Chapter 29: Meeting More Survivors
Samuel followed Susan as she brought him towards a group of men and women. They all gave off the aura of warriors who had gone through multiple battles. "Hey guys we have a new guest here. He's a savior, a little on the weak side but we will change that soon. You guys show him around the place I'll be back"
Susan said and then left Samuel alone with these new people. Samuel wanted to stop her but she left before he could say a thing. He felt incredibly awkward surrounded by so many strangers. But he didn't let that stop him. "Hey there I'm Samuel nice to meet you all" Samuel greeted them
A large man with an impressive beard approached Samuel. He reached him and raised his hand for a handshake. Samuel accepted the handshake. A smile appeared on the man's rough face. "Haha! You get a good grip on you. Call me George I'm the best fighter this group has ever had" the bearded man called George said. His voice was louder than what Samuel was expecting.
"Don't listen to him. This old fart barely knows how to throw a punch. He just likes running his mouth for no reason" Said a slim black-haired man on the side. He played with a knife in his hand as he gave Samuel a bored look. "Alex mind your own business before you get beat up again," George yelled at Alex.
"Whatever you say, old man," Alex said not caring about the threat. "Don't mind him. He's an idiot. Come with me let's get you a weapon" George said as he dragged Samuel to a large table. The place was filled with people and weapons. They all welcome Samuel. Some were friendly while others were casual. But no one was hostile.
George brought him to a collection of baseball bats, knives, chains and other weapons. They weren't anything special. But they were definitely better than nothing. "What do you think boy? Personally, I recommend you take the axe. I have one myself. It gets the job done every time" George said. Only to be interrupted by a woman "Don't listen to him. That axe is useless if you don't have the strength and skill to use it. Take the spiked bat. It's simple to use and very effective."
Others came along all giving their opinion on what weapons Samuel should use. The atmosphere was strangely comfortable. No one judged him or tried to interrogate him. 'Maybe it's because, at the end of the day, they are all fighting for the same cause. That is why they are so welcoming. There's no real use in bullying me or making me their enemy' Samuel thought to himself.
"Guys relax, I don't need a weapon I have my own," Samuel said. Everyone looked at him up and down "I don't see anything on you. Unless you are hiding it In one of your bags" George said. Samuel simply placed his hand inside his unzipped hoody. He summoned his kitchen knife and took it out like it had always been there. When everyone saw a knife in his hand. They all came to inspect it.
Some let out sharp whistles, clearly impressed by the knife. Samuel had long since turned off his enhanced perception. But he still sensed Alex come from behind him. He placed his arm over Samuel's Shoulder as he looked at the knife. "That's a good blade you got. Are you willing to part with it" Alex said.
"Leave the guy alone Alex. It's his blade." Someone said. "Yeah Alex don't bully the boy," George said. Alex only sneered as he said "It's the guy's knife what he chooses to do with it is none of your business" They all wanted to refute his words. But he was right. "So what do you say, man? Is the blade up for sale?" Alex asked Samuel. He was a bit overbearing. But Samuel didn't mind "What are you offering in exchange for it?" Samuel asked calmly. Although he asked he already knew everything that Alex had on his person. And nothing he had was appealing to him.
Unless he had something else stored in another location there was nothing he could offer him to get this knife. Alex reached into his jacket and took out a revolver. "I'll give you this revolver. It's in good condition, everyone here has seen it in action. It's even fully loaded" Alex said as he showed Samuel the gun and even showed him that it was already loaded with 6 bullets.
"Sadly that won't be enough for this knife and besides I already have a better gun than that," Samuel said as he raised his shirt showing his pistol strapped to his waist. "Hahahaha!" everything started laughing at Alex's failed attempts to get Samuel's knife. "Whatever," Alex said as he let go of Samuel and went off. "Samuel stayed with this group of people for a while before going to the railings overlooking the first floor.
He and George talked for a while as they looked at the people on the first floor. Some looked up towards them. And once their gazes landed on Samuel's face they were not happy. "Hey, George why are the guys on the first floor so upset by me being here? Did something happen between you guys and the previous saviors? Is that why they don't like my presence here?" Samuel asked.
"No, it's not that. They simply wish you saviors never come back here." George said calmly. His gaze held an emotion Samuel couldn't quite understand. "We have died in this world 4 times. And let me tell you many of these people didn't have pleasant or painless deaths. Some were eaten alive, others died slowly while holding their internal organs. Many have watched loved ones die over and over again. So it only makes sense that they are upset by you guys coming here.
