(XXXVIII) Brief Return

Sam pulled his shirt on as Khrista lay coiled up behind him, resting on her elbow as her long tongue slid along her lips with a large grin. He stood, fastening his belt, and turned slightly toward the naga. 

"Head back out and look for more Beast Cores." He ordered as she nodded, grabbing her robe before slithering behind the young man and pressing her bare chest against his back. 

"Mmmm, Master." She moaned, dragging her hard nipples against his back, draping her arm over his shoulder, and started kissing his neck, "What if I want to stay for more?" 

Sam took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he resisted his urges, shaking his head, "Not now." 

"Mmmm, you're no fun, Master." Khrista pouted, wrapping the robe over her shoulders before reaching down and picking up the bag, slowly slithering away, swaying her hips accentually. 

Sam smirked as he turned, staring as she departed. He shook his head, turning as he pulled his coat on and stared up at the moon shining brightly from above. 

A window appeared after the system passed midnight, revealing he did not receive a Daily Quest for the day, causing him to click his tongue. He walked toward the hole in the glass, jumping down into the mall. 

He entered the arcade where Allen holed up inside and sat down behind a game case next to the entrance and yawned, wrapping his arms around his chest, pressing his chin to it as he slowly dozed off. 

'Nothing is ever easy...' He thought, drifting asleep.

*Crunch!*

Sam's eyes shot open at the sudden sound, looking around alert as he slowly sat up, catching a glimpse of the young boy frozen as he stood on top of broken glass, attempting to sneak past him.

"Where are you going?" Sam yawned, standing as he stared at the young boy intently. 

"I'm hungry..." Allen whined, hanging his arms below his waist as he slouched. The young man sighed and waved him off as he smiled and ran out to the concourse toward the food court. 

Sam yawned again, shuffling his feet before he noticed his bag, kneeling and picking it up before slinging it over his shoulder. He stretched as he walked out of the arcade, seeing the vibrant colors of his tattoo indicating Khrista had returned. 

'Good morning.' He thought, placing his hands into his pant pockets and casually walking through the mall. 

'Good morning, Master!' Khrista yawned inside his mind as he approached the boarded-up entrance and studied it. 

'Did you get everything?' He asked, pulling his sleeves up as he started pulling the shelves away from the doors and ripping away boards from it. 

'There's nothing left in this city.' She answered lacksadasily. 

'Good.' Sam thought, placing his hand on the messenger bag, 'We'll be making a short detour.' 

'Master...' Khrista called out, 'Are you sure this is the best course?' 

'No.' He sighed, shaking his head as he jerked against the door, loud echoes ringing out as it scraped against the floor as he opened it, stepping out to the morning sunlight. 

'This is just how we're going to proceed.' He said, covering his eyes with his hand as he squinted at the bright blue sky. 

"Hey!" Allen yelled, running up from behind, stopping at the entrance as he stared outside the mall, "You're not leaving me, are ya?"

"I'll be back in a couple days." Sam said flatly, turning around and staring at the boy. He approached the doors and knelt in front of him, "You will stay here and keep doing the Daily Quests. Do you understand?"

"B-b-but..." Allen pouted, swaying his body back and forth as he looked at the ground. 

"I will be sending people here. They will be arriving later today." Sam continued to explain, "You need to stay inside the mall. Do you understand?" 

"Yes..." The young boy sighed, staring at the shadow cast by Samael and sneaking quick glances up at the kneeling young man. 

"Look at others when you speak to them." Sam scolded the child as he jumped and looked at him, nodding, "Good. I will see you in a few days." 

He patted the boy on top of his head as he grabbed the door handle and pulled it back closed. He sighed and shook his head, lightning gathering around his feet as he vanished. 

Sam pushed himself, rushing back to the base camp as quickly as possible. He panted heavily atop a rooftop close to the park a few hours later as he stared down at everyone running around. 

A pang from the past welled up inside him as he recalled looking down at the people running to and from the streets far below his family's home. 

He shook his head, dismissing the emotion, and leaped forward, approaching the corner where everyone was training. He spoke with everyone and updated them on the changes he was making. 

He decided to send Ichiko and Jijo, Isaac, Amy, and their friends, Kaitlyn and Nathan, and two agriculturalists to begin establishing their satellite camp in Chicago. 

He walked with them into the underground shelter and gave them instructions on where to go and what they were doing. Inside the bunker, he grabbed a map of the city and circled a store. 

"Here you can find some bicycles to make the trip faster." Sam explained, flipping the map around as he drew a line, routing their path toward Chicago. 

"Head to the Woodfield Mall." He circled it on the map and turned, looking at everyone, handing the folded maps to Isaac, "Any questions?" 

Everyone shook their heads, understanding their tasks as everyone gathered camping supplies and departed the camp. 

"Are you sure we should be doing this..?" Camille asked, standing beside him as she stared out in the direction he was. 

"No..." Sam sighed, shaking his head, "We're jumping a couple of steps, but if we can get through the initial struggles, we'll be better off." 

"We all have decided to trust you." Cami said with a smile, her approval rating increasing by twenty-five, "What about Isaac? I've been hearing rumors about his dad..." 

"He wouldn't betray me." Sam replied, "We've been best friends since we were like four, and he's always stood up for me when I was bullied in school." 

"He's not the one I'm worried about..." Camille sighed, turning and looking into the bunker where Kyle stood with a smile behind a table, handing out bowls of cooked oats for breakfast. 

"He's not even on my radar." Sam said, turning and staring at the ex-mayor, "He doesn't fully understand the state of the new world. Soon, he will find out he doesn't have any power over anyone anymore." 

"My dad always warned me to be cautious of a cornered animal, Sam..." Cami replied, turning and staring at him, concern flashing across her face, "You never know what they're gonna do next." 

"Thanks..." Sam smiled, patting her shoulder and rubbing it as he walked past her, stopping a dozen meters away and turning around, "I hid a mountain of Beast Cores in a nearby building. We need a vault to keep stuff safe. I'm out of here." 

"Leaving so soon..?" Cami asked, stepping forward and sighing softly, looking dejected as Sam confirmed her fears. She nodded and smiled at him, waving goodbye.