Cap: 10

The university gates opened before Erick... And just as he stepped inside, he couldn't help but sigh, feeling his body three times heavier... He collapsed to his knees.

Last night had left him exhausted. Walking for kilometers on end without rest, while staying awake, would make anyone want to crawl into bed and sleep... Not to mention having to hide and shoot at soldiers without getting killed in the process.

"What's wrong with him?... Is he bitten?!" asked a voice Erick didn't recognize.

Erick looked up and saw an unfamiliar guy pointing a trembling bow at him.

"Lower the bow, idiot... Don't do something stupid and make me have to cut your balls off," Bart appeared, flashing a smile.

Several people appeared at the entrance, and Erick saw that his men were a minority among the ones surrounding him. Many of these unfamiliar men held baseball bats and wore football protective gear.

Erick's vision blurred, and he felt extremely dizzy. His muscles demanded rest, and he couldn't go on any longer...

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Erick heard voices around him and felt a hand opening one of his eyes, shining a flashlight into it, making him move his head in confusion.

"He's waking up..." said Verónica, the doctor. "…He's fine… If he had been bitten, he'd have a raging fever by now," she added.

Erick felt his head resting on something soft, and he opened his eyes to see a young woman with brown hair and gray eyes. She had a worried and surprised look, which made Erick realize his head was resting on her lap.

He took the woman's hands, which were resting on his head, and gently moved them aside as he sat up. Erick noticed he was shirtless and had an IV bag connected to his wrist.

"What time is it?" Erick asked as he removed the IV tube and stood up.

He should have waited a bit longer, as the dizziness nearly caused him to fall if not for Verónica and the young woman who held him. He stayed in that position until the dizziness passed.

"Be careful… You've been pushing your body too hard recently..." the doctor told him before letting go, seeing he could stand on his own.

"Understood... Now... as for my question?" Erick responded.

"It's almost eight in the morning," the young woman explained. Noticing Erick's fixed gaze, she blushed. "...Um... My name is Valerie..."

Erick looked around and realized the room he was in was a classroom, not an infirmary.

"Thanks, doc... by the way... nice place to treat someone..." Erick noted, looking at the desk where he'd been unconscious.

"The infirmary here is chained shut... Infected are locked inside," Verónica explained. "... Bart slapped Oliver when he found out and cleared the place, but there was blood everywhere... So, here we are."

"I see..." Erick nodded.

"By the way... Bart asked me to tell you that Valerie is here to take care of you until you get better and that you'll know what to do with her when you wake up..." the doctor mentioned with obvious displeasure, clearly not happy with the implications.

Erick looked at Valerie and immediately understood. She blushed, keeping her gaze on the floor afterward.

"...Well... What can I do?" Erick sighed and took Valerie's hand, helping her to her feet. "... I need to talk to Bart..."

Bart's antics could sometimes drive him crazy. Erick would rather choose his own women, but he wasn't about to be rude and reject a well-intentioned gift.

"Alright, but first, I should point out that your things are over there..." Verónica indicated.

His helmet, clothing, and all his weapons were on a table next to his backpack, reminding him he was still shirtless.

Erick took all his things and dressed, feeling relieved as it made him feel ready to face anything in this world.

He took Valerie's hand and left the room, then walked outside the building towards where the doctor said Bart was.

"Is it true you walked among thousands of those monsters and led them away from here?" she asked as they walked.

Erick looked at her, noticing the panic mixed with admiration in her tone, so he didn't take long to respond.

"Yes..." Erick replied. "...And that wasn't even the most dangerous thing I've done... As bad as those things are... at least they're predictable... It's the living that scare me more..." he explained.

Whether it was his casual tone or what his words implied, she looked at him as if he were some kind of Superman descending from the heavens, cape flowing in the wind.

"Can you explain what happened before I arrived?" Erick demanded answers from her. "... My men can be overly enthusiastic when I'm not watching..."

"They told us you have a refuge outside the city..." Valerie began. "...They said things could go wrong, and if that happened, they'd have to leave the city without us..."

