdown hugging between two guys is awkward when they are both straight. Well, atleast for that long with tears involved.
“Thankyou. I know I have no right to cry when it wasn’t me to get hurt but… thankyou.” He said while facing away from me.
“I wouldn’t be a very good prince if I couldn’t even look after my friends right?” It was disguised in a joke but he realised what I was trying to say.
“yeah” He smiled. It was several years ago. He has atleast learned to cope so even though he was still in a sad mood he managed to calm down pretty easily.
We chatted for a while and occasionally killed a zombie that came too close before we heard from the girls inside again.
“B-big brothers, why won’t she won’t wake up” She sobbed to us, making our hearts skip a beat and a chill climb my spine.
I dashed in leaving the kid to Leo only to find the lady next to several empty pill bottles and spilled water with a hastily scribbled note. Checking her pulse and still feeling a slight heartbeat didn’t make me any better. She… she was still going to die. I had no idea how to fix this nor the equipment necessary and she was already on the edge of death. I watched helplessly as the shallow breathing stopped and the pulse stagnated before the warmth slowly began to drain away… this lady just committed suicide and left their kid alone with two teenagers she doesn’t know.
“Dammit!” I hit the floor and saw the tiles crack.
I picked up the note with trembling hands.
I can’t.
I was just a casual friend of the child’s mother but she was eaten and I felt responsible despite knowing she wasn’t my kid.
Everyone I loved is dead, even my brother who survived the initial panic is now dead as well.
Monsters are roaming the streets, both human and zombie,
And I was raped.
I can’t. I don’t care. I never should of tried to survive. Why the hell did this have to happen to me!?
Until a few days ago I was happily married with the love of my life and had two kids but then he was turned into a monster and ATE my daughter and infant child, INFANT!! Even our dog… I can’t. I can’t I can’t I can’t I can’t I can’t I can’t!
Just… just let the pain disappear… please.
I’m sorry.
So she wasn’t even the mother…
What the hell is this sick joke?
I know that babies are dying… I know that in an apocalypse people will suffer… and I know that I like the apocalypse despite that but… but why a child, why this child. Hasn’t she gone through enough already? Her family dead and in a apocalypse with a lady she barely knows before being raped and having the lady who was looking after her abandon her…
Even the one I thought was a so called father was just another random to her? A brother and sister looking after a kid who they barely know and even they died. This kid doesn’t have anyone.
It’s a sick joke. I can’t bring myself to hate the apocalypse because it is literally the only thing keeping me alive now. I’ve been on the edge of suicide for years, holding on for something, anything to happen and this is the thing which gave me a chance to live, a chance to make a name and have my own power. But this is something I hate. Something I absolutely loathe. Why does an innocent child need to be raped? At least… couldn’t it atleast have been a quick death for her rather than this bullshit?
It doesn’t matter, I realised. Regardless I will take care of this child now because my morals won’t let me abandon her. Even if it is possible she will die in the future the least I can do is try to give her a little bit of happiness before that happens and hope she doesn’t
Messing up her hair with a grin as she glared at me, I managed to stop her from crying before I began to talk.
“Do you want to come with us? I can’t guarantee if we can protect you or not but we will try the best we can. Do you want to?” I asked her softly.
“W-what about auntie?” She sniffed.
“Auntie… that lady killed herself. I’m not going to lie to you. She is dead.” I told her sadly as her eyes widened in shock.
“B-but… but I have no one else…” She started to cry again.
I flicked her forehead.
“What was that for?” She asked accusingly as she glared.
“Didn’t I ask if you wanted to come with us? That means you still have someone else, right?” Her eyes widened again.
“R-really?”
Timid, scared, confused, hopeful, lonely, sad, happy and longing. She wants people to care for her and she wants to live. Despite everything she innocently wants to be loved by others with a hope that is both fragile and the strongest thing in the world. So hopeful, but so scared that I lied to her. I smiled warmly as I ruffled her hair again.
“Really. We’ll be your big brothers from now on, okay? And you will be our little sister. What’s your name sis? I’m Jean and this is Leo” I introduced as she pouted for messing with her hair again. She seemed really happy when I did though.
“Hmph, my name’s page.” She said as if she where angry.
The smile she couldn’t stop said otherwise but we pretended that we didn’t notice for her sake.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you sis.” I said in the happiest voice I could muster.
