Gathering information

"I might've been suddenly thrown into this world… would you believe me?"

The expression on his face was quite the one. He looked disbelieved but also intrigued. The straight lips of his that suddenly curled up, he started to chuckle.

"Nothing is unnatural in this world anymore. Haha." He extended his hand to Fein. "If you said you might've transmigrated here, even if its not entirely true, it must not be false either."

Fein took his hand and stood up. He was bewildered as well as relieved that finally he found another living human who was understanding.

"I'm Eudimor. What should i call you buddy?"

With his low and humble voice, Fein replied. "Fein Rasmond."

"So. Fein. Would you like to come with me to our hideout? There are more people there. I'm sure you won't feel as lost there."

"I'd love to." He put in an elaborate thought before accepting his offer.

Eudimor looks skilled, his people in the hideout must have some experience of this world. I can gather information from them. If i prove myself useful enough they might protect me and even help me find Rene. Currently going along with him is my best bet.

Eudimor took him to the lowland. If his memories served him right, there were no lowlands in his town. It came into existence with all the destruction, ruins and rubbles. A fine hideout was created underneath the ground. Just going into it was a bit troublesome.

"Are you scared of falling, Fein?"

"I don't recall having that fe-"

Eudimor didn't give him the chance to complete his saying and pushed him into the pit. Fein squeaked but didn't scream. He felt the wind rushing up his body not for too long before he crashed onto a buttery rug.

It is soft like that of a cat's fur.

"Oh my! Did it hurt?!" The girl who sat on a chair of the diner, sprung up, (her slightly long fluffy bob cut hair sprung up as well.) rushed to the collapsed Fein. She inspected his face for any injury. Eudimor alighted right beside him, which hinted to the girl about the situation.

"I apologize on behalf of Eudimor. He tends to treat people rather roughly."

Fein stood back up on his feet. He humbly replied while dusting his clothes. "You don't need to apologize. I'm not hurt and the fall wasn't very painful either so its all okay."

The girl glimmered in admiration. "Wow! So humble! I've rarely seen anyone so polite lately!" She twirled around and scanned Fein so excitedly as if she was a geographical student and had found an underground relic thousand years old. She had to fiddle with the relic that she found after sacrificing her lifetime and sweat.

"Stop making him uncomfortable, Kui." Said Eudimor while he trudged over the dining table and twisted the faucet. "Haven't Nicole and Johan returned from food hunting yet?"

"No. I think they might've gone far today."

"And where are Donna and Ran?"

"Ran is patrolling as of now. He'll shift with Donna soon."

They conversed normally but they had lost Fein who remained frozen beneath the pit trying to follow them.

"I'm so sorry." Said the girl. "I'm Kuina Lemberg. Calling me Kui is fine."

The said girl, Kuina, looked dainty, didn't appear more than 16?? Her eyes were fairly big with two violet crystals trapped in them. Her fingers were just as small as her body. Those were so gentle when they tapped on Fein's cheek while he laid collapsed. It was during a climactic situation but she neither looked concerned nor was very affected by it.

She's a very interesting person herself.

"Fein." He glanced down and hunched a little to talk to her.

"Why don't you come and eat? We still have a lot of food in reserve."

"Ahhh." His throat purred as he hummed the response. "Its fine. You can keep it in store. I've already eaten."

"That's right." Said Eudimor. "That guy there is smart. He survived outside for two days now without even knowing what's wrong with this world. He even saved me."

"Really!" Kui glanced at Fein with admiration stuck in her eyes. "Not many people can do that these days. The disaster now has evolved into something terrifying since the beginning after all."

Right behind him, a person suddenly and agilely dropped from the pit. He also wore heavy clothes like Eudimor when Fein first saw him. Except instead of a 16 inches long dagger he held a Glock 18 pistol in his hand. Tap tap and he stepped forward while scanning the empty magazine of his handheld pistol, ignoring Fein's whole presence in the process.

"Those fuckers. Its fine as long as its one or two. But they just had to group up on me." He said with his foul mouth.

No more proofs needed, it was clear that he was agitated for some unknown reasons. "Who are you?"