If no saviors ever come again that means we won't have to be revived and suffer in this hell once again. We can just stay dead. For most they would rather face the embrace of death than live this torture we call our lives" George said. Samuel took a while to process those words. But he understood their sentiments now. He couldn't blame them for not liking him. After all, it's his presence here that brought them back to life. Samuel even pictured some people ending their lives right after being resurrected by the apocalypse zones reset.
"Hey George I know it's a dumb question. But has anyone…you know…ended themselves once they come back to life?" Samuel asked. George's body trembled for a second. Samuel saw this and instantly regretted asking it. "I'm sorry you don't have to say anything," Samuel said. He felt guilty after seeing George's reaction.
"It's ok boy. Maybe someday I'll tell you. But for now how about you go help that young miss over there" George said as he pointed towards the first floor. Samuel followed his finger and saw Susan. Luckily she was in his range of perception and he saw her. In the corner of the first floor. She sat amongst a group of children. The Bag he saw her holding when they first met was opened.
She took out various food items and shared them with the kids. Most of the kids responded positively but a few seemed off. "Yeah, I don't think I should go to her. She clearly doesn't like me much." Samuel said to George. "Nonsense, the young miss is just shy. She doesn't have many friends and struggles when it comes to expressing emotions. She needs a new friend someone around her age. Not old folks like me and the others. Now go down there and help her out" George said.
Samuel didn't know why but he couldn't say no to the bearded man. "Fine, but if I get punched or worse. It's your fault" Samuel said as he walked away. George smiled as he saw Samuel walk away "His a kind one ain't he?" George said to himself. Samuel soon made his way to the first floor and quickly found Susan. She was playing with the kids while they ate.
"Come on Jackson you lost again," Susan said softly as she watched a young boy lose in a game of Rock paper scissors. The girl that beat the boy was happy and gladly took the candy offered by Susan. "I wanna play next." "No me, I wanna play" "I want candy " Some other kids yelled trying to get Susan to make them play. But Susan was only one person and couldn't do everything by herself.
"Wait guys one at a time," Susan said to calm the kids down. Samuel saw how the boy called Jackson walked away to a distant corner. Samuel followed him and sat next to him. The kid barely reacted. "Don't you want to go play with the others?" Samuel asked him.
The boy took a few seconds to respond but he only shook his head. "Why not? Don't you want to win some candy?" Samuel asked. But this time the boy ignored him. Samuel felt a bit lost. He didn't know why but something in him wanted to see the boy smile. "Hey, Sai. Can you make some tiny cartoon holograms to cheer up this kid" Samuel whispered.
Sai's voice came from her invisible drone "Is it necessary?" "Not really but I would appreciate it," Samuel said. "Fine" Sai replied and soon a tiny holographic cartoon of a Cat and mouse appeared. "Hey kid look at this. That cat is so mean he wants to catch the mouse. What can you do to help him?" Samuel asked Jackson.
Jackson stared at the cartoon of the cat and mouse. They ran around the two of them. The cat ferociously tried to catch the mouse. Jackson didn't respond to Samuel. Samuel then raised his hand and placed it in between the cat and mouse like a wall. The cat bumped into his hand and got dizzy. "Hehe!" a small chuckle came from Jackson after seeing this.
Samuel entertained the kid for a while. Before Susan came to him. "Why are you here?" Susan said. Samuel said defensively "Goerge made me do it" Susan could only sigh as she said "Of course he did. Come Jackson it's time to go eat with everyone else." Susan said and Jackson followed her words. "Bye, mister" Jackson's tiny voice reached Samuel's ears as he walked away.
A smile appeared on Samuel's face as he waved goodbye to the boy. "That's surprising. Those are the first words he has spoken since the reset" Susan said. "Did something happen to him?" Susan was quiet for a while before saying "He died just like everyone else. It's not easy to experience death. Especially for kids." Susan said.
Samuel kind of regretted asking such a stupid question. Just as he was about to apologize Susan continued "I promised to protect him… but I failed. Now his like this. This is why I fight so hard. So that these kids won't have to feel the untimely embrace of death" Susan said. "Hey kids it's time to go hunting." their attention was then grabbed by the sound of George calling them. "Let's go," Susan said as she left for the 2nd floor. Samuel followed her.