'So the one the Riptoid was following was I, not Drake?' Chris tried most desperately to remain calm. 'There was no way a mere zombie could have known to target me first of all people.' He thought. 'What am I missing?...'
'Great! See how you wasted my time. You thought you were so smart trying to lure me out into the open just to get a clear shot at me huh? Bro that is basic, level 1 tactics. And I mean that as a compliment. It should even be lower.' The Riptoid scoffed.
'Now you die!' As soon as it said this, its webbed hands began to morph into a sharp, slender scythe covered in slimy mucus. Chris let go of the sniper and slowly turned around.
'Any last wor…' the creature halted its sentence after seeing that Chris was smiling in the face of death. 'I want to know!' Chris exclaimed, his eyes beaming in excitement.
'What?...'
The Riptoid looked at Chris dumbfounded. 'Is this some kind of anime trope?' it thought. 'Nah, I won't buy into it, Ain't no way I'm messing around with this type of character, crazy on the outside, genius on the inside. Nuh-uh! Imma split your face fast.' It raised its scythe hands ready to slice Chris in half.
'Hold up, buddy, why in such a rush to get rid of me?' Chris said in a calm voice. This made the creature stop midway of its slice and dice attack. It felt obliged to do so by some strange force from another dimension.
'Darn this trope. What is it, food?' It asked in its coarse voice, eager to perform its slice and dice attack.
'I know that you are smart. You are not like the other zombies I have come in contact with. I also know your type doesn't go around killing their prey without getting the most fun out of them. Am I wrong?' Chris asked, and the Riptoid just stared intensely at him with its large, bulgy eyes, not bothering to respond.
'I can always tell someone agrees with me based on their silence…. '
'Bro hurry up and get to the point! I have where to be, people to see homie.' It snarled at Chris before he could complete his statement.
'Okay, okay, chill out. I am just curious, you know…
I always thought your type of zombies were the coolest. The way you toy with your prey before brutally taking their lives is just so… Awesome!
But after seeing that you are so eager to end me, I have to say I'm not impressed.'
Chris said in a hopeless tone nodding his head.
'Well..' the Riptoid said, scratching his scalp with his scythe hand.
'Are you by chance afraid of a scrawny ol' weakling like me?' Chris provoked the creature more. The Riptoid kept silent for some seconds.
…
…
..
'Bro, has anyone told you that you are one very annoying dude?' It scoffed and turned around, reverting its scythe hands to their normal.
'Plenty of times.' Chris answered.
'*Sigh*… bro if I were the author of your story, I wouldn't hesitate killing you off at the introduction.' The Riptoid scoffed and went into brief silence.
...
'Did I get to it?' Chris wondered.
'I don't think I can enjoy killing you again. It will leave a bad taste in my mouth.' It said afterwards. 'So I will play along with whatever dumb plan you have in that little head of yours. Now cough everything out and be fast, ain't got time to waste with you fool. I am only giving you a minute to do so. You got that?!' It ordered.
'Okay, okay. Straight to the point, I got it. What I want is a deal with you.' Chris said with a crafty smile.
'What deal?' The Riptoid asked.
'Well, the deal is this. You can hide by my side for the meantime, and I promise, I won't say a word,' Chris said.
'Huh?! What's in it for me?' It asked.
'Well, in turn, I can help you gather as many people as I can during this course of time and offer some of them as sacrifices to you once in a while.' Chris said.
'And why should I trust you?' It asked.
'I know you as a smart creature, and none of my tricks go past you. So any form of deception that you may perceive from me, feel free to kill me at that spot.' Chris said, staring up at the creature with a smile.
'Um… yeah yeah…. But regardless of that I still don't trust you. Based on the manga and light novels I have read, you match those types of villains who like to slit their eyes slyly, giving most readers the vibes of a villain in disguise as someone who is kind. But in reality, you are a good guy playing a bad guy playing a good guy with some hidden purpose or agenda that requires you to hide your true identity and your truest identity. You get me?' The Riptoid exclaimed.
'Huh?' Chris cocked his head in confusion.
'I'm guessing you ain't a member of the Anime Community of the End Days (ACED).' The Riptoid said with a poker face.
'Never heard of it.' Chris said.
'Figures… nevermind…This is so annoying, talking to you. Maybe a snack might calm me down.' It stared in Chris' direction and scratched its bald, scaly scalp.