After a few hours walking she fell asleep on my back and I began to explain what happened to Leo. First I gave him the note but after… after I told him about how she died in front of me while I was helpless. It was the worst thing that could have happened to me. Maybe it was because I genuinely believed her to be the mother but it hurt me a lot.
“Our path was set for us years ago Jean. We became friends because we where the same after all. Loosing someone we cared about in a horrible way led us into depression and the only things which kept us anchored and alive where our fantasies of something like this. Honestly we are odd and I doubt many will understand us, especially after they went through everything they did in this apocalypse but Jean, we can’t ever go back to being what people consider ‘normal’. Our minds don’t work the same ways others do anymore and even if we feel guilt that won’t change. Don’t feel guilty because you latched onto the thing which allowed us to live again. I know what’s happening in the world right now and I know that in some way I will always feel guilt for liking a world like this but… but it’s really the only chance we have left” He smiled bitterly but comfortingly.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
“I know. It’s just… it feels hollow. My sister died in the exact same way, right in front of me when I could do nothing…” I said as I turned away so he wouldn’t see the tear that escaped without permission.
“Why did you make it sound as if she where still alive when we talked to our classmates?” He finally asked. He played along until now but naturally he would ask.
“Maybe… maybe I just hoped that with the apocalypse and magic that if I believed it she would be there, waiting for me curled up in a closet. I know it’s stupid and that the main reason was just so I could let us leave without anyone stopping us but that’s what I felt, the reason I even considered talking about her.” I shook my head to stop the memories.
“Is there anything you really need to go to your home for or should we just stop at my place? I thought that you wanted something from there that had to do with her but now I’m not so sure.”
“I need her necklace. I always kept it besides my bed and I would wear it anytime I was home but I was scared of loosing it so I never brought it to school. Besides your house is on the way and although it is quite secure mine is still safer. If we’re spending the night away it’s best to go there.” I told him as I started to get my thoughts back in order again.
“If my sister is still alive and willing to leave we’ll go to your place but if she wants to stay we’ll stay” I nodded. I wouldn’t force her to come if she didn’t want to and we both knew she would survive something as weak as a few zombies.
Ever since we picked up page and she’s been on my back I’ve been letting Leo take care of the zombies for me other than a few knife throws as support. By the time we reached his house we where both at level eleven through the sheer amount of kills. I think it was around six hundred for me and nine for him? It was ridiculous.
“It doesn’t look like anyone’s come through. Luckily your gramps insisted on distrusting technology and made the gate like a padlock with numbers or it’d be annoying to get in” I commented as he began to twist in a eight numbered code.
Opening the gate and locking it behind us we went inside for the long walk up the stairs.
Their house was a dojo that was remodelled. Technically it’s heritage listed but because it was a restoration they had a certain amount of freedom for what they could do and it made the place quite amazing. Originally it was a traditional dojo that was quite big, maybe able to keep a hundred permanent disciples and it had a lot of land for flowers, tree’s, decorations and ponds but now it’s a manor for a single family. In the city, even if it’s not in the middle it’s still not on the edge. To have this building in a land of skyscrapers is a testament to how wealthy the family is.
There is a concrete fence around this place with barbed wire at six metres in height so logically this would be a good place to hole up in as compared to the school, right? Wrong. This place is like a paradise to the scared people hiding from zombies. Both our houses are like this except mine wasn’t a remodelled building and has a modern theme. Right now we don’t have the power to protect our homes. The school is an edgy subject whether it would be safe from other people or not but the houses like these will fall within the week even with my stats because of how luxurious it is.
Opening the door and looking around there weren’t any signs of foreign visitors but our guard stayed up. I circled around the back and a minute later Leo did as we planned and called out for his sister and asked if anyone was there. We did this in case someone was occupying the house and was hostile so when they are distracted I could take them out from behind.
*Thud*
“Oofff!”
At first I was confused but I relaxed when I noticed it was just Ally barrelling into her brother.
“I” Sniff “I was so worried, why did you take so long stupid brother?” She complained as she cried on his chest.
“We got pinned down in a horde. We could have escaped before it finished gathering but it was already four in the afternoon at that time so we stayed in the building rather than travelling in the dark. I’m sorry for worrying you sis.” He comforted her as she cried.
“Mmhf, whats” yawn “what’s happening, big bro’s” A tired voice muttered from my back sounding dazed as we scared the hell out of Ally when she noticed there where others.
