In a dark room in the back of the warehouse, a group of men were currently huddled together discussing in hushed voices.
"If we just bum rush them when the door opens, they won't be able to stop us." One of them said.
"Won't some of us die if we do that though?" one of the more timid looking men asked.
"Do you really think that we can get out of here without at least a few sacrifices? Now is the time to grow a pair and be a man!" the first one clapped back.
The timid man hung his head and remained silent.
"Tch. All of us have wives, girlfriends, or friends being held hostage by those idiots.
God knows what they are doing to the women right now and you're worried about a little bit of pain and the possibility of dying?!
This is why I hate you younger generation. Some of you are so soft." one of the older men in the group said.
"Enough arguing. If he doesn't want to help, then so be it, but are we doing this or not?
The next time they open the doors, we rush out and overpower them, agreed?"
"Agreed."
"Let's do it!"
"Fuck it! If I'm going to die, then I might as well die on my own terms!"
As the morale of the group skyrocketed, they heard the unmistakable sound of rattling chains.
"They're here. Get ready." one of the men whispered.
Holding whatever they could find as a weapon, most of the men prepared to make a stand.
As the door swung open, the man at the front of the group gave his best battle cry and charged forward.
As he breached the threshold of the door and ran out into the well-lit warehouse the instantaneous change from near complete darkness to sudden brightness made it hard for him to see properly.
All he could make out were the rough outlines of a few people so he picked one and charged towards it with his wooden stick raise above his head ready to strike.
Fully expecting to get shot, the man was startled when he heard a feminine shriek from the silhouette he was charging at.
Confused but undeterred the man started his swing downwards before he felt someone grasp the back of his collar and yank him backwards.
The collar of his shirt bore into his throat due to the sudden change of direction, and he immediately started to cough hysterically gasping for breathe.
While he was struggling to breathe, a male voice sounded off next to him, "What the fuck are you doing attacking the women I just rescued?"
Before the man could register what was happening, he heard a voice he would recognize even in the most crowded area, "Pat! Oh, thank God you're okay!!!"
He wanted to yell out and respond to the voice of his wife, but he was still struggling to breathe so he could only raise his head and look around now that his vision had adjusted to the new light.
He caught a glimpse of his wife charging towards him with arms stretched out, preparing to embrace him.
Tears of happiness sudden welled up in his eyes and he managed to yell out, "Hellen!"
The same scene was now playing out all around the area.
Husbands and wives, girlfriends and boyfriends, or just friends; reunited and happy to see the other still alive and well.
Leo, never much of a romantic himself, could still appreciate the scene before him.
He wondered if Robin and Amber would react the same way if they were forcefully separated from him only to be reunited later.
'Regardless of the suggestions imbedded in the girls, I still need to earn their love.. probably.
Maybe I'll do something nice for them when I get back.'
In the makeshift camp dozens and dozens of miles away, the two sisters suddenly felt a shiver run down their spines. They both had the same thought, 'Why do I have the sense that something really unfortunate is about to come my way?!'
As the couples reunited and expressed their profound gratitude to Leo for saving them, they slowly began to filter out of the warehouse and head their own way.
"Thank you for saving me for a second time sir. Not only did you save me in the desert but now you have rescued not just me but also my fiance.
I am eternally grateful." Dan said as him and Morgan were preparing to leave.
"Uhh yea.. about that.. the first time - pure coincidence. This time however, I am here at the behest of a mutual friend." Leo replied.
Morgan and Dan both looked confused since they had never met Leo before the apocalypse.
If they had a mutual friend, wouldn't they have met before or at least heard of each other?
Seeing the confusion on their faces, Leo only said one word, "Robin".
Morgan immediately began to beam with joy, "You know Robin?! She's alright?!? Oh, thank God! When we didn't hear from her for a few days, we assumed the worst... I'm so glad she's alright!"
She turned towards her fiancé and gave him a smack on the shoulder, "Did you hear that, Dan?! I told you we shouldn't give up on her just yet! That girl may be timid and cowardly but she's too smart to die so easily!"
"Yes dear, you were right, and I was wrong. Please forgive me..." Dan said deflated.
Leo gave him a inquisitive look as if to ask, 'Is there something wrong with Robin still being alive?'
Startled, Dan waved his hands back and forth in front of him, "Please don't get the wrong idea. I am very happy that Robin is still alive!"
'Ahh.. I see.. he's a bit of a whipped man so he just kept going along with what his fiancé was saying and now she's blaming him for the words she most likely said herself.' Leo thought.
"Well, Robin is alive and well so it doesn't matter. She asked me to come find you guys and bring you back to our little camp.
So, do you need to get some stuff from the dorms, or can we head back right away?"
The couple looked at Leo with a bit of confusion and skepticism.
"You want us to come with you? To some camp? Huh? Isn't it safer to stay inside the town?" Dan questioned.
Morgan, to her credit, remained quiet and seemed to be deep in thought.
"I'm not really asking you to be honest. You can either come with me of your own free will or I can drag you back with your hands and feet bound.
It's your choice."
"Are you threatening us or asking us?!" Dan yelled.
Leo didn't answer and simply shrugged his shoulders as if to say, "Does it really matter what you think?"
Frustrated that they had just survived one kidnapping and now found themselves seemingly in the midst of another, Dan was trying to figure out how best to handle the situation when Morgan interjected.
"Can the rest of the college students come along?"
"MORGAN! You're actually thinking that we should go along with this?!" Dan questioned somewhat hysterically.
"Can you please act like a man for once in your life?" Morgan replied, annoyed, "If he says that Robin is there with him and that she wants us to come there, why shouldn't we?
You know Robin wouldn't stick around someone she doesn't trust, let alone ask them for a favor.
Isn't that right, Leo?"
Looking at Dan on the verge of tears due to the emasculation of his fiance, he couldn't help but shake his head before replying, "To answer your first question, I don't really care. I will not take care of them or look after them, but they are free to tag along if they'd like.
As for Robin, yes, she asked me for a favor and I obliged because she is someone important to me.
Which is why I will drag you back if I have too. I do not want to let her down.
If it makes you feel any better, Amber is also there.
I also wouldn't know anything about either of you if it weren't for Robin telling me who you are and showing me a picture of what you look like.
So that should make it easier for you to trust me, yes?"
"Hmm.. you make good points. Alright, I was about 80% sure we should trust you before and now I'm at like 98%! So, I shall put my life as well as this little girls life in your hands and follow you!
I would like to give the people at the dorm the chance to tag along if they would like so do you mind if we stop there before we leave town?" Morgan said.
"Fine. But I would like to return before sundown so please do not waste my time." Leo agreed reluctantly.
And so, Dan who was on the verge of tears and Leo who was already overwhelmed by Morgans energy, and a cheerful Morgan quickly made their way back to the college campus.
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Sorry for the late chapter! Got caught up doing some work for a friend of mine. Only this chapter today and back to two tomorrow!
I appreciate the power stone support from you all and thank you for reading!