Chương 15: To leave or to stay
Mel and Elliot made their way through the ruined, overgrown streets, their backpacks loaded with the resources they had collected throughout the day. The sun was beginning to descend on the horizon, tinting the sky in warm tones and casting long shadows over the ruins. They were both silent, but the echo of their footsteps in the rubble seemed enough to fill the air.
At least three hours had passed since their confrontation with that group of bandits or cannibals. The name didn't matter; what mattered was that they were dead. During that time, they had searched a couple of abandoned houses, finding some useful things: canned food, some drinking water, and clothing that, although worn, could be useful for the cold that would soon arrive.
Elliot adjusted the strap of his backpack, watching as Mel chewed on a strip of dried meat they had found in one of the closets. He watched her out of the corner of his eye, noticing how the glow of the setting sun enhanced the curves of her face. According to the system, Mel's affection for him was at 80%, very close to the maximum. When it reached 100%, every time they were in bed together he would gain 10,000 points. It was a tempting goal, and Mel was clearly on the right path to get there. But now, he had to focus on other goals.
Leah.
Elliot had already set his sights on her. The other woman in the group was all he needed to raise his score. She didn't have Mel's attributes or Abby's fierceness, but there was something about Leah that attracted him. Her calm demeanor, her determination, and of course, that round, firm ass that seemed made for him. The only obstacle was Jordan. That jerk. But Elliot was already thinking of how to get him out of the way. The constant bickering between them was his best bet; he would just have to wait for the perfect moment to make his move.
Elliot pressed his lips together, deep in thought. The group was also an issue he needed to resolve. Abby was a major problem. The bitch was in control, and while he wasn't interested in challenging her directly—at least, not right now—his plans didn't match hers. Abby wanted to take them to Seattle to join the Washington Liberation Front (WLF), but Elliot knew what that meant: war, blood, and a personal vendetta that would drag them all to hell. No, Elliot had other plans, bigger plans. He wanted to reform the Fireflies, but this time on his own terms.
"All in good time," he thought as he ran his hand through the strap of his backpack.
Abby, of course, was unattainable right now. Not because he couldn't desire her—the force of her presence was undeniable, her muscles and determined gaze awakening something in him—but because he knew that if he tried now, he would fail. He would need to raise his Attraction skill to a high enough level to subdue even that bitch. But for now, she wasn't his priority.
Mel broke the silence as he tore off another piece of beef jerky. "Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked, arching an eyebrow. His tone was light, but there was a spark of curiosity in his gaze.
Elliot smiled, looking away at the ruined buildings. "Nothing, just thinking how helpful these hours away from the group have been," he replied, giving his words a casual edge. "It's good to get away from all that shit, even if it's just for a little while."
Mel nodded, biting into another piece of meat. "Yeah, it is. But we'll have to come back eventually. We can't be alone forever."
Elliot frowned, pausing for a moment to look out at the horizon. "And who says we can't?" he asked, his tone more serious. "We could do it, Mel. You and me, get away from all that Seattle shit, from Abby, from Owen… We could find a place to start fresh."
Mel paused as well, blinking in surprise at his words. "Are you serious?"
"Sure," Elliot replied, turning to her. "We don't need to follow Abby on her suicidal crusade. We have food, we have weapons, and we have each other. What else do we need?"
Mel stared at him in silence for a moment before letting out a light laugh. "You always know how to make everything sound so simple."
Elliot smiled, though his thoughts kept spinning. He didn't know if he really wanted to leave the group just yet. There were advantages to staying with them, especially since he needed time to build his position and establish his own network. But the idea of separating, of starting something new with Mel—and eventually others—was tempting.
"It's not simple," he finally said, getting back on track. "But it's possible. Whatever it takes to survive, right?"
Mel nodded, following him silently as they both made their way to the house where the group was waiting for them.
-x.X.x-
Mel and Elliot walked through the front door of the house, their backpacks loaded with the resources they had found. The dim lights inside illuminated Abby's face, who sat on the couch checking a knife. Owen, on the other hand, stood near the window, frowning, looking out. Leah and Jordan argued in the kitchen, their voices low but filled with tension.
