One Hundred Six | *animal violence? 

True to his word, the following week, I stood in the church, stretching my neck. Sonar was letting me crash in his garage on an air mattress, because apparently I couldn't sleep elsewhere until I pulled my own weight, but Jessica had no problem finding Sebastian a place. Although, to be fair, she was letting Oliver stay with Sebastian which did comfort me.

I was dressed in a puffy, cotton white sun dress with a pair of lovely combat boots, Jessica said this was the only outfit she had (definitely giving me Karen vibes) and Ophelia gave me the boots. She would have given me clothing but Ophelia was a bit larger than me, that woman had lovely muscles I only dreamed of having one day. Hell, if I could get Ophelia's sturdy shoulders and riped arms with Lisa's thick ass, I'd be set for life.

What the fuck are you thinking about?

My eyes rolled at Zero's comment. She seemed to only understand survival of the fittest, not survival of the thickest. A chuckle bubbled up from my throat as I suddenly saw Sebastian walking up the large steps towards the church. My body perked up and I ran for him, launching myself off the first step and into his unsuspecting arms.

"Oof," he groaned, catching me, "Ey love. You look pretty today."

I couldn't help but bat my lashes, "Pretty enough for a wedding?"

"You could be dressed in mud, and you'd still be the prettiest woman in the world. Actually, if you were dressed in only mud, not going to lie, you'd probably turn any zombie near by into instant flames. Fuck, that's what this world needs, a nice view of your—"

I gave him a look and he coughed, his cheeks heating. Before I could scold him for his sexual tension vibes, I noticed a pair of horns out of the corner of my eye. Stepping back and away from Sebastian I noticed Oliver sulking up the stairs. While he was dressed in some normal soldier attire, he also wore his mask, no doubt refusing to take it off. I rushed him, wrapping my arms around him as he awkwardly pet my back.

"Are you hurt?" he asked curiously.

I smirked, stepping back and up a step, "No. Are you?"

"No. I am in good health, thank you."

I giggled, excitement filled me. It felt like I hadn't seen him in forever—forever was too long. Before I could continue, I noticed a beautiful black goddess walking up the steps. Tears filled my eyes as Lisa shot me a smirk, climbing the steps slowly. It had been so long, and the last time I saw her she was shot—literally. I let her come to me, nervous that if I jumped on her, I'd open some wound I couldn't see.

"Bitch," she grunted, her smirk melting, "if you look at me with those sad eyes I'm going to slap you. I'm good, I'm all healed and ready for your orders."

I smiled at that, hugging her, "I missed you."

She hugged me back tightly, her cheek resting on mine, "I missed you too."

"U-Uh hi," a cough sounded from behind her, we turned, my eyes falling on Ophelia.

However, her attention wasn't on any of us but instead Oliver. I knew she wanted to be included in on this but I also knew that wasn't my place to accept. I shifted my attention to Oliver, chewing nervously on my bottom lip I watched him carefully, trying to gauge his reaction. With that mask on, no emotions were revealed.

"Can we talk?" she asked softly, looking so small on the bottom step compared to him, "I-It's been a long time, hasn't it Oliver?"

Oliver tilted his head, moving down the steps slowly until he stood on the step just above hers. I shifted from foot to foot, awkwardly looking between the two. On one hand I wanted to give the two privacy, but on the other I didn't want Oliver to be alone with her and vice versa. Neither asked to be alone and so both accepted their small audience.

"Are you hurt?" Oliver then spoke slowly.

Ophelia blinked once, then twice, "W-What—no, no I'm not. A-Are you?"

He nodded, holding out his hand, "No. I am in good health, thank you."

Ophelia's eyes widened in confusion and I laughed. That settled that then.

"Welcome to the band of misfits," I teased her.

She blushed, "I-I don't understand."

Lisa rolled her eyes, "Stick around, you'll get it."

Ophelia looked at Oliver for a moment longer before turning her attention to me, I just shrugged, grinning. In truth, their situation worried me when I realized it shouldn't have. Oliver wasn't anything like us, he was special and different all on his own. He was simply picking up from where they left off because in his mind time ran different but that didn't matter, all that mattered was their reunion. For him, the past was just the bridge to the present.

"Come on," I said to my group, leading the way back up the stairs, "Let's go inside. I'm sure Father Antonio wants to pray of something before we start planning. Maybe exercise our demons."

"Exorcize love, exorcize is the word you're looking for," Sebastian snickered, pulling one of my hands to fit into his, "But don't worry, I doubt his book of prayers could ever dream to get rid of that pretty voice in your head."

I frowned, "You think Zero's voice is pretty?"

He nodded seriously, "I do indeed."

"Well it's a good thing this marriage isn't real—" I started before my eyes grew wide and a blush heated my cheeks as I realized my own stupidity; Zero's voice was my fucking voice, "Ok, well never mind you jerk."

He pressed his lips to my cheek, "Took you long enough love."

I swatted his face away, "Save it for the church."

"Gross," Lisa grunted.

He flashed her a smug smile, "Don't be jealous that Mira and I have found our happy ending—"

Suddenly, a piercing sound cut through the air.

For a moment, none of us moved. Our eyes wide with confusion. Then the screaming started. My mind flashed, the memory of the Town of Roses being attacked filling me and my fingers curled so tight that the tips of my fingers tingled. Not again, I wouldn't let that happen again. A speaker cut through the air, warning everyone away from the north port—an outbreak had occurred.

Ophelia gasped loudly, "The north port—but how?"

"Let's go," I commanded my team as I pivoted back down the stairs.

Lisa smirked, "Thank god, I was worried I'd get rusty at this rate. And soft."

"Come on love," Sebastian chuckled, "Let's show these islanders what we can do."

Oliver grunted in agreement, his hand moving to slip on his mask.

Ophelia gasped, her hand darting out, "Y-You can't! There's a system for this sort of thing! If you get in the defense teams way, they will shoot you down."

I glanced at her, my heart beat pounding in my ears, "If you want to help, get our weapons. Lisa's gun, my sword. Be helpful."

"Mira," she whispered, "Please don't do this."

Oliver's hand caught hers, "We are warriors."

Her fingers left my skin and I ran for the church door. Sebastian and I were running, my feet launching off the steps and towards the sidewalk. For the mention of a system, this was havoc. People running up the church steps, others crying as they darted down the road. I looked back to Lisa who nodded at me. Then we took off again, towards the north port. As we reached the road, I could instantly see the problem. My eyes narrowing at the scene: a large ferry boat had crashed into the port, black smoke coiled towards the sky, flames licked across the ferry's wood. On the boat, undead wolves attacked among undead people. My head cocked, no doubt this was Barron's doing but how did he learn to control undead people?

"Hey!" Jessica snarled, shooting a child zombie, missing it's heart before glaring right at me, "What the hell are you doing here? Fuck off or I will drop you."

I held back from wrenching her head from her shoulders, "We're here to help."

"You and your team of misfits?" she snapped storming over, behind her, the undead child crawled forward, black blood oozing from the bullet wound in it's lung, "You're not properly trained and you don't have weapons. You're a liability."

The zombie child grabbed hold of her ankle, she let out a shriek, turning back too slowly. The child's mouth opened, but before it could latch it's teeth into Jessica's ankle, I moved—faster than the undead creature. My hand grabbed onto Jessica's short pony-tail (my choice of grabbing her) and I yanked her behind me, lifting my boot and slamming it's heel into the zombie's head. It stayed dead this time, and behind me Jessica inhaled sharply, no doubt realizing how close she was to a real problem. I looked back to her, my eyes sharp.

"The only liabilities I see are soldiers who'd rather bicker than fight. We're immune, you would know better to let us help, we've faced these zombie animals before."

