"But we've already agreed on the price, how can they do this?" May frowned, occasionally glancing down at the pile of sand below.
Liam watched May's slender figure, sighing inwardly. Poor woman, living in the memories of her past life since her husband's death. Liam had known her for a long time and understood her kind-heartedness and frugal lifestyle. He often helped her without worrying about the pay, but not everyone would be the same.
It was already half-past five, and the hired workers responsible for transporting the sand were still nowhere to be seen. Liam's working hours were over, but seeing May's pitiful gaze, he reluctantly decided to stay. May was afraid to confront the workers alone, even though Liam was just her tenant. So he stayed to keep her company.
Liam sometimes felt burdened by his kind-heartedness, leading to a tiresome life, but it wasn't an easy trait to change.
Finally, at six o'clock, just before it was completely dark, the five hired workers hurriedly arrived. It seemed they had been busy with other tasks or intentionally delayed their arrival. They immediately complained to May that the pay for hauling the sand was too low and that they didn't want to continue the job unless she increased the amount. Faced with the impending darkness and the possibility of rain, it was difficult to find alternative workers on the street. Fearful that they might run away if it rained and she would be left with three tons of sand on her own, May reluctantly agreed to raise the payment to $320.
However, the hired workers persisted, demanding $350 for the job. After some bargaining, they settled at $330, but then they requested May to buy them drinks because it was hot outside. Reluctantly, May went to get them a case of beverages, and only then did the workers finally start their work.
...
A bell rang, sounding like the dismissal bell at a nearby school or some kind of alarm. The piercing sound irritated Liam, prompting him to instinctively grab a hammer and forcefully smash a section of the wall groove. Only then did the external bell sound stop.
After the first round of sand had been hauled upstairs, the five hired workers began to complain about the lateness of the hour, suggesting that they should come back tomorrow to continue their work. May panicked, pleading with them to finish transporting the sand before it started raining tonight. She expressed her disappointment at their lack of integrity, going back on their word after agreeing to the price. Despite the increased payment and the provision of drinks, they were now trying to back out.
The five hired workers, each making their own disrespectful remarks, continued to loiter around the house. Their words gradually carried a hint of harassment.
Seeing May's pleading gaze, Liam shook his head while wiring the circuit on the wall. He reluctantly walked over to the hired workers and engaged in a discussion, persuading them to deliver the sand tonight. He explained that if it rained and the sand got wet, it would become heavier and more difficult to transport the next day.
The hired workers, primarily dissatisfied with the payment, vented their frustration as soon as Liam spoke. One particularly aggressive worker, bald-headed, approached Liam with menacing gestures. "What business is it of yours, an electrician, whether we do the job tonight? Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong!"
"I'm just reasoning with you. We, as workers, should have a minimum level of integrity. If we agree to certain conditions, we should follow through, or else we'll lose respect," Liam calmly responded to the bald-headed worker while tightening his grip on the hammer in his hand.
"Why is this electrician acting so high and mighty? We've all done work outside, and our skills are much better than his," the other workers joined in, pointing and discussing the wiring on the wall.
"With three tons of sand, the going rate is $300. I've already increased it to $330, which is more than fair. I've even bought you drinks. You promised May to deliver the sand tonight, so get to work quickly before it starts raining," Liam, avoiding discussing the electrical matter, spoke firmly and urged them.
"F*ck, we felt sorry for her and wanted to help her deliver the sand tonight, but now, it's because of your mouthy electrician behavior that we're pissed off! It's your fault, so none of us are working tonight! Blame the electrician for spouting nonsense!" The bald-headed worker pointed his finger at Liam's nose, using it as an excuse. He then signaled the other four workers, preparing to leave.
May chased after them to the door, pleading with the bald-headed worker for a long time. However, they stubbornly insisted that they had intended to work tonight but changed their minds due to their dislike of Liam, the electrician.
Liam felt frustrated hearing all this. He had tried to help but ended up with this outcome, all because of him. It seemed like nothing was going well for him these days, especially after Emma's passing. He angrily swung the hammer and smashed it against the wall, as if venting some pent-up emotions.
