Chapter 73: Episode 11-Sloth (6)
"Do you think Ethan will be alright?"
"Yeah, he'll be fine."
(What the hell was that?)
One moment, Ethan was fine; the next, he exploded in rage. It scared me. Almost everyone in the cafeteria saw it.
"I think we should go."
"Yeah."
[Your Constellation Sponsor warns you of incoming events.]
(Something's going to happen, but I can't figure it out. How does he factor into all of it?)
For now, Aliana and I needed to distance ourselves from him. I cast a glance at her-
(What?)
-but saw the genuine concern on her face. Was it for Ethan?
***
"So, what'll his punishment be?"
"Probably the usual."
The men who dragged me into this detainment cell looked at me as if I were a dead man walking.
"Dumb ass kid, coming in here causing trouble. All you had to do was keep your head low."
"Come on. We gotta report this."
[S o, wan na te ll me wh at hap pen ed?]
(Nah. It doesn't fuck with the plan, it might actually help it.)
[If yo u're ri ght, th ey're go ing to se nd you ou ts ide.]
(Yeah, but they won't kick me out. Adler's obsessed with numbers right now, thinking recruiting more people will strengthen his people. We'll wait for now.)
Oh, boy, the phrase "We'll wait for now" was a vast understatement.
***
"Hey, it was four damn hours! How long are you gonna make me wait?"
"Shut it. We decided on your punishment. You're gonna scout for the day."
The Oblivion NPC finally arrived and gave me the quest. I think he was hoping to strike the fear of God in me, but I consumed the hearts of flare zombies and harnessed demonic energy. It wasn't going to work.
I decided to act scared and asked, "What if I die?"
"Sounds like a damn you problem. Maybe don't act like a jackass next time. It's a routine check around the city, and we'll have you back before evening."
"Alright then."
"Eat this for now."
Through the bars of this cell, they passed a loaf of bread and left again. I wondered if it was poisoned, so I decided to forego it.
(I can't eat food anyways.)
I rubbed the area above my heart. It was stupid to lash out. I couldn't put stress on it, and I just got it too. I waited for a long time until I heard a door opening. I expected the same man from before but was pleasantly surprised.
"Marcus?"
"Ethan! Are you okay?"
"Yeah. How about you?"
"I'm fine. I-I'm sorry."
"What, why?"
"You were there because of me. It feels like my fault for hanging around people like him."
"Well, to be honest, I should probably try to become less crazy."
"Yeah, but I can understand. I know what it feels like when someone hurts the person you care about."
[Constellation "Maternal Harbinger of Eternal Night and Chaos" is smiling at you.]
Marcus's voice dropped an octave lower and was tinged in sadness. I thought of his past that I shamelessly knew and felt sympathetic.
"So, why'd you come?"
"Oh, yeah. I need to tell you; that I pulled some strings. You're gonna patrol with me."
"Really?"
(I didn't expect that.)
"Yeah. I'm afraid something might happen."
Marcus said this while his eyes furiously darted around as though he feared being watched.
"I'll come back later. Maybe, uh, do some exercises. Sit-ups or something."
"Okay, got it."
Marcus left, and I heard the door close behind him. I felt a smile paint my face, and it was probably dopey. It just- It feels touching to know that he cared. A character I read for a long time expressed concern and checked if I was alright. It made me feel less lonely.
The time continued to count down, and the two men from earlier returned.
"Okay, psycho-boy, it's time to reap what you sow. Don't try anything."
The scout opened the cell door, and we traversed the school's empty halls. Some teenagers were lingering, and when they saw me, they quickly looked away and began whispering to each other.
We walked until we approached a side entrance. It was heavily guarded, and I could see why. It led to the outside, and the door was wide open. Even from here, I could feel the dry summer heat seeping in. For some reason, I felt nervous exciting the school.
(Don't tell me I got comfortable in such a short time.)
We stepped outside, and the sun's evening rays washed over me. The contrasting light created deep shadows between the houses, and the red sky added to the eerie atmosphere. As I took in the view, I heard voices behind me.
"Hey, why are you here?"
"I can if I want to be."
I turned around and saw Marcus emerging from the doorway. I thought he had a plan to place me in his squad, but it seemed he would barrel through the situation.
"I already told you guys I was coming, right?"
"Your father wants you to stay behind-"
"Yeah, but my dad is wasting my time. What's the point of being inside right now? Might as well do something. I already told the supervisor, so it's fine."
It was a surprise seeing Marcus standing his ground against someone. That side of him only came out for certain people he cared about.
"Fine, whatever. Just know we ain't gonna get back in under an hour."
"That's fine."
"Oi, kid, here."
I looked in another direction and saw a blurry object flying toward me. I caught it in my hand and saw what it was: a Louisville Slugger with barbed wire wrapped around it. I scowled; an item like this would probably be E-Grade or below.
"This is all I get? The Negan baseball bat from The Walking Dead?"
"Be grateful we're giving you anything."
After a few minutes of preparation, the squad members departed, and I followed. Some of them kept glancing at me, but I wasn't going to try anything. It didn't take long, but Marcus approached and began talking to me.
"Sorry, you couldn't get a better weapon."
"Eh, it's cool. What about you? You don't have anything."
"I do, actually."
Marcus reached into his pockets and pulled out a pair of brass knuckles, or knuckles made with some unknown metal. He equipped them and flexed his fingers. It was so casual, like watching an athlete putting on a pair of shoes.
"I use them for punching. I'm not good with anything else. How about you? You were swinging a metal bar last night. Are you into swords?"
"I'm kinda decent when I wield a sword, but I'm not a master. I was mainly inspired by Star Wars and stuff."
"I just wanted to know; it seems you knew a lot when you were teaching Aliana."
Our idle conversation continued until we heard a shout of alarm.