Fein humbly went through his whole introduction procedure again.

"Yeah. Whatever. Where's Donna? Get her to stand guard. Kui. Give me some food."

Apparently the foul mouthed person was Ran. He had quite the opposite image of what Fein imagined. He was more bolder and rude than Eudimor.

Fein found himself sighing and thanking that he stumbled upon Eudimor rather than Ran.

"Yessir." Kui, like always, happily rushed to serve him some food.

"Fein buddy. Why don't you go and grab some rest? The past few days must've been tough, yeah?"

I can't afford a luxury like rest, thought Fein, but I'd like to gather some information before going out in the open.

"Thanks."

Fein was taken into a wide room. Different from his anticipation, the wide room was crowded. Women, children, injured, disabled even some cowardice men dwelled there. It was rather bustling.

"Ehehhh.." Kui hesitantly giggled, for she knew the place to rest wasn't very suitable. "Well. These are the people who failed to evacuate on time. It sure is a lively place, isn't it?" She lowered her chin and pouted her lips. "I'm sorry it isn't exactly a place to be resting."

Fein, who was baffled by the population inside, bothered not to glance at Kui and went ahead. "No its alright. I understand. Thanks for even letting me stay here."

The musty smell inside the room hit his face and the smell of blood tingled his nose. For being under the ground, the air around was considerably cold. It was impossible for sunlight to enter so the floor always remained cool. The survivors dwelling there laid out sheets to avoid the cold running up their spines. The humanity had reverted back to its survival instinct despite the whole modernization.

As he walked amidst the survivors, a series of thoughts coiled around his mind.

I thought it was a hideout with only six names that I've heard from Eudimor. But it turns out there were survivors here. Not less, at least around 60 people must be here right now.

From the corner of his eyes, he glanced at the little kid hiding in his mother's embrace. The mother warmly slid her palm across his head. She muttered words of pacification to him. Fein couldn't help but wonder how it'd have been for him.

I'm sure my mother won't even care about me as long as Rene is with her. She won't notice that i am gone.

He shifted his gazes and sighed a little.

Not that it bothers me.

His sights stopped again on an injured, at his amputated arm. Next to him a woman sat in complete disarray. Her eyebrows furrowed and face downcasted. The heaviness in her heart vividly emerged on her face.

The patient didn't look very well either. He breathed heavily, leaving out puffs of air in the space.

"Is it okay if i asked what happened to him?" Fein crouched next to the woman.

"He… his arm was bitten by an undead. The man with the dagger amputated his arm so that he doesn't turn into one himself."

So you turn into an undead if bitten by one.

Fein looked at the patient and decided to nest there. "How did it happen? The world, i mean."

She glanced at Fein from underneath her hair. "Did you lose your memory?"

"Not exactly. You can say i don't know anything."

She turned her head and raised it to the ceiling. "Six months ago. I was simply going to my office. That day was supposed to make a big turn in my life. I was supposed to get promoted. No more. Not until. A sudden hoard of undeads rushed into our bus. They pierced their sharp teeth into their flesh. Bit them. Tore their flesh from their bones. I was horrified. Too scared to move from my place. He.." she softly glanced at the patient. "He was one in my bus. Jumped in to protect me in disregard of his own life. And now…"

"I'm so sorry for what happened."

"What are you apologizing for? It isn't like you did it."

As i expected. It has been a while since these absurdities started.

"How long have you been here?"

"I'm counting my 3rd month here along with him. I'm in favour of Eudimor and his companions. Its thanks to them that we're still alive."

The patient started to cough out loud, throwing out patches of blood from his mouth.

Despite all the treatment that he is receiving here, he doesn't look like he'll be able to cling onto life anymore, thought Fein.

"Are you okay?!" The woman immediately and hastily started to nurse him. Fein figured his existence there was nothing but botheration and decided to leave.

He went closer to the corner and sat leaning against the cold wall. Thinking about his sister only while fiddling with his locket with the letters 'Lo' engraved on it.

Where are you Rene?

Fein closed his eyes. It was supposed to be a short nap, however it served as a purpose to foresee death yet again.

This time… it wasn't only his own death.