Erick felt worried upon hearing that; though he hadn't specified for his men to keep things discreet, he'd expected them to have the sense to do so.

"Steve tried to intimidate them, but that didn't go well, and he died... Then many girls approached, trying to... convince your friends to help them... in other ways..." She blushed as she said this.

"Yeah, I'm not surprised by that..." Erick scoffed.

"That man, Bart, mentioned they were looking for wives, and many offered themselves... I didn't intend to do that, but Bart approached me and talked about you... About what you were doing out there," she stopped and looked into his eyes. "...A hero like you... someone brave and determined, risking his life for others... I know this sounds strange, but I think things could work out between us..." She looked at him with pleading eyes.

Erick almost felt moved by her naivety. Valerie was pretty, seemed sweet, and he would certainly enjoy having her in his bed... But there were some things he needed to clarify between them...

"I have two other women at home..." he explained, being honest from the start. "...If you're going to be my woman... you'll have to accept that, and in return, I'll give you protection and status, but you'll be mine alone."

The look she gave him told him that her illusions had just shattered. Erick felt an urge to scold her for expecting him to be with her exclusively.

Valerie looked at him with disgust and walked away without saying a word, while Erick simply shrugged, unconcerned, as he kept walking... If she wasn't interested, then he'd find other women who were.

The place was in as bad shape as the rest of the world, except there were no walkers. People had ransacked and destroyed vending machines, with candy wrappers and plastic bottles scattered on the floor. But the most notable thing was the number of tents with people sleeping inside.

There were also several empty tents, though Erick didn't know if that was because their owners were doing something or if they'd been recruited and were thus dead.

"Hurry up… Move it, ladies... We don't have all day!" Bart mocked the men on-site, who were dragging dead walkers out of a building.

Erick saw several of his men laughing at Bart's comments, while the refugees glared at them with daggers in their eyes. Bart ignored their anger and couldn't help but whistle upon seeing Erick approach.

"You must be the devil, because you were in hell and made it out alive, my friend!" Bart celebrated.

The rest of his men gathered around to congratulate him on the success of his mission. Some talked about the women they'd "conquered" at home and couldn't wait to return to the refuge to show off their prizes.

"Before coming here, I stopped by the refugee center..." Erick explained. "The place survived... but it's unguarded, and anyone could grab some food..."

"Don't worry..." Bart assured him. "We took these cowards over there and left them to load the food onto the trucks..."

That was good news, but Erick would have preferred to be there to ensure those people didn't do something stupid. Unlike his men, the refugees had no experience outside and mostly didn't seem to know how to handle walkers. Not to mention, there was a small risk they might take a truck or a Humvee to escape like cowards...

To his annoyance, Erick had to split his men again... Five would go with him to the refugee center while the others organized the civilian evacuation.

Erick left Bart in charge of the place while he took a truck filled mostly with local men, a few of his own, and Devon as the co-driver.

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The streets of Atlanta were almost completely free of walkers in this area. Although the military had failed to fully clear the city, they had managed to significantly reduce the number of walkers. To Erick's relief, this was a relatively safe zone—one of the few remaining, or at least controlled enough to be traversed with caution. The buildings lining the street, once vibrant with the hum of daily life, now looked desolate, like silent tombs holding memories of a better time.

Finally, they arrived at the refugee center. The truck Erick had driven halted with a roar of its engine, and soon the men began to disembark.

Erick started counting the vehicles and immediately noticed something was off. Something wasn't right.

"Where is it?" Erick asked one of the men holding one of the spears his group had lent to the civilians.

The guy was Asian, wearing a ridiculous plaid shirt that made Erick want to punch him. Almost immediately, as Erick approached, the man panicked. His face paled, and his gaze dropped to the ground. He knew things—things he didn't want to share.

"Whe… where is what...?" the guy murmured, but his fear was palpable.

Erick grabbed him by the neck and shoved him hard. "Where is the missing truck?"

