Jackie

Hesitantly, I tighten my fingers around the grip of my bat and continue to move forward. This newly explored area was exciting but also dangerous.

'Could they drive forklifts too?'

The ridiculous thought of a classic-style zombie operating a forklift seeps into my mind as I grow more confident. The weight of each step carries pressure, but I'm no longer the same person as before.

I can survive… even if I need to restart a few times.

Shaking my head, I throw my thoughts away and clear my mind. It wasn't the time to get distracted. Seriously analyzing the surroundings, I recognize it as more of the same cookie-cutter-style neighborhood I just left. The primary difference is the amount of lawn each over-priced apartment building possessed.

"It's kind of sad." My voice breaks as I acknowledge the reality that evaded me before the apocalypse.

Previously, when the area was jammed full of people, you wouldn't notice how little the apartments varied. Everyone was so busy they just took pride in having the most expensive and the best.

"If there are no people here, then…" I come to a sudden realization and hurry my pace.

This is no time for hesitation. I exist in a world where people are eating each other, and somehow they are evolving into different forms. It explains the lack of the general population, but I'm concerned.

'Damn it, I hope my assumption isn't correct.'

If the creatures could evolve through the infection or consumption of survivors somehow…

Placing my weight on the balls of my feet, I keep my steps light and my body primed to escape. The new revelations put a thought into my mind I can't help but prepare for.

Even silent, I'm not safe.

Back in reality, I continue to hear the rhythmic beeping as if it were calling to me. Though, I'm not confident in the origin as the sound carries through the streets. Choosing the wrong building could be the end of the line.

I begin heading down the street toward Elaine, my most important direction. The intention is to walk the streets a few times and listen for the beeping. Hopefully, it will continue long enough to identify the exact location.

I hold my breath as I patrol the street, but I remain pleasantly surprised. The open avenue allows for easy traversal and completely lacks any place for threats to disguise themselves—or so I thought.

A whizzing noise overcame my sensation as a suppressed bang accompanied it.

'Not again!' I was so focused on the potential for an attacker like that slug that I completely forgot about the remaining threats.

Other people!

"Do not move. We will come to you." A gruff voice amplified by a megaphone snaps me back to the situation at hand.

'We?'

This could be exactly what I was looking for.

Moment pass as I remain perfectly still. I knew from Ali that it was better for a sharpshooter to wait until the target was clear in their sights and the opportunity for missing was almost zero.

It wasn't worth the risk.

In the event that I am facing an experienced marksman, I'll be dead before I can get back to cover.

My body begins to stiffen as I wait patiently. The out-of-place beeping continues, clearly from within the dilapidated brick structure that housed the sniper. It can't be a coincidence.

Before too long, two muscular men appear in my vision. They are armed with rifles I only recognize as military-style equipment as they rush over to me, not even looking at their surroundings. I'm unsure as to if they are confident or just stupid.

"Put the bat on the ground! Put the bat on the ground! Do it now!" The shorter man begins screaming orders as he raises his rifle and begins to circle me.

'Hmm, maybe the military?' I can't help but be reminded of the cheesy lines from action movies, my only real exposure to our Army.

I drop the bat to the ground before I recall that I have my perk active. To prevent anyone from being suspicious of the weird behavior, I snap my fingers as I raise my hands, showing I mean no harm. Lacking information on the situation, I can't help but be compliant.

At least three guns are pointing at me, after all.

"What the Hell was that? Who did you signal?!" The taller man reaches out and grabs my wrist before forcing me the ground.

"Nobody, I swear! What are you even talking about?" Confused, I can't help but try to explain the situation.

'Signal? I didn't give a signal… Oh shit, the snap!' My face is pressed against the ground by one of my assailant's knees as I realize what is happening.

"Don't you fuck with me! I know what you did!" Shorty shoves his rifle barrel in my face while his partner pats down my body. He is most likely searching for additional weapons.

Without another word, the two men hurriedly grabbed my upper arms and lifted me off the ground. We return to their building at nearly a sprint, but it is far from friendly. One man keeps my wrist firmly wrapped behind me while the other jams the barrel of his firearm into my ribs.

Immediately upon entering the concrete bunker, I find the source of the beeping. A middle-aged man is currently sitting in a forklift holding multiple vending machines stacked on it.

As soon as we enter, he drives to the door and drops the load.

The familiar beeping returns as he backs away from the exit.

'That's not going to do shit in the long run…' I can't help but think that their preparation is pointless. It would take just one giant monster to burst through the barricade.

"Sit down!" The tall man orders as he releases his grip and pushes me forward into an empty room.

The door slams closed and I'm left alone.

I ponder who might be in charge between the two… Shorty started with the orders, but his companion seemed to be in control of the whole situation. My mind focuses on the strange dynamic as I scan the empty white room for somewhere to sit.

"Heh, not even a chair… No windows either." Mumbling to myself, I mentally flip off my escorts as I suck it up and sit on the floor.

I'm unsure how much time passes, but it feels like less than an hour when I hear the door click open.

I raise my head only to see a single figure enter the doorway.

"So, we need to talk."

A beautiful woman stands before me. Her vibrant red hair and freckles give off a sense of child-like innocence that is entirely betrayed by her large breasts and voluptuous figure.

I instinctively compare her curves with Ali's tight petite body.

'God, I hope they are going to seduce me into confessing. That's a thing, right?' I chuckle as my mind thinks of the possibilities.

"Did I say something funny?!" She swiftly kicks me in the stomach before I can respond.

I absorb the impact as I realize my mistake. Hunched into the fetal position in pain, it takes all my strength to look the woman in the eyes in temporary submissive compliance.

"Better! I'm Jackie. I'm in charge of these idiots. Are you ready to have a conversation?"