"Lucas, avoid it!" Lucy's voice rang out, filled with desperation as she rushed to his side. Her urgent cry shattered the chaos like a desperate plea.
Hailstones plummeted from the heavens, assaulting the man who had just fired the fatal shot with relentless fury. The icy barrage silenced him forever. However, in the midst of this heroic defiance, a single bullet found its target, cruelly piercing Lucas's already injured left leg.
"AH-" Lucas's anguished cry pierced the air as he writhed on the harsh, unforgiving ground. His pain echoed like the mournful wail of a wounded animal.
"Lucy! It's hurting so much! AHHHHHH-" Fresh blood flowed from his calf, and the torment was unbearable, shattering any façade of resilience he had left. His agonized cries created a haunting symphony of suffering that seemed to reach into the depths of their world, touching the very soul of their existence.
"Lucas!" Lucy's voice quivered with desperation.
Overwhelmed by searing pain and the relentless loss of blood, Lucas's vision blurred, and consciousness ebbed away like a fleeting dream. Once again, he surrendered to the inky abyss, a seasoned warrior succumbing to the relentless pull of unconsciousness.
"Wake up, please. Don't lose consciousness now, please." Lucy's voice uttered quietly as tears began to fall rapidly, her emotions no longer under control. "You promised me, please, please don't get hurt again."
And yet, he didn't answer her words.
As Lucas descended into the depths of unconsciousness, the world around him dissolved into a nightmarish haze. His body lay sprawled on the unforgiving pavement, a crimson pool collecting beneath his wounded leg. The cacophony of battle, the frantic shouts, and the metallic tang of blood in the air all faded into a distant, discordant symphony.
Kneeling by his side, Lucy's trembling hands desperately sought to stem the tide of blood. Panic surged within her, but she fought to maintain her composure. Lucas had faced insurmountable odds before and emerged victorious. This couldn't be the end.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she gazed down at her fallen friend. "Please, you can't leave me now. You promised me, Lucas," she cried out, her voice quivering.
Clutching his hand tightly, she willed him to awaken, but alas, Lucas lay there, not responding to her words, his eyes closed, his breath shallow, and the flow of his blood continuing.
Meanwhile, Meri stood watch, her gun still smoldering from its earlier discharge, her eyes scanning their surroundings with unwavering vigilance. She knew that their diminished foes still held the potential for danger. Her expression was a mosaic of resolute determination and anxious concern, burdened by the weight of the choices she'd been forced to make.
The lifeless bodies of their enemies lay strewn about, stark reminders of the brutal reality that had come to define their world. Julia, once full of life and vigor, now lies in a grotesque tableau of death, a chilling testament to the ruthlessness of their adversaries.
Amidst the turmoil, Meri's commanding voice sliced through the chaos, capturing the attention of the remaining adversaries. "You three kids! Come down if you want to stay intact!"
A heavy silence descended upon them, not a single soul daring to utter a word. "I'll go and shoot each of you if you don't come out," Meri declared with unwavering resolve, her gaze firmly fixed on the building where they were concealed. The threat hung palpably in the air, and she seemed more than willing to carry it out.
With reluctance, the trio of teenagers cautiously descended the stairs, their hands raised in a gesture of surrender. A young boy took the lead, his voice trembling as he spoke. "We mean no harm to you guys. Please, Miss, lower your weapon." Fear and confusion tinged his words.
Meri's skepticism held fast as she scrutinized them. "You came here with them. Who's to say you mean no harm?" She was not quick to extend trust to those who might have played a role in their predicament. "Explain yourselves!"
Gun still firmly in hand, Meri insisted on answering. The boy who had requested her to lower her weapon stayed silent, but this time, a girl stepped forward, her voice shaky yet sincere. "Yes, Aunties, we were initially with them. But we strongly disagreed with their actions, especially Aunt Julia's decisions."
Meri's suspicion lingered; her anger was apparent. "I'm not inclined to trust you kids."
"Look at Sir Lucas's wound. This is a result of your actions!" Meri's voice wavered with anger and sorrow, her tears falling freely now as she gestured with her gun. "You need to answer for this!"
