The evening sun reflected off the distant glass structures that still stood. Stalking through the streets a small party of survivors could be seen traveling on a highway bridge amongst the abandoned cars. Lead by a dog.
“Not gonna lie, this bridge feels too out in the open, how much longer?” the girl with short blond hair asked.
“I’m not really sure Daph but I do know it comes out near a department store, so hopefully we can find a place to spend the night,” Donny said while looking up from his phone.
They had been checking the map every so often to make sure Boe was not taking them through any danger zones. To his credit, Boe had expertly navigated them around all the red zones. Unfortunately, that did not mean that the journey was peaceful, during the trip each one of them had killed no less than 10 Corrupted as they came across small pockets of Corrupted.
Mark was pretty sure they had all leveled, but with the constant threat of violence hovering over their heads no one had spared the time to check.
Hopefully, that might soon change, after another 10 minutes of travel they left the highway and came to a large multi-storied building.
It was painted a bland eggshell color, mostly made of concrete with some glass windows near the top to let in natural light.
Worryingly, there was a huge gash out of the top of the building. Most probably a huge meteor.
”I’m willing to bet that place is swarming with Zombies,” Donny said as they all looked on.
Mark was searching the parking lot for any movement. It was surrounded by a chain link fence and sadly occupied by a large number of Corrupted moving amongst the lot.
“We may need to find another way in, otherwise we are going to have to skip this place.” He said.
Boe excitedly began twirling on the spot letting out quick pants. Daphne dropped to one knee and tried to calm him down with pets. This just seemed to make him more riled up.
“What’s up boy, you know this place?” she asked.
Boe suddenly went dashing off towards the building.
“Wait Boe come back!” Daphne said as she went chasing after him at top speed.
“Daph don't separate!”
They all followed as quickly as they could, but only Donny could actually keep up with the runaway pair.
Mark could see he wanted to dash off and catch the two but was hesitating to leave them behind.
Running alongside the side of the building, wrapping around the parking lot, they turned the corner and came to some kind of loading area.
There was something odd about this place.
It was probably used to receive the intake of goods for the shopping center.
By now they had caught sight of Daphne and Boe.
Boe was sitting patiently near a back door leading into the building. He was looking up at it as if awaiting something. Daphne waited behind him looking back at them, she looked a little embarrassed.
Mark looked around and tried to figure out what was bothering him about this loading bay.
Amongst the debris and rubble, Mark could see prone forms. Corrupted. Only as he got nearer to them did he realize they were already dead. There were people here.
The sound of a doorknob squealing and creaky hinges groaning went off. Mark turned back towards the door in time to see it opening outward and revealing an elderly woman. Standing there smiling brightly she clicked her tongue and Boe bolted into the building.
Everyone stood there, frozen in shock. This was the first human they had seen since the fall.
Moving to the side of the door she made room for them to get inside
“Well come on kids, move your tushies. Inside quickly please.” She said in a relaxed and calming voice.
They were startled from their inactivity and began moving inside in single file. Mark brought up the rear, moving in from the last rays of sunlight to bright artificial light had him blinking rapidly while his eyes adjusted.
The door swung shut behind them, locking them in. They were in a narrow corridor that lead deeper into the building
“Right, let's go people, it's a little too cramped to talk here,” the woman said.
With little choice they began to move, Mark was already starting to regret this. They should have thought this through some more. Sure night was approaching but just following someone because they told you to didn't seem like a smart move on their end.
Daphne opened the door at the end of the corridor to a room that looked a lot like a maintenance area. All types of machinery, pumps, and pipes were attached to the walls. Opening out to what seemed like a bench where one could work. Warm recycled air hit Mark in the face.
There was a thrum of machinery at work and the smell of chemicals hit them as they went deeper into the room.
Boe made his way over to one of the corners and plopped down onto a folded sleeping bag.
The last to enter the room was the woman, she looked to be in her late 60s and a mischievous gleam flickered in her green eyes.
She seemed very spry for her age, but with the exposure to the system who knew how that affected the elderly?
She was about 5'4 and Mark could tell she was probably a very beautiful woman in her younger years.
Even now she held a certain sense of grace and calm.
“Well it's lovely to finally meet you all, the names is Ethel Wilson,” She said. As she sat down on a nearby stool.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Mark’s eyebrow rose, he was the first to ask.
“Finally?”
She nodded.
“Yes, I'm able to connect with old Boe over there and see through his eyes. Helped me guide him and you to safety You’re the first group I managed to get here” There was a sadness in her eyes that told Mark not to ask.
“Wait so if we are the first, does that mean you are alone?” Grace asked
“No, that's actually why I was looking for people, I need help. There were others scattered through the mall, I've been trying to get through to them with Boe but there are just too many.”
Taking a breath, she continued.
“The mall was full of people when that stuff landed, and during the chaos, I saw a large group of people holding up in Walmart.
The problem is I can't get to them without going through a good deal of the beasties,” she said.
Mark could see the resolve in her eyes, she was a strong woman.
