Apocalypse Fighter

Chapter 53: Clean Up In Aisle Three

Jacky’s face turned white. He nodded and said, “Okay. You don’t need to tell us twice. We’ll go.”

Richard smirked and said, “No. Stay a little longer. I insist. I like your idea, but I would like to change up the rules. My men against your men. Why don’t you sit with me and we’ll watch the exhibition together?”

Much to Richard’s surprise, nobody moved, and not a sound was heard. Finally, Kevin turned to him. “Do you expect us to fight Jacky’s gang?” he asked anxiously. “Come on. You have a gun. You have already killed three people and they have conceded. What is really going on here?”

Richard: “What do you think? Isn’t it obvious? If you want to feed your families, you’re going to have to fight for the food! You didn’t think that I would forget about how you guys mistreated me in the alley, did you?”

Kevin tried to stay calm. He wanted to rationalize with Richard, but he was confused, and he did not know what to say. Richard had really put them in between a rock and a hard place. If there was a fight, lots of people would die. However, if they walked away, his group would starve to death.

Leon Jason was also speechless. He gave Kevin a nervous look as if to say, “What, now?” 

Kevin shrugged as is if to say, “f****d if I know…”

Richard cleared his throat impatiently and said, “Tick-talk, folks. Let’s get down to business already.”

Kevin and Jason shared a second glance. Neither knew what to say to Richard. Their instincts told them that if they stood and fought, lots of people would die because of it. But if they did nothing, they still would not survive; not without food. The need to solve the food shortage problem was urgent, and there wasn’t enough food in this house to meet the needs of Kevin’s outsiders and Jacky’s gang.

    What should I do exactly? - Kevin frantically wondered. He was hesitant to start a fight, but he was running run of options. He sighed and opened his mouth to speak. He had decided to fight, but before he could say anything, a young girl stumbled down the stairs from an upstairs bedroom. Everybody turned, and when they saw her, they could tell that she was in a great deal of pain.

The girl was naked. There were scratches and bruises all over her body. There was blood matted to the thin patch of pubic hair between her legs, and more dried blood running down her thighs. Kevin was enraged. “Sweetheart,” he cried. “Are you Nichole Brown?”

Jason was even more upset than Kevin. He knew her well. She was the purest girl that he had ever met. She was thirteen, and he had a crush on her, but he had kept it a secret. He had not wanted to take advantage of her. He had wanted to be a gentleman, wait until she turned eighteen, and court her. Looking at her now, he felt that he had let her down and he wanted to kill anyone that had touched her.

     Kevin observed Leon’s reaction and said, “Leon, calm down. You should take her home.” Kevin knew that Leon had a special feeling for this girl from their conversation earlier.

When Jacky noticed the grim expression on Leon’s face, he grinned and walked over to Nicole. He grabbed her thin arm, look at Leon, and said, “Do you want this girl? If you turn on Richard, she is yours, and I will throw in half the food.” 

Jacky firmly believed that Kevin and Leon would be intrigued by his offer. After all, no one could turn down food and a beautiful woman. Kevin and Leon were not so quick to turn, though. After all, Richard still had his gun. 

     “Let that girl go,” Leon replied. “Once she is free, we can talk.”

“Just let the girl go,” Kevin added. He could not tolerate seeing the girl suffer like this; and not just her. Nicole’s parents had been looking for her for days and they had nearly been killed by mutant creatures.

When Nicole noticed all of the people in the house, she allowed herself to smile, and when she saw Leon, she began to cry. It was good to know that so many people cared. She gripped the knife behind her back and said, “Leon,” it is so good to see you again, but I cannot go home. I am dirty now, and my reputation is ruined. Please, tell my parents that I am dead, and help them as they grieve. You are a good man. I will see you in my next life.”

Leon gasped and said, “No. Nicole, don’t do anything stupid.”

Nicole smiled sadly. “It’s the proper thing to do,” she said. She blew him a kiss, and then she slit her throat with the knife that she’d been hiding behind her back. The knife cut through her artery like butter and blood began to spurt everywhere.

Nicole fell to the ground, and she was dead in a matter of seconds.

Billy chuckled and said, “Clean up in aisle three.”

Leon ran to Nicole’s side. He put her head on his lap, ran his hands through her hair, and cried her name.

Jacky smirked and said, “Well, that’s one less mouth to feed.” He was at the bottom of the stairs, and he was covered in Nicole’s blood. His only regret was that his Nephew had not gotten his chance with the little t**t. Jacky shook his hands in the air in disgust. “But what a f*****g mess…” he groaned.

When Leon heard that, his face turned red from rage, and he grabbed the knife that Nicole had used to end her life. He stood up quick and brandished the weapon in the air in front of Jacky’s face.

When Jacky saw Leon, he began to laugh as he lifted his giant, furry arms to grab Leon and snap hip like a twig. Before he knew what had happened, though, Richard had come in between them. He had swooped in like lightning. Jacky was startled, but he recovered quickly. “What is this?” he asked.

Richard: “Your fight is with me.”

Jacky smirked and said, “Then let the games begin!”