章節 14: Chapter 14 : The Calm Before the Storm
So, without a second thought, Ike lifted his foot and ground the sole of his shoe against Jack's hand, which was clutching the lamppost tightly.
"What are you doing?" Jack cried out in fear.
Ike remained silent, refusing to meet Jack's eyes, as he had a good idea of the expression on Jack's face. Instead, he focused solely on the hand he was pressing down, seemingly squeezing it even harder. Jack's grip weakened as he winced in pain, his hand now bloody.
"You... What's your problem?" Jack's voice quivered.
Ike didn't respond and continued to stare at Jack's hand. He could tell that Jack was beginning to feel genuinely afraid, and that was precisely the reaction Ike wanted.
Jack was unpredictable, and Ike couldn't afford to let him go unchecked. People with unresolved issues were prone to irrational actions, and Ike wasn't about to take that risk.
Ike eventually released his foot from Jack's hand and stepped back, but he kept his gaze fixed on Jack, his anger simmering. Jack, now free from Ike's grip, clung to the lamppost with his remaining hand, too terrified to let go.
As Ike and Tom prepared to leave, Tom was on the verge of commenting on the situation. However, just as they reached the tunnel entrance, another powerful gust of wind struck, catching them by surprise once more.
Jack, who had ventured ahead, was instantly blown sideways by the fierce wind, his body lifted off the ground once more.
Ike reacted swiftly, grabbing Tom's belt just in time to prevent him from being swept away as well. They both tumbled to the ground again, their surroundings a chaotic whirlwind of wind and rain. The deafening noise of the tempest filled their ears.
Ike maintained his grip on Tom's belt, determined not to let go. They were blown across the road, and Ike clung to a trash can embedded in the ground, while the muddy water, now at least 10 centimeters deep, rushed around them.
The road had transformed into a fast-flowing river, and Jack, still clinging to the lamppost, was in grave danger. The current was swift, making it nearly impossible for him to stand his ground.
Negan's voice calling out their names came as a lifeline for Jack. Hearing it, Ike instinctively recoiled his foot, a look of astonishment crossing his face. Jack realized that this time Ike might have gone too far; he hadn't expected Ike to actually hurt him. He silently vowed to seek revenge
against Ike when the opportunity arose.
"Help, help!" Jack immediately opened his mouth and shouted. As he tried to get back on his feet, he seethed with anger, plotting his revenge against Ike, whom he now considered a madman.
His twisted thoughts spiraled further, and he contemplated bringing harm to Ike's sister, Anna, right in front of him. Anna, with her beauty, had become the object of Jack's sinister intentions.
However, before Jack could even regain his footing, the knife that had threatened him moments ago was once again pressed against his neck. The cold metal felt even colder than the rainwater that drenched him, sending shivers down his spine. His face drained of color.
Ike's eyes bore into Jack, dark and menacing, exuding a chilling aura that made Jack's fear intensify. It was as if any utterance from Jack would trigger a deadly response from Ike, who seemed ready to slit his throat at the slightest provocation.
"Will you shout again?" Ike's voice dripped with cruelty, implying dire consequences if Jack made another sound.
In fear, Jack clenched his teeth and shook his head vigorously, not daring to utter a word. He couldn't fathom the transformation he had witnessed in Ike. This was not the same person he used to easily taunt and bully. Jack thought, "When did Ike become so ruthless?"
Jack couldn't comprehend the situation fully, but he knew better than to push Ike any further. He pursed his lips and kept his silence.
Jack suspected that Ike might have lost his mind, considering his inexplicably extreme behavior.
Ike, meanwhile, emitted a cold, disdainful snort through his nose, and even this sound sent shivers down Jack's spine. He felt like he was walking on a tightrope, fearing that the slightest misstep would lead to his doom.
Ike's reaction was enough to make Jack reconsider his revenge plans. He decided to bide his time for another opportunity.
As they continued to deal with the fierce wind, they were not the only ones facing peril. Negan's panicked scream reached their ears as they witnessed a large piece of debris, propelled by the relentless wind, sever the heads of a couple walking ahead of them.
Negan and the others quickly located the direction in which the heads had been blown away, leaving behind only the lifeless body of the man, wedged in a corner next to a trash can. The ground was tainted with the immediate flow of dirty floodwater.
Silence settled upon them as they grappled with the shock of witnessing such a horrifying incident. Their fleeting sense of relief had vanished, plunging them back into despair. They couldn't help but wonder what had become of their once orderly society.
Regus, unable to bear the sight, offered, "I'll go to the police station to report this. We can't leave them lying on the street like this."
Fred, however, interjected, "The police are overwhelmed right now! If you go, they won't have time for us."
Regus understood the grim reality, but he couldn't simply stand by and allow the deceased to remain on the street. He was concerned that, given the police's current workload, it might be two months before they could attend to these cases.
Negan chimed in, "Let's at least document their situation. When the police have the time, they can take it from there."
Fred retorted, "You should mind your own business."
Wet, disheveled, and with a bleeding hand, Jack looked distressed and didn't want to be part of the discussion. Fred decided to take him home. They parted ways, with Negan, Regus, and Ike continuing on their path.
Forty minutes later, Ike arrived at Tom's convenience store. Anna and Yingli had already noticed his return, and they had prepared clean clothes and a hot infusion for him.
Anna instructed him, "Change your clothes quickly."
Yingli, in a motherly tone, added, "Drink the infusion first." Anna reassured him, "And take a hot bath. The water's already heated. It's rainwater, so it should be safe."
Both women were busy attending to Ike's needs. After changing into dry clothes, Anna began wiping his hair and back with a towel. Ike inquired, "Where can I change my pants?"
Anna, slightly flustered, ventured into the kitchen without uttering a word. She mumbled, "I need to check if the water's boiling..." Yingli stood there, not instructing Ike to return to the bedroom.
Ike, coughing intentionally, prodded her.
Yingli sighed, "Okay, go change quickly. Don't catch a cold." Then, she retreated to her own room.
Ike promptly changed his pants and took a hot shower. The warmth of the water was a welcome relief after being exposed to the cold rain. Their home had become increasingly damp since the power outage, with mold appearing on various surfaces. Ike had to wipe them daily to prevent any health risks.
As he bathed, Ike's thoughts turned to the unusual weather. It had been raining continuously for half a month since the power outage, and he couldn't help but wonder if the solar storms had any connection to this extended period of rain.
Could solar storms influence the weather patterns, resulting in prolonged rainfall? Ike felt that something was amiss, although he couldn't quite grasp the full extent of it.
With the power out, the neighborhood had settled into a routine. As the day grew darker, the only sound to be heard was the persistent rain. Occasional screams and cries pierced the silence, causing discomfort in this once-quiet city.
Yet, in the warmth of his blanket, Ike reached for the sharp, cold knife that he had washed earlier. Its makeshift scabbard, crafted from a leather bag, bore markings resembling a lily, albeit somewhat broken.
The rumors circulating among the neighbors varied, with differentaccounts of disturbing events taking place at night. These accounts ranged from infidelity confrontations to robberies, suicides, and even people jumping off buildings.
Ike, clutching his knife, felt a sense of unease as he contemplated the unusual events unfolding in their city. In a society where accidents were discussed extensively, bodies now lay on the streets, unattended.
Regus and Negan's earlier conversation about the overwhelmed police force echoed in Ike's mind. He couldn't help but think about the consequences of leaving these bodies unattended for two months, with no resolution in sight.
As he lay in his bed, his hand touched the crude leather scabbard of his knife. It was meant to be a lily, but its resemblance was closer to a chrysanthemum, albeit a damaged one.
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