After a pause, Grace spoke up.
“If there are as many as you say then shouldn't we go and get the army to help us? Why don't you come with us and we can return for them later?” Grace asked while putting on a blinding smile.
Ethel’s face fell into a frown.
“Little girl, are you telling me to leave them here to their fate? Because if I leave that's exactly what will happen”
Now it was Grace’s turn to frown
“Look, you said they’re strangers to you, shouldn't you look after yourself first?”
“I could never turn my back on others in their time of need, I would love your help if you are willing to offer it, however, I won't leave those people to die” Her face was losing the frown and turning to a more neutral expression.
Mark could see the woman was losing hope, but she still chose to stay. To save people she didn't even know. A warmth rose in Mark. Perhaps a bit of diplomacy would go a long way here.
“There’s no need to decide on anything right now, how about we take a minute to rest, check our gains, and then we can go and check the situation? I don't think it would be smart to move til morning anyway” he said, turning to look at Grace.
She grimaced
“If everyone agrees then sure, I could use the time to try and come up with a new spell,” Grace said while giving Mark a long look.
Mark turned to Donny and Daphne
“Well we have to rest here anyway, I don't see why we can't at least check out the situation,” Donny said.
Daphne looked at Grace and then as if she were gathering her courage she said barely above a whisper.
“Well I would like to help if I am able ”
“Okay then let's take a minute to rest after that Ethel would you be willing to show us what's going on out there?” he asked
Ethel smiled warmly at Mark
“Of course but I'll only take two of you, any more and we’ll be noticed,” she said sternly.
With that decided, they all got comfortable. Daphne went straight over to cuddle Boe. while the rest of them sat wherever was nearest. Mark found a corner that was relatively quiet yet still gave him a view of everyone else.
Mark was about to bring up his Status when Ethel moved to his side.
“I’m grateful you were willing to speak up back there,” She said while slowly lowering herself to sit beside him.
He winced.
“I want to help, but remember we haven't decided to do anything just yet. We’re just checking things out”
It killed him to say that but he would not make decisions for the group.
An amused look passed over her face.
“You know you remind me of my grandson, he called me just before the lines went down. Told me to take care of myself and that I should use the system. Probably the only reason I survived this long.”
An air of melancholy surrounded her.
“In what way do I remind you of him?” he asked when he couldn't handle the silence any longer
“You both care greatly for the people near to your heart and yet you are still willing to risk yourselves for others.”
“I could say the same or better of you”
She laughed freely.
“I guess, both he and his father were always very righteous”
“Perhaps, but from where I'm sitting I think I know where they got it from,” Mark said.
Surprise crossed her features
“Well, I came to thank you for what you said and to make a good impression on you, but it looks like you turned the tables on me. Regardless of what you all eventually decide, I'm grateful that you’d entertain the request of an old woman.”
She slowly began getting up.
“Rest and let me know when you guys want to go I’ll be over by the workstation.”
Mark watched her go, and when he was finally alone he pulled up his status.
13 x Corrupted Humanoid cleansed(13 + Sector reward: x4)
2 x Corrupted Ordinator cleansed(2 + Sector reward: x4)
[partial experience awarded to (Donovan Nox(2), Daphne Colt(2))]
49/49
Level up!
+2 Prana, +2 Resistance
Name: Mark Young (22 - M) Level: 8 Next level: 17/64 Stats: Resistance Aura Mana Prana 41 (+2) 0 30 69 (+2) Unspent stat points - 10 Corruption value: 9.12%
Spells:
Passive Regeneration(Self)[2], Force bolt[4], Prana Pulse[1], Regenerate[1], Draw Corruption[1], Corruption recovery[1].
Mark was reminded that he needed to test those two spells out to see which was more useful right now. However, he did not want to rush things. So he decided to wait till they had a better idea of the situation. He’d apply his points then.
After about half an hour, Everyone gathered up.
Mark and Daphne ended up being the two volunteers to explore. Grace insisted that Donny stay behind.
Ethel had led them to a set of double doors leading into the mall. It came out on the second floor
The sound of constant wails hit them like the droning of a hornet's nest.
The sun had set for the evening and with only about half the mall lights functioning it cast the cavernous room in a sinister glow.
Making their way to the balcony, the groaning grew in volume until Mark could barely hear his own thoughts through the unholy choir.
What he saw stilled the soul.
Down below was a destroyed food court with no less than a hundred bodies packed on top of one another. Carpeting the ground like a sea of teeth and limbs. Sitting in the very center was a gnarled and twisted tree. Its bark looked to be made of hardened crude oil, without a single leaf in its branches. Mark wasn't even sure it was alive until its still form swayed slightly and one of its needle-like stems shot out spearing a nearby Corrupted.
The creature screeched above the din of bodies.
Shrinking and decomposing within seconds until nothing but ash remained. Its voice rapidly fading into the night.
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An: Mall layout
[https://www.dropbox.com/s/vab8lnr21rm7nv5/Chapter%2014%20-%20mall.png?dl=1]