Chapter 3: The First Prank
Elias woke before dawn, the air heavy with humidity and silence, the faint dew on his boots soaking through to his socks. His Willpower sat at a strained 8, SP at 75. He needed a cheap maneuver. Targeting the firewood stack by Ed's tent, he sent a mental command to Z-001: Passive Command: Move Object. Displace ten logs, clumsy walker style. He closed his eyes, ears straining for the faint thump-thump-slide of wood, the sound muffled by the morning's damp air.
[Passive Command: Move Object – 5 SP. Balance: 70. Pranks? Ed's not amused.]
At first light, Carl and Amy spotted the scattered logs, their muffled laughter a bright note in the tension. The air carried the crisp scent of pine and the faint smoke of last night's fire.
"Look at that!" Carl giggled, his voice high with delight. "Like a walker tried to high-five Ed and tripped!"
"Shh!" Amy whispered, grinning, her blonde hair catching the dawn light. "Ed'll kill you! But yeah, totally a clumsy one."
Elias, watching from a distance, allowed a tired smile, his breath visible in the cool air. The prank had landed, injecting dark levity. But Ed burst from his tent, face purple-red, eyes locking on Carol, who'd emerged to see the commotion. The sour stench of his unwashed body hit Elias like a wave.
"Carol!" Ed snarled, voice a venomous hiss. "What the hell did you do? Think this is funny, you clumsy sow? I told you to stay away from my things! Think Elias's peaches make you a man?"
His raised hand was a sickeningly familiar threat, the motion tightening Elias's chest. His protective rage surged, tone shifting to cold threat as he stepped forward, boots crunching gravel.
"Take it easy, Ed," Elias said, voice low and sharp. "It was a walker. And I gave her the can because she's a good woman, and you wouldn't know how to treat one if it was stapled to your forehead. Wood's scattered, not gone. Pick it up, or I'll use my instincts to find you a spot in the treeline."
"Crossed a line," Elias thought, heart racing, the air's chill biting his skin. "Ed's a virus, infecting Carol's strength." The prank had exposed the camp's rot, fueling his resolve to empower her.
[ZACS HUD: System Update]
Elias Kane | System Level: 1 | SP: 70 |
Strength: 10.8/11 | Affinity: Melee 20%
Agility: 12.7/13 | Stamina: 60%
Perception: 12.3/13 | Willpower: 8/10
Skills & Proficiencies
Melee Combat Lv. 1 | Branch Option: Blunt or Bladed? 200 SP
Zombie Control
Z-001 "Karen": Loyalty 45%, Speed 1.1, Strength 1.0
Z-002 "Steve": Loyalty 50%, Speed 1.0, Strength 1.0
Apocalypse Store
Healing Potion: 100 SP | Reinforced Machete: 300 SP | Food Can: 20 SP
Storage
Food Can (Delivered)
[Passive Command: Move Object – 5 SP. Balance: 70. Pranks? Ed's not amused.]
Later, Elias found Carol alone, hands clasped tightly, radiating shame. The air was heavy with the scent of damp canvas and faint soap from the washing lines. He knelt beside her, lowering himself to her level, voice low and intense.
"You didn't do it, Carol," he said, eyes locked on hers. "I know you didn't. That man's a bully, using this world to keep you scared."
"You are stronger than he is," he continued, the words fierce but soft. "You brought Sophia through this. Survived him for years. Don't let him take your strength. When he snaps, snap back. He's noise. If he touches you, yell. The camp will back you. Rick will back you. I will back you. Protect Sophia, I'll protect your tent."
Z-002, passive guard on Sophia, forty yards, minimal noise.
[Passive Guard: Sophia – 5 SP/day. Balance: 65. Savior complex growing.]
Carol's eyes met his, a spark of resolve flickering. "You… really believe that? That I can stop him?"
"I know it," Elias said, his voice steady. "I'm a mess, but I'm standing. We're all stronger than we look."
"She's starting to believe," Elias thought, her question a gut punch. "I'm her rock, but built on lies." His fingers brushed the rough edge of his sleeve, grounding him. Ed was a known threat, but Shane's volatility loomed larger. Rick approached, his voice calm but firm, addressing Ed's lingering anger.
"Ed, let's cool it," Rick said, his boots scuffing the dirt. "Elias brought supplies, helped Glenn. He's pulling his weight. But Elias, keep the pranks in check. We're stretched thin."
Shane glowered, pushing for discipline, but Rick's balance held, signaling trust in Elias—and a warning. The air was thick with tension, the faint crackle of the fire underscoring the moment.
"Rick's my path," Elias thought, rubbing his gritty jaw, the stubble sharp under his fingers. "Night watch is my shield. Time to play the indispensable survivor."
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