Capítulo 51: [51] Test
"Follow me." he said.
The chief rose from his seat, his dark eyes still filled with a guarded curiosity. As he motioned me to follow him, my heart pounded heavily in my chest. I knew what I was saying was true; I had experienced it countless times before. But demonstrating it now, in front of skeptical eyes, was a daunting task.
The chief led me across a dusty courtyard, beneath the star-studded night sky. A few onlookers, fellow captives or perhaps locals, followed us with their eyes, their expressions revealing their own disbelief, curiosity, and fear.
We eventually arrived at a sturdy, isolated shed at the edge of the settlement. The chief turned to me, his gaze steady, and opened the door. A gut-wrenching smell immediately filled my nostrils, a mixture of decay and something metallic, like blood. Suppressing a gag, I took a deep breath and stepped inside.
Chained to a concrete block in the corner was a lone zombie. Its milky white eyes stared blankly at the wall, its jaw opening and closing in a slow, steady rhythm. The sight was chilling, but not unexpected.
The chief kept a safe distance, observing me and the zombie with the intensity of a hawk. "When a living man approaches it, it reacts. Now you approach it." His voice echoed through the shed, breaking the eerie silence. I nodded, steeling myself for what was to come.
Walking towards the creature, I remembered my previous encounters with zombies. How they would ignore me, their glassy eyes seemingly looking through me, their rotten teeth snapping at the air where I was not. Remembering this, I stepped closer.
The chained zombie remained still. Its eyes didn't flicker towards me, it made no move to attack, it simply continued its mindless staring and gnashing. I was close enough now to reach out and touch it, yet it didn't react.
The silence in the shed was palpable. The chief's eyes were wide, his jaw slightly agape as he watched the scene unfold. I dared to glance back at him, hoping my point had been made clear.
"I told you, they ignore me." My voice echoed throughout the shed. The chief remained silent, his eyes darting between me and the docile zombie. I could see the gears turning in his head, the disbelief slowly fading away.
My claim was proven true. The zombie, a creature designed to crave human flesh, showed no interest in me. The question now was, would the chief honor his word? Would he see my unique condition as a benefit for his tribe or would he perceive me as a threat? Only time would tell.
The chief took a step back, a puzzled frown marking his worn features. His gaze kept shifting between me and the zombie, which continued to act as though I wasn't there. After what felt like an eternity, he finally broke the silence.
"Alright, you've proven your point." He acknowledged, shaking his head slightly in disbelief. "You're different, but that doesn't guarantee your freedom."
I held my breath, waiting for the terms of his next proposition.
"I have a mission for you." He declared, crossing his arms over his chest. "Pocatello, it's a city a day's drive from here. It used to be a lively place before the outbreak, full of people, shops, restaurants... and taverns."
His voice became distant, a hint of longing creeping into his tone. "We're running out of spirits here. They help to keep the morale up and make the long nights bearable."
"You want me to bring back booze from Pocatello?" I asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise.
He nodded. "As much as you can carry. We have trucks you can use. You've shown us that the undead won't bother you, which gives you a unique advantage in this."
My mind raced as I considered his offer. It was a risk, of course. Pocatello was probably swarming with zombies, and there was no guarantee that there would be any alcohol left.
"I can't do it alone," I admitted, my eyes meeting the chief's challenging stare. "I need my team."
His gaze hardened, as he considered my proposal. After a moment of silence, he finally gave a slow, measured nod.
"You can take your friends. But on one condition." His eyes met mine, a stern note to his voice. "You leave one behind. As insurance."
His words sent a shiver down my spine, a feeling of unease curling in the pit of my stomach. I glanced at Cassidy and Hazuki. We were a team. We looked out for each other, had each other's backs. The idea of leaving one of us behind didn't sit well with me.
"And if I refuse?" I asked, swallowing hard.
"Then you can all stay as our prisoners," he responded coldly. "Your choice."
My mind raced as I weighed our options. The risk was immense, and the thought of leaving one of us behind was torturous. But it seemed we had no other choice.
With a heavy heart, I turned to Ms. Yan. Of us all, she was the most level-headed, the one who could stay calm under pressure. She had a way of blending into the background, of observing and strategizing. I trusted her to keep her head down and stay out of trouble.
