Chapter 44: The Eradication Team

David Dolan glanced at Damian and said before leaving, "It's your turn. Pair them how you want…"

With folded hands, Damian took a step forward and lightly nudged his glasses and said, "Why don't you all start by introducing ourselves? My name is Damian Cross and I'm used to cutting people's heads open for money."

He got a few laughs here and there.

Damian's humour helped improve their impression of him. After what they had heard of him, they all thought he was a stern perfectionist and a grim-faced genius, which indeed he was.

The team members each raised their hands and stated their names in succession.

"Carl."

"Tom."

"Elizabeth."

"Veer."

"Jack."

"Lauren."

"Chris."

"Quinn."

"Vlad."

"Reynolds."

"Henry."

Damian took note of their names and faces then stared at the last person that hadn't stated his name yet.

It was the possessed watchman. He stared blankly into the air, looking like he was in a daze.

Damian snapped his fingers in an attempt to draw his attention.

The possessed watchman's eyes slowly moved and only stopped when it landed on Damian.

"Jerry… My name's… Jerry." Jerry was a white-skinned blonde with hazel eyes and a slightly muscular frame.

"Nice to meet you, Jerry. Are you okay?" Damian asked.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. I'm fine."

Damian had his doubts but since Jerry insisted he let it be. He nodded and said,

"To be honest, you're way more than I expected. I'm curious, why do you all want to risk your life? It's not like you know most of these people right? Why sacrifice yourself?"

"My wife and children went to a friend's birthday party right before the start of the apocalypse. I haven't had the chance to go back home so I haven't seen them since. I'm a bus driver. My work is demanding so I couldn't attend. I have to find them." Veer replied.

He was a fully bearded brown-skinned Indian man with a turban on his head.

"That's even more of a reason why you shouldn't throw your life away." Damian said.

"I was taught self-sacrifice and service to humanity is key." Veer added.

Jake, a fair-skinned man with blue eyes, blonde hair and looking to be in his early 20s added, "My situation is similar to his this time it's my fiance and mother, who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, so I understand where he's coming from...

"Do you know how frustrating it feels knowing how powerless you are? But keeping calm and thinking rationally is essential. When Mr Dolan found some of us hiding in that convenience store I was thrilled someone was making a move I was too cowardly to make…

"I saw you when you arrived. I realized there's no fear in going outside when you know what you're doing. I want to bet on your experience and learn enough so I can find my mom and fiance and be able to protect them too."

The rest nodded in agreement with him.

Damian was amused. Nice, it's good to see people with brains just as an accessory. Too bad most of them might die...

"How about some of you that came here with David from Cranberry?" He asked and immediately looked at Julian.

Julian didn't expect to be called out like that. All that was replaying in his head was what David Dolan said.

Join the eradication team. I need you to keep an eye on Damian Cross for me. Don't worry. I'm completely sure you'll be safe…

"Um… um…" Julian couldn't think up any words.

Ever since he met with that demon he had been scarred for life. He was afraid. Afraid of Damian and afraid of the demons, but as of right then, he was most afraid of letting David Dolan down.

Luckily for Julian, Elizabeth, a brunette with a small figure, round face and large eyes replied,

"As David said, we'll only survive when we're together. I believe if I follow then the odds of more casualties might be reduced."

Damian gently nodded, "Not necessarily accurate but ok. Anyone else?"

The rest made their stories brief but it was evident that they were all looking for someone dear to them.

Jerry, who still looked like he was in a daze, spoke up,

"My wife is 6 months pregnant with my baby and she went to the hospital with my adopted 17-year-old son for a checkup. Damn, I was supposed to have followed them. She was supposed to have arrived before the apocalypse started…

"If I don't find her before the start of the 2nd phase, I want to go look for them, but… but I'm afraid of those creatures, yet I'm terrified of the thought that I'll never get to see them again. Please help me..."

Damian saw the bodies on the first floor, therefore he already knew the tragic fate of Jerry's family.

Damian harrumphed and said, "No offence but you heard everyone's story. They're also looking for people dear to them. Vlad is a single dad looking for his 6-year-old daughter…

"Look, currently, we share a common goal, which is to eradicate all the demons in this area… and sadly, that's all we will do. I'm sorry."

His solace had an underlying tone of pity and regret, but really, he didn't care. All he wanted was for everyone to feel how much he cared for them but most importantly their survival.

He had to use their hate for the demons and personal problems to improve their impression of him.

It was essential for the group to see that everyone had different priorities and things to protect so they were all equal in some way.

Disregarding all their problems and putting the mission first was to show how focused he was.

Damian went further to pair them up. He paired Veer with Elizabeth, Tom with Lauren, Jerry with Julian, Jake with Chris, Quinn with Reynolds, and Henry with Vlad.

The only members that could use guns were Tom, Henry, Vlad and Jerry. He paired Henry and Vlad together so they could be the ones to be in front. They were also the most experienced.

"Now, let's get you guys armed."

Mark gave the inexperienced part of the team a Beretta M9; while Tom, Henry, Vlad and Jerry got to pick the ones they were accustomed to.

Tom picked a Benelli M4 (a semi-automatic shotgun), Henry an AK-47, Vlad an SSG 69 (a sniper rifle), and Jerry a 9mm SMG.

Mark also regulated the amount of ammunition they took and was having casual talks with some of them while Damian watched from afar.

A black-haired woman in a hoodie walked up to Damian from behind and tapped his shoulder then said,

"I heard you're in need of an extra hand."

Damian didn't bother to turn back, he just shook his head and said, "No, not really."

She was a bit shocked by the response. He outright rejected her without even bothering to look who spoke.

She proceeded to introduce herself, "My name's Sarah. Sarah Lawrence. I might not be good with guns but I'm a professional boxer and a martial arts instructor. I didn't like that there were only men in the defence team."

Damian casually replied, "Ok. You're in. I'm pairing you with me. Go get a gun. Boxing isn't gonna help anyone, even you."

"Hey, just because you're some hotshot doesn't mean you should dismiss someone's skills like that."

Damian watched as Mark demonstrated to the inexperienced part of his team how to hold and use a gun.

The female boxer saw how Damian was ignoring her and retorted, "Why are you ignoring me? Is it because I'm a wOmAn?!"

Bang!

Damian shot the ground beside her foot.

"Guns are marvellous, aren't they? You worked years on end to be a pro, yet I can end you in a few seconds."

"W-What?"

"Since the start of the apocalypse, I wondered how people like you would survive. I once knew someone like you. You wanna know what I did to them?"

"Y-You're crazy."

Damian smirked, "I get that a lot. At least you're smart enough to know I'll spare no second in blowing your brains out if you run up to me…

"I don't know you and I don't care about you. Didn't your parents teach you not to talk to strangers? With that attitude you could bring the whole resistance down. How about I do everyone a favour and end you now?"