Naïve?

 Leaving Nicole behind, Kalsie and John descended the down with a purpose.

The breach in the first building had raised the urgency of fortifying their own. Kalsie needed to ensure that the barricades they set up on the lower floors would hold against the impending Dead Walker's assault.

They reached the third-floor staircase, each clutching a burning torch. Strewn across the steps were tables and chairs, repurposed as makeshift barricades. While not perfect, this obstacle would slow down the Dead Walkers and give them a fighting chance.

They had to carefully navigate around the makeshift barricades, jumping over railing's edge to descend further. Since their bodies were enhanced, their hand grip and legs were strong enough to handle this task easily.

As they descended each floor, the growls of the Dead Walkers outside grew increasingly deafening.

Upon reaching the first-floor hallway, with the stairwell leading to the ground floor barricaded just in front of them, John inquired about their plan. "Aren't we going down further?"

Kalsie replied, "No, we're here to see if the barricades on the stairs can buy us enough time, even if it's just a little. Our main goal is to delay their advance until Bella and the others can execute their plan."

John's expression didn't waver as he asked, "So, we're acting as bait?"

Kalsie averted his gaze, a hint of awkwardness in his voice. "Maybe."

John fell into contemplative silence, appearing deep in thought. After a brief pause, he leaned against the railing and settled onto the floor.

Kalsie couldn't help but offer him an option, saying, "You can still go back up if you want."

John, remaining indifferent, responded, "If you have a reason to stay here, then so do I."

Kalsie grinned at the unexpected response. "You're not quite what I expected."

John retorted, "I could say the same. I didn't think you were this naïve."

Puzzled, Kalsie asked, "What makes you say that?"

John explained with a cold demeanor, "You brought a guy like me, whom you've just met, into a dangerous situation like this and expect me to stay with you to delay a possible wave of Dead Walkers. Think about it. If that's not naivety, then what is?"

Undeterred by John's bluntness, Kalsie replied, "You sure have harsh words. But, in the end, aren't you doing the same thing, waiting here despite knowing the risk?"

John offered a cold smile, saying, "You know, I was ready to slip away with Sylvie when I saw that horde of Dead Walkers during our earlier fight. But thankfully, you decided to call off the fight before I could. What I'm trying to say is that if the situation had been chaotic, I wouldn't have hesitated to leave you guys behind. So, tell me, are you confident that I won't push you toward those monsters to save myself?"

Unfazed, Kalsie replied, "Even if you talk tough, I think you're not really that heartless. I mean, if you care about someone, you can't be totally heartless, right? Even though I might seem a bit naive, I can still figure people out. I've met all sorts of folks in my life, believe me."

He then gave John a reassuring pat on the shoulder and continued confidently, "Besides, with me around, there won't be a situation where our lives are in danger. We're all going to survive."

John couldn't help but acknowledge, "You sure are a weird guy. But I think it's because of your courage and naiveness that everyone managed to reach here."

His cold expression softened into a small smile, a change from his previous demeanor. Though he quickly removed it.

Kalsie also smiled slightly and, sensing an opening, asked, "So, do you mind telling me more about yourself?"

John shrugged, "What do you want to know?"

Kalsie inquired, "Anything. Oh yeah, since you and Sylvie seemed like good fighters, does that mean you both also belong to a Noble family?"

"You could say that," John began, "just like Wendy and the others, we also come from a similar family. But there's a significant difference between us." He sighed before continuing, "We were born into a family where all the children are trained rigorously from a young age to become..."

"Assassins, right?" Kalsie interjected, finishing John's sentence.

John fell silent, narrowing his eyes at Kalsie, clearly taken aback.

"Don't look at me like that," Kalsie shrugged, saying, "Didn't I say? I've met all kinds of people in my life."

John then questioned with a hint of concern, "And you still trust me? Even though I might have killed someone?"

Kalsie replied nonchalantly, "I don't know about that and it may sound naive but I trust my judgment."

"..." John remained silent for a moment.

Kalsie then said, "Besides, you don't seem bloodthirsty, unlike someone I've seen before."

He looked at Kalsie and asked, "You mean the guy who tried to kill you?"

Kalsie nodded, confirming, "Yeah. You must have noticed it, right?"

John acknowledged, "He has killed many people."

********

[On the terrace]

Sylvie rushed through the door onto the terrace and approached Nicole in a state of concern. She inquired, "Nicole! Did something happen? We heard their growling becoming louder! And where are John and Kalsie? I thought they were here..."

Nicole sighed and replied, "Kalsie and John went downstairs to inspect the barricades."

Sylvie was surprised, asking, "What? But why? I thought we were all going to go down together!"

Nicole pointed towards the first building, now swarming with Dead Walkers on its terrace, and explained, "Their building was breached a few minutes ago. Because of this, Kalsie decided to go down to the lobby, and John followed him."

Sylvie's face registered shock as she observed the situation, her anger evident as she muttered, "What? Why are they such idiots? Couldn't they have waited for the others?"

"I tried to stop them... but they didn't listen," Nicole added nervously.

"It's not your fault, Nicole. Oh no! I need to inform the others about this!" Sylvie declared, then turned and hurriedly said, "Wait here. I'll be back in a second!"

Nicole, now left alone, gazed down at the entrance of their building where even more Dead Walkers were congregating. She whispered softly, "Please be safe, Kalsie."