Arc 2 - Chapter 43: It All Comes Down to Luck

(Libertatem 1, 59 / 3:57AM)

“For the second evacuation team, you’ll be searching for civilians on the north side, where the hills are.”

“Then I’ll take the lead.”

Placing his hands inside his pockets, David turned his head toward the platoon he’ll be taking charge. Seeing their faces mixed with curiosity, surprisement, worry, and confusion, he adjusted his cowboy hat.

And to the right of him, was a monolid woman with glasses. Fiddling with her fingers, it made David loosen the tightness of his face.

“Remember what I said ok?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t get ahead of you.”

Just as she said her words, both of them heard the clump of church shoes in back of them. Turning their heads around, a man with blonde hair and below average walked with stride, his hands in his pockets. Looking like he had already gotten down from the truck, he looked at the two of them coldly.

“And I’ll lead with you.”

Nodding at Brigg’s request, a small line of sweat rolled from his right temple. For some reason, David found himself nervous around the man.

“As long as you won’t send those soldiers to their deaths, then by all means.”

“Just as long as they listen.”

“Trust is formed with respect, not power. You know that right?”

A woman wrapped her arms around his chest. Clutching onto him tightly, she was an inch taller than him, as her breast brushed against his back.

“And you’ll know I’ll go with you too Briggs~”

Briggs only sighed, and tilted his head downward. Seeing that he was somewhat uncomfortable, Jenny glared her eyes at Alexandra, who had a seductive smirk filled with lust. Placing her hands onto her hips, she growled an angry hum.

“Hey, he doesn’t like that.”

“Says who? He doesn’t complain.”

“Let it go, Jenny, now’s not the time to argue against your past self.”

“W-What?! I mean…”

And grabbing her shoulder, David dragged Jenny against her will. Walking toward one one of the military trucks, her face was flustered a beet red, as she remembered the things she did … before she was sought out by Boris.

Seeing them off, Briggs exhaled another sigh before grabbing Alexandra’s hand. With a scrunched face, he had his eyes pinned down, while she maintained her flirty grin.

“Where are you taking me?~”

“To the trucks.”

“Why? Is it for anything—”

“Just shut up!”

Because his face was tilted down, it left her unwillingly to see his flustered fate. For a man who is cold and well-kept … his voice reached an octave higher.

________________________________________________________________________

(Libertatem 1, 59 / 4:55AM)

In front of a military truck, was a normal jeep riddled with soldiers. Prowling through the empty road, it led whoever was driving the truck, to feel at ease given the small shield at hand.

“Why built this part of the city on top of hills?”

“Logically speaking, building houses and mansions on granite isn’t that difficult. But personally speaking … it’s so the rich could look down on the poor.”

Inside a military truck, was a bastion of people from all different sizes and ages.

David had his hands full on the wheel, while Briggs rode in the passenger. Both of them sufficing in cold frowns, they scoured their eyes against the many mansions they passed through.

But in the back of the truck, many soldiers were fast asleep, except for two adult women. Both women wide awake, they sat on opposite sides from each other, and their seats were nearest the passenger and driver. Their backs against the cold metallic wall, one of the women eyed a male soldier’s sleeping face, making her lick her lips.

Which sent the other woman to furrow her brow.

“I heard the rumors about you.”

“About what?”

“You have an all-male harem, care to explain?”

“What’s wrong with polygamy? I mean, I don’t care if a guy does it, but why can’t I?”

Folding her arms, she had them placed underneath her somewhat large chest. Grounding her teeth against one another, it sent Jenny to tighten her hold against her stomach.

Enclosing her fists, balling them even, her stomach began to broil hot. Like steam was emitting from her ears, nose, and mouth; she was seething.

“You have no shame. You’ll just go with any dude that seems hot to you.”

“Hell, he doesn’t even need to be hot.”

“Freak.”

“Karen.”

“P-Pardon me?”

Placing both of her heels onto the metallic floor, she hunched her head forward while she growled. Digging her nails into her palms, her gums strained.

David glanced to his right, and sensed the tension from the back of the truck. Having his right hand on the wheel, he swayed a couple of hair that littered his forehead. Same with Briggs, he turned around to see Alexandra’s smug grin.

