ANGELS IN THE ARMAGEDDON

Chapter 6: Look What I Found? An Angel!

Chapter 6: Look What I Found? An Angel!

The figure leaning against the corner was slightly petite compared to her surroundings. Her black hair was tied back in a neat ponytail with a white ribbon, and she casually draped a black leather jacket over her shoulders, exposing her fair right shoulder and the form-fitting white shirt underneath.

Despite appearing to rest with her eyes closed, the girl exuded an aura that warned others to keep their distance.

The first glimpse of the girl stirred a deep sense of danger in Quinn, triggering her highest level of vigilance. This feeling was a honed instinct from two years of narrowly escaping death in the post-apocalyptic world, and it was Quinn’s greatest asset for survival.

Mixed with this sense of caution, however, was a subtle, almost imperceptible connection. It felt as though an invisible thread linked them, and although Quinn couldn’t deny its nearly intangible yet real presence, it bewildered her.

The only possible explanation for linking the seemingly harmless girl in front of her with this inexplicable feeling was one thing——an angel! Or more accurately, an 'Angel-Hunter.'

What are the chances of encountering one here?

Quinn's mind was in a whirlwind. She had deliberately avoided confronting issues related to other 'Angel-Hunters,' but today’s unexpected encounter forced her to face the issue head-on, leaving no room for avoidance.

The constant sense of restraint around her neck reminded her unmistakably that she was one of them. Yet, her past human identity prevented her from fully accepting her current stance.

What should I do?

"Hmm..."

Noticing the girl's eyebrows twitch, Quinn averted her gaze nonchalantly. Remaining hidden was the wisest move for now. Without understanding the relationships between Angel-Hunters and the cause of her transformation, it was best not to engage with them too much.

The girl opened her eyes, revealing deep black pupils. After a moment of confusion, she noticed Quinn and the other two in the room.

When the girl’s gaze moved away after briefly pausing on her, Quinn breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed like the girl hadn’t identified her.

"Um..." Sensing the tense atmosphere, the tall, thin young man suddenly spoke, drawing everyone's attention. "In this crazy situation, it's kind of wild that we’re all here together. How about we do some introductions? I'm Wilson, just your friendly neighborhood cashier."

"Campbell, a company employee..."

The bespectacled man responded indifferently while wiping the blood off a baseball bat with the cushion of a chair. Only then did Quinn notice the bat had several nails hammered into it. Despite the haphazard and twisted arrangement of the nails indicating a rushed job, it was clear that Campbell was no ordinary person.

At the very least, having the composure to face those monsters was not something an average person could manage.

"Steve... and this is my wife, Taylor." The middle-aged man introduced himself and his wife. The woman named Taylor nodded slightly towards Quinn and the others. Her pale face showed that she had yet to recover from the sudden disaster.

“Wilson. Leave me alone.” The blonde man snapped impatiently before giving up on his phone and sitting down nearby with a sigh.

After Quinn and her group briefly introduced themselves, everyone turned their attention to the girl in the corner. The girl, who had been trying to minimize her presence, seemed surprised to find herself the focus of attention.

After a moment of silence, the girl coldly said, "Rita."

Then she did nothing more, quietly sitting in her corner. Her icy demeanor deterred anyone from trying to probe further. In these circumstances, no one paid much attention to the odd girl. However, Quinn's uneasy heart was filled with doubt.

From Rita’s tone, aside from being somewhat distant, she didn’t seem malicious. So why were Angel-Hunters in the past so hostile to humans without reason? Could it be that their attitudes towards humans varied?

"Um... what should we do now?" Lloyd cautiously whispered to Quinn.

Quinn thought they should wait until the initial panic of the apocalypse subsided before heading to the southern part of the city.

But now, she wanted to leave as soon as possible. Her identity and the presence of Rita were her biggest concerns.

How can I get Lloyd and Hana to the southern part of the city?

"How about we wait for a rescue? The government will definitely come help us after such a big incident." Wilson replied, as if it were the most obvious thing.

"That's not gonna work," Campbell interrupted while cleaning his bat, giving Wilson a cold look through his glasses. "This might not just be our problem here in WY County. It could be way bigger than that – maybe even affecting the whole country or world. The central government probably has bigger fish to fry right now."