"Meri..." a soft voice called out from the background, and Meri turned to see Lucy, her eyes red from crying, kneeling near Lucas. She spoke gently, "I will deal with them. You need to take care of Lucas. His wound is getting worse. I'll go search for medicine to help him. He's suffered enough. We don't have much time."
As Lucy voiced her concerns, the three teenagers remained frozen, their raised hands a symbol of their vulnerability in the face of uncertainty. They stood there, silently observing the unfolding conversation.
"But, Miss, what about these three?" Meri inquired, her brow furrowing as she wrestled with the decision to trust these newcomers who had appeared seemingly out of nowhere, their intentions still unclear.
Lucy responded with unwavering determination. "These three will lead me to their base, Meri. If Lucas were conscious, he might have suggested we eliminate them, but that's not the case now. Look around; there are already three deceased women on the road and one man over there. Only these three can guide us to their base."
Meri hesitated, her concern for their safety palpable. "But, Miss Lucy, it's dangerous. We don't know if there are others out there. It could be extremely perilous."
Lucy offered a reassuring smile, her resolve unyielding. "Don't worry, Meri, I'm not going there to die. They have the black building over there; that's what Lucas told me. His barrier, the one that protected us, was bought from that place, their base. I plan to purchase medicine or any healing supplies for Lucas there."
"Miss Lucy," Meri began, her voice filled with concern, "it's going to be really dangerous to go ther—" Meri's attempt to voice her concerns was swiftly cut off by Lucy's commanding tone.
"Enough, Meri. We can't afford any delays," Lucy urged firmly. "Your task is to get Lucas inside, tend to his wounds, and ensure he doesn't bleed out. Keep a close watch on Cale too. And remember to secure the doors and windows; our noise is bound to attract more zombies."
Recognizing the pressing urgency of the situation, Meri cast another worried glance toward the ominous darkness outside, where the unknown threat loomed. She took a deep breath, mustering her determination, and reluctantly replied, her voice tinged with resignation, "Yes, Miss Lucy."
Meri moved swiftly, concealing her inner conflict with a resolute demeanor. Kneeling beside Lucas, she carefully checked his pulse and the wound on his leg. With a sigh of relief, she confirmed that he was still alive, albeit unconscious, and that the bleeding, for now, seemed under control.
As Meri tended to Lucas, Lucy shifted her focus to the trio of anxious teenagers standing nearby. Her tone, now less stern, still carried a touch of caution. "Okay, you three," she began, "lead the way to your base. But remember any sudden moves, and I'll take precautions."
"Yes," they replied in unison, their voices blending apprehension with compliance.
But Meri interjected, her concern evident in her voice breaking their agreement. "Miss Lucy, it's quite risky to have all three of them accompany you alone. Can you choose just one to go with you?"
Lucy nodded in agreement. "You're right, Meri. Having all three is indeed risky. I suppose my concern for Lucas's well-being clouded my judgment. Alright, Meri, based on your assessment, which one of them do you think is the most trustworthy?"
Meri turned her gaze toward the trio, her expression sharp, as she inquired, "What are your names?"
The young boy at the front broke the silence. His voice remained steady despite the tense situation. "I'm Kristian."
Next, a girl with earnest eyes stepped forward. "I'm Belle."
Meri's attention then shifted to the final member of the trio, awaiting his response. His voice quivered as he introduced himself. "I'm Jeremiah."
Meri's expression softened as she weighed her decision. She turned to Belle. "Alright, Belle, go with Miss Lucy. If Miss Lucy doesn't return within a reasonable time, I'll assume something's wrong. Make sure you cooperate and don't do anything to harm her."
Belle nodded in understanding, a mix of relief and anxiety in her eyes as she moved closer to Lucy.
Meri, her demeanor cautious but not openly hostile, gestured for Kristian and Jeremiah to step aside. "As for you two, I have some questions that need answers. Let's keep this situation peaceful for now; Sir Lucas is injured. Help me carry him inside."