I'm Scared
* * *
As I returned to the school with Elena and the survivors from her team, I felt a sense of relief to be back within the familiar gates. The icy chill of the outside world faded slightly, though tension hung thick in the air.
Yunji rushed toward me, eyes filled with a mix of concern and relief. "You're back." she exclaimed, searching my face for answers. "Where are Jake and Mercy? Don't tell me they..."
I shook my head. "I left them at the mart to protect it. It's our supply source, and everyone's going to be targeting it."
Yunji's gaze shifted to Elena, who had her hands tied with zip ties we'd scavenged from the mart. Elena glared at us, frustration clear in her eyes.
Yunji's eyes narrowed with curiosity and suspicion. "Who's this?" she asked, nodding toward Elena.
"Our power source," I said.
"Hey! Don't treat me like your power sour—" Elena started, but I cut her off, turning back to Yunji.
"We have to move the supplies from the mart to the school," I told her.
"Don't ignore me!" Elena protested, but I was already focused on Yunji.
"Okay," Yunji said with a nod. "I'll get some people to help with that." She moved quickly, leaving Elena's complaints unanswered.
Elena huffed, but I could tell she understood her situation was beyond her control.
* * *
Back in the gym, I watched through the frosted window as my people moved supplies from the mart to the school. The cold air was relentless, and they hurried to keep warm, their breath visible in the chilly wind.
Among the supplies were food, medical kits, and, most importantly, cigarettes.
In the novel, cigarettes became the second most valuable currency, just behind coins. Their scarcity and the high karma cost at the store made them highly sought after. Luckily, the mart had boxes of them, and I had Yunji prioritize moving those first.
I turned my attention back to the girl behind me—Elena, with her striking yellow hair and blue eyes. "You know," I began, "things can be comfortable for you here. As long as you obey me and do what I ask."
Elena's expression was defiant, a contrast to the other kings who had easily come under my control. Most had been surprisingly obedient, though perhaps that was because I had dealt swiftly with those who resisted. But Elena was different. Her electric skills were rare and valuable, costing a fortune in karma to acquire. I couldn't afford to lose her.
She rolled her eyes and said, "Fine, fine, I'll do what you tell me to. Just untie me already." She raised her bound hands in exasperation.
With a sigh, I picked up the cutting knife from the table and sliced through the zip ties, freeing her wrists.
"So, what do you want me to do?" she asked, rubbing her wrists and looking at me with curiosity mixed with skepticism.
I considered my options. Elena had been the king of the road and had claimed the mart by killing its previous king.
Now, with her surrender, I was the king of the road, the mart, and the school. But there were two more territories on this street—the apartment complex and the five-story office building.
Looking out at the apartment complex and the five-story office building beyond the frost-covered window, I spoke to Elena, my eyes never leaving our next target. "I want you to help me in the next fight."
She raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "What fight?"
I turned to face her, letting the intensity of my glowing red eyes convey the seriousness of my intent. "We're going to attack the apartment complex."
* * *
Back at headquarters, all the high-ranking officials were gathered: Yunji, Jake, Aiden, Mercy, and our newest recruit, Elena, who I had appointed as the vice leader of the combat team due to her exceptional combat skills. I called everyone here to assess the situation and hear their reports on their respective duties.
Yunji started, "The non-combat team is primarily working on moving supplies from the mart to the school. We should be done in a couple more hours, but a lot of people are getting frostbite from staying outside too long. That's a problem, but aside from that, things are progressing smoothly."
I nodded, appreciating her diligence, and turned to Jake. "What about the combat team, Jake?"
Jake replied, "We're focusing on enhancing our combat skills. A few members have purchased combat-related skills from the store and are trying to teach the rest. We've got a pretty effective training system going now."
When Jake finished, Aiden chimed in, "I've sorted the people from the mart into either the combat or non-combat faction based on their abilities and preferences."
Mercy added, with a hint of a smile, "I've had little to do with politics right now, so I've been helping out with the combat training."
I leaned back, satisfied with the reports and said, "We've got our next target."
Yunji raised an eyebrow. "What, already?"
"Yes," I replied. "We're going to attack the apartment complex."
Mercy smirked at this, clearly excited about the prospect, while Jake looked shocked. "What? That's a lot of people. Why rush it? We're not in a hurry! There's no time limit, so we don't have to rush."
"The weather suddenly changing must be part of this round," I explained. "To get back to normal, we have to finish this round quickly. The cold is getting too severe."
Jake nodded, understanding the urgency. "Alright, that makes sense."
Mercy leaned forward, grinning. "So how do we attack? Do we go in guns blazing? That'd be the easiest way."
"No!" Yunji interrupted, her voice tense. "A lot of the students here lived in those apartments, and their parents are there." She paused, then stuttered, "My parents are there too..."
Mercy rolled her eyes, rubbing her temples in annoyance. "Fine, then what do we do?"
I thought for a moment and then answered, "We go there ready for both: negotiation and combat."
* * *
The night was quiet, save for the soft crackle of the windows struggling against the cold. I was hunched over my notebook, the beam of a flashlight from the mart casting a narrow, flickering pool of light on the pages filled with my scrawled plans and strategies.
The knowledge I had from the novel and my own notes merged into a tangled web of ideas and possibilities. My mind raced as I worked, trying to predict and counter every possible scenario that might come up in the upcoming rounds.
