Authors Note: Tables included

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Chapter 12 Cold Blooded KIllers

Go with the flow go with the flow go with the flow I keep repeating to myself.

I am laying in bed wide awake. Staring up at the ceiling, my arms are stretched out to my left and right.

I look to my left and there is Cindy snuggled onto me using my left arm as a pillow, then I look to my right and there is Julie using my right arm as a pillow.

We had a light dinner, both were not very hungry, neither was I but I ate anyways. It was nearing 7 pm and we had been awake since 2 am that morning, so being tired was natural, and decided to call it an early night. I was getting ready to head for the guest room and leave the girls my king size bed, when they both latch onto me stating that they wanted to sleep with me and not wanting to be alone that night. I knew they did not mean it sexually.

I gave in, and go into the middle of the bed and both immediately took their places. It seems to have become a standard that Cindy is always on my left and Julie on my right lately. In no time both were fast asleep, content, snoring lightly, in deep sleep. I went over that days events thru my head.

Killing those four guys will become troublesome. Biker gangs do not take lightly to killing their members, especially the organized types. In the past I had to deal with a few of them. And they hold grudges for a long time. They are probably combing the streets looking for my Truck, even at night, even tho it is dangerous outside. If they have the numbers, they will hunt in packs.

By now since cell phones are out of order, they will already have hit up an electronic store and gotten walkie talkies, but the range on them is not great. But to cover a neighborhood one by one, it would work wonders.

Sigh this is going to be a hassle. I already knew.

We can hole up here for now, as long as we do not reveal ourselves, it will be like finding a needle in a haystack as they only have the general direction we were headed. At the time I did not think to head in the opposite direction, wanting only to get the girls to safety.

So 20 30 maybe 40 guys? You can never tell with those types of gangs, some are huge, some are local and some are worldwide. But pretty sure these guys are local tho. This town is decent sized, about 65K population, but supports the surrounding cities and towns, so on a busy weekend the population, especially on the 1st and 15th, would swell to 150K plus, congesting the streets.

Right now it is a ghost town. No sirens, no horns. Total silence with the occasional roar in the distance. The roar has also become standard now, probably a Worg or pack of Worgs hunting. If we are lucky the Biker gang and the Worgs will face each other and kill one another off. Wishful thinking on my part.

Just as I say that, I hear the "put put put" of a motorcycle engine, sounding like it is driving slowly by. I look at my watch it is 1 am. So took them 5 hours to get to this neighborhood. I think to myself. The sound slowly fades away.

I close my eyes and try to sleep, I will worry about it in the morning. Right now the chances of them finding us is less than winning the lottery. Them having military grade infra red goggles are slim to none, so we are safe for now, sleep first worry later I think to myself.

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“Scott?” I hear my name being called. I must have dozed off.

“Waky waky pretty boy!” I hear a gruff voice say, my eyes immediately open

I see 8 men holding various guns and rifles standing around the bed. How the fuck did they get in here without me noticing and how the fuck did they find us?

Both girls are clinging to me shivering in fear. “Grab the girls” the man says. He is a big man almost 7” tall, has black hair flowing down past his shoulders in a pony tail. A red bandanna on his head, black leather vest like the rest, black leather pants, boots and a white T-shirt. Tattoos also on his arm, he looks very young. But his blue eyes give him away. In fact all the guys here look like they are 18ish.

They got initiated I think to myself. Fuck I am not adapting well to this new world.

“So tell me friend, what is the name of the man who killed my little brother?” Sneers the man in front of me. He is pointing the same Smith and Wesson M29 Classic his little brother used on me.

“Brother? Who are you people and what do you want with us?” I try to act dumb. But even if it was not us, they would take the girls anyways and kill me for the fun of it I realize, but I need information, like how did they find us.

"Oh please friend I know that it was you, you see with this new world thing, my friend here” he motions to the guy to his immediate right”, developed an interesting skill, able to hunt anything, track them anywhere, no place they can hide.”

“It took a while for sure, as the trace was lost, but we were able to pick it back up, and traced it back here, not sure what you did with the Truck, he can not find it anywhere” the man says. “But that does not matter as we found you!” he declared triumphantly waving the gun in the air.

Two men grab each of the girls and pull them out of bed away from me and they begin to scream frantically. I watch the men with the guns pointed at me not moving not saying anything analyzing the situation. So they have not figured out professions yet and do not have access to inventory.

"So now that I have you, I think I am going to let you watch, and listen as we take real good care of your girls, how does that sound to you?” he sneers with an evil grin. The guys behind him begin to snicker.

Rage begins to build up in me. He is not making empty threats here and once he finishes with the girls I am dead and their lives will be a constant hell from then on. “Friend” I say in a low, growling and menacing voice, ” you might want to rethink that. If you hurt those girls in any way I will rip you all limb from limb” my rage is building fast, I am on the verge of blacking out I can feel myself starting to lose control. I fight to hold myself back.

