I calm down, look around, and see Watson in his place, his heart beating a little fast.
I turn around thinking that a ghost has entered and I was the first victim, "even if it is, I won't leave without knowing what killed me."
Next to me is the beautiful gothic woman staring at me as she hugs me. She still smells like roses; it's incredible how she stays clean in this environment.
-Why do you smell different? -she asks me in her captivating, solemn voice.
-I don't know, I've been killing all kinds of monsters. -I reply calmly.
-No, you smell like a woman. -she replies.
We both remain silent, and I hear Watson swallow.
-Have you been cheating on me? -she asks me with an inquisitive look.
"What are you talking about? We're not even dating," I reply in my mind, but I say to her:
-I don't know what you're talking about.
I feel that if I make a mistake in my answer, my head will roll on the floor shortly thereafter.
-What do you mean by that answer? Can you be more clear? -Her voice seems to be filled with subtle anxiety.
I sit down and look at Watson's hands; they have healed, apparently the pill is useful. Suddenly, Watson shakes his head.
I realize I must return to dealing with Lila, who keeps staring at me.
-Is there any gate breaking happening in area 4? -It was the first important question that came to mind.
-It's very likely." After a few days here, I've seen several monsters that exceed the level of Area 4, and there are a large number of zombies that exceed the proportions of this city. But why is your answer so ambiguous, my Dan? -She answers me and finally stares directly into my eyes.
-I'm not being ambiguous. I just left on Monday and came back on Tuesday. After that, I came back with one of my squad members to hunt monsters. -I feel like an unfaithful husband telling lies, but I want to live.
-I'll believe you for now. I don't know what I'd be capable of if you lied to me. -She said in a calm tone.
I nod, and shortly after, she lets out a little laugh.
The terrifying hours have come again, but I don't even focus on the outside environment. Because next to me is this extremely dangerous woman.
••••
The terrifying hours pass in silence.
-Watson, take advantage of this and rest," I say to Watson.
He turns his back to us, rests his head on his backpack, and covers himself with his blanket.
"Fear and caution. These are not things that characterized me much in my past life. I did my best to achieve my goals and to put those who offended me in their place," I stop rambling and look at Lila, who has rested her head on my shoulder.
-Do you know Sigfreud? -I ask.
-No, I've never met anyone with that name. But I'll look into it if you mentioned him. -she replies.
"I'm sorry, Sigfried. I just wanted to know if you knew him," I think, and then I ask her in a friendly tone:
-What do you like about me? Why do you say I'm yours?
-You're handsome, and I like your personality. And if you're not mine, you won't be anyone else's.
"Damn. Besides, I hear Watson swallow again, it's already giving me the creeps," after thinking for a moment, I look at the rolling door:
-I'm a ruthless bastard. Do you like that?
-Yes, that's part of your charm. -she says with a subtle smile.
"Well, I just met a very powerful crazy woman. Most likely, if I reached for my revolver, my hand would fall off, and then my head. No, I think just my hand. I don't think this woman would give me a quick death," I think, and time passes.
••••
At dawn, Watson and I set out to hunt three-skull monsters. Lila separates from us again, and I feel some relief.
As we walk, I ask Watson:
-Why were you so nervous?
-She's the lady in red. She's not an aspirant. She's a hunter from the Babel guild. That guild has hunters in most of the cities that have survived to this day. Every time she appears in an area, the mortality rate increases exponentially. Many believe she is the cause of most of the casualties. -Watson replied.
-Maybe. But you've seen how dangerous this place is. Maybe she always goes to places where irregularities arise. -I said, since I haven't seen her killing people indiscriminately.
"Is she looking for the gate? Yes, that's a possibility," I think until we encounter a warrior zombie. He is tall, muscular, and his skin appears to be very wrinkled despite his muscle mass. One of his eye sockets is empty, but even so, the rest of the zombie's body is already undergoing regeneration.
-It must be in stage 2. -Says Watson, who is already starting to pull away.
The moment Watson starts to move away, the zombie warrior runs furiously towards us and starts screaming.
I look around and there are no more zombies.
"A true warrior," I think to myself as I sharpen each of my senses using fear. I infuse my fear into my body.
When the zombie warrior is close, I jump towards him quickly.
Bang! Bang!
[You have killed a 3-skull monster : +0.64]
[Kill 10 3-skull monsters (4/10): +5 in all qualities]
The zombie warrior falls to the ground with its head blown to pieces.
-Congratulations, friend. You were a warrior to the end. -I murmur as I sheathe Scarlet Rose.
Watson approaches and extracts the zombie warrior's core.
"These are new. I think something is happening here. We'd better return to the city limits," I think to myself, and then I say to Watson:
-We'll return to the city limits. It's better to be close to the area where the city trucks will arrive. We already have enough to live comfortably for a while.
Watson nods, and we walk toward the limits of Area 4.