6 Chp 6

The lady just sat there munching on her bread completely unaware of Crow's presence. Now that crow could actually see her, she looked tired and worn out. It was like someone who went for days not knowing whether or not if they would live to see the next day. Crow had recognized this look because it was the same look he wore after a few days of living in his cruddy home.

Although she had such a look she still looked pretty, her skin was smooth with a little tan on it. Her hair was cut short only reaching her shoulders. It was pitch black and blended with the shadows behind her. She was a little shorter than Crow as she would only come up to his shoulders if she was standing.

"That bread must taste nice" Crow stated after a few moments, "for you to completely disregard the person you tried to kill" Instantly the lady stopped munching away and stared at Crow. "It's impolite to stare" He said while shrugging his shoulders.

"How are you not dead" The lady questioned.

Crow rolled up his short sleeve to show he his cauterized wound, "Because I'm not an idiot in this blasted war!" He replied simply.

The lady had a surprised look on her face,"You have medicinal knowledge?"

"Enough for me to survive" Crow blankly said.

"You... might be useful" She muttered.

"Whether or not I'm useful to you is up for me to decide, now I want to know why you tried to kill me and why the other survivor was trying to kill you" Crow asked.

"I don't know you well enough to say" She plainly answered.

"Fair enough," Crow replied, "can I at least know your name then?"

"Belle, just Belle." Belle answered in a matter-of-fact type of tone.

"Well, Belle, can you tell me what this coin means?" Crow asked while tossing the smooth black coin from his pocket.

Belle deftly caught the coin. "It's the Vipers Gang, they roam these parts looking for survivors and even the dead that walk to kill. They are ruthless and wouldn't hesitate to kill you if they saw you. Where'd you find this?" She asked

"On a walking corpse" Crow answered

This surprised Belle, she had always thought the dead was unkillable and dangerous so to even get near one would be foolhardy. "How" She asked, "how in the world are you still alive?"

"Lady luck and common sense" He replied simply, for he couldn't and wouldn't say that he was just playing a game. If he was going to play this trauma inducing game might as well as treat it as the real thing.

"..." Belle didn't know how to respond, either this guy was stupid and didn't know anything about this place or he was just plain stupid!

"Anyways, these guys kill the survivors?" Asked Crow oblivious to the fact that the lady in front of him was thinking he was stupid.

"It's more like torture but yes." Belle replied "They carve the survivors up and make 'em wish they were dead. I've see the bodies, they were covered in scars, cuts, and dried blood. Some of them were even gutted!"

"Hrk" Crow was throwing up in the corner due to Belle's description. "That is disgusting!" he said while wiping his mouth.

"I guess but your gonna have to get used to it to survive in this bloody war" Belle pointed out. It was true too, for him to survive he would have to loot and kill corpses that walked as well as the Vipers, a dangerous gang that rule this town. Of course they haven't met a man from the modern age with a brain full of survival techniques.

"Alright where is the Vipers gang located?" Crow asked

"Center of town near the old mayor's office. Their base is an old ruin that used to be a hotel" answered Belle.

"They use bows and arrows?" Question Crow?

"They have a blacksmith shop right next to it, they make their own serrated arrow tips that can puncture just about anything" Replied Belle

"Shiz" Uttered Crow, that meant his leather armor was unusable, of course now that he thought about it, it was pretty trashy in the first place the only thing it could protect him from was blunt weapons of the same grade or lower and peoples fists.

Then Crow remembered something, something very important and interesting. Something that could help out in this situation. He grinned and looked at Belle once more."What about your hiding skill can you teach me?"

"It would take years" She replied. Her straightforward manner felt like an arrow to the chest for Crow. "At least it would for you to be on my level" When Crow heard her say these few words his eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope.

"Doesn't matter" he said while smiling, "Teach me"

"I guess so," She replied to his request

***

After a few moments of intense training Crow had finally learned his new skill.

[Shadow Walk]

[one can blend into the shadows in the later stages of this skill. For now only dumb and illteleingent people will ignore your presence while using this skill]

[Stamina usage- 20% per 3 minutes]

satisfied Crow walked to the stairs about to head out of this cramp and shoddy place.

"what are you gonna do now?" Asked Belle curiously

Crow looked back at her and replied to her simply, "I'm going to kill those idjits" A hint of rage could be heard in his voice.

"If you go you might die" She warned

"And if I don't the survivors WILL die" Crow stated

"Why?" She asked, "What keeps you going willing to survive?"

"Because, Belle, no one else would" Crow said shrugging his shoulders