The sound of the door closing behind them made everyone look up. Abby was the first to speak, standing up with her usual defiant stance. "Where the hell were you? You spent the night out and didn't even say anything."
Mel sighed, dropping her backpack to the floor with a thud. "We had to stay somewhere else. We ran into trouble."
Owen stepped forward, his face marked by a mix of worry and relief at seeing Mel. "Trouble? Are you okay? What happened to you?" His voice was almost a reproach, but the eyes locked on her showed genuine fear.
Elliot felt a flash of jealousy run through her body at Owen's reaction. The idiot wouldn't even look at her when they were at camp, but now he acted like he cared. With a sarcastic smile, she stepped forward before Mel could answer. "All right, Owen. Thanks for asking. Yeah, there were problems, but we handled them. We got food, weapons, and some water. Anything else you want to know?"
Owen frowned, but his attention was still on Mel. "What kind of problems? What happened?"
Mel held up a hand to calm him, her expression calm but a little tired. "We ran into a group of bandits. Cannibals, actually. It was an ugly confrontation, but we dealt with it." Her tone was firm, but she avoided mentioning the goriest details. She didn't need Owen to be any more overprotective of her than he already was.
"Cannibals?" Abby's voice cut through the air like a knife. "And you stayed outside knowing you were in danger? That was stupid."
Elliot let out a dry laugh, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. "Yeah, because clearly the option of coming back here and bringing them straight to you would have been a lot better, right?" His tone was thick with sarcasm, and he didn't bother to hide it.
Abby stared at him, her eyes filled with disdain. "Whatever. I just hope you brought something worthwhile."
Elliot arched an eyebrow, kicking the backpack toward the center of the room. "Food, water, weapons… is that enough for you, queen of the camp, or do you want more?"
Before Abby could respond, Owen interrupted again, walking over to Mel and placing a hand on her shoulder. "You sure you're okay? They didn't hurt you, did they?"
Mel nodded, her expression a little uncomfortable at Owen's proximity. "I'm fine, Owen. Really. Thanks for caring."
Elliot gritted his teeth, watching as Owen kept his hand on Mel's shoulder a second longer than necessary. Finally, Mel stepped back, gently letting go and walking into the kitchen to put some space between them.
Leah, who had been listening from the kitchen, crossed her arms as she looked at Elliot and then at Mel. "Cannibals, huh? I guess that explains why they looked so tired when they came in."
Elliot smiled, his eyes shining with a mix of amusement and defiance. "Oh, tired doesn't describe half of what happened. But you know, we do what we have to do."
Abby, still standing, shook her head before sitting back down. "Well, at least you brought something useful. But next time, try not to disappear without warning. We don't need any more surprises than we already have."
Elliot held up a hand in a mocking gesture, as if he were reluctantly accepting orders. "Sure, boss. Next time I'll send a postcard."
Abby ignored him, turning her attention back to her knife. Owen, however, kept staring at Mel, as if he wanted to say something else but didn't know how.
Elliot, seeing this, decided to cut the moment short. "Well, we'll do a quick inventory of what we brought and then we'll rest. It's been a long day." Without waiting for an answer, he picked up his backpack and began to head toward a corner of the room.
-x.X.x-
The atmosphere in the room was heavy, almost suffocating, as all the members of the group sat in a circle around the small metal pot. The warmth of the fire was barely enough to combat the chill seeping through the cracks of the old house, but it did nothing to ease the palpable tension in the air.
Abby, arms crossed and her usual authoritative expression, leaned forward. "Fine," she began, her voice sharp as a knife. "Since we're all here, it's time to decide what we're going to do. Seattle is still our best option, but I know Elliot has other ideas. So we'll talk about this now."
Elliot leaned against one of the walls, arms crossed and a nonchalant expression that clearly infuriated Abby. "Great, a democratic vote," he said sarcastically. "Who wants to jump right into the lion's den? Because that's what Seattle is all about."
Abby ignored him, turning her attention back to the rest of the group. "I've talked to Owen," she said, casting a quick glance at him. Owen looked uncomfortable, sitting next to Mel but avoiding any eye contact with her or Elliot. "And we think Seattle is still our best chance. The Wolves have resources, organization, a safe place where we could start over."