The man whimpered, trembling with terror, and that was all Erick needed to unleash his anger. With a swift movement, Erick threw him to the ground and began kicking him in the stomach. The man screamed and writhed but couldn't defend himself. Erick's men watched the scene indifferently, unfazed, pointing their weapons at anyone who dared intervene.

"Enough!" shouted a blond guy, ignoring the guns aimed at him. "That's enough… We're allies! … You can't treat us like this!"

Erick stopped beating the Asian man, who now lay on the ground, bleeding and gasping. He turned his attention to the blond guy. He didn't care much about his complaint, but the situation was becoming dangerous.

"There were 15 cargo trucks when I left, and now there are only 14," Erick explained, while pointing his gun at the blond guy. "We didn't give you a map or tell you that you could use any vehicle…"

"… Marvin…? You don't owe this jerk anything…" said a dark-haired man defiantly, stepping closer to the blond. "There are more of us… Why should we listen to him?"

Erick looked at the fool, preparing his gun to shoot, but Marvin, the blond guy, decided to intervene. He stepped forward and put his forehead against Erick's gun barrel, stopping him.

"Wait…" Marvin pleaded, closing his eyes and resting his forehead on the barrel of the gun. "… He didn't mean it, he was just angry. I'll tell you what happened to the truck… Just lower the gun, please."

Erick holstered his gun but didn't let his guard down. He gestured to Marvin to speak quickly.

"Some armed guys came and said they needed food…" Marvin began, nervously looking Erick in the eyes. "They said they were taking a truck and that if we tried to stop them, they'd have to hurt us…"

Of course.....things could never be that easy

Erick remained silent, processing the information. Something didn't add up.

"Ha…" scoffed a man named Devon. "And you didn't try to stop them? Bart was right… You're a bunch of cowards…"

Marvin raised his hand, calming his men. "We don't have firearms like you do…" he explained, looking for an excuse. "They didn't seem so bad. They said they'd only take a truck and that they were caring for some elderly people. They didn't hurt us…"

The group began murmuring, feeling both annoyed and confused. No one wanted to admit they'd been easily overpowered by strangers.

"So… they're caring for elderly people?" Erick murmured, thoughtfully, as he recalled something.

"That's what they said… Are you going to kill them?" Marvin asked, still trembling with fear.

"I don't know…" Erick admitted, frowning. "Even if what they say is true… A truck full of food is not something I can overlook."

"We have plenty of food and vehicles to transport it…" Marvin tried to convince him, although doubt had already crept into his mind. "That truck won't make a difference…"

"Today it's one truck…" Erick murmured, as the pieces began falling into place in his mind. "… Tomorrow, who knows what it'll be…"

Erick looked around, his thoughts racing. "I think I know where they might be…" he said finally. "There's a nursing home not far from here. I'm going to talk to them… and use diplomacy."

"When I joked about looking for women in a nursing home, I wasn't serious…" someone muttered from the back, causing the group to chuckle.

Erick sighed as he planned his next steps. While he'd like to go in and shoot everyone dead, he knew it would cause unnecessary casualties. Plus, the civilians he was saving might refuse to follow him or even desert. It was a risk he couldn't afford.

"You're all going to stay here and keep loading the trucks," Erick ordered, making a quick decision. "I'll go deal with those people myself."

Devon and the other men exchanged glances but nodded without questioning Erick's decisions. Clearly, they had faith in his judgment, thanks to what he had achieved so far.

Erick climbed into one of the Humvees, its engine roaring, and left the refugee center as the evacuation continued. Some trucks followed, heading to the university to start evacuating the civilians from the city, hoping that there, perhaps, he will find more than just food.

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When the Humvee stopped in front of the nursing home and Erick saw figures moving inside, he knew he had arrived at the right place. The situation was tense, and the chance for negotiations would vanish if he didn't play his cards right. He stepped out of the vehicle with a firm and controlled stride, his gaze fixed on the building. He knew the environment was no longer safe, and each step had to be measured.

Taking a deep breath, he walked slowly toward the front door of the building, as if nothing could shake his resolve. Once he reached the door, he raised his hands slowly—a gesture of calm but also uncertainty.

