Guldrin’s Gluttony: Family Bound by Speed & Food

Guldrin moved swiftly, balancing Alice on his shoulders, alongside his AR-15, while his other hand gripped his bloodied blade. Every step was labored, his ribs protesting fiercely against the exertion, but he pressed on. Zeke padded loyally at his side, his sharp canine instincts keeping him aware of any lurking danger. Asami followed close behind, revolver clutched tightly in her trembling hands. Her face was pale but determined; she'd proven herself in the chaos, but the ordeal had left its mark.

The aftermath of the fight was all around them, it was a morbid tapestry of blood, rotting flesh, and shattered bones. The air was thick with the acrid stench of death, and the guttural moans of distant walkers hinted that the battle was far from over. Every shadow seemed alive, every noise amplified in the eerie stillness that followed the carnage.

"Brat," Rika's voice crackled again, cutting through the oppressive silence. "You're tougher than you look. Most people would've keeled over by now, bruised ribs and all. But don't start patting yourself on the back yet. You've got more company headed your way. Though, if you are who I think you are, you won't need my help, or maybe you will, I was always a good support."

"How do you know so much about me?" Guldrin snapped, the strain in his voice betraying his growing frustration. "And how the hell do you know what I've been through?"

Rika's laugh was sharp, almost cruel. "Call it intuition, and it doesn't hurt that I took my rifle and the earpiece from Pudgy over here before you got shot. But who knows, maybe I've just got a knack for spotting talent, even if it's wasted on a thief who raids my stash. Now shut up and listen. I'm heading your way, but you need to buy yourself some time. Your current route isn't safe."

Guldrin ground his teeth but knew better than to argue. "Fine. Where do we go?"

"There's an alley ahead to your right," Rika said. "Take it. It'll lead you to an old service tunnel. It's tight, but it should give you some breathing room; you'll be able to utilize that AR-15 in the long corridors of the hallways. I'll guide you from there."

Without hesitation, Guldrin veered toward the alley, Asami close on his heels, Zeke never far. The narrow passageway was dark and littered with debris, the walls smeared with streaks of dried blood. The oppressive atmosphere made Asami shiver, but Guldrin's resolve remained unshaken.

"Keep up," he muttered over his shoulder. "We can't afford to slow down."

As they entered the alley, the sound of approaching undead grew louder. The groans and shuffling feet echoed off the walls, creating a cacophony that set Guldrin's nerves on edge. He adjusted Alice on his back, her small arms wrapping around his neck instinctively. She hadn't said a word since the chaos began, but her silent trust gave him strength.

The service tunnel loomed ahead, its rusted steel door hanging ajar. Guldrin kicked it open with a grunt, revealing a narrow, dimly lit corridor. The air was damp and stale, the faint smell of mildew mingling with the metallic tang of blood. It was far from ideal, but it was their best option.

"In," he ordered, motioning for Asami to follow. She hesitated for a moment, glancing back at the alley as if expecting the horde to appear at any second. Then she nodded and stepped inside.

Guldrin was about to close the door when Rika's voice cut through the earpiece again. "Hold on, brat. Don't seal yourself in just yet. You've got a tail. If you don't want the horde finding you before Pudgy and I make it to you, I suggest you kill it."

He turned sharply, his eyes scanning the alley. Sure enough, a lone sprinter barreled toward them, its decayed face twisted in a grotesque snarl. Its speed was unnerving, its movements jerky but relentless.

"Stay back!" Guldrin shouted, shifting Alice onto Asami's back. The young woman caught her without hesitation, though her knees buckled slightly under the sudden weight. "I'll handle this."

The sprinter closed the distance in a blur, its clawed hands reaching out with unnatural speed. Guldrin tried to shoot it, but it was way too fast and agile for him to hit it, so instead Guldrin met it head-on, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. The creature's momentum carried it forward even as his blade bit deep into its neck, severing the head in a spray of blackened blood. The body crumpled to the ground, its lifeless limbs twitching spasmodically.

"Damn, kid," Rika remarked, her voice tinged with genuine respect. "Not bad. You might actually survive this."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Guldrin muttered, wiping the gore from his blade. He stepped back into the tunnel, sealing the door behind him with a resounding,

*Clang!*

The group moved cautiously through the service tunnel, the dim overhead lights casting long, flickering shadows. Every sound seemed amplified, the drip of water, the shuffle of their footsteps, and the faint hum of electricity all casting an eerie atmosphere. Guldrin kept his blade at the ready, in one hand and his MK 23 in the other, his senses on high alert.

"So," Asami ventured, her voice breaking the tense silence. "Who is this Reaper person, and why does she know so much about you?" It was at this moment that Guldrin realized his earpiece had fallen out. Who knows how long ago? She was broadcasting everything she said to the open.

"Good question," Guldrin replied, his tone guarded. "Maybe she'll tell us when we meet her. For now, let's focus on staying alive." He had an idea that it was Rika, but he wasn't about to tell that to someone he just met.

Rika's voice crackled again, a hint of amusement in her tone. "Smart answer, brat. Keep your priorities straight. And for the record, I don't owe you any explanations. But maybe, if you impress me, I'll throw you a bone, or a cigar, if you are who I think..."