“We came to big bro Leo’s place to see your new big sister Ally.” I told her as I signalled ally to play along.
“Nice to meet you, my name is Ally. Did these brutes hurt you?” She introduced with a smile that made us shiver.
“Hmph, big bro Jean messed up my hair… three times!” She yelled dramatically as she giggled.
I mouthed out ‘I’ll tell you later’ before changing the topic.
“Ally we weren’t planning on staying here but that depends on whether you want to come with us or not. We came to get some swords and find you before going to my place to get… that.” I said awkwardly. Unlike her brother, Ally had come over my place to visit me a few times since my sister died when her mum came for tea. I only met the brother at his house and school since they where raising him with heaps of tutoring to be the family head but because ally came over she knew about the necklace that I treasured so much.
“Where do we plan on going after that then?” She agreed immediately which I was thankful for.
“It will almost dark by the time we get there so we’ll stay the night and head back to the school I guess. I wasn’t sure if we should go back there before but then we picked up Page. While the three of us can protect ourselves due to the training having to protect her will put a lot of strain on us so it’s better to have a permanent place to settle down, atleast until she is stronger.” Leo looks surprised since I didn’t mention that part of my plan but he quickly accepted it since he agreed.
“Let’s go get some swords then. But brother… taz died.” She said sadly as Leo’s face fell.
“How?” He asked weakly.
“Some people tried to break in, it was only two but taz went crazy barking. When they got hostile he attacked and downed the first guy by biting his throat but he got a lucky stab in and punctured a lung. Taz killed them both but I couldn’t help him as he died.” She said sadly.
“At least the old guy got to have his final battle. He’s always been depressed since he couldn’t go hunting anymore.” He said, a bit of amusement with his sadness.
“Sixteen years old and can still kill two grown men. That stuff about bigger dogs having shorter lifespans is totally toad crap with that old monster” I laughed slightly as the other two agreed. Page didn’t interrupt since she is still old enough to realise what we where talking about. She decided it was better for us not to be interrupted.
“What about goldy, is he okay?” We both stared at him critically at that.
“Brother Goldy died last week when you accidently fed him pepper instead of fish food.” Goldy was their goldfish, the second animal in the household.
“What!? But that was Goldy the twenty fifth, the fortune said twenty five would have good luck!” He cried out instantly as I wondered at my choice in friends. If I’m ever sick and he tries to give me chicken soup or medicine I really will die… from poison. He has killed twenty five goldfish, seven fighter fish, eleven clown fish and a single angler fish all by accident, an absolutely astonishing number. The thing is his family even tries to monitor him so it doesn’t happen but somehow he still manages. We have a running joke theory that the reason taz lived so long despite his size was because after surviving Leo’s food he could no longer be killed by something as trivial as age.
“I’m not even going to comment anymore. Anyway come on, let’s get this over with quickly” Ally sighed.
“Big bro, is big bro Leo actually a bad person who likes hurting fishies?” She whispered to me innocently as I struggled to keep my laughter in.
“No he is just really bad at anything food related. Never eat his food. If you don’t die you just might change race” I warned.
“Un. Don’t worry, mummy was a chef and she taught me how to cook. If he tries I’ll make sure that I cook instead.” She told me with a firm resolve which made it even harder not to laugh.
I let her down so she could stretch her legs a bit as we followed to the armoury where the now deceased grandfather used to collect weapons and armours but the armour was simply impractical in our opinion so we just went for the swords and throwing knifes. While the current daggers worked just fine they where still unbalanced. It works for short distance due to my experience, dexterity and intelligence letting me get around the awkwardness of it but as seen by one of the rapists being able to react in time to miss the kill shot it showed that they weren’t good enough for combat situations.
“Jean do you still favour the Katana?” She asked as Leo went to go choose some weapons.
“Yeah. It’s what my uncle used to teach me so it’s the one I’m most familiar with” I agreed.
Truthfully many people thought it was weird to use a katana with the western culture but the sharpness, length and practicality suites me a lot better especially considering I’m fighting beings that I need to keep at a distance rather than getting close. The hand axe is good but the reach is lacking. It will be my spare weapon for emergencies since sometimes hacking through wood could save my life and swords can’t do that but katana will be the main.
Well I could use a bastard sword but I’ve never really liked them due to how the blade is positioned. Long swords are also a possibility but same problem, I don’t like it. I’m most proficient in the katana anyway so there’s no point debating over them.
