Dave's heart skipped a beat as he realized the danger he was in. He had been so caught up in the wonder of the system that he hadn't noticed the movements around him. The group closed in on him, their weapons pointed at him.
He was worried, yet he knew he had to think of something fast if he wanted to survive.
"Who are you?" one of them growled, a huge man with a scar above his left eyebrow. "What are you doing here?"
Dave hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. Yet, he had to say something, to evade the intent gazes and threatening swords of the group.
They are in an apocalypse, and seeing the way everyone of them was equipped with weapons, it could only mean one thing. "Wait, I mean no harm," he said, holding up his hands in a gesture of peace. "I'm just a survivor, like you guys."
As he said this, a figure emerged from the group, a young lady with piercing green eyes and a sword by her side.
"Wait, I know him." she said, her voice firm but measured. "You're Dave, aren't you? Dave Addams!"
Tilting his head to the side, Dave's eyes met with the lady's, his mind racing as he realized that he knew her.
"Simbi? Is that you? What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice laced with surprise.
Simbi, a fellow orphaned classmate from school, stood before him with her weapons lowered. They had shared the same quarters, but Dave had never really talked to her so much, except for a few hellos here and there.
And also, a time when he had helped her with her homework. He had always thought of her as just an acquaintance, but now, here she was, in the midst of chaos.
As Simbi approached him, a warm smile had appeared on her face, but the next action from her had caused Dave's eyes to widen in shock. She opened her arms and wrapped them around him, pulling him into a tight hug.
Dave's heart skipped a beat, his pulse racing faster as he felt her warm embrace. This was his first time hugging a girl, and he didn't know how to react.
[Congratulations! You have engaged in a hug with a female, you are now recharged. 20 EP granted]
For a moment, they just stood there, holding onto each other, the tension and danger around them melting away. Dave felt a sense of comfort and familiarity he had never experienced before. It was as if they had known each other for years, not just mere classmates.
As they pulled back, Simbi's eyes sparkled with tears. "I'm so glad you're safe, Dave. The meteor struck our quarters while I was out, so I thought you were indoor." she said, her voice trembling. "I was so worried sick about you, I thought you were dead."
'Huh? Did she just say she was worried sick about me?'
Dave's face flushed hard, unsure of how to respond. He had never seen Simbi like this before, so vulnerable and open. He stuttered, trying to find the right words, but Simbi just smiled and turned to face the group. "Guys, this is Dave, my classmate and quartermate. We're cool."
Her interaction with Dave had caused a reaction between the group, but they quickly acted like nothing happened. Most of them consists of teens, and young adults between the age of 16 to 21.
Only the huge man with a scar, was the oldest among them, he claimed to be above 30 years. He call his name to be Gunther.
"Alright, let's take a five minutes break. Then we'll head back to the base." Gunther said, as he eyed Dave with a mix of curiosity and suspicion before walking off.
Simbi then turned to ask. "How did you end up here, I searched everywhere in school, but I can't find you, that only made me believe you were really stuck in our quarters when the meteor fell."
Dave, feeling a bit comfortable with all eyes away from him, decided to speak up. "I left the school that night after receiving a call from someone. We were meant to meet somewhere around here. But the apocalypse disrupted everything."
He said this with a mix of truth and lie, as he wasn't willing to explain what really happened to him, at least not in front of these strangers.
"So, how did you manage to survive? With no weapons or anything?" Simbi asked.
"Well, It's a very long story." Dave replied, his voice brief and noncommittal. He hoped to deflect further questions, at least for now. Yet, Simbi's eyes lingered on him, as if sensing there was more to the story, but she didn't press the issue.
However, they were interrupted when a voice cut through the air. "Someone has been here before us, the mother crystal has been taken." A tall, young man, named Chris said as he scanned the massive crater where the meteor had struck with a keen eyes. His words were laced with concern.
As he finished speaking, a group of fifteen individuals emerged from the shadows, their faces hidden behind their masks. They moved with a synchronized precision, their movements were fluid and menacing.
"Down! Everyone, on your knees. Tell me, where is the mother crystal?!"