Without any discussion, they all unanimously decided to go back to the equestrian club with the other group.
Just as they were about to leave, Blondie's gaze drifted to Flora Bloom's group nearby. His eyes lingered on the mature, graceful figure of the homeroom teacher, Leigh Atwood. He immediately tugged on Muscle Man's arm, signaling for him to wait.
Then Blondie asked, "Are those people with you too?"
Seeing this, Scott quickly replied, "Yes, yes! Can they come with us?"
Blondie smiled, clapped him on the shoulder, and agreed magnanimously.
One of the men with Blondie's group frowned the moment he saw Flora Bloom's party. The reason was simple: he recognized her from behind.
At that moment, Scott shouted to Mervin Warren, "Mervin Warren, hurry and come over! We've found a safe place to stay. Come with us!"
Belle Bloom, however, was displeased. Pouting, she mumbled resentfully, "Why are we calling them over! It'd be best if Flora Bloom just died out here."
She thought her voice was too quiet for anyone to hear, but the sharp-eared Blondie caught it. So did the other man beside him, Oscar Owen.
In truth, Flora Bloom had already overheard the conversation and was suspicious of their group. The moment Blondie had called out to them, she had crouched down, smearing dirt on her face before grabbing her axe and slathering the zombie goo clinging to it all over her clothes.
By the time she turned around, she was face-to-face with Blondie and his two companions. She was indeed surprised for a moment when she saw Oscar Owen. However, Flora Bloom concealed it well. The doubt in her eyes flashed and was gone. But when she met Oscar Owen's worried gaze and saw his slight shake of the head, she knew. This group was definitely trouble.
Oscar Owen was Shelton Underwood's good friend; their families had known each other for generations. In her past life, Shelton Underwood never awakened a superpower, while Oscar Owen awakened the powerful Wind Ability, causing the two to drift apart. He had even tried to persuade Flora Bloom to leave with him several times.
But back then, Flora Bloom had thought Oscar Owen was a scumbag trying to steal his friend's woman. After she rejected him several times, she finally broke his heart. From then on, Oscar Owen never meddled in their affairs again.
Flora Bloom never expected to run into him at a time like this. And by the looks of it, he was in some kind of trouble he couldn't talk about.
Blondie enthusiastically invited them to go back with his group, promising to protect them. But Flora Bloom, who could see the problem, was shut down every time she tried to refuse.
"We have important things to do, so we won't impose on you all."
Blondie waved his hands dismissively and laughed. "How could it be a bother? None of us knew this damn apocalypse was coming. Meeting like this is fate, so of course we should help each other out. Besides, look, it'll be dark soon. Why not come back to the stables with us and rest for the night? You can build up your strength and set off first thing in the morning."
There was an undertone to Blondie's words that left little room for refusal. Plus, Flora Bloom had noticed that both he and Muscle Man were carrying handguns. If things turned ugly, they'd only succeed in angering the other party.
'And then there's the equestrian club. The Splendid Equestrian Club... Shelton Underwood took me there several times. The horses they raise are all meticulously selected, top-tier breeds. If I could get a few of them into my space, how liberating would it be to one day gallop across the apocalyptic plains on horseback? Besides, in the apocalypse, other than motorcycles and armored combat vehicles, most transportation is useless. Riding a horse is actually an excellent alternative.'
And so, with her small face smeared with filth and a foul stench rolling off her, Flora Bloom approached Blondie and Muscle Man. "In that case, we'll be in your care."
The stench rolling off the skinny girl was so foul that Blondie and Muscle Man nearly gagged on the spot, instinctively backing away from Flora Bloom. Still, they kept welcoming smiles plastered on their faces.
But when Oscar Owen heard Flora Bloom agree to go back with them, his face filled with panic, and he stared at her with wide eyes.
Sensing Oscar Owen's worry, Flora Bloom took an opportunity when no one was looking to wink at him. Then she looked away, pretending she didn't know him at all. This left Oscar Owen suddenly confused. 'Doesn't this woman realize I'm trying to warn her about the danger? Did she not understand?'
On the walk back to the convoy, Oscar Owen tried several times to fall behind and speak to Flora Bloom to warn her, but she always managed to intentionally yet casually avoid him.
Hanging back at the rear of the group, Flora Bloom, Ethan Monroe, and Neal Wallace were discussing things in low voices.
"When we get there, you two need to play it by ear. Their group is strong, so be careful."
The two of them nodded in understanding.
When Leigh Atwood and Luna Thorne overheard their conversation and thought back on the behavior of Blondie's group, they also guessed that this trip was likely to be dangerous. Leigh Atwood and Luna Thorne exchanged a look and, following Flora Bloom's example, smeared themselves with ash and zombie slime until they were nauseatingly putrid.
Only Mervin Warren remained, clutching a thin iron rod and standing guard by Flora Bloom's side like a loyal sentinel. The dead-serious look on his face reminded her of some cringey teenager from the internet who's convinced he's a chosen hero, which gave Flora Bloom a slight headache.
Flora Bloom was actually a bit baffled by Mervin Warren's transformation, so she asked, "Hey, didn't you think I was trying to get my own sister killed? Why are you still helping me?"
After Flora Bloom had saved him just now, putting aside their previous grievances, Mervin Warren's attitude toward her had completely changed. Deep down, he was even starting to see her as a role model.
"I... I don't think you're that kind of person anymore."
Flora Bloom shook her head in amusement, not knowing what she had done to make this boy she barely knew suddenly trust her so much. She clapped him on the shoulder and said seriously,
"You're wrong. I am exactly that kind of person. If I get the chance, I will definitely kill Belle Bloom. Understand?"
These words came from the bottom of her heart. She, Flora Bloom, would not change her resolve according to other people's opinions.