Hearing a voice behind him, the man turned around abruptly. It was Mark. At the same moment, the high-tech gate detected Emma's presence and announced to her, “Owner sensed, door opening, stay aware.” The reinforced steel door began to slide open smoothly before them, but while Emma could see everything in there, Mark was met with a blank view of just grass.
Emma motioned for Amy to drive the RV into the base first, as Amy drove around the two other vehicles parked, Emma turned her attention back to Mark, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
“So, we meet again,” she said, her voice mixed with curiosity and suspicion. “What are you here for?”
Mark looked at Emma, his expression a mix of surprise and relief. Their guess had come true; it was the Emma they met before. “Would you like to join us on a mission?” he asked.
Emma raised her eyebrows in curiosity. “Mission?” she echoed, her tone skeptical. She turned around and inspected the two other vehicles parked nearby. Using her mental power, she sensed around twenty people in the two trucks. So that's why there are so many people, she thought, putting together the situation.
Crossing her arms, she turned back to Mark, her eyes narrowing slightly. “What’s the mission?” She was only one hundred zombies from accomplishing her goal of one thousand zombies.
“Can we talk about this inside?” a girl’s voice interrupted them. One of the truck windows had opened, and Cassidy’s head peeked out. She scanned Emma up and down, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and admiration. Emma is pretty, Cassidy thought.
Emma turned to her with interest. “And you are?”
Cassidy opened the truck door and gracefully stepped down, extending her hand towards Emma. “Hi, I’m Cassidy.”
Emma took her hand and shook it, her smile widening a bit. “Okay, let’s talk about it inside.”
As she finished her words, the plain grassy landscape inside the gate began to transform. To the group, it shifted into a scene they hadn’t seen for a long time: people were buying things from a small grocery store, some sat at the front of their house talking, and some individuals were farming their backyard gardens. It was almost as if the apocalypse had never happened and this was just a small thriving farm community.
Not knowing what they were seeing and noticing their lack of movement, Emma urged them to move. “Umm… come in?”
Mark shook himself out of shock and looked at Emma deeply for a second. Not understanding why the view before them had changed, he attributed it all to Emma’s supernatural power. After all, they had seen some unusual abilities at their base too. She must be incredibly powerful to create all of this.
As the two trucks entered the territory, a guest card appeared in each person’s pocket, as if out of thin air. Jared stepped forward to handle the rest of the group, introducing them to the territory.
Emma gestured for Mark and Cassidy to follow her. They walked through a well-maintained garden filled with vibrant flowers and lush greenery, which seemed almost unreal in the situation the world is in now. Jared and the other civilians have been doing alot of things. Emma led them to her building.
Emma led them to a spacious meeting room with a large table, blackboards, and comfortable chairs. The room was well-lit, with large windows offering a view of the activity outside. Emma turned to face Mark and Cassidy, her expression serious, “Let’s discuss the mission,” she said, her voice firm and steady.
Cassidy stood up next to the board pulled out a hand-drawn map and began to introduce the mission. "We have identified a location in the middle of the desert where there used to be an army base," she explained. "This base holds important supplies such as guns, food, and clothing. Before the apocalypse became so extreme, the soldiers stationed there were ordered to evacuate to another base, leaving all the supplies behind. Our mission is to go and take back these supplies."
Cassidy pointed to a map on the board, highlighting the location of the desert base. "The way there will be challenging due to the harsh desert environment and threats along the way," she continued. "We need to be well-prepared and work together to ensure a successful mission."
Mark listened attentively, his face serious. This was also the first time he heard about the details of this mission, and he understood its importance. The supplies could be very useful in helping them rebuild their base.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Emma nodded thoughtfully as she absorbed all the details. "So, what will I get if I help you?" she asked, her lips forming a tricky smile.
Cassidy glanced at Mark, then back at Emma. "If you help us, you will receive ten percent of the supplies we collect."
Emma considered the offer, her eyes narrowing in thought. After a moment, she nodded. "Give me twenty percent, and I will join."
Cassidy immediately agreed, a slight smile playing on her lips. She had talked to her father before, and he mentioned that they could split the supplies fifty-fifty at most, so twenty percent was well within their limit. She extended her hand to Emma. “Deal.”
Emma raised her brows, thinking she might have gone too low. But it’s okay; on the way there, she could negotiate for a higher percentage. She took Cassidy’s hand firmly. “Okay, let's go.”
