"Can I…?" Renee glanced at the arched wooden door that was fixed adjacent to the side of a wall, and she believed that it had to be the bathroom, "is it okay if I wash up first?"
As much as she appreciated Robinson for being kind enough to help her understand her situation and explaining matters to her, she still needed some time alone to ponder on her chances of being here. It was weird enough that he looked calm and composed, despite what is happening to the city, and more importantly, why wasn't this specific house getting attacked?
Where did they bring her?
"Please take your time, the bathroom is that way." Robinson kind-heartedly pointed at the door she was staring at a minute ago. "I'll wait outside." Giving her some privacy, he took his leave, closing the door shut behind him.
Renee made her way to the drawer and opened it. She was surprised to see a few decent clothes inside, including a neat purple towel. She wondered if these clothes belonged to anyone in the building, recalling Robinson's comment concerning the three women who stayed here with them, but to avoid touching other people's stuff, she took her personal towel from the system's vault and went into the bathroom.
Sitting on the toilet's seat, she viewed her stats;
[User profile]
. Name: Renee Blackwell
. Age: 22
. Class: Survivor/ Apothecary
. Level: 1
. Experience points (XP): (95/100)
. Defense: 12
. Alchemy: (0/100)
. Strength: 100 (-20)
. Agility: 100
. Intelligence: (50/100)
. Vitality: 100 (-28)
. Skills: Locked
.
.
.
"Minus twenty?" Renee blinked at the bracket in her terms of strength, and her vitality value was the same. Minus twenty-eight in hundred could only mean her vitality value was seventy-two, and her strength value at eighty.
Before passing out, the system made mention of her vitality value being at a 'percentage'. The crash must have dwindled her vitality value, because there was no other way to explain the weakness that seeped into her bones after the car crash. It was unlike anything she has ever experienced.
She was internally horrified by her body's own unresponsiveness, but now, her body felt lighter. Maybe a little weak? But far better than before. With the sudden rise of her vitality value, her body had gained its energy, and maybe once she finds something to eat, her vitality value would increase to a full hundred. Starting from today, she'll try as much as possible to stay mindful of her vitality value so they don't drop to that extent ever again.
Taking a deep breath, she discarded her system and took off her clothes. There were new bathing soaps placed at the edge of the bathroom sink, and they smelled nice. Renee took her bath and showered her body clean, scrubbing off the dirt and the disgusting smell of those monster's blood off her.
Stepping out, she dried herself and immediately got dressed in a pair of well-worn jeans and soft, oversized black sweater. She took out a pair of white sneakers from her vault and wore them, and then used the towel to dry her hair in the mirror. Ensuring she looked decent enough, she stepped out of the room, and for some reason, was surprised to see Robinson had truly waited for her.
With his monocle glass and a white lab coat that draped his corporate outfit, he looked much taller all of a sudden.
"Shall we?" He smiled, and Renee nodded her head in approval. Walking side by side, Renee allowed him to lead her through the labyrinthine paths of the corridor. Somewhere in her mind, she assumed Robinson was being a little too friendly to a lady he just met, and she couldn't help but be suspicious of his motive as he led her through the corridor, but after a while, she understood his reasons.
The atmosphere here took an unmistakable dark, and clandestine vibe – the type that makes one feel like they have ventured into the wrong house, but then realizing it too late to make a run for it. The whole place was mixed with different turns and corners, so much so that If she was to return here by herself, she would definitely lose her way and end up getting lost.
She observed the dim sconces on the dark, stone-textured walls, they looked smooth and felt smooth to touch. Their footsteps echoed on the marble-tiled floor, and Renee couldn't help but feel a little insecure. She glanced at the wooden arch doorways, her gaze flickering to the polished brass fixtures. They all seemed to lead to undisclosed chambers, and she wondered how many survivors occupied this building.
How big is this building?
"I also had my worries during my first time here," Robinson's humorous voice echoed softly within the quiet, eerily cold corridor. "It is a feeling you get used to with time. Don't mind the aura, I tell you most of the people living here are nice!" He said with certainty.
Most? Renee pondered.
Finally reaching the grand staircase, Renee could hear argumentative voices as they descended down the stairs and arrived at what looked like a spacious meeting room. She would have called it a dinner table, but from the looks of it, it hardly gave off the vibe that the people who sit here actually sit here to have meals.
A fixed chandelier with ornate candelabras flicker with muted light at the center of the table, and as they approached, the two conversing ladies, along with the two men they were currently debating with, paused their bickering at the sight of them, or rather, at the sight of Robinson. His presence seemed to bring an unbeatable silence, because they all maintained at the mere presence of him, despite the harmless smile he wore.
"Only four of you?" He hummed after counting them with his gaze, "where are the rest?"
"Lord Lysander is busy with Lord Cullen in his office." One of them answered, "Levana's upstairs crying into a pillow and I don't know about the rest."
"Without further ado then, I'd like to introduce a new member to the phantom court." Robinson glanced at Renee who took it into notice that he was talking about her. Before she could respond, one of the lady's with pink hair and peach-colored eyes rose to her feet.
"A new member!!" She clapped her hands excitedly before moving away from her seat to meet the new recruit. "Oh my Bobby! She looks prettier than when Lord Lysander first brought her in."
"Will you not call me that in front of the new recruit?" Robinson's gaze flashed with a clear warning, but his voice remained gentle and harmless. Despite his reprimanding tone, the lady simply ignored him and turned her attention to Renee.
"It's so good to see you up on your feet, my name's Peaches, and I welcome you to the phantom court!" She introduced herself, and with such glam including a rosy face and smile that could melt even the coldest heart, Renee couldn't help but smile back, but then she thought, 'what is a phantom court?'
"This is Peaches," Robinson introduced her, "you can as well call her the chatter-box of this house."
"Not fair, Bobby, it's disrespectful to expose people directly." Peaches reprimanded him, and the others sighed hopelessly at her audacity.
"This is Naya," Robinson went further to introduce the rest, " that's Vincent and the other one, Eric."
"Welcome."
"Xup!"
They all greeted her, and Renee lowered her head in a bow, responding to their greeting before saying, "I'm Renee."
"Come, sit with us." Peaches was already dragging Renee to the vacant seat where she sat with Naya, and the lady simply acknowledged her presence with a curt nod. She felt somewhat strange being in the midst of these people, and although she was happy to see that there were other survivors like her, she was yet to adapt to all their presence.
Gathering her courage, she asked, "How come zombies don't invade this place? We're not out of the city yet, are we?"
"No," Robinson answered, "but you're safe here. They can't get into this building, or even ten meters close to this building. Everyone's safety is clarified unless of course, they wish to step out into the madness of our once renowned city."
"That means you all have systems?"
"I believe all survivors do," Vincent answered as if it should have been obvious, "at least the ones I've seen, except you're an exception which I believe is false." He shrugged, naturally lighting a cigarette.
Renee glanced around the spacious room, but there was no sign of the man she had accidentally punched.
Was he still mad at her for it?
"In the meantime, why don't I take you to see your brother, I'm sure you'd like to see him." Robinson stated and Renee rose from her seat immediately.
"Peaches, make something edible for the new member while I take her to see her brother." He assigned the cooking job to Peaches who nodded right away. Robinson on the other hand had to make sure the new recruit feels as comfortable as she could be, as per his older brother's demand.
"Come." He led Renee up the stairs once more.