"What the hell happened to you!?" Jacob was shocked and the other executive including Katniss appeared to be in disbelief upon witnessing Ryver's devastating state.
To them, Ryver was a cold, heartless and ruthless bastard that had no problem killing a fellow human without thinking too much about it, but they also respected him as the strength he had shown during the zombie ambush was very remarkable and helped save their lives.
Now that he had appeared grievously injured, they couldn't help but wonder just what sort of creature was able to deal such injury to a fellow like Ryver.
"Glinda, assist Ryver to his room. Daveen, go get some of the medicines we've gathered from the rooms and give them to Glinda to help with Ryver's injuries. Daveen guard the entrance extensively with your life if you must. I need to make a gas mask for Ryver, our supply of gas masks have been given to the new survivors and the resources needed for it is almost finished, we need to restock on materials next time we head out." As Jacob demanded ans the others directly got to work.
Ryver frowned at their reaction, their expression was starting to make him feel slightly uneasy.
But strangely, he didn't voice out any claims of complaints as Glinda held him by his arm, pulling him on her shoulder to bear some of his weight as she supported him to his room, towards the far end of the hallway.
The door was left slightly ajar and Ryver was assisted to his bed. Glinda's face was solemn as she was about to pull his blood coated clothes off when Ryver caught her hand. "That's enough, I will take it from here."
Glinda frowned at Ryver's cold tone. "The claw marks on your back, you wouldn't be able to reach it and sterilise it."
"I said I will take it from here, you can go now." River was soft, but he remained resolute in his words as he dropped her hands away.
He suddenly saw glowing orange colour in form of a hand reaching for his gun, pointing it towards his head.
Ryver's eyes squinted and a faint smile carved on his face, but he ignored his intuition and acted as though he hadn't noticed anything, he adjusted himself to get comfortable on the bed, his breathing wounding sounding more like a wheeze due to his slightly collapsed chest, thankfully, non of lungs hadn't been punctured by the attack.
As she was retreating, Glinda's hands reached for the Glock holstered by his hips and pointed the muzzle straight towards Ryver's skull.
Ryver raised his head and glance at Glinda's beautiful face. She appeared mature, but age didn't fade away her beauty at all, but adding to her beauty instead.
Ryver glanced at her beautiful greenish eyes which seem to be staring completely straight into his soul but then, he completely ignored her as though he wasn't the one at gunpoint.
"Do you know how to use that?"
He removed his bloodied torn shirt with a slight groan escaping his lips and dropped it to the ground.
Glinda tightened her grip on the gun and her thumb switched the safety of the gun off as she aimed even more at his skull.
"Alright, I guess you do then."
Ryver chuckled and an orange glow forming the shape of a foot flashed in Ryver's mind and almost five seconds later, footsteps echoed outside the room and Katniss walked in.
Her footstep instantly paused as she saw the situation in the room.
"Glinda? What's happening?" Her voice was low and careful as she processed the information before her.
"Don't worry too much, she can't do it." Ryver replied offhandedly.
But Katniss didn't seem to listen to his words, worry appeared on her face as she placed the tray of drugs on the ground and then closed the door behind her.
This little detail didn't escape Ryver who took a glance at Katniss and then at Glinda with a raised eyebrow.
His lips then curled up to a smile instantly as he understood what was happening.
"What are you smiling at?" Glinda frowned her delicate face, and closed the muzzle of the gun on Ryver's skull, her index finger close to the trigger. But the slight shaking of the gun revealed her nervousness.
"When did it start, before or after the nuclear explosion?" Ryver suddenly asked a question which rather confused the two people in the room. They couldn't sense any trace of fear in Ryver's eyes or action. It was as though he was absolutely confident nothing would happen.
This further serves to provoke Glinda even more and her face showed her anger. "Do you think I wouldn't dare pull the trigger? Or you think I'm fvcking around here?"
"Since you killed Peter because of a scratch wound, I guess I have the right to kill you since you've been scratched too." Glinda exclaimed, sounding absolutely pissed by Ryver's relaxed behaviour.
Ryver blinked his eyes. "It's from a mutated beast, not from a zombie, you can put the gun down, I won't get infected if that's what you are worried about. Now, will you answer my question, when did it start?"
Glinda gritted her teeth, fury blazing in her eyes but as she was thinking about doing something drastic, Katniss held her softly by the shoulder and whispered to her. "Jacob will be here in a minute, make your decision. Whatever it is, I will stand by you."
Time seemed to pause, Glinda clenched the pistol hard until her knuckles turned white but suddenly, the fury in Glinda's eyes lessened as she loosened the grip on the gun, and strength seem to leave her body as she turned, leaning softly against Katniss, she sobbed quietly. "I-i can't do it. But he was my cousin, Peter was family."
Her beautiful green eyes watered, and her hand loosened about to drop the gun when Katniss stroked her arm and then grabbed the gun from her.
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