Skulltaker Pt. 3

(Lars)

That bitch almost cornered me. Those curtains were a last resort that I did not account for in the slightest. Come on, Lars, don’t get too greedy… The big guy didn’t stand a chance. I had him completely frozen with my gun to Clarine’s head.

Now that I’ve traveled a few floors up, I should be able to think of my next plan. I was hoping that we’d find actual walkers in here that could disrupt the flow of battle. The more chaotic this was, the easier it’d be for me to fend for myself as opposed to the six of them having to look out for each other. Well, I still have this last resort but let’s save it until it’s really necessary…

Understanding all of their positions is key. Fence and Clarine were on the bottom floor and through all the commotion, nobody else seemed to be in the area so it was likely only the two of them were there. Chances are they were told to sweep the first half of the floors. Naturally, that would mean, a group of two or more were designated to the top half. Two or more? No, that doesn’t make sense to unevenly distribute your forces. If you wanted to maximize opportunity, you’d find a way to evenly space out everyone. What would they do? What would the best plan be?!

Shit, I heard noises coming from above. I held my breath and listened to their footsteps before moving. Two of them were definitely above. That means the last two had to be somewhere else. Where else would they need eyes…? Of course, the perimeter! They needed to consider the possibility that I left this building for one reason or another so the last two must be watching all around the building. How are they doing that though? Walking or running clearly wouldn’t cut it, they’d need an extremely efficient method of mobilization… The hoverpacks!

Slowly, my plan was coming together… But no, I’m still missing pieces. Dammit, I need to think more but the footsteps are getting closer. For now, I need to move back down, while finding a way to avoid the big guy. I threw Clarine against the wall quite hard and wrapped the curtains around her tightly. The best-case scenario is that she went unconscious and the oaf is going to check in on her… But only an idiot would assume the best-case scenario is reality…

I tiptoed down the stairs and peeped the floor below as soon as I could. There seemed to be no activity. The dust on all the knobs and the positioning of the dirt on the floor had remained identical since I last ran through it. This floor is guaranteed safe. I looked over my shoulder and saw it said “6/20”.

In an instant, everything came together. It was like seeing those integers made something click in my brain. If everything is as I imagine so far, then… maybe the tenth…? Windows on every floor… I looked towards the window right in front of the stairs and waited a full minute while counting intervals. It’s hard to say for sure but maybe every twenty-two seconds? Aw, man, before I knew it, the game-winning strategy came together. You bastards… you’re done!

(Bane)

My father and I searched the floors efficiently. We spent a lot less time on the floors at the very top as it would be unlikely or more so, impossible for Lars to be all the way up there in such little time. In a building like this, Lars’ options become far more limited. His methods of fighting become a lot more personal and with two other teams cornering him from every direction, he has no choice but to eventually face a two-on-one battle.

As we made it to the intermediate floors, we began to take our time investigating the condition of everything around us. I was never a forensics guy, but clearly my father knew a thing or two. He was examining the condition of the floors, dust, and even door knobs. How could a normal human being even understand the value of those variables in this situation? Perhaps, it’s because he isn’t normal, no, none of them are. Clarine and Fence have been scavengers for a long time as well. I’m sure they also know how to investigate properly. With a team like this, Lars can only bide his time. He doesn’t stand a chance…

I followed right behind my father at all times. I kept a safe distance to make sure he wouldn’t burn from my flames if I were startled a few steps in his direction. The nice thing about being on fire is that it meant in a physical sense, Lars wouldn’t be able to sneak up on me. There would be zero merit in doing so.

On a technical scale, I am invincible, so tell me why it feels like I can die at any moment.

My father stopped and held his arm out without saying anything. It appears something out of the ordinary occurred. I was going to ask what, but if he wasn’t speaking it was probably best for my mouth to stay silent as well.

Eventually, he started moving again at a slower pace with his arm still out. We were walking down a corridor with apartment doors to our left and right. I looked to the stairs and we were on floor ten of twenty. We should be encountering Fence and Clarine relatively soon if things go well on their end.

“False alarm, I thought I heard something unusual. Bane, let’s check all these rooms. You start over there, I’ll get the ones here,” my father said with a heavy breath.

The searches went as they did on the floors prior. Nothing remarkable to be found anywhere. It was all just boring furniture and torn-up walls. Some of the rooms even connected with the holes blasted through.

There was an interesting-looking TV that screamed retro along with a mattress in the corner of the room tilted up against the wall. With how scattered and damaged everything seemed to be in here, even by apocalypse standards, the final tenants of this place must not have lasted long…

After clearing my rooms, I waited back in the hall for my father who took much longer. For a second, I thought I heard something coming from one of the rooms. I went to see what the noise was about but inside the room, nothing was to be found. The mattress tilted up against the wall fell and with its positioning, I’m surprised it hasn’t happened sooner. I looked around the room and nothing else seemed to be out of line. It seemed to be nothing. I exited the room and faced my father’s direction, and that’s when it happened. Lars sprinted out of one of the rooms I searched. My legs sprinted towards my father as part of our plan and now it was about to go into effect. Lars, you messed up!