Recruiting Henry

In a rundown gas station in the middle of an unknown town, two figures — one tall, one short — stood facing each other, locked in a silent standoff, their eyes speaking louder than words.

Jason carefully sized up the towering man.He had to admit, this guy was seriously strong — easily close to two meters tall, with arms as thick as tree trunks.He held Dale aloft as if the old man weighed nothing at all.

"We're not here to take your place," Jason said, keeping his voice calm. "Our car broke down. We just need a part, that's all."

Jason wasn't eager to fight — mainly because he wasn't sure he could win.

"I'll give you what you need," the tall man said, his deep voice rumbling. "But you can't stay here."

He seemed simple-minded, but not malicious — and most importantly, he didn't seem to doubt Jason's words.

"Could you put him down first?" Jason said, nodding toward Dale. "He's an old man. You're gonna scare him half to death at this rate."

Seeing the stranger was willing to listen, Jason decided to push a little more.

"For you," the tall man grunted, and gently lowered Dale to the ground.He fixed Jason with a stern look and added, "But if you lied to me... I'll tear you all to pieces."

Jason studied him silently.Big, strong, loyal... and clearly not too bright.If I can win him over, Jason thought, he'd be a hell of an asset.

"Ahem, he almost strangled me..." Dale coughed and rubbed his reddened neck, still shaken.

"Head back with T," Jason told him quietly. "Tell everyone to stay inside for now."

"Be careful," Dale muttered, shooting a nervous glance at the giant as he limped away.

Jason turned back and smiled."We're kind of friends now, right? Can you tell me your name?"

He wasn't treating the big man like an enemy — and with a gun hidden under his jacket, he wasn't too worried if things went south.

"My name's Henry," the tall man said. "I worked at this gas station... and at the repair shop too."

Once Henry started talking, he didn't stop.Jason was momentarily stunned. Just a moment ago, this guy looked ready to kill — now he was practically chatting his ear off.

From what Henry explained, the gas station was part of a bigger auto-repair business. Refueling out front, repairs out back.Before the outbreak, Henry had worked here for years.But after the world fell apart, everyone else either died or ran off, leaving him alone to guard the only home he had ever known.

Henry, it turned out, was an orphan. This place was his family.

Jason nodded thoughtfully.It made sense why Henry was so territorial — he'd already fought off others trying to claim the station.

After a moment, Jason asked, "Have you ever thought about leaving?"

Henry sighed, patting his stomach."I haven't eaten in days. I wanna leave... but there's monsters everywhere.Even if I can beat them up, there's too many. They're like flies you can't get rid of."

Opportunity!

Jason's eyes lit up instantly.He stepped closer and said, in a tone dripping with temptation,"I've got food — real food. Meat. Lots of it. And not just plain stuff — delicious meals. If you come with us, you can eat as much as you want. What do you say?"

"Delicious...?"

The word alone seemed to light Henry up from the inside.His stomach growled loudly, his mouth practically watering, and Jason could swear the big guy's eyes actually glowed green with hunger.