Dead Man Walking: Living By Day, Dead By Night
Chapter 108: There is a New Sheriff in Town!

Frank Moore awoke from his drunken slumber shortly before Zane and the girls breached the compound. He was still intoxicated, but his mind was slightly clearer, as he remembered enough of his conversation with Madison's father to feel incredibly embarrassed.

It had been close to a week since he last heard from anyone in the federal government, and the last report that made its way to him was essentially detailing the fac that the overwhelming majority of the nation had fallen, and even the government established safe zones within the country's many cities had begun to revolt and overthrow the previously elected officials.

There was a single message at the end of the report sent to all government personnel who were still active and had a high enough level of clearance to understand what was happening in the world right now.

"Retreat..."

Where they were retreating to, Frank had an inclination. He suspected some remnant of the old us government survived and went into hiding within bunkers built during the cold war for the event of nuclear Armageddon. Bunkers that had been refurbished in recent years because of a resurgence of such threats.

These bunkers were spread out across the country, and would likely hold considerable forces, both in terms of military assets, and scientists whose goal would be to cure the ongoing global pandemic, which had wiped out the majority of humanity at this point.

But Frank honestly did not know for sure, as he we never invited to one of these bunkers, and had instead built his own beneath his mansion. One that was obviously not nearly as heavily guarded, nor had the facilities capable of continuing scientific experimentation.

However, while Frank was mulling over these reports for his 100th time, something flashed on his monitor that caught his attention. At first he thought he had been seeing things, but upon further inspection there was no mistaken int. A lightning burst had just come from a woman's hands, a woman who should not be in the bunker, and had fried his guards to death.

This immediately induced panic within frank as he searched for his other two guards, only to replace them dead at the entrance of the bunker with their throats slit. Frank then checked the cameras around his mansion, which were still functional, and found that John's daughter was being held captive by a third woman.

His worst fears were realized. Somehow the survivors of the outside world had discovered that this bunker existed, and had come to claim it for themselves. It took only a moment to realize that one of the guests who were supposed to be staying in the bunker never made it. And that he likely sold Frank out in exchange for his life.

Knowing this, Frank knew that he was doomed, and thus reached into his drawer where he pulled out the only firearm within the bunker that was not within the hands of the security team. It was an old .357 Magnum police revolver.

He had owned this revolver for many years, having purchased it at a police auction when the old model 28 revolvers were replaced with more modern sidearms for the officers of highway patrol.

Knowing that there was no hope of survival now that his security detail was killed, and these super humans had infiltrated his bunker, Frank loaded a .357 magnum hollow point round into the cylinder, one that was pulled from a small box of ammunition he hid in the desk.

He then pulled back the hammer and put the gun in his mouth, pressing it to the back of his throat as he said goodbye to this cruel world.

---

The sound of the gunshot coming from Frank's personal quarters sent Zane and his party on high alert. Evidently there was another armed individual within the bunker complex, one that Madison either didn't know about, or had deliberately lied to them.

Either way, Zane and the girls made sure nobody was hurt, before the young man issued further orders.

"It's best to assume the bitch has lied to us, keep yours heads on a swivel, and clear this bunker. I want all the survivors lined up and accounted for."

No words were exchanged as Olivia and Elena silently nodded their heads. The trio would then search through every room of the bunker, apprehending the survivors and dragging them off to an open space. Some of them resisted violently and were immediately put down by Zane and the others with no remorse.

The gunshot that resounded when Frank killed himself sent the entire bunker into chaos, and it took much effort for Zane and the girls to restrain everyone, but when they did they got on the radio and called out to Angelica, letting her know that the bunker was secure. Causing the girl to walk Madison down the stairwell, where she sealed the bunker entrance behind them.

There was a pitiful expression on Angelica's lips as she apologized to the pink-haired beauty in her custody, while still leading her towards where the other survivors were located.

"I'm sorry about all of this… But you have no idea what it is like out there… We… We just need a safe place to stay…"

Madison was, of course, starting to realize just what shape the world was in, but bit her lips, and said nothing. Unaware of whether or not her family was alive. Eventually, she was led into the room where the survivors were held.

There were not many, at most half a dozen people were left after Zane and the girls had cleared the building. And her three family members were among them. Madison broke out into tears and immediately apologized to her family for what she had done. Causing her father to glare at her with an intense hatred.

"I'm sorry! I just wanted to talk to my friends! I didn't know. Please, don't be angry with me!"

But how could the man not? Many of the people who had died in this assault were his friends and business partners. And his daughter's selfishness and foolishness had caused their murders to happen.

As for Zane, he didn't give a shit about the girls' feelings or that of the other survivors, and immediately began to speak to them.

"Well… It would appear there is a new sheriff in town… I'm going to give you all a chance of survival, a one in five chance of survival…. These here are blood crystals… There is a 20 percent chance you will survive after consuming one, and in doing so, awaken a special ability.

There is, however, an 80% chance that you will be infected, and if that happens, I'm going to have to put you down. Anyone who refuses to eat one of these blood crystals will be killed on the spot. So… Whose first?"