The walking dead : The bandit king

All the scouts had successfully returned from their missions on their motorcycles, bringing valuable information about communities and suspicious blockages on the roads... All except one... the one headed to Columbus... the city where Fort Benning was located... And Erick wasn't sure what to make of that information...

There were several possible theories... The most optimistic one was that the scout had suffered a delay, either due to mechanical issues or something similar... But the most pessimistic one told him that the man was dead...

The rumor of the missing man was already circulating, and Erick wasn't sure if sending someone to look for him would yield good results, as he might just be sending more meat into the wolf's mouth...

Several possible scenarios passed through his head... The military could very well be the reason the man didn't return... Or maybe a group of bandits... Or maybe he was just being paranoid and the guy had an accident that killed him.

Erick sighed in frustration, realizing that he couldn't rule anything out with so little information... But the idea of an unknown threat out there was something he couldn't ignore...

The region surrounding the city of Columbus was restricted until Erick could get more answers. The scouts near the area were ordered to wait at the start of the routes the man took in case he showed up, and they could also try to contact him via radio, but that was it...

Still... there was something about Fort Benning that made him uneasy, giving him a slight chill down his spine...

It was said that Fort Benning was a military base in southern Georgia... But that's all, no one had heard anything about the place until now... leaving everything to the imagination... But one thing was certain, people must have flocked there seeking protection... But what they found there remains a mystery to this day...

But no matter what had happened with the man, Erick was at least obligated to try to find out what happened to him... Otherwise, the scouts might refuse to fulfill their duties or even desert if they felt it wasn't worth staying in the shelter.

Erick would have to organize a search mission in due time, but first, he needed to take a look at the terrain map to plan his steps carefully.

"...48 hours..." Erick reported. "... After that, we'll talk about a search..."

Marvin slammed his fist on the table upon hearing that, with a fury barely contained in his eyes.

"... By then, it might be too late to save him..." Marvin responded.

"... It could already be too late right now... We don't have the faintest idea... And rushing ahead will only lead us to disaster..." Erick explained. "... If you have a good idea, I'm willing to listen... But until then, we'll do it my way..."

Marvin sighed before leaving the room with a nod.

For the first time, Erick forced himself to use "perceptive leader" with someone in his community, and to his relief, there was no one actively opposing him or harboring hostile intentions toward him. Marvin was simply frustrated, but indifferent toward him... for now...

The vast majority of people were neutral in terms of "opinion". This meant they were either indifferent or still unsure what to think of him.

Public opinion was something that couldn't be neglected. A leader can be loved or feared, but they cannot be hated by their subjects, as otherwise, they could try to assassinate him.

Erick proceeded to use the new feature he had unlocked: "global map".

The map that appeared in front of his eyes wasn't much different from the typical map of Georgia, except for the fact that the territories controlled by him were colored blue.

The communities that were his allies were colored green, and it was likely that any hostile community would be colored red as soon as it appeared.

There were several question marks on many parts of the map, and several of them had circles around them that Erick wasn't sure what they meant.

But the most concerning thing was the huge gray circle in the city of Columbus with a giant question mark on top...

The circles could mean anything, good or bad, but in life, one must always expect the best and... prepare for the worst...

For now, they had the road to Macon cleared and safe for any supply runs heading south to the city. But Erick wanted to establish another safe route to the north, or more specifically to Atlanta... That city was the largest in Georgia and had a lot of loot that could be scavenged inside...

The bandits they had killed before reaching Atlanta were only ambushing one of the many roads leading to the city. And if they didn't keep the roads monitored, then they would have to worry about bandits constantly.

Erick decided to use the time by visiting the Green family farm. Just by taking a look at the map, he could see that the place wasn't far from the road to Atlanta.

That farm could serve as both the purpose of the motel and the dairy farm combined. It could be used as a forward post toward Atlanta as well as to obtain food, meat, and livestock.

Erick left the dining room and headed outside to observe his community.

The first trench had already been completed, and buildings were being constructed inside... Outside, much farther from the first trench, a second trench was being built to protect the crops.

