I sat up slowly while I looked around to ascertain the source of the gunshots. My ankle still hurt badly but I willed myself to stand and get as far away from here as possible. I knew it was a long shot, but I had to do anything to protect myself and sitting in the middle of the road just screamed my vulnerability. I stood uneasily and tried to walk when I remembered my gear. I couldn't just leave without it, besides the absence of my rifle would leave me defenseless.
Ughhh…. Think, think, you're easy prey standing out here like this, I groaned as I contemplated on my next course of action. Moving away from the store would get me away from those gunshots but I would be helpless without my weapon. On the other hand, going back towards the store to pick my rifle and backpack would make me an easy target but not an unarmed one. After much deliberation, I decided to go back to the store. I chose this option because I thought that if the shooter wanted me dead, I'd be dead already and I had nothing to lose.
Walking slowly, I avoided the mutant and headed to retrieve my rifle which had fallen on the ground during the mutant's attempted assault. I got closer when I perceived footsteps approaching me. Immediately switching to alert mode, I turned around and was about to attack when I saw the source of the footsteps.
A man stood in front of me with his arms up in what seemed like mock surrender. He had rumpled brown hair and freckles on each side of his cheek. He also seemed to be quite young and he was just a bit taller than me at about five foot seven inches. His apparel also seemed similar to mine as he was dressed in a dark shirt and trousers and sporting a military combat boot.
"I wouldn't touch that if I were you," he said wearing a wide grin on his face.
I stared at him with uncertainty, because for all I knew he could be infected and yet to show symptoms or he might have the intent to rob me and kill me. He just smiled back at me with his arms still raised high and I decided go play along.
"And why would listen to someone I've just met for the first time in my life?" I inquired, looking him straight in the face. If he had any plan up his sleeves, it didn't seem like he did. He just kept pulling that childish grin and he began to slowly walk towards me.
"I get your point, it does seem unfair and brash to walk up to you telling you what and what not to do," the stranger said lowering his hands and dropping his smile. "But, your items were obviously in the possession of that mutant over there and that means there is a very likely possibility that it has gotten infected."
Immediately he finished, I realized that my rash actions could have put me in a really tight situation. Then I chided my inner self for not being more security conscious and for allowing myself to get into this situation with this unknown person. Ever since I started surviving on my own because of this virus outbreak, I've always being independent and the idea of being corrected didn't sit well with me. I stared at my rifle and realized my mistake, which to be fair was his fault indirectly. If he didn't show up, I would have had more time to recollect myself.
If he didn't show up, you would have been dead, my brain reminded me.
"Alright you've got me again," I said dejectedly. "You've probably saved my life twice within the space of a day. Why?" I asked with a serious look. I actually needed to know the reason why I wasn't killed or left to be killed. I asked him because ordinarily, with the way things went on now, vagabonds like me who wandered into the wrong zone or into claimed territories were eliminated without hesitation. It wasn't a hunger or drive of killing that led to it, however it was just done for safety reasons. When the wanderer dies, the killer can then proceed to loot whatever load the wanderer possessed. I focused on my savior again waiting to hear his answer.
"It's a no brainer really, I see potential in you," he said reverting back to his smile and I became instantly self-conscious. A picture of me standing unevenly with a broken ankle and my disorganized appearance did not really spell potential. His next sentence made it seem like he read my mind. "I know you don't look like much right now, but with my guidance and a little fine tuning, we can turn out to be a formidable team"
I stared at him conspicuously while laughing at his words in my head. Guidance and fine tuning! Who did he think he was talking to? I thought, still laughing inside me. Despite this degrading situation I found myself in right now, I still prided myself in my ability to have survived this long on my own and on my shooting which was quite exquisite. Therefore, I didn't appreciate his side comment about my capability to protect myself. However, I was willing to play along to see how things went and also because I probably needed help with my sprained ankle. But I wouldn't agree that easily so I wouldn't seem needy and reliant.
"Oh really?" I asked coolly. "Your proposition sounds agreeable but I'm not so sure about teaming up. I mean, I've been doing fine on my own" He continued looking at me with his goofy smile which made me wonder if he was really as good as he seemed. I mean, he just neatly took out a mutant easily and if I hadn't met him in person, there would definitely have been a mysterious aura that I would have felt about him. His attitude right now just blew the coolness away.
"Yup, No offence but, with a leg like that you wouldn't last a night out here alone," he replied, calling my bluff. "I'm starting to lose interest in the idea, you'd better make your mind quickly"
I couldn't afford to lose this rare opportunity of forming a team which would also make me stand a higher chance of surviving. I decided to call off my bluff and accept his proposal.
I sighed as I looked at the ground uninterestingly, life was just about to get easier for me. "Fine, I accept your offer and I'll be your partner but I call the shots"
"Alright whatever, let's just get you fixed, the sun is about to go down"
"What about my stuff?" I asked. "I can't possibly abandon them, they are indispensable." I made a valid point there. My M14 rifle was actually really the only irreplaceable item there but my backpack contained some essential things too.
"Hmm… I'll see what I can do about it but for now, we abandon it." He replied with a solemn look as he tried to reason with me. My face immediately fell and I considered rejecting his proposition. He continued. "Look, I know it's hard but you just have to go with me and I'll get everything sorted out. We'll come back for your rifle later, Trust me nobody's is going to tamper with your stuff"
I paused and considered his statement. He was right, I had to consider my wellbeing first. I could not risk infecting myself and I probably was in no position to lug around a large gun around with my wounded ankle.
"Fine, but let's just go before I change my mind," I said limping away as he tried to keep a steady pace with me. "Where are we even going?"