She hesitated for a moment before nodding, her eyes turning to Lisa, as she swallowed harshly, her hands shaking on her assault rifle, "I-I'll get you a gun."

"No need," Ophelia called.

I looked over, a small smile on my face. In her hands, Lisa's desert eagle, my sword and at her hip, Owl. Without wasting my breath on thanking her, I took my sword then turned towards the boat. My fingers pulled the sword free, dropping the sheath onto the ground, at my side Sebastian grunted in annoyance.

"How the hell did they not see that coming?" he muttered.

My eyes flickered, and Zero snickered, they did. It was a test.

TRIGGER WARNING: VIOLENCE TOWARDS ZOMBIE ANIMALS

Pushing her words to the back of my mind, an undead wolf snarled, lunging towards us. I dropped into a crouch, a smirk on my face. I could feel Zero's blood pumping through me. My body pivoted on one foot, my grasp on the sword loosening as I spun, cutting the wolf's head clear off it's body. Beside me, Sebastian bit down on his hand, he bled onto his palms as he ran towards a solder who was struggling against two zombies. I looked back to Lisa who stood behind us, her feet spread into a defensive stance. I blinked, her gun going off, the bullet scraping my cheek. I could hear a zombie behind me fall and she smirked.

"Pay attention," she mouthed.

Right. I turned back around, my eyes locking on the boat that seemed to have an unlimited amount of undead animals. I had to get that boat away from the port. My fingers tightened on my weapon and I started forward, long jumping over an undead wolf, my boot slamming into another's face. I slipped against the soft, rotting flesh and wiggling maggots. Landing into a front roll, before narrowing missing my fucking arm with my own sword.

"Hey!"

I looked up, Scar circled the sky above me, across the way, Sonar standing in the chaos. My eyes widened, panic filling me. If he got hurt, I would snap. Narrowing my eyes on my new target, I ran towards him, ignoring a fallen soldier whose throat had just been bitten out. Instead, on my way, I slammed my blade down into his forehead, giving him a quick death, Zero's strength filling me as I grabbed the zombie who had been attacking him before wrenching my fist through it's soft skull.

A loud roar cut through the air, a lion figure jumping from the boat. For a split second, I froze, my breath catching. It's ribs were on full display, intestines being dragged under it. The sight, to my surprise, made me feel sick. It was missing half it's face, it's bone jaw and teeth hanging out. Despite that however, it didn't seem to have a problem turning it's attention onto the man a few feet away from me. It lunged and I screamed in horror.

Scar however, didn't appreciate the lion attacking her owner, and dove, it's claws cutting the flesh that hung to the pitiful creature's eye. The lion veered back, no doubt losing it's only remaining eye. Without thinking, I grabbed Sonar by the arm, yanking him behind me before realizing my sword was still stuck through a man's head and into the grass. The lion roared again, it's head swinging back and forth.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I hissed behind me.

He grunted, "Hey Red eyes. Talk later, help me get to that boat."

"No, no," I snapped, "you need to run."

He smirked, "You know how to get that boat away from the port?"

Damn it. The lion lunged towards us. A fire filled me as I realized Zero not liking the virus infested predator, gave me another boost of her power. As if my body was plunged into a vat of adrenaline, I let out an animalistic growl towards the lion. It backed off for a second, as if suddenly confused where it fell into the food chain. Giving it no time to remember it's place, I darted forward, my fingernails digging into the spot between it's ears, mounting it. It bucked trying to get me off before it suddenly dropped, blood splattering across my cheek. I looked up, Lisa smirked at me.

"Fucking idiot," Sonar grunted, "What was that gonna do?"

I shrugged, getting off the now dead lion, "Thought I could poke my nails into it's brain like—beep boop against it's brain nerves so it dies. I dunno, like bullets do?"

He blinked, "Like bullets do?"

"Don't they do that to a brain?"

"No they—you know what? Never mind. Let's move."

So we did.