The eight men we captured were in a perfect line and trailed behind us. Their supplies and weapons were lined up on the ground and they picked them up. Thanks to the oath that bound them, they couldn't directly hurt George or me. As they reacquired their items, I saw some of them shoot glares in my direction. They wore expressions of resentment.
(Hatred. Anger. Natural emotions. To be fair, I killed a majority of their forces, but it was self-defense.)
I decided to speak aloud. I had to quell any rebellion. Even if the men were bound by oath, they could find potential ways to subvert it and endanger George and me.
"I can tell by your looks. You all hate me," I said to them. When I spoke, I received their full attention, even Rupert Williams. "I know why. I killed your people. I halved your entire squad in one fell swoop."
As I said this, I saw them quiver in rage. Yes, feel your hatred. It strengthens you. Now it was time to redirect their hatred.
"But look at it from my point of view. You attacked us first. It was our right to self-defense, even in the apocalypse. No matter what I say or do, I can't bring back the fallen. I do know this: I will try to atone," I stated.
Mild shock painted their faces.
"I would like to begin now. There is a dungeon in this mall. I wish to clear it with your help."
"Why should we help you?" A man said with gritted teeth.
How would I answer that? I quickly came to an answer.
"It'll be a demonstration of trust. It was nearly a month ago, but humans used to live in a society. We had social rules and expectations. Back then, we didn't go at each other throats. We can't return to those days, but... I want to take one step forward towards normalcy."
After saying that, I bowed deeply towards the soldiers at a 90-degree angle. The most courteous form of respect in Asian cultures. When I straightened myself, I saw some of the looks on their faces. It wasn't all of them, but I saw guilt and regret. Still, some of their expressions remained hardened.
"After we clear this dungeon, we can part ways. Due to the oath, you have to do as I say. I promise I won't intentionally place you in harm's way. Follow me."
The oath was invoked, and they followed me. I called Rupert Williams to my side.
"Tell me more about your men. What are they like?"
"..."
"I can phrase it as an order."
"Fine then," Rupert said with gritted teeth. "I'll tell you."
He gave me a list of names as we walked, and I made sure to memorize every single one. There were five young men in their twenties; they had names such as Shawn, Samuel, etc. Then there were three older men in the group; Rupert was one of them. The other two looked gruff and capable - they were also the ones shooting glares into my back.
"Rupert?"
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry for what I did."
I said this half-heartedly. In truth, I wasn't very remorseful for the murders I committed. I swore a solemn vow to kill without mercy, especially if George's safety was threatened. Still, feelings of remorse did well up. When I turned my head and looked at the depressed men trailing behind me, I saw men stifling their tears - trying to hide their anguish. Their emotional agony reached me, and my shrinking conscience decided to drop the heavy weight of guilt onto my heart.
"Rupert, I shouldn't tell you this, but I believe it would ease your mind."
"What is it?" He responded in a gruff manner.
"The lives I took... I think they are in a better place."
"I thought you weren't religious. Why are you saying this stuff now?"
"It is a simple fact," I said for everyone to hear, "that the impossible has become possible. Celestial beings from beyond observe us. We can even recognize these deities because of their monikers. Did you know that the Olympus gods are real? The Norse ones as well? Any religion, folklore, or culture - they probably exist in the vast Star Stream. So, do you know what that means?"
As I finished saying this, I stopped and stared at each man that followed me.
"No, we don't," Rupert answered.
"It means that multiple afterlives exist. The concept of heaven and hell isn't as far-fetched as we thought. I know of one afterlife called Hades. A place where souls wander into. The mediocre souls are sent to Asphodel, the evil souls are sent to the Fields of Punishment, and the virtuous are sent to Elysium, a land of heroes."
As I said this, every man's face began to quake even more. The bombshell that I dropped must've shaken them. Death wasn't the end.
"Let me ask you one question," I continued. "The men I killed, do you have faith that they received mercy? Peace in death? Do you believe they were good enough to be considered heroes?"
After I finished saying this, quizzical looks appeared on every man's face. They looked to the ground in deep thought. I spoke again. I needed to hammer this in.
"Think carefully. Perhaps the people who survived are cursed. Maybe we're in hell right now. The people who died early are the people who died human. The price to survive is a growing debt, which we will pay in death. Do you think, as of now, we have the right to call ourselves human?"
As I said this, I had a thought. Humans are nothing but animals, which act out of their own self-interests. They are emotional-based creatures, who delude themselves with a sense of superiority, simply because we are the dominant species on our planet. In truth, we are the weakest. We're hypocrites, liars - we leech off this beautiful planet like a parasite. We try to convince ourselves we're good people, but in truth, we are just as savage as any animal. The first scenario is proof of that.
So, why? Why were these men getting on their knees and sobbing for the fallen? Why did they look to me and apologize?