"Hello…" he said in a firm, unwavering voice, his gaze fixed on the door. "I've come to negotiate on behalf of my group, and I'm alone. No one needs to die; let's just talk like civilized people."

The silence that followed was thick, heavy. Four armed men emerged from the building and began to surround him, their eyes sharp, evaluating every move Erick made. The barrels of their guns pointed at him, and despite the obvious threat, Erick made no sudden movements. He stood there, waiting, as the men closed in.

"What are you doing here?" asked the one who seemed to be the leader, his voice laden with distrust and threat. "If you're lying about being alone, consider yourself dead."

Erick took a deep breath, keeping calm. "The leader of my group sent me," he explained calmly. "I only want to talk to you, to reach an agreement so no one has to die."

The leader studied him for a moment, assessing if his words held any value, but the air remained thick with distrust.

"... The only one at risk of dying here is you," murmured another of the men, his tone low and cynical. "Nice weapon you have on your back... We didn't find anything but food at that place."

Erick didn't flinch. He maintained his upright and firm posture as the leader signaled his companions. The men approached and removed the M16 he carried on his back. As they did, they searched him, but they seemed to find nothing else of interest.

Erick had been careful with the weapons he brought here. The M16 they took wasn't all he actually had; he brought it with a purpose.

"Do you like that weapon?" Erick said, almost in a whisper, his eyes gleaming with a mix of confidence and contained threat. "You can keep it...My group has a hundred more just like it."

The impact of his words was immediate. The leader tensed, his face hardening at the implicit threat. The other men exchanged looks, visibly intimidated by the scale of the threat. Erick knew he had struck a nerve.

"Maybe we should send them your head so they know who they're dealing with…" the leader commented with anger, clenching his teeth, as if he couldn't allow anyone to challenge him.

A man beside him, however, seemed to hesitate. "Guillermo… ¿Tal vez deberíamos considerar escucharlo.?" he said in Spanish, looking at the leader cautiously.

"Si está diciendo la verdad... Podríamos tener cien hombres derribando nuestra puerta mañana..." another man interjected, also in Spanish, echoing the concern.

Guillermo paused, thoughtful. His eyes settled on Erick, evaluating him once again. Finally, after a tense silence, he took a step forward, looking at Erick with more interest than distrust.

"What does your leader want?" Guillermo asked, his tone calmer but equally cautious. "We could starve if we give back that food we stole…"

That was a poor excuse… They could raid stores and supermarkets for food, but stealing from others was far easier for them.

"... There are hundreds in our group, and we have enough food. Our leader is interested in recruiting you and welcoming you to our refuge outside the city," he offered.

The men began to talk among themselves in Spanish, and though he didn't understand every word, the tense voices and expressions of uncertainty were clear. They were considering his proposal. After a few minutes of deliberation, Guillermo spoke again, this time with more curiosity than distrust.

"Would your leader really be willing to take us in?" Guillermo asked, as if doubting the possibility.

"Of course," Erick replied without hesitation. "You look healthy and strong. No doubt you could contribute to the shelter."

Erick's words seemed to have caused slight discomfort among the men, but they had also planted a seed of hope. The murmur of conversations resumed among them. Finally, Guillermo gave a clear order.

"Follow us," he said firmly.

Two men approached and took Erick by the arms, leading him into the building without him offering any resistance. Although he didn't want to appear weak, Erick knew he had to play his role to buy time.

The inside of the building was gloomy and decaying. They first passed through a loading dock full of vehicles and the stolen truck containing the food they so "needed." Some men in the place were already eating.

Guillermo led them through several hallways, passing rooms filled with sick elderly receiving care as Erick watched cautiously. Finally, they arrived at an auditorium where an old man was coughing violently as a nurse helped him use an inhaler.

"Grandpa!" one of the men escorting Erick exclaimed. He released Erick and ran to assist the old man.

The elderly man raised a weak hand, trying to reassure the young man. "I'm fine… I just need some air," he murmured, still struggling to breathe.

