"Looks great, Gavin. The Colt Python, the famous Rick's Happy Gun. Boss Old Deng always shows it off to us."
As Madison gazed at the Colt Python hanging from Gavin's waist, her lips pursed in excitement.
"That's what he claimed at the time. He said his Colt was a custom-made model, styled like Elvis's, and that it was incredibly rare."
"It's a shame you didn't use this gun to send the boss to hell. Otherwise, he'd still be bragging, even in the presence of Satan, right?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Madison lifted her foot and playfully nudged her boss's head.
The bloody hole in the boss's skull sprayed a mix of red and white liquid as Old Mac shifted.
Noticing Madison's actions, Gavin narrowed his eyes in comprehension.
He understood that Madison held some grudges against the boss.
Two years ago, during the 2011 Super Bowl.
After the Black Eyed Peas' halftime performance, Madison took the court with a blocking injection and participated in the championship game.
Though he was not carried off the field after the game, he encountered a post-season trade controversy due to a knee injury.
At that time, the Dallas Cowboys had secured three consecutive championships, and the owner had grander ambitions.
With a championship team overloaded with players and salary pressures mounting, the owner sought to cut costs.
After all, they had already achieved a three-peat dynasty; who would dare to imagine a four or five-peat?
In short, amidst the upheaval that year, the team manager retained only 22 veteran players and Gavin as the core, subsequently signing a slew of starry-eyed college recruits idolizing Gavin.
Although Madison was fortunate enough to remain on the team, the events of that period remained murky.
Madison also had a feud with the boss back then.
While Madison toyed with the boss, Gavin glanced around the study and quickly spotted an exquisitely crafted S686 on the bookshelf.
Gavin moved closer, removed the gun, and folded the barrel by adjusting the buckle.
He found it devoid of bullets.
Inspecting the rifling, he discovered that it lacked any; though it was a collector's model, it was a smoothbore version typically used in frisbee competitions.
He reached out and touched the barrel, finding a thin, even layer of gun oil spread across it.
Gavin straightened the gun, disengaged the safety behind the front sight and the ejector catch, and then squeezed the trigger.
This gun was impeccably maintained, and its owner was a true gun enthusiast.
Madison was right; he would have preferred to be shot dead. Gavin felt a twinge of regret for not having the chance to be the one to do it.
With that thought, Gavin tossed the S686 to Madison.
Madison caught the gun, checked it with practiced ease, slung it across his back, and sighed.
"Where are the bullets, man? Should I just stick my finger in the barrel?"
"Where do you expect to find bullets? Just carry some on your back. Twelve-gauge shotgun shells are quite common. You'll come across them sooner or later."
After speaking, Gavin picked up a few soft-covered, appropriately thick books from the boss's bookshelf and tossed them to Madison.
"Go see if there's any tape. If not, tear the ropes from those and take them with you."
Gavin sought tape to wrap around his forearms and calves.
At the very least, it would provide an extra layer of protection.
As for the rope, it was a valuable find, and he had to thank the boss for his generosity.
Upon hearing this, Madison nodded and began to move, lifting the boss's chair.
After untying the rope from the boss, he came up behind the gagged woman and couldn't resist slapping her rear.
"Gavin."
He pointed to a small vibrating toy that had fallen from behind the woman.
"They're both tied up. How are they supposed to untie each other?"
"Are you foolish?"
Without even turning his head, Gavin barked back.
"Do you think either of them could tie the other up like this, then return to their own positions and bind themselves to death?"
"Of course someone tied them up and left them here. As for when that person plans to release them, I suppose that depends on how long the boss usually enjoys himself."
After speaking, Gavin exited the study and made his way to his boss's bedroom, searching around the bedside table.
Sure enough, he found a reward in the bedside table: the boss had even stashed a finely carved cavalry-style Colt M1873, loaded with bullets.
After acquiring the gun, Gavin glanced back at the study, then casually slung the revolver around his waist.
Continuing his search, he discovered two bundles of cash, two car keys, and a collection of useless photographs and documents in the bedside table.
After another thorough search, Gavin located the boss's safe but lacked the means to open it.
