7 - Decision.

Decision.

— What the fuck were you thinking? — Larissa released.

— Dude, like I said, she helped me and I think we can trust her.

— No, bro, you talk to us before bring her straight here. We know each other from before but if you keep doing this shit I will have to get you out of the group.

Gabriel thought for a moment, saw a small celebration from Laura, Miguel just looking a little shrunk and then looked at Larissa, answering:

— Okay, sorry, it won't happen again.

Screw you.

— Besides, there's no way to know if she is trustworthy or not, what are you going to believe? In your intuition? This doesn't work here. If she were reliable, why would she be without a group for what ... 2 years? 4?

— 2.

— 2 years? That's a lot. If she was good she would definitely be in a group. How did she survive all this time?

— Calm down, Larissa, you know how unfair this world can be. — Miguel unexpectedly commented.

She looked at him quickly, breathed calmly, and then went on:

— Look, we can't just catch someone like that because you think you can trust. People disappoint you, Gabriel.

— What does it cost to give it a try? She would gain nothing by killing us, and I know that you guys are not rich or anything, if you were, you'd have better equipment and would help me with mine too.

— A risk is a risk, regardless ...

— Okay, Larissa, tomorrow we will continue with this, right? — Laura commented, interrupting Larissa.

It seems that even she is not putting up with these discussions anymore, even though I'm the one being criticized.

Larissa's shit. I have to sleep.

The other day, when Gabriel woke up, there was no one in the beds. In fact, there was one person. Zoe. She was there, sitting and looking at the floor, with a thoughtful face.

Seriously, I can't believe they left me here again. I have everything I need to go next time, no matter what the fuck I do. But for now, the only thing left for me is to talk to her.

— Uh, hey. — He said, getting out of his bed next.

She lifted her head, and spoke in a sad tone:

— Hi.

— How long have you been here?

— Just under an hour, i guess. When I arrived everyone was gone and only you were here, so I decided to wait.

Gabriel looked at his entire body, and looking suspiciously, asked:

— What's your thing?

— thing?

— You keep using those English words in the middle of the sentences. Or rather you are two years without a group, why? There has to be a reason.

— There's no reason, you have to believe me. I didn't find anyone in those two years, you're living this now, you know how hard it is to believe in anyone.

— Whatever the truth is, I don't think they'll accept you, they almost kicked me out yesterday when I got back. — Gabriel put his hand on Zoe's shoulder.

— Yeah, that's what I imagined, in both cases, but it doesn't hurt to try. Do I look like someone bad to you?

— Try to convince me will not help, I may even suspect, but I'm on your side. They've been here the longest, and I haven't gone hunting with them yet, I'm just a spectator in that choice.

— I understand.

I wish I could do something, I really did, but I can't judge Larissa for rejecting her, I know that.

— Why did you come here so early, anyway?

— Well, what am I going to do all day? Your friend kind of kicked me out, so ...

— Oh.

The two sat for a while avoiding exchanging glances, but always failing. The atmosphere was a little tense, Zoe was there just by chance, they both knew the result, but still, what else could they do if they didn't wait? That was probably the question that the two are asking themselves right now. What? Just, what could anyone do in such a situation? It's shameful. Embarrassing, to say the least. Gabriel hasn't even gotten a rest since he arrived, it definitely wasn't doing him any good and he knows it, but he can't help the slow loss of reality left over. But perhaps this is necessary, after all, this "new" world is not realistic at all.

There has to be something I can do ... at least to break the branch momentarily. What time is it? Probably more than 9, they only arrive at least half a day.

Ah.

— Hey.

— What?

— Do you want to do some exercises with me?

— Exercises?

— Yeah, like walking, abdominal, that kind of thing. I've been doing it in the mornings since I got here.

Although these days I didn't do it because of all this ...

— Ah, I also do it to be honest, but I didn't do it today, I was nervous. But it might be a good idea, come on.

Gabriel took a bread to eat on the way and before leaving, when he took a bite:

— yhymm

He looked at Zoe's belly, then at his face, there was a beggar's expression.

— Come on, get some bread over there, you shouldn't make a fuss about something like that. Gabriel pointed to a bag of bread.

In fact, this bread should be my lunch — Gabriel felt a little sad, but he didn't let that emotion out.

Both left walking slowly and without interacting much with each other.

Gabriel's normal route is to walk for about 30 minutes, he can see the clock in a certain part that passes by so whenever he takes a walk he can look. After that he went to the place where he trained with Jake, Gabriel did sit—ups, push—ups and some more exercises there, despite everything, Jake had left, after all, he did not hinder anything and was not considered "help", the only purpose of going there was the mat.

It was hot, very hot. So hot that a moment came when Gabriel took off his shirt and put it on his shoulder, and honestly, he definitely didn't have the shape or even like to look like that, but unlike other days, that day was on fire. At the end of the walk, the two were already relatively wet with sweat, anyway, Gabriel put on his shirt so as not to pass through the city without and went towards the mat.

When Gabriel came in first, Jake was saying:

— Hey, kid, same old?

— Yeah, like ...

At that point, Zoe came in next, and Jake changed his tone:

— And who is the beautiful girl?

He took her hand and kissed it, but when he stood up, he looked surprised, as if something had happened.

— Oh — he sighed

— What? Do you know each other?

Jake looked at her, looked nervous now, then turned his gaze to Gabriel, and replied:

— No, she reminded me of someone.

— This must happen often so, after all, whenever I come here you are with a different woman.

— But I'm not this time, am I?

— It's literally the first time, what happened? Did today's one blew you off ?

— Maybe, it doesn't matter. — he was annoyed.