The sound of a soft knock at the door broke my concentration. I looked up, momentarily surprised, but called out, "Come in."
The door creaked open, and Yunji stepped inside, her silhouette framed by the dim light of the hallway. She hesitated for a moment before crossing the threshold, her face shadowed and her eyes uncertain.
"Hey," I greeted, setting my pen aside. "What's up?"
Yunji looked around the room, her gaze landing on the mess of notes and books. "I didn't mean to interrupt," she began, her voice quiet. "I just… wanted to talk."
"Of course," I said, gesturing to the chair opposite me. "Have a seat."
She lowered herself into the chair, her posture tense. I could see the worry etched into her features, a stark contrast to her usually confident demeanor.
"I'm scared," Yunji admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "I've been trying to stay strong, but… I keep thinking about my parents. About what might have happened to them."
I could see the vulnerability in her eyes, something I hadn't seen before. "It's tough, I know," I said softly. "We've all been through a lot, and the uncertainty doesn't make it any easier."
Yunji nodded, biting her lip as if to hold back tears. "And I worry about what might happen to everyone else too. We're in such a dangerous position, and I feel like I'm not doing enough to help."
I leaned forward, trying to offer some comfort. "You're doing more than you realize. We're all doing our best to keep everyone safe. That's what matters."
Her gaze met mine, and for a moment, the room seemed to close in around us, leaving just the two of us in our shared space of anxiety and hope. "What if we don't make it through?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if everything falls apart?"
I reached out and gently placed my hand on hers. "We'll make it through," I said with more conviction than I felt. "We have to. For everyone's sake. For your sake."
Her eyes softened as she looked at me, and there was a moment of silence between us. She seemed to be searching for reassurance, for something to hold onto amidst the chaos.
"I don't know what I'd do if I lost you," Yunji confessed, her voice cracking. "You've become so important to me, and I… I don't want to lose you."
Her words were a surprise, and they struck a chord deep within me. I realized just how much our bond had grown through the years we had known each other.
"Yunji," I said gently, "you won't lose me. I'll do everything I can to make sure we all come out of this alive. I promise."
She looked down at our intertwined hands, her fingers curling around mine with a grip that was both tender and desperate. "I trust you," she said, her voice firm but emotional. "I really do."
There was a raw honesty in her eyes, a depth of emotion that I hadn't fully recognized before. It was both touching and overwhelming. In that moment, I could feel the connection between us deepening, a bond forged in the fire of our shared struggle.
Yunji's hand lingered in mine, and I could see the resolve building in her eyes. "I'll do whatever it takes," she said, her voice steadying. "For us. For you."
Her determination was clear, and it resonated deeply with me. I squeezed her hand gently, acknowledging the strength and commitment she had shown.
"Then let's make sure we're ready," I said softly. "For whatever comes next."
Yunji nodded, her expression one of fierce resolve mixed with vulnerability. "Yes. We'll face it together."
The room was quiet again, but the atmosphere had changed. It was filled with a sense of shared purpose and an unspoken promise. The connection between us had deepened, becoming something more than just camaraderie. It was a bond that would guide us through the trials ahead.
As Yunji stood to leave, she gave me a small, hopeful smile. "Thank you," she said quietly. "For everything."
I watched her go, the door closing softly behind her. My heart felt lighter, the weight of the world momentarily eased by the warmth of our shared moment. I turned back to my notes, more determined than ever to see us through the challenges that lay ahead.
* * *
Yunji quietly closed the door behind her and slid down to sit against it, the coolness of the metal pressing against her back. The hallway was dimly lit, the flickering light casting uneven shadows on the walls. She hugged her knees to her chest, trying to find solace in the small, protective ball she had created.
Her mind raced, replaying the conversation she'd just had with Erebus. The sincerity in his voice, the way he looked at her—it all felt surreal. It was as if she had been transported to a place where everything was just a bit more hopeful, a bit more bearable. Yet, the harsh reality of their situation remained firmly rooted in her thoughts.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she blinked them away quickly, not wanting to be seen breaking down. The weight of her fears—the uncertainty about her parents, the ever-present danger—pressed heavily on her heart. It was a struggle to stay strong and maintain her composure, but the vulnerability she felt now was undeniable.
She thought about the future, about the plans Erebus had laid out and the battles they would face. The responsibility she felt to live up to the expectations placed upon her was immense. She was terrified of failing, of not being able to protect those she cared about, especially after everything that had happened.
In the quiet of the hallway, the fear and doubt felt almost overwhelming. Yet, the conversation with Erebus had sparked a flicker of hope. The promise that they were in this together, that they would face whatever came next side by side, was both comforting and daunting. It reminded her that despite the darkness, there was still a glimmer of connection and understanding.
Yunji drew in a shaky breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions within her. She had always prided herself on her strength and resilience, but tonight had shown her a new depth of vulnerability. The realization of just how much was at stake, and how much she cared, was both a burden and a driving force.
She wiped the tears from her face and stood up, brushing off the dust from her clothes. The hallway, though cold and empty, now felt like a space where she could gather her strength. The conversation with Erebus had ignited a fierce resolve within her. Despite the fear and doubt, she knew she had to push forward, for herself and for those who depended on her.