“Get ready. Sun is almost up.” [Survivor]
The brown-haired, bearded man whispered. His four companions, each holding their respective weapons, steeled themselves, prepared for a fight. They had rested in a duplex for the night, blocked the windows with anything they could find and took turns sleeping.
“We’re in Psycho turf. It’s unlikely, but if there is a Deadrise, depending on the scale, we’ll have to go loud.” [Survivor]
“… Sounds like a video game.” [Survivor]
“Shh!” [Survivor]
The five survivors waited quietly in the bedroom that they had used for their temporary base while spread out. They kept their backs to the walls and their senses alert to pounce into action in a split second. When a minute passed, they could faintly hear hoarse groans coming from beyond the door of the bedroom. Everyone relaxed their tense shoulders for just a moment before approaching it. Then, they opened the door slowly.
In the living room joined to the kitchen were three zombies, all decomposed males in their twenties. They turned their heads towards the survivors, their vacant eyes gazing at them. The first to move was the tanned-skinned young man. He pushed the one closest to him, on his right, away using his sledgehammer. In a similar manner, he did the same to the second one on his left. For the third and last one, he hit the right side of his head.
It wasn’t enough to kill the infected who staggered and bent from the blow. However, it earned him enough time to sweep him off his legs with a low swing of his weapon. When the undead was on the floor, helpless, the survivor brought his sledgehammer down on him twice, crushing his skull. Behind the young man, the other two zombies were also being similarly dispatched.
The blonde-haired, lively woman bashed her enemy on the head until it shattered, her nailed bat turning redder after each blow. The brown-haired, composed woman repeatedly hit her foe with the butt of her shotgun until he fell backward. Once he was down, she took out a hammer hanging from her belt and struck him thrice like hammering a nail, caving in his skull. In such a manner, the immediate threat had been immediately resolved.
“Good job, guys! This feels just like that stunt we pulled after graduating!” [Survivor]
“That got us into so much trouble.” [Survivor]
“It was fun, but NOT worth the lecture.” [Survivor]
The two other members of the group watched the newest addition’s banter in mute amazement. They were impressed at how they had taken out the infected quickly and decisively.
“… It’s over.” [Survivor]
The black-haired woman lowered her semi-automatic pistol while the bearded man stepped forward, a submachine gun in hand.
“We might just all make it out of here.” [Survivor]
He said, his voice sounding hopeful.
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After a good night’s sleep, Jessica went to one of the gymnasiums in Alpha Third University. The university building that she was staying at possessed ten floors with two of them being underground. Set below ground, the gym and the equipment were well-lit and clean.
“That’s it! Keep running! That’s what you’ll be doing most of the time when you leave ATU! Cardio could mean life or death out there!” [Survivor]
Survivors living in the university were present and their voices could be heard, giving the large room a lively atmosphere.
“Three! Four! One more! No pain no gain!” [Survivor]
They were running on treadmills, lifting weights or encouraging their friends, but no one bothered Jessica.
“Just ten more pushups! Go!” [Survivor]
“I, I can’t…! My arms are like jelly…” [Survivor]
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“Don’t give me that! Only ten more! Do it! I’ll give you a cookie.” [Survivor]
“A cookie?! HELL YEAH!” [Survivor]
That was because they were all focused on their own training.
“Don’t give up! Surpass yourself! Limits are there to be broken!” [Survivor]
“No, they’re not!” [Survivor]
“Yes, they are!” [Survivor]
“What if I’m a driver and there’s a speed limit?!” [Survivor]
“Break through the limit!” [Survivor]
“But what about the cops?!” [Survivor]
“Surpass the cops!” [Survivor]
“But what about the pedestrians?!” [Survivor]
“PEDESTRIANS ARE A LIE!!” [Survivor]
It was a serious and important time for them to condition their bodies which could increase their chances of survival.
“Hey, check it out!” [Survivor]
“Whoaaa, what a babe. She’s the newcome-no way! Is that Terry?!” [Survivor]
“The Terror of Terran! He’s actually training here!” [Survivor]
Also, Jessica was accompanied by Terry and his entourage, so no one wanted to mess with them and become hated.
“It looks like he’s giving her some pointers.” [Survivor]
“Damn it, I’m so jealous! Do you think he’ll do the same for me if I turn into a pretty girl with big boobs?” [Survivor]
“I doubt that. Guy’s immune to feminine charms.” [Survivor]
The admired wrestler was in the middle demonstrating how to suplex someone.