"I'll leave Ms. Yan behind," I declared finally, looking at the chief squarely.
His eyes narrowed slightly, studying me as though trying to discern any sign of deceit. After a moment, he nodded, accepting my choice.
Just as the chief spoke, the door to the room swung open and a new figure stepped into the dimly lit room. It was a young woman, her long, dark hair tied back in a practical ponytail. Her native heritage was evident in her high cheekbones and warm brown eyes, which held a steely determination that was both intimidating and admirable. She was tall and athletically built, her posture commanding respect.
"This is Kaya," the chief said, gesturing towards her with an air of pride. I turned to face her, noting the way she moved with grace and purpose. The confident aura she projected reminded me of Cassidy - both of them exuded strength and determination, traits that were crucial for survival in our new world.
I noticed a long rifle slung over her shoulder, and my eyes widened slightly. "You're the one who fired the warning shot earlier," I said, my tone halfway between an accusation and a statement. It wasn't a question. The way she held herself and her weapon left no room for doubt.
Kaya only gave a single nod in response, her gaze never wavering from mine. "I am."
I swallowed, remembering the way the bullet had landed just inches away from Cassidy. The shot had been impeccably precise - a perfect warning shot. In that moment, I understood that Kaya wasn't someone to be taken lightly.
"She's the best shot in the tribe," the chief explained, his tone filled with paternal pride. "She's saved us from numerous threats. Zombies, raiders, you name it. She's as capable as any man in our tribe - perhaps even more so."
His words echoed in my mind as I looked at Kaya. She had the kind of sharp, focused gaze that spoke volumes of her experiences, the battles she'd fought, the threats she'd neutralized. Despite her youth, she seemed to possess a kind of maturity that was both admirable and slightly unnerving.
"You'll be accompanying them to Pocatello," the chief turned to Kaya, his voice taking on a more serious tone.
This is getting interesting...
***
As the day began to fade into twilight, we found ourselves huddled together in the confines of a small wooden shack that the tribe had graciously allocated for us. It wasn't much, but in a world that had descended into chaos, it was a sanctuary, a safe haven that provided us with a respite from the horrors that lurked outside.
Once we were settled in, I cleared my throat, turning my attention to Ms. Yan, Cassidy, and Hazuki. The air around us was heavy with anticipation and fear, an omnipresent sense of unease lingering in the room like an unwelcome guest.
"I spoke to the chief," I began, my voice steady despite the nervous flutter in my chest.
My words garnered their full attention. Ms. Yan, who was previously tending to her torn sleeve, paused in her task, her eyes meeting mine. Cassidy, leaning against a wall with her arms crossed, pushed off and moved closer to the makeshift circle. Hazuki, quiet and reserved as always, simply watched me with her intense gaze.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself before diving into the heart of the matter. "He has agreed to let us leave," I started, "but there's a condition." I paused, letting the words sink in. "We have to go on a mission for them."
Ms. Yan frowned, concern flooding her features. "What kind of mission?" she asked, her gaze steady and probing.
"We're to head to Pocatello and bring back as much alcohol as we can," I explained.
Cassidy snorted, her lips curving into a sardonic smile. "So, we're running a booze cruise for the natives now, huh?"
I nodded grimly, unable to appreciate the humor in her words. "Yes. But the upside is that the chief's daughter, Kaya, will accompany us. She's the one who took that warning shot back at the car. She's an exceptional shooter."
I looked at each of them in turn, gauging their reactions. Cassidy appeared nonchalant, though I could see a spark of curiosity in her eyes. Hazuki remained quiet, as usual, her expression revealing nothing about her thoughts. Ms. Yan, however, wore a look of worry.
"And what about me?" she asked softly, her gaze never leaving mine.
I sighed, my heart sinking at the fear reflected in her eyes. "You...you need to stay here, Ms. Yan." I revealed, hating the fear that flashed across her face. "They want us to leave a hostage behind, and it's best if it's you. You won't have to face the danger that we will."
"Very well...I understand..." Ms. Yan lowered her head. "You better come back in one piece now, or your getting an F for your semester paper!" she smiled.
"I will make sure I pass that course, Ms. Yan." I smiled back.
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