Erick, though aware of the situation, decided to ignore the old man and focus on the three men surrounding him, but especially on Guillermo. He allowed himself a brief observation.

"You have a lot of elderly here…" Erick said, gesturing around, noticing that the number of elderly seemed equal to or even greater than the able-bodied men in the group.

"We do because there's no other option," Guillermo acknowledged. "The people who worked here left them to their fate when everything started. So now we take care of them."

"My own grandmother is here too," another man said. "You said we're healthy and strong, but they're not… Do you think your leader would take us?"

"I don't know…" Erick replied, the uncertainty in his voice emphasized by his feigned moral dilemma. "... He has no issues accepting children, but..."

"But not the elderly," Guillermo concluded, understanding the implications of his words.

"That I don't know…" Erick added, looking at Guillermo. "My leader is quite utilitarian… What sense is there in keeping mouths that can't contribute....?"

"Useless?" the old man interrupted, approaching with effort. His voice was full of anger and exhaustion.

"That's not the word I was going to use..." Erick said, but he was interrupted again.

"But it's the perfect word for what you're trying to say," the old man commented bitterly. "It's fine, young man. I understand. You have no idea of the helplessness I feel watching these young ones risk their lives outside and not being able to help them."

"…Mr. Gilbert, it's not your fault. Life is just like that…" Guillermo tried to console him.

"It's alright, young man…" said the old man, his gaze fixed on Erick but with a resigned tone. "But I can still help with this new friend of yours. Come, follow me. My body may be failing, but my mind still works."

Erick observed the old man, studying his words. He followed Gilbert, guided by the man and his grandson, until they reached the old man's room. The escorts, understanding the elder had something important to discuss, stayed outside.

"Could you leave us alone?" Gilbert asked the others, while looking at Erick with curiosity. "I didn't catch your name."

"Erick… Erick Bolton," Erick replied, adjusting his helmet to don a more "appropriate" mask for the conversation.

Guillermo and Gilbert's grandson left them alone in the room. Meanwhile, Erick had an idea. One fleeting glance at the old man was enough for his mind to work quickly.

"My grandson told me about the situation…" the old man began as he lay back on the bed. "...And although he didn't tell me where the food truck came from, I can make an educated guess…" Gilbert analyzed him from head to toe, his penetrating eyes studying Erick. The old man's gaze was sharp but already tired from life.

Erick, meanwhile, removed the helmet from his head. Then he put on a mask, hiding his intentions behind a neutral face.

"I understand why they did it…" Erick responded sincerely, his words coming out calmly but with a cold determination. "...But my leader can be really harsh when angered, and that food they took was a lot..." The way he said those words made clear the gravity of the situation.

"I see…" the old man replied with a sigh. "...I apologize for the actions of these boys… They mean well, but sometimes they don't think things through..."

"'I'm sure they would…' Erick replied. 'But things need to be sorted out to bring peace, and maybe our leader would be willing to accept the young ones here, but as for the elderly…' Erick left his sentence unfinished, allowing the old man to guess the rest. The tension was mounting, and Erick's words seemed to carry a much heavier weight.

'Isn't there any other possibility?' Gilbert asked, hoping to find a way out. 'These young people would never abandon us, I know it because I begged them before…'

'Well… as long as they're not a threat, maybe the leader could let them rest in peace…' Erick murmured, his tone somewhat distant. '…But if that's not the case… maybe this place won't be so safe for you anymore…'

Gilbert, visibly worried, quickly responded, his voice reflecting his anguish. 'Almost everyone here is women, children, and the elderly… Would that guy really be willing to attack us?'

Erick didn't answer immediately. His gaze shifted, looking past the old man. There were no words that could ease the pain of their reality.

'What kind of man is leading you?' the old man asked, horrified, his trembling voice reflecting his discomfort.

'He only does what's necessary to protect us. He has his bad moments, but he usually makes the right decisions…' Erick defended, but his words failed to convince the elder.

