"AMBER! COME OUT!"
The shouts rang outside the base and John’s eyes narrowed. He turned to face Laura who was about to sit down with a cup of coffee.
"Who is that?"
Laura closed her eyes and sighed, "that’s probably Michael, he’s..."
Her words trailed off and John raised a brow.
"He’s what?"
"He was the one keeping Amber captive before Adam. He and some others left the hospital, but we didn’t know what they were up to. They must have heard Adam is dead."
"So he’s come to claim his captive again?"
"Yeah..."
Amber’s hurried steps thudded through the corridor as she raced towards the lounge. Her heart was pounding, and her eyes were wide.
"Laura!" She yelled.
"What are we gonna do? They’re outside and demanding to take me back!"
Amber’s face was pale, and her hands were shaking. She didn’t know what to do, she felt like she was being hunted again.
"Calm down, Amber. We’ll figure this out."
Laura placed her hand on Amber’s shoulder and squeezed it gently.
"How are we going to fight against them, Laura? There are so many of them outside."
"We’ll think of something."
As they were discussing their options, a loud banging sound echoed from the gate.
"OPEN UP!"
Michael’s voice boomed from outside. Amber’s heart raced, and she trembled.
"Echo, activate the dome." John said.
The steel dome formed and enclosed the entire structure.
"What’s going on?" a new voice sounded from the crowd.
"What’s happening?" Another added.
"Is this an attack?"
John took a deep breath and turned to face the confused survivors.
"It’s not an attack. It’s some assholes outside, thinking they can come here and bully us," John explained, his expression serious.
"We’ll show them they’re not the only ones who can do this shit," John continued, and the survivors’ eyes gleamed.
"John, what’s the plan?" Jolene asked, anticipation simmering in her gut as she waited for John’s reply.
"Let’s go out and make a show of force. Make them know we’re not some weaklings."
"Got it."
They opened the main door and exited the base. A large group of survivors emerged from the gate, and the crowd gasped.
John’s gaze swept across the crowd and his eyes hardened.
"So, what do you assholes want?" John mocked.
"John, the asshole," Michael’s voice was filled with disdain and his eyes narrowed.
"That’s me, dipshit."
Michael’s eyes flared, "you killed Adam."
"Yeah, so? You were the ones bullying Amber, weren’t you?"
"What of it?"
"It’s called karma, asshole. I killed Adam for bullying Amber and I’ll kill you assholes too, if you keep this up," John replied, his tone cold and his eyes hard.
"Don’t be hasty. Amber is my woman, just hand her to me and we’ll leave. No need to go to war for one woman, am I right?"
The system’s notification chimed, but John dismissed it. He managed to catch sight of the word humiliation and he already knew what he had to do.
John scoffed, "your woman? Her?" He asked as he pointed to Amber who was subconsciously trying to hide her face within her blonde locks.
"Amber, come here," John commanded.
Amber flinched, but John’s serious tone left no room for complaints. With shaky steps, she approached John’s side.
"Now, tell me. Is this ’your woman’?" John smirked as he wrapped his arms around Amber’s delicate waist.
Amber’s cheeks reddened, and her lips pursed.
"How dare you?!" Michael yelled, his face flushed red and his fists clenched.
"Look at her," John said, "she doesn’t want your small dick. She needs a real man by her side."
Michael’s expression changed, and his brows furrowed.
"I’ll kill you, you motherfucker!" He screamed, his body trembling and his eyes bloodshot.
"You can try," John said, his voice was daring and his eyes gleaming.
"Everyone, attack!" Michael yelled, and his minions charged forward.
"ECHO!" John shouted and as soon as he did, the floor opened beneath the men’s feet opened and encased them in a hole.
"John! You bastard!" Michael’s screams echoed within the hole and his enraged expression made John grin.
John sauntered towards the hole and looked down grinning, "this will be your one and only warning, assholes. Leave this place and never come back. If you choose to ignore my warning, you will all die."
"Fuck you, asshole! I’ll kill you, no matter what! You’ll see, you bastard!" Michael bellowed.
"That’s enough, Echo. Get rid of them."
"John!" Laura yelled.
"What?"
"Don’t kill them, please. Just... let them leave. I’m tired of all the killing."
John pondered her words and heaved a heavy sigh, "fine."
"Get them out of the hole, Echo."
He could hear the threats and insults from outside the gate, but he ignored them and walked back inside. Amber walked up to him, fidgeting and blushing, "John, thank you for saving me," she mumbled, her eyes downcast and her hands clenched.
"Don’t worry about it," he replied, and he gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
Amber smiled, her eyes glistening and her lips curled into a smile.
"You’re not the same as I thought you were. You’re actually quite nice," she said, her cheeks reddening.
"I’m not a good guy, Amber. Just because I helped you, doesn’t mean that I’m a hero," he warned, his tone serious and his eyes narrowed.
"Maybe, but to me, you are," Amber said, her voice soft and her gaze earnest.
John sighed and shook his head, "whatever you say."
June observed the scene from afar, her eyes narrowed into slits, hiding between her fiery locks. She knew how unreasonable she was; that despite John’s actions she couldn’t bring herself to stop suspecting him, but it was better than trusting another monster like Adam.
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John went back to his room and plopped onto the bed, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. He wondered how many more days would pass until the Luminars attacked. The last report from the scouts was that their progress was slow, but John knew it was a matter of time.
The Luminars were strong and powerful. Their speed and agility were much higher than his and he would be hard-pressed to find a way to defeat them.
Now with some, he decided to check the quest from the system and its rewards.
[Humiliate Michael]
[Quest: Michael has come to take back Amber, make him think you have claimed her for yourself and humiliate him.]
[Rewards: Mission Tracking Amulet.]
John’s eyes narrowed as he inspected the amulet, but as he fiddled with the coin-like amulet, he understood everything. The amulet could guide him towards his next quest. He smiled and wondered whose woman he would have to take next.