Façade, a disguise or the exterior of a building. But in Vito's case, it was a mask for him. Everyone in the facility trusted the people in their cliques too much. But many of them unintentionally wore a façade. Because the moment the fear of death came to them, they'd vanish like ghosts in the night. Or like Jay's father- ahem, sorry. Vito looked around with his always bored expression. But underneath was a cruel person.
The current lesson after lunch was about learning zombie's behaviours and how to avoid or trap them. "Zombies are THE most common monster you'll face in your travels in the Dead Men Zones. They were once humans or animals. I'll also tell you now, animal zombies, depending on the animal, can be more dangerous or weaker than a humanoid zombie. Usually, only humanoid zombies gather together too.
"Large gatherings of zombies usually happen in once crowded areas. Like malls, cities, or even beaches. They rarely form in the wild or forest, unless several dozen zombies are travelling to a nearby city. So, how do you avoid zombies? Zombies most of the time will give off a stench of rotting. Of course, the smell of rotting corpses is everywhere. So don't trust your sense of smell.
"Another more reliable way to find if a horde is nearby, will be the zombies' groaning and noises. However, smaller hordes might need you to be closer to hear them. While more reliable, do not be too trusting of your ears. A few monsters are able to use auditory delusions to make you come to them. Take for example the Hunters. Hunters are sort of larger dogs that are crimson red in colour. They use the vocal cords of those they kill in order to lure you to them.
"However, the most reliable tactic for not getting trapped by a zombie horde would be sight. One of the rare technologies we still have from the Old World, is a telescope. Used for guns, extra sight, and other uses. Telescopes are one of the greatest items we still have for identifying various hives of insects or zombie hordes in this case.
Jay kept on talking as Vito listened attentively. But at the same time he was coming up with plans on finding a way out of the facility. While it was good here, Vito needed to kill new races to gain their talents. And unless it was a combat test, he was unable to kill new enemies. And sometimes it'd be the same race. So staying around wasn't an option. Vito would come back if needed, but Vito doubted he'd stay in the facility any longer.
Most of the other clones in there hated him. So Vito needed to escape and travel the lands far away. But the problem? The facility was one of the most guarded places in the entire Twelfth Bastion. There was a solution though, in a week from now. Jay would be leaving to greet Captain Milly. A powerful officer who is said to be able to kill entire zombie hordes by herself. Vito could do the same thing, the only difference was that Milly was a human.
If Jay rendezvous with Milly, then using that brief window of time. Vito will need to do several things. One, grab some supplies if able. Two, get the hell out of there. Three, avoid all guards. And four, escape. It was easier said than done. But it was something Vito would work on. Vito believed he knew a way out already. It was the lunchroom. The lunchroom at the start of every week would make steamed meat for the kids.
And because steaming things makes carbon dioxide, they'll need a way to dispose of it. So while Jay is with Milly, Vito will create a huge distraction and escape through the vents. If not for the fact that Vito was smaller than the others his age, the smallest basically, then he wouldn't have been able to pull off this plan. But that was for the future. Right now, he needed to finalise the details of this grand escape plan.
Like a mask, he put on a serious expression while scheming below the surface. Zack looked at Vito. Unlike how Vito had black hair and orange eyes or how Coco had light brown hair and green eyes. Zack had light blonde hair and blue eyes. Zack could easily see the changes in Vito. He knew that Vito had a plan up his sleeve or something. And Zack wanted in with the plan. He wanted whatever Vito was gaining.
The class ended as Vito returned to his room. A small two metre by two metre room. Because of Vito's size and that he had no valuable possessions, it was very spacious there. Vito was about to hit the bed and go to sleep without dinner. But someone knocked on his door with a secret code. Vito and Zack, while distant, were two of the well known people in the facility. So they developed a secret code for each other. Zack also had one for Coco, but never used it.
Vito came over and opened the door as Zack stepped in. Zack was overwhelming, about one and a third heads taller than Vito. Coco was only three quarters of a head taller than Vito. "Whatever you're planning, I want in." Vito shook his head. "Even if it means leaving the facility forever?" Zack nodded with extra enthusiasm. "Especially if it means gaining freedom." Vito nodded and gestured for Zack to sit in the small chair.
Zack sat down and Vito ran over the basics of the plan he set up. Zack was in thought and smirked slightly. "I have a suggestion. When we escape, can we bring people along? And if so, let's stay in a group." Vito refused. "I will not stay in a group larger than you, me, and two other people. Too many." Zack acknowledged this. "Don't worry, I only plan to bring two people along. Scott and Maya."
"Cool, I'll make minor adjustments. You just need them to be onboard when the time comes." Zack agreed. "For the supplies?" Vito ran down a list putting three fingers up. "Clothing, canned food, and water bottles. That is our top three. Other essentials but not as important would be: rope, shoes, and hopefully backpacks." Zack nodded and was about to ask something. "Don't worry about weapons, we'll grab some knives from the kitchen."
Zack was onboard with the plan. If he could recruit Vito with him. It'd be even better. Vito and Zack were unaware of each other's secrets. Zack's child, who he was cloned from, was the descendant of a mythical king of lust and power. While Vito was the Ember Carrier. Both were Sons of Destiny if this was a cultivation novel. But it wasn't. It was more fitting to say, Era Lords.
"I'll get going now. When are we doing this?" Zack asked before he left. "The start of the next week, when Sergeant Jay is gone with Captain Milly." Zack opened the door and closed it, leaving. Vito walked over to the door and locked it. Before going to sleep. Unaware that Coco saw Zack leaving. Coco's green eyes traced Vito's door and wanted to know why Zack was in Vito's room. But she left it at that and would explore tomorrow.
Vito stretched as a new day arose. Today was Monday, everyone was getting to eat smoked meat today. A luxury very much. With that, since there was still a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until the mission commences. It should be fine. Six days were more than enough time for them to all escape. All Vito needed to do was prepare a distraction. Everyone was in the lunchroom grabbing their breakfasts.
Vito was about to go to the loner table when Zack called him over to his personal table. Vito shrugged and joined them. "Scott, Maya. Vito." Zack introduced the three to each other. Scott was a tall boy, about a head taller than Vito. And Maya was about Coco's height. "Leave the important stuff to us. You'll take the less important things." Zack whispered. Vito faintly nodded. It was a little unusual for Vito to be with Zack. But many of them didn't really care.
"Do you have the distraction set?" Scott asked. Vito shook his head slightly. He didn't have it. Scott nodded and said. "I think I have a distraction." Vito was interested. "When next week comes around, because they're smoking meat. We can use a fire to cause a large commotion." Vito agreed with that. Maya butted in as well. "I'd like to ask something, Vito." Everyone turned to Maya. Scott and Maya's children they were cloned from, were siblings.
"Can I bring someone else-" Vito ruthlessly cut it down. "No. Four people or I'll do it myself." This plan could, at most, bring four people along. No one more. "Please?" Maya asked with puppy eyes. Again Vito mercilessly told her off. "No, that's final." Maya looked deflated and Zack frowned. "Come on Vito. Just one more?" Vito sneered. "This plan can only bring four people." Zack looked at him with determined eyes. "Even if it's an infant?"
"Who is it?" Vito asked. "There's a different place in the laboratory where a locked up infant resides. A girl, me and Maya found her when we were scouting last night. And we want to bring her." The undead boy looked at Zack seriously. "Will she hinder our plan?" Zack shook his head. "And if she does?" Vito asked. "I'll abandon her." Maya stated confidently. Vito closed his eyes and replied. "Fine. But she better not hinder anything."