'Someone so inhumane cannot lead anything…' the old man replied angrily. 'I may be old, but I'm human, and I deserve to live as much as anyone… If that guy can't understand that, then he's a monster…'

Erick felt his mask begin to crack, and unlike Alexa, this guy didn't have a pretty chest to shield him from his wrath. Inside, there was no longer room for morality. The mask he wore shattered completely, and with another step toward the old man, his words felt like a sentence.

'You have the right to think that…' Erick stepped close enough to touch him effortlessly. '…But society no longer exists… And a man deserves only what he can take and protect…'

The old man tried to speak, but Erick covered his mouth with his hand, stifling any attempt to respond. The man's eyes filled with disbelief, but they no longer reflected any hope. Erick, having made an irreversible decision, tightened his grip, preventing the old man from breathing.

'There are no rights or obligations anymore… No rules or morality… Only males and females… Strong and weak… And the latter depend on the former…' Erick said, his words more of a decree than an explanation.

The old man began to convulse, his muscles failing as he tried to break free, but Erick didn't let go. He placed his other arm on the man's chest, ensuring he couldn't move.

'Let me tell you a secret…' Erick loosened his grip slightly, watching the old man struggle to breathe. 'I am the leader… I am the monster… I am the one who decides who lives and who dies…'

A heavy silence fell over the room as Erick watched the life drain from the old man's body.

'A woman can warm my bed and give me children… A child has potential and will become more useful over time… But you…' Erick tightened his grip again, determined to finish what he had started. '…You only serve to waste food and medicine… You have no purpose or usefulness… You have no place in this new world, and that is an error that must be corrected… Just like the existence of this place…' Erick finished, maintaining his grip until the old man finally stopped moving, his body now lifeless.

Gilbert was a mess. He smelled of urine and sweat, and his face showed an expression of horror, as if he had seen the devil himself. Unfazed, Erick arranged the old man's corpse to make it seem as if he had fallen asleep. He waited a few minutes until the man's body began to move, as if waking up.

Erick put on his helmet, aware that he couldn't waste any more time. He opened the door and walked into the hallway, meeting Guillermo.

'He said he was going to sleep, but first, he wants to speak with his grandson…' Erick lied in a calm voice.

Guillermo signaled to the other man, who entered the room and closed the door behind him. Erick glanced down the hallway and realized it was just the two of them. It was the perfect moment for what came next.

'The man gave me a lot to think about…' Erick lied. 'I'll talk to our leader and try to convince him to accept everyone… That's all I can promise…'

'Well… I appreciate you saying that…' Guillermo nodded. '…It's not fair that we're the only ones who care about these people…'

'It isn't…' Erick agreed, silently acknowledging Guillermo's words. This was a great waste of resources and labor.

Suddenly, a scream echoed from inside Gilbert's room, and Guillermo didn't hesitate for a second. He opened the door quickly.

Inside, old Gilbert had returned as a walker, tearing his grandson's throat out. It seemed the guy couldn't or didn't want to kill his transformed grandfather.

'Oh no…' Guillermo murmured, drawing his gun desperately.

Before he could act, Erick quickly stabbed him in the throat, taking his gun.

'Shhhhh…' Erick silenced him. 'People are sleeping here… You wouldn't want to scare them with what's going to happen soon…' He withdrew the knife with a clean motion.

Guillermo, in a final effort to stay alive, began to choke on his own blood, but before he could do anything, Erick shoved him forward, right in front of the transformed grandfather, who was busy devouring his grandson.

Erick wiped the blood from his hands on the bed sheets and exited the room, carefully closing the door.

In the hallway, the next room was only a few meters away, and Erick entered without even knocking.

Inside, an old woman was coming out of the bathroom, assisted by a nurse. Erick approached, keeping his composure.

'Can I help you?' he asked in a calm voice.

'It's fine… I've got this…' the nurse replied, confused, looking at Erick with suspicion.

But Erick wasted no time. He quickly kicked the old woman in the stomach, causing her to fall to the floor, coughing, gasping for air. Before the nurse could react, Erick covered her mouth and stabbed her in the heart. The nurse let out a muffled moan, and Erick simply stabbed her a couple more times before letting her drop to the floor.

