The visitors

I thought the system could protect my house when I was not around. How could it get compromised?

I stayed behind the abandoned vehicle for another few minutes, watching the gate for any sign of activity.

I couldn’t hear anyone on the other side. Slowly, I realized no one had passed through. I glanced at the driver’s seat and saw a figure emerge. 

suddenly, the driver’s door of the first truck opened and Tom Edwards got out.

What? He was the last person I expected at my house. I mean he was rich and even if the apocalypse has caught him unawares, he had lots of connections. Pretty sure they were some desperate people willing to run errands for the stinking rich.

Then I remembered Tom had seen me stocking up supplies. Did he come to rob me? Did he have military weapons?

I wanted to hide but he had already seen me. 

“Misa Peller,” he said.

 He was wearing a dark blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He looked weary, as if he was a hundred days into the apocalypse and not one. Rich boy wasnt used to hard life.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, looking around. “Did you bring the military to my house?”

He shook his head. 

“I thought you might appreciate more supplies. I brought things for you.”

Now that was suspicious. Why would he bring me stuff? Almost immediately, realization dawned on me. He wanted to bribe me.

Tough luck, buddy.

Although Tom had politely turned down the leadership position in my favor in my past life, I didn’t know him well.

Maybe he was a good person, but the apocalypse can easily turn people into monsters. I didn’t need people who could support themselves.

“I don’t need anything from you,” I told him.

He stood in front of the truck and leaned back. I glanced at his muscled arms and thought he was so sexy. 

“I have things you couldn’t easily buy yourself,” Tom said. When he lifted his arm to wipe his brow, I wondered what else was bushy on that body.

Control yourself, Mia. These are not the kind of thoughts you should be having in the apocalypse.

“Come and see,” Tom walked back to the truck. I followed him cautiously and stood back as he opened the back of the first truck. 

His shirt rode up revealing white boxer shorts underneath. I swear I saw a bit of his slightly hairy ass crack.

When he looked back, I quickly composed myself. “As you can see, I have medical equipment. IV fluids, portable monitors, oxygen equipment and so many other things.”

Wow I hadn’t even thought of purchasing most of them.

Tom closed the truck and went to open the other one. My jaw dropped. This one had heavy-duty batteries, industrial water pumps, water filtration equipment and generator components.

There were even large containers of fuel and so many other important things I couldn’t buy in bulk without raising some questions. Tom had somehow thought of everything I had not. 

“Did you know what was going to happen?”

He shook his head.

“You said the world was changing,” he said. “I wondered why you were buying so many things. And then someone told me about the patients that had taken an experimental drug and were experiencing weird symptoms. 

They quarantined them but many people in the medical field had some fears. They were all supposed to be put down today. Somehow word got to them yesterday and they decided to make a run for it.” 

So thats how we ended up in this mess?

“After I saw you stock piling, I figured I’d do the same though I didn’t fortify my home in time. How were you able to do this in few days?” He looked at the high fence and gate. 

“I have my ways,” I replied.

Before I could say anything, the system spoke.

[Individual detected.]

[Name: Tom Edwards.]

[Medical expertise: High.]

[Resource access: Very High.]

[Strategic usefulness: High.]

Then another notification appeared.

[Loyalty assessment: 94%.]

I blinked. 94% was so high, especially for someone who wasn’t already part of my trusted circle.

[Recommendation: Maintain relationship.]

The system was basically telling me to keep him around. I looked away before Tom noticed my expression.

“You’ve done a lot since the last time I saw this house. I underestimated you, Mia Peller.”

“You haven’t seen the inside.”

“Should I?”

I hesitated.

[Tom’s potential contribution to base development: High.]

I sighed. I might as well take him in. If he started behaving off, I’d kick him out. Plus, it would be good to have a man around for balanced energy. Too much feminine energy in the house could get overwhelming eventually.

“Fine.”

We walked through the gate. As soon as Tom entered, the system scanned him again.

[Potential Base Personnel.]

[Medical specialist.]

[Resource acquisition specialist.]

[Loyalty probability: 94%.]

I had to admit it. Tom was useful. And apparently, my system approved of him.

That thought made my cheeks feel strangely warm.

I took watch while Tom opened the gate and drove in the trucks as fast as possible. He had discharged the other driver as soon as the truck arrived outside but I wondered if that driver could be watching us.

Once both trucks were inside, we closed the gates and Tom drove them to the garage. I had thought of having them returned outside but I realized we might need them. 

Maybe we could repaint them so they wouldn’t look too obvious. But then again, a pink colored military vehicle might attract more attention than a regular one.

“Doctor Tom!” Jolie said excitedly and went to hug Tom once she reached the garage. I frowned. Jolie turned to me with a smile. “Dr Edwards has been treating my grandmother for free. Can you believe it?”

“Wow that’s nice.”

I figured I had made the right call. There was a lower chance that I would regret letting him in.

The three of us quickly unloaded the supplies and took them to designated rooms but left some in the trucks in case we needed to leave. 

“I’ll teach you how to drive them,” Tom offered as we went back to the house.

“That’ll be nice. “

“You really knew what you were doing,” he said, looking around. The living room didn’t have much but the kitchen and other rooms were full of supplies to last a long time.

“I told you the world was changing.”

He nodded.

“You could have given me more information but whatever you’re planning, Mia, I’m impressed.”

I felt a stupid little flutter in my chest and turned away before he could notice anything. Why was I feeling good because Tom Edwards complemented me?

Leaving them in the living room, I went up to my room to freshen up.

I was about to remove my clothes when the gate alarm sounded. My entire body stiffened as the system spoke 

[Multiple individuals approaching.]

[Location: Main gate.]

I walked toward the security monitor. The smile disappeared from my face when I saw Victor standing outside my gate with about 10 other men.

Victor was the evil man who had taken my old base and convinced everyone that I was incapable of leading just because I was a woman.

“Mia! Open up!”

My heart leapt when I heard the command. This man was so shameless he had the guts to come to my gate. 

[Base security alert.]

[Controlled Zombie Killed.]

[Individuals attempting to break down gate.]

Well, I thought as I left the room, let’s see what he wants. As I was moving towards the gate, the system said something I didnt expect.

[System about to shut down.]

[Newbie package used up.]

[Need to gain more points.]

Shit!