The Master Takes Charge

Looking up at the cold expression in his eyes as he eyed her, Rose could feel a thrill within her body.

The whole pose he had, reminded her of some cold young master in one of these Korean movies. She had always watched them. Never for once did she think she would be in a situation like this.

The way he urged her to call her master. To grovel in the ground like he was some sort of higher being and she was the lower being. She smiled, relishing the lament.

Curious to know what exactly he was up to, she licked her lower lips and then bowed her head to him.

"Master?" She asked, looking up uncertainly to his face.

"I said. Grovel!" Abbey said without a hint of warmness in his voice. He stared at her, looking like she was one speck of dirt in the floor.

It thrilled her.

The mysterious vibes he was putting on was way different form the seconds of earlier. From the moment she'd seen him cry about his friend whom she had bashed his head. She heaved to herself, the heave raising her bosoms and lowering them down again.

"Hey… okay…" Rose sighed.

She bowed, placing both hands in front of her as she lowers her head tk the ground. Like she was praying to some god, a smirk on her face.

Then she looked up, sat up with askance in her yes and a smile to her face.

"Is thag all?" She asked him. "Would you save me now?" She added.

Abbey did not reply.

It made her even more curious, watching as he bent to the ground. His fingers flexed about the iron rod which she had used, picking it up. She followed his hands, up to his eyes, her eyebrows knitting in confusion.

What exactly was he up to?

"I told you to grovel. Is that how to grovel?" Abbey asked, coldly.

In a flash, the iron in his right hand dashed through the air. Rose only had seconds to react as her eyes widened, seeing the trajectory of the rod.

It was headed for her face.

"W-what?"

She shut her eyes tightly, gasping as she held her hand dog shield her face.

Howver, seconds later, the rod do not connect. Sheepishly, she opened one eye, seeing how the rod stopped only a few inches to her face.

She exhaled.

This one was one crazy beat of a kid. But still, she was fascinated. The sudden change in character. She had stumbled on someone very interesting.

Or someone who did have a split personality. That coward was gone. And this one… She was eager to know who it was.

However, she did not like the idea of him wanting to hit her. Her eyebrows knitted even closer.

"What was that about?" She scowled.

"I am your master. And the master does to the slave as he pleases to." Abbey responded to her, turning away.

"Look, I was just playing around with you. Don't think that you can just…" Rose responded to him, promptly shooting up from the ground.

"Shut up!" Abbey chided in a harsh tone. "If you do make noise, I would not hesitate to throw you out there for them to feast on you. Then bring you back when you are about to turn, and bash your head to pieces. Just the way you thought me to." He said, turning to focus his dead eyes on her.

She whimpered, shuddering in fright at his straw. Curious, she rose to follow him even as he walked some steps away from her.

"What now? You have some plan, right?" She asked.

The young mister in front of her just walked ahead. He returned to the counter, picking a black bag, one of the bags that owners of laptops could also purchase for their laptop. It was a backpack but a very compact one.

Staring at her for a only a few moments, ge moved on, shoving her aside without an apology. She flicked her tongue within her mouth, wanting to say something but gave up.

He was picking up some items and dropping into her bag.

"Hey, you know you have to pay for those things, right?" She asked him.

"I'm not interested in paying my slave." Came the cold answer as he picked a head set, a tab and shoved into the bag.

She shook her head. She made to go after him, only To for was he went over to his friend.

And then, right before her eyes, he picked the headset that was there. The headset the friend had on the shoulders, wearing it over his own neck. The jacket that had been on him, he removed and then tied at his waist while holding the iron rod to his side all the while.

"What are you doing, we should be calling for help. Maybe reach out some government agencies and stuff." Rose said, smacking her forehead.

Instead of her supposed master to be doing that, he was here trying to shoplift as much as he could. She wanted to stop him but then, what was the need of that? Her safety came first and right now, she was banking on him.

Or at least, even if he could not protect her, the. She could make sure that he was used as canon fodder. Allowing her the time to protect and escape herself.

So what would she gain trying to stop him from doing what he was doing?

