章節 18: Runner

There are two guards stationed at the northern gate.

Luppy piled in line as he waits for his turn.

The boys in front of him were around the same age as him. They were carrying various weapons like slings, hammers, handsaws, and sickles. They are young scavenge hunters that would accept orders and brave the world beyond the walls in exchange for a few Rigs.

The line moved fast and Luppy's turn finally arrived.

"Green pass." One of the guards offered his hand, waiting.

Luppy produced a card from his pocket and gave it to the guard.

The guard inspected the portrait on the card--- it was a good sketch of Luppy's face--- and made sure that the owner of the card was Luppy.

The guard nodded as he allowed Luppy to pass.

Luppy took a few steps and was standing in front of the gate.

The metal gate was ten feet long and twenty feet wide, this gate was rarely opened. The one where another guard was standing at was the one mostly opened. It was a door on the gate only big enough for an adult to pass.

"Ready?" The gatekeeper asked as he held on the lock.

"Any second." Luppy tapped his feet in anticipation.

But the gatekeeper looked at Luppy incredulously--- Luppy was not carrying any weapon at all. Instead, Luppy was carrying a bulky ransack bag heavier than usual--- the bag looked like it was about to burst. He used all his one hundred fifty Rigs generously as if he was a rich man.

The gatekeeper shook his head as he bid his warning. "Return alive or dead. But never a savage." The gatekeeper slowly opened the lock clockwise. But he quickly pushed Luppy at the back the instant he opened the door.

The door was closed with a thud the moment Luppy landed a step out from the Kingdom.

There was no trace of life on the road, all that was left were remains that this place was once filled with life. There were a few abandoned cars in the middle of the road with doors open and keys still in the ignition. But it will never be used again as some of their parts were missing like the side mirrors and wheels.

The street across was lined with abandoned buildings with ajar doors and broken windows. Beautiful apartments in a metropolitan neighborhood that people would die just to live in one--- most literary died when the apocalypse began.

The road was eerily quiet except for a grunting sound slowly coming closer to Luppy.

It was a lone zombie dragging one of its feet on the asphalt. He was wearing rubber shoes, black shorts, and an orange neon shirt with a headphone dangling on his shoulder. A chunk of his face was missing, he had bite marks everywhere. He was probably attacked while jogging on a bright sunny day--- surely an ordinary day he thought it would be.

Luppy squatted to retie his running shoes as the grunting came closer and closer. Luppy stood up after double checking his shoelace would not come off. Luppy began to stretch from left to right as a swoosh of arrow passed on his side and shot the zombie in the eye. The lone zombie did not show any reaction as It continued its pursual---with an arrow stuck in his eye. Then a second arrow was shot, and it pierced straight into the zombie's brain. The zombie grunted as it fell face first on the ground.

"Don't make me waste another arrow!" The guard, who was walking on top of the wall, shouted.

Luppy turned and saluted to the guard as a sign of gratitude. The zombie behind him began to grunt and was struggling to walk back up again. But Luppy ignored the zombie, he pivoted to the right and strolled on the road.

The road was empty except for a few fallen zombies on the ground. Fresh kills by the group of young scavenge hunters that was on the line with him earlier. They hammered the heads of each of their kills until their brains splattered on the floor. They worked as a group, a good strategy to keep everybody alive and safe.

After walking two blocks away from the gate, Luppy saw the group of the young scavenge hunters raiding a convenience store. They were mostly looking for scraps of goods---anything---that they can sell to the vendors on the flea market. But stores that are so close from the gate had mostly empty shelves--- they were emptied years ago. But the hunters are obviously hoping to find anything this near because the farther you wander away from the gate the more zombies you would encounter, and no one was stupid enough to travel that far.

Well, Luppy was stupid--- and crazy.

He strolled farther away from the gate, farther than other young hunters would dare. He passed by abandoned family restaurants, busted jewelry store, and deserted banks. Broken glasses crunched on Luppy's shoes as he walked on the sidewalk. He supported his bag by holding each of its strap on his shoulder. He never went out with these many goods before, Luppy was happy with his deal with the royal zombie. A smile formed on his face on the thought that he would receive another hundred fifty Rigs upon his delivery. But first, he had to get the goods.

After walking for about two kilometers away from the gate, the abandoned city was clearly staring to become more dangerous.

A few zombies were roaming the road aimlessly, Luppy remained undetected. But despite the danger, Luppy did not run---he walked. He needed to reserve his energy for later as he still had a long way to go.

But the zombies suddenly snapped their heads his way as they inexplicably became aware of his presence. Luppy was forced to walk faster but he did not forget to look around him to make sure no one was following him.

No human was shadowing him, but a group of zombies suddenly came out of nowhere and followed him closely.

He now sprinted into a run as his hold into the strap of his bag tightened.

Luppy may not have any weapons with him, but he had the best protection--- his feet. He can run faster than any normal adult, and he could definitely outrun these slow-moving zombies. To Luppy, not carrying any weapon was intentional. It was meant so he could run faster without any weights that would slow him down. He was a runner not a scavenge hunter--- that was his brother's job.

Luppy was aware that he was running slower than usual because of his heavy baggage. But he will never abandon these goods, the zombies are a few feet behind him anyway. He can still outrun them at his current pace.

Luppy was now focused on his breathing, making sure that he got enough oxygen. He already ran five kilometers away from the gate, and he needed to run for fifteen kilometers more. His feet were starting to ache, but he did not slow down as he finished running the remaining kilometers.