The old woman sat up, trying to comprehend what was happening, but Erick grabbed her by the hair and slit her throat like a pig, then washed his hands in the bathroom and left the room.

Erick repeated the process with more rooms before he finally began hearing gunshots and running.

In the hallway, chaos reigned, with a dozen walkers attacking and devouring people while two men shot at them, though their aim was terrible, or perhaps they didn't want to hit the living.

Erick drew his gun and shot the two, ensuring he didn't hit their heads to make sure they would return as walkers.

Once that was done, Erick didn't hesitate to run toward the loading dock, encountering five men on his way.

'Walkers!…' Erick shouted in alarm. 'Somehow several of them managed to get in…'

Erick noticed one of the men had his M16, although he seemed to have no idea how to hold it.

'Guillermo sent me to get help,' Erick explained. '… I know you don't know me, but I can help if you give me my weapon.'

The men looked at each other before the one holding his gun agreed to hand it over, and Erick removed the magazine to ensure everything was in order.

More gunshots echoed in the building, and the men ran to help. Erick took advantage of their turned backs and shot all five of them until they were down.

The loading dock was empty, and Erick took the opportunity to knock over some shelves to block the door from anyone trying to escape.

There were some gasoline cans, and Erick poured it over the vehicles and furniture in the area, except, of course, the truck with the food.

Although it pained him to waste the building's resources, it was more important to ensure no one left alive here and could later seek revenge.

Erick lit the fuel with his lighter and climbed into the truck, then crashed through the vehicle door amidst fire, gunshots, and walkers drawn to the spectacle.

The truck drove away from the nursing home, which had become a death sentence for all its inhabitants. There was never another possible outcome, but Erick did the world a favor by ensuring it happened sooner.

Now those people would no longer waste the city's resources as useless mouths, and Erick wouldn't have to worry about them anymore."

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When Erick entered the refugee center with the truck, his men didn't hesitate to cheer for his successful return.

"...Seems diplomacy worked..." Devon murmured as Erick stepped down from the truck.

"...What can I say? Sometimes I can be very persuasive..." Erick replied, letting them draw their own conclusions about what happened.

Erick's men were euphoric and eagerly celebrated the mission's success, but Marvin and the other refugees appeared concerned. It was clear they were afraid of him and had arrived at the worst possible conclusion about what Erick had done.

If they wanted to fear him, then Erick had no problem with that. This was a new world, and they would have to get used to this kind of thing sooner or later.

The rest of the day was fully dedicated to transporting all the people and food to the refuge. Several trips were needed, and Erick required the help of the civilians to complete the operation, but in the end, he succeeded, and that was all that mattered.

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Erick stood before all the civilians who had been successfully evacuated from Atlanta. He observed their faces, filled with exhaustion and fear, but also a cautious hope. After days of uncertainty, these men, women, and children had finally reached a place where, hopefully, they could live in peace and with a new purpose. Erick knew he now held their lives in his hands, and according to his decisions, they would either live or die.

All the Humvees and trucks had been lined up, one behind the other, forming two long rows between the refuge fence and the river. Between these long metal lines, worn by hours of travel, was an improvised camp, a conglomeration of tents, shops, and temporary shelters housing the more than 4,000 souls Erick had managed to save. It was an impressive sight—a small army of survivors stretching out like a little city.

However, the refuge didn't have enough space to shelter so many people. Erick never intended to use it for that purpose. His vision was different: the refuge would be a sanctuary solely for him, his women, and his trusted men—a private bastion where they would live comfortably while the rest settled in the camp surrounding the refuge, facing the elements. They would have to manage as best they could, though tonight, at least, they would sleep without the immediate threat of the dead or raiders.

Even so, Erick didn't plan for this initial chaos to be permanent. His mind was already mapping out a much bigger plan: building solid defenses, raising walls to protect everyone, and eventually organizing large-scale crops so they could become self-sustaining. For now, however, reality was harsh. That first night would be one of uncertainty for many, but Erick knew things would improve. He was clear this was just the beginning of something bigger.