Construction vehicles moved somewhat clumsily due to the inexperience of their drivers, but little by little, their performance was improving.

Several tractors were plowing the land, and people were moving quickly to get their work done. This last part was something that had been in short supply lately, but once everything was set up, things would improve, and the workload wouldn't be so heavy...

For now, Erick wasn't going to use the development points he had earned until he could speak more in-depth with Hector about what his community needed for agriculture.

"Things are going well for now..." Gary commented behind Erick.

"However, your tone of voice tells me that's not the only thing you have to say, right?" Erick responded, to which the man simply nodded.

"Roger, Bart, and the others have been basking in glory lately..." Gary commented. "... They've gained a lot of influence and power... That's made them much more confident in the community..."

"Power gives that to a man..." Erick agreed. "... Bart brought a lot of good meat and grains from nearby ranches... Roger brought several alcoholic drinks that he shared with the community... It's natural that both are gaining power, and others will follow their example, seeking to get the same..."

"Still... that power could also be used against you..." Gary reminded him.

"I haven't forgotten..." Erick agreed. "... But I can't centralize all the power if I want this community to work in the long run..."

"At least you're clear on that..." Gary sighed. "... I feel like we're living in a fantasy right now... At any moment, our bubble could burst, and everything could come crashing down..."

"... Then we must make sure that doesn't happen..." Erick responded. "... We have food, a safe place, and we're building a comfortable home... But we also need to be able to defend it... That's why I gave so much power to others, I want to make sure that even if something happens to me, this place won't collapse on itself..."

"Do you really fear so much what's out there?..." Gary asked.

Erick looked him in the eyes for a few seconds before looking back at the fields outside.

"Men like Jake... are much more common than you think..." Erick remembered the guy he killed... The warmth of the man's blood in his hands. "... The bandits we found on the road... they did what they wanted just because they could... They messed with the wrong people and paid for it... But it won't always be that easy..."

"... That story makes me glad you're the leader and not Jake... Who knows where we'd be if it were the other way around?..." Gary shrugged. "... We'd be a small fish in the ocean, just there to be eaten by a bigger fish..."

"Yeah... But if we want a life worth living... we have to make sure we're that bigger fish..." Erick finished and headed to the parking lot with Gary behind him.

The vehicles were parked in a monitored lot at all times next to the dirt road leading to the main road. There was a space in the trench that hadn't been dug yet to allow people and vehicles to enter and exit the shelter.

"Are you really going alone this time?..." Gary asked, aware of his plans.

"I'm just going as a diplomat... This police uniform will work better if I'm not surrounded by armed men and don't arrive in a military truck..." Erick responded.

The police patrol was fully fueled and ready for action once again. That vehicle had saved his life before, and he almost felt a certain affection for that piece of metal.

"... You must be aware of the risks you're taking... At some point, your luck will run out..." Gary warned him.

"... I haven't come this far just by luck, and I'm not stopping now..." Erick responded. "... Every risk I take has been carefully analyzed... I have a lot to lose, so I promise I'm not willing to die..."

"... Then come back alive and without missing chunks of flesh..." Gary said his goodbye.

Erick nodded and started the vehicle, then drove to the road. He turned north toward Atlanta while carefully watching the road.

While whistling a melody, Erick began thinking about the dangers of traveling alone on the road. The TV series made it seem easy, but it wasn't at all, and it hadn't even been a month since it all began.

The fact that characters like Andrea and Michonne survived 8 months alone traveling the road is nothing short of a miracle or the result of massive plot armor.

The show made it seem like the entire world was almost completely depopulated, and only a few hundred people were still alive in Georgia during most of the five seasons they spent there, but that couldn't have been further from the truth.

Georgia had about 10 million people, if Erick remembered correctly, so even in the worst-case scenario where 99% of the people turned into walkers, there would still be 100,000 people alive across the state.

Obviously, that number wouldn't last over time. But since they were still in the first month of the apocalypse, it wasn't an exaggerated number by any means, and the actual number was probably closer to 500,000 or even a million.

