17 Section 16: The Questionable Duo

-Joel POV-

Aria just killed someone, that I know of. She killed the woman she just met Ellis, I didn't even manage to say hi to her. Ellis was on the brink of insanity because of her husband's death, even so, she didn't deserve to die like this.

Aria looked as if she enjoyed beating her, she grinned in enthusiasm as she hit Ellis' dead body mercilessly.

She treated Ellis as nothing more than a punching bag, a tool for channeling her anger and frustration. Even though she smiled mercilessly, her eyes looked hurt and pained. Aria has become a beast that I couldn't predict, she has always been unpredictable and reserved but this is beyond human morality.

The city is already half dead and slowly mankind descended to madness because of this horrible incident. It even affects Aria, the quiet calm girl I admired.

Aria has descended into madness, but the appearance of a person she knew immediately took an impact on her. Her face softened and her pupils were dilated, her merciless grin disappeared.

He still treated her as if nothing happened, even the sights of her being enveloped in red fresh blood didn't bother him at all.

This man is either clueless or devious to the core, I had this unsettling feeling when I saw his expression. He never faltered when he saw her insanity, it was as if he knew her insanity for a long time.

"Wow, your face is so dirty, with blood", he looks concerned. "Plus you're kinda warm, maybe you're sick".

She was warm? She looked unwell this morning but I ignored her condition because I thought it didn't matter. Aria's gaze on him was focused like he's her beloved person. She collapsed on his embrace, that man caught her in time before she fell flat on the floor.

"She's feeling unwell and you don't know?", he asked me in a disappointed tone.

I avoided his eye contact, something about him just scared me. He carried her bridal style, he asked me where we stayed which I answered nervously.

He clicked his tongue annoyed at my indecisiveness. He walked ahead of me while I followed him from behind, his steps were firm and confident.

"Hey, protect me with her metal bat," he said nonchalantly.

I carried her used metal bat, the thought of using the same metal bat that was used to kill Ellis terrified me but I knew I should be brave but the fact that my friend just killed someone nonchalantly frightened me.

"Who is Aria Schneider?" I thought to myself as we escaped from the apartment complex.

The man looked at Aria's sleeping face, his expression looked sad. His lips curl into a frown. The fact that the people Aria just met got tortured, which means there's someone out there looking for a stress reliever.

That or maybe there are bandits around, wanted the couple stashes for survivability. We walked in silence as we passed the lifeless bodies of strangers, sadness overcame me. I thought that those survivors would be able to survive with us.

We could form a team and stay in that love hotel as a base. However, fate says otherwise for the couple. The basketball star, Nash's death was swift. His wife was killed by none other than their savior, Aria Schneider. When I was drowned in my thoughts, a floating stingray robot around me.

Unlike the rest of the robots who attacked us, this one has smaller built and more swift. The attack drones are all shaped like a mini version of a jet plane. It's not like I'm being robophobic, but the stingray drones kind of scared me.

"Don't worry about it" the mysterious guy turned around. "The little fella there is my buddy, call him Pixie".

I looked at him, he's a strange guy. Not gonna lie, he had this unique charming aura around him. His firm back and confident stature is a contrast of mine. Something about him, makes me envy him.

"A drone, stick close to me" the guy who carried Aria added.

I nodded as I firm my grip on the metal bat. My palms are sweating and so is my forehead, the thought that both of their lives depend on me scares me. Not long after that, I could feel a strong gust of wind behind me.

"Sneak attack! Blind him!" the mysterious guy ordered me.

I immediately jumped and hit the drone vision. I smashed its only eyes, now I suddenly feel more useful than ever.

"Ten seconds cooldown! Hide before it shoots like a madman!" he yelled while running carrying Aria.

"Huh, what do you-".

My sentences were cut short when I felt a bullet graze my cheek. I immediately understood what the guy meant. We secluded ourselves in an abandoned weapon shop. The drone that attacked us flew straight, somewhat looking outraged. The drone seems to have lost us.

The guy sighs in a deep breath, his sharp eyes narrowed to my clear gaze.

"You have pretty aquamarine eyes," he said out of nowhere. "But lack of surroundings".

His comment somewhat ticked me off, it's like he's playing around with my emotions. He praised me, then the next thing I knew he scolded me. He scanned his surroundings cautiously as if thinking of something.

"Weapon shop? Nice, I should go straight here" he smirked.

This guy is like talking to himself, somewhat like Aria. They're similar too, not sure why. After a few minutes had passed, we came out from our hiding spot. We spotted plenty of robots, but we somewhat managed to pass them.

The guy is pretty calculative, it's like he knows everything about the robot.

I told him about our temporary base in a love hotel, he seemed to know which hotel it was when I told him the street's name.

After a long journey of hitting robots and avoiding them, we arrived at our destination. The questionable duo was unscathed, while the robot managed to graze my cheek and shoulder.

One thing that I notice is that I'm weaker than Aria in physical strength. Aria always managed to swing the bat and destroyed the robot for good.

"Where the heck did she get that strength?" a thought occurred to me.

I led him the way to the furthest bedroom on the first floor, he put Aria down gently on the bed. Then he turned around to me, his face stiffened and somewhat disappointed.

"Listen here, you can't take care of Aria with that lame skill of yours" he snarled. "That settles it, she's coming with me".

"What!? No!" I glared at the mysterious tanned guy in front of me. "Who are you anyway!? Why should I entrust Aria in the hand of strangers!".

"Hey, I'm no stranger to her sheesh" he sighs. "I'm Ender, her best friend".

He seems to emphasize the word best friend as if he's a big deal or something.

Then again, I'm a little bit surprised that I would defend Aria from Ender, this strange guy. Even Aria herself is dangerous in my opinion, I don't know why I would even want to hold on to her.

She just killed someone, an innocent soul called Ellis. This Ender seems fine about what she just did though as if he's blinded. Ender put an old blanket on her very gently, treating her like a precious treasure.

"You're not worth it, you can't keep her safe" Ender hissed at me. He dispatched his small stingray drone next to Aria, he stepped outside grumpy. He looked at me and asked.

"You need a weapon, please don't just rely on Aria for your protection" he scoffed and slammed the door.

I looked down, clenching my fist when he said those hurtful words. Do I look that way from him? Clinging on Aria for safety? What if I am? Isn't it normal to stay together for safety? I don't understand why he's angry about it.

There's nothing wrong about me, it is okay. I don't want to be alone, if he's taking away Aria then I won't be able to survive. Aria is the reason I managed to get out of that university anyway.

I walked to Aria's side, checking her temperature with my temple. Ender is right, she had a bad fever. I didn't even notice that she's ill when we went to the apartment. I feel like I'm selfish, I never really look after Aria because she is Aria. I'm looking after her because she's the leader.

She's the one who saved me and managed to keep me alive. I grabbed Aria's shoulder, fear, and anxiety crept inside my head. I don't know where my friends are, I don't even know where my family is, whether they're safe or not. If Aria left me then, I'll be alone.

The last time I saw my friend was when I was in university, I saw Andy and Adrian but got separated from them.

"I hope they're safe" I crumpled the blanket.

The only thing I can do now is to pray that my friends and family are safe, there's no use panicking around. Ender words ring a bell, a little bit of distraction might endanger me, and I would be a goner forever.