Luppy turned to his side and crossed the road. He stopped in front of a ten-story high brick building. Its doors and windows on the ground floor were hammered with blocks of woods to intentionally conceal what was inside. Also, to protect them from the zombies.

Luppy went to the small alleyway on the backdoor of the building. He knocked on the door--- tapping a code--- to let the person inside recognize him.

Luppy could hear the grunts of the nearing group of zombies as they struggled to fit on the small alleyway. No zombie was kind enough to let another one reach Luppy first--- all of them simultaneously barged in the alleyway. Any second now, the zombie closest to Luppy would reach him.

But the door opened, and someone shoved him safely inside.

Someone closed door quickly.

"What's up?" Jay nodded to Luppy.

Jay is in his mid-twenties with a ring on his lip.

There were loud bangs on the door and windows as zombies crashed into them.

"Hey," Luppy grinned. "I had a good deal and I got something for you."

Luppy placed his ransack bag on the floor as he rummaged through its contents. "It's in here somewhere."

Jay rubbed both of his palms in anticipation.

"Found it, here." Luppy produced three sticks of cigarette from his bag.

"Nice." Jay smiled. "Thanks."

Jay clapped Luppy's hand in gratitude as he returned to his station. Jay produced a lighter from his pocket, he needed to try a few times before he was able to produce a fire. He burned the tip of the cigarette in between his lips and breathed in the smoke, elated. Jay breathed out a chain of smoke, ignoring the zombies banging on the door.

The first floor was empty except for the chair near the door for Jay. First floor was not ideal for living as zombies might be able to hear movements and surround the building every time.

A young man was going down the stairs.

Luppy stiffened as the young man went straight into one of the windows and took a peek from its small opening.

"Hey, Eli." Luppy walked to his brother.

Elion tapped his brother's head in greeting as his eyes did not leave the view outside. "You brought a of friends this time." The zombies were trying to get in as they scraped through the windows.

Elion, Luppy's big brother, had golden blonde hair and grey eyes. He was tall with wide shoulders and muscular build.

Luppy wanted to be like his brother ever since he was younger. Even though his brother was adamant to not let his brother do missions for the slumps, Luppy still did it. Now, Luppy was happy to slowly earn his brother's confidence that he too can be useful.

Elion took his eyes away from the window as he eyed his brother from any injury.

"I'm clean." Luppy turned around to emphasize the fact.

Elion nodded and smiled. "Good job, kid."

Luppy beamed to his brother. "Look what I got," He ran to his bag and gave it to Elion.

Elion took a peek at the content and his brows lifted in amazement. "Where did you get the money to buy these?"

"Actually, I just booked you for a job." Luppy admitted to his brother.

"What is it this time?"

"My client needs two double a battery."

Elion nodded. "And for how much?"

Luppy beamed. "For Three hundred Rigs, plus thirty Rigs as tip. But I gave the tip to Yna, a kid in the Kingdom."

"Good." Elion smiled. "Com'on, let's distribute this upstairs." Elion held his brother's head with his big hand to pivot him around.

Luppy nodded enthusiastically. "Okay."

Elion tipped his chin up to greet Jay. Jay returned the gesture as he enjoyed his cigarette with the banging zombies on the door as his background.

The brothers ascended the stairs. The second floor was still empty, but the windows were not covered with woods--- rays of sun entered the empty floor. There was a long wire suspended close to the window, a few damp clothes were hanging on the wire.

The ascended another floor, there were groups of people on the third floor. They were a mix of families that were refused to join the Kingdom eighteen years ago, failed to pay for their slot in the Kingdom, or was disqualified to have citizenship inside the wall. They were a mixture of families brought together by one sole purpose--- to survive.

Luppy took the bag from Ziloh as he rummaged through it again to find a paper bag before he announced. "I have gifts for you!"

Kids younger than Luppy heard the call and ran towards him.

They rummaged through the bag as they revealed each of its content. There were fresh fruits like apple and banana, personal care like shampoo and soaps, and snacks like bars of chocolate--- which the kids devoured on the spot.

Ziloh smiled, proud of his brother. "I'll look for this double a battery later, once the zombies scatter."

"Okay." Luppy nodded. "Where's Brian?" Luppy surveyed the area, looking for the old man.

"Upstairs, why?"

"I did not just go home to bring the goods. Maya gave a note to me." Luppy fished the note from his pocket.

Elion's demeanor suddenly turned serious. "Report it to him immediately."

Luppy nodded and went up the stairs.

Brian was watering the plants one by one. They made an indoor garden perched on the sunny window, the garden was not intended for decoration--- they were used to grow some fruits and vegetables for the group to eat.

Luppy walked slowly to Brian.

"Luppy!" Biran watered the next row for plants.

Brian was fifty-year-old man with greying hair, he was the leader of the slumps.

"I have a gift for you," Luppy gave a small paper bag to Brian. "Hope you like it."

Brian stopped watering the plants and accepted the bag, he opened it. "Seeds," Inside the bag were seeds of different vegetables and plats. "they probably cost a lot. Thank you, Luppy."

"It's nothing really." Luppy tapped his nose in embarrassment.

Brian placed the bag of seeds on his pocket. "You're home earlier than usual."

"Actually, I met with Maya…" Luppy began his report. "��and she gave me this." Luppy opened his palm to reveal a small thorn paper on his hand. "Maya told me to give it to you."

"Yes, she was already a week late for her report." Brian revealed. "But it was weird that he gave it to you and did not follow the usual procedure." Brian wiped his hand on his chest and took the note from Luppy. Brian opened and read it silently. "This…this is not good."

After reading the note, Brian went upstairs and locked himself in his office.