Black Rose: Kelly

 The living quarters of the underground base were eerily quiet. Inside one of the rooms...

Knock, knock, knock...

The sound of knocking echoed through the small space. The woman with long golden hair lay on the bed, her eyes vacant. It took her a long moment to register the noise. Slowly, she got up, put on her clothes, and walked to the door. She looked through the peephole and, seeing who was outside, finally opened the door.

"Oh my god! Jessie, it's so good to see you! You scared me to death. If it hadn't been for the Third Squad nearby, who knows what might have happened!"

Standing at the door was a woman of similar height to Jessica—around 5'9". She looked to be about 25 or 26, with an athletic build and a fiery demeanor. Unlike Jessica's elegant figure, this woman had a more striking, explosive appearance. She wore a tight tank top, which seemed barely able to contain her ample curves, and black shorts that revealed toned, long legs. Combat boots completed the ensemble, giving her the aura of a rose with thorns.

"Kelly..." Jessica's eyes showed a faint glimmer of warmth as she recognized her friend.

"It's okay, you're safe now." Kelly moved closer, wrapping her arms around Jessica and gently stroking her back. She whispered, "This is war, Jessie. They were warriors, and they fought bravely. You've been through so many battles; you know how it works by now..."

"Snow Leopard died—he was killed by Hound. Tiger, Black Bear, and..." Jessica bit down on Kelly's shoulder mid-sentence, drawing in a sharp breath. The white tank top turned slightly red from the small amount of blood. Kelly stayed silent, holding back her pain until Jessica finally released her grip. Jessica whispered, "Puppet died too... to save me."

"This is what happens in missions—life or death, hanging by a thread." Kelly cupped Jessica's face, bringing it to eye level, and kissed her forehead gently. "Tiger and the others died as heroes; they were valiant warriors. But as for Hound... if you want revenge, listen to me—he's protected by higher-ups. You must consider the consequences. And besides... Hound left the base last night after receiving orders."

"I understand. I acted too late." The warmth drained from Jessica's blue eyes, replaced by a chilling resolve. Her body radiated such intense killing intent that even Kelly couldn't help but shiver. "Do you know where he was reassigned?"

"No one knows. The orders came from above."

"I see..." Jessica murmured, her killing intent growing even stronger.

"Promise me you'll think before you act. I don't want you to be hunted by the base." As Jessica's long-time friend, Kelly knew her well enough to see what she was planning. She embraced Jessica tightly, as if afraid she'd rush out to confront the higher-ups any moment.

The two women locked eyes, neither willing to back down. For two long minutes, tension filled the room until Jessica finally broke the silence. "You know me, Kelly—that's not my style."

"Good. I'm glad to hear that. Everything will pass—just try to rest. One day, if the opportunity comes, I'll help you take down that bastard." Kelly spoke softly, giving Jessica a light kiss on the cheek. Jessica's face flushed, and she pulled away, still uncomfortable with Kelly's constant flirtations despite their long friendship.

"Oh, embarrassed again? If only the others could see our tough-as-nails beauty like this, their eyes would probably pop out!" Kelly teased, giving Jessica's cheek a playful pinch.

Jessica forced a smile. She understood Kelly's good intentions, but her heart was heavy. "Kelly, stop messing around..."

A heavy silence settled over the room again.

"I have a mission," Kelly suddenly said.

"Where to?" Jessica asked absentmindedly. She knew that, as soldiers trained by the base, they were bound to take on missions. But after witnessing betrayal, her brother's death, and watching her savior be swallowed by the horde—this time, it felt different.

"Capture or eliminate the Mother zombie. Bring back its body. It holds significant value for the base's research." Kelly shrugged nonchalantly.

"What?" Jessica's head snapped towards Kelly. "Your squad is taking on that mission?"

"Relax, Jess. We're equipped with the best gear and heavily armed. If things get too dangerous, we'll pull back. Don't worry. Refusing now is not an option—my squadmates are itching to go after what happened to your team, to avenge you all. And honestly, I want to do this for you too." Kelly reassured Jessica, then changed the topic. "Let's not dwell on that. I just wanted to let you know. Now, how about telling me more about Puppet? From what Silver Fox and Lion said... I'm curious."

Jessica let go of her intention to stop Kelly and was visibly moved by her friend's question. She hesitated for a long moment, her lips pressing into a thin line before finally whispering, "He was a warrior. That's all I can say. Maybe he was from a highly trained unit—he was skilled with firearms, knives, and his close combat abilities were remarkable."

Jessica's eyes softened as she continued, her voice distant. "A mysterious figure, swept into our mission by chance. Less than a day later, he died on the battlefield."

"That wasn't your fault." Kelly comforted her gently.

Jessica's voice turned cold. "I know the chances are slim, but if you ever come across him, promise me you'll kill him. Don't let him become one of those undead. He shouldn't end up that way."

Kelly sighed inwardly. From Lion's account, she knew that Puppet had been pulled into the horde alive—there was no other possibility except for him to be torn apart by the zombies. But she didn't want to further crush Jessica's spirit. "Any distinguishing features?" she asked softly.

"Caucasian, around 6'1". He has a spark tattoo on his left arm. If... if he really is out there like one of them, put an end to it for me."

"I will, I promise." Kelly nodded. "But as for you—I know how cold and focused you can be, just like your codename implies. I only ask that you apply that same cool-headedness when it comes to Hound. I don't want to come back and find out he's still alive while you're on the run."

Jessica remained silent, her lack of response weighing heavily on Kelly's heart. She sighed, kissed Jessica on the cheek, gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder, and left the room.

Kelly took the elevator down to the team briefing area. As she walked, she pulled a pack of cigarettes from her pocket, expertly flicking one out and placing it between her lips.

A soldier approached her, whistling as he produced a metallic lighter, flicking it open and lighting her cigarette with a flourish. Their paths crossed, each continuing in their own direction but moving a little slower as they passed.

Kelly took a drag, smoke curling from her lips as she smiled at the soldier. He playfully saluted her as he stepped backward, calling out, "Boss! You look stunning today! How about dinner tonight? My treat!"

Kelly's lips curved into a teasing smile. She shook her head, waving her finger as she turned away.

"Aw, come on! Just once?" The soldier sighed in disappointment, turning back and walking away.

The scene drew laughter from the soldiers watching in the hall, their laughter echoing throughout the space.