Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Shadow of Distrust

Ryo didn't trust humans. Not anymore. The scars of betrayal ran deep within him, etched into his soul the moment Aiko and Sakura were taken from him. The memory of their deaths at the hands of the government had obliterated any shred of faith he had in humanity. Now, as he found himself saddled with this woman—Sachiko—his instincts screamed at him to remain vigilant.

She had once been part of the government, a machine that had cost him everything. To Ryo, she was nothing more than a potential trap, a pawn sent to ensnare him.

As they sped through the desolate streets on his scooter, the night air whistling past them, the Creeper followed closely behind. It leaped from wall to wall with eerie precision, a shadow that seemed to cling to Ryo like a loyal dog. He paid it no mind, completely unfazed by the creature's presence. But for Dr. Sachiko, the sight of the Creeper was a constant, gnawing terror.

Sachiko's mind raced with fear and uncertainty. She didn't know what Ryo had in store for her. Would he eventually command the mutants to tear her apart, feeding her to them as punishment for her past? Or would he simply turn his gun on her, ending her life without a second thought? Every possibility was more terrifying than the last.

But despite her fear, there was one thing she clung to with every fiber of her being—her will to survive. She wasn't ready to die, not at the hands of zombies, not here, not like this. The thought of being ripped apart by those creatures, of her life being snuffed out in such a gruesome manner, filled her with a desperation she hadn't felt in years.

She just wanted to live, even if only for a little longer, even if that meant placing her fate in the hands of a man who seemed as dangerous as the monsters he commanded.

Ryo could sense her fear. It radiated off her in waves, seeping into the air between them. But he didn't care. Her fear didn't move him, didn't sway him from his distrust. If anything, it only served to confirm his belief that she was just another weak human, one who would betray him the moment she had the chance.

As the scooter sped on, Ryo's mind remained sharp, constantly assessing the situation. He knew that humans would betray each other if it meant survival. He had seen it before. And if Sachiko was anything like the others, she would try to do the same to him. He just had to stay one step ahead, always ready to act before she could.

After what felt like an eternity, the scooter slowed to a stop. Sachiko's heart raced as she looked around, trying to understand where they were. The area was eerily quiet, the silence broken only by the distant moans of the undead. It was a residential area, the kind that might have been peaceful once, but now it felt like a graveyard, the air thick with the scent of decay.

Ryo stepped off the scooter, his movements calm and deliberate. He didn't speak at first, instead surveying the area with the cool, calculated gaze of someone who had done this many times before. Sachiko's anxiety spiked as she watched him, her mind racing with questions. Why had they stopped here? What was he planning?

Before she could voice her concerns, Ryo spoke, his voice sharp and authoritative. "Don't touch her," he commanded, addressing the shadows around them. "She's mine."

Sachiko's blood ran cold as the meaning of his words sank in. She looked around frantically, and her breath caught in her throat as she saw them—the zombies. They were all around, some lurking in the darkness, others standing in plain sight. And then there were the mutants—the Creepers. Their grotesque forms moved with an unnatural agility, hanging from walls and ceiling edges like twisted gargoyles.

She could hardly believe her eyes. The zombies responded to his command, their growls subsiding as if they were obeying a master's order. The sheer terror of it all hit her in waves. This man—Ryo—could control these creatures as easily as if they were well-trained dogs. The realization sent a shiver down her spine. If he could command them like this, what else was he capable of?

Could he break into the last stronghold, the place where she and others had once thought they were safe? The thought terrified her. Searᴄh the NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Ryo didn't wait for her to process it all. He walked up to the entrance of an apartment building, one that looked relatively untouched by the chaos outside. With a casual, almost bored motion, he pushed open the door, the hinges creaking under the strain. He glanced back at her, his expression unreadable.

"Follow me," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Sachiko hesitated only for a moment, her fear of the surrounding zombies far outweighing any doubts she had about following Ryo. She nodded shakily, her eyes darting from side to side, watching as the undead creatures seemed to part for Ryo, obeying him without question. She hurried to catch up, her pulse quickening as she crossed the threshold into the apartment building.

The growls of the zombies echoed through the narrow corridor, making her skin crawl.

Ryo walked ahead of her, his steps steady and confident. The zombies, though still growling and snarling, kept their distance, as if held back by some invisible barrier. Sachiko's heart pounded in her chest as she followed him, trying to ignore the fear gnawing at her insides.

