{Chapter 3}

*Sigh*

"I guess it's time to test my powers. [Inventory].", Al said, still laying on the ground.

Three screens full of boxes popped up. Two of the screens had a time button on the left corner.

"Huh, why are there three of them? Two of them look the same, but one of them looks plain.", Al looked at the corner of the screens to see a button named [Info] on each of them. She pressed the left box.

[Info]

[Nonexistent Time: where time is nonexistent and whatever you put in there never ages.]

She pressed the middlebox.

[Info]

[Fastwind Time: you could set a time of how many seconds, minutes, hours, months, or years to fasten time in the inventory space.]

She pressed the right box.

[Info]

[Reverse Time: you could set a time of how many seconds, minutes, hours, months, or years to reverse time in the inventory space.]

"Oh, okay. I see~…", Al closed everything and moved on to her next power.

"Hmm, I wonder if I can create a katana. I've never held one before, but I've seen it on the internet.", Al closed her eyes and held out her hand.

"[Create]."

A katana appeared out of thin air into Al's hand.

"Wah! How cool. [Create]!", Al created a backpack, along with some other clothing.

"Now, I'm all set. I wonder how long it has been for them. I should start searching for a way to find them. [Map]."

A map screen appeared before Al.

"Oh, there's a road nearby.", Al stood up from the ground and dusted herself off before going to the nearest road to follow.

"Okay, I made it. Now what.", she put her hands to her hips and looked around to see nothing but the road. She looked at the map again to notice another button on the screen.

"Oh, what's this?", she pressed on the button called [Locate]. It showed blue and red dots. Al then pressed the [Info] button.

[Info]

[Red Dot: A red dot represents how many zombies are near you.]

[Blue Dot: A blue dot represents how many allies are near you.]

[White Dot: A white dot represents how many unknown humans are near you.]

"Oh wow.", she closed out of the info screen.

All the dots started to appear. There were a couple of zombies near her, but far enough to not hear her make any sounds.

A blue dot was getting closer to her by the second.

"What? Blue means allies, but how are they moving that fast.", Al thought about it for a second. "Oh yeah, with a car!"

*Vroom*

Al saw headlights coming straight toward her. She dodged the car at the last second.

She rolled onto the ground, covered by dirt and grass. Dust covered the area as the car came to an abrupt stop.

Two people came out of the car.

"What was that?"

"I don't know, probably a zombie?"

"A zombie would not be smart enough to dodge a car."

"An intelligent zombie?"

'Well, those voices sound familiar.', Al stood up and shook the dirt off of her.

The two figures suddenly stopped and looked in her direction. They nodded to each other before pulling out their weapons.

"Who's there?", a deep voice called out.

"Man, you almost hit me with your car. I guess you're not excited to see me, huh, Ace? Layla?", Al said, holding her hands up to let them know she wasn't going to harm them.

"That voice…", Layla said in surprise. As the dust cleared, Ace and Layla saw the mysterious person clearly.

"It can't be…", Ace's eyes were wide open, as if he was looking at a ghost.

"It can be, actually.", Al had a stupid grin on her face. "Surprise!", she threw her arms up.

"Al?!", Ace and Layla yelled in shock, seeing their presumed dead friend alive.

"Oof!", They tackled her, making Al nearly fall, but she held them up.

"I'm so glad you're alive!", Layla cried out.

"Why did you do that, you idiot.", Ace gripped his hug tighter.

"Ah, man. You guys are really squeezing me here.", Al's voice was suffocated by the twos chest.

Ace and Layla let go. Ace grabbed Al's shoulder and checked her for any injuries.

"Did you get bit anywhere?", Ace said with a concerned voice.

"Yeah, got bit on the ass by some bitches.", Al laughed.

"That's not funny. Did you actually get bit or not?", Ace glared.

"No, mom. I'm fine. Bitten free.", Al rolled her eyes.

"How did you survive? Why didn't you ever come back to the base?", Layla asked.

"Well, miracles happen, I guess. Exactly how long has it been? I lost track of time.", Al had no idea if time worked the same for the void and on earth.

"Al, it's been 3 months since you've been missing. Where have you been all this time?", Ace asked, gripping Al's shoulder.

"Well, you know how bad I am with directions. It's a miracle you guys even found me.", Al chuckled.

"Let's get you back to the base. Everyone will be so happy to see you alive!", Layla excitedly said. She grabbed Al's hand and led her to the car.

"Alright! Finally going back home.", Al threw her fist in the air.

Ace ruffled her hair, "Glad we found you alive."

Al gets into the back seat while Layla enters the passenger's side. Ace turned on the engine and started to drive off.

"We have to get some supplies first. It's the whole reason we're out here.", Ace said, adjusting the rearview mirror.