As they finalized the agreement, Cassidy couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. At first, when she had heard about Emma’s territory, she and her dad were hesitant to go there since it was all just a rumor. But after seeing how the view changed right before her eyes, she was determined to have Emma join them.
Before the next day, Emma went back to the forest to get her puppies. Now their size is not that puppish anymore. Arriving at the Kranks' house, she handed over the puppies to Mr. and Mrs. Krank, who were delighted to take care of them. Lily ran around excitedly with the puppies, their playful barks filling the air.
Meanwhile, the group from the Aires base was directed by Jared to work for their dinner. They were assigned tasks, from helping in the fields to sweeping the streets. Even though they were working, the atmosphere was energetic as the group earned points to spend at the grocery store.
The store itself was stocked with a display of goods that seemed almost luxurious in these times. The shelves were lined with canned goods, fresh food, clothing, and some deserts that are now considered rare. The Aries group members eagerly used their points, picking out items they hadn’t seen in ages. Cassidy, in particular, was thrilled to find a skincare product, while Xavier marveled at the choice of fresh vegetables.
So happy were they with their newfound shopping opportunities that by the second day, Mila had to physically drag Dean out of the store and onto their vehicle, his arms full of groceries. The sight made Emma smile, knowing that the points they spent would go all into her pocket. Mark stood in the market until it was time to go, his mind making a plan to talk with Cassidy’s dad about making a trading deal with Emma.
First day: Everything was a success. There were no zombie groups they encountered. Nothing.
Second day: Nothing.
Third day: Nothing.
Fourth day: Still nothing.
On the fourth day, seeing the vehicles in front of her coming to a stop, Emma also got out of her RV. The scorching desert sun beat down on them as she walked over to the group. Cassidy was on the ground with her map, arguing heatedly with Xyla while the others around them watched, looking frustrated and exhausted.
“YOU SAID THAT DIRECTION!” Xyla yelled, pointing to the east.
“NO, I DIDN’T!” Cassidy yelled back, waving the map in the air.
The argument grew more intense, and it looked like they were about to fight. The group members quickly stepped in, pulling the two apart, their limbs flailing as they tried to reach each other. Dust kicked up around them, adding to the chaotic scene.
Emma watched the scene with a speechless expression. She didn't know what to say. “So we’re lost?” she finally asked.
Seeing Emma come out of her RV, the two quickly stopped, their faces a bit red from embarrassment. Cassidy, still being held back by two team members, took a deep breath and tried to regain her coolness.
“No, we’re not lost. We just need to maybe drive back in the same direction and turn in another direction, you know….” Seeing Emma wasn’t buying it, she sighed. “Fine, we’re lost. But I’m gonna get us back on track.”
Xyla rolled her eyes, clearly frustrated. Emma rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. The rest of the group stood around awkwardly, glancing at each other and waiting for a decision.
Emma took a deep breath and addressed the group. “Alright, let’s set up camp here for tonight. We’ll retrace our route in the morning and figure out the best way to get back on track. For now, everyone should rest and recharge.”
Cassidy nodded, looking a bit more determined. “I’ll double-check the maps and coordinates tonight. We’ll find the right path.”
Emma gave her a small smile. “Good.”
As the moon rose, the twenty-some people gathered around a metal boiling pot, trying to cook with barely any food. The pot’s contents barely covered the bottom, and the light aroma of the food wafted weakly into the night air. Because there were so many people at their base and so limited food, they had to eat less so everyone at their base could eat.
Emma and Amy, having finished their meal, stepped out of their RV to check on the group’s situation. The difference in their energy levels was obvious; Emma and Amy appeared well-fed and alert, while the group huddled around the pot looked exhausted and hungry.
“Wow, you guys need food that desperately, huh?” Emma commented, her voice tinged with concern and curiosity. She walked over to Cassidy, who was stirring the pot with a miserable expression.
“Give me twenty-five percent of the supplies, and I will feed you guys for the rest of the trip. With good food,” Emma proposed confidently.
Amy pulled out a box of food that Emma had cooked herself beforehand and held it up in front of the group. The delicious smell immediately caught everyone’s attention, and she added with a smile, “It’s really good.”
Cassidy’s eyes widened at the sight of the food. She could feel her mouth-watering, and she almost let saliva slip out before quickly wiping it away and closing her mouth. The offer was tempting, especially given their current situation.
“Deal,” Cassidy agreed without hesitation. It was just five percent more, but the promise of good food for the rest of the trip was worth it.