The man in front of me wasn't giving off any hostile signs towards me. He was just standing there waiting for my reply.
And honestly I didn't know what I should do.
All of them had seen my powers, so there's no use trying to hide my identity. But I still don't want to do anything about someone that I know nothing about.
Also, the fact that he's so calm, even though he knew I could attack him whenever, concerns me a lot.
I think I'll just walk away from here, because although I want to know why he's so confident, I don't want to risk it.
"I'll have to decline. I'm not in the mood to do anything." I said and started walking away from him, while taking a look at a map that was placed in one of the tables that were nearby.
It was a fact that I didn't have the slightest idea where I was, but I know that my best chances to find humans is in the big towns if they are not overrun by zombies.
"Does the name Fuhoyo Tokime ring any bells young lady?" The man spoke with a serious tone.
Those words made me immediately stop walking and stand still while clenching my punches.
With a deep breath I opened my right hand to form a dagger inside and before anyone realized I dashed towards the man.
With a blink of an eye I was behind him with my dagger a few millimeters away from his neck.
"How do you know that name?" I said with the most cold and intimidating voice I could.
The other men had pointed their guns towards me and were yelling to me to release the man.
I didn't have anything to fear as long as nothing hit the chip in my brain.
As the man's question hung in the air, my mind raced, trying to comprehend the significance of him mentioning Fuhoyo's name. How could he know about her? Fear and anger intertwined within me, compelling me to act swiftly and aggressively.
With my dagger poised at his neck, I could feel the collective tension rise in the room. The other men's voices grew louder, demanding my compliance. But I stood my ground, unyielding, my focus solely on the man before me.
He remained eerily calm, unfazed by the dangerous proximity of the blade. His eyes locked onto mine, their intensity piercing through my defenses. It was as if he could see into the depths of my soul, unraveling the complexities of my past.
"How do you know that name?" I repeated, my voice resonating with a chilling intensity. The air grew heavy with anticipation, the room hushed in anticipation of his response.
The man let out a controlled breath, his demeanor unflinching. "I have been searching for Fuhoyo Tokime for quite some time," he finally replied, his voice steady but tinged with a hint of sorrow. "She is not lost to me, as she is to you. I believe she holds the key to unlocking a great power, one that can save us all."
His words struck me like a bolt of lightning, electrifying my senses. Fuhoyo had been missing since my return to the town, and her absence had haunted my every step. The thought of her being a key to something greater than us both was unfathomable.
Reluctantly, I eased the pressure of my dagger, inching it away from the man's neck. The room exhaled a collective sigh of relief, yet the tension remained palpable.
"Prove it," I challenged, my voice betraying a flicker of hope buried beneath my guarded exterior. "Tell me something only Fuhoyo would know. Convince me that you're not just another pawn in this twisted game."
The man's eyes softened, the weight of his words growing heavier. "Fuhoyo used to tell you stories about the secret hideout you two built deep in the woods. She carved your initials into the ancient oak tree that stood at its entrance, a symbol of your unwavering bond."
A surge of emotions washed over me as memories flooded my mind. The secret hideout, our childhood sanctuary where we dreamt of grand adventures. And the oak tree, with our initials forever etched into its bark as a testament to our unbreakable connection.
I took a step back, lowering my weapon entirely. The other men lowered their guns cautiously, observing the unexpected turn of events.
"How do you know that name?" I said with the most cold and intimidating voice I could muster.
The other men pointed their guns towards me, yelling at me to release the man. But I didn't have anything to fear as long as nothing hit the chip in my brain.
As the man's question hung in the air, my mind raced, trying to comprehend the significance of him mentioning Fuhoyo's name. How could he know about her? Fear and anger intertwined within me, compelling me to act swiftly and aggressively.
"Prove it," I challenged, my voice dripping with skepticism. "Tell me something only Fuhoyo would know. Convince me that you're not just another pawn in this twisted game."
The man's eyes narrowed, his calm demeanor wavering for a moment before regaining control. "Fuhoyo used to tell you stories about the secret hideout you two built deep in the woods," he began, his voice tinged with melancholy. "She carved your initials into the ancient oak tree that stood at its entrance, a symbol of your unwavering bond."
My grip on the dagger tightened, the memories flooding back. He seemed to know things that only Fuhoyo and I shared. Could it be possible? Did he truly have information about her?
Reluctantly, I eased the pressure of my dagger, inching it away from the man's neck. The room exhaled a collective sigh of relief, yet I remained guarded.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice colder now, my trust shattered. "And what do you want with Fuhoyo?"
The man met my gaze, his eyes filled with a mixture of determination and regret. "My name is Hiroshi," he replied, his voice tinged with an undercurrent of desperation. "And I need your help to find Fuhoyo. There's something she possesses, something of immense value that can save us all. But time is running out, and I can't do it alone."
The man named Hiroshi observed my guarded expression, sensing the turmoil within me. With a somber yet determined tone, he continued, his voice carrying the weight of a hidden truth.
"Fuhoyo possesses a unique immunity to the zombie virus that plagues our world," Hiroshi revealed, his eyes focused intently on mine. "She was infected, just like you and I, but for some reason, she hasn't turned into a mindless creature. Her blood, her DNA—it holds the key to developing a cure, a way to save what remains of humanity."
His words struck a chord deep within me. Fuhoyo, the missing piece to the puzzle, held the answer to the plague that had decimated our society. The knowledge of her survival and potential cure stirred a mix of hope and urgency within my hardened heart.
"Why haven't you found her yet?" I questioned, my voice laced with a hint of accusation. "If you knew she was immune, why didn't you do everything in your power to locate her?"
Hiroshi's gaze faltered for a moment, his remorse evident. "I've been searching, tirelessly, but the world is vast, and the dangers are abundant," he confessed. "I've encountered obstacles, factions that seek to control the power she possesses, and I've lost allies along the way."
My skepticism remained, but a flicker of understanding sparked within me. We shared a common goal, the quest for Fuhoyo, but our paths to reaching her differed greatly.
"Suppose I believe you," I began, my voice steady, devoid of emotion. "Suppose I agree to help you find Fuhoyo and extract her DNA. What then? What guarantees do I have that this cure will benefit anyone other than those in power?"
Hiroshi's expression softened, the weight of responsibility etched across his face. "I understand your skepticism," he replied earnestly. "But I promise you, the cure we develop will be distributed equitably. It will not be weaponized or used for control. Our goal is to restore balance, to give humanity a chance to rebuild."
I mulled over his words, weighing the risks and potential rewards. The prospect of finding Fuhoyo and uncovering the cure was undeniably enticing, but my self-preservation urged caution.
"I will help you find Fuhoyo," I finally conceded, my voice steady and unwavering. "But once we have the cure, I will ensure its distribution and usage align with my principles. No exploitation, no manipulation."
Hiroshi nodded solemnly, acknowledging my conditions. The air between us held a mixture of determination and mutual understanding, a fragile alliance forged in the crucible of survival.