We finally arrived at the camp.
And I'm just ready to go to bed. Today was too mentally exhausting for me.
Morales looks at Rick and me.
" Come meet everybody " - he says, stepping out of the car.
Andrea climbs out, her voice breaking as she calls out,
" Amy! "
I hear both of them crying, their voices trembling as they cling to each other. Relief, grief, and joy all at once.
" Hey! Helicopter boys, come out " - Morales calls out to us again.
We step out of the car and start walking towards the group. I glance at Shane, focusing on him for a moment.
Relief and happiness flash across his face, but they fade just as quickly, replaced by guilt and regret.
I wonder if I can keep him alive. Maybe... if I could somehow redirect his obsession with Lori towards Andrea or someone else. Out of everyone here, Shane adapted the fastest to this world. Maybe only Daryl is on his level when it comes to survival.
" Dad!! Dad! " - Carl's voice cuts through my thoughts as he runs straight into Rick's arms.
I turn my gaze from Shane to Lori. I wonder how she'll react. Will she hesitate? Feel shame?
Rick walks up, still carrying Carl, and wraps one arm around Lori. They embrace like a family reunited, like nothing ever broke.
It might've even made my new self smile… if I didn't already know how all of this plays out.
When Lori looks at Shane, her eyes harden, full of disgust. How fast people change. Just minutes ago, weren't they sitting together, smiling and joking?
Then I notice Glenn walking up to me.
" Let's go, I'll show you around the camp " - he says casually.
I simply nod and follow, taking my bag in hand and slinging the backpack on my shoulder.
Then I take a quick glance around the camp.
The camp is a mess. Completely unorganized, just Dale on the RV acting as a lookout, and that's it. No real barriers, no fallback plan.
No wonder they were so unprepared when the walkers hit this place.
Most of them haven't even killed a walker. Probably 90% are still clinging to the idea that someone will come and save them.
Amy's POV
I'm still holding Andrea, barely holding back tears. I don't know how long I was waiting, how many hours I spent thinking she was gone.
But now she's here - alive.
I hear more voices behind her.
I look up, just for a second, and that's when I see him.
Quiet. Dressed in dark clothes, with some kind of protective guards strapped around him. A sword strapped across his back like it belongs there. He doesn't talk. Doesn't smile. Just walks a step behind Glenn, eyes sharp, unreadable.
He barely glances around the camp. Like he's already measured everything - everyone - and filed it away. Like he's not even surprised to be here.
Cool. Mysterious. A little scary.
And... okay, kind of hot.
I lean closer to Andrea and whisper
" Who's that guy with the sword? "
She follows my gaze.
" That's Itachi. He came back with Rick, it was his idea that got us out of there "
I watch him for a second longer as he disappears from my sight with Glenn.
MC's POV
After The Tour
" This would be everything, and there's a lake down there where you can wash up " - Glenn speaks, looking back at me.
" Thank you " - I nod at him before leaving.
I will need to set up some kind of traps around my tent, maybe I could use a rope and some cans that could wake me up if a walker gets close
I know the horde will appear on Amy's birthday. But I'm not gonna put my life in the hands of a plot that might not even go the same way.
Uhh, first let's get cleaned up, I'm still covered in blood. I start removing my protective gear and weapons, keeping only the kunai holder on my left leg.
After a short walk, I arrived at the lake - a breathtaking sight with crystal-clear water, completely encircled by towering cliffs.
I was momentarily stunned.
No TV screen could capture the beauty of this place.
Looking around and seeing no one
I set my spare clothes on a nearby rock and stripped down to my underwear. Taking out the kunai and placing it on the gravel a bit closer to the water. Not wanting to risk any rusting by taking it with me.
Before entering the lake, I look at my stomach.
" Was Itachi always this muscular? "
Honestly, it would explain the strength and speed; it would be weird if a skinny guy managed to cut open a walker's face with just a knife.
After getting out of the water, I dried off with a spare towel and changed into clean clothes: black cargo-style pants and an oversized black hoodie. I strapped the kunai pouch back onto my leg.
I looked more like a model than someone trying to survive in this fucked-up world.
As I walked back to the campsite, I noticed people staring - mostly women. And Shane… well, he was being Shane, eyeing me like I might stab them in the back at any moment.
I returned to my belongings and began setting up the tent when I heard light footsteps approaching from behind. I turned around and saw Amy walking toward me. When I fully turned to her, she spoke.
" Um, I just wanted to let you know that we'll all be having dinner by the campfire in about two hours " - Amy said, clearly nervous, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
" Thanks, I'll be there once I finish setting everything up " - I replied with a small smile.
" I'm Itachi, by the way. Nice to meet you. " - I reached out my hand for a handshake.
She took it, her fingers a little shaky.
" Oh, right. I'm Amy. And thank you so much for helping my sister. I don't know what I'd have done if I lost her... " - she said, her voice full of honest gratitude.
I smiled and shook my head.
" No thanks needed. It was Rick and Glenn who risked their lives to get us out "
" Yes, but Andrea told me that without your idea, they'd still be stuck there, maybe even dead... " - she added, her voice trembling slightly.
There was a moment of silence before she suddenly perked up.
" How about I show you around the camp and introduce you to everyone? " - she offered, clearly trying to shift the mood.
" Sure. I'll find you when I'm done here, okay? "
She smiled warmly.
" Yeah, take your time! I'll be hanging out by the RV " - she said happily, her excitement obvious.
I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips as I caught her enthusiasm. Once she walked away, I turned back to my tent.
I could already see what she was after. Was she in love with me? No way. More like curious. I'm probably the only guy around her age in this camp, not to mention, she has no idea I'm only seventeen.
And not to sound cocky, but... I'm pretty damn good-looking.
That's what happens when you take a cool 2D character and drop him into the real world.
Romance can wait. I've got bigger things to deal with right now. Plus, I'm kind of afraid of getting too emotionally attached - but deep down, I know it's only a matter of time before it happens.
A little while later, I finished setting up the tent and rigged a simple alarm system around it. Granted, it was just some cans tied to a rope, but it should do the trick - walkers are too dumb to step over it or duck under.
I lay down on my sleeping bag to rest for a bit, my mind drifting to what I needed to do next.
After 10 minutes
" Let's get one thing straight. I won't kill anyone who's innocent or harmless. But if someone threatens my life..." I narrow my eyes, voice cold. "I'll take them out without mercy. "
" For now, I'll try to set Shane straight. If that doesn't work... " lips tightening. "I'll leave him to Rick."
Next, