Chapter 8

After climbing so many stairs, we finally reached the roof. Half of the area on the floor we were on the roof. The other half and the floor below are what these people lived in.

I reached the railing of the roof and peeked outside. You can see a lot more from this roof. For some reason, this roof doesn't make me feel safe. The lingering fear that I sensed got more intense after I reached here. My feet want to run out of the building and leave the city as soon as I can.

"Come on, child. We will go sit in the common room." Martha called me from behind. A few more guys were standing beside her. All looked weak, depressed, or just plain worried. In honest words, these guys all looked useless. I guess it might have been luck that these people have survived.

I looked back at the city full of skyscrapers. The source of my fear was out there somewhere. I didn't want to face it. At least not until I am strong enough.

I followed behind Martha. Dana and Aria were walking in front of her behind that old man. We walked and passed a few more people. Both males and females in this place. So many of them. Everyone looked weirdly at my clothing and, more importantly, the sword. I also looked at the sword. There were a few blood stains in there. It seems these people had reasons to be afraid of me. The old man had urges to tell me to leave this thing behind, but Martha slapped his head from the back before he could finish his speech. Everyone seemed to respect Martha a lot.

After walking for a while, we reached a large room. This might have been some medium-sized conference room before it all went down. Martha went ahead and sat in one of the mattresses piled up on the floor. There were a few chairs in the room but no sign of any tables. It might have been used to block the stairs.

I also sat down at another mattress in front of Martha just sat down. Martha didn't start talking. I figured she might be waiting for others to come here before starting to talk. Few people started to come into the room as I just thought that. There were many people now that I saw all of them coming in. There were few children. Some with injuries in their bodies. One of them with a lost limb. I wonder how they managed to keep that person alive after losing his limb. There might be a doctor or someone with medical experience is with them. A few middle-aged men came with usual weapons that you can see in these kinds of shelters, wooden clubs, iron pipes. One of the younger ones had a baseball bat. The room soon becomes almost full. Martha let out a cough.

"So, everyone is here. I have good news for everyone." Martha said, her usual cheerful self was gone and replaced with a serious self. "This guest here already killed all the ghouls in the lower floors. We will have a few peaceful days up ahead."

A discussion broke into the room. Most of them cheered. Others threw a hostile look at me. I guess that's understandable, as they didn't know me, and I was strong enough to kill that many ghouls.

But what caught my ears was the word, 'Few.'

"What do you mean by a few peaceful days?" I asked Martha.

"My dear, we have also cleared these things twice before. We lost a lot of men both of those times. These things just come back as we kill them. The lower floors have already been turned into hell; it attracts those monsters." Martha said, looking at me with saddened eyes. "I lost my grandson the second time. Leaving only my great-granddaughter alone."

I looked at the tall but young girl beside Martha. She was her great-granddaughter. Man, she was old. I hope I can live that long. But this girl was something special. She had a fiery set of eyes, continually moving. Some of her black hair fell in front of her eyes, but she didn't seem to care. The body was also very well developed at both top and bottom; with her height and that shape, she could have been a pretty successful model if the time were not like this. She was beautiful. I didn't fall for her, to be honest, but anyone would at first glance. After Martha spoke, she looked me in the eyes, and I smiled at her.

"So, what is up with your clothes?" The old man who was with Martha asked.

"Ohh, these?" I grabbed the T-shirt and gestured at the pants. "I had to wear this before we left the last place we slept. Due to an incident, my clothes were all ruined."

"I saw you..." Before he could finish, Martha again kicked him at his leg.

"Don't mind him. Dozer, is there any spare clothing that might fit our friend here?"

"I will see if I can find any." A young man in the crowd answered as he left the meeting room.

"Do you want to join us? We would be delighted to have you with us." Martha said.

I looked at Dana and Aria; both had their faces shine with the question. They were sitting in a Mattress too. I can understand their feelings for this place. This feels much safer than walking all day and sleeping in hard and cold places at night.

"I am sorry, grandma. Can I call you that?"

"Yes, go one. That's what everyone calls me." Martha laughed.

"I am sorry, we have to move. I am searching for something. I cannot tell you now, but we can't stay." I said as politely as I could. The old man snorted after I finished.

"I understand. What is your name, by the way?" Martha asked.

"My name is Jurian Forst and this is Dana Reids and she is Aria Reids."

Before Martha could speak, Dozer came back with a set of clothing in his hands. "I found these; I think these might fit him quite well."

"Okay, you can rest up. You helped us immensely, and we thank you from our hearts. Stay tonight with us; I have more things to talk with you about."

Martha stood up and went out of the room. Her great-granddaughter stayed.

"I am Linda Falls; nice to meet you." She put a hand forward for a shake, and I didn't deny her.

"Nice to meet you too," I said honestly at that time, but that was the last time I felt that about her. Ohh, how naive I was at that time.

"Now, let's go; I will show you where you will stay tonight. Are you sleeping together?" She looked at Dana and Aria as she said it. People were still passing by us. Some of them looked at us weirdly. Seeing Dana blushing might have some false thoughts, but I had no way of controlling what others were thinking.

"We usually sleep in the same place but not together, or what you mean."

"Yes, he is just decent enough to avoid doing anything bad," Aria said in the middle of our conversation, and I lost my words.

"That's great; then one room would suffice." She smiled and started walking, "I will sleep with you guys too tonight?"

"What?" I almost screamed.

"I mean, we have a minimal quantity of rooms. You guys will share my room tonight." The smile on Linda's face seemed very off at that time, but I didn't think much. Ohh, how naive I was back then.