Why is he so cruel that he let the man die in the mouth of the flesh eating rabid creatures?
This was the second time Lyerin had experienced the apocalypse, and memories flooded back as he navigated the chaos. He remembered the people he had helped in the past, and how their betrayals had cut deeply.
There was the fellow man he had saved from a horde of flesh-eating creatures, only for that man to steal his supplies and leave him for dead in the wilderness.
There was the child he had rescued from a collapsing building, who later led him into an ambush where Lyerin was almost killed by scavengers. And then, there was the woman he had risked his life to protect, who, when he turned his back, had taken the opportunity to knock him out and rob him of everything he had left.
However, as Lyerin looked at the woman who was now shielding four children, a police officer in a tattered uniform, he couldn't help but remember why he had saved and kept saving those people who ultimately betrayed him for a long time.
This woman, Officer Amelia Reed, had been his beacon of hope once.
In the past, Lyerin had been cornered by a swarm of these rabid, zombie-like humans.
Unlike the rotting corpses of horror stories, these creatures were terrifying in their grotesque vitality.
Their eyes, mouths, and ears oozed black liquid, and their movements were unnervingly fast and coordinated.
Just when he thought it was the end, Officer Reed had appeared, her blue uniform a striking contrast to the chaos around them. Her hair was tied back in a practical ponytail, her eyes focused and determined.
She moved with the confidence of someone who had seen too much but still had a duty to uphold.
In that moment, she had been his savior, firing her gun with deadly accuracy, picking off the creatures one by one until they were all down.
It was a scene that had burned itself into his memory. Her posture now, however, was different.
Surrounded by a new horde, Officer Reed's shoulders slumped slightly, and her face showed a flicker of resignation. She glanced at the children, her eyes softening with sorrow, as if she was silently apologizing for the fate that awaited them.
Lyerin couldn't let it happen again.
Not her, not these children.
He stepped forward, ready to intervene, when suddenly, a barrage of gunfire erupted.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The air filled with the sound of bullets tearing through flesh, and the creatures' heads and bodies exploded into pieces.
Lyerin turned to see a squad of soldiers in military uniforms, their faces grim and focused.
"Clear the area! Secure the perimeter!" shouted the commanding officer, a tall woman with a stern expression. "Johnson, Martinez, take the left flank. Cover the exits! McAllister, Rourke, on me!"
The soldiers moved with practiced precision, their movements coordinated and efficient.
They formed a defensive ring around the woman and children, their rifles spitting death at the encroaching creatures.
"Keep firing! Don't let any through!" barked the officer. "We need to get these civilians to safety!"
Lyerin watched as the soldiers executed their plan flawlessly.
They communicated through a series of hand signals and short, clipped commands.
Each one seemed to know exactly what to do, their actions blending seamlessly into a deadly ballet of violence and protection.
"Martinez, on your six!" one of them called out, and Martinez spun, taking out a creature that had managed to get too close.
"Rourke, watch your left!" came another shout, and Rourke adjusted his aim, neutralizing a new threat.
Within minutes, the area was cleared.
The ground was littered with the remains of the creatures, black ichor pooling around their broken bodies.
The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and death.
The officer in charge approached Officer Reed, who was still holding the children close. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice softer now.
Reed nodded, her eyes wide with relief and gratitude. "Thank you. I didn't think we'd make it."
The commanding officer nodded briskly. "Let's get you and these kids to a safe zone. We have a secure location not far from here."
As they began to move out, Lyerin took a moment to reflect. He watched as the soldiers escorted Reed and the children away, ensuring their safety. He nodded to himself. In his previous life, this woman had survived because someone had saved her.
Perhaps it was fate intervening now, ensuring that she survived once more, but in a different way.
The soldiers continued to clear the path, their voices carrying over the din of chaos.
"Move out! Stay close and keep your heads down!"
The commanding officer's voice was calm and authoritative, a beacon of order in the midst of pandemonium.
Lyerin sighed in relief.
The immediate threat had passed, and he was about to continue his journey to the Borgias family's headquarters when the commanding officer's walkie-talkie crackled to life.
The officer's face blanched as he listened to the frantic voice on the other end.
"What? Zombies? Are you sure?" The officer's voice was a mix of disbelief and rising panic. He barked out a series of rapid-fire questions, each one escalating in urgency. "What about the northern route? Blocked? And the east gate? Overrun? Dammit, what about the tunnels under the city? Sealed off? Are there any safe zones left?"
The officer froze, the walkie-talkie slipping slightly in his grip as he processed the dire situation.
Lyerin, watching from the side, could see the growing despair on his face. He had seen this look before. It was the look of someone realizing they were cornered with no way out.
Lyerin's eyes drifted to Officer Reed.
Her face was pale, but her eyes remained steadfast, a silent resolve to protect the children with her.
Seeing her brought back a flood of memories. He had been in similar situations before, but he had never lost hope. Now, watching the chaos unfold, he muttered to himself, "This is karma, this time, I'll help her out."
Gathering his resolve, Lyerin called out, "Hey! Listen to me!"
The commanding officer and his team turned towards him, startled by his sudden assertiveness. "I know a place where you can go. Don't interrupt me. Just listen."
He pointed towards the southeast. "There's an old warehouse district about two miles from here. It's not on any of the main maps because it was decommissioned years ago. It used to be a distribution center, and it's built like a fortress. High walls, secure gates, and the best part is, it has an underground bunker designed to store perishable goods. It's stocked with canned food, bottled water, and basic medical supplies. The entrance to the bunker is hidden behind a stack of old crates, so it's unlikely anyone, or anything, would find it by accident."
Lyerin paused, making sure they were following his logic. "You'll have to clear out any remaining supplies in the warehouse itself and barricade the main entrances, but the bunker can hold out for at least a month if you ration the supplies properly. It's not a permanent solution, but it will give you time to regroup and plan your next move. After a month, you'll need to figure out how to secure more resources, but for now, it's your best bet."
The soldiers exchanged looks, processing the information. Lyerin pressed on. "The area is off the beaten path, so the likelihood of it being overrun is minimal. Plus, the high walls and narrow access points make it easier to defend. It's a temporary refuge, but it's better than being out here in the open."
The commanding officer's expression softened slightly, the initial panic giving way to cautious hope. "You're sure about this place?"
Lyerin nodded. "Positive. I've scouted it before. It's the safest option you've got right now."
The officer was dumbfounded, still trying to reconcile the dire situation with this sudden glimmer of hope.
Lyerin didn't give him time to dwell on it. "Go! Take your people and get to the warehouse district. You don't have much time."
As the soldiers began to mobilize, the commanding officer turned back to Lyerin, his expression a mix of gratitude and confusion. "What about you? Aren't you coming with us?"
Lyerin shook his head. "I still need to find my mother. She's somewhere out here, and I can't leave without her."
The officer hesitated, clearly torn between wanting to help and needing to ensure the safety of his own people. But Lyerin had already made up his mind. He turned away, his resolve hardening as he began to walk towards his uncertain future.
The soldiers watched him go, flabbergasted by his determination. Officer Reed called out, "Thank you. For everything."
Lyerin couldn't help but glance back. And soon, a fleeting smile crossed his lips. "Stay safe," he replied, before disappearing into the chaos of the city.