" I-I-I-I?"

"Yep, that's right. You over there, trying to make calls and moving around from the door to the window, huh? I bet you first got a busy signal and then lost the signal completely."

Campbell’s words made the man widen his eyes in disbelief, confirming his guess.

"The next part is simple. You should know that the cell towers covering WY County are located in the neighboring county..."

The implication was clear and didn't need further explanation. Campbell’s point was obvious. This disaster wasn’t confined to one area, and many, like Wilson, who hoped for a miracle, couldn’t help but feel a sinking heart.

"...So, what do we do now? What are those things outside?" Wilson asked, trembling.

"I don't know." Campbell shrugged. "If the situation outside can’t be explained scientifically, and if those things stay as they are, this disaster will end soon."

Exactly.

Quinn’s impression of Campbell improved. His logical thinkings and deductions were impressive. As Campbell said, if the zombies stayed as they were, the military would soon wipe them out. Even the armed police alone might suffice.

But unfortunately, the early stages of the apocalypse were when zombies evolved the fastest. People's lack of knowledge about zombies meant they couldn't effectively resist them, making them catalysts for the zombies' evolution.

Besides zombies, the virus also infected animals, and these mutated creatures were even more terrifying than zombies. They had purer evolutionary paths and more pronounced instincts. The virus unleashed their hidden potential and wild nature endlessly.

Luckily, their evolution conditions were more stringent, and their numbers weren't as overwhelming as the zombie hordes.

"You... why are you so good at this?" Wilson's question voiced everyone's thoughts. How could such a logically rigorous person be just a simple company employee?

"Well... not long ago, I was just like you." Campbell smiled, pointing to his head and making circles with his finger. "I had a headache tonight and found my thinking and logic had gotten way better."

His seemingly dismissive answer gave Quinn a clue.

Campbell was likely an evolved human.

The virus’s goal was simple——evolution.

Zombies were the result of the virus causing hosts to take a wrong evolutionary path. But the ultimate successful products of the virus were evolved humans——at least according to official sources.

As the name suggests, evolved humans gained abilities surpassing ordinary humans in various respects, either physically or otherwise.

Campbell probably had his brain supported and evolved by the virus, expanding his neural transmission speed and reflex arcs. This turned him from an ordinary employee into an evolved human, one whose brain was enhanced.

"Just like me?"

Campbell smiled and was about to speak when a loud bang came from the tightly closed door. The force was so strong that it made the iron chain securing the door creak. The low growling outside indicated who was there.

"Quick, block it!"

Everyone sprang into action, except Rita, who remained calm. They hurriedly moved tables and chairs to block the door. In the chaos, Quinn kept an eye on Rita, but the girl didn’t even open her eyes, disappointing Quinn slightly.

After a moment of pounding, everything went silent. Campbell pressed his ear to the door, listening carefully, then turned back and said, "They’ve moved on. They didn’t notice us."

"Phew..."

Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief, their tightly strung nerves finally relaxing.

"Hey! Why didn’t you help just now?"

A sudden angry shout made everyone turn towards the source. In the corner, the blonde man glared at Rita, whose only response was to open her eyes calmly.

"Why should I help you?"

Her indifferent tone and expression ignited the blonde man's pent-up anger.

"If everyone thought like you, we'd all be dead!"

"Nah." A soft sigh, followed by a change in her demeanor, now filled with an invasive aura. It wasn’t icy anymore, but it sent a chill down everyone’s spine. Her eyes showed a hint of pity as she scanned the room.

"The ones who will die... are you."

"..."

The man was suddenly gripped by inexplicable fear, unable to speak, as if a hand was squeezing his throat.

"Okay, okay, this ain't the time for fighting..." Campbell stepped in just in time, offering a graceful exit. Everyone knew the man didn’t have the courage to continue arguing.

It's getting dark now. We should rest. There are nine of us here. Ladies can sleep while the guys take turns keeping watch. We’ll figure out what to do tomorrow based on how things look..." Campbell looked around, seeking agreement.

Given the circumstances, there was no other choice...

Quinn smiled bitterly to herself.

For now, they can only take it one step at a time.