Chapter 25: The Warning Shot

The morning was unnaturally quiet. Too quiet.

Snowflakes drifted lazily through the air, covering the jagged remains of the world in a deceptive blanket of white. The usual howls of distant creatures were absent. The wind barely whispered.

That's when I knew something was wrong.

I stood at the watchtower, scanning the treeline beyond the facility's perimeter. My breath fogged in the icy air as I gripped the rifle tighter. The floodlights hummed, illuminating the wasteland beyond.

Then I saw them.

Figures moving through the snow. Not creatures.

People.

A group of six. They were dressed in patchwork survival gear, weapons visible even from a distance. Their movements weren't aimless. They were scouting.

I tapped my earpiece. "Daniel, we've got company."

His voice came through a second later, tense. "More creatures?"

"No. Humans."

A pause. Then—"Shit."

---

First Contact

The group stopped about fifty meters from the facility. Close enough to see, but not close enough to be in range of the turrets.

I slung my rifle over my shoulder and climbed down the ladder. Daniel and Alice met me at the entrance, both armed. Mira stood behind them, gripping a pistol she barely knew how to use.

"What's the play?" Daniel asked.

I exhaled, watching the group. "We talk first. But be ready."

We stepped outside, boots crunching against the snow. The cold bit at my exposed skin, but I ignored it, keeping my focus on the strangers.

The leader, a man in a thick winter coat and a scarred face, raised a hand. "Not looking for trouble," he called out. His voice was hoarse, like he hadn't had clean water in days.

I stopped a few meters away. "Then why are you here?"

His gaze flickered between me and the facility behind me. "We saw your lights last night. You have power."

I didn't answer.

Another one of his men spoke up, a younger guy with wild eyes. "We need supplies. We trade, or we take."

Alice's fingers twitched toward her gun. Daniel stiffened beside me.

My system chimed softly.

---

System Notification:

Survivor Group Identified: Scavenger Faction

Moral Standing: Unstable

Threat Assessment: Moderate

Options Available: Diplomacy, Intimidation, Conflict

---

I studied them. Starving, desperate, armed. If I gave them something, would it be enough? Or would it just make them come back for more?

"We can trade," I said carefully. "But not under threats."

The scarred leader nodded. "Fair." He gestured, and one of his people dragged a half-frozen crate forward. "We have old meds. Antibiotics."

Mira inhaled sharply behind me. We needed antibiotics.

But was this a trap?

Daniel whispered, "Could be testing us. Seeing if we're weak."

I glanced at my system. No new warnings. No immediate danger. But something felt off.

Then the wild-eyed guy twitched. His fingers jerked toward his rifle.

I moved before I even thought about it.

---

The Warning Shot

My pistol was out in an instant. BOOM.

The shot cracked through the frozen air, shattering the silence.

I wasn't aiming to kill. The bullet hit the snow inches from the wild-eyed guy's foot. He flinched, eyes going wide.

The others tensed.

Daniel raised his rifle. Alice had hers too.

"Twitch again," I said, voice like ice, "and the next bullet goes through your skull."

Silence.

Then—the scarred leader let out a slow breath. "I see," he murmured. "You're not weak."

"No," I said. "I'm not."

His lips curled slightly, almost approving. Then he glanced at his man. "Stand down."

Wild-Eyes hesitated, then lowered his rifle.

The tension didn't vanish, but the moment of violence passed.

The leader exhaled, rubbing his jaw. "Fine. We trade."

---

The Deal

Fifteen minutes later, we had a small pile of antibiotics and medical supplies in exchange for some rations and tools.

The scavengers left without further threats.

But before he disappeared into the snow, the scarred leader turned back to me. "This world's cruel," he said. "And the strong take from the weak."

I met his gaze. "Then it's a good thing we're strong."

He chuckled. "Yeah. For now."

Then he was gone.

---

System Notification:

Trade Successful.

Faction Perception Updated: Wary Respect.

New Threat Unlocked: Rival Survivor Groups.

I let out a slow breath.

This wasn't over.

And next time?

There might not be a deal.

---

What Would You Do?

If you were in James' position, would you have fired the warning shot? Would you have traded at all? Or would you have refused and risked a fight?

Let me know in the comments!