Jenny nods. "Yeah. Were about to head out." She says casually, walking over towards the three men at Whiskey's desk.
"Where are you going?"
"We're going to find Big Ish, and the rest of our people." I tell him, following Jenny's lead.
All the men in the room stare at us for a moment as if we were a little crazy.
Baby face is the first to voice his concerns, standing up from his chair. "You 2 are leaving? We've already lost most of our man power, you guys can't just leave!" He protests.
Jenny gives him a look. "We were never part of this little… clique of yours." She says, pointing towards Whiskey. "Big Ish and you have made an alliance, and we have no doubt done our part. We are not abandoning you all, we are merely searching for more trustworthy allies to get us out of this simulation and into the third round."
Whiskey stares at her for a moment, scratching his neck.
"Did you see the horde last night? I hate to say it but I doubt that there are many people left out there."
I stare at him for a moment thoughts and theories running rampant throughout my mind.
"Maybe so, but there are still decent sized groups like the one gathered here. It is very possible that they are still alive, and they are the only other people I can sort of trust and work with in this simulation." I tell him, my eyes scanning over facial expressions of the men.
The large man grips the handle of his sledgehammer, tapping the heavy head against the wooden floorboards.
"Let them go. If they find out allies, that's great for us. If they do not, at least we have less mouths to feed." He comments, placing the sledgehammer in his lap.
Both the golden prince and brown skinned man stay quiet, looking to Whiskey for a response.
"We're not going to stop you from leaving." He says quietly. "But just so you know, we probably will be moving out of this village. It is far to big and open and is now under threat from both the Colonel and the infected. It is clear that we do not have enough people to defend it." He continues, releasing a small sigh. "I have no idea where we will go, so it will be up to you all to hopefully find us once again."
The rest of his men look at him a bit shocked. It seems like not even they knew that they were about to move.
"Alright then…" She says, turning back towards the door to Whiskey's office.
Jenny doesn't wait for anyone else to speak. She pushes the door open, and the hinges creak like they're groaning under the weight of everything left unsaid.
I glance back one last time. Whiskey is still seated, his hand resting on the edge of the desk, his face lined with exhaustion.
His men watch us in silence, but their anger has softened, replaced by something quieter. Resignation, maybe. Understanding.
"We'll try to find you again," I say, meeting Whiskey's eyes.
He gives a slow nod, almost grateful as I close the door behind me, the sound echoing through the hallway.
We stop at Jenny's room, grabbing our things.
It isn't long before we step out of the town hall building and out into the streets of the now rundown village.
It looked so different compared to just yesterday.
Buildings are burnt, roads are covered in corpses, and the stench. The stench was horrible.
Tightening the straps on my backpack, I clench my nose while leading Jenny to the south of the village where I left my horse the day before.
"How's your arm?" She asks.
"It still hurts a lot. It's only been one day." I tell her, dragging my curved weapon through the ground with my left hand.
"Mmmm" she mumbles.
"What's the plan?" I ask as we near the fast and powerful creature.
"Well, we should probably head south."
"South? I just came from the south. There wasn't much there apart from a few groups of people and my little hut."
"You have a hut?" She asks.
"Yeah, it's on the southern beach but I only stayed there for the first couple of days." I tell her, reaching my mount.
The animal lets out a short, restless snort as my hand brushes its mane, hooves scraping against the dirt like it senses the unease that hangs over the village. I tug gently at the reins, calming it down as Jenny watches, arms crossed, her eyes scanning the ruined streets.
"Well, we should check the south again. I can't just trust what you say. After that we can probably go west or something and search there." She says.
Sighing, I swing myself into the saddle, my wounded arm protesting the movement with a sharp throb.
I have no idea why she doesn't trust me about that, but I don't mind giving it a second look I suppose.
I extend my hand to her and she takes it. Jenny grips tightly, bracing herself as if expecting the horse to lurch out from under us at any second. She places one boot on the stirrup, hesitates, then glances up at me with narrowed eyes.
"Why are these creatures so tall?"
I chuckle. "Have you never seen someone ride a horse before?"
"Of course not." She snaps.
"Girls like me are either at school, or huddled up at home. My parents weren't crazy enough to send me out of the slums alone."
I frown.
"Just use the stirrup and swing your other leg over the horse.
Jenny tries, but the horse shifts its weight, snorting at the sudden movement. She freezes, falling off the horse and clutching my arm like the beast just grew fangs.
"Easy," I say quickly, tightening the reins and patting the animal's neck. "He's just impatient, not trying to kill you."
Jenny gives me a flat look. "Feels like he's plotting murder.
"Come on, it's not that bad, it's not like he's real." I tell her, offering my hand again. "I'll steady you."
She grumbles under her breath but tries again. This time she manages to swing herself up, landing behind me in the saddle with an awkward thud. Her arms wrap around my waist instantly, far tighter than necessary.
Aurelia surely wouldn't like this, but I say nothing.
"Well, let's get going."