Liam

Monday, April 25th, 2022 (34 days after the Shutdown)

Remaining quiet, he waited to see if the other person would make a move.

As he prepared himself for a confrontation, the minutes trickled by, and yet there were still no signs of life from the other person.

Maybe they’re asleep.

Ready to give up, he heard someone stir awake in what he thought was the room next to his.

“What did they lock you up for?” Liam started, figuring that was as good an opening line as any.

When they remained silent, he continued, “I… well honestly I’m not sure what I did. I sort of killed a few people from their group… whoever they are… and now I’m here.”

“I should have stayed home,” he mused, getting lost in his thoughts.

He’d thought about it a lot when he had nothing else to do at Krazy-K, the value mart he’d holed up in. Aside from the exterior decorations of dead rats and a withered cat, it was the perfect place to survive. The entire area was practically abandoned meaning there was a low probability of confronting another group.

The closest places to the store were the Industrial District a street below and a string of pillaged shops. But hundreds of meters to the south and west of him lay the massive Laurelwood Forest — the same one that the neighborhood of Half-Moon Bay was exploring before he left.

Maybe it was time for him to think bigger than just the Krazy-K value mart.

If he had to go deeper into the city each time he needed resources, he would run into more situations where it was “killed or be killed”. He didn’t want that. He didn’t want him killing more people to be a card on the table.

If he could build a self-sufficient base, not just a one-building setup, but somewhere he had a sustainable supply of food, water, and a shelter—

Put a pin in it, Liam. Try to survive today.

Realizing the other prisoner had no interest in him, Liam remained quiet.

***

“No, stop it. NO! Get away from me!”

Liam’s eyes snapped open.

Remembering where he was, he let his eyes drift around till they focused on the thin strip of light coming under his cell door. To his disappointment, the food the guard promised before he left wasn’t there.

Sighing, he resisted the urge to yell in frustration.

If only he could do that freaky shadow-teleporting thing the demon had done, he would be gone from here in a jiffy. But he didn’t even know where to start, and the only thing that knew how to do it was some eldritch creature that barely talked to him.

“Please— MMmmmmh!”

What the fuck are they doing?

Opening his mouth to tell them to keep it down, he gagged. A deep breath in felt like sugar icing was being piped into his nose. A sweet smell this potent meant only fear.

Did the monsters get inside?!

Still unable to move, he kept himself as silent as possible when he heard it.

A rhythmic thumping.

Confused, as the smell of fear grew stronger it started to wriggle into his head, making him squirm in pleasure on the ground. Struggling to restrain himself, his mind began to float and saliva started to leak out of his mouth.

Stop! STOP! Liam ordered himself but he had no control over his body.

The fear was intoxicating like he was experiencing every happy memory in his life all at once. He heard a grunt in the next room, and a second later something hit the floor.

The pressure on his head briefly lessened.

A door creaked open and someone stepped out into the hall. Hearing the sound of his grunts as he fiddled with his zipper, the man muttered some curse under his breath before walking away.

The fear from the other room didn’t fade.

***

It continued for the next 12 hours.

Every so often someone new entered the neighboring room. As the door closed, the potency of the fear and the muffled whimpers were renewed making Liam’s head swim like he was on hallucinogens. But after the third time, he could tell there was a steep decrease in the pheromones being released. It could’ve been for a multitude of reasons but Liam went with the most obvious — he was acclimating to it.

As proof of it, Liam’s mind wasn’t on Cloud 9 the next time the door shut. Grabbing at the opportunity, Liam called out before the man could leave again.

“Could… Could I have my food now?”

“...”

Liam’s cell door slowly opened and a light was shined in his face.

“... Who the hell are you?”

Is he trying to be funny? You put me here.

“Great question. I locked myself in here and was told I would get food in return.”

“... “

Moving the light away from his face, Liam could finally make out the man’s brutish face. His jailor’s mangled jaw looked like he chewed on rocks for fun and he had a thick crop of brown hair. The only part of him that looked ‘intelligent’ was his eyes, which were currently staring at Liam on the ground. Giving him a final look-over, the guard shut the door.

