Chapter 20: Chapter 19

Daniel sat huddled in the corner, lost in memories of the desperate little girl he'd encountered, her pleas echoing in his mind. Frustration welled up within him, prompting him to rise abruptly, his throbbing leg ignored.

"Sit tight, don't pull anything foolish," barked the old man, striding toward Daniel with a stern expression.

"They swiped our guns; you can't tackle those undead with bare fists. It's practically a death wish," the old man reasoned.

Helen approached, gently taking hold of Daniel's hand, her concern evident. "Daniel, you've got to rest. Let that leg heal, please."

Daniel paid little attention to the words of the old man and Helen as he shifted his focus to his right, spotting a group of soldiers. He approached them and asked, "Excuse me, sir. You mentioned we're leaving soon, but where to?"

The soldier responded, "We don't have a set time yet because the situation outside is unclear. If the scout team reports back this evening, we might not be able to move until tomorrow."

Concern etched on his face, Daniel inquired, "How are we going to move such a large group of people?"

"Some news from our scouts , the undead are more active at night, with a few stragglers in the morning. We'll kick off our move at sunrise, cross the bridge, and head to the next town," declared the soldier.

The old man turned sharply to his left, eyes widening. "Wait, is that a flamethrower?" he exclaimed, pointing a weathered finger towards the menacing device.

"Why aren't you using this against the undead? They're more effective than guns," he questioned, a hint of urgency in his voice.

"The flames are too strong for us to handle. This army-grade flamethrower has high oxygen levels, making it a double-edged sword. It overheats quickly, and in the process, the whole thing starts melting due to the intense heat," explained the soldier.

"But we can't still use it, right?" questioned the old man.

"Yeah, we can, but there have been some cases of them exploding. So, we aren't allowed to use them at this moment because it may endanger civilians and even the person using it," explained the soldier.

Amidst their conversation, a deafening voice erupted from behind, echoing through the surroundings. "Corporal Peter!" hollered another soldier, striding purposefully toward the position where the old man and the soldier were engaged in discussion.

"Hey, I am talking to you," asserted Sergeant Sean, a high-ranking soldier, his tone demanding attention. The urgency in the air was palpable as everyone in the vicinity tuned in to the unfolding scene.

"Yes sir," the soldier responded crisply.

"Where is he?" Sergeant Sean barked, his voice echoing through the tense air.

"Follow me," said Sergeant Sean, motioning for the soldier to trail behind him. Daniel, Helen, and the old man observed the unfolding scene with curiosity and concern. The soldier marched obediently in the sergeant's wake, casting a fleeting glance at the onlookers, leaving an air of anticipation lingering in the air.

—---

Corporal Peter's hand echoed with each resounding slap, striking the two soldiers, particularly the one he had summoned to join him moments ago.

"Hey you, get your ass on the floor," barked Corporal Peter.

"Sorry, Sir," the soldier meekly replied.

"I said get down," Corporal Peter retorted, his tone growing angrier as his palm met the soldier's cheek once more.

Suddenly, a booming voice erupted from behind them, cutting through the tension. "Corporal Peter, what do you think you're doing?" questioned Sergeant Sean.

"Here you are, do you lazy about while leaving all the work to someone in a lower rank to do all the work, you bastard? You think this crap makes sense," grumbled Corporal Peter.

"They were just resting after their shift, Sergeant," shouted Sergeant Sean.

"Shut your ass up, you dumbass. They are like this because you're a shifty commander," Corporal Peter retorted.

"Wait, why aren't you standing guard?" inquired Sergeant Sean, raising an eyebrow.

"I had to take a pass," declared Corporal Peter arrogantly.

"Can't you just do that in the street? You're supposed to be on guard," retorted Sergeant Sean.

"I don't give a damn, Sergeant. I only have two months left on this crap," snapped Corporal Peter.

"Shut up and get back to your post right now. This is an order!" shouted Sergeant Sean.

Ignoring the order, Corporal Peter sauntered away, raising his hands to show the sergeant a middle finger,a blatant 'fuck you' gesture. Daniel, Helen, and the old man were left wide-eyed and shocked, witnessing this audacious scene unfold before them.