"Sure?" Elliot interrupted, his tone mocking. "Yeah, safe as a snake pit. Because we all know the Wolves are famous for being welcoming and kind."
"Shut up, Elliot!" Abby snapped, turning to him with a glare that could split steel. "You always have something to say, but you never have a real plan. What do you propose? Stay here and starve? Or wander around like idiots hoping for something miraculous to happen?"
"I propose we use our heads instead of blindly following your obsession with Seattle," Elliot replied, his tone turning colder. "We can find a place away from the factions, set up our base, and, yes, work together to rebuild something. But of course, that doesn't fit with your agenda, does it?"
Abby stood up from her seat, her fists clenched as the rest of the group exchanged awkward glances. "This isn't about me, Elliot. It's about the group. And so far, all you've done is cause divisions."
"Divisions," Elliot repeated, standing up as well. "Of course, because questioning your brilliant leadership means division. Look around you, Abby. Half the people here don't even want to go to Seattle, but you're too blinded by your vengeance to notice."
"Stop it, both of you!" Manny interrupted, holding up a hand to calm the situation. "We don't need this right now. We're all exhausted, and the last thing we need is to fight each other."
Abby stepped back, still glaring at Elliot, but crossed her arms. "Okay," she said, her tone dangerous. "If you have such a good idea, Elliot, share it. Convince us."
Elliot stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. "I'm not saying it'll be easy," he began, his tone more controlled. "But staying out of the factions is our best chance. A place away from the Wolves, away from FEDRA, away from the raiders. Yes, we'll have to work hard, but at least we won't be putting our lives in the hands of lunatics with power complexes."
Leah, who had been quiet until now, frowned. "And where do you suggest we find that magical place? Because so far, all we've seen are shattered cities and lands filled with infected."
"That's what I want to find out," Elliot replied, keeping his gaze locked on Leah. "We can explore, move cautiously. We have resources now, at least to start. But going to Seattle is like putting a noose around our neck and waiting for someone to pull it."
Owen finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "Seattle isn't perfect, but it has structure. That's more than we have now."
"Structure?" Elliot let out a bitter laugh. "Sure, structure to control you, to make you a pawn in their war. Is that what you want for yourself? For Mel?"
Mel's name on Elliot's lips made Owen clench his jaw, but before he could respond, Abby stepped in. "Enough." Her voice was low but loaded with authority. "Enough of the nonsense. This isn't a contest of egos. It's a decision about survival."
Just as Elliot opened his mouth to respond, a noise from outside brought them to a halt. It was a piercing scream, followed by the screeching of tires as they slammed on the brakes.
"What the hell was that!" Leah exclaimed, standing up with her pistol already drawn.
Elliot and Mel exchanged a quick glance. "Shit," Elliot muttered, grabbing his rifle. "I think trouble found us."
The sound of car doors slamming echoed through the air, followed by loud voices and hurried footsteps. From the windows, they could see several figures moving in the gloom, armed and with expressions that left no room for doubt.
"It's them," Mel said in an urgent whisper. "The cannibals. They came for revenge."
The tension in the room spiked, everyone moving quickly to arm themselves and prepare defensive positions. Abby immediately took command. "Everyone to their posts. Block the entrances. We won't let them take us by surprise."
Elliot gritted his teeth, adjusting the strap on his rifle as his mind raced. "Perfect," he thought bitterly. "Because an internal argument wasn't enough. Now we have to deal with this."
As the group moved frantically, the cannibals' shouts from outside made it clear that they weren't there to negotiate.
"Come out now and you won't have to suffer any more than necessary!" roared a deep voice from the front. "Otherwise, we'll go in and tear you apart."
Elliot took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the front door. "Here we go."
End of Chapter 15.
SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO 
elnikinxd
elnikinxd For those who read the story and felt disappointed. Sorry okay? I mean I know the premise is generic but that doesn't mean I'm going to make a rehashed and generic shit. It's great that you comment on what you don't like about the story instead of throwing shit.
I always wanted to make a story with a system, only I don't want to make it like the stories you always see on the internet where the protagonist is broken from day 1.
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