All those people had their own idea of what was morally acceptable and what needed to be done to survive. Communities would be key in the long term, and those people needed to be aligned so they didn't become obstacles.

But with so many communities out there, small- and large-scale wars would proliferate massively. People always associate war with something inhuman and totally foreign to the "normal" life they live... They're wrong...

There's nothing more human and natural than war... If war is an eternal reality for animals... Why would humans be the exception then?...

The logic of war is simple: "... You have something I want, and I will use force to get it..."

Land, resources, women... Anything is valid to start a war... And the only rule everyone is subject to in war is simple... Win... Not human rights, nor Geneva suggestions... Winning is the only thing that matters...

Erick was going to war... It wasn't a matter of if it would happen or not... It was a matter of when and more importantly... Win or die...

But to win a war... You need more of everything... Food, weapons, fuel, medicine, among many other things, but there's one thing you need above all else... People...

People are a resource... That was an undeniable fact, and if any community decides to ignore it, they'll be doomed to disaster... If they survive the next twenty years, the next generation can help them fight for survival... But until then, they could only rely on themselves and their allies...

The Green family farm could be an important ally... The place not only had plenty of space... But also the capacity to expand and increase its food production now that the neighbors' lands no longer had owners...

But if Hershel didn't want to cooperate, then another tool would have to be used to ensure his cooperation. While fear and intimidation could be useful, there was no need to earn Hershel's hatred when there were options that wouldn't fracture the relationship... One of them was trauma...

Trauma is something... interesting... While it can be a double-edged sword for an individual... It's also a tool that can radically change an individual's behavior in an extremely short period of time.

Erick didn't have time to spare, so if he had to traumatize the Green family... Well, why not?...

What do you think, mom?... I learned well from you... Are you proud now?

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Erick finally left the road and took a dirt path that eventually led him to the farm.

The place had a small wooden fence surrounding the entire property. With wide fields of crops and barns where the animals lived. There were also several water wells, storage buildings, and sheds inside, along with a barn.

In the middle of the property was a large and beautiful house that housed the people who lived there. These people seemed frightened when he arrived, despite his appearance as a police officer.

"Can we help you with something?" A middle-aged, overweight man with a hunting rifle in hand approached Erick.

"Officer Erick Bolton at your service..." Erick introduced himself in response, offering his hand while adjusting his sheriff's hat.

"Otis... Pleasure..." The man shook his hand with some intrigue.

Both men exchanged a firm handshake when an elderly man, accompanied by a young woman with brown hair, approached the two.

"I haven't seen a police officer on my property in weeks... My name is Hershel Greene, and this is my farm..." The old man introduced himself, and Erick also shook his hand.

"Not surprising..." Erick responded to his comment. "... There are fewer and fewer police officers in the world, and that tragedy is happening nationwide..."

The two men in front of Erick looked him up and down, searching for anything unusual about him. Erick had to admire their good instincts, though they didn't seem to find anything suspicious at the moment.

"We were about to have breakfast... Would you like to discuss things in a more comfortable setting?" Hershel suggested, offering his hospitality.

"That sounds nice... I'd appreciate it..." Erick smiled.

Erick followed Hershel, who led the way with Otis behind him and Maggie to his right. The woman appeared to be about 19 or 20 years old and was sizing him up with some suspicion. Erick gave her a somewhat arrogant smile and winked, which made her laugh quietly while shaking her head.

Inside the house, Hershel's wife set the breakfast on the living room table and left them alone with Otis while the rest of Hershel's family had breakfast in the kitchen.

The breakfast consisted of milk, freshly baked bread, eggs, and bacon. It was a simple breakfast, but the fresh food opened up Erick's appetite.

"The radio and TV stopped working some time ago... We haven't heard news from the outside, and our neighbors seem to have disappeared along with the whole town... Or they're infected..." Hershel started the conversation, trying to keep his voice down so as not to alarm his family.

The St. Johns also asked for news when he appeared on their property. But unlike Hershel, they didn't have a barn full of walkers that could escape and kill them all at any moment.