“Then it’s that section over there” She pointed for me to some shelves. Nodding I proceeded to inspect the blades.
There where around fifteen of them but I immediately ruled out twelve. Even though I’m not planning on stealth missions or anything a colour other than black would stand out too much at night while in the day it’d be visible regardless so it made sense to use that unreflective colour. Uncle always told me to focus on practicality rather than sparkle. ‘Whenever you pick a blade make sure it’s one you would be comfortable with for the rest of your life. You can discard it any time you want if it suites you since I’m not some strict old man but always make sure the blade is atleast that capable before choosing it.’
So on the off chance I will need to fights using the night as cover I made sure the blade was black. Out of the three one was too short for my tastes and one was perfect but I was still debating whether to use the longer one for it’s reach. Eventually what was familiar to me won out over the bigger blade as I considered that I might make a rookie mistake if I abruptly change my blade specifications to something different.
The throwing knives where easier since there was exactly the same type my uncle used to train me with here as well. The armoury itself wasn’t some antiques collection, it was all modern forged to be the best it possibly can. It’s unlikely to find better equipment than the gear in here in this country except for the forgers private collection. Even then it wouldn’t be much better.
I decided to switch out my hand axe for a slightly better one mainly because it had a sheath and I was more confident in it’s durability. All together I had the small hand axe, a katana, hunting knife and throwing knives. We all put on a modern version of chainmail, a chainmail singlet that was mainly built to resist glancing blows rather than anything solid. It could be breached by anything else but it wasn’t heavy and was useful so it’s what we used.
Page got two daggers and a hidden knife inside her new shoes.
“I’m set. You guys all good?” I asked after I finished equipping my gear.
“No we’re not good. Go have a shower, both of you” Ally ordered in disgust. Two days workout… right, I forgot.
“Ally…” I hesitated as I made sure page was far enough away.
“When we found page she was being raped. I’ll explain the details later but… can you take her for a shower as well? She seems to be ignoring it as if it never happened but I think being clean would make her feel a bit better” Ally was shocked and pissed but she nodded easily.
“I hope you killed the bastards.” She said coldly.
“Of course I did. Leo was a little shaky afterwards from the memories but there where no problems taking them out. There was something else but I’ll need to tell you in detail later, just make sure she’s okay.”
“I will. I’m assuming you already talked to him?” She motioned to Leo subtly.
“We’re men, we don’t need talk when we can communicate through our manliness.” I said arrogantly before deflating at the glare.
“I didn’t talk to him much but I made sure he was okay. Talking would have been less effective anyway but what happened is a secret between men.” I told her firmly.
“Did you kiss him and admit your gay?” She said as I choked on my own breath.
“I only hugged him, what the hell!? Ah dammit, why do I always realise you trick me after I fell for it” I muttered in annoyance.
“Because I’m amazing. Now seriously, go have a shower before your odour seeps into the building.” She laughingly pushed me out of the room and went to go talk with page.
Complying I went and turned the showers they had connected to a tank on and had a cold shower. It was what we used after training since we where always worn out and Leo and Ally’s parents actually had it built specifically for that. No electricity required whatsoever.
Even if it was cold, after several years using it every day sometimes two times a day it actually feels quite nice to me so I had no complaints. Drying off I re-equipped all my gear while putting on some of Leo’s clothes, specifically black jeans and a long sleeved collared shirt that I had basically reserved because I like it so much. I left the top two buttons undone since I hate how it feels to have it closed up around my throat so you could see a small part of the singlet chainmail but it literally looks like a singlet so I wasn’t worried.
The katana was sheathed across my back the hand axe on my left side with the hunting knife on the right as the throwing knives where at my back hanging off the belt covered by my shirt. There was a knife strapped to my right arm as well as two in my left boot, one visible and one not as to make anyone who captures me think the visible knife is the only one. Some might think it’s overkill but it’s not like it’s uncomfortable or anything so there’s no problem.
Afterwards I put a black fluffy jumper I always kept in my schoolbag on as it’s my favourite clothing article and it hid the katana sheath to a certain extent. Mainly I just thought it’d be good in case I get thrown across concrete, same as the jeans since it would stop the skin getting ripped off. Since it’s winter it’s a perfect time to wear it.
Other than the axe sheath, knife sheath and the top of the katana that is hidden by the hoody I put over it but still noticeable if properly examined, I looked like a normal teenager.