“HAHAHA,what have we got here, a Hero eh?" The man says “ I think you do not fully grasp the situation you are in friend! I got the guns and I got the girls. Move and they are as good as dead. Boys show the girls a good time will ya, then when you are done I will have little fun too.” He says in lustful and evil tone.

One of the guys begins unzipping his pants in front of Julie while a other rips the T-shirt off of her exposing her breasts and panties. Cindy's shirt is torn off as well, very roughly. The girls are screaming and crying. The men are laughing and ca-hooting. “Oh baby you are going to make me one happy fucker” one says not sure who.

Finally the rage has taken me, just before I fully give in, I think to myself in full rage “Equip preset 1”

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“SCOTT!!!!” I hear my name screamed. The blackness is receding. I am coming back to my senses. Julie is clinging to my right arm screaming my name over and over. Cindy is also pulling my right arm, also calling my name but not as loudly, more of a whisper and in awe. Both are still only in their panties, and both are covered in blood splatters.

I slowly try to shake the cobwebs from my head. I try to focus on what is before me. Both girls have a wild look in their eyes. Calling me over and over.

I stand still and straighten up, looking around me. I see blood everywhere. I see a torso, both arms missing and head missing. Then a spot another torso, a huge hole thru its chest, head also missing. Then I see fully the gruesome sight and the world comes into full focus. All 8 men are dead, in pieces, literally. I look down at myself, my uniform is covered in blood. I am holding an arm in my left hand. I let go and it falls to the ground.

“Scott it is over, calm down!” Julie cries.

“Scott please come back” Cindy says.

I let myself fall backwards onto the bed, “What the hell happened” I wonder out loud with a very loud sigh.

“Scott! Scott, you are back, oh thank god you are back!” Cindy cries out and jumps into my chest. Julie too jumps into my chest area crying “Scott you were scary” Julie says with a shivering voice.

I hold both girls and pat each of their heads. I am relieved they are safe. Both of them. But what the hell happened to me? I can not remember anything.

“I am so sorry Julie, Cindy, I do not know what came over me” I say in small voice.

“You went crazy Scott, literally went nuts and just killed them in a few seconds moving so fast you were a blur, then proceeded to each of them apart even after they were dead.” Cindy says in a small voice too, frightened.

“Scott I do not want to see that side of you again please!” Julie says also in a small voice.

“I am so sorry you two, when I saw what they were about to do to the two of you I lost it” I reply meekly and embarrassed.

“You love us Scott, so you will do anything to protect us, even at the risk of your life, you will give it your all “ Cindy says. Julie sighs, ”she is right Scott, but my god, that was intense and scary” slowly regaining herself.

“I.....” Wait a second, why are they acting like this? Yesterday when I killed those 4 they nearly lost it now they are different? Accepting the deaths of those guys, like it was almost nothing?

“What happened to you two? You are both different than yesterday when I killed those 4 men.” I ask confused.

“I do not know or understand it myself,” says Cindy, but Julie interrupts”It is like there is a calming aura coming from you Scott, it feels like I will be ok, and everything will be fine as long as I am close to you..”

Cindy nods in agreement.

“Lets get cleaned up and out of here, even I am starting to get sick at the sight of all this gore.” I say finally. With that we get up, the girls still partially naked head for the bathroom to take a shower. I pull the bloody sheets and blanket off of the bed, take ownership and add it to inventory. I exit the room and close the door to hide the gruesome scene. I head to the back yard of the house and begin to hose myself down trying to get the blood off, and to my amazement it wipes off pretty easy. The water does not cling to the uniform and it dries in minutes.

Seeing I am cleaned off, I head for the kitchen and wash my face, but the girls are done and are coming out of the bathroom in their adventure gear, Fully equipped. Well I do not blame them, be prepared always from here on, adapt to the new world, I am having trouble with that and need to understand and prepare better.

They had found us easier than I thought. It was due to the new world magic system. Under normal circumstances there was no way in hell they could have found us let alone identify us as the people who killed his little brother, but still they did and with ease. And they got into the house like it was nothing, 8 of them were able to surround me before I knew what had happened.

The only mistake they made was being over confident, just like I did. They should have killed me before I even awoke, and they would still be alive. But instead he wanted to torture me, gain self satisfaction trying to see me go into despair. I will not make the same mistake again and must assume, if I can think of it so can they and probably better. I realize I am not the smartest man in the world, but I do have years of combat experience and one thing it has taught me is to expect the unexpected, which I forgot, never again.

I head to the shower to take one myself. We can not stay here anymore. I can not fortify this place enough and if we find survivors, it will get cramped fast. The next step would be to find a suitable place to hole up in, one we can fortify, and bring back survivors to. A place with lots of room. A place sturdy enough to handle hundreds of people if needed. The high school! Has showers, toilets, cafeteria, class rooms that can be converted to bunk room, nurses office, has just about everything one can need.

