Fight, Flight, or Freeze: The Healer's Story
Chapter 202: A New Mission

Chapter 202: A New Mission

"You are kidding me, right?" asked Bai Long Qiang, his eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the small piece of paper in front of him.

"I’m afraid not. And what makes it even worse is that there are going to be a lot of people wanting to take part in this mission," assured Duan Zhao Hui as he swung from side to side in his chair.

Team Phoenix Rising had been called together early one morning to discuss some of the new missions that had popped up for the Retribution Guild.

Lai Dan Dan had once again given them Conference Room A on the first floor, and now the entire team either sat down in the chairs or lazed around the room. Even Bin An Sha, Rip, and I had shown up for the meeting.

"This is a popular mission? If there are so many people willing to risk their lives for it, then why not just bypass it?" asked Fan Teng Fei, pushing the paper in front of him away in disgust.

"Because no one can pass on a mission given by the reigning Princess," explained Chang Guo Zi as he rubbed his forehead in frustration. "And if we are found to have not bothered, then the consequences are... less than desirable."

"She is asking for glassware, plates, and vases," sneered Bai Long Qiang, looking back over the list. "And sheets with no less than a 500 thread count. I don’t even know what that means, let alone know how to find that in a zombie apocalypse."

"And that is why there are so many teams going together to find it. That way, if we do end up dying from a zombie attack, she will at least still get what she wants," smiled Hao Yuan Jun. He might have been an asshole when they first met, but it wasn’t like he was targeting Bai Long Qiang and our team specifically. He was an equal-opportunity asshole... one that hated everyone.

"So there is no food? No clothing? Nothing else that other people could use?" I asked, looking around the room. I wasn’t Mother Theresa, but even I failed to see why hundreds of people would be sent out to find something that wouldn’t even help with their survival.

"Not many are able to see it," said Duan Zhao Hui softly. "People tend to see what they want to see; it’s like a curtain over their eyes or something. To them, Wu Bai Hee is the be-all, end-all of City A, and it is their duty and pleasure to cater to her."

"But..." I started before shaking my head and coming to a stop. In times of adversity, people wanted someone to come along and say that they had the ability to make everything right again. It was the first step in becoming a tyrant, and that was what was happening here.

No one was willing to go against her, let alone take on both Zhou Jun Jie and Wu Bai Hee combined.

Those who could see what was happening in their lives were part of the minority, and they were scared to open their mouths in case they ended up facing retribution.

But if Zhao Jun Jie and, by extension, Wu Bai Hee were running this city like their own little kingdom, then I wouldn’t be surprised if there wasn’t an uprising soon.

A lack of food could either prevent people from standing against the rulers or force them to take action.

Either way, the guys were right when they said this place was a powder keg ready to go off.

"Fine, if we have to do it, there is no point in bitching about it. Let’s get going," grumbled Fan Teng Fei as he pushed back his chair and rose to his feet.

I looked at Bin An Sha, and my eyes widened. I had wanted to give the guys a part of my power before they went out on their next mission, but there was one thing after another, and I never got the chance.

However, I was not going to let them leave City A without the extra protection.

"It is already late into the afternoon. Why not spend the rest of the day getting everything together, and you can take off in the morning?" suggested Bin An Sha, giving Bai Long Qiang a pointed look.

"Yes, I think that would be the best option," sighed Chang Guo Zi. "This is going to be enough of a shit show. There is no point in rushing to our deaths without adequate preparations."

I froze at his words, my eyes widening, and I could feel my heart starting to pound inside of my chest. I understood, in theory, the dangers of going out on a mission, but apparently, it hadn’t quite clicked in until this second.

My guys could possibly be going out to die...

For tableware.

And sheets.

My chest continued to tighten as all of the different scenarios played out in my head. I could see Bai Long Qiang in front of me, his arm reaching out as a zombie grabbed his ankle, dragging him into the bushes.

I watched Fan Teng Fei take the heads of zombie after zombie but was unable to burn them before they regenerated, creating even more zombies.

I saw Si Dong’s head getting ripped off by a purple zombie, its black, pin-prick eyes shining as it tossed his head over its shoulder and descended on his neck, gorging on his flesh.

I could hear Chang Guo Zi screaming, trying to rally the troops as man after man was killed by the horde.

Sunlight glinted off a crystal vase in the center of the carnage as bright red blood splashed through the air. The screams of dying men echoed in the forest as the sun set for the last time.

"Love you, Little Rabbit," murmured Cheng Bo Jing, his voice filling my head as five zombies descended on him, tearing off his limbs before ripping open his stomach to feast on his insides.

"No!!!!!!!!" I screamed, my voice piercing through the images in my head, popping them like they were nothing more than bubbles in the wind.

Coming back to myself, I felt someone’s strong hands gripping my shoulders, trying to center me. "No," I repeated, shaking my head. "No..."

I could hear my voice breaking as darkness rushed toward me, and I passed out in the arms of whoever was holding me.