— Will you want to use the arena or not?

— Yes, yes, I'm going.

The two did just the usual thing and in just over an hour they went back to school.

There, they took a shower and Gabriel changed and put his tights underneath for after lunch to go hunting, while Zoe put on the same clothes.

— urrgh, how disgusting, don't you have another change of clothes?

— Nah, I had two but one tore, now I only have this one. How did you even get money for more clothes?

— I didn't get one, this is from Miguel, it's big, isn't it?

— Yeah, kinda.

— Although I have one more, the one I used to train with Jake stayed with me, but I kind of like this one. Long sleeves and everything.

— Heh ...

Then, the two waited a few more minutes and everyone arrived.

First of all, Larissa, she was irritated, they both could hear her complaining before she even entered. She was wearing her hunting clothes over her mesh. A short skirt with shorts underneath, a shirt to the belly and tied hair. Clothes weren't her style, but it was good for mobility. Then, Laura came in, with a small cut on her arm and also wearing her hunting clothes. She also wore a skirt, but this one was bigger and her shirt was just a normal shirt, her size, with sleeves, and purple. When she came in, she, on the other hand, looked as if she were feeling guilty, with her head half bowed and listening to Larissa's screams. Finally, Miguel, wearing a shirt with holes, beige shorts and sneakers, all this, underneath the heavy armor, without much mystery. In fact, you couldn't see Miguel's clothes, but he already arrived without the breastplate and removing the leg part of the armor, so it was possible to see. These were clothes that they used only for hunting, they casually use another, but they have few changes of clothes. Miguel entered calmly and without being down or stressed, only in his, as always.

As soon as everyone entered, Larissa ended her shouting and turned to Zoe and Gabriel, staring at them for a moment.

— Well, I'm not in a good mood yet.

yeah, i think everyone noticed — Gabriel thought, avoiding talking. — I don't want to be expelled yet, though.

— So the only thing I can say is ... sorry, but unfortunately ...

— Wait, that's it! — Miguel interrupted her.

He almost never speaks, he prefers to stay in his. But it is because he is always analyzing the situation around him and waiting for the right moment to change the course of something, it may not seem like it but he is very useful, and smart. That's why Larissa chose him, probably, and that's why she stopped everything and paid attention to what he said next:

— It is not today that we need someone. Almost every day you just scream, Larissa, but the problem is not us, the problem is that people are missing. We increased the amount of monsters we attacked, taking more chances because we think we were stronger in those times, but staying strong is not enough if we are only 3. I can't kill the creatures and protect Laura, even with your help.

— Yes, but now we will have Gabriel. — Larissa counter proposals.

— Uh, yes?— he said in a tone of irony, not typical of him, but when he starts talking like that, he starts to get excited. — A newly awakened, with zero experience and a thief just 17 years old? First that he is the agile type, he doesn't protect anyone like that, and second that even though he is agile, he will need some help in the beginning.

Who is he calling newly awakened and inexperienced? Okay that's true but c'mon. Besides, he's only 20 years old, it's not that much more.

— And that's where she comes in. She can help him in the beginning, so you and I can focus more on defending Laura, there will be fewer creatures, so it will be like in the beginning and who knows, she may not be able to defend Laura at times. Much easier, don't you think?

Larissa thought for a minute. Laura was just looking neutral, but inside she was happy that the matter was not related to the hunt that just happened. Gabriel and Zoe were looking strained, but mostly Zoe, obviously, the subject was about her entire future, after all. She was almost shaking. Her heart was beating faster than when she did the exercises with Gabriel, every second passed for centuries. Still, she was on her feet, and it was now. It was all or nothing.

— Yeah, you can suppose so. arrh, i know you are amazing with that kind of decision and i called you thinking about it, but it is always sad when i am wrong. She took a deep breath, turned to Zoe, who couldn't even blink anymore, and then continued. — Okay, you're in.

— Yeah! — She turned to Gabriel, hugging him quickly, then moved away even faster, realizing what she did in the heat of the moment and leaving a somewhat strange atmosphere.

— But don't get confused, I don't trust you ... We don't trust you.— She looked at Miguel and Laura, then a brief look at Gabriel. — You will not sleep here for a while, I will not apologize, things are as they are. And if you try something, steal something, anything, you already know, don't you? — Larissa was serious, scarer. It was not like when she arrived complaining about hunting, it was different. Terrifying.

I have no idea what happened in all this hype, or what logic that was.

But if she came in, I feel relieved, and afraid at the same time.

Fear of my instincts being wrong, fear of her not being a good person. But we will see.

— How about we have lunch and then go hunting with all of us, huh? — Laura finally said something.

Damn, my lunch.

— Yeah, we have to adapt the tactics to include the two as well.

Gabriel told about his lunch and Larissa understood their situation, asked him not to repeat himself and gave two extra breads.

After lunch, Larissa took a break before call them to discuss strategies. Gabriel used this time to talk a little with Zoe outside, as Miguel went to bed in the room where they were and the girls went to the other.

— So where are you going to sleep? You can't go back to João's house.

— I don't know, but I'll find a place.

— Do you have any money? Some food, any change of clothes besides that?

— What is it? Did you become my mother? Zoe laughed. — I don't have any of that, but I'll probably win something today, right? Whatever it is, I should be able to sleep somewhere, relax.

— Okay then, take care.

— I don't know if I can while I take care of you on the battlefield. — Zoe smiled, giving Gabriel a shoulder in the shoulder, who just looked up thoughtfully, without much reaction.

Yeah, nothing has changed, I still need to prove myself.

And that will be now.