"... I'm afraid the information I bring won't bring you any comfort... Do you really want to hear it?" Erick asked him.

After receiving a nod from both men, Erick proceeded to tell them what he knew about the outside world, including the fall of the Atlanta refugee center, Operation Cobalt, and the bandits who rob travelers on the road.

"... So... there's nothing left?... No government, police, or military..." Otis seemed to have lost his appetite.

"I'm sure there are politicians hiding in bunkers and safe zones... But I don't think their priority is to help people..." Erick enjoyed the taste of the bacon in his mouth.

"... As for the police and the military... Almost all deserted to search for and protect their families... The ones who stayed either died or hid, and who knows what they're doing right now..."

"... I find it hard to believe that... And you said the military abandons or sacrifices people... That sounds too crazy to be true..." Hershel crossed his arms, thoughtful and stubborn.

"Well, old man... Think what you want..." Erick shrugged. "...But if the next soldiers you see rape your daughters in front of you before putting a bullet in your head, don't say I didn't warn you..."

The man didn't take his words well but kept his calm nonetheless. It seemed there was still some common sense behind all that stubbornness.

"... I told you we encountered bandits on the road... They had more than a dozen women in a trailer... The youngest looked about fourteen years old. It's a shame she lost her innocence in such a brutal way at such a young age..." Erick continued eating, ignoring the looks of disgust from the men in front of him.

When breakfast finally ended, Erick wiped his mouth with a napkin, satisfied with the good meal, while the plates of the men who accompanied him remained untouched.

"... I appreciate the information you've provided..." Hershel said, though he didn't seem too convinced by his words. "...But you still haven't told me why you're here..."

"True... Thanks for reminding me." Erick replied. "...Tell me, Hershel... What do you think about receiving people on your farm?"

Confused, the farmer listened as Erick explained his idea for the farm. The essence was to fortify the place, expand it, and receive people to work the fields to increase food production.

"... You want me to force strangers to work here for food and protection? ... Do you think I'm a slave driver?" Hershel seemed offended, jumping to the worst conclusion possible from Erick's words.

"Slavery is too strong of a word..." Erick retorted. "I prefer the word sustenance... Besides, you wouldn't be forcing anyone to work or chaining them... It would be a completely legitimate exchange of services..."

"It still doesn't seem acceptable to exploit people's fear and hunger... And why should I take in strangers on my property?... We are safe, and we have everything we need here..." Hershel rejected him.

"Safe?... That fence may keep out a few biters, but intruders could easily sneak in..." Erick replied.

"Otis and I can take care of that..." The old man responded, and the overweight man nodded in agreement.

"Just two men to defend all this land?... " Erick scoffed at how absurd it all was. "... What will you do if 20 men show up at your door?... Are you going to yell at them to get off your property?" he laughed quietly.

Hershel and Otis frowned at his words but didn't respond immediately. Even if they didn't agree with him, they couldn't find an appropriate answer.

"... My group and I came across a motel and a dairy farm recently... We made a deal with them... Food and supplies for protection..." Erick explained while patting the gun on his belt. "I don't want you to think I'm an extortionist... I won't force you to accept a similar deal... But I want you to know that your bubble is going to burst sooner or later if you don't take the initiative..."

Seeing the old man didn't respond, Erick left the house and headed for his vehicle, feeling frustrated about the wasted time. If that old fool didn't want to pay for protection or expand his farm, then he had nothing to do here.

"Wait....!" He heard a voice behind him.

When Erick turned around, he saw Maggie running toward him alone.

"... I overheard the whole conversation..." She murmured, catching her breath. "...Please don't leave... I know my father can be hard to convince. But he'll listen to you... He's scared, but I know he'll listen... Just give him time," Maggie pleaded.

Erick looked her in the eyes for several seconds before finally sighing and nodding in resignation.

"I'll leave here tomorrow at dawn... But that's all," Erick agreed.

"Thank you... I really appreciate it..." Maggie hugged him.

The smell of Maggie, along with the warmth and softness of her body, awakened hunger in him. But he obviously held back...