"Eyes open. We got a crowd!"
Suddenly, I heard the guttural growls of flare zombies. They slowly crept through backyards and abandoned houses as we traversed this neighborhood and congregated in the streets.
"Shit, the crowd's huge. I see around three dozen," someone commented.
"We'll divide them and take 'em out slowly. Don't rush it, and don't let any go. We can't let 'em near the school."
"Got it!"
"Yo, newbie, lead some over here!"
"Hey, wait-"
"It's okay, Marcus, I got it."
I approached the crowd and attempted to act as bait, but they didn't budge or notice. Crap, my demonic energy is masking my presence, isn't it? What do I do? I don't have my helm with me.
"They're not moving!" I shouted.
[Constellation "Lord of Unlife" says your cover will be discovered.]
I had to lead them to me. If not, Santiago's men might become suspicious. I clenched the bat in my hand and swung at a zombie's stomach. It grunted and looked in my direction.
(Come on, come on, come on!)
It followed. I whacked a few more and had a sizeable group of half a dozen behind me. I led the flare zombies back to the squad, and they were quickly executed. We rinsed and repeated this process until twenty flare zombies were left.
"Okay, boys, go all out! We got most of them. Have fun with the rest," the squad leader said.
After that, some men became lax and played games with the flare zombies. Some would put soda cans on their undead heads and bet how long they'll stay. Some threw rocks or rated their bodies. I decided to do my job and kill some outliers.
I swung the bat, which connected with a skull, making this "cracking" and "squishing" sound. The flare zombie fell onto the cement, still moaning, and I repeatedly swung at its head until it finally stopped moving.
I turned around to see Marcus rearing his arm and punching an undead in the jaw. After it fell, he took a butterfly knife from his pocket and stabbed its nape. It seems we were the only ones taking this seriously. We killed the other stragglers but ensured not to mess with the other's zombies.
"You were pretty good," he said.
"Thanks."
"Let's take a break like the rest."
"Agreed."
We sat on a sidewalk's curb and relaxed in this taxing heat. Well, I felt fine, but Marcus looked pretty rough.
"How are you fine in that rain jacket?"
"I need drip 24/7, and my need defies the heat."
"Are you serious?"
"I'm kidding. I just have a skill that makes me cooler."
"I wish I had that."
[Constellations of deceit admire your lying easily.]
"It is useful. You know, sitting like this on the sidewalk, it kinda feels like we're in an summer 80s movie."
The world's rusty feel, the arid smell, and that tired but excited feeling felt reminiscent of those 80s' flicks about teenage kids going through a coming-of-age story.
"I'd say we're in a messed up movie."
"Yeah, definitely. I'd say our movie is rated R."
I cast a glance at the dead bodies that were a few feet away. Yeah, that wasn't PG-13. Maybe Marcus had the same thought because he was looking at the bodies too.
"Do you ever feel bad?" He asked.
"About what?"
Honestly, I feel horrible about so many things, but if I focused on my guilt, it would eat me alive. Thankfully, I was using denial and detachment. I felt a headache, but quickly massaged my temple. Marcus continued.
"About... everything," he said while gesturing to the dead bodies.
I thought about how he felt and tried to be empathetic. I wondered if I should use Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint to read his thoughts but decided against it. I wanted to connect as a regular human being, and treat Marcus as a person, not a character.
"I kinda stopped feeling guilty after a bit. Killing the flare zombies, I mean."
"Oh."
A simple "oh." A small utterance that conveyed his disappointment and sorrow.
"I just... I can't stop seeing them as humans. They were human! I know they're dead now, but it feels wrong to treat them like... that."
Marcus looked at the others who were relaxing like us or toying with the flare zombies. I could see the slight disgust in his face.
"It's good that you feel that way, man." I laughed dryly before continuing. "You know, you always see these zombie shows and movies, and at first, everyone's afraid because they have to kill the undead. Then, bam! A few scenes later, they're blowing off heads with shotguns."
"Heh, yeah."
"It doesn't show the horror of it," I said.
[Fragment of the 4th Wall is lowering.]
I looked at the bodies and began to feel guilty. Earlier, I thought "It's a shame to kill them because they could've been useful." On the other hand, Marcus probably thought, "It's a shame to kill them because they were people like us."
(Moments like these...)
Moments like these remind me of how monstrous I am.
"Anyways, want a sip?" Marcus offered.
He held a water bottle in his hands, but I respectfully declined. We talked some more, but it was cut short by the others.
"Let's go, everyone. I want to be back before sundown."
I used the bat as a cane and hoisted myself up. We walked through the city blocks, searching for any threats, but we didn't see anything. I wanted to let my guard down, but I felt something. It was a premonition beyond the five senses.
"Did you feel that?"
Marcus looked weary as me.
"Yeah."
[Some Constellations are eager for the incoming conflict.]
[Some Constellations are afraid for the Incarnations.]
(Yep, something is happening.)
"Get ready. Something's coming!"
-!Thump!-
-!Thump!-
I felt tremors shaking the concrete roads, the barren trees, and the abandoned houses. Window panes rattled, dry branches fell, and pebbles bounced against the asphalt. Everyone froze in stupefaction until we finally saw what was approaching.
"My god..."
I heard collective gasps of fear, and I could understand why. Looming over a two-story house was a Fire-Grade Mantis, and the creature was staring directly at us.
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EnderGolem997
EnderGolem997 Hello there, author here. Back then, I used to thank the voters for giving power stones, but I kinda decided to stop. If you guys want me to continue that tradition, then sure.
Also, here is the upload schedule I intend to have: One chapter for Friday and Saturday. If there are enough chapters (of if I feel like it), I'll post another on Tuesday, but we'll see how it goes.
Anyways, happy reading!
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