My enhanced senses were on high alert, picking up the faint smell of gasoline and smoke from the north. "Let's check it out," I whispered, and Lisa nodded, her face set in a determined expression. We moved quickly but cautiously, using the abandoned cars and building corners as cover. As we got closer, the smell of burning flesh grew stronger, mixed with the unmistakable odor of gasoline.
Finally, we reached the edge of a street and peered around the corner.
What we saw was just insane and bizarre.
There, atop a rusted bus, was a girl dressed in clown, plus added clown makeup, her hair in pigtails, and a large happy grin on her face that kinda reminded me of a maniac or insane person, well, both are the same. She was holding a flamethrower, spewing fire at the zombies that swarmed below. With her other hand, she was shooting zombies that managed to crawl onto the bus with a handgun. Occasionally, she would toss a Molotov cocktail into the horde, causing explosions and flames to engulf more of the undead. She got crates of Molotovs on the bus's roof.
"Tehehehehe! C'mon... Come to lil' ol' Harl and BURN TO DEATH! Although you are all dead," The girl yelled with a loud laugh.
"Who the hell is she?" Lisa whispered, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and confusion.
"I have no idea," I replied. "But, she is enjoying herself."
We watched for a moment longer, the clown girl laughing maniacally as she incinerated another group of zombies. Despite the chaos, there was a strange elegance to her movements, almost as if she was performing a twisted dance. Her smile, and that expression... Her movements... The look in her eyes...
Why the fuck is my heart racing? Damn it! I should be backing away from this maniac, but the opposite happened! I'm fascinated by her skills and movement. What's happening to me? I quickly shook my head, trying to dispel the thoughts.
"Should we help her?" Lisa asked, her hand hovering over the handle of her machete.
"You think she needs help?" I countered with an amused grin.
The girl was clearly having a blast burning those undead creatures to a crisp. Her reflexes and accuracy were top-notch. Not even one zombie managed to jump and grab her, nor did she slip or fall. In the span of a few moments, the horde was reduced to smoking ash and melted metal. Maybe some charred flesh and the stench was too intense.
"Aaaah~ That's fun! Right, you, damn fucking dead-head brainiacs!?" The girl called out, looking around before noticing us watching her. She jumped off the roof, did a flip in mid-air, and landed on the road, then ran to us. I've never seen such acrobatic movements before. "New people in town! Did you see how awesome my fire dance was?" She asked, running closer, her smile and demeanor changing into a curious and cheerful expression.
"Yeah, that was really cool," I admitted, smiling and feeling myself relax.
"Aww shucks. Where did ya both come from and where y'all headed to? You're welcome to come along and join Lil ol' me to bring the 'endgame' and all!" As she began her babble, a weird sound came from her stomach as the sound of the growling. "Weeehehehe... looks like I'm getting hungry here. And everything is dead, here, nothing to eat. What's going on here? There I was burnin' down Mr. J's house for lying to me with a fake sad story of his childhood and an explosion occurred then some zombies tryin' to kill Harl, what's going on? Everyone was just alive but... Ah! Harl's mind can't take it anymore. It's not funny."
"Huh?!" Both me and Lisa were kinda stunned by her question. She doesn't know about the zombie apocalypse?! How is that possible? It's been almost a year, how the heck doesn't she know? But considering that, her movements and dance and style and skills, the way she handles zombies were the work of an expert... Something is going on here.
Ping! The System window popped up...
*****
Mission: A potential ally
Harley Quinn, a drifter from another reality, is currently being hunted by Mr. J [Joker], an insane clown and one of the most dangerous criminals who nearly succeeded in annihilating his own world by manipulating the heroes and making them fight each other. Another of his variants doomed countless realities and planets. Caution required.
Objectives:
1) Kill Joker before he kills Harley
2) Recruit Harley Quinn
Rewards:
1) Skill Card 1x
2) Location of a zombie hero from another reality
Failure:
1) Harley's death
2) A lost chance to power up
3) A possibility of Joker dooming this already doomed world
*****
Fuck! Another reality?! So, she just arrived in our reality and just happened to meet me? A coincidence? I doubt it. This System... It set me on a path to find that safe base, but on the route, one thing after another popped up. It's trying to make me stronger while giving me allies along the way. So, if I were to take a wild guess, the main big boss should be waiting for us at that base.
But really... Another reality?! It's unbelievable, but considering what I've seen so far, maybe not...
My mind was sent into a tailspin as I stared dumbly at the message window, while Harley kept chattering. I have so many questions. If she came to our world, then can we go to their world? Is that other world safe and free of zombies? And if so, wouldn't that be the better alternative to this hellhole?
The objective may look easy, but considering the little description, this Joker guy is a threat and probably powerful. The rewards are good. I've never got a skill card, and a zombie hero from another reality, that sounds fun. Gotta power up as much as possible. But the failure is pretty drastic, to be honest. Keep this clown alive, kill Mr. J, and save this fucking dying world. Haaa...
"So, you got any food?" Harley asked with puppy-like eyes. "I'll give you this..." She took out an old potato chip bag and gave it to me.
"This is empty!"
"Oops, must've lost it along the way. But I have others." She began to dig into her pockets before finding something and showing it to me with an awkward grin. It was a half-eaten chewing gum wrapped in its wrap. She opened it and began to scratch her head.
"You don't have anything, do you?" I sighed.
"No, sorry," Harley's earlier happy smile disappeared as she began to play with her two fingers, lowering her eyes like a sad puppy that was kicked by her masters, or that she did something she shouldn't have and now feeling guilty. But to tell the truth... Seeing her act this cute is making my heart flutter.
Argg! What the heck am I thinking? There is no way a grown-up girl acts like that. But she looks kinda innocent and jolly. I don't know how to put it, she looks good while smiling, but a sad look like now is... Wait a damn minute! Why the hell am I analyzing a stranger's behavior?! Since when did I begin to care about some random girl's smile?!
"Fine! Come with us. But no killing or stealing and feel free to kill zombies and other bad guys. And as for your confusion, that explosion sent you into this reality of ours where the Earth is dying and a zombie apocalypse is ongoing. Everything went to hell months ago, and now, everyone is fighting everyone for resources. So, trust is hard to come by these days," I gave her the quick-and-dirty explanation of things here.
"Really!?" The sudden news surprised Harley as her eyes and mouth widened.
"Yup! That's the just of it."
"Zombies, guns, killing undeads... Count lil' ol' Harl in," Harley spoke, her smile reappearing. "A new start sounds good... Harleeeey's free of Bats, Mr. J, and her stupid old life." The cheerful mood only lasted for a moment. "Can we go and eat, please?"
"Let's go..."