"I don't like sitting around doing nothing..." Erick explained after they separated. "Is there anything you want or need from the town?... Because I can get it without a problem..."

Erick took the opportunity to grab Maggie by the hips, which surprised her, but she then smiled sensually while bringing her face closer to his.

"... Are you sure about that, Supercop?" She teased him before running a hand over his broad chest, purring.

"Absolutely..." Erick replied, smiling at her caresses.

Maggie told him about the existence of a military post that had been set up in their old school in town. There, there was a trailer full of abundant medicine and an ambulance packed with medical supplies.

Of course, the place was filled with walkers to the brim. She was probably expecting him to back out and chicken out. But he didn't, assuring her he would be back in time for dinner.

"You'd better feed me something good, woman, because today I'm hungry for meat..." Erick told her with a laugh, eyeing her from head to toe with lust.

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The high school was surrounded by a metal fence, though a section had been torn down. Inside, there were military vehicles and makeshift medical buildings. There was also an ambulance that had what he was looking for inside.

Soldiers, doctors, and civilians were still at the site. Although the place now only served to remind them of the hopelessness of the world they lived in, seeing what the former inhabitants had turned into.

If Erick were a conformist, he could take all the medications and load them into the ambulance with the medical equipment, then leave. However, that would be a waste. This place also had a large amount of canned food and firearms that he could take.

Erick may be alone, but the most important thing in life is not to work hard, but to work smart. Fools can only do the former.

The first step in Erick's plan was to place some gasoline in a house a bit away from the school and then set it on fire. Once the boring part was done, the fun part began...

Erick parked the patrol car in front of a solid section of the metal fence surrounding the school. He turned the siren on full blast, and the vehicle caught the attention of all the walkers inside.

The walkers began to exit the school and gather at the fence. Erick climbed onto the roof of the patrol car and started shooting several of them to make more noise while ensuring the fence held long enough.

Erick prioritized shooting the transformed soldiers. Unlike the civilians or the doctors, they might have weapons or ammunition on them, which would be very valuable to loot.

The walkers began to pour out of the school in masses, signaling that his plan was working. In fact, his plan worked so well that the walkers outside the school were also arriving at the site.

Erick had to divide his attention to make sure the vehicle wasn't surrounded by walkers. Luckily, he wasn't low on ammunition, or he'd really be worried.

Seeing that the fence was about to fall and that hardly any walkers were coming out of the school, Erick climbed onto the patrol car. Once the fence came down, he slowly drove in front of the newly formed horde.

The situation almost seemed like a parade— a parade of death with hundreds of walkers joining in at the sound of the patrol car's siren. Not only the walkers from the school, but also a large part of the new inhabitants of the town joined the crowd.

Erick drove a little ahead to the burning house and shot a flare right above the fire, where several walkers were already gathered.

The patrol car's siren finally fell silent, and Erick drove away from the area, making sure to take a wide detour to avoid attracting any walkers back to the school.

When he finally returned, he patted himself on the back, seeing that his plan had been a success. There were only a few walkers crawling on the ground, but other than that, the area was clear.

Erick checked the vehicles, and most of them were in good working order, though of course, he couldn't take them all considering he was alone. But that didn't mean he couldn't make use of the vehicles.

The first thing Erick did was move the vehicles so that the torn-down sections of the fence were blocked, making it harder for the place to be invaded again.

With the area secured, Erick took a cargo truck and began filling it with everything useful from the site: medical equipment, medications, weapons, and ammunition.

Erick didn't bother with the canned food for the moment, due to the truck's limited space and the fact that it was the one resource that was abundant on the farm.

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When the military truck crossed the entrance to the farm, several terrified people ran around the place.

Erick saw Beth and a guy who had to be Shawn, though he didn't know if he was Hershel's son or stepson, not that it really mattered to him.

There was also Beth's boyfriend, who, if he remembered correctly, was named Jimmy, though for someone working in the field, the guy was really incredibly thin.

Otis and Hershel came out of the house with their respective weapons. But then they calmed down when they saw it was Erick.

"What's all this commotion?! Where did you get that truck?!" Hershel yelled after approaching him.

