Conrad White whose blonde hair seemed to shine in the sun of the mid morning hours. It had gotten longer and his attire had changed two. So had the others.
Veronica's white hair seemed to almost glow with the silver shine to it. Her skin seemed smoother, her blue eyes twinkled with a peculiar but pleasant light. She wore a white robe that reminded me of the mage robes worn by fantasy characters from movies and anime. And the white magic wand hang around her hip held together by a golden belt.
Conrad on the other hand was in what I could only describe as a martial arts jumpsuit the kind that is mostly worn by murin characters. It was a black one piece with long sleeves and an orange belt around his waist to hold his sword giving him this young master look.
Grem Ping the former security guard still wore his guard uniform however he now had a black cloak hanging over his shoulders which hid his daggers from view.
The bus continued on until it stopped just a few meters away from the three of them. The driver killed the engine and I made my way to the door of the bus. I stepped out with Lydia following closely behind me.
"Yo!" I greeted with a smile. "How about we get out of this dump and actually go somewhere with actual beds?"
"So the trip wasn't a waste at all huh?" Grem laughed while looking at Conrad with a smug expression.
"Tch…" Conrad only kissed his teeth while Veronica on the other hand didn't say anything. Just watching us closely.
"Go get everyone ready. We leave in an hour" Veronica said looking in Conrad's direction.
Conrad looked hesitant for a moment turning his gaze at me for a brief moment before walking away. He was heading towards the gymnasium I presumed but…
"What's his problem?" I asked. I always thought he didn't like me but isn't this a bit much?"
Veronica sighed before shaking her head. She too didn't know what had gotten into her vice lately. He used to be a calm and patient guy and he never once showed any animosity towards anyone before but now it was like every time he saw Huey he became a different person.
Grem on the other hand felt different
"Its obvious at a glance that he feels inferior" He said catching every one off guard
"Inferior?" I asked. "Inferior to who?"
"You" Grem said
"Wait me…why?" I asked not getting how this had anything to do with me I mean I had never met the guy personally until after the apocalypse and he feels inferior to me? If anything I should be the one who feels inferior.
"You have to think of it from his perspective. Before he had been the best as eligible bachelor any one could think of. He was smart, talented, good looking and he probably had his own connections as well. Not only that he had felt reliable in some ways" Grem said looking into the direction of Conrad's retreating back.
"But now not so much. Not only are you strong Huey but you've become more reliable than anyone else could have imagined on top of that you have you own group of people who are equally as talented following you. He just doesn't feel like he can catch up"
There was silence among the group. As everyone pondered on what Grem just said.
Maybe Grem was right and Conrad felt inferior because of my growing strength. So what if I seemed more reliable than him. Was I supposed to stop getting stronger just because of one person's opinions and doubts?
And if I took a step back right now I felt like I would have no choice but to take another step back in the future as well. If I minded what people thought about me all the time then there was no way I could get things done.
Whether he felt inferior or not there was no way I was going to stop.
"It doesn't matter what he thinks. There's no way I'm stopping now. Not when I have something to fight for" I said my voice brimming with determination.
…
Back at base one of the operators who knew how to use the police scanner that had once been in Jace's room was now sitting in a room that had been converted into a make shift office. The scanner was placed on a study table and the operator was sitting in a chair in front of it.
She was switching through the channels when she stumbled upon a message. She stopped switching channels in order to listen to it
"…ATTENTION ALL CITIZENS IF YOU ARE LISTENING TO THIS PLEASE KNOW THAT I AM MAYOR BENNET WHITE…I HAVE MANAGED TO ESTABLISH A SAFE CAMP RIGHT WHERE THE CITY HALL USED TO BE…
"ATTENTION ALL CITIZENS IF YOU ARE LISTENING TO THIS PLEASE KNOW THAT I AM MAYOR BENNET WHITE…I HAVE MANAGED TO ESTABLISH A SAFE CAMP RIGHT WHERE THE CITY HALL USED TO BE…
"ATTENTION ALL CITIZENS IF YOU ARE LISTENING TO THIS PLEASE KNOW THAT I AM MAYOR BENNET WHITE…I HAVE MANAGED TO ESTABLISH A SAFE CAMP RIGHT WHERE THE CITY HALL USED TO BE…"
The operator immediately jumped off her feet causing the chair she had been sitting on to fall behind her. She ran for the door and immediately found the guard who stood there.
"Somebody get me the leaders!"
…
The students and teachers who had survived the apocalypse numbered close to made up a total group of 50. Conrad made it to the gymnasium where every one was after all they couldn't just let them go out and when they heard the engine noises they had been told to take shelter and hide until it was safe.
The atmosphere was suffocating to say the least. For the past week they had done nothing but stay inside and only occasionally went out in order to prepared meals but other than that they was nothing else they could do. Everyone could take a shower using the taps in the gym but there was no change of clothes anywhere and while the boys didn't find that troubling, the same couldn't be said for the girls.
They felt uncomfortable wearing the same clothes and a set of fresh clothes could also help them relax a little when they heard Conrad say that they should get ready to move out to a new settlement they were elated but at the same time they were puzzled.
Where were they going to go?
That had been the question on everyone's mind but Conrad never explained anything he simply ordered them to get what they could and to follow him.
It wasn't long before Conrad was leading a group of 50 people out of the gymnasium and out to the front of the school where the bus was parked.
"Woah! They got a bus!?" one of the boys couldn't help but exclaim in awe.
"Yeah when did that happen?" another whispered
"Look isn't that Lydia and the other guy what was his name again?"
"I think it was Huey"
"Oh yeah we haven't seen him lately so it must have been him who brought it right?"
Hearing the conversations happening behind him. Conrad couldn't help but feel frustrated and at the same time jealous. He used to be the subject of praise and attention before but now he felt like he was nothing. He clenched his fist as he felt a heat in his chest that felt like it would explode at any moment.
And as he looked at Huey the feeling seemed to grow and grow.
Conrad grit his teeth and tried his best to ignore the feeling as he approached.
"Alright everyone please calmly get on the bus" Huey said his bearing felt different. He didn't feel liekt he same ordinary student who just a few days ago wouldn't even dare to give orders to a crowd but now after a two days of assuming the leadership role of the former Tiger Gang's base camp he had adopted the persona of a leader.
No one questioned him and no one protested. They all simply got into line and started boarding the bus.
Not even ten minutes later, the bus was already off with everyone on board. Huey sat in his previous spot the only difference was that unlike before Lydia was now sitting beside him