Chapter 79: Highschool Survivors?
Camry drove at the front with Fredrinn following after.
The distance between the two vehicles remained short, allowing them to react to any sudden danger together.
With Rose sitting behind Fredrinn, her arms comfortably wrapped around his waist, the group managed to avoid most of the wandering zombies. Several of the weaker undead had already fallen under Rose’s control, leaving the nearby streets eerily quiet compared to the chaos they had experienced earlier.
The city looked abandoned.
Shattered windows reflected the morning sunlight, overturned cars clogged the roads, and dried blood painted long crimson trails across the asphalt. Every now and then, a distant groan echoed through the empty streets before fading away into silence.
However, the moment the group arrived at the nearest school, everyone instinctively slowed down.
Their expressions changed.
A large horde of zombies had gathered in front of the campus entrance, repeatedly slamming themselves against the thick wooden main doors.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each impact made the doors tremble violently.
The metallic outer gate had already been torn apart, its twisted bars scattered across the ground like discarded toys.
And from somewhere inside the school...
They heard screams.
Human screams.
"TONY BE CAREFUL!"
"KAT, DON’T ENGAGE! RUN, JUST RUN!"
"AAAAH!! HELP!"
The voices sounded young.
Teenagers.
Probably the high school survivors who had barricaded themselves inside after the outbreak.
Fredrinn exchanged a glance with Jenny, who was sitting in the Camry’s backseat while looking out through the lowered window.
A smile almost appeared on her lips after seeing him.
Almost.
The moment her eyes landed on Rose’s arms wrapped possessively around Fredrinn’s waist, her expression immediately soured.
She scowled and turned away, flicking her blonde hair over her shoulder.
Despite the effort she had put into cleaning herself earlier, several strands still carried a reddish tint, stained by dried blood that stubbornly refused to wash away.
Fredrinn brought the motorcycle to a stop beside the Camry before looking toward the school entrance.
"These zombies look like they are the weak kind and Rose should be able to handle them... But, what should we do about the survivors?"
The sound of the two engines immediately attracted the attention of the trapped students.
Hope exploded inside the school.
"IS SOMEONE THERE?!"
"HELP US HERE, PLEASE!"
"Is it the police?!"
"Just get us out of here! Please! I am even ready to visit the island!"
"HELL! I will bathe in oil myself, just help!"
’Oil...?’
Fredrinn frowned slightly.
Twenty years had passed since he had disappeared from Earth.
Perhaps these were some new slang terms that people had started using?
Jenny, Aadav and Max clearly understood the reference though.
The three merely exchanged awkward, complicated glances before Max cleared his throat.
Looking toward Fredrinn, he spoke as though the answer should have been obvious.
"What do you mean what will we do with the survivors? We will help them and take them with us on the bus?"
"We already have a lot of people." Fredrinn countered.
"And? So what? You’re suggesting that we leave these kids here alone? So they survive a couple more days and eventually get overrun by zombies? Come on, man."
Max spoke with heavy righteousness, his tone carrying the confidence of someone who believed he held the moral high ground.
Though perhaps...
He had already forgotten that it had originally been his idea to abandon several of the unchosen survivors and only bring along those who were useful.
What an irony.
Fredrinn merely scoffed inwardly.
There was little point arguing over morals in an apocalypse.
Everyone had their own line they refused to cross.
He simply shrugged. "Your choice."
Max smirked in response.
"Right... Forgot that birds of a feather flock together. Why would you care about some kids and humans?"
His eyes briefly flickered toward Rose before immediately withdrawing.
Unfortunately for him...
That single glance was enough.
Rose’s expression instantly frosted over.
Her crimson eyes narrowed dangerously as she stared directly at Max.
"Stay within your limits, you puny human. Talk to my husband in that tone again and I will rip apart your limbs and throw you to the zombies to become a special handicapped undead."
The temperature around them seemed to drop several degrees.
Max visibly swallowed.
Fear flashed through his eyes.
He could sense it.
Rose wasn’t bluffing.
She genuinely meant every single word she had spoken.
And after witnessing her casually slaughter Stage 3 zombies earlier, he had absolutely no reason to doubt her capability.
"I-I am sorry, Fredrinn... and Ms zomb–"
"You can call me Rosaline or Mrs. Winchester."
Rose interrupted coldly, her gaze shifting between Max and Jenny as if silently declaring her position.
Fredrinn couldn’t help but chuckle.
He gently stroked the hands wrapped around his waist.
The simple gesture immediately calmed Rose.
Her icy expression softened almost instantly, and the corners of her lips curved upward ever so slightly.
Jenny, however, only snorted.
Her fists unconsciously clenched.
Why the hell was she feeling so irritated looking at those two?!
Even Andrea hadn’t made her feel this jealous.
Yet deep inside...
Jenny already knew the answer.
With Andrea, she had always believed she stood a chance.
She could compete.
She could become the better option.
But Rose...?
Jenny couldn’t find a single advantage she possessed over the demoness.
Rose was prettier.
Sexier.
Far more straightforward with her feelings.
Clearly loyal.
And judging by the way she had threatened Max...
Possessive to an absurd degree.
Most importantly...
She was overwhelmingly powerful.
What chance could Jenny even have against someone like that?
She silently looked away.
There was no point dwelling on something she couldn’t change.
Meanwhile, Fredrinn’s attention had already shifted back toward the school.
The zombies surrounding the entrance were numerous, but almost all of them looked like weaker variants.
Rose should have little trouble suppressing them.
He tilted his head slightly toward the demoness behind him, speaking softly enough that only she could hear clearly.
"Rose, can you please make all those zombies stop attacking like before? We both can go kill the stronger ones while the others can take care of the weaker ones."
Rose immediately giggled.
Her earlier irritation disappeared as though it had never existed.
"Oki! But, hubby doesn’t need to get his hands dirty. Rose can handle it alone."
Fredrinn smiled helplessly.
"I still insist."