READ NOVEL FREE Chapter 23: Resilience
Dr. Torres knelt beside Zoe, her hands moving with practiced precision. Her medical bag was open, and supplies were spread across the table in Perkatory's backroom. The normally bustling café was eerily silent, save for the quiet murmurs of concern and the rustle of cloth as the doctor worked. Zoe's pale face was a sharp contrast to the blood staining her jacket, and her shallow breaths sent a wave of unease rippling through the room.
"She's lost a lot of blood," Dr. Torres murmured, pulling back the fabric of Zoe's shirt to reveal a deep gash along her side. She disinfected the wound, her brow furrowed in concentration. "But she's strong. I've seen worse pull through."
Darren hovered nearby, his hands clenched into fists. "What do you need?" he asked, his voice tight. "Tell me, and I'll get it."
Dr. Torres didn't look up. "We need to move her to my clinic. I have better supplies there—antibiotics, sutures, fluids. She can't stay here in this condition."
Lisa and Emma exchanged glances. "We can make a stretcher," Lisa said quickly, scanning the room. Her eyes landed on a sturdy wooden door leaning against the wall. "That should work."
Emma nodded, already moving to gather supplies. Together, they stripped fabric from unused tablecloths and tied them tightly across the door to create a makeshift stretcher.
"We'll carry her," a deep voice said.
Two burly men stepped forward. Marcus, a former construction worker with arms like tree trunks, and Jared, a quiet farmer who had joined Perkatory a few weeks ago, quickly lifted the stretcher.
"Be careful," Dr. Torres instructed, her tone sharp. "Keep her as level as possible. Any sudden jostles could worsen her injuries."
The group moved cautiously, the two men carrying Zoe while Lisa and Emma flanked them, steadying the stretcher. Riley, the zombie hunter with electric-blue hair, led the way, her eyes scanning the streets for any sign of danger. Dr. Vance followed close behind, his calm demeanor belying the tension in his shoulders. Ethan, the tattooed teenager, brought up the rear, his glowing red eye scanning their surroundings with eerie precision.
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The streets were unnervingly quiet as the group approached the clinic. Shadows stretched long under the faint glow of streetlights, and the silence was broken only by the soft shuffle of their footsteps and the occasional distant groan of the undead. Riley's hand hovered over the hilt of her blade, her muscles taut.
"Keep moving," she murmured, her voice low. "We're exposed out here."
Dr. Torres walked alongside the stretcher, her gaze flickering between Zoe and their surroundings. The clinic wasn't far, but every step felt like an eternity. Zoe's face was ashen, her breathing shallow, and Dr. Torres's jaw tightened with worry.
When they reached the clinic, Riley and Ethan secured the perimeter while Dr. Vance held the door open. Marcus and Jared carefully maneuvered the stretcher inside and set it down on a clean examination table.
"I'll take it from here," Dr. Torres said firmly. "Thank you."
The group lingered for a moment, reluctant to leave. Riley finally broke the silence. "We'll guard the building," she said. "Nothing gets in while you're working."
Dr. Torres nodded, her focus already on Zoe. "I'll do everything I can."
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Back at Perkatory, the tension was palpable. Survivors huddled in small groups, their whispered conversations filled with worry and doubt. Zoe had been their anchor, their leader. The thought of losing her left a gaping void that none of them knew how to fill.
Darren stood near the counter, his hands braced against it as he stared at the worn wood. The weight of responsibility pressed down on him like a physical force. Finally, he turned to face the room.
"Listen up," he called, his voice cutting through the murmurs. The room quieted, all eyes turning to him. "I know everyone's scared. I am, too. But Zoe's strong, and she's got Dr. Torres. We must stay focused and keep things running until she's back on her feet."
A murmur of dissent rippled through the crowd.
"What if she doesn't make it?" someone called out.
"Perkatory won't survive without her," another voice added.
Darren's chest tightened. He raised his hands, trying to calm the crowd. "I get it," he said. "I really do. But we can't give up. We—"
"You don't understand," a woman interrupted, her voice rising. "Zoe is the reason we're all here. Without her, this place falls apart."
Darren's words faltered. He felt the Charm System stir, its presence brushing against his mind. A prompt appeared before him:
Activate Charm System? Y/N
He hesitated. He didn't want to manipulate them, didn't want to take away their agency. But the crowd was growing restless, and the tension threatened to boil over.
With a heavy heart, Darren selected Y.
The effect was immediate. His voice took on a calming, persuasive tone, his words carrying a weight that silenced the room.
"I understand your fear," he said, meeting their eyes. "We all owe Zoe more than we can ever repay. But she wouldn't want us to give up. She'd want us to fight for this place, for each other. We have to stay strong for her."
The crowd's murmurs quieted, their expressions softening. Darren's stomach churned. The Charm System's voice chimed in his mind, its tone almost smug.
"Nicely done, Darren. You're a natural."
"Shut up," he muttered under his breath.
"No need to be rude. You're doing great," the system replied cheerfully. "Morale's up. Crisis averted. Go you."
Darren ignored it, turning back to the crowd. "We need a plan," he said. "Zoe is one person. She's incredible, but it's unfair to expect her to carry this place alone. We must find ways to support her and Perkatory so this doesn't happen again."
The crowd exchanged uncertain glances. Finally, Lisa stepped forward. "He's right," she said. "We can't rely on Zoe for everything. We need to step up."
"What do you suggest?" someone asked.
Darren exhaled, relieved that the tension was easing. "Let's brainstorm. What can we do to make Perkatory more self-sufficient? How can we lighten Zoe's load?"
The room buzzed with conversation as people began sharing ideas. Suggestions ranged from organizing patrols and supply runs to setting up a first aid station and creating a council to help make decisions.
As the discussions continued, Darren stepped back, letting the community take the lead. The Charm System's voice spoke again, quieter this time.
"See? You're not alone in this either."
Darren didn't respond. He was too busy watching as the people of Perkatory came together, united by their shared goal of ensuring their survival and Zoe's.