Allies or Threat? (3)

Enzo's plan was set. He knew that to gather more information about these enigmatic survivors and their intentions, he needed to blend in and appear non-threatening. He had to trust his butterflies to keep an eye on any potential danger while he played his part.

As he was walking down the dark corridor, Enzo could smell something that he had come to know too well: Blood.

He didn't know if it was the blood of the abomination, or a human, or maybe both, but his eyebrows couldn't help but twitch at the foul smell.

His butterflies, still vigilant outside, relayed no immediate signs of trouble, but that didn't ease his unease. He needed to discover the source of the blood and whether it posed any threat.

As he turned left, he suddenly saw a light at the end of the corridor. He made his way with caution, and once there, he saw people. They were all different. Some men, women, and even teenagers. But they all had one thing in common. They had the same uniform as if they were part of an organization.

"E-excuse me..." Enzo said once he entered the place, gathering the twenty-plus people's attention on him. "C-Can I ask for h-help?" He stuttered.

"Huh? Who are you? And what's up with these butterflies?" A young man with a skin-tight bodysuit asked with eyes full of wary.

"I-I'm just a survivor who needs to rest for a while," He said looking down, a little scared. "A-and, these, they are p-part of my a-ability. T-they fight f-for me."

A woman with a serious expression stepped forward, studying Enzo carefully. "You're a survivor? How did you find your way here?"

Enzo's mind raced, quickly coming up with a plausible story. "I-I've been traveling for days, t-trying to find a safe place. I saw a group e-enter this build-ding a-and thought... maybe I could find s-some help here."

The room fell into a hushed silence as the survivors exchanged glances. Enzo's heart pounded in his chest as he awaited their response, hoping that his words had struck a chord with them.

After a tense moment, the woman nodded, but her expression still as cold as before. "We've been cautious about new arrivals, but if you're truly looking for refuge, you're welcome here. However, you won't be able to stay for long. After all, you're just a wanderer without any affiliation, we can't allow you to stay too long in here."

"T-thank you," he said, his voice sincere but his body still shaking as if he was in fear. "I c-can't express how grateful I am."

The young man who had first questioned him still looked skeptical, but some of the tension seemed to have dissipated. "You said you're able to fight with those butterflies?" he asked, gesturing toward the fluttering creatures.

Enzo nodded. "Yes, they're... m-more than what they seem. They help me p-protect myself, but I'm still learning to control their abilities f-fully."

The room remained tense as Enzo's words hung in the air. It was clear that these survivors were cautious and didn't readily trust newcomers. Enzo continued to play his part, projecting an image of vulnerability and fear, even though his mind was racing with curiosity about this organization and its members.

The young man who had initially questioned him seemed to relax a fraction, though his wariness was still evident. "Well, we don't have much room to spare, but if you can contribute in any way, even with your unique abilities, it might earn you a longer stay."

Enzo nodded eagerly, grateful for the small opening they were offering. "I'll do w-whatever I can to help. I don't want t-to be a burden."

The woman, still maintaining her serious demeanor, spoke again. "Very well. You can stay for now, but understand that you'll be under close watch until we're sure you're not a threat. We've had our share of trouble."

Enzo couldn't help but wonder about the source of that blood he had smelled earlier. Was it related to the "trouble" she mentioned? He decided not to press the issue for now, choosing to bide his time and gather more information discreetly.

However, he didn't know to do everything on his own. After all, there were almost 200 butterflies outside, waiting for his commands. So he dispatched a dozen low-grade butterflies into the building to scout for any potential information while he stood in a corner to not bother anyone.

'Well, it seems that I'm more of a jack of all trades than I thought.' He smiled internally while observing his surroundings.

As Enzo sat down far from anyone, he observed his new surroundings and the people who inhabited this place, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief mixed with curiosity. His plan to infiltrate the group and gather information seemed to be working so far, but he knew he had to proceed with caution.

The room was filled with a sense of purpose as the survivors went about their tasks. Some were tending to wounds, others were repairing equipment, and a few were engaged in what appeared to be discussions about their next course of action. Enzo took note of their efficient coordination and the way they seemed to operate as a cohesive unit.

His low-grade butterflies, dispatched into the building to scout, began to relay information to him. They discreetly fluttered around, perching on ledges and eavesdropping on conversations. While the low-grade butterflies couldn't understand the context of what they heard, they transmitted the voices and sounds to Enzo's mind.

The conversations were cryptic, filled with coded language and references that Enzo couldn't decipher yet. It was clear that these survivors were guarding their secrets closely. They spoke of missions, objectives, and something called "Project Evolution."

Enzo's curiosity deepened.

As he continued to observe, he noticed that the woman who had initially questioned him, and a few others, wore insignias on their uniforms that marked them as leaders or officers of some kind. It was a hierarchy he had seen in organized groups before.

In the end, he sent his little butterflies deeper into the building to find out more about what happened to the abomination. After all, it couldn't have dissapeard into thin air, right?