“Jenny. Calm down.”

“Alexandra. Drop it.”

“No!”

“Hey, she started it.”

‘‘Ah, we tried.’’ thought the two men.

Ignoring their commotion, the two of them decided to scour their eyes on the road again. Looking at the endless mansions, along with mowed-firm lawns and decor being everriddled, it left David to tap his finger.

Having his nail scrape against the leather, he thought and thought, until his thoughts escaped from his mouth.

“If we save this city, what will happen after?”

“Things go back to the way they were.”

“Oh really? Lagefor is the biggest city in the world, second to Clastine. What will they do once they find out Lagefor; the military capital of the world, was overrun by a bunch of zompires?”

Slouching his body forward, Briggs let out a sigh before checking the side mirror from the right. Seeing nothing amidst the abyss, amidst the darkness, he kept his eyes there. But the only thing he saw was himself.

Panning his eyes away from the mirror, he returned them back onto the road.

“Logically speaking, Haxouburg and Aizzonia will go under complete lockdown, same as six years ago. Personally speaking, it’s as I mentioned before…”

After Ticia collapsed, it led the three countries to go into complete lockdown. Their borders secured, curfews raised, it led the entirety of its people and politicians to fear for the worst. But for some reason, nothing came for them … but why? Was it deliberate? Was Ticia hiding something? Just what motive does it make for Ticia to just collapse?

“The world will continue to move forward, whether we like it or not.”

“Heh. Guess it’s just like the movies, when a hero saves the world. Everyone loves him, cheers for him, celebrates his name … but forget about him the next day.”

“Precisely.”

Ceasing their conversation, Briggs gently nodded at the realism of David’s words. Fixing up his posture, he also fixed his fedora which was sideways, and straightened his back that was hunched from earlier. Silent as a mouse, Briggs clicked his tongue, and scrunched up his face.

—‘It all comes down to luck in the end…’—

Inside the jeep…

“Huh?”

The four marines squinted through the darkness, to find a lone man standing in the middle of the road. With the high beams penetrating the man’s black clothes, it left them to furrow their brows and wrinkle their faces.

And inside the military truck…

Because David had eagle-like eyes, he squinted through the mendicant darkness, and saw the same sight like the marines in the jeep. Being a block in front of them, it led David to drastically tighten the grip on the wheel.

“What … the …

“What is it?”

Moving the camera toward the jeep, they all paled their faces the more closer they got to the lone man. By just taking a small glance, they found his hands stationed in his pockets, and his black boots gripping the asphalt below. Clearly speaking, the driver of the jeep moved his left hand away from the wheel, and clamped down on the horn.

“Move it! Come on!”

The man took out his pockets. And from the grip of his palms, he pulled out two weapons that he honed with skill.

And upon clicking both buttons, the small razor blades that rotated like chains, unleashed the fluttering of embers. Smoke emitting from the engines, the lone man slid his right foot back.

“Leader!”

“Just yanked the wheel!”

“I can’t! I’m going too fast!”

With no time to steer away the man, the jeep was meters away from colliding. As for the military truck, David slammed his foot on the break, sending everyone to yank themselves to the driver and passenger seats.

Which sent all the sleeping soldiers to wake up.

“What the!”

“David! What’s happening!?”

Smoke emitting from the tires, the brake clutch of the truck ran hot. Luckily for him, it didn’t run that hot for the brakes to burn. As he slowed the truck to an emergency stop, he wasn’t able to save the jeep from …

‘Why couldn’t you just steer away…’

He thrusted both of his chainsaws forward, and had the metal of his rotating blades collide into the running jeep. In slow motion, the jeep went through the man, but because he had his chainsaws like a shield, it sent the inside of the jeep … to crumble. Slowly, gently, those four marines …

Blood painted the inside walls and doors.

Splitting the jeep into four parts, blood sprayed onto his jacket and pants, and especially his blades. As for the military truck, who braked hard enough to not ram into him, he stalled his boots on the hard pavement. David, who had his grip on the wheel like iron, clattered his teeth again and again.

“Oh … great …”

As the truck’s beams reflected off from the man’s clothes, it led David to already be quaking with fear. Not because of the man’s presence … no …

It was because of the fate that was bestowed between the two of them.