97

Stay Alive

Chapter 97 – Gratitude and Request

Alan spoke at length with Lee, answering all his questions while they waited for Elias to give a clear answer on whether he could help with his radio.

If Elias could fix his broken radio, it would be far more effective than using another one.

Everything was going surprisingly well for a first meeting—but that was about to change when Merle woke up and began cursing at everyone.

“Just answer me one question: where is the shelter you come from?” Alan’s gaze was calm, though it was clear he wasn’t showing even a fraction of what he could do if a single wrong word came out of Merle’s mouth.

Tom, Kenny’s long-lost brother, looked at Alan and asked, “Why do you think I’d tell you that?”

“Your answer would be very much appreciated. You’d get your freedom back, and I wouldn’t kill you. If you want to belong to a good shelter, you could work for me—men like you are useful to me.” Alan checked the time to see how much daylight they had left.

Kenny, hearing this, glanced at Alan. There wasn’t much he could say, especially after hearing his story from Lee. He knew this man was far from simple.

As a former soldier, Tom had not only killed survivors who had once been military, but had also fought alongside FEDRA. Now, knowing someone far stronger than them was here, he had to choose his words carefully.

“Give me the exact coordinates, and I’ll pay them a visit and put an end to all this.”

“You want to kill people who are only trying to survive?”

Alan smirked and asked mockingly, “How long do you think they’ll survive like that? Let me tell you something—there are three phases to the end of the world. First, all the resources people were used to in society run out. Second, any remaining resources they can scavenge are turned to ashes by bombs. And last, without a system in place, they’ll end up eating each other like cannibals.”

These were the kinds of situations his organization’s teams had encountered outside Texas, where bombs had razed entire cities.

Had they not intervened, many cruel things would have unfolded across the country.

“I can confess to everyone in this room that I’ve killed more people than infected. As the leader of the resistance, I have to enforce order, clear the way, and secure an optimal future.”

Lee frowned. “You kill more people than infected?”

“I’ll eliminate whoever is necessary. None of the people I’ve removed were for mere pleasure. I made sure to save thousands before the city was bombed, I gathered the fleet that wandered the seas abandoned, and I took charge of leading them all.” Alan was giving them hints of just how far his reach extended.

Nuclear bombs, intercontinental missiles, fighter jets, armed helicopters, drones, and tanks were all at his disposal at any time. A single order from his mouth could wipe out an entire state—hence the need to keep everything under his control.

“I’ve already done a lot for you—saved Clementine, brought Lilly back, and didn’t kill Kenny’s brother. I don’t need your gratitude, I need your understanding.” Alan didn’t expect much from these people; in the end, whether or not they chose to follow him would determine what he’d do next.

Lee stayed silent, looked at Merle, and said, “Come on, man, answer his question.”

“I’m not your friend, you piece of shit. I’ll rip your teeth out once I’m free of these restraints.”

“No, you won’t.” Kenny wasn’t going to let his brother act like an idiot.

Tom went quiet. He knew that if he said too much, Alan would kill him without hesitation. “Wiping them all out isn’t the solution.”

Alan gave a slight smile. “Are you going to feed them? Most of them probably don’t even know they’re eating food stolen from massacred communities. They’re living in a dream that makes no sense in the times we’re in. It’s better to cut it off at the root—believe me, I’ve considered all my options.”

After saying that, he stepped out of the room and ran into Clementine, who approached to thank him. “I think you’re a good person.”

“Maybe you’re one of the few who thinks that. Get some rest now.” Alan felt uncomfortable hearing those words and walked out.

Alan didn’t see himself as a good person—just a man who now made decisions to save others. While he wasn’t as noble as his brother, he did have one advantage: his cruelty.