Trouble Strikes Again

DING!

[DANGER!! Host in perceived state of danger…]

[Activating Emergency Protocols…]

[Jumpstarting Host in 5…. 4… 3…

[Forceful activation of Myoclonus in 2.. 1…]

A series of notifications rang within the screen display before Abbey's shut eyes.

His body shuddered as he gasped, jerking up forcefully like a robot on steroids. His right arm suddenly blasted to the side and gripped tight into solid flesh mass.

His eyes flipped open and in response, his head swerved to the side, a soft gaps escaping his lips. Even as his eyes settled on the frail figure underneath his grip.

The old man choked, placing a frail hand on his grip and then patted it lightly.

"Let me go. You should turn off that Myoclonic jerk activation of a thing." The old man said, a smile on his eyes even under the intense strain. "Imagine if you got knocked unconscious by a creature in the back. Far stronger than you. Then your myoclonic jerk activates and throws you back to the creature path. Would that not be suicide? Turn it off if you want to live."

"Ah… sorry" Abbey muttered weakly as he blinked.

He sat back, against the ice cream refrigerator and then exhaled. One moment he had been fighting off a bouncer infected who had acted way stranger than the rest of the horde.

And now, he was here, right here with an old man by his side.

What about the girl? He didn't even know her name!

He gasped out, only to see the innocent but scared expression in the eyes of the girl as she observed him.

"That's right… side effect…" he moaned, holding the back of his head as his eyes fluttered to the ground.

Flashes of what he had done came rushing in his head. He had tried to take advantage of her and indeed would have had his way until something happened.

Until he blacked out.

Was this the old man that blacked him out?

He turned to the senior citizen, a scrutinizing look in his eyes as he observed the frail figure.

"I know what you are thinking but you should be at ease, young boy!" The old man smiled. "Myself and your friend here have been discussing. You know, about the things that had happened of late. That is, today, I mean."

"Yes.. and who are you?" He asked the old Man, undeterred by his feebly composure.

If someone like this man had blacked him out, then it was logical to conclude that there was more to him than he was letting out.

It unnerved him, as he did not know whether to attack him or be at caution with the man.

The man both triggered and relaxed him at the same time. He exhaled, looking at the girl beside him in askance.

Rose shivered, feeling his gaze upon her. She instinctively pushed backwards an inch as she imagined he was here to continue what he had been doing before.

"At ease, daughter." The old man said. "You want to know why those people who masturbate always go to bed? Well,except for the rare exception of those who have something to do at that moment. " he gazed Abbey, giving him a searching look.

Abbey looked away. He could feel the searing gaze of the old man into him like he was condemning him for the act he had put up earlier.

But it was unfair. He was not in control. His body had gone into a rampage and he was simply in the passenger seat.

"It is because when those people masturbate, they usually go to sleep because they have triggered their bodies. They put their bodies in a sodden state in which it wants more but yet cannot have the more it desires. And as such, the only way for the body to react, is to get sad or get numb. Then, in order to feel better, the body triggers a sleep cycle. So when they wake up, they are better and more composed. I am sure you can relate." The old man looked at Abbey and then moved a bit to look at the girl.

"People masturbating would testify that some do feel sorta sad after the act. The internet carries it, you know so, don't fear him. His body, I mean, when I hit him out, his body slept out the high sex rampage he was on. Even though it was only for a few minutes. Now, he should be good as new. I mean, you would agree right?" He nudged Abbey.

Abbey nodded now.

He knew what the old man said was the truth simply because he did not feel like having sex so badly like the moments before. Knowing the accuracy of the man's words, His heart triggered, missing a beat as his suspicion for the man increased now.

"That does not still answer my question. I want to know… who exactly you are?" Abbey asked.

"Don't you know? I am a survivor just like you and I am disappointed that you don't know what is more to me. I mean, come on… check your screen."

At the word 'Screen', Abbey frowned even more.

What was this man up to? What screen was he talking about? However then, it dawned on him that there was a screen right before his eyes, the opacity of the screen was only significantly lowered so as not to obstruct his vision:

He looked at it and then looked at the man. For lo and behold, there was a green icon hovering over his head. That one green dot, you would see over gamers who were currently online in a rpg.

He exhaled, was this man also like him?

If not, then why the heck was a green icon over his head. He focused on the man now, determined to ignore the screen before him. As expected, the screen opacity reduced once more, becoming very transparent.

As he watched the old man at him, the green icon vanished over his head. Abbey frowned even more. He focused on the screen and looked at the man at the same time, seeing the green icon coming back over his head.

"That icon you are seeing signifies to you that I am also a system holder. Just like you." The man smiled, baring out his white dentition. "I am surprised that you don't know this. You really did not go through the system Manual, did you?"

Abbey scowled.

System Manual? What was this man talking about? But based on how accurate his words had been? He could not help but find himself trusting in his words.

"What system manual?" He asked, sighing.

"Look, I know that I don't have the answers you may want, otherwise I would not have mistaken the Girl for a system holder as well. But you're really so dense, are you not?" The old man scowled now. "How can you use the Testosterone rush when you know you can't control your sex impulses? Are you that daft?" He chided him.

"I am tired. I want to sleep. And hungry…" Abbey complained, resting his head back.

"Yup! Activation of those hormones would only increase your hunger rate. Especially one like Testosterone. Should have done your study before you jumped in like some idiotic hero." The old man equally leaned his back against the freezer.

"He saved me. Don't call him names." The girl countered him.

"Okay, so he saved you from what? And then brought you here… brought you to the same floor where there would be so many people in it. How is that saving?" The old man sarcastically replied. "I tell you, it looks more like he brought you to die here."

"No!" Rose countered again. "He has a plan. He's not going to leave me. He didn't then and we came here because of the Food."

"And you think the zombies don't think that too?" The old man snickered.

"The zombies don't have intelligence!"

"Aw… ain't that cute? The same zombie that was battling your savior like it was a kick boxer did not have intelligence? Or the zombie horde that patiently waited until the battle was over to swarm did not have intelligence? Don't be dumb, girl. These ones are not the zombies you watch in the movies." The old man scowled. "They know people want food and so they would wait here, till humans start coming to their death. At least, that's what got me trapped here."

The old man sighed and then dug into his waist bag. He brought out a small radio, pulling out the antennae with a smug look on his face.

"I don't know about you two, but I should… I want to know what's happening in the outside world. There should be an evacuation plan or so." He said, nodding as he proceeded to turn on the radio.

CLICK!

Zzshhhhhhhhh… Zzzzssshhhhhh…

Static exploded the moment the radio turned on. The zombies screeched as their heads jerked upwards trying to investigate the sound. Instinctively, Abbey and Rose jumped on the Old man's hand, frightened as they tried to snuff out the sound.

"Aw… bullocks!" The old man cursed even as zombies appeared over the top of the refrigerator. "I forgot to turn down the volume."