Chapter 41

Preparation trickled down Theodore's flustered cheeks, splattering on the cement ground and setting off ephemeral sizzles of steam.

Despite the chilly breeze of the late night, the skin on his lean framework was burning red as if he had been exposed to excessive amounts of sunlight.

Falling into a luxurious sprawl, Qi Rui's luscious, voluminous hair fanned out. Her chest undulated with her breathless panting and her glossy lips reflected the dreamy veil of moonlight.

"You always mention about how… mysterious I am. Well now, the same goes for you." Rolling her head sideways, the faint moonlight detailed her gorgeous side profile.

Theodore didn't respond, his gaze was hesitant and regretful as it wandered across the rooftop's only entrance. The tempered weld that sealed the metal door cooled, reaching equilibrium with the surrounding temperature.

Was it morally right to leave Idris behind like that?

Observing his reaction, Qi Rui tried to liven the mood as she combed her silky hair. "A while ago, when you yelled and unleashed hellfire upon those zombies. Remember the phrase you called out?"

"Fireball?" Replied Theodore.

Finally grabbing Theodore's attention, she sniffled to conceal her laughter. "Fireball? Really? Was that the best name you could come up with?"

Theodore exhaled deeply before releasing a soft chuckle. "It's a good name. Straightforward and menacing!"

"There is nothing menacing about a name like 'fireball'," Qi Rui teased in a whimsical manner as she pounded his arms playfully.

"Owww— Tone your strength down a little, Mrs. Robot hands… My fragile muscles can't compete against steel!" Theodore grimaced and rubbed his thin arms. Through Qi Rui's persistence, the grim spirit hovering over him had faded.

The recovery of Theodore's strange condition was smooth and speedy as his red hot skin dialed down several notches, turning into a more healthy, rosy hue.

Dishevelled men and women loitered around the spacious rooftop. Most of them distanced themselves from Theodore and Qi Rui, alienated into clusters. Cowering on the office building's rooftop in fear, Theodore's fiery flames and Qi Rui's brutal prowess had liberated them from the danger of zombies.

Yet despite all their efforts, many of the survivors weren't grateful, turning a blind eye to their heroic deeds.

"You're still alive!"

The whirring of a helicopter distorted Gary's frantic screech.

When Theodore and Qi Rui burst through that metal door with brute force, Gary's plump body, assisted by suited men, was halfway into a hovering aircraft. The air vortex generated by its spinning rotor blades fluttered Gary's greasy face folds.

A line of survivors had already gathered behind Gary, desperately begging for the son of the chairman to rescue them. But living in the most upper echelon of society, Gary bore indifference towards these common employees.

Coldheartedly, he stepped into the aircraft and slid the helicopter door shut, eliminating the survivor's only chance of escape.

Unable to display their vehement hatred towards the man who had already flown far away, Theodore and Qi Rui took the blame.

Leaning against the welded rooftop entrance, Theodore and Qi Rui chattered. The rampaging zombies behind the metal door attempted to ravage the obstacle, but it just would not budge. Theodore was confident with his skills, for he had performed this move millions of times before he died on Earth.

"Qi Rui," whispered Theodore as he relished the cool breeze caressing his warm face. "Tyler is alive, right?"

"I reckon you'd know best about him." Cleaning her exoskeleton glove with a napkin, Qi Rui replied.

Theodore knew deep down that a Category One was not something an ordinary human being like Idris could handle. He didn't want to admit it, but a sacrifice must have been made to lure away the Category 1 zombie.

He blamed himself for Idris's death. The flame he eventually generated was an atonement for the loss of his best friend.

If he hadn't made a fool of himself on the lower floors, maybe they could have escaped safely together…

Engulfed by remorse, Theodore dropped his head as thoughts drowned the light thumps coming from behind the metal door.

'The world feels so silent, empty like the void in my heart…'

Wait a minute… Actually, why is the world so silent?

Theodore suddenly stood up. Not just the noise behind the door, but the muffled growls emanating from the lower stories had also miraculously vanished!

It wasn't his imagination. It was reality!

"Hey, do you notice anything strange?" He alerted Qi Rui by shaking her arms.

"You mean the noises, right? I thought I was the only one who felt it!" Catching onto Theodore's point, she pressed her ear against the cold surface of the door. "No vibrations. It is absolutely dead out there."

"Impossible," Theodore knitted his brows in disbelief. "Zombies don't give up that easily. Someone or something must have lured them away."

"But that would have at least created some sort of ruckus."

"I agree. This situation doesn't make sense!" replied Theodore.

Suddenly, they heard a muffled noise. Intercepted by the metal door between the rooftop and the outside world, the noise was soft, barely perceivable. Though undeterminable, they heard signs of a coherent sentence.

"Are… live… Dore…"

Stifled sounds travelled through the dense particles, vibrating into Theodore's ears. Was someone calling his name?

Their turmoil attracted the attention of the few survivors closest to them, ones who were thankful of Theodore's and Qi Rui's contribution.

"Are there survivors on the other side?" A man in his mid-thirty said.

"Maybe its Mr. Tyler. He's a tough man, so, what if he actually survived." A women proposed. She was the one of the last two surviving member of Theodore's 'guild', and also someone who respected the quiet, towering giant.

"You know what," despite his earliest acceptance of Idris's sacrifice, her words and the muffled sound outside reignited hope in Theodore's heart. "I might be crazy, but I think Tyler could still be alive!"

Creating space between him and the metal door, Theodore lifted up his arms without hesitation. Despite the frantic prevention of the unknowing survivors who alienated Theodore, fiery flames blasted out from his palms, scorching the reddening metal.

On the other side of the door, Idris ceased his message.

Knowing who was behind this obstacle, Idris couldn't help but smile. He never expected himself to keep his promise and survive.

Oh, he couldn't wait to see Theodore's flabbergasted expression!

He raised his fist and planted a massive strike on the metal door, creating an huge dent.

As heat slowly distributed across the metal surface, solid particles began to separate, gaining more freedom as the hard material softened. Sensing the rise in temperature, Idris stopped his progress.

Metal melted as time went on. The obstacle lowered, revealing a gap that connected the survivors to the cleared office building.

"Son of a bitch." Theodore's eyes widened and he muttered. "It's good to see you man!"

Under his flickering flames, Idris's towering figure appeared at the other end of the door, safe and sound without any wounds or scratches.

"See Theodore, I actually kept my promise." Idris grinned for the first time without needing the cardboard picture frame. "Now, it's time for your obelisk promise."

Etched in his front suit pocket, the portrait of Idris's wife and daughter discreetly gleamed. Hiding behind the fabric of his pocket, the corner of their mouths seemed to curve upwards as if they were alive.