Asami frowned, clearly unsatisfied, but she didn't press the issue. Instead, she focused on keeping Alice secure, her maternal instincts kicking in despite the surreal circumstances. She can't help but think of her own sister being in Alice's position, "How did you know to save us?"

"Your sister told us you, and she were captured, we tracked down the main hideout of the group who took you, killed everyone inside, and found a girl Yumi… She told us you were being traded and now we are here… Don't worry about your sister, we saved her, and she is with my girlfriend at our base. She is safe." His words seemed to put her at ease a little, at least her sister was safe in all this mess.

The tunnel eventually opened into a larger chamber, its walls lined with rusted pipes and faded warning signs. It was a maintenance hub of some sort, abandoned long before the outbreak. The air was thick with dust, and the faint glow of emergency lights provided just enough illumination to navigate.

"This'll do for now," Guldrin said, motioning for Asami to set Alice down. "We need to rest and regroup before moving on."

Asami nodded, gently lowering the girl onto a makeshift bed of old jackets; they didn't know who left the jackets, but that was the least of their concerns. Alice curled up immediately, exhaustion overtaking her small frame. Zeke lay beside her, his protective presence a comforting constant.

Guldrin leaned against the wall, his body finally succumbing to the toll of the day. His ribs throbbed painfully, each breath a reminder of his injuries. But the adrenaline that coursed through his veins kept him upright, his mind sharp despite the fatigue. The minor regeneration he gained was doing its job as he felt the bones inside him shifting ever so slightly.

"Not bad, brat," Rika's voice chimed in again. "You handled yourself well back there. But don't let it go to your head. The real challenges are still ahead. I am bringing Pudgy with me, we should be able to meet you soon. Just… Be careful."

Guldrin smirked faintly, his eyes narrowing as he stared into the dim light. "I'll take my chances here."

As the group settled into their temporary sanctuary, the weight of their situation began to sink in. The world outside was a nightmare, a relentless hellscape of death and decay. And as Rika's voice crackled through the earpiece, her enigmatic presence a constant reminder of the unknown, Guldrin couldn't help but feel a flicker of curiosity. Who was she, really? And why did her voice, her words, seem to stir something deep within him, a sense of familiarity, of connection? As if he remembered her, but not her voice? Her personality? As if he knew her, but those memories didn't feel like his… Like Boss but not, maybe… Maybe when he was given Venom Snake's memories after he died… "Quiet?" He mumbled, not knowing how much that name would change the way Rika saw him.

He didn't have the answers yet, but one thing was certain: their paths were destined to cross, and when they did, the world would never be the same.

The tension in the chamber was palpable as Guldrin rested against the cold wall, his thoughts swirling like a storm. The name "Quiet" escaped his lips like a whisper, barely audible over the soft hum of the maintenance hub's failing lights. Asami glanced at him, her brow furrowing in confusion. She didn't ask; there were too many mysteries swirling around this boy already, and prying seemed dangerous, even unwise.

Rika, however, heard him.

Her breath hitched. That name, it wasn't just a name; it was a connection, a thread to a past that she had locked away, a name drenched in blood and sand. For a moment, she was transported back, back to a time of endless missions, her rifle heavy in her hands, her body moving like a shadow across the battlefield. Quiet wasn't just a code name; it was a life, a purpose, a woman she had been before, long before; a lifetime even.

"Brat," she said after a long pause, her voice sharp but laced with something softer. "Where the hell did you hear that name?"

Guldrin hesitated. "It's... just something I remembered. Maybe it's from... before." He trailed off, clutching his ribs as a wave of pain washed over him. His answer was vague, but he wasn't sure how much to share. The memories weren't his, not truly. They were echoes, fragments grafted onto his consciousness, remnants of someone else's life.

"Don't play coy with me," Rika snapped, her tone turning cold. "You don't just remember Quiet. If you know who I am, if you know, then you'd better come clean. Because if you're lying, kid, I'll put a bullet in your skull the moment I see you."

Asami's head whipped toward Guldrin, her expression a mixture of alarm and suspicion. "What's she talking about? What does she mean, Quiet? Who is she?"

"It's complicated," Guldrin muttered. "And not something I want to explain right now." He pushed himself to his feet, wincing as his ribs protested. "We need to keep moving. Rika, you said you're close. How long until you're here?"

There was a beat of silence before Rika replied, her voice dripping with skepticism. "An hour. Maybe less. But you better stay put. The tunnels ahead aren't clear, and if you go wandering, you're on your own."

"We'll wait," Guldrin said firmly. He didn't like the idea of staying in one place for too long, but his injuries and the group's condition left him little choice. As he was thinking and talking, Guldrin was reloading his spend magazines, by the end he had 4 fully loaded 12-round magazines primed and ready.

The quiet that followed was oppressive. Asami busied herself with checking on Alice, her gentle whispers doing little to soothe the child, who had fallen into a restless sleep. Zeke, ever vigilant, sat at Alice's feet, his ears twitching at every faint sound from the tunnels.