"Come on, old man... Cheer up, you just hit the jackpot right now..." Erick joked.

Maggie was standing behind her father, watching him with amazement but also quietly laughing at his attitude.

"Hey Otis... Help me unload the truck..." Erick yelled to the fat man.

Otis followed him to the back of the truck and flinched when Erick threw him an assault rifle, which he barely caught with his hands.

"This... This is military..." Otis murmured in awe as he studied the weapon in his hands.

"Isn't it nice... right?" Erick flashed him a smile. "... I got it from the military post at the town's school... The one that was overrun by walkers..." He explained.

The looks of surprise from everyone except Maggie made him laugh out loud. They didn't seem willing to believe it, but the evidence was there in the truck.

"I brought all the medicines and medical equipment I found, along with the weapons and ammunition..." Erick informed while Hershel took a look at the back of the truck.

"Dad... Can I learn to shoot?" Shawn asked his father. The teenager was older than Beth but younger than Maggie, and seemed excited by the idea.

"Those guns aren't ours... So I don't think..." Hershel started, only to be interrupted.

"... You can keep all this... A gift from me..." Erick responded with a shrug.

"What about your group?... Wouldn't this stuff be useful to them?" Hershel asked.

Erick just laughed when he heard that.

"My group is well-stocked... Compared to what we already have, this is a charity..." Erick downplayed it, then continued. "... And I know your family will be safer with all this, Hershel, so take it... It's my gift to you..."

"Erick... I don't know what to say... Thank you..." The old man seemed moved by his generosity. "I'm really sorry for the way I treated you before... You're a good man..."

You wouldn't say that if you knew me well...

"We're both alive, and we want to keep our loved ones safe... It's only natural that we help each other..." Erick shrugged.

"Yes, you're right..." Hershel murmured thoughtfully.

While the farm men unloaded the truck, Erick took Maggie by the hand and dragged her with him. It seemed to fill her with excitement for what was to come.

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Erick arrived at a lake near the farm with Maggie on his shoulder. The woman was embarrassed but also laughed at the whole situation.

"... Here?..." Maggie muttered in surprise. "... Someone might see us..."

"Let them see us then... And let them know that you belong to me..." Erick responded by squeezing her ass, which made her squeal.

Erick placed her on the ground and climbed on top of her to start kissing her possessively.

"Wait... I don't have protection..." She muttered between moans.

"I'm all the protection you need..." Erick pulled off her tank top and started caressing her back while kissing her neck.

Maggie then tried to take off his shirt but he grabbed her wrists and brought them together behind her head with one hand and then used his free hand to put it in his pants, rubbing her womanhood.

".... Do you like that?" He said more as an order than a question.

"... Yes... yes.." She replied between moans.

"... Remember this well because the day you get married you are going to think of me while you are getting fucked..." Erick ordered her, to which she moaned louder.

" Oh yeah?" She replied in a mocking tone.

" Of course..." Erick unbuttoned her pants. "... When I'm done with you... The poor bastard who is your husband will have to settle for my leftovers..."

Erick ripped off her pants and panties in one go leaving her naked from the waist down. He then proceeded to sniff her already wet womanhood and then rub her harder until she finally climaxed and moaned loudly as she shuddered.

Maggie calmed down and then wrapped her hands around Erick's neck as she kissed him on the lips. Which he allowed as his hand moved down the young girl's back until he found the back of her bra and then released it.

Erick ripped off Maggie's bra and held her against the ground as he took his sweet time gazing at her naked beauty.

Her firm, nice-sized breasts with pink nipples, her soft, smooth skin along with her femininity exposed to him. Everything about her screamed fuck me.

Erick then picked her up in his arms and held her against a tree with her legs wrapped around his waist as he squeezed her breasts, massaging them a bit then licking and sucking her nipples. He ran his tongue over her mounds and continued squeezing without being the least bit gentle.

When he finally stopped, Maggie was panting as she gave him a smile urging him to do more.

Erick carried her to the lake and when he was at the edge of the water he set her down then walked away as he began to undress himself.

