Chapter 22: Reuniting

It isn't long before I reach the end of the creepy alley. I know exactly where I'm going this time, so I don't hesitate. I ensure my volume isn't decreased and walk down the empty street.

I do my best to appear oblivious to the occupied apartments as I meander down the street until I catch the sound of beeping and raise my head.

As if on command, the suppressed rifle rings out as a bullet whistles past me.

"Do not move. We will come to you." Garret's amplified voice is exactly as I remember it, raising my confidence.

'The guy might be insane, but at least he hasn't snapped yet.' My grip tightens around the bat in an effort to appear wary of the situation. It didn't take much for them to be set off in the past. I'd prefer to keep things friendly between us for as long as I can.

So, I wait.

Just as before, Mike and Bruce come rushing out with their rifles raised. Flashbacks of how they treated me appear in my mind as I contemplate whether I need to listen to them. 'If it wasn't for Garret, I could ignore this whole mess…'

"Put the bat on the ground! Put the bat on the ground! Do it now!" Mike begins screaming orders as he raises his rifle and begins to circle me.

I comply by simply opening my hands.

The bat falls to the ground, ringing out as it rattles against the hard surface of the street, and I stand with my hands open, unmoving.

"Do you have any other weapons?" Bruce screams at me but doesn't force me to the ground.

'This is already better than our last introduction…' I look Bruce directly in the eyes, trying to ignore the fact that Mike is standing behind me with his rifle raised, "Yes, I've got a knife tucked into my waistband."

"Don't move." Bruce lowers his weapon and begins to pat at my waistband before discovering my dagger. He removes it and continues patting the area half-heartily. I know he isn't going to find anything, so I endure the awkward groping.

'So, all of that was because I snapped my fingers?' I try to accept the situation but find it difficult, 'These guys really are morons…'

If I had given some kind of signal, it would make sense. But, for a snap of the fingers? How far could that signal even be carried? My backup would have to be right on top of us for that to even be effective!

After finding no additional weapons, he steps back and turns away from me, "Follow me. Don't try anything funny. You're still being watched."

The orders are a lot less intimidating, considering they didn't drive my face into the pavement. The two men were as friendly as could be now that the apocalypse was upon us. Hopefully, this trend will continue.

I nod and chuckle, "So… You guys aren't going to eat me or anything, right? Where are we headed?"

"We have a safe place. Our leader will decide if you can stay," Bruce answers, ensuring that I don't forget his presence behind me, "Just keep moving."

The cold steel of his rifle's barrel gently pokes my back.

'It seems they are still scared, even if I didn't do anything…' I nod my head once again and quicken my pace to keep up with the man in front of me.

We aren't running in a mad dash as they had previously. However, the accelerated pace still gave me doubts about their ability to survive on their own. It seems that they can't be salvaged.

We once again enter the empty lobby where Garret is now waiting on the forklift. He must have climbed down from his roost as soon as the other two left the building. Sadly, the vending machines he was placing still wouldn't hold back the monster that was flipping cars.

I glare at the old man sitting behind the forklift, wishing I could kill him now.

"Go ahead and take a seat in here. Sorry about the lack of chairs, but you'll be meeting our leader, and we can't take the risk." Mike gives a brief apology regarding the room before he gently closes the door.

Not caring about the condition of the familiar white room I move to the center and wait. I lay on the floor and place my hands behind my head as I stare at the ceiling, 'This will determine whether she remembers me or not… She should remember, right?'

Time passes slowly as I grow more and more anxious. Surely, if she remembered our last interaction, she would have hurried here.

Just as I'm beginning to accept that I was forgotten, the door to the room creaks open. Jackie's familiar figure walks through the door, still wearing the ill-fitting camouflage pattern.

'Damn it!'

"WHO ARE YOU!?" Jackie screams as she slams the door shut.

Marching across the room the sweet figure that I remember from what felt like a night ago starts to disappear. 'Why is she so pissed?'

As the young woman approaches me, I quickly tighten my abs, nervous that I'm going to receive her kick yet again. Only her footsteps can be heard in the quiet room as I await my doom and plan our conversation.

Stopping just inches away, she carefully steps over me. She stares down at me calmly, "Sorry, they might be listening and I have to seem like I'm interrogating you."

"What…?" I'm confused by her smiling expression.

I had convinced myself that she wouldn't remember the previous cycle, so I didn't know how to respond immediately. It isn't until she lowers her body, straddling my hips, that I fully accept it.

"So, are these memories real?" She asks, confirming the situation.

"Yes. Everything you remember has happened." I give her a direct answer, not willing to hide anything from the first person that I've tied to my destiny.

A bright blush fills her face as she glances away for a moment. It takes a second for her to recompose before returning her gaze. I can only imagine what's on her mind as my mind returns to the night we spent together.

Suddenly the face changes to a look of pure disgust.

"The door… It crushed your head… I saw you die!" Jackie's hands shake as she feels my face, confirming I'm real.

"Yes." Without explaining further, I confirm that I did die, and I rather not recall the feeling of death, so I decide to stop there.

"A-are you god?" A slight look of awe twinkles in her eyes as she pulls her hands back,

"Honestly, I don't know what I am… but I don't think so." My hands reach hers as I hold them on my chest so she can feel my heartbeat. I need her to be an ally and not afraid of me. The monsters of this new world wouldn't let her survive alone.

The blush returns to her cheeks as she shifts her hips slightly, "Does this mean I can have my first time again?"

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