[Kill Points - 99]
I was one point short from upgrading my [Tactical Map] Skill from level 1 to 2, but the area was just a barren land now. The once-walking corpses laid still, leaving me covered in red, with a pungent smell.
I flicked the now chipped and battered machete in my hand, cleaning the blood as much as I could, then I put it into the sheath attached to my waist.
I glanced at the Humvee sitting in the middle of the outpost, out of gas, of course, and then I gazed at the sedan I drove here in.
I picked every gun I could find in the vicinity, two M4s and M16s, one MP5, four M1911s, two Beretta, and a Shotgun with two shells inside. And I also found the key to the Humvee.
I placed all of the weapons and supplies I found inside the Humvee, and all I had to do was siphon the gas from my car to the Humvee, and I upgraded my vehicle.
By the time I reach the Inn, it will be past breakfast, I thought, looking at the sky.
I started the Humvee and began my journey back to Macon.
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Last night in Macon:
Nick descended the stairs with feet stomping on each step like a spoiled child. 'I need to go back in there,' Nick thought and glanced at Lilly and then at the storage room. He scratched the back of his neck, irritated.
Carley didn't come down for dinner, as she passed out after having a sip of the drink she took from Nick. Lilly came to her room to give her food and found her sleeping, and she shook her head seeing that the bottle was almost untouched.
'Can't handle her liquor.' She placed the food next to her, picked the bottle from the table, and took it with her.
Downstairs:
The group sat around a makeshift dinner table, sharing a meal. The mood is relatively light despite their circumstances.
"Well, I ain't gonna lie, this ain't the worst meal I've had. Had some canned sardines a while back that tasted like motor oil." Kenny said, scooping a spoonful of beans onto his plate.
The group chuckled, "You sure it wasn't actual motor oil? Wouldn't surprise me," Nick said as he took a bite out of his food.
Kenny grins, "Boy, I oughta—" and mocks a glare at Nick, then smirks, "Nah, but seriously, I miss a good ol' home-cooked meal. Ain't much beats Kat's cooking."
Katjaa shakes her head, with a smile on her face like she usually has, "Flattery will not get you extra food, honey."
Clem laughed looking at the couple, Alicia leaned back on her chair, "So… you guys think this place is safe?" she asked not looking up at her food.
The group went quiet. "Safer than most," Kenny replied with a shrug.
"Wesker's making it safer." Clementine nods.
"Yeah, him," Alicia mutters glancing at Clem who is always talking about Wesker.
The table stays quiet for a moment longer. Everyone knows what she's thinking.
"We're alive because of him," Madison said flatly. Alicia never thought that she'd hear those words from her mother. Her heart clutched. Do you even miss Dad? Alicia secretly glances at her mother and Nick with doubt and sadness.
Kenny broke the awkward moment, "So, who here had a meal worse than my canned sardines?"
Nick smirked, "A protein bar I found in my dad's glove compartment once, Rock solid. Pretty sure I cracked a tooth."
Alicia rolled her eyes, putting her feelings to the side and trying to enjoy the moment, "That's what you get for eating something that's probably been in there since the 90s."
The group shared a laugh; the worst of their days were over, and it was time for a new beginning.
Lilly came down from Carley's room. Seeing the group happier than usual, she raised the bottle high, and the group looked toward her. "Figured we could use a drink."
Kenny raised an eyebrow, pausing mid-bite. Katjaa, ever the responsible one, sighed but didn't immediately object. Madison glanced at the bottle but said nothing.
"Well, I ain't sayin' no…" Kenny said with a smirk.
"Kenny…" Katjaa mumbled disapprovingly.
Lilly shrugged, "Just a little. Take the edge off."
Clementine and Alicia exchanged glances, knowing they wouldn't get a sip, not that they wanted it, anyway. Meanwhile, Nick, who had been eating in silence, suddenly noticed the bottle. His entire body stiffened for just a second before he leaned back, trying to look casual.
Lilly walked over to set the bottle down, but just as she did, Nick reached forward—stretching, maybe adjusting his plate—and suddenly, the bottle was knocked off the table.
Crash!
Liquor and shards of glass scattered across the floor. "Ah, shit." Nick feigned surprise.
Kenny blinked, looking down at the mess, as an imaginary tear fell from his eyes. Madison's eyes narrowed slightly. "Nick!" she voiced. Alicia, who had been watching Nick, immediately felt something was off. Meanwhile, Lilly just stared at him.
Lilly narrowed her eyes. "That was on purpose." Her tone was harsh.
"The hell it was." Nick scoffed.
"You didn't even try to catch it," Alicia said, her arms crossed. Madison tapped him on his head, "Nick, at least apologize." Tired of her son's rude behavior.
Kenny sighed, wiping his mouth, he stood up from the table. "Who gives a damn? It's gone now."
Lilly didn't say anything. She just kept staring at Nick, who avoided her gaze. Alicia's suspicion lingered, but no one pushed further, and dinner was over, perhaps a little bitter-tasting at the end.
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Moonlight shined over the Motel, everyone settled into their rooms. Lilly kept watch today, still thinking about the incident at dinner, Beside her was Clementine who asked her to let her stay, as Carley still hadn't come out of her room.
"What are you thinking?" Clem asked.
"Nothing." Lilly avoided answering and patted her head. "Hey, I'm not a kid. Why is everyone treating me like a kid?" Clementine said, though she didn't move her head away from the pat. Lilly chuckled, "That's because you're small, cute…" Lilly paused, "and alone."
Clementine frowned at the last word, her fingers gripping her knees. "I'm not alone."
Lily exhaled, staring out into the night. "Aren't you?"
Clem didn't answer right away. She wanted to argue, but Carley had been avoiding her, Wesker was always busy, and even Kenny and Katjaa had their own little world with Duck.
"I have Wesker." She finally said, quieter this time.
Lilly glanced at her. "What about me?" Clem looked at her face, and chuckled seeing her wipe a fake tear, "We haven't even talked before." Clem muttered, Lilly pouted.
"But that's changed now," Clementine chimed in. "It has," Lilly agreed. "And I talked with Alicia today as well, she's fun to talk to," Clem told her.
Lilly paused, "Clem, did you talk with Nick?" she asked trying not to sound interrogative but failing miserably. "You don't trust him?" Clementine asked.
"No," Lilly said flatly, "And I won't tell you why, but just be careful around him." Lilly finished the conversation about Nick.
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Katjaa sighed, brushing a few strands of Duck's hair back as he slept soundly between them. "He looks so peaceful," she whispered.
Kenny exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face. "Kid could sleep through a damn war."
"A war might be what we're in." She looked at him, her voice quieter. "Do you think we'll ever feel safe again?"
Kenny didn't answer right away. He just stared up at the ceiling, his jaw tightening. "I dunno, Kat. Feels like we're just getting by. One bad turn and—" he stopped himself, shaking his head.
Katjaa reached for his hand. "But we're still here."
He turned his head, meeting her eyes. "Yeah… we are." He squeezed her hand. "Ain't gonna let anything happen to you or Duck. That's a promise."
She gave him a small, tired smile. "I know."
A moment passed before Kenny sighed. "You ever think about just takin' off? Leavin' all this behind?"
Katjaa frowned. "And go where?"
"Savannah." The word left his mouth like it had been sitting on his tongue all day. "Find a boat, get the hell away from all this."
Katjaa studies him, her fingers wrapped around his. "You really think that's the answer?"
"I don't know," Kenny admitted. "But I know one thing. If we stay here too long, it's gonna get worse."
Katjaa glanced at Duck, then back at her husband. "Then we should start thinking about when."
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