As Raven and Alara stepped into Fabulous Fabrics, Alara led the way, her eyes searching for zombies, with a sword ready in her hand. With one smooth motion, she swung the sword, decapitating a female zombie whose entire head was covered with thousands of sewing needles. The head hit the floor with a soft, muffled thud, rolling a small distance before coming to rest against a pile of scattered yarn.
Raven stepped closer, looking thoughtfully as she looked down at the grotesque head. "It's strange," she said in a matter of fact tone of voice. "Sometimes zombies hold on to obsessions from their living lives. This woman was so obsessed with sewing she shoved her face full of sewing needles after her death. This is called an after-death fixation. Not all that rare these days after you have seen enough zombies."
Alara waved her hand dismissively, her voice unwavering. "You're my only obsession, Raven. But I have to admit… chopping heads off with a sword is fun."
Raven gave a small, approving smile, her emerald eyes shining as she watched Alara. "True, but remember swords chip and grow dull fast. You will only get a few dozen decapitations in before the blade is useless. Blunt weapons are better for melee combat in the long term. An aluminum bat or a steel pipe will last almost forever. Then, we can save the swords for real threats."
Alara paused, turning her blade in her hand to inspect it. Small nicks were already starting to form along the edge after one beheading. With a thoughtful nod, Alara stored the sword back into the system space and pulled out an aluminum bat, its surface bright under the dim shop windows.
Raven watched, her expression softening with faint pride. "Good choice. Aluminum bats are durable, requiring no maintenance. Unlike wooden bats, which snap like twigs after a few hits."
Alara absorbed every word, her fingers flexing around the bat's handle. She turned towards the few remaining zombies moving around in the shop. One of them had his arms wrapped with endless loops of yarn, another wore a tattered dress sewn from hundreds of fabric scraps. Alara stepped forward. Bam! Splat.
She crushed the yarn zombie's skull in one swing. Another step, another swing bam, another head exploded inward, blood flying across the floor in beautiful waves.
By the time Alara was finished, four zombies laid lifeless on the ground, their heads beaten beyond recognition. Alara stood there, bat dripping with blood, her breathing even. Raven approached, eyes scanning the now-clear out shop. They began to gather supplies silk, cotton, premium dyes, endless bolts of fabric, and every kind of yarn imaginable. Each item vanished into their system space, carefully stored away.
Raven glanced at Alara and, with a low chuckle, said, "No woman can ever have too many clothes."
Alara straightened, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You're right, but don't forget about the shoes. Even during the apocalypse, a woman should walk fashionably. It makes smashing zombies and killing bandits much more comfortable on the feet."
Raven's smile softened before fading into a thoughtful expression. Her gaze shifting as she looked outside. "Speaking of bandits… we have company. My drones picked up a mercenary group waiting outside. They're probably hoping to ambush us when we leave Fabulous Fashion."
Alara's happy mood shifted instantly, her playful warmth draining as an angry mood over her. She spun the bat lightly in the air, testing its weight. "Oh really? Someone thinks they can touch you Raven?"
Raven nodded her head her face unreadable. "I suspect they're mercenaries sent by my father and brother. They likely sold knowledge of my designs like the Omni silencer to secure a spot in whatever military base they fled to. After I stole everything else of value from him, selling me out is their only move left. These mercenaries are probably working on their orders or that military bases bounty on me."
Alara listened in silence, her fingers tightening on the bat. Raven's voice turned cold, her words decisive. "We'll kill them all except one. We need to find out exactly where my family is hiding. Then we'll pay them a visit. We also need to set up Momma Jean's new base for her and start building our network using her and other personalwe send to her."
A dangerous excitement showed in Alara's blue eyes. "Understood," she said.
Raven looked at Alara, the corner of her mouth lifting faintly. "Good. You're learning fast."
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