Maggie shivered as she felt the cold water on her naked body and as she looked up she could see Erick standing there. Approaching her with an erection between his legs.

She let him take control and he positioned them both so that only the lower half of their bodies were in the water. Maggie hugged him by the neck and kissed him on the sides as he simply spread her legs and entered her suddenly, claiming her womanhood with a growl and causing her to moan.

Erick moved at a slow and steady pace causing her to cry out for more as she wrapped her legs around his waist. With that challenge Erick increased his speed and power as he squeezed her breasts, fucking her aggressively.

"More... More..." Maggie tightened his grip even more with her legs.

Hearing her demands, Erick rose a little, pulling Maggie's womanhood out of the water as he continued his thrusts by grabbing her waist. She had her back against the floor as the gap between her legs continued to be assaulted, filling her with pleasure.

Erick slowly began to feel like he was about to explode. So he rammed her hard, feeling his balls hit Maggie's skin as he felt the woman's thighs and then flooded her femininity with his warm seed. He enjoyed the contrast between the cold water and the heat of her insides along with the way she squeezed him, which made him release a stronger discharge.

They both moaned and gasped at the act they had done, only for Erick to feel his erection return and carry Maggie as he rocked back and forth ramming her while her legs were submerged under the water.

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When both of them returned to the farm, Erick approached Hershel to ask him where Otis was, as he hadn't seen the big guy anywhere. In fact, Jimmy wasn't around either.

"Otis?..." Hershel raised an eyebrow, unsure of what to say. "... He's hunting right now..."

"Do you think I could join him? I like hunting too," Erick replied, while internally suspecting what Otis might really be up to.

"I don't think so... He likes hunting alone. Maybe you can ask him when he gets back if you can join him next time..." Hershel lied, something Erick easily detected.

Erick paid attention to the barn and knew it was going to be a problem. Unfortunately, Erick couldn't afford to take his sweet time convincing Hershel about what walkers truly were, so he would have to take drastic measures...

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It was night, and Erick was having dinner with the Greenes when they finally heard the heart-wrenching screams along with the growls.

"I'll go grab my shotgun..." Hershel said, quickly getting up from the table.

Shawn went to help his father while Annette, Hershel's wife, hid with Maggie, Beth, and Patricia. Erick wasted no time, drawing his pistol before heading out of the house to deal with the situation he had caused.

Outside, a group of walkers could be seen devouring a body next to the barn. Erick tried to determine who the dead person was when suddenly gunshots were heard.

There on the ground, Otis screamed as the walkers pulled out his intestines, and he used his revolver to defend himself. Erick didn't hesitate to open fire to help the man, in order to divert any suspicion away from himself.

The five walkers that had been eating Otis were dead, but the man was dying on the ground, his legs half-eaten, and his belly torn open with his intestines exposed.

A dozen walkers were feasting on what could only be Jimmy's body, but Erick only knew it was him by process of elimination, as all he could see from where he stood was a pile of meat and fabric the walkers were putting in their mouths.

Erick grabbed Otis by the arms and pulled him as far away from the walkers as possible. He didn't kill the others yet, as the plan was for Hershel to see them and reflect on the situation.

Two walkers that had been tied to a tree broke free and "surprised" Erick, with the first knocking him to the ground while the other ate Otis' face.

Erick "struggled" to push the walker off his face before the monster finally fell dead from a bullet to the head.

Hershel was on the porch of his house, looking devastated by what he was seeing and holding a shotgun in his hands. The old man trembled a little but then began firing nonstop at the walkers with barely contained fury.

Erick quickly recovered and helped the old man deal with the remaining walkers on the farm.

When the carnage finally ended, Erick didn't question Hershel. Instead, he offered to dig graves for the fallen while leaving the old man lost in his thoughts.

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Erick left the farm the morning after the funeral, comforted by the fact that at least the old man had come to his senses.

Hershel told Erick that he was willing to discuss his plans for the farm, but that he first needed a week to pray and mourn his losses.

Knowing that this was the best he could expect from him, Erick agreed.