Returning with an anxious expression, May took out her phone and made a call to the manager of the construction materials store, asking for help in persuading the hired workers to come back.
After the store manager talked to the workers, they responded that they refused to work because the electrician had spoken rudely, offending them. Now that it had come to this, there was nothing May could do.
"Hey, May! Pay attention to your renovation! You've been making noise all day, and it's disturbing my sleep! What time is it now? Aren't you done yet?" A teenage girl, Piper, around eighteen or nineteen years old, carrying a bag and preparing to leave, walked by May's door and protested angrily.
"Piper, why are you talking like that? Didn't your family make noise during their renovation? What are you trying to sleep in broad daylight?" May, in a bad mood, stepped out and got into an argument with the girl.
Piper was acquainted with May because her parents were doctors who owned a private clinic nearby. Piper worked there as a nurse, and May had visited the community hospital for treatment, where she discovered their neighborly connection, leading to their acquaintance.
Liam heard the commotion outside, knowing it was caused by his wall pounding, which made him even more frustrated. He dropped the hammer and washed his hands and face at the temporary faucet in the kitchen, then went to the back room to change his clothes and shoes.
He had his own share of troubles to deal with, and helping May with good intentions only led to this outcome. If May also believed that it was all his fault, it would be quite disappointing.
Oh well, it's better to mind his own business from now on.
After changing his clothes and shoes, Liam noticed that the neighbor's teenage girl, Piper, had already left. He walked past May without even looking at her and headed straight towards the door.
"Hey! Are you leaving?" May hurriedly followed and grabbed Liam's arm.
"Sorry for what happened today. I was in a bad mood and said some harsh things to them, which affected your situation...," Liam apologized to May without looking back.
"It's not your fault. They were planning to leave anyway, but they just wanted an excuse to stay. You came to help me, and they insulted you. I should be the one apologizing," May said, tears welling up in her eyes.
Liam turned to look at May, wanting to comfort her, but he didn't know what to say. He sighed deeply. This poor woman had lost her husband over two years ago, yet she couldn't escape the shadow of that loss. She would cry over small things, and all Liam could do to help her was with these trivial matters.
"I'm sorry..." May quickly wiped her tears, feeling embarrassed for showing her vulnerability in front of Liam.
"It might rain tonight. Why don't you get a large plastic sheet and cover the sand? We can arrange for someone to transport it tomorrow. Otherwise, the sand will get wet and become heavy, and those people will probably demand more money," Liam suggested after giving it some thought.
Liam could only help to this extent, as he had his own matters to attend to.
"Forget it. Let it rain if it wants to. Things will happen as they do. No matter what I do, nothing ever goes smoothly," May shook her head with a sorrowful expression. Liam didn't need to guess; she was probably thinking of her deceased husband again.
At that moment, Liam's heart suddenly felt a sharp pain, and a cold sweat broke out on his back... May had lost her husband, but he had also lost his Emma. Perhaps the way he lost her was peculiar, but until now, he couldn't bring himself to admit that he had lost her.
Just a moment ago, as Liam made up his mind to return to his rented apartment, he couldn't help but subconsciously imagine Emma greeting him at the door, complaining about him staining the clothes she had just washed, while joyfully serving a steaming hot dinner and watching him devour it with a grin on her face.
Liam found himself frozen for a moment, unsure if he was trapped in a dream or facing the harsh reality. Could it be that he had truly lost Emma forever?
Those tasks were too challenging, impossible to complete! Not to mention reaching a score of a hundred.
"Mr. Young?" May shook Liam's arm, sensing his bewildered expression.
"Oh...," Liam snapped out of his thoughts, suddenly feeling a hint of fear about returning to his rented apartment.
The sky grew darker, and his stomach grumbled with hunger. Regardless, he needed to find a place to eat first. After having a meal, he could wander the streets and figure out a way to complete those bizarre tasks.
"You've already spent a lot of time with me today. Let me treat you to dinner. Where would you like to go?" May suggested, noticing Liam's lack of enthusiasm and attempting to ease the tension.