"Oh, sounds fun.", Al chirped. "By the way, what's an evolved zombie?"

"Do you know that day when you went missing?", Layla turned to Al.

"Yea."

"You know that zombie that knocked down the door and blasted everything out of its path. Well, that was an evolved zombie."

"Ohhh."

"They have magical abilities."

"Magical abilities?!"

"Yeah, like those superpower abilities in those cartoons; super speed, fire, super strength, you name it!"

"That seems unfair.", Al couldn't believe zombies were able to get special abilities.

"Well, we humans evolved too.", Layla smiled.

"What! Really?!"

"Ace, show her your cool power.", Layla nudged him.

"Ugh, I'm driving.", Ace kept his eyes on the road.

"Please, Ace! Pleaseeeee.", Al begged, tugging his sleeve.

"Fine.", Ace stuck out his right hand towards Al, and fire started to appear. Al jumped back in surprise.

"Wow! That's so amazing! Actual fire came out of your hand, like the Manhwas I've read before.", Al's eyes sparkled.

"Yeah, yeah. Put on your seatbelt.", Ace demanded.

Al put on her seat belt and turned to Layla, "Where are your powers, Layla?".

"I don't have any yet. I'm hoping I will. Humans are evolving slowly. So, only Ace and Amelia have those powers right now."

"What power does Amelia have?", Al's eyes were curious.

"She can shapeshift in any animal. It's pretty cool."

"She's a furry?!", Al started to laugh her ass off.

"Don't make fun of her while she's not here to defend herself.", Layla said but let out a small chuckle.

"Okay, I think this is the place.", Ace parked the car next to a gas station. He removed his seatbelt and turned towards the two girls, "Wait here; I'm going to check to see if there are any zombies."

"I'm coming too!", Al took off her seatbelt and exited the car.

"Welp, if she's going, I'm going.", Layla chuckled and left the car as well.

Ace sighed, rethinking his life decisions before getting out of the car. They have their guns prepared and head inside the store.

They split up sections of the store to cover, and once the coast was clear, they started to gather supplies from their section.

Al was creating items such as; canned food, drinks, some self-care supplies, etc. She put the supplies into her backpack and on the gas station shelves.

'I'll just pretend I found lots of things. They'll never know.', Al chuckled evilly.

"Why are you laughing like that?", Ace poked his head from the other aisle.

"Ah! Damn, you scared me, bro. Come over here and look how much shit there is!", Al said excitedly.

Ace went over to her side and was surprised to see many items that looked brand new and untouched on the dusty shelves.

"This looks like a trap.", Ace raised his eyebrow as he inspected the items.

"It's not. Trust my gut feelings.", Al said confidently, but she was actually nervous inside.

"I can never trust you.", Ace deadpan before looking at the stuff again. "Okay, well. Let's get everything to the car, then. This is a big haul."

Al could tell he was happy finding a lot of supplies. Layla came over to see what was happening and was excited as well.

After loading everything into the car, they drove back to the base.

'Although it's only been three months for them, they changed a lot.', Al looked at Ace and Layla. 'They used to be more energetic and rowdy, but now they're more uptight. I guess that situation made them more mature.'

Al sighed to herself and looked towards the window.

"Al, are you alright?", Layla was concerned if Al was upset by something.

"Oh, I'm just thinking about how sad it is that anime is not around anymore. It's so boring nowadays.", Al closed her eyes and made a depressed face.

"Yeah, it is sad.", Layla sighed, but smiled at her. "You still got books though!", Layla said with a positive attitude.

"You're right, hehe!", Al smiled back at her.

'I'll get them all to be kids again. It's my duty to make sure they are happy!', Al had a determined face on.

"That's a weird face you have on you.", Ace said, looking through the rearview mirror.

"Your face is weird.", Al scrunched her face as she glared at him.

"Not as weird as yours.", Ace chuckled.

Layla laughed at their interaction. Al pouted and turned her head away, crossing her arms.

"Well, how has everyone else been while I was gone?", Al asked, uncrossing her arms.

Layla and Ace looked at each other before they both sighed.

"They've become more closed off in the three months you went missing.", Layla sighed again. "You had a big impact on us."

"I didn't know I had that much influence over you guys.", Al said, surprised.

"Well, you are pretty oblivious and naive.", Layla laughed sadly.

Al just shrugged and turned to the window again.

◎~—彡☆彡—~◎

They started to get closer to the school, and Ace looked at Al from the mirror again.

"When we reach the school, I will first drop you off in the back. You have to make sure to sneak in and not get noticed by anyone.", Ace said.

"Why do I have to do that?", Al asked, confused.

"Because it'll be a nice surprise.", Ace smirked.

"Alright! I'm in.", Al laughed.