But Guldrin's thoughts were elsewhere, fixated on Rika's reaction. She knew Quiet. She was Quiet. Or had been. He was sure of it now. But what did that mean for him? For the memories he carried that weren't but were his own? He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. The questions were too many, and the answers felt impossibly out of reach.

Then, the sound came. Faint at first, like the skittering of rats. But it grew louder, more distinct. Footsteps. Heavy, shuffling, dragging footsteps. And they were coming closer.

Guldrin motioned for silence, raising his blade as he strained to hear. Asami froze, her eyes wide with fear. Zeke let out a low growl, the fur along his back bristling.

"Rika," Guldrin whispered into the earpiece. "We've got company."

Her reply was immediate. "How many?"

"Can't tell," he murmured. "But it's more than one."

"Barricade the door if you can. I'm on my way."

But there was no time. The footsteps grew louder, accompanied by the sickening sound of wet gurgles and low, guttural moans. Shadows danced on the far wall as the first figure appeared in the tunnel entrance, it was a hulking, grotesque creature, its bloated body barely fitting through the narrow space. Its eyes were milky white, and its mouth hung open, drooling black ichor.

"Shit," Guldrin hissed. "That's not a regular walker."

It was a bloater, a mutation born from prolonged infection and decay. Its skin was tough, like leather, and its strength far exceeded that of the average undead. Behind it, more figures emerged, walkers, but faster, more ravenous. Sprinters.

"We're surrounded," Asami whispered, her voice trembling.

"Not yet," Guldrin growled. "Stay behind me. Protect Alice."

Taking a knee, Guldrin swung his AR-15 into an aiming position, "Okay… I have maybe 3 shots before he closes the distance," He breathed in and out, 

*Bang,*

*Breath*

*Bang, Bang*

The bloater was shot in the festering blisters, this caused it to stumble, but it wasn't dead yet. Instead, Guldrin took a few sprinters down before the Bloater reached him. Tossing his gun onto his back, he held his knife in hand, pistol in the other, and prepared to intercept the bloater.

The bloater let out a guttural roar, its massive arms swinging as it charged. Guldrin moved to intercept, his blade flashing in the dim light. He ducked under its first swing, the force of the blow splintering a nearby pipe, and drove his knife into its side. The creature barely reacted, its bloated flesh absorbing the impact like a sponge.

"Damn it," Guldrin muttered, pulling his blade free. He aimed his pistol at the creature's head and fired. The shot rang out, echoing in the confined space, but the bullet only grazed its skull, leaving a shallow wound.

The remaining sprinters were on him before he could react, their clawed hands tearing at his jacket as he stumbled back. Zeke leaped into action, his powerful jaws clamping down on one of the attackers, but there were too many.

"Asami!" Guldrin shouted. "Shoot!"

She raised her revolver, her hands shaking as she aimed. The first shot missed, ricocheting off the wall, but the second found its mark, hitting a sprinter square in the chest. It staggered but didn't fall.

"Headshots!" Guldrin barked. "Aim for the fucking head!"

Asami nodded, steadying her aim. She fired again, this time hitting her target in the forehead. The sprinter dropped instantly, its body collapsing in a heap.

The bloater roared again, swiping at Guldrin with its massive hand. He rolled to the side, his ribs screaming in protest, and slashed at its leg. The blade bit deep this time, severing the tendons and causing the creature to stumble.

"Kid, if it is a bloater," Rika's voice shouted through the earpiece, startling him. "Go for the throat! That's the weak spot!"

Guldrin didn't hesitate. He surged forward, driving his blade into the bloater's neck with all his strength as he unloaded his entire magazine into the underside of its jaw. Black ichor sprayed from the wound as the creature let out a final, gurgling cry before collapsing to the ground.

The remaining sprinters hesitated, their movements jerky and uncertain. Guldrin took the opportunity to finish them off, his blade cutting through their necks with brutal efficiency. Asami provided cover, her revolver barking with each shot.

 To their surprise, Alice didn't seem to react strongly to this, whatever had happened to her, she seemed to be sensitive to everything; whether good or bad, that was to be seen. Even the cracking of gunshots echoing through the enclosed tunnel didn't cause her to cry out, even as it rang all their ears.

When the last of the undead fell, the chamber was eerily silent once more. Guldrin stood amidst the carnage, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Blood dripped from his blade, pooling on the floor at his feet.

Rika's voice crackled in his ear again. "Not bad, brat. You're still breathing from what I can hear. You might actually survive long enough for me to get there."

Guldrin chuckled dryly, wincing as the movement sent a fresh wave of pain through his ribs. "You sure know how to inspire confidence."

"I aim to please… Just stay alive," she said. "I'm almost there."

Asami approached, her face pale but resolute. "Is it always like this with you?"

Guldrin smirked faintly, his eyes dark. "You have no idea."

And as they prepared to move again, the faint sound of footsteps echoed from the tunnel ahead. This time, they weren't undead as was evident from Kohta's distinct complaining, the clinking of weapons being carried, and heavy footfalls.

Quiet, or Rika was here… And Kohta…

(Give me your POWER, Please, and Thank You! Leave reviews and comments, they motivate me to continue.)