Just then, Madison's voice echoed from the study.
"Gavin, I've found the bullets! Not only Magnums, but also .45s."
"I also found two boxes of twelve-gauge shotgun shells—fifty rounds in total!"
"Really? That's fantastic!"
Gavin exclaimed excitedly and continued speaking to Madison.
"By the way, Old Mac, bring your bullets and come over to check this out. There's a safe here."
"A safe?"
Madison's tone shifted to surprise as he hurriedly packed away his bullets.
After stashing away more than two dozen loose rounds and three boxes of pistol ammunition, Madison arrived at the bedroom.
He was seen loading his S686 while stopping in front of the safe with astonishment.
"Gavin, what do you think Old Deng has stored in there? His health supplements and lubricant?"
"I'm too lazy to guess. Why don't you give it a try? You'll find out when you open it."
Gavin clapped Madison on the shoulder, while Madison, stunned, pointed at his own chest in disbelief.
"Gavin, what impression do you have of me? Why do you think I can unlock a door?"
"Didn't you grow up on the streets of Chicago?"
"Growing up on the streets of Chicago means you need to pick locks, or even safe locks?"
Madison muttered, slinging the loaded double-barreled shotgun before handing the pistol bullets to Gavin.
Gavin accepted the scattered bullets, organized them by caliber, and tucked them into his trouser pockets, then placed the entire box of ammunition into the side of Madison's backpack.
"Forget it if you can't open it. Have you found any tape?"
After gathering the bullets, Gavin inquired.
Hearing this, Madison shook his head and replied.
"I put the rope in my bag, but I can't find any tape. Not even the sex toys. I fear Old Deng and the others are accustomed to using gags."
Gavin nodded.
"It's a bit of a shame, but it's not a major issue. It's unfortunate we didn't see the guns we used this afternoon. I suspect he returned them to the gun room or something. I have no idea which room that is."
"There are too many zombies in the manor. I don't want to risk staying here for too long. Let's search this house again. If we find nothing, we need to consider how to escape."
"And then what?"
As soon as Gavin finished speaking, Madison furrowed his brow nervously and asked.
"After we leave, where should we go? Should we try our luck in the city, visit other nearby farms and estates, or follow the main road into the wilderness of the forest to survive?"
Taking a moment to contemplate, Gavin responded softly.
"Don't mention the city to me until Twitter is flooded with videos of zombies being contained tomorrow."
"As for our next destination, I plan to return home and take a look."
"My farm isn't small, but my father doesn't employ many cowboys, and even fewer servants and housekeepers. Even if they all turned into zombies, we'd still have a chance to deal with them."
"Besides, my home is only a little over 140 kilometers away from Dallas. It's an isolated farm with no other houses nearby. The nearest town, Karens, is also 13 kilometers away."
"My family has a water tower and livestock, as well as farmland planted with last season's crops. The farm is linked to the Chambers Reservoir."
"That sounds promising."
Madison nodded eagerly.
"Sounds just like Maggie's farm. I kind of feel like fishing, Gavin!"
Maggie was a beloved character from the TV series The Walking Dead. At this time in 2013, The Walking Dead had just aired its third season and was immensely popular.
Madison continued.
"I never imagined that living near Dallas would offer so many advantages. Had I known, I would have purchased a farm in the vicinity."
"Chicago is far too distant from Dallas and Fort Worth. If I wish to return home... Damn it, I'll have to survive the night first."
"If I endure this, I refuse to let my home become a regret that I dare not mention."
"No matter how much time passes, I must go back and take a look, even if it's only from afar!"
With that, Madison lifted his head and exhaled a sorrowful breath.
Gavin placed a comforting hand on his arm.
Sensing Gavin's gesture, Madison suddenly recalled something and quickly addressed him again.
"Oh, I nearly forgot to send well wishes to your parents."
"Come now, even if my parents are fortunate enough to be alive, what they need is not blessings but rescue," Gavin replied, shaking his head.
"Don't dwell on that—let's concentrate on our own matters. Now that we have a backpack, we need to gather some larger clothing, especially shoes. You will need them."