After examining the door for almost two hours, we gave up. It's sealed from the inside and the outside panel was destroyed a long time ago. So, unless someone unlocks it from inside, it's impossible to open. It would be useless even if we place some explosives and blow this up. I wanted to use the Pym particle arrows to shrink in and out, but there wasn't even a single fucking gap anywhere. We looked in and around the building for hours, but alas! We found nothing.
"What a total waste of time. We spent hours for nothing," Tyger stood up, pissed.
This thing is made of solid metal, right? Then there might be a way to break through it.
"Tyger, do you think our salvager team could find some liquid nitrogen? Or maybe some sulfur? Wasn't there a chemist shop on our way here?" I asked her.
Tyger turned her head and pondered for a while, "Ah! How did you even remember that there was a chemist's shop in our way? Wait... Liquid nitrogen, sulfur! If we can find either of them, then we can break or melt through that door. Dang! I knew it. It was the right choice to make you the boss. If it were me, I'd have given up on it easily. And yeah, I'm sure Jace can sniff them out."
So, we decided to make our temporary base inside the barricade of the building. I had twenty of them spread out the place to keep an eye out. Jace took his team and drove to that chemist's shop. If everything goes right, they should be back before night. I went to check up on Jennifer Lawrence.
...
"Ahhhh, it's you," said the beautiful woman, Jennifer Lawrence, as I entered the makeshift tent she was resting in. Her wounds had been treated and the bleeding had been stopped. She was wrapped up in warm blankets, and though the atmosphere outside was very chilly, the temperature here seemed to be slightly raised. Maybe, it's just me. Hehe.
"Hi! How are you doing?" I asked as I pulled a stool and sat.
"Ah, as you can see. I'm perfectly okay. Thank you. For saving my life, I mean. If it wasn't for you all... I'd have... probably be raped or worse, probably become their snack and get eaten," Her voice trailed off in horror, "They cut off her body parts one after another till she died... I... They killed my team and ate them too... Even when we begged them and cried in fear, they didn't let us go," her lips quivered, she had been crying as I could tell by her reddish face. Tears dripped from her eyes as her breath shivered.
I placed my hand on hers, "Hey, hey. No tears. You survived through all that, that takes some serious guts. Besides, I made sure they won't hurt anyone anymore."
"I know. Ange said it," Jennifer wiped her eyes, "Thank you... really."
I just shook my head and continued, "Anyways. Let me tell you, we'll be here for a few days more. Probably less. Just give a few days rest, and then you can decide what to do. You wanna come with us or leave? In case you leave, I'll give you enough provisions to last a week or two."
"Thank you again, Mr...?" asked the woman.
"Call me Karl. Mr is such a stiffy."
"Sure thing, then. Thanks, Karl. I... I want to join you guys. I know this is fast, but I've decided the moment you saved me," Jennifer said clenching her thin fists.
"Are you sure about that? We are going to fight a war soon. There might be deaths. You could die... But, what I can promise you is that, we are going to the most secure place there is right now. If we somehow survive and push through all the challenges ahead, then yeah, it will be worth it," I replied.
Jennifer stared at me blankly. I could see the hesitation behind her pretty eyes.
"Yeah, I know that look. A safe and secure base is kinda like a fairy tale these days."
She replied after a brief pause, "I will join you. It doesn't matter. Now that my entire crew is dead and their killers are gone... Yeah, I will join you guys. Who wouldn't, right? It's much better than getting separated and dying a pointless death, being a food source for a horde of monsters. Just let me heal up a bit and I'll help the group out. I'm a pretty good shooter and know my way around bows and arrows, plus knives for close-quarter combat."
"So, it's true that you performed all your stunts in your movies and you know how to use weapons? Isn't it?"
Jennifer chuckled, "Yeah, I wanted to put my 100% out there and I just wanted my every scene to be me, not some body double or stuntmen performing my work for me. I wanted to experience the whole package."
"I knew it!" I punched my right fist on my left palm with a smile, "I'm a big fan of yours. I know the world has gone to hell and no one cares about no one... Can I have your autograph?!"
"AH! An autograph?! I mean, yeah, why not."
"Here! Here's a picture and a pen." I took out a picture of her from Hunger Games from my old wallet, which I still carry around with me for no reason, and a pen, holding it before her.
I could tell the amusement and joy on her face the moment I told her this. Heck, I'm happy. I know the chances of having a celebrity's autograph or seeing their movie or TV show was as low as buying a lottery ticket. Like the chance of winning it. Anyway, it doesn't matter if the world is dying or living. I'm a fan and I got her autograph, even though it doesn't hold any value in this world anymore.
A wide grin spread across her lips and her white teeth shined, as she took the photo and the pen. As the pen began making noises as it etched upon the photograph. She glanced at me, "Say, Karl... why did you even have a picture of me?"
"Oh, well," I smiled sheepishly, "To tell you the truth, I have always liked you and been a big fan of yours."
"You what?!" the brunette looked at me with surprise, she quickly signed the picture and gave it back to me, "It's... er... good that I finally have a real-life fan," she chuckled, "Plus, even though, the entire world went to shit and everyone is so damn scared and always on edge, you are the first man I've met who is... You know, different. Not so uptight or... Well, had it been any other group, I don't even know what they would have asked of me for saving my life, but you didn't do any of that..."
"Yeah, what's the point of living in fear all the time? No one knows when they might die, so, in my view, live your life to the fullest even in this zombie world. Kill zombies, protect yourself, and enjoy the rest of your free time. That's my motto. Otherwise, if you don't, you might regret it at some point," I added.
"Interesting."
...
...
Later, 3:30 PM...
My men have gathered all the dead zombies in a single place and burned them. Another team found the dead human remains and I decided to burn them separately. That girl was among those thirty half-eaten dead humans that my team found scattered across the town. I kept the promise I made to you... I killed them all, every single one of those who hurt you and everyone.
I don't know your name, but I can't give you a proper send-off. Sorry.
I watched their bodies burn in flames. I was looking at the dead bodies, or I would rather say, their black bones, as they got reduced into nothingness in a flash. Phew! Rest in peace...
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