Heart-Pounding Collab (4)
The chat's calling me a psychopath. Sociopath. Crazy bitch. Why, though? In this apocalypse world, sympathy is a luxury. I need to stay cold. Let's think about it. Could Moteok really come here and grab this item? I don't think so at all. If I don't take it, it'll vanish. Even if she comes, she'd probably die again. So. It's right for me to take it.
"I should eat it so I can give it to you later. Moteok can't make it here. Everyone... calm down. Everybody calm down. We need to be rational right now."
There was good loot, but...
"No... why are there so many bags? What were you gonna use them for... I'll toss these? Erasers? This is from that mod, right? But you need a pencil to write on the map. This is just an eraser. Ugh, whatever. I'll throw it out. No pencils? Yeah. Right?"
Lots of useless items too. Moteok's the type who hoards like a squirrel. Squirrels gather acorns like crazy.
"No, why books... Cooking magazine 2. Aspiring chef, huh... Hope you make it there. Aspiring chef Moteok. Resting here. May your second life fulfill your dreams."
I held a moment of silence.
"I remember. I didn't forget. That person... kid... no, it's Moteok. Moteok, the one with that pretty name. Etch it in your hearts, everyone."
How hurt would Moteok be seeing this chat? Can't even joke about forgetting. We're comrades. Comrades. I'll never forget.
"Anyway, think I got everything. I'm heading out."
Turned the radio back on.
"Can you hear me?"
Just dead silence. No sound at all. Debated turning it off to save battery but kept it on. Just in case. What if we miss each other by seconds? That'd suck.
While loading the farmed items into the car trunk, I muttered nonstop.
"Anyone there? Nope. Anyone? Nope."
Even after stuffing the trunk, the radio stayed silent. I started theorizing. My theory? ...There's no one in this town.
Super simple deduction, since the radio's so empty. I sorted the loot reaaally slow, like a turtle. On purpose. Chat was ripping me for dragging it out. But I ignored the mob and went slow. Moteok might superhuman her way here, or the radio might crackle any second.
But it hasn't. So, no one's here. That's my deduction.
What's with me lately? Making deductions like this? Yeah. I can. And I'm awesome.
"Ehehehehe. Good. Great."
Who else is gonna praise me? Gotta hype myself up even if it's embarrassing.
Anyway, hopped into the yellow car Moteok left. Human greed has no end. Would've been nice if she left something better. Kinda disappointing.
"Alright, let's really go."
I turned the key and... before driving off, checked chat. Still a total noob, tons I don't know.
"But I'm a beginner driver—is it okay to drive? Or walk? Advice please. Free tips welcome."
Chat exploded. Thrilled at "tips," even giving off-game advice. Ignored that, absorbed only game tips.
"Aha. Driving then. Thanks, everyone. Grew thanks to you all."
On zombie-packed roads, I chose retreat. Beginner driving + zombie surround = instant chow. Burned into my brain from experience.
Still hanging at baby village. On the slim hope a survivor might be here.
"Why's no one here? This can't be our last meet with Moteok... right?"
Spun around searching for people. Easiest map, baby zone... empty.
"Hellooo... it's me... you okay...? Why's no one here... One last loop, then I'm out if empty. Really no one?"
"Hmm..."
I gave it my all. If still empty, it's empty.
"No one's here."
3 hours farming and survivor hunting. Lots changed. Lucky pickup truck en route was the big win. Switched vehicles for the future despite the hassle of moving stuff. Farmed well, time passed. Now to Westpoint lakeside. Our pre-planned base. Total cheat spot, they say.
Never done base play. Always just kill zombies, move, kill, move. Pure hunting. So... exciting. Base play... installing generators, collecting cars... tons of car mods downloaded. Ehehe. Pretty up the base. 4 of us? Super cute. Hehe. What else? Tactics too. Escape plans from base... So much to try. This is what we saved for. Thump thump.
"Hurry~"
Heart pounding from hype. Our house... going home. Almost there. Our house soon. Our house...!
"Whoa... jackpot."
Had to say it on sight. Straight ahead, house 1. Black fence defenses on house 1, house 2 next door, house 3 behind. Three houses. All fenced in solid. Total cheat map. Woods nearby, but... won't breach. Fences per house force zombies through front gate... no one's that dumb. Plus? Water, clean paths between houses. Uh, uh, how to decorate? Ugh... brain hurts. Or scrap houses 2 and 3, live solo in 1? Its fence looks sturdiest. Mess with multiples and half-ass everything? Nah. House 1, toughest fence... main base now.
Entered main base.
"Anyone?"
Checked inside. Two-story, fully stocked. We were meeting here. Why empty? Zombies don't count—people!
"Zombies... can't kill here..."
Slowly lured zombies out. Blood splatter sucks. We live here—messy floors? Gross.
Killed the lured zombie outside, grabbed the corpse, dumped it far. "Kinda sad... can clean this?" Blood on road bugged me. Humans fixate once annoyed.
"Good. So, how to renovate? Wait, fuel! Fuel!"
All perfect... except no gas station. Fuel matters... where to get it?
"It's decided... this spot's good. We're all noobs, so safe, low zombies. Right?"
Should've base-played for a solid defense. No experience, no words.
"Anyway... sledgehammer, that one? In trunk?"
Switched topic, headed to car. Need sledge for reno—smash walls, rebuild to taste. Probably in trunk. All that farming... ehehe. Yes! There. Just sledge? Hammers, generator... cans, bandages galore. Pumped...! Did my share. Games like this exist. Click click... focus... click. No brain needed. Viewers handle smarts. Other games punish late farms/items—this one doesn't. Handle zombies, farm chill.
"House deco mode. How to best? Private rooms? Hope room sizes work. Warehouse too... parking? Kitchen—can't skip. Farm plot... too much. Hold on."
Say it, forget it. Hit tab, notepad.
"Notepad time."
Scribbled hard. Multiplayer rocks. Ideas flood. Builds on mine, wild new ones... overload, gotta pick.
"Agh... notepad's bursting. Stop here, part 2 later. Can't sleep at this rate."
Could list more, but reno itch too strong. Heart thumping.
Everyone chiming in, but my take: Others? Oh, them.
"Don't worry. They'll come if we wait. Shall we do this meanwhile?"
This matters more now. They'll show.