“Then, you lift your hips and bend your back like this!” [Terry]
Arching his back, he drove the man he was holding by the waist from behind into the blue mattress. Jessica watched and nodded as he slowly stood back up while the volunteer, though unharmed, was still reeling from the blow. She thought she could learn more, but someone came in the gym and pulled Terry away for business. So, Jessica trained under the supervision of two other people that the leader of the group had brought along.
Then, after an hour or so, she went to the locker room for women to take a break. She retrieved a bottle of water from her backpack and quenched her thirst. As she stored it away, her hand inadvertently went for the semi-automatic handgun placed next to it. It was black in color, could hold eight bullets and belonged to Tom. Yesterday, when she and Ryner escaped from the coffee shop, they picked it up from his gruesome remains.
“Is that a M1912 Starlight?” [???]
Someone asked Jessica who was silently staring a hole in the gun, bringing her out of her stupor.
“H-huh?” [Jessica]
“M1912 Starlight. Chambers 9mm ammo. Based on the M1911 and built after World War 2 in 1939 to honor the Great Advent. That’s it right there, isn’t it?” [???]
“Oh, uh, I guess? I’m sorry. I’m not too familiar with guns.” [Jessica]
Jessica said to the woman in her early thirties who looked interestedly at the firearm. Her name was Maggie and she was one of the two people that was training with her. She had black hair in a short, boyish cut, porcelain skin and brown eyes. Her face was plain, but her body was impressive, mainly her muscles.
Unlike Jessica’s soft, supple limbs, hers were rugged and tough. Her abs and oblique were very well-chiseled, making it look like she could take a punch to the stomach without flinching. Everything was visible since she wore black spats shorts and a cropped tank top that emphasized ease of movement.
“Mag, don’t bother her with your gun love.” [???]
On the other side of Jessica, another woman told Maggie to stop. Her name was Madeline. She had the same appearance, except for her clothes that were blue, and was the elder sister of the two. She and her twin were trusted by Terry and were put in charge of helping and keeping an eye on Jessica.
“Aw come on, Mad. Don’t call it gun love. This is just a bit of trivia. Hey, Jessica, tell you what, I know a friend that’s a bit of a collector. If you’re willing, I can trade that gun for another model.” [Maggie]
“That friend is just you. Don’t take someone’s mean of defending themselves.” [Madeline]
“I’ll get her a better gun! And some free ammo!” [Maggie]
Jessica watched the two bicker peacefully for a bit before staring at her gun. She remembered Tom’s face that was stripped of flesh, looking like a bloody skull with hair.
“(… I don’t regret killing him. In fact… It was the best…!)” [Jessica]
She thought quietly, remembering the excitement traveling down her spine like a bolt of lightning when she smashed her former boss’ head to pieces and when she stabbed Tom. The feel of the bone breaking and the blade penetrating flesh was still fresh in her memory. It sated a dark flame that had been burning quietly in her heart for years.
“(I’ve really become a horrible person…)” [Jessica]
Objectively, she understood that the joy she took in her sordid acts was wrong. However, the dark flame demanded more and threatened to turn into a blaze that would consume her whole if she didn’t deliver.
“(But! It’s not over! Not yet! I’m sure Tom isn’t the only one to have survived! I need to find them! And then, kill them! To do that, I need to grow stronger!)” [Jessica]
Just as Jessica formulated her ominous plans, a mad light dancing in her eyes, she looked at her left hand and remembered Ryner. When she woke up in the morning, he was still there, right by her side, holding her hand gently, reassuringly.
“(Did anyone ever do that for me?)” [Jessica]
The blonde-haired woman softly clenched her left hand and brought it to her chest.
“(Did anyone… Ever risk their life for me?)” [Jessica]
She recalled how she had held tightly onto him for an entire night, trying to find safety by hugging his body. It was warm, he didn’t smell bad and she could tell that his body was well-trained.
“(It’s the first time… I’ve ever felt like this…)” [Jessica]
The dark flame suddenly turned into a small ember and a different heat enveloped her.
“Mhh? What’s up, Jessica? Your face is a bit red.” [Maggie]
“Wanna take a shower to cool off?” [Madeline]
“… No, it’s nothing.” [Jessica]
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Item of interest
M1912 Starlight:
* Semi-automatic pistol based on the M1911.
* Holds eight rounds.
* Once wielded by a guy who got stabbed for what he did.