The good news is that Hershel's family is intact... more or less... Patricia was crying uncontrollably over her husband's death, and Beth had a blank expression from Jimmy's death, even though technically the guy was her boyfriend... Erick wasn't exactly sure what to think about that last part.

Maggie, on the other hand, stayed away from him and didn't even say goodbye. Though it wasn't strange considering that what they had was just fun and not something serious, still, he hoped she would welcome him with open legs whenever he visited the farm.

Erick's father explained to him that in life, one must know how to identify women who are just for sex and stay away from them once you're done having fun. It's not a good idea to get attached to one of them, let alone marry her or have kids.

Erick had nothing against Maggie, but only God knew how many men she had slept with by now, so it was best if no emotions were involved. Not that it would stop him from continuing to sleep with her, of course. But he wasn't the kind of guy desperate enough to settle for the first hole he could get into. Erick had standards for the mothers of his children.

When he finally arrived in town, it was mostly clear. All the commotion Erick caused to clear the school had likely gathered all the walkers in one part of the town, leaving the rest mostly safe.

Since Erick had left the military truck at the farm to return home in his patrol, he had to walk through the town. There were no signs of survivors, no fortified houses, or many looted stores. The place seemed to have been evacuated in the early days, and everyone knows how that story ended.

The school looked the same as he had left it, with vehicles blocking the holes in the fence and no walkers inside. Erick climbed the fence and entered.

Erick marked this place for the resources it still had. The food, fuel, and vehicles would be a huge boost for the community he planned to form at Hershel's farm.

This place could also be useful as a forward post to loot all the town's resources. However, since it was a town and not a city, its usefulness would be short-lived before it was abandoned for good once there were no more resources to loot nearby.

Erick closed the global map when he finished marking the area and felt confused when he saw flashes of light through the school windows.

...How strange?... They almost look like... flashlights?....Oh shit!...

"...On your knees and hands on your head..." A voice ordered behind Erick as it placed the barrel of a rifle behind his head.

Erick obeyed and slightly tilted his head to see his attacker. The man was wearing a soldier's uniform, helmet, and carrying an assault rifle.

The fact that his head hadn't spilled its brains onto the ground after receiving a bullet from the soldier's rifle was a sign that at least not everything was lost yet.

"Talk Cooper... I found a cop out here and I've got him subdued... Change..." The man spoke into the radio.

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[Character Summary:

- Name: Erick Bolton

- Age: 18

- Combat Attributes:

(Take into account that C- is the average)

 * Melee: B-

  * Ranged: C-

 * Physical condition: A

 * Stealth: B

 * Plot Armor: Low

- Army quality: Very low.

- Inventory:

 + Pistol (ammo x70)

 + Small axe

 + Machete

 + Tactical knives x1

 + Backpack

 + walkie-talkie

 + flare gun

 + first aid kit

 + Food (remaining days: 86 )]

-unlocked features:

+"Sacrifice Resources" 

(You can sacrifice resources in exchange for improving your attributes... For example, food for physical conditioning, ammunition for ranged combat, etc... but the resources you sacrifice will be lost forever, and the cost increases exponentially based on how high your attributes are.)]

+ "Pocket warehouse 1" (Allows you to carry objects without physically holding them, and they'll be available at any time. The current limit is 100 kilograms and can be upgraded by completing missions.)

+ "Perceptive leader" (You'll be able to see detailed information about all the members of your group, including their perception of you.)

+ "Walker Domestication 1" (Domesticated walkers can follow you or stay in a location on command without the need for ropes.)

[Community summary:

-name : ???

-members : 4200

-Food (remaining days: 76 )

- Army quality: Very low.

-weapons:

 + sniper rifle x25

 + crossbow x5

 +bow x114

 +pistol x421

 +shotgun x 90

 +bolt-action rifle x1

 + AR-15 x2

 + M16 x123

 + spears x150

 + guns : ??

- lifestyle tree: Feudal

- Community benefits:

 +["Accelerated Harvest": Crops need half the usual time to grow and be ready for harvest.]

]