“Here I was thinking I looked cool then you came along. Dammit man, why the hell am I your friend?” Leo muttered as he returned to his room to change clothes. It doesn’t help that while he was always attractive I outshone him. Because of that the girls focused on me the most and my charisma even raised almost double the amount his raised from our sweaty half naked work out. Still that’s not to say he’s average or even good, he could be considered amazing in terms of looks… it’s just I outshone him. It was me who was irregular, not him.
He came out wearing a similar get up to mine but the jumper was instead a leather jacket and he wore a beany. It sounds crappy but it really suited him, making it look good. Same as me he wore jeans.
“Why didn’t you just wear that in the first place? It clearly suites you better” I asked once he came out.
“Because it makes me look older. We’re travelling with a little kid, I’d look a paedophile” he complained as I burst into laughter at the stupid reason.
“You don’t look old at all idiot. At worse you look like your close to graduation, same as me.”
“Actually you look younger in those clothes but I might be partial considering you’ve worn the same variation in different sizes for almost as long as I’ve known you” Ally commented as she made herself known.
“I’m not that bad… the shirt changes colour sometimes” I defended weakly. I really do love these clothes since it literally suites me perfectly.
“Uh huh. Anyway I’m using the throwing knife on a string for my main weapon. Range is eighteen metres, twenty if I do it right. I also have a slingshot, a few spare stringed throwing knives, hunting knife and a few daggers. Low mid range fighter.” She outlined for us.
“Katana, hunting knife, hand axe, a few daggers and about twenty throwing knives. Two have ten metre strings on them in case I’m getting low. Close to barely mid ranged fighting.” I added in.
“Dual wield double sided swords with ten or so throwing knives and bladed knuckle busters. Also two daggers and a hunting knife. Close range fighter.” Leo said his own.
It’s always good to know what we’re fighting with if we need to fight together so this is close to routine for us, though before today it was just in training… we where bored rich kids who needed to get coached in this stuff anyway as a ‘hobby’ for when we socialised with other rich kids so we made it fun with combat simulations.
We all laughed at how serious we said it before we got ready to move out. We each pocketed a flint and steel, sharpening stone and a few other bits and pieces to maintain our equipment before we left. This time Page was walking as we wanted to give her some free kills to level her up from zero and while Ally would kill as well in order to get her level up, page was the only one who would use her stat points. Ally was worried about us for two days so she began to lose herself in training, especially after Taz died so she was at Leo’s level in stats while I was above them both.
“D-do I really have to kill it?” She asked timidly.
I felt bad for making her do this but there really was no choice.
“I’m sorry sis but we might not always be able to protect you so it’s necessary” I said with a tensed smile as I held the limbless zombie down with my foot on it’s neck.
“We’re all here so it’s fine. If you want I will even give you a piggy back for the next five minutes?” Leo coaxed.
“Yay! O-okay, I’ll try. H-here I go” She said as she closed her eyes and plunged the dagged in.
“I did it! Look look, page levelled up!” She said excitedly as she went to third person.
“Good work. Now you get a piggy back, I’m so jealous. I wish someone would give me a piggy back.” Ally said while pointedly looking at me.
“You do realise I have a katana sheath that would dig into you uncomfortably right? Not to mention that’s a no crossing zone in the bro-code.” I denied.
“Tch.” She said disappointedly.
“No it’s cool, you can cross that line. I’m worried if anyone will accept my sister with how violent she is so the bro code is void in this case.” He damned me and got punched in the stomach from the sister as a result.
“Who did you just call violent?” She asked chillingly.
“B-big sister, you where just violent…” She trailed off as the big sis met her ultimate enemy, childish innocence, and cringed.
“Anyway now you can give me a piggy back” She smiled victoriously as if it never happened.
“Whatever but your getting off if there’s any big fights.” I gave in knowing that with her personality she would pester me until I gave in anyway.
It wasn’t that she was heavy or anything, in fact she was always quite light and with the massive strength improvement it was the same as carrying a dagger with my old strength but it was awkward while fighting and just in general.
“Happy?” I asked sarcastically.
“Yep now let’s just put your hood up so I can sleep on your head and there, done.” She sung happily as she proceeded to do just that. To anyone else we would look like two lovers strolling through the zombie apocalypse.
Using one hand I continued to use the katana to remove the limbs of zombies and raise Page’s level until she reached ten and ally reluctantly came down to level up.
Then we finally reached my house… no, mansion.