… guess that means no food.

There were no sounds from the cell next to him. He wasn’t stupid enough to not know what happened but there was nothing he could do. Liam had the willpower of a ragdoll.

Thirty minutes later the door opened.

“Finally, can I—”

“I’m sorry about that. It took us a while, right? We brought some food,” a familiar reedy voice said, holding out a tray of pie.

His throat closed up as he finally placed it.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

The night he and the rest of Squad 37 were chased out of the city by bullets, there was a man amongst their attackers whose unique voice had ingrained itself into Liam’s memory. And now he had a face to match with it.

Gaunt and firm like old leather, the man’s face held a practiced smile. As another man stepped into the cell, light dispersed the shadows and Liam finally realized how much trouble he was in.

He’d entered the lion’s den.

A thought had been nagging at the back of his subconscious ever since he’d been brought here.

‘Were the people who found him at the tower different from the bikers? And how was it possible for such a large group to exist, and never have fought the bikers?’

If the two parties had met, the party with the more firepower would easily absorb the other, through either war or words. None of the emotions he’d felt when he’d been brought in bordered hatred, so he went with the second option.

They were all a part of the same group.

And now, his proof was staring him in the face. The bikers he’d seen were cruel and vicious, killing people without a second thought, and gunning down random strangers to steal their supplies. There would be no quarter given to those who messed with them… and Liam had just killed about a dozen of their men.

But all Liam saw on the man’s face was interest and curiosity.

“We’re very low on food so this is what we could spare from today’s dinner. Hope it’s enough.”

Realizing he’d been ignoring the man’s outstretched hand, Liam tried to explain that he couldn’t move but thankfully the man understood. Setting the tray right beside his head, the smell wafted over to him, making Liam’s mouth water. He’d never seen anything so beautiful. It was a thick slice of shepherd’s pie, with a coating of gravy dripping off of it.

Swallowing back his hunger, he looked down at his feet where the man quietly sat.

“So… who are you and what’s your deal?”

Seeing how he was being straight to the point, Liam didn’t mess around with pleasantries. Though he was vulnerable on the floor, he did his best to avoid giving too much away.

As he continued to talk, a nerve began twitching on the man’s forehead.

“I’m more interested in how one person was able to kill 14 of my people without taking an injury. Explain that,” he interjected, tired of Liam’s theatrics.

Liam was at a loss for words.

“I hid in the stairwells and picked them off one by one with a gun,” Liam said, pulling at a random thought.

The man shook his head.

“I was told their throats were slashed from ear to ear. Care to explain how a bullet did that?”

Liam didn’t know what to say.

“Here’s what I think happened. You set off some gas attack which slowed down my guys enough to avoid their bullets and then you sliced them up. Does that sound about right?” he asked, waiting for Liam’s response.

It’s a trap. The moment I agree, he’ll know I’m lying and if I don’t, I’ll have to explain.

“There… were corpses in one of the rooms. The gasses from the decaying bodies might’ve messed with their heads. I just…” Liam said, watching his interrogator’s eyes narrow. “I just guerilla attacked them one by one afterward.”

The man stared at him impassively.

“What’s your name, again? Liam? Liam… we don’t need liars,” he warned, standing up and walking over to Liam’s side. “However, you are a talented individual, so why don’t you be upfront about it with me? Was there someone helping you? Taking down 14 people by yourself is very impressive… If you want, we can give you all shelter here. We’ve set up greenhouses and we’re already starting to grow fresh vegetables. There is clean water, a strong community, and every opportunity to rise in the ranks. We’ve built paradise in the apocalypse.”

Pacing next to Liam’s head, he continued, “The world we knew is gone. The only way to survive is to band together until nothing can stand up to you or harm you. Think of this as an invitation to join us.”

What is wrong with them?

“I… I killed your people and you’re trying to recruit me?” Liam asked, completely bewildered by the man’s attitude.

