Chapter 2: The Test
Dawn broke cold, the air heavy with dew-soaked pine and the faint, sour rot that lingered in the woods, a reminder of the world's decay. Elias stood by the fire pit, embers glowing faintly, their heat a faint comfort against his palms as he gripped a chipped mug of coffee, its bitter taste sharp on his tongue. His fingers fidgeted with his jacket's zipper, a new tic that pulsed with his nerves, his throat dry, the grit of dust coating his teeth. The camp hummed with quiet activity, pots clattering, voices low, a fragile rhythm against the morning's chill. Glenn leaned against a crate, his cap low, his dark eyes bright with curiosity, his grin quick but cautious. He's my ally, Elias thought, a memory flashing—his old friend, joking over beers, the air warm with trust. But Shane's voice, sharp and commanding, shattered the moment, booming across the camp like a gunshot.
"Kane, you're with Glenn," Shane said, his boots stomping dirt, his eyes hard, gleaming with suspicion. "Supply run. Let's see if you're worth the space."
Elias's heart thudded, his fingers zipping the jacket faster, the tic relentless. A test, he thought, his mind racing, calculating odds. Shane's paranoia was a live wire, sparking with every glance, and this run was a trap to expose weaknesses. Glenn shrugged, his grin widening, but his eyes held doubt, a spark of scrutiny. "Don't sweat it, man," he said, his voice low, teasing. "Shane's just… intense. You'll be fine."
[SYSTEM: Control Z-002 – 50 SP. Balance: 95. Anomaly in Z-001 – Loyalty 45%. Focus, genius, or your pets might turn on you.]
The HUD's mocking tone was a cold spike, the blue flicker in his mind a warning, the anomaly in Z-001—Karen—a crack in his control. Elias felt a sharp ache behind his eyes, a strain from juggling two walkers, Z-001 and Z-002, "Steve," a new recruit hidden in the brush. He'd sent them to clear walkers from their path, a silent command to keep the run safe, but the glitch was a knife's edge, his temples throbbing, sweat beading on his brow. I'm pushing too hard, he thought, a memory flashing—his coach, warning against overtraining, his voice stern but kind. He rubbed his temples, feigning exhaustion, the pain real, masking the system's strain.
The supermarket was a tomb, its aisles a wasteland of shattered glass and torn packaging, the air thick with the acrid stench of spilled vinegar and rotting meat. Elias moved carefully, his boots crunching debris, the faint hum of Z-001 and Z-002 in his mind a fragile lifeline. Glenn scanned shelves, his movements quick, his cap casting a shadow. "You're quiet," he said, his voice light, probing. "Got a sixth sense or something?"
Elias forced a laugh, his voice strained, his fingers zipping the jacket. "Just lucky," he said, his heart pounding as Z-001's hum faltered, a low growl echoing from the back. Not now, he thought, panic spiking, a memory of a school prank gone wrong flashing—his teacher's glare, the air heavy with consequences. The walker shambled into view, its tattered dress dragging, its jaw unhinged, the growl too loud, unnatural. Glenn's pistol snapped up, his eyes wide, his breath catching.
"Wait—" Elias said, his voice sharp, desperate, cutting through the silence. He grabbed a can, rattling it, the sound harsh. "I'll lure it out." He backed toward a rear door, his heart racing, the walker's eyes locking on him. The door creaked, loud and jarring, and he sent a frantic command to Z-001: Stay outside. The walker shuffled past, its growl fading, and Elias slammed the door, his hands trembling, sweat stinging his eyes, his fingers zipping the jacket faster.
Glenn lowered his gun, his grin shaky but real. "Damn, man," he said, his voice low, impressed. "You're a ninja."
Elias nodded, his throat tight, relief flooding him. Too close, he thought, his fingers relentless, the tic a drumbeat. They grabbed cans, Elias slipping a system-bought can of peaches into Carol's tent later, the cost a sting in his gut. Carol's gasp, her eyes bright, was a balm, but the guilt of his lie was a shadow, cold and heavy. I'm helping them, he thought, a memory of his sister's smile over a shared meal flashing, the air warm with family. Glenn's trust was a spark, a bond forming, but the glitch was a warning, a crack he couldn't ignore.
[SYSTEM: Purchase: Food Can – 20 SP. Balance: 75. Secrets weigh heavier than cans. Keep juggling, ninja, or it all crashes.]
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