Suddenly, Ryo stopped and turned to face her, his expression hardening. "Try to stab me from behind," he said, his voice dripping with a dark amusement, "and see if you could survive even a second."

He smirked, the cruel twist of his lips sending a jolt of fear through Sachiko. She could see it in his eyes—he wasn't bluffing. The zombies were his to command, and if she so much as made a wrong move, they would tear her apart without hesitation. The reality of her situation was painfully clear: she was completely at his mercy.

The climb to Ryo's penthouse was exhausting, with Sachiko struggling to keep up. The stairwell was dimly lit by the occasional flicker of a solar-powered emergency light. Ryo moved ahead with purpose, his footsteps steady and sure, while Sachiko's breath grew ragged with each step. She had rarely ventured outside before the outbreak, let alone climbed so many flights of stairs.

Her mind raced with fear and uncertainty, unsure of what awaited her at the top.

Finally, they reached the rooftop. Ryo pushed open the heavy door that led to his penthouse, and Sachiko hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest. When she stepped through the doorway, she was met with a sight she hadn't expected—zombies. They stood eerily still around the penthouse, their dark eyes following her every movement.

Ryo moved past them without a second thought, dragging a zombie that had wandered too close to the entrance back outside. Sachiko's terror mounted as she heard Ryo command the creatures. " She's mine,dont try to attack her unless i told you so." he said, his voice cold and authoritative.

Inside, the penthouse was a stark contrast to the chaos outside. The living space was meticulously organized, a testament to Ryo's foresight and planning. Shelves lined one wall, packed with a variety of food supplies. There were large bags of rice stacked neatly in the corner, several cartons of instant ramen, and rows of canned goods, ranging from vegetables to meats.

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A sizable refrigerator hummed quietly in the corner, likely running on the solar power Ryo had set up. Sachiko could see the light through the slightly ajar door, revealing cartons of beer, bottled water, and preserved foods stored inside.

Nearby, a rice cooker sat on the countertop, along with an electric kettle and a small gas stove, all ready for use. The sink was clean, with a few dishes drying on a rack beside it. Next to the kitchen area, a compact but fully functional shower was installed, the tiled floor and walls gleaming under the fluorescent light.

A curtain separated this area from the rest of the space, offering a bit of privacy.

The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from the bulbs powered by his solar energy setup. Thick, dark curtains covered every window, blocking out any potential view from the outside world, adding to the fortress-like feel of the place. The penthouse was secure, functional, and far more comfortable than Sachiko could have imagined, given the state of the world outside.

As she took it all in, Sachiko couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and fear. This wasn't just a place to survive; it was a stronghold, designed to withstand the horrors outside. And yet, despite the apparent comfort, the presence of the zombies and the cold demeanor of Ryo made it clear that this was no safe haven—it was a prison, with Ryo as both its warden and its sole occupant.

Ryo watched her reactions with a smirk, noting how she froze in her tracks, still clad only in her underwear. He could see the mixture of fear and awe on her face, and in his mind, he knew she was no threat to him. But still, he wouldn't let his guard down.

Ryo's gaze was steely as he turned to Sachiko, his tone laced with a deadly warning. "If you're even thinking about trying something," he began, his voice cold and unyielding, "you better remember one thing.

If you kill me, there's no one left to control them." He jerked his head toward the door, where the silhouettes of zombies and mutants loomed just beyond, their presence a constant, lurking threat.

He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing as he spoke, his words cutting through the tension like a blade. "Without me, those things out there—zombies, Creepers, Brutes, all of them—won't hesitate. The second I'm gone, they'll tear through this place like it's nothing. They'll be on you before you even have time to regret it."

He paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in. "So if you're feeling brave, go ahead. Try something. But just know, it'll be the last mistake you ever make." His smirk was cold, devoid of any sympathy, as he let the threat hang in the air, a final reminder of the precarious position she was in.

He dared her to try, his smirk never fading. But the fear that gripped Sachiko was like nothing she had ever known. The reality of her situation crashed down on her, each word from Ryo tightening the vice of terror around her heart. She didn't dare challenge him, not after witnessing firsthand how effortlessly he commanded the zombies.

Her throat tightened, and she swallowed hard, her voice failing her as she simply nodded in agreement, too terrified to say a word. She knew, without a doubt, that Ryo wasn't bluffing. The cold, calculating look in his eyes told her all she needed to know—her life was now completely in his hands.