Then it stared down from the top of the crane and smiled maliciously.
...
'But nothing says I can't have a taste of the deal you offer, eh?' It said returning his gaze towards Chris, while still maintaining the smile.
Chris's eyes widened because it didn't take a second for him to realize what the creature was insinuating. He sighed and glanced down and saw Drake who was still diligent in carrying out the plan. He nodded. There was nothing in his power he could do to help Drake. 'Well, this is goodbye, Drake…'
…
'...He is all yours.' Chris said after a short pause.
'Kakakaaaaaaaa! You are a scumbag ain't you?!' It said with bursts of laughter. 'Fine, I accept your offer. Now hand me your weapon before you pull a Chris cross Apple source on me. Get it?! Chris Cross. That should be your new name.' It laughed.
'Yeah yeah. Just take it' Chris muttered and handed the Riptoid his sniper. As soon as the rifle touched the lean, bony palm of the creature, it immediately merged with it and sank in. As it did so black murky bubbles erupted from the spot. Within seconds the sniper was absorbed into the body of the Riptoid. Chris observed this in disgust.
'But how did you get to know my name?' Chris asked, curious about how it did.
…
'Ain't no way I will tell you that. Now stay put and watch how I toy with your friend and his corpse. kakakaaaaaaaa!' As soon as it said this the Riptoid swooped down from the top of the crane and dived towards Drake's direction. Chris watched in solemn gaze as the creature turned invisible while still midway in the air.
He could still sense its putrid blood lust. It was far stronger than before, so strong it made him want to throw up. 'Sorry Rose, it looks like Drake isn't coming back.'
Meanwhile, in the Cafe, James and his team members were backing away from the gun threat. Jonathan was moments away from pulling the trigger but he took his time for dramatic effects.
'What the heck did we do?!' James shouted.
'Yeah! One moment you were giving us friendly advice the next moment you are here pointing a gun at our faces. Are you in your period or what!' Diana yelled.
'Do you boneheads think we are stupid or something?!' Jonathan scoffed at them. 'Care to explain that, huh?' He asked pointing the gun at the blocked door. His other teammates gasped upon noticing the bunch of miscellaneous objects packed in front of the door.
'Look man, it was like this when we got here. We came through the back door just as you guys did.' James said.
'Don't lie to me scumbag! We know how we left this place and I'm pretty sure you guys were the only ones to come in here because it hasn't been long since we left to go get some resources.' Jonathan shouted.
'Why would you guys do such a thing? It's not right?' Ted said, flicking his glasses. 'Don't bother lecturing them, Ted.' They would all be dead soon either way. Jonathan told him.
'Guys the gig is up! What do we do?' Rose whispered to the rest of her group.
...
The four of them were now tensed not knowing what to do next. Until finally Michelle took some steps forward grasping tightly her machete as she stood valiantly before their oppressors.
'I guess we will fight then.' She told the rest of her team.
'Pfft…' A puff of laughter came out of Joe after catching her words. 'You think you can take on a freaking gun with some bunch of farm tools? Don't make me laugh.'
'I have seen your aiming skills bro. It's below trash level. And from what I see it's four against one because the other two in your back don't even have weapons to defend themselves.' Michelle scoffed at him. 'And guess what, unlike you, we have someone on our team who can make a shot count. Rose.'
'Rose stepped forward after hearing her name. She deftly held her bow and nocked one of her arrows. Pulling the string back she made a precise aim at Jonathan's head.'
Jonathan, seeing this, became a bit wary, knowing that Michelle might be right. He thought they had the upper hand in the fray. But he didn't want to show it.
'You have a death wish huh?' He sneered at her. 'Let's see how it goes then.'
'Let's.' Michelle responded.
…
…
After that, there was a brief silence, with Jonathan's fingers close to pulling the trigger and Rose's fingers close to releasing the spring. The atmosphere became thick like wet cardboard as the pressure built. The scene was like a Western cowboy gun standoff with both sides having equal threat. Then suddenly…
'Ahhhhh!'
… A scream came from behind Jonathan. It was Anna!
'Anna what's wrong!' He turned towards her and asked. She was holding her head in agony, her veins pulsating out of it. With her reddened eyes wide open, she buckled in fear.
'They...They are coming!'