Crazy Master

The group exited a ruined building.

"So the base is hidden under a ruined building?" Tony remarked. "Clever."

"That's not something you would've come up with, anyway," Hikiri replied.

"Even now, you're trying to provoke me, huh?" Tony shot back.

"Not my fault if you're so sensitive," Hikiri said with a mocking smile.

"You two, enough. The fun's over. Look at the sky," Simone cut in.

"Yeah," Tony and Hikiri replied.

"Well, others can see it too. And they can hear you as well. So now, follow me… and shut up," she said sharply.

The group followed Simone, who was navigating using a map, walking through the ruins of London.

As they moved forward, Simone warned them:

"Watch where you step. There could be traps on the ground."

Fortunately for them, despite the night, the clear sky allowed a bit of starlight to shine through.

"Simone, wouldn't it be better to go into one of the buildings to rest? It's nighttime, in case you forgot," Asti said.

"No. We'll stop only once we've left London. Keep walking," Simone replied, quickening her pace.

"We can walk just fine. Why are you acting like we need to run?" Lucien asked.

Tony and Aconé glanced at him sideways.

"Are you sure you lived in the old world?" Aconé asked. "You really think a city like London is empty? We need to get out of here fast, before we run into people… or worse."

"Alright, alright, I was just asking… No need to get worked up," Lucien muttered as he began to jog.

"According to my calculations and the map, we should be out of London in an hour. Until then, I don't want to hear anyone talking or laughing. Let's move," Simone ordered.

During the journey, Tony and Dina, running side by side, noticed several corpses.

Children, old people, mutilated men — arms and legs torn off, some even decapitated.

Among them, corpses of young girls with clothes ripped from top to bottom… It wasn't hard to guess what had happened to them.

An hour later, the group finally reached the outskirts of London.

"Made it in time, huh?" Lucien said.

"Can you shut up, Lucien?" Tony replied, annoyed.

He turned to Simone.

"Did you see the bodies?"

"Hard to miss… Poor souls," she said.

"Why do you say 'poor'? Did you know them? Maybe they did worse things than we think."

"So, because I didn't know them, I should assume they were bad people?" Simone asked.

"Maybe you should — or at least consider the idea. Maybe some of them were good people… but don't forget we're at war. Everyone kills who they want, does what they want."

Tony went on:

"You saw the corpses of the girls… some were still smiling, others looked empty. Maybe they were innocent. Or maybe they were already dead inside. War consequences… broken spirits."

"Tell me, Simone. When it's them or you… what will you do?"

Simone remained silent. She searched for an answer, an argument, but found none.

"Don't worry. You'll answer my question when the time comes," Tony concluded. "Now, we should get some rest."

"I've got an idea: what if we sleep in the trees? We'd be up high, in case we get attacked. What do you think, Simone?" he suggested.

Simone set the previous conversation aside and nodded.

"Good idea. One person will stand guard. I'll start. Then it'll be your turn, Lucien."

Lucien grimaced.

"You got a problem?" Simone asked firmly. "I don't want any tension in the group."

"No, no, it's fine. I'll do it," he replied wearily.

"Good night, everyone," Aconé called as she climbed into a tree.

The others followed suit.

"No one snores, I hope," Simone said.

No one replied. They settled in silently.

Simone sat at the foot of a tree, sword in hand, watching the surroundings.