“Yes, their deaths were a tragedy,” the man smiled. “But to kill you over it? Please, we’re not savages.”

He doesn’t even care that they died, Liam thought, watching his interrogator’s apathetic face. The fact that he’s not even trying to hide it means he doesn’t need to.

“You know what, how ‘bout we do this? I’ve given you a lot to think about. I’ll leave the food here as a sign of good will and I’ll come back in an hour to hear your answer. Hopefully… it's what I want to hear.”

Nodding to the other man who’d come in with him, the two of them started to leave.

“What’s your name?” Liam called out before the door shut.

“... I’ll tell you if you agree to join us. See you in an hour. Anything before then, tell Jerry,” he said, putting a hand on a guard who’d been waiting outside.

Liam heard his shoes clacking against the tiles as the man walked away.

He didn’t even look at the other cell before he left…

Looking over to the pie next to him, he painstakingly moved his head closer. Sniffing it, he stopped himself for fear it might be spiked.

He’d… heard what type of people they were. Liam didn’t know if his fellow prisoner deserved their fate, but if he accepted their invitation, it’d be a matter of time before he found himself back in this room.

He said he’ll be back in an hour, right? So I have an hour to escape… so how do I do that?

Against his better judgment, he took a bite of the shepherd’s pie. Bit by bit, he could feel his strength returning, just enough that he could crawl on all fours — not enough to escape.

You better help me with this, you shallow creature.

“Guard! I have information to share!” Liam yelled.

Hearing a grunt as someone outside got to their feet, he could see someone stop in front of his door.

“Let’s hear it,” he muttered in disinterest.

“Pal, I can’t keep speaking this loud.”

The guard’s derisive laughter echoed through the room. “You want me to go into the same room as a known killer. You think I’m dumb?”

“I allegedly killed them and what would I try and kill you with? A paper plate?” Liam mocked. “Hey, if you don’t want this information, that’s fine with me. But it’s information on the monsters outside. Instead of waiting for your boss to come back and me saying it, imagine what you would get if you were the one to tell him. Maybe a little something extra on the side?”

“I already got everything I need here.”

“More never hurts.”

“... alright,” he conceded, the sound of a key audible from the other side of the door. “You better gimme something or I swear I’m gonna bet the daylights out of you.”

The door swung open and the guard looked down to see Liam lying on the ground.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

Grinning, Liam shrugged his shoulders. “I told you there was nothing to worry about. Could you help me up first?”

Scratching his head, the guard offered his hand.

Now!

Grasping it with both arms, the guard looked up in surprise as Liam squeezed his eyes shut and concentrated. Remembering the withered corpses back in the tower, he tried willing the man’s life force into him. Tensing his entire body, he could feel the guard try to retract his arm but Liam tightened his grip.

“What are you trying to do? Yo, I’m not into that type of thing. Let go of me, man!”

Help me! You freakin’ parasi—

‘PARDON?!’

Ah, my best friend! Real quick, how do I do that life-force draining thing you were doing?

‘... your body can not handle it. I served as the conduit between my powers and your world. Without me, you will combust.’

Then become the conduit!

‘Your world is too shielded. I can only open up the channel between me and the source of my powers a bit. I have already used up my allowance.’

Then—

‘However… if you use something else to act as a temporary conduit, it might work. But then the human in front of you will die.’

… Do it.

‘You have flexible morals… Interesting. Draw his blood.’

Adhering to his instructions, Liam dug his fingers into the guard’s arm till he felt the skin give way to the blood underneath.

“You basta— oh. Oh.”

Shadows spread from Liam till the room grew somber and quiet until the only sound was the guard’s heartbeat. Liam’s body grew cold as he became more detached from the situation, emotionless as the guard futilely tried to remove his arm. Something started to stir within him and he felt the guard’s arms grow thinner as his vitality was absorbed into Liam’s fingers.

Falling onto his knee, the guard looked at him in horror.

“Freak… you’re a freak…”