Fletcher had one remaining object that he wanted to check, he got the bead he found in Jack’s brain, and he contemplated for a while what to do with it, but eventually, he gave in to temptation and put it in his mouth, it took some effort to swallow but he managed to do it.
Fletcher's body started reacting, and subsequently visible arcs of electricity started going through his body, each time more painful than the other, Fletcher was experiencing pain like never before, if it was a normal person they wouldn’t have been able to withstand it, the electric currents become more frequent and violent as time went by, and Fletcher was at his limit, after 10 torturous minutes, his body finally relaxed and went back to normal.
Fletcher stood up, clearly disoriented, “That was fucking awful, I hope it was worth it”, he opened his stats window
Race : human (awakened)
Height : 6.2 f weight : 180 p
Strength : 5
Agility : 5
Vitality : 5
Intelligence : 2.6 (+1 max value )
Health : 50 / 50 ( 1 Vit = 10 HP )
Mana : 26 / 26 (1 Int = 10 MP)
Abilities
Devour:(unknown)
Electric body (the body can produce electric power, the electric charge lasts for 5 minutes, mana cost 10 points // Damage 5 points)
Enhancements :
Improved Brain Circuitry (grants a 1 attribute increase to your intelligence limit)
Fletcher was delightfully surprised, not only did he get Jack’s ability but also on top of that, his intelligence attribute limitation of five just increased to six points, which is quite significant, this meant that his attributes aren't fixed, and can be increased beyond their limitation, as long as he can get more Ability beads.
Fletcher now had to put acquiring ability beads at the top of his list, which means hunting awakened humans.
***
Someone knocked on the door.
“Come in”
Stacey walked in politely into the room “Excuse me, sir, I just wanted to see if you needed anything”
Fletcher couldn’t help but notice this woman's impressive ability to adapt to the situation, unlike the other women, she was smarter and more determined, Fletcher liked that about her, it’s not easy to drop your ego to survive, although she might not be as honest about her intentions, that is to be expected and easy to rectify later.
“You can call me Fletcher, sit down Stacey” Fletcher said in a friendly voice.
Stacey was surprised to see Fletcher's nice demeanor, she hurriedly sat down next to him.
“How are you feeling today, you must have been tired after last night,” Fletcher held Stacey’s hand and said she blushed a little bit and said, “No it was great, no I mean I am fine”.
“I am glad to hear that, by the way, can you tell me how you ended up with this group, you don’t strike me as the adventurous type?” Fletcher asked.
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“You are correct I’m not, I just couldn’t stay in the base anymore, it was awful” Stacey said with a hint of sadness in her voice.
“What do you mean by that I thought the underground bases were safe” Fletcher questioned.
“They are, but the living conditions there are awful, the food rations are barely enough to satisfy our hunger, and the entire air around the base smelled awful, I just could not take it anymore, that’s why when I heard that Jack was forming a scavenger group I pestered him until he allowed me to join” Olivia explained the terrible reality of most people nowadays.
“Is it that bad?” Fletcher asked in disbelief.
“It wasn’t at first, the condition started worsening 3 months ago, and that’s why a lot of people in the base, would rather risk their lives outside than stay in that shit hole” Olivia vented.
“So how did you know Jack?” Fletched asked.
Stacey's eyes fluttered a bit at the mention of Jack’s name, after all, they had been friends for a long time, she even had feelings for him, and here she was talking with the man who killed him she couldn’t help but feel guilty somehow, although that was going through her head she didn’t let that faze her “we knew each other for a few years, we also worked together before everything changed”
Fletcher noticed her subtle reaction when he mentioned Jack's name “So you liked him"
"No, I didn't he wasn't my type, and he was with Olivia"
Fletcher gave her a look of I know you're lying.
She gave in and simply said "Yes I liked him"
"Are you mad at me, I killed him after all?”
Stacey did not know what to say, there was no way to fool this man, he could see right through her. “I don’t..” she kept on stuttering unable to say a word
“It’s okay you don’t have to answer, but Stacey don't try to hide anything from me, do you understand?” Fletcher said coldly
Stacey realized she miscalculated this man was not your average male, “yes, I’m sorry”
“So when you guys go back to the base, what do you do with the supplies you gather”
“We all get a share of the normal supplies we are free to do whatever we want with them, as for the zombie cores, Jack hands them to the military”
“Why would he do that?”
“I’m not sure, but I heard him once say that the military can help him get stronger or something”
“Interesting, anything else you heard?”
“No you can ask Olivia she was Jack’s fiance, I’m sure she would know about it, those two were inseparable”
“Okay, you can leave now, tell Olivia to come and see me”
Stacey left the room dejected her plan to get closer to Fletcher didn’t work, but she can’t give up, this man is just harder to crack that’s all, and she loves a challenge.
'I will make him mine soon'. Olivia thought deviously.
Stacey had a thing for men who ignored and disrespected her, and that’s why she fell for Jack in the first place, he never looked her way no matter how many times she tried to seduce him, he was firmly in love with Olivia.
Stacey found her way to the kitchen and saw Olivia washing the dishes, “Olivia, he wants to see you, right now”
Olivia flinched at the sound of that she had been afraid of this moment, the worst fear of any woman is a man forcing himself on her, but she could not disobey him, she had to stay strong for her brother, if it was not for that reason, she would have chosen to kill herself, and not have to face that fate.
“What are you daydreaming about, hurry up, you don’t want to keep him waiting, we don’t need to put him in a bad mood. Do we now?” Olivia said.
“What does he want from me?” Olivia asked.
“He wants your sweet little tits dancing on his face, how should I know?” Olivia said sarcastically.
“Watch your mouth, Stacey" Olivia lashed back.
"Or what! Did you suddenly grow a pair or something, you should do what you are told, and shut your little mouth". Stacey said provocatively.
"I’m sick of your bullshit, I don’t know what it is about me that you don’t like but I’m done trying to be civil with you” Olivia responded angrily.
“Oh will you look at that miss goody two shoes finally showed her true colors, I always knew you were putting on a facade in front of Jack, but you are just a pretentious whore” Stacey yelled and cursed.
“A whore! says the woman who was screaming last night, aren’t you ashamed of yourself! jumping into the bed of a fucking killer, you’re disgusting” The situation escalated fast, the tension between the two women was building up for months, and it finally imploded
Stacey slapped Olivia in the face, that comment crossed the line.
“Do you think I wanted to do that, someone like you would never get it, I am a woman with no one to support me, unlike you, you had Jack and your brother, by your side all the time, you didn’t have to worry about anything, how dare you judge me, I had to do whatever it takes to survive” Stacey broke down crying
Olivia realized she never considered what other women must have been going through in these times, she felt guilty and shitty for saying all that.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean all that, if I knew I would never..” Olivia quickly apologized.
“Why would you, you never had to survive on your own, or make tough choices” After a pause Olivia added with a sharp tone in her voice "And don't act all that innocent, I saw you leave with Jack in the middle of the night, and strangely his dead and here you are alive and well' Stacey turned around and left.