"We're sorry.... we shouldn't have done it..."
Perhaps they thought they were evil as well, just like me. When I think about it, it was too easy when I killed them. Perhaps they didn't want to kill anyone. When I read their thoughts in the recent battle, I felt regret, hesitation and reluctance. So, what did it say about me?
"Let's stop for a moment," I said with a sigh. "Dig into your backpacks and eat something. Then we'll attack the dungeon. I'll check the perimeter."
Right now, we were in another part of the mall. Storefronts surrounded us, and stairwells and unknown corners awaited us. Something could spring forward and attack. I turned my back at the resting men and George tried to follow, but I held up my hand.
"You should stay here. Maybe... try to get to know them, I guess."
"It's dangerous to go alone, Ethan."
"Don't worry, I won't be alone, George. Mr. Williams, follow me. We shall secure the perimeter."
With some persuasion, I convinced George. Rupert Williams followed me and walked on my left.
***
We checked each store in this mall and made sure they didn't house any dangers. We were coming to a corner when I heard something. I heard... slurping and grunting.
"Stop."
At my command, Rupert stopped in his tracks. At my signal, we slowly crept forward in this dimly lit mall. Up ahead was a left turn which led into another area. As we inched closer to the noises, Rupert went on the far right and raised his rifle. I held a cavalry saber and stuck close to the left. I held out my hand and made a "stop" gesture. He halted.
I crouched to the ground. It's better to lower yourself as much as possible when peeking around corners. It avoids peoples' normal eye level. I didn't know if it was effective or not, but that was my logic. Peeking with half my face sticking out, my right eye saw what was happening.
I saw five flare zombies crowding around a dead body, which appeared fresh. The corpse still had pigment, but it was draining quickly. I saw the mouth that was frozen ajar mid-scream, the dead-eyes that held no life, and the tears that dripped from them. It was a body of a man who being mauled. The flare zombies dug through his stomach and throat, clawing out his organs and stuffing it into their mouths.
-!Smack!-
-!Squelch!-
-!Smack!-
This morbid event enraptured me. This experience was similar to watching wild animals feed on a carcass. My stupor broke when I heard a "crack" sound from behind.
-!Crack!-
I quickly turn my head, only to see that Rupert Williams accidentally stepped onto a shard of glass. He looked down at it with wide eyes. It was something out of a horror movie. When I turned back to look at the zombies, I saw everyone single one of them staring at where we hid.
The zombies appeared surreal due to their simpleness. Their unassuming nature reminded me of babies feating. The way they sloppily shoved flesh into their maws and how blood covered their lower face, it was akin to young children. The tension froze time. It was like catching a deer in your headlights. This moment of stillness - of reprieve you might say - eventually broke.
"Gwwaarrrr!!!"
"Ukkkaaaghgh!!"
The zombies roared out and sprinted erratically. They were coming straight towards us.
"Run, I'll cover you!!"
Rupert Williams was still useful to me. I couldn't let him die yet. Plus, I was the strongest, so it made sense for me to deal with the horde. I sprang from my hiding place while he ran back to the main group. I prepared my skills and readied a stance. I breathed properly and braced myself.
Just as I was about to strike a flare-zombie, it veered to my left and ran past me. The others gave me the same treatment.
(What!? No, that doesn't make sense!! They always attack hum-)
[D o yo u thi nk you' re still hu man?]
Before I could finish my thought, Fraggy interrupted me. He was right. When I ingested the hearts of the flare-zombies, I began to convert to an outside species. I forgot about my condition because I was sent into a simulation that confused my sense of time. The flare-zombies... recognized me as their own.
"No!! Stay back!!"
-!!BANG!!-
I turned around to see Rupert Williams 30 meters away from me. He fired his rifle, and the bombastic sound reverberated throughout the mall. I heard more roaring, guttural gasping, and screams.
(There's still flare-zombies here!)
I ran towards Rupert, who was now using his handgun to shoot into the crowd that lunged at him. He was too panicked, though. He missed too many of his shots. He was going to die. It would've been wiser to use his sword to fight.
-!BANG!-
-!BANG!-
-!BANG!-
He emptied his entire gun, but only killed four zombies. The last one tackled him and began to bite into his stomach. I expected to hear Rupert scream in pain, but I knew why he didn't. His coat provided enough protection. The only exposed part of Rupert's body was his face and neck.
"Gah!! Get off!! Get off!!"
The only thing saving Rupert from being bitten was his flailing arms, which desperately pushed against his assailant. I was finally close enough to do something. Rupert was only a few meters away from me. For some reason, I stopped. I heard a whispering thought filled with cunning and malice, but it didn't come from Fragment of the 4th Wall. The insidious whisper belonged to me.
(Why not let him die?) It said.
As Rupert struggled, I watched from where I stood and grappled for a decision.