Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

Everyone else just turned in the direction from where the three radios were placed and the look on Chris and Adrian's faces was almost indescribable. The mix of anger, fear, and despair made their eyes go as red as how their faces were. Furthermore, Adrian was shaking uncontrollably and he drew blood from biting his lips a little too hard.

"THERE'S A LATCH UNDER THE EXHAUST FANS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE! JUST PULL ON IT AND IT'LL-- FUCKING LET ME GO! I NEED TO-- LET ME GO! PLEASE! I'M BEGGING YOU!!!"

Adrian was the one willing to die to keep their secrets but as soon as they heard the voice from the radio, he flipped sides as fast as he could. However, before I could ask him to calm down and tell me everything, the same voice resounded once more.

-

*bzzt*

[Hey~ I thought they would've killed you by now but I guess they haven't… yet.]

*bzzt*

-

"WHERE'S MY WIFE AND MY KIDS?! WHERE ARE--"

-

*bzzt*

[Where's your soul?]

*bzzt*

-

'What?'

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! IF YOU TOUCH--"

-

*bzzt*

[Calm down, they're alive. We killed most of you though… Right, can I talk to my guy?]

*bzzt*

-

Everyone looked at me so I picked up the radio.

-

*bzzt*

"Yeah?"

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Why are you taking so long?]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"I'm covering all of the bases, documentation of all sorts. We're just about to enter the basement."

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Oh, I see. I need a favor. Can you keep them alive? At least one of them?]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"Why the change of heart?"

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[It'll be better if their families saw what they did first. I think it'll be better if his wife kills him. She'll definitely do it. She's such a nice--]

*bzzt*

-

"LEAVE MY WIFE AND MY KIDS ALONE! YOU DON'T KNOW SHIT!"

-

*bzzt*

[Shut up. Let's see how tough you are once they see your 'pets'. Fuck-- I spoiled it. Gotta go, see ya~ Call me when you're done!]

*bzzt*

-

"HEY! DON'T FUCKING HANG UP ON ME! DON'T-- FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!"

Adrian never looked so distraught while Chris just looked like a kid that was caught red-handed. Both of them were shaking uncontrollably and their sweat have drenched their clothes. Everyone else was just too curious about the basement's basement but we had to clean it up a little bit more.

Even if it was like an open quarry, bits of flesh and blood were present with debris and other materials that were enough to give us a small cut, leading to infections.

We found a hose that had a pump available and we irrigated the basement in question. We sprayed water all around it and it didn't take long before we noticed on the far side that water seemed to be flowing down. I approached it and poured water on the area and the same thing happened once more.

'Who would've thought?'

It only meant one thing and it was that there was space available for water to occupy. It could be a bunker or a basement's basement but the owner just got unlucky and wasn't able to finish it in time.

It was easy enough to clean the place up then I easily found the latch and pulled on it. As soon as I did, a hidden compartment revealed itself and it led us to a narrow staircase where lights were flickering on and off. We saw the bits of water that trickled down but dust and debris were present due to the explosions that happened earlier.

It was a few feet deep but we were unnerved by the unintelligible noises we heard from below.

Just from the tone, it was like a mix of excitement, fear, and longing that came from a dog's whimper but bits of garbled human speech were mixed onto it. The pitch was a little higher than normal and something started churning in our stomachs. Something extremely unpleasant popped up in my head and I fucking hoped it wouldn't be something as fucked up like that.

Bogdan was the first one to voice his opinion, "What the fuck was that? Is it a dog or a child?"

Katya waved him off, "Bogdan! You're not helping! Shh!"

"I just--"

"It's really weird, we know!"

I was the first one that descended the stairs but I drew my pistol just in case. However, I was still met with three more doors, each having its own set of locks. It would be easy enough to pick all of them but the door on the left was where the eerie noises were coming from. Furthermore, we could see shadows from the slits below the door and we could hear dull thuds coming from the other side.

'No...'

I started contemplating whether I should open the door or not but I decided to open it last. The sad whimper continued as I picked the locks for the door on the right and in the middle, but my mind was still on the door on the left. I was expecting scratching sounds to follow but dull thuds were resounding in between those eerie calls. Furthermore, it doesn't feel like there was only one inside like the voice already mentioned.

As soon as I opened the other doors, there was no outburst of joy whatsoever even if we hit the jackpot. The amount of valuable loot was enough to last a small group several months and the guns and ammo available shouldn't be sneezed at either. However, we just closed those doors and paused right in front of the most important one.

My hand never felt so heavy when I picked those locks and the shock, disgust, and anger I displayed the moment I saw what's on the other side of the door was indescribable. Killing intent poured out from every inch of my body as tears flowed from my eyes.

However, almost immediately, the sad whimper turned into joy and that 'pet' ran up to us, trying to snuggle with its little figure all of us were trying so hard not to look at.

What we saw was a small, naked figure that had its arms and legs surgically removed up to its knees and its elbows, leaving small stumps for it to clumsily move around in all fours. Furthermore, its eyes had long lost their light and it seemed to be operating only on sounds and scents.

I thought we've seen the worst of what a human being could do but looking at this poor figure even closer and discovering the amount of abuse it took with its fragile body was enough for me to lose myself.

Every bit of negative emotion poured out from me and I didn't even notice the little figure scampering away and hiding further in the room.

Looking forward, I discovered that there were more of them and the one that ran up to us was the only welcoming one. Each of them was just scared out of their wits and a couple of them who were a little bit older had the ability to see.

Their poor eyes were fixated on us but they were fearing us for the wrong reasons.

In their eyes, we were strangers and not their fucking 'owner'.

I couldn't believe they survived here for a few days but the rancid smell coming from their room was evident that they weren't able to take care of themselves. The only thing they were trained to use were the dispensaries that provided them food and water.

I could only guess that they just made a mess by pissing and shitting themselves, waiting for their 'owner' to clean it up for them once they visited.

Everything else just turned into a haze and I found myself right in front of Chris and Adrian. I didn't even notice I ran up the stairs and climbed back up, and I could barely hear everyone trying to call out to me.

I felt relieved I barely brought myself back because I wouldn't want to know what I would do to them to be relayed when it was over.

I'd definitely not follow through with the favor that was asked of me.

I kicked Adrian's head down before I pulled on his arms that were still tied to his back, forcing them to crack and dislocate until they were lined up with the rest of his body. I never felt such joy hearing a pig scream in pain, and Chris' screams for mercy as he watched Adrian was music to my ears.

However, I wasn't done one bit because I bent every joint in his body that I could get my hands on, but the breaks weren't fucking clean. Sharp bits were jutting out from his skin when I was halfway done but surprisingly enough, he was still awake when I was done folding his clothes while he was still wearing it.

That was when I used a hammer as a reflex hammer, giving him a different kind of examination.

Each strike I delivered to his body would make him spit out a mouthful of blood while his eyes moved maniacally, but I turned the hammer to the opposite side to pull off the rest of his teeth. All I needed to do was line them up perfectly before smacking the opposite side with force, making him choke on his blood and pieces of his tooth.

I was so fucking mad I didn't even notice that tears were still streaking down my face and I only knew when I caught my reflection from their truck.

I just wiped them off with my sleeves before I struck down with force, cracking open Adrian's skull and making everything that made his fucked up decisions spill out on the dirt road. I was sure that he was fucking dead but I struck down a few more times until I made something similar to a Jackson Pollock painting.

Chris' face was a mess when I walked in front of him and his eyes were focused on the hammer I was holding in my hand. He knew full well he was next but he passed out before I got to do anything.

I snickered, "Like that would save you..."