CHAPTER 133: CHAPTER 133: ZOMBIES IN THE HOUSES

The room looked as if a typhoon had torn it down. Dried blood marks coated the floor, forming footsteps-like marks.

"Mr. Wells!" Zerra’s pupils constricted. She was quick to react as she pulled him away from the door, kicking the zombie away.

"Higgs..." Mr. Wells’ eyes went wide in disbelief. "H-how can he become a zombie?"

While Mr. Wells looked like he still could not accept the current reality, Nyra charged toward the zombie who had gotten up and intended to lunge toward them again.

Rotten flesh flew all over the place with each kick. Rancid smell spread into the air, like a dreadful reminder of what kind of monster Higgs had become.

It snapped Mr. Wells awake at the loss of a neighbor who had been a long-time acquaintance or even friend. He realized Higgs was dead...

Mr. Wells sucked in a deep breath. A fear suddenly sprouted in his heart. Because of the apocalypse and sudden emergence of those mutated animals, he and a lot of his neighbors rarely met.

They couldn’t be...

"Search inside for any information inside. See if you can find the cause of the zombie transformation or if there are any survivors," Darren ordered.

Meira stood near Darren, a little scared. Because there wouldn’t be anyone else staying at Mr. Wells’ place, they had no choice but to bring her along.

After Laziel wasn’t around, she became a little more quiet.

"He usually lives alone." Mr. Wells suddenly spoke. "There shouldn’t be anyone else besides him."

As for the cause of the zombie transformation, everyone could already guess it in their hearts. The house wasn’t impenetrable, especially with so many mutated animals coming for them.

There might be some opening that eluded people’s minds, and a zombie animal could get in through those holes. It was especially possible for small zombie critters.

"Mr. Valez, there are a few dead birds in the house." Someone reported their finding five minutes later. "I found them inside a bedroom."

It meant that the birds had infiltrated the Higgs’ bedroom and bit him in his sleep. Once he was awakened by the pain, he caught the birds and killed them in anger.

However, that still wouldn’t stop his zombie transformation. The man had silently endured the pain and died alone.

Mr. Wells rubbed his temples. His usually energetic gait faltered, and he seemed to be a few years older in an instant. He was also old and lived alone.

Actually, Mr. Wells never told them he had any kids or not, whether they were still alive.

"Let’s not waste any more time here. We don’t have much time. Go to the next house." He rubbed his eyes wearily. His gaze was a little glazed.

They all walked toward the small house with a white fence. Mr. Wells still looked so lost, so Darren took it upon himself to knock on the door.

"Anyone home? We are people from the base." Darren continued to knock.

One minute passed. No response.

He knocked a few more times.

Five minutes passed. There was still no response.

Darren turned to Mr. Wells, whose countenance had turned increasingly pale and grim. Mr. Wells nodded when he saw Darren’s look.

He didn’t hesitate anymore. Gathering the power of earth from his body, he slammed the door open. The door jerked, the wooden panels broke, followed by other parts of the door shattering.

He stepped inside, followed by other ability users.

A similar scene happened. Once they opened a bedroom or another room, zombies lunged toward them. It took a brief moment to tangle the zombies in a fight before they killed them.

"Everyone is dead... everyone is dead..." Mr. Wells looked like he was about to collapse at any moment.

He clutched the person nearest to him for support, and he happened to be one of Arnold’s men. The person didn’t mind; he even helped Mr. Wells to steady himself.

The poor old man was experiencing a tremendous shock.

In his daze, Mr. Wells blabbered, "This house was occupied by a family of five. A couple with their son and the husband’s parents."

Everyone fell silent upon listening to Mr. Wells’ words. They more or less understood how he felt. A person close to them or some acquaintances they knew had also lost their lives–everyone could relate to his feelings.

But if the entire residents of this town-like place were all dead... Mr. Wells had every right to feel devastated.

"Go to the next house. There should be some survivors... there should be some..." He muttered quietly, like he was consoling himself.

The way he walked was no longer as steady as before, but he looked determined as he headed for the next house. He wanted to find survivors in the houses located not far from the forest.

It was confirmed that his closest neighbors were alive, but those who had lived so close to the forest would face more risk.

"I will go with Mr. Wells." Darren announced. "All of you, in groups of two or three, go to each house just to be quick."

He quickly divided the team. Coincidentally, this time Nyra was standing beside Meira, and they were grouped together in a group of two.

"Meira, do you want to exchange your spot with me?" Zerra thought about her annoying brother, who had tasked her with taking care of his girlfriend, and offered.

Meira didn’t seem comfortable staying with Nyra, who had been curling up her lips in a sneer since earlier.

She glanced at the two men who were grouped with Zerra. They were Arnold’s men. Occasionally, they sent her a smirk full of malicious intention. She flinched.

"There is no need..." she shook her head.

"Or maybe my elder sister wants to exchange with me?" Zerra turned to Nyra, who was wearing an expressionless face like she was bored.

Meira bit her lip. She didn’t think that Zerra was very strong compared to Nyra. With so many people present, Nyra wouldn’t dare do anything to her, right?

So, she resolutely still chose Nyra, the safer choice since she was among the strongest.

"It’s up to you," Nyra replied with little care.

Meira hurriedly answered before Zerra could swap the team members. "We should group it according to the original team. It’s fine, Zerra. I will go with Nyra."

She bit her lip, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace. "I am sure that Nyra will protect me. She is strong!"

"Alright. Let’s go." Zerra turned to her team members and left.

"I hope you won’t regret it." Nyra remarked, sending Meira a smile that made her face stiffen.