Rebirth in the Apocalypse: Third Time's a Charm



"Not all the fun," I said, trying to reassure Liu Yu Zeng. I was going to assume that I was not in trouble for killing the Red Dragon member if Chen Zi Han shot two more, but I was also not dumb enough to ask, just in case. "There are still more left to kill. But I think they belong to you," I continued, drawing his attention to Ma Xiu.

"But Liu Yu Zeng and Chen Zi Han died, remember? We don't have anyone that belongs to us," pointed out Liu Yu Zeng, unknowingly repeating what Chen Zi Han had said moments ago.

"How could you have died?" asked Ma Xiu, more than a little confused. "You are clearly standing in front of me," she continued, and I looked up at the sky, hoping that I wouldn't burst out laughing or say something sarcastic.

"Yeah, he came back to life almost as soon as we buried him," I said, unable to hold myself back. Meh, I needed some entertainment every so often, and I was sure that she would be able to give it to me right up until I killed her. "I think he is a zombie," I continued, fake whispering to her from where I sat on top of Chen Zi Han's horse.

I definitely need the story on that one.

Ma Xiu's eyes went wide as she studied Liu Yu Zeng, and I could see the gears in her head spinning to determine if he was actually a zombie or not.

"Who are you?" asked Liu Yu Zeng as he went to go stand beside Chen Zi Han.

"Says she is Ma Xiu, Admin," answered the other man. The two of them shared a look, and I saw both of them rolling their eyes before they turned their attention back to the matter at hand.

"How many Dragons still stand?" continued Liu Yu Zeng, looking at the woman in front of him. I would have cheerfully ripped the hearts right out of her eyes and gifted them to him, but I was wanted to see what the guys were going to do next.

"Not that many," sighed Ma Xiu, reveling over the fact that she was receiving the undivided attention of at least one of my men. "There are almost 150 of us back at the compound, plus I have allowed any surviving family members to stay there as well. I was telling Chen Zi Han that we were starting to run low on supplies. When I saw this truck, I thought it would be perfect to go out and what we needed."

"You thought to take this truck?" asked Liu Yu Zeng, looking between her and myself. "Is she stupid? Are you stupid?" he continued, looking between myself and her. "You have to be stupid."

"But, Sir," the poor girl stuttered, "I know that it can drive. We followed it up here, after all."

"I heard four gunshots," said Liu Yu Zeng, completely changing the topic.

"First one from their side, second one and answer from Li Dai Lu, third and forth from me," said Chen Zi Han quickly and concisely.

"In our defense, she was being insulting towards the Red Dragon syndicate, saying that it seemed like everyone was claiming to be part of it," rushed in Ma Xiu, more than happy to try and throw me under the bus.

The smirk on her face when she looked at me caused me to raise an eyebrow. Stupid people were not that cute. 

"And?" asked Chen Zi Han. "She just came from a place where two people claimed to be Liu Yu Zeng and Chen Zi Han. Of course she is going to assume that you were lying through your teeth."

"But, Sir—" she started, looking back and forth between the two men as if one of them would be willing to take her side. New flash, neither one did.

"At the end of the day, does any of it really matter?" I interjected; my limited attention span all used up. "Are we killing them or keeping them alive?"

Without a word, my men raised their guns, taking out sixteen members of their old syndicate. Ma Xiu, the only remaining member still breathing, dropped to her knees in front of my men, her face pale as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"How could you… I thought we were supposed to be a family," she said, looking up between Liu Yu Zeng and Chen Zi Han before turning to look at me. "You!" she growled, coming to her feet. Staggering towards me, she started to wildly point her finger at me. "This is all your fault. You must have whispered some lie or other to get them to turn on their brothers!"

I looked down at her and laughed. "Brothers?" I sneered, "When have you guys ever done anything for my men?"

"What do you mean?" she asked, stunned at my question.

"Family shares everything, the good times and the bad. What hardship did you even shoulder for either one of them so they wouldn't have to?" I pressed.

"That's not the way the syndicate works," she replied, a look of disgust on her face.

"Of course not," I agreed with a nod of my head. "When the syndicate is all-powerful based on the work of those two men, you revel in it, announcing to the world that you belong to that 'family' and that others should fear you as they fear Liu Yu Zeng. But I am willing to bet that if there wasn't a free compound for any members to live in, you would have long renounced your ties to the syndicate and fled for the hills. Or take it over for yourself."

Taking a breath, I grumbled to myself. There was no way that she would understand what I was trying to say. Technically, I wasn't sure what I was trying to say.

Pulling out my gun, I shot her in the head. My headache was increasing, and I just wanted to curl up and take a nap. Whatever was in my first cup of coffee wasn't agreeing with me.

Liu Yu Zeng looked at me; the trademark smirk on his face seemed to be quickly disappearing the longer I stared at it. "Guys?" I asked hesitantly. The two men turned to face me, but for some reason, they seemed to be spinning around in a circle.

"Guys?" I said again, this time a slight note of panic in my voice. "I don't feel too well," I finished right before the world went black, and I turned weightless.