Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

I just stared into her eyes until she averted her gaze and her expression darkened for a short moment before she lightly bit her lips. Her eyebrows started to scrunch together and her face began to turn sour and sour. It only took a few seconds before tears fell on the side of her face as she looked back at me with hatred.

'Seriously?'

I just looked at her the same way earlier as I said, "Name."

Her face grimaced as she slammed the table in front of us, "Does it matter anymore?! You already got my files, what's the point of asking me?!"

"Well, you lied the first time I asked you and that's how a conversation works, name."

"If you're gonna kill me, just kill me!"

"Relax. What makes you think I'm gonna kill you?"

"Didn't you kill everyone from the other harbor?! How are we any different?! You're just gonna kill us after you're done with us!"

"Didn't you hear my conversation with the officer I was talking to earlier?"

"Talking and doing it is different! I could still hear how William was so frightened as he tried to warn us… He said that everyone was getting killed like they weren't human..."

"Yeah, blowing up several soldiers as a last resort is inhumane too."

"What?"

"You don't know? Then you're only hearing from one group and giving your judgment irresponsibly. That's why I'm here to talk to you so we could figure out a way to deal with what's happening between both sides."

"How could I even believe you?!"

"Well, to be fair, I could say the same about you. Also, I'm with them but I'm also not with them."

"Huh?! What are you talking about?!"

"I told you to relax, didn't I? We're so close to each other, you don't need to keep yelling at my face. As you said, talking and doing it is different. You said you're Estrella Domingo but in reality, you're Donnabelle Arizala. I just asked for your name earlier and you immediately spouted bullshit. If you don't want to die, the first thing to do in this situation is to cooperate, right? Not actively going against the person in front of you."

"..."

"For the record, you're following a drug kingpin while I'm working together with what's left of the government which is trying to get things back in order or the way it used to. Do you understand where I'm going with this? You used to work for the government, right? How did that change happen so quickly?"

"You have no idea what we've gone through! I-"

"Cool, now tell me more."

"..."

"I said I'm listening. You're about to tell a story, right? Be truthful this time though so that it would be easier for me. I still have 22 more people to go through, but I want to hear the whole thing."

She just looked down after regaining control of her breathing as she muttered, "We- We just had no choice..."

Donnabelle started to tell her side of the story and I listened to every word she said.

When it all started, she was part of a group of people that managed to evacuate in the city hall. A reputable officer was also in charge of them and everyone was given equal treatment. However, the place only lasted for a few weeks before the people that were living in the shadows came out to take this city for their own, forming their own empire in the process.

Each DDR Camp established in this city was razed to the ground, even the residential areas where the people in line with the government used to lay their heads on. Aside from that, all government officials, employees, and etc. were killed on the spot but they made the ones that were spared do half of the killing just to mess with their heads and make that a rite of passage. That was when the name Estrella Domingo was forged, it was done to survive.

All of the exits were blocked and no one managed to leave the city. They were forced into hard labor but they were made to feel like they were owing to the group the menial things they were given day-to-day. Most of them were easily swayed to follow their new leader even if the one that used to lead them was brutally killed by the man himself. Fear and helplessness was the driving factor and it worked wonders for the end of the world.

It would've been easier said than done if that was the only thing they were forced to do.

"Wi-William is my… fian- partner and… and… each pair was separated… so they… they could..."

Donnabelle's expression was so bitter, she wasn't able to form proper sentences. Her eyes were full of life earlier despite the look she was giving me but this time, they were slowly darkening, almost losing their shine.

I just placed a clean handkerchief in front of her while I waited whether she would continue or not.

She started bawling her eyes out as she was gritting her teeth and a small vein was almost popping out of her forehead. She was also trembling erratically and the handkerchief I gave her was getting crumpled, ruining the fine folds it had when I placed it in front of her. It took her a while before she calmed herself down and I managed to hear what happened next. She was adamant about telling me what it was at first but she soon relented.

The strong devoured the weak because as the day ended, the helpless ones were used for quick relief by the ones lording over them. Aside from that, for a fucked up reward system, the people that made great contributions were allowed to pick a 'hole' after the inner circle was done with them. Despite that, a few made 'giving their bodies away' their main role, removing themselves from the hard work most of them were put through.

Donabelle gave a bitter smile and a bitter laugh as she continued, "I… I tried rejecting it at first but… I just shut down… I was just so tired and hungry that time I… I couldn't believe I'm saying this but… it just became easier… and fun… if I wanted to skip work… I would just… lay down… or whatever they wanted me to do-"

I looked at her dead in the eyes as I cut her off, "Stop."

She started transitioning from being helpless to being maniacal, "If you're gonna do the same thing after this… it would be an upgrade because fat, slimy fucks used to take turns on me while those bimbos just serviced the real ones. I've sucked their dicks a few times but-"

"Donna-"

"WHAT?! YOU WANTED TO LISTEN, RIGHT?! LISTEN!!! EVERYTHING WAS STARTING TO GO SMOOTHLY AND YOU FUCKERS RUINED IT!!! I'M FUCKING MY WAY UP WHILE WILLIAM IS FUCKING PUSSIES THAT PROBABLY SMELLED LIKE ROTTEN FISH!!! HE THINKS I DIDN'T KNOW AND HE STARTED CRYING LIKE A LITTLE BITCH WHEN YOUR GUYS CAME AT THEIR PLACE!!!"

I just decided to keep listening to everything that happened to her because sometimes, listening was all that someone could do. I began to hear story after story of sexual abuse and she couldn't figure out if she was mad at the people that did it to her or just at herself because she gave in and was actually finding it the better option herself. She would go back to her earlier self then she would suddenly switch back to her other self as she continued.

At one time, she removed her shirt but before I managed to stop her, I already spotted several burn marks on her body. Some of them were fairly new and were just healing but the ones by her back have already scarred and ruined her skin. She was bitterly laughing at herself as she showed me each one and she even offered herself to me so I could assure her that I wouldn't kill her no matter what.

I immediately declined her advances and I made her wear her clothes back, "Not interested. The deal's the same. If you give me all the info you could and if you don't turn in this quarantine period, you're liable to get your own life back. It wouldn't be the same but it's a start if you want to do a do-over."

"You're not fun, you know that? Hah! Do-over? Let me tell you, I'm already used to this and I'll continue to do thi- What am I doing… I… I can't be- this is… I'm so- no… this is fine, much better than- no- I..."

'They broke her… and just left them here when it's convenient.'

I watched her having an inner struggle as she talked to herself but she suddenly stopped talking as she stared at me, "I think I got a name you'd be very much interested in."