The men who didn't accompany Erick in the Atlanta raid hadn't been idle. Gary, ever shrewd, had managed to contact a local farmer, a sturdy man with years of experience in the field. In exchange for the promise of protection for him and his family, the farmer agreed to move in and put his knowledge to the service of the community. He would oversee future crops and livestock, ensuring a stable food supply for when the resources brought from Atlanta ran out. For Erick, it was a deal that represented a major advantage.

Meanwhile, Roger, though with more modest results, had also completed his mission. He secured some motorcycles—small but functional—that would serve as quick vehicles for scouting and monitoring nearby areas. However, his success, though important, was almost overshadowed by the impressive raid Erick and his men had carried out in Atlanta. They brought back a large amount of vital resources: food, weapons, medicine, but also something that could ensure the future growth of their community—women.

Erick's suspicions had been confirmed. Out of the more than 4,000 civilians he had managed to evacuate, barely over 700 were adult men. This forced him to consider drastic alternatives. If he wished to ensure a steady population growth over the coming decades, he would have to accept polygamy as a viable option, even if that meant establishing new norms. The coexistence of so many people, especially in a post-apocalyptic setting, would require discipline and control. Erick knew he had to set clear rules to prevent chaos and secure a stable social structure in the years to come.

Now, with the weight of over 4,000 lives on his shoulders, Erick had more work than ever. Beyond affirming his authority and securing his position as leader, he needed to build defenses, implement rules for coexistence, organize search teams to restock supplies, plan food cultivation as soon as possible, conduct detailed inventories of resources, find other communities and negotiate alliances or agreements, clear roads of bandits, and patrol constantly to maintain security. And he knew there were still a thousand more tasks he hadn't yet considered. But that didn't scare him.

Despite the mounting fatigue and stress, a spark of optimism burned within him. For the first time, he saw a tangible future. His mind filled with images of what he could build: not just a safe haven, but a fortress, a true castle worthy of a feudal lord, a bastion where peace and security would be more than just a dream. This would be his legacy, something he could leave to his children—a united and strong community, shielded from the darkness reigning outside.

And for the first time, amidst all the nights filled with fear and blood, Erick felt that maybe, just maybe, the title of "Lord of Georgia" wasn't something unreal. And who knows, maybe in time, that dream would grow even bigger... Maybe, someday, he could become the king of a new America.

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[Character Summary:

- Name: Erick Bolton

- Age: 18

- Combat Attributes:

(Take into account that C- is the average)

 * Melee: B-

  * Ranged: C-

 * Physical condition: A

 * Stealth: B

 * Plot Armor: Low

- Group size: 60

- Army quality: Very low.

- Inventory:

 + Pistol (ammo x70)

 + Small axe

 + Machete

 + Tactical knives x1

 + Backpack

 + first aid kit

 + Food (remaining days: 86 )]

-unlocked features:

+"Sacrifice Resources" 

(You can sacrifice resources in exchange for improving your attributes... For example, food for physical conditioning, ammunition for ranged combat, etc... but the resources you sacrifice will be lost forever, and the cost increases exponentially based on how high your attributes are.)]

+ "Pocket warehouse 1" (Allows you to carry objects without physically holding them, and they'll be available at any time. The current limit is 100 kilograms and can be upgraded by completing missions.)

+ "Perceptive leader" (You'll be able to see detailed information about all the members of your group, including their perception of you.)

[Community summary:

-name : ???

-members : 60

-Food (remaining days: 85 )

- Army quality: Very low.

-weapons:

 + crossbow x5

 +bow x14

 +pistol x21

 +shotgun x 9

 +bolt-action rifle x1

 + AR-15 x2

 + M16

 + spears x50

 + guns : ??

- lifestyle tree: Feudal

- Community benefits:

 +["Accelerated Harvest": Crops need half the usual time to grow and be ready for harvest.]

]