Apocalypse Rebirth: Crazy from Day One

’It’s not that I can’t fight,’ Basil Xavier thought, ’but I have to protect Gordon Ford, so my hands are tied.’

Besides, after a fight like this, he would probably collapse from exhaustion.

He’d have to kill every last one of them. Otherwise, once his stamina ran out and he collapsed, he’d be completely at their mercy.

"Gordon, oh, Gordon..." Basil Xavier said with a bitter laugh. "To think the two of us would end up in such a pathetic state!"

Across from him, Tripp Pence was growing impatient. "Hurry up!"

Basil Xavier glared at him. The sheer authority in his eyes intimidated Tripp Pence, who subconsciously took two steps back.

He then realized he’d been cowed by a single glance, and he burned with shame and anger at the loss of face.

He roared, "You’re handing over all of your food to us today! If you don’t, you won’t be walking out of this building in one piece!"

"Damn you, don’t push your luck!" Basil Xavier snapped. He had been about to give in, his hand already reaching into his backpack, but he snatched it back at those words.

Suppressing his fear, Tripp Pence retorted defiantly, "So what if I’m pushing my luck? It’s your own damn fault for falling into our hands!"

"Brother, I can’t just swallow this!"

Basil Xavier said to Gordon Ford. He then laid him on the ground, dropped his backpack, and lunged at Tripp Pence in a few short steps. He grabbed him and kicked out. "Fuck it! If I die today, I’m taking you son of a bitch down with me!"

Tripp Pence shrieked in terror. Before he could react, Basil Xavier had him in his grasp. "Quick, get him! Take him down!" he yelled frantically.

Several men closed in on Basil Xavier. Ordinarily, he wouldn’t have been afraid of them.

But now, he was so weak that his punches lacked any force. He was outnumbered, and after a few exchanges, one of them shoved him to the ground.

Tripp Pence cackled. "Hahahaha! And here I thought you were so tough. Turns out you’re nothing special! Get him, boys! He was offered a way out and spat on it. If you beat him to death, I’ll take responsibility!"

Tripp Pence spoke with grand bravado. In this day and age, no one on the outside would know if they killed someone, so he acted without any restraint.

The men ganged up on Basil Xavier. He managed to grab one of them, using the man for leverage to get to his feet and fight back, but he was knocked down again moments later.

Just then, he saw one of the men walking toward Gordon Ford. His eyes flew open. "Gordon—!"

He tried to charge over, but Tripp Pence and his men blocked his path. Unable to reach Gordon Ford, all he could do was watch helplessly as the man who had been silent the whole time approached his friend.

A flicker of excitement passed through River Larkin’s eyes. He stared at the backpack, already able to vaguely make out what was inside.

He was about to squat down and pick up the backpack when the sound of footsteps suddenly echoed in the stairwell.

The footsteps were coming down from the floor above. At this hour, no one was ever out and about, making the sound exceptionally clear and distinct.

Everyone paused and looked up the stairs. Seizing the opportunity, Basil Xavier broke free from his attackers, scrambled over to Gordon Ford, and shoved River Larkin aside. He then stood protectively in front of his friend.

River Larkin paid him no mind, however. His brow furrowed as he listened to the footsteps. He wasn’t sure if he was imagining it, but he thought he could also hear the sharp scraping of a blade being dragged down the stairs.

A possibility struck him, and his face changed. Without a second thought, he bolted downstairs.

’Stella Sterling!’

’It’s probably Stella Sterling. She’s the only one upstairs who likes to carry a blade.’

’Besides, in the middle of the night, in a situation like this, who else would dare to be out wandering around alone?’

’I can’t let Stella Sterling know I’m still alive and in this building. Not yet!’

’So even if it might not be Stella Sterling, I have to hide. Just in case!’

River Larkin frantically fled down the stairs at top speed. Before a confused Tripp Pence could even figure out what was happening, River Larkin was gone.

He was about to call after him, but the sound was getting clearer. He turned to look up the stairs.

He couldn’t make out the figure in the darkness, but he saw the distinct glint of a large blade reflecting the light.

His heart seized. He raised the flashlight in his hand, pointed it at the figure, and illuminated Stella Sterling’s beautiful, cold face...

"Stella Sterling—!"

Tripp Pence cried out in alarm. He’d never dealt with her face-to-face, but he had heard plenty of stories about Stella Sterling.

Now, watching her approach with that blade, fear crept into his heart unbidden.

’Why would she be here?’

The same question echoed in River Larkin’s mind as he hid downstairs.

River Larkin, however, didn’t dare show himself or even linger nearby. Once he confirmed that the person was Stella Sterling, he continued down the stairs. He decided to completely remove himself from this situation.

’As for Tripp Pence and his crew,’ he thought, ’I can only hope they’re smart enough not to provoke Stella Sterling right now!’

Stella Sterling was also holding a flashlight. She swept the beam across Tripp Pence and his men before it landed on the battered Basil Xavier to the side. Her gaze lingered on him for a moment.

Basil Xavier watched Stella Sterling with a wary gaze. ’Anyone who wanders around with a blade in the middle of the night has to be a real weirdo,’ he thought.

Still, he warned Stella Sterling, "Run! These guys are bad news!"

Basil Xavier hadn’t expected a young woman to show up at a time like this. He had to admit she had guts, but he didn’t want to drag her into this mess. These men were clearly trouble. If they saw she was just a girl, they’d probably try to rob her as well.

And if a girl fell into the hands of men like these, her fate would be far worse than what he and Gordon Ford were facing.

Stella Sterling didn’t answer him. Her gaze lingered on him for another second before shifting to Gordon Ford lying on the ground.

’It was still the same familiar face,’ she thought, ’but now it was deathly pale, and he appeared to be unconscious.’

Her expression hardened. Without a word, she turned her gaze back to Tripp Pence and his men.

After his initial fear subsided, Tripp Pence calmed himself. He frowned at Stella Sterling and said, "Stella Sterling, this doesn’t concern you. If you’re just passing through, then go on your way. We can stay out of each other’s business."

As he spoke, he gestured with his eyes for his men to clear a path for her.

’Stella Sterling probably isn’t here to meddle,’ he thought. ’Ever since our group formed, we’ve never looked for trouble with her. Even though I’m wary of her and don’t like her, I’ve never done anything to cross her.’

’Stella Sterling isn’t the type to stick her nose in other people’s business, so there’s no reason for her to get involved now.’

The way they were acting toward her made Basil Xavier’s eyes flash. ’There’s something strange about this girl...’ he thought.

Stella Sterling didn’t answer. She walked toward Tripp Pence, blade in hand, then suddenly picked up speed and swung her large blade—