Chapter 21：Are You Ready? (1/2)

”What's wrong? Why are you staring at me like that? Is it that shocking that I managed to return alive?”

Calvin furrowed his eyebrows and revealed a wronged look on his face.

”You... You're back!” Scarlette cried out.

”Yeah, I am... I also brought some drinks from a nearby vending machine. I thought you guys must be thirsty. Sadly, I didn't find any vending machine that has some food so, I only managed to bring these.” Calvin entered the room, closed the door, turned on the lights, and placed the bulky plastic bag on the table amidst the shocked gazes of everyone.

”Holy shit! You really managed to return! What the hell man... I thought for sure, you were dead...” Nicholas approached him and sat on the opposite couch.

”How...? How did you come back here alive? Isn't that monster earlier still roaming the area?”

Rose said in an incredulous voice.

Calvin nodded his head, 'This is a good opportunity to teach them the weakness of the Butcher.' He thought before replying, ”Yeah, that big fat bastard is still in the area. But it was actually quite easy to avoid him. You just need to make sure that your footsteps are silent. Also, his footsteps make that distinct slick, cracking sound and it's also quite loud...”

”So, you are saying that you managed to avoid him by positioning?” Ray believed that Calvin really did think of this asylum as a video game. This was the reason why he used the word ”positioning”. It was so that Calvin could understand what he was talking about.

”Yeah, as long as your positioning is good and you're not breathing too loud and rough...”

”That big fucking guy won't hear you.” Calvin casually said.

He then turned to look at the girls huddled over at the corner.

Taking a few bottles of beverage, he walked over to them and said.

”Hmmm... Scarlette, Jane, Zahra, Medea, and Jannette, right? Come with us to the couch. It must be painful sitting on the ground like that. The couch is wide anyway, so it will fit all of us. Furthermore, since I already have a map. We can make some plans while quenching our thirsts.”

Calvin gave a gentle smile.

Jane slightly blushed upon seeing his smile.

Scarlett was taken aback, while Zahra turned her gaze away from his eyes.

It was also unknown what Jannette was thinking at this time.

Only Medea remained indifferent as she stood up without saying anything and walked to the couch at the center of the room.

”Look, Medea's already moving. Stand up and come with us already!” Calvin urged the four.

Scarlette's pale skin became filled with redness as she blushed and said, ”Th-Thank you... And I'm... I'm really sorry... I'm sorry that you had to go out alone and make the map for us.”

”Hahaha...” Calvin lightly chuckled, ”It's fine, it's fine... You don't have to apologize. We're a team, so we should work together. That includes giving out individual responsibilities to each team member. In this case, let's just say that I'm serving as the scout of the team.” Calvin winked at her, eliciting a deeper response from Scarlette.

”O-Okay...”

She took his hand and stood up.

Jane also glanced at Calvin and said in a soft voice, ”Th-Thank you...”

Calvin smiled at her and shook his head, 'Dang... To think that the girl with the most potential of everyone in here would be such a timid girl! However, I bet that after this baptism of blood, she won't be such a scaredy-cat anymore. I can't really do anything, I have no other choice but to hope that she won't die in this godforsaken place.'

”Hey bro, can I get that Coke instead? Take this Pepsi.”

”No man, I had this Coke first, so it's mine...”

The group sat together on the couches.

The women were silent, but the men were already laughing with each other. Save for Hugo and Calvin.

Calvin turned to look at Hugo who was still sitting on the dark corner.

He approached him and said, ”It looks like you're not that comfortable being with us.”

”No... That's not it...”

Hugo shook his head, his hesitation appeared on his face, but it quickly disappeared as fast as it appeared.

But Calvin whose eyes were trained caught on that display of emotion as he sat beside him and said, ”Do you mind if I ask? What caused you to distance yourself from the others?”

Hugo stared right at Calvin.

It was obvious that he had a lot to say, but out of fear. He stopped himself from saying anything.

”Come on man...” Calvin slapped Hugo's shoulder, ”Just tell me already! We are teammates and I won't judge you for it!”

”No, you don't understand...” Hugo shook his head once more.

”No, I do understand.”