Plus it should have a generator as well. Power is still on, but for how long? And clean water is also questionable, so soon w will have to boil drinking water. So much to do. I need to make a plan and execute it. I then notice unread message again. It has been so hectic and busy I always dismiss them in the middle of combat to retrieve them later, but keep forgetting. I read my messages.

Skill Awarded: LeadershipCongratulations!! For successfully performing the skill Leadership,

you have acquired the skill Leadership.

Benefits: +25 Leadership, +25% Are of Effect Fear Resistance

You emit a calming aura of leadership around you.

Your affected allies become calm under fire and trust you more.

Fear fades in the face of the enemy and you inspire courage to fight.

Skill Level 1

+500 Fame +10 Str +10 vit

Title Awarded: Cold Blooded KIllerCongratulations you have gained the Title Cold Blooded Killer.

Benefits: you gain 50% additional XP when killing your fellow man

.+10 to all stats. +500 Infamy

NOTICE!You have gained 500 infamy

NOTICE!You have gained 500 infamy

NOTICE!You have gained 500 infamy

Skill Awarded: Beerker ModeCongratulations!! For successfully performing the Skill Bezerker Mode,

you have been awarded the Skill Bezerker Mode.

Benefits: +25% Str -20% Defense +200% End +30% Vit

Skill Level 1

Note: While in Bezerker mode you are unable to distinguish friend from foe.

Tho in most cases a strong bond of friendship or love may allow you to recognize them.

NOTICE!You have gained 500 infamy

NOTICE!You have gained 500 infamy

NOTICE!You have gained 500 infamy

NOTICE!You have gained 500 infamy

NOTICE!You have gained 500 infamy

NOTICE!You have gained 500 infamy

NOTICE!You have gained 500 infamy

NOTICE!You have gained 500 infamy

NOTICE!Congratulation The Cold Blooded Killer has increase to stage 2

Benefits +5% additional XP, Infamy per kill increase +100

NOTICE!Your party has been awarded 6000XP,

due to the title Cold Blooded Killer,

those with the title have been awarded an additional 3300XP.

NOTICE!Level gained

NOTICE!You are now level 29

Ahh that is what happened, Bezerker mode, wow, I need to keep that under control for sure. That is not only dangerous but can be deadly for the girls if I lose control like that again and damn, Cold Blooded Killer, REALLY? I was defending myself and girls! “SIGH!!!!!!!!”

I finish my shower do some personal hygienic stuff and equip preset 1 again. I head for the front room and both girls are waiting for me. I look at both of them and they look back at me expectantly. Then a thought hits me.

“Do you girls have any family nearby?” I ask out of the blue

Cindy shakes her head,” No I grew up with my Grandmother, my mother left me with her when I was 3, and never saw her again. My Grandmother never told me who my Dad was and if she knew she took it to her grave with her.”

Julie shakes her head also,” My folks are overseas. My Father used to be in the Army, so I grew up a military brat. He retired in Germany and they stayed there, I came back to live with my aunt to finish high school, fell in love with my High School sweetheart and we move here after High School. We were together till that bastard cheated on me, so I was stuck here more or less but made the best of it.”

I nod and sigh “I have no family either, my parents died when I was in High School, drunk driver got them, Since I was 17 at the time I was able to stay out of the orphanage and finish School before I joined the Marines upon graduation.”

“Well we can not stay here anymore, that is a given” I begin..both girls nodding in agreement

“I was thinking we should head over to the High School....” I continue slowly

“Why there Scott?”, Cindy asks with interest

“Well if we find survivors, we can not bring them back here, it would get too cramped, plus it has all the facilities one needs to hold a lot of people.” I say explaining my decision.

Julie nods, “It makes sense, I agree we should head there.”

I try to keep the girls in the loop of what I am thinking and hope they give me their opinions as well, maybe pointing out something I may have missed or thought of, hopefully giving them the impression that I not only want their input, but value it as well and that they are part of the team, not just followers, but independent individuals. It is important to maintain that, as having sheep, will only become a burden later.

“Any objections Cindy?” I ask looking at her while she is in thought.

"No, I think that is a good idea too, in fact we may come across some survivors there since it is a designated shelter." Cindy is saying, when suddenly.

“Scott!!!” Julie cries out fear appearing in her eyes, pointing behind me, I swiftly turn, taking out the Energy Pistol and aiming in the general direction Julie pointed. I see shimmering of light in front of me about 3 feet away, I slowly step back, “Stay behind me”, I say in a calm and low voice.

After a moment, The light dissipates and in it's place is a creature with stooped posture, low forehead, and pig-like face with prominent lower canines that resemble a boars tusks. Orc? I think and inspect it.

CreatureOrc Level 18

I pull the trigger several times not letting it even have a chance to acclimate. The creature is dead within seconds. This is the 1st Orc I have seen, is this a new wave? Does each day bring new creatures? We really need more answers and information.

NOTICE!Your party has been awarded 500 XP each

“Ok lets go” I say to the girls.