"Don't be stupid; if there is a pandemic like this, the government cannot help you." Her master said just as she reached her computer which was at the counter top. "At least, not this early."

She turned around witha scowl as she looked his way.

"And why is that?"

At that now, Abbey turned around, zipping the bag as he wore it.

One look at the girl, he could only shake his head. This was the same girl who had been acting like some tough maniac but now, he could see right through it.

She was not tough. Not as she had showed herself to be. She was frightened and right now, the only reason why she had not gone bonkers was because she saw him as a joke.

Even when he told her to call him master, he could catch the sarcasm In her eyes. In the way she bowed to him.

She was mocking him.

But even At that, she had no clue at getting out of here.

He was either her hope of safety or her hope of a canon fodder. It was the typical chess exchange.

Where a piece was captured to push another piece forward. Or a powerful piece is protected by another piece, by another disposable piece.

It was the classic Queen, Pawn team up: the pawn was disposable but is used to back up the queen, it could help in checkmating the Opponent King.

He hated the way she she looked at him. The way she wanted to use him. But then, a part of him could only applaud her.

She was interesting.

In some weird way. He would keep her around so that she could see that she was wrong.

The person she despised would be the one to make her eat the dirt. He, none other but him.

"Right now, the government is trying to react to whatever this is. That is, the soldiers are probably trying to secure safe spots for the high ranking officers. Nobody has time to rescue the civilians right now."

"How would you know that?"

"It's simple. In chess when the King is threatened, all the pieces must gather to secure his safety. Only after the King is no more threatened, then can the other pieces, advance into enemy territory or try to secure a piece trapped in enemy territory. If I were you, I would look for how to survive this ordeal." He said to her, smiling.

"I have you. Why should I?" Rose scoffed at him.

[DING! Permission to go Auto pilot Mode?]

Abbey squinted at the words before him.

Auto pilot mode? What did that mean?

However, as if the system read his mind, the words cleared out, new words appearing in his eyes.

[Auto Pilot Mode is self explanation. Another word for it is [Forceful Adrenaline Rush.]. Your adrenaline hormone is triggered, putting you a constant state of flight or fight until your aim and mission has been achieved. Or until you pass out.]

"Hey, I'm talking to you. What do you have in mind?" Rose waved her hands before his eyes, distracting him.

"First…" Abbey clicked his tongue. "We are going to the gorcery part. We need to be close to where food is. That's for sure." He said, sighing.

"Great! That means we have to leave here, right?" Rose whimpered.

"Of course!" Abbey smirked. "You think only me would go out there?"

"Are you not my master?" Rose smirked.

"Cute but I am not your slave!" He frowned. "If you want to live, you would do well to run as far as you can, in my shadows." He bent his head.

Returning his focus to the screen now, the words solidified once more.

'What other option do I have beside that?'

[DING!]

[Testosterone Rush: This hormone is responsible for strength, endurance and high sexual drive. Activating would give you sufficient strength but Host would lack the benefit of heightened 5 senses in Auto Pilot Mode.]

[Side Effect: Host will experience high sexual drive and May rampage.]

On reading this, Abbey looked at Rose. It was good that a girl was here with him.

That is, if he ever decided to use that. He would not want to get down with a creature like her and her very annoying, irritating self. He scowled at her all the while thinking these things.

"Open the door!" He commanded, waking tk the front.

'System: Activate Auto Pilot Mode' He ordered mentally.

[DING!]

[Auto Pilot Mode activated: Time remaining until end; 4:58]

5 minutes it was. Abbey noted, praying that it would be enough. It had to be, he was not going to die out here.

Not when he had a slave following him. He would have to keep his word. Because even if she acted like she was the Queen, in the end, he was the true Rook. The only piece that could threaten and frighten a Queen from advancing into a rank and file.

The only piece that could force a Queen into submission.

The door clanged as it slid upwards, revealing a. Shattered glass door and zombies in front. At the sight of them, his heart exploded in mad rhythm, his arms and feet churning with insane strength even as the zombies charged.