"No, I have something to attend to when I get back," Liam politely declined May's offer, knowing that May rarely dined out herself. Both of them had an unfortunate day, and he didn't want her to incur more expenses.
"Well... don't be so formal with me. I know you don't want me to spend money, but I insist on treating you tonight. Consider it my company," May suddenly became resolute, her tone tinged with a hint of feminine charm.
Perhaps May had never used this tone with Liam before, or perhaps Liam was taken aback by May's sudden allure, but he remained silent for a while.
"What's the matter? Are you afraid I'll eat you?" May laughed when she noticed Liam's hesitation.
"No...," Liam quickly shook his head, but his stomach betrayed him and growled loudly. Indeed, after being delayed for so long today, he was famished.
"Then let's go," May tugged at Liam's arm, giving him a seductive smile.
Seeing May persistently inviting him, Liam reluctantly agreed, but he still didn't want May to spend too much: "Well... let's not eat out. May, why don't you make something at home instead..."
"At home, huh..." May hesitated this time. Since her husband left, she had never invited another man to her home.
"Ah... forget it. I actually have something to do tonight," Liam realized that his previous words were inappropriate and quickly added.
"That won't do! Come on, tonight I'll let you taste my cooking skills. I'm not just good at stewing soup," May decided abruptly, immediately tidying up and taking Liam out of the house.
As they descended the stairs, Liam received a call from Lily, asking when he would be back, mentioning that she wanted to talk to him tonight.
Liam hesitated for a moment, checked the time, and told Lily that he might not be able to return until around seven-thirty. Lily didn't say much and simply hung up the phone.
Liam and May walked downstairs, passing by the three-ton pile of sand. Liam glanced at the sky and once again made a suggestion to May: "Before we go back for dinner, let's make a quick stop at the building supplies store and see if we can borrow a large plastic sheet from the store manager to cover the sand pile. If it gets soaked in rain tonight, it will be even more difficult to carry it upstairs tomorrow."
May shook her head, her expression appearing somewhat dejected. "If it gets wet, then so be it. We can just give those people some extra money tomorrow. It seems that no matter what I do in my life, something always goes wrong. The more you force certain things, the more they go awry. It's better to just go with the flow."
"Don't say that about your whole life, May. You're still young, and you're so beautiful. This life has just begun for you..." Liam wanted to encourage May to find someone else to marry so she wouldn't have to live such a difficult life as a single woman, but he swallowed his words before they left his mouth.
"Man, I'm getting old! Still young and beautiful?" May glanced at Liam, her face blushing slightly, adding to her already charming demeanor.
"Come on, don't say that! Every guy on the street turns their heads and nearly trips over when they see you." Liam grinned, making a bold remark to May, a first for him.
"You're exaggerating, aren't you?" May modestly responded, but she couldn't help but feel a hint of satisfaction as she glanced up and down at Liam.
Even beautiful women like to be praised for their looks, especially as they get older.
"It's true." Liam grinned again, his gaze instinctively drifting over May's beautiful face and shapely chest, unintentionally feeling a bit flushed.
Observing Liam's gaze, May immediately realized where his eyes were fixed, and her eyebrows furrowed with a hint of annoyance. She appeared slightly offended but subtly adjusted her posture to accentuate her chest.
Both of them fell silent, and the air grew somewhat ambiguous. After the incident with the hired workers, they apologized and comforted each other, seemingly drawing closer.
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Suddenly, a sound rang out, reminiscent of a school bell or even an alarm, harsh and piercing, cutting through Liam's eardrums and even his mind. Liam instinctively looked around, his brows furrowing.
He had heard this sound before when he was upstairs, and it made him feel uncomfortable.
"Power outage, maybe?" May followed Liam's gaze, scanning the neighborhood.
"Yeah, but why did the power suddenly go out? Is there a school nearby?" Liam found the ringing sound peculiar, and for some reason, it sent shivers down his spine.
"No, there isn't. The nearest school is probably a couple of blocks away," May shook her head.
"What's with that ringing sound?" Liam pointed in the direction where the sound seemed to be coming from, but as soon as he raised his hand, he realized that the sound wasn't actually coming from that direction.
"What ringing sound?" May looked at Liam curiously.
"Haven't you heard it? It's so loud..." The ringing sound became increasingly piercing for Liam, as if it was resonating inside his head.
"Is there a ringing sound?" May looked around but remained perplexed.
"Ah!!!"
Liam shouted in pain, clutching his head and shaking it vigorously. Simultaneously, the deafening ringing that had almost burst his eardrums abruptly stopped, as if it had never happened.
"Are you okay?" May quickly asked Liam.
"I'm fine." Liam instinctively opened his bag and took out the iPad.
On the screen of the iPad, there was a startling message: "Eerie Zone activated..."
Could it be... was the ringing sound caused by this? What does it mean for the Eerie Zone to be activated?
"You bought an iPad? How much did it cost? Let me see..." May curiously leaned in to have a look at the iPad in Liam's hands.
"Don't..." Liam hastily put the iPad away, not wanting this eerie device to harm more people after causing him to lose Emma.
May pursed her lips, apparently displeased with Liam's action. What's the big deal about an iPad? Was he afraid she'd break it by touching it?
"Let's go. It's getting dark too quickly. How can such a large residential complex not have a backup power supply? There isn't even an emergency light," Liam changed the subject and headed towards the apartment building.
"Yeah, it's strange. How did the power go out? And... why is there no one on the streets?" May took out a flashlight from her bag and hurriedly caught up with Liam, shining the light ahead.
Upon hearing May's words, Liam took advantage of the remaining daylight to glance around. It was indeed as May had said - there was not a single person on the nearby streets.
It was quite odd because at this time, the streets were usually bustling with people taking walks, just getting off work, or preparing for a night out. Normally, the streets of the residential complex were filled with people and cars.
Moreover, with the power outage, it was expected that the residents staying at home would come downstairs to walk around. But why was there not a single person in such a large residential complex?
Could it be... all of this... was related to the earlier message on that iPad about the 'Eerie Zone' being activated?
What was the Eerie Zone? What would happen once it was activated? Liam suddenly felt a chilling sensation in his heart for some unknown reason.
May also felt puzzled and uneasy. She tightly followed behind Liam as they briskly walked towards the main road of the residential complex. May's duplex apartment was quite far from the main gate, and it took them more than ten minutes of fast walking to reach the entrance. They saw a few people standing and talking near the gate, which slightly relieved May's anxiety.
Approaching them, Liam noticed that it was the four out of the five hired workers who had previously left May's house. Liam couldn't help but wonder why these workers, who had left a while ago, were still lingering near the gate.
Although Liam had some unpleasant interactions with these workers before, he didn't want to engage in conversation with them. However, May was counting on these workers to do a good job the next day, so Liam put on a smile and walked over to them.
Liam took a few steps alone towards the outside of the residential complex and observed the scene outside the main gate, furrowing his brow once again.
The area outside the complex was pitch black, much darker than inside the complex. Liam couldn't even see his own feet! Moreover, if he looked closely, there seemed to be a faint, elusive black mist floating in the air outside the complex.
Just as Liam was about to take a few more steps forward to examine the situation more closely, a strange cry suddenly emanated from within the black mist, catching Liam completely off guard and startling him.
The cry sounded like the roar of some wild beast, but muffled as if coming from behind several walls, resembling the sound of a car horn but not quite distinct.
Instinctively, Liam took a few steps back. Regardless of what was happening outside the residential complex, he had a strong sense of danger. It was undoubtedly extremely dangerous outside, and he couldn't rashly venture out.
Regarding all the inexplicable and eerie phenomena happening inside and outside the complex, Liam believed that there was only one possible explanation—the so-called 'Eerie Zone' mentioned in the iPad notification.
He and everyone he had come into contact with during this period were all being drawn into this Eerie Zone.
"They said something's not right outside the complex. The skinniest one was just sent to scout, and they are waiting for his message." May approached Liam and informed him, her face filled with fear as she shone her flashlight towards the black mist outside the complex.
Clearly, May had also learned about the danger outside from the four hired workers, so she didn't rush outside recklessly. May's small flashlight emitted a bright light, but it couldn't penetrate the black mist outside or reveal what was happening there.
"Yeah, something is definitely off," Liam sighed. Ever since Emma, driven by her greed, picked up that eerie iPad from the roadside, strange and inexplicable things had been happening around him. Judging from the current situation, everything seemed to be escalating and deteriorating.
At least these eerie incidents had affected May and the few people he had interacted with today. As for why they were affected, it was impossible to know until Liam thoroughly researched the Eerie Zone.
While Liam and May were talking, a scream suddenly came from outside, unmistakably the voice of the skinny worker who had gone to scout. The other four workers rushed back towards the gate and shouted into the black mist, asking what had happened to the skinny worker.
The skinny worker was the most honest and introverted among the five, which was probably why they sent him to scout.
"Boom!" A muffled sound erupted, and something suddenly rushed out of the black mist, mixed with sticky liquid, violently crashing and splattering onto the four workers. Unable to evade it, they were covered from head to toe. May instinctively shone her small flashlight towards them and let out a loud scream when she saw what had transpired.
All four of them were covered in blood and some fleshy pulp, looking extremely gruesome.
Meanwhile, scattered on the ground were severed body parts, and even something rolled towards May's feet. Although screaming, May unconsciously used her small flashlight to shine on the object rolling towards her.
To her astonishment, it was the head of the skinny worker.
Her face displayed sheer terror.
After exchanging glances, the four workers yelled and turned to flee towards the residential complex. May screamed again and dropped the flashlight, then turned and ran towards the complex, clearly terrified by what she had witnessed.
Liam quickly picked up the fallen flashlight and chased after May, catching up to her a few steps later. He forcefully pulled her back and covered her mouth, comforting her and preventing her from continuing her hysterical screams.
" De...dead body!" May gripped Liam's arm tightly, her face filled with fear and horror.
Liam pulled May towards the back of the building closest to the community gate, keeping his eyes fixed in that direction. He took out his cellphone and dialed 911, hoping to make a call despite knowing that Eerie Zone had opened. To his surprise, the call went through.
"911, what's your emergency?" a pleasant female voice came through the phone.
Liam hesitated for a moment, as he hadn't really expected the call to connect before the strange events with the Eerie Zone. "Hello? Is everything okay?" the voice on the other end asked again when Liam didn't respond.
"There's been a murder at Oakridge Terrace, at the entrance of the community. A construction worker has been killed," Liam quickly replied.
"Someone has been killed? Hahaha, that's great!" the woman's voice unexpectedly burst into laughter, gradually becoming more sinister.
"What did you say?" Liam was taken aback, finding it hard to believe what he was hearing.
"I said... you... all... must... die!" the once pleasant voice suddenly turned wicked and chilling, scratching into Liam's mind like a metal spoon against porcelain. Liam was caught off guard, almost dropping his cellphone.
"What did they say? Will the police come?" May, having noticed that Liam had dialed 911, quickly asked him.
"They will be here soon. It's not safe outside. Let's go back to your apartment," Liam replied after scanning the surroundings and addressing May.
"Okay." May, visibly frightened and out of ideas, relied on Liam for courage. She tightly held onto his arm, her grip almost cutting off his circulation.
Liam turned on a small flashlight and led May out from behind the building. May clung tightly to his arm, her legs becoming stiff. Liam practically had to drag her along as they walked.
Perhaps because he knew that all of this was caused by the eerie iPad, and because Liam had never believed in ghosts or supernatural phenomena and had always been a fearless person, combined with his anger and sadness from losing Emma, he surprisingly remained calm in the face of these increasingly eerie and terrifying events.
As they walked, Liam silently cursed in his mind: Damn iPad, what other sneaky tricks do you have? Bring it on! I'm not afraid of you!
Once they returned to the main road, Liam raised the small flashlight and aimed it towards the community gate. The black mist at the entrance seemed denser than before, spreading further into the community. As Liam looked in that direction, his mind involuntarily replayed the sound of metallic collisions and friction.
Liam quickly turned his head, and the sounds abruptly stopped. The four hired workers in the community had disappeared without a trace. The entire Community was now engulfed in darkness, with only the small flashlight providing a faint glow in close proximity.
Due to May's burden, Liam was walking slowly, and it took them quite some time to reach May's building. Just as they were about to arrive, a shadow swiftly darted across the road from the middle, barely touching the ground, causing May to scream sharply in fright.
"Meow!" a cat's meow came from the bushes by the roadside, apparently startled by May's scream.
"It's just a cat, don't be afraid," Liam reassured May.
As they mentioned the cat, Liam suddenly remembered a task he had received earlier that day from the iPad, the same red task that Emma had been unable to complete: break a cat's leg before midnight.
Could there be a connection? Is it possible that by breaking the leg of this cat, the horrifying Eerie Zone could be put to an end?
Liam walked towards the roadside and shone the small flashlight there. There was a small path leading to a few other buildings. A black cat dashed out from the bushes and then stopped, crouching in the middle of the path, looking back in their direction. When Liam's flashlight illuminated it, the black cat meowed again and quickly ran towards the end of the path, disappearing into the darkness.
Liam hesitated whether he should chase after the black cat, but May started urging him, holding onto his arm and urging him to quickly take her back to her under-renovation duplex apartment. It seemed that only by hiding there could she feel a semblance of safety.
Liam glanced at the nearby building where May's apartment was located and decided to take her there first. Otherwise, with her clinging to him like this, he wouldn't be able to do anything.
When the two arrived at the bottom of May's duplex apartment building, they were surprised to find all four hired workers sitting on a sand pile, smoking. A lit lighter was stuck in the sand, providing some illumination, lighting up a small area near the sand pile. In the dim light of the dying flame, the expressions on their faces were grim. It was clear that they had been frightened, and although they had taken off their bloodstained clothes, traces of blood could still be seen on their pants.
"Do you have any food upstairs? Take us up," one of the workers, the bald one, approached May and asked. Upon hearing this, Liam also realized that he was feeling quite hungry. However, he knew very well that there was nothing to eat in May's apartment besides cement and electrical wires.
"No, we don't," May shook her head.
"Damn it! I'm sick of killing and eating her and this electrician!"The chubby laborer next to the bald laborer, whether joking or being serious, suddenly blurted out this remark.
"The meat of the men is not good, and the women should be raped first and then killed."Another burly worker chimed in, his shaved head gleaming under the light, and a hint of menace flickered in his eyes as he looked at May.
While they bantered as if it were a joke, the unsettling environment had clearly unnerved May. She tugged at Liam's arm, urging him to quicken their pace.
"I feel nasty when I see that electrician. Well, it's the end of the world anyway, so let's kill him first and then take a turn on that woman, so we can have a good time before die."The bald leader among the four hired workers spoke up, his voice loud and seemingly directed specifically at Liam.
These hired workers couldn't comprehend the eerie phenomena occurring in the Eerie Zone. After a brief discussion by the sand pile, they unanimously concluded that it must be the end of the world.
May seemed to be terrified by their words, trembling uncontrollably. After a few whispers among the hired workers, they approached Liam and May in a fan-like formation, as if they were ready to get serious.
May's legs turned weak from fear, and in her nervousness, she didn't notice the obstacle in front of her and tripped, causing her to let out a loud scream. Her scream immediately triggered a wave of lewd laughter from the four hired workers, as if they had conjured up some perverse thoughts.
"Little lady, why don't you willingly entertain us a bit? That way, we won't have to use force on you," one of the bald workers approached closer, his eyes filled with a lustful gaze, but he didn't immediately make a move.
Although these hired workers had never actually committed a crime before, despite their lewd intentions, they still lacked the courage to act. They talked big but would hesitate when it came to actual physical contact.
"Don't you dare! We've called the police! They'll be here any minute!" May, trembling with fear, stuttered out a warning to the bald worker.
"The police? Bullshit! It's the end of the world! 911 won't even work!" The bald worker's eyes turned fierce, and he took another step closer to May. He was clearly on the verge of committing a crime.
If there were indeed an apocalypse, the most terrifying aspect wouldn't be the apocalypse itself, but rather the bestial instincts that humanity would display when faced with it.
The other three hired workers bolstered their courage and approached May with a lustful look, completely ignoring Liam's presence. It seemed that they truly intended to carry out their criminal acts.
Liam knew he wasn't some superhero, and in this situation, it was impossible for him to take on four individuals at once. It would be no problem for him to escape on his own, but based on his principles, he couldn't just abandon May.
The four hired workers had clearly turned into savage beasts. If May fell into their hands, the outcome was self-evident.
The only solution at hand was to take the initiative.
Liam shouted loudly and swiftly delivered a powerful kick to the groin of the bald worker. The kick was heavy, and the bald worker, who was focused on May, had no defense. He let out a scream of pain and bent over. Liam wasted no time, swiftly wrapping one of his arms and executing a reversal followed by a back throw. The bald worker ended up lying solidly on the cement ground, screaming and struggling to get up.
Liam, who had lost his parents at a young age and roamed around with his grandmother, never sought trouble, but when pushed to his limits, he would turn into a ferocious lion.
Children without parents tend to be either timid as mice or fearless. Liam clearly belonged to the latter category.
"Who the hell wants to come forward and give it a try!?" Liam stomped heavily on the fallen bald worker while roaring at the other three hired workers.
The three hired workers were visibly intimidated by Liam's roar. Although they outnumbered him three to one, they hesitated and didn't dare to approach.
"Go grab a shovel and kill him!" the fallen bald worker shouted at the other three hired workers.
Liam kicked the bald worker in the groin once again, taking advantage of his subsequent screams, which momentarily distracted the other three hired workers. Liam swiftly dashed out, reaching the edge of the sand pile where he picked up a shovel and held it in front of him. "Whoever isn't afraid to die, come and give it a shot!"
The three hired workers looked at each other, fear evident in their eyes. They stood rooted to the spot, no one daring to engage in combat with Liam. After all, they were not real criminals. They were individuals who made a living through physical labor. Additionally, with the supposed leader of the group, the fiercest bald worker, lying on the ground, their momentarily conceived criminal intentions were completely shattered by Liam's powerful roar and overwhelming presence.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, May hurriedly ran to Liam's side. She hadn't anticipated that Liam, who usually appeared kind and gentle, could unleash such fury, resembling a furious lion.
A voice suddenly resounded in Liam's mind, "Eerie Zone side mission activated..."
"Mission objective: Kill the four hired workers."
"Mission reward: One point for each hired worker killed. An additional two points for killing all four..."
"Side missions do not deduct points until completed..."
"Damn it! Turning murder into a game?" Liam muttered under his breath upon hearing the voice from the iPad-like device in his mind. He had only resorted to violence out of desperation, but actually killing someone was beyond his courage.
Liam tucked the other shovel from the sand pile into his embrace as well. He protected May as they backed away, closely observing the movements of the hired workers. Seeing that they didn't dare to pursue them any further, Liam pulled May away from the scene.
The two of them meandered through the main and side streets of the residential area, going quite a distance. They were confident that the four hired workers hadn't followed them, and it was unlikely they would be found anytime soon. They found a long bench among the trees by the roadside and sat down to catch their breath.
The position was ideal. Sitting here, the dense foliage of the trees completely concealed their presence, but they could still observe the activities at the intersection outside. Although the power was out in the neighborhood, and the sky lacked a moon, after staying in this darkness for a while, their eyes had adjusted enough to see objects nearby.
After securely stashing the two shovels beneath the bench, Liam sat down, feeling exhausted. The previous encounter had been extremely perilous. If he hadn't decisively taken action to subdue the bald worker and seize their shovels, gaining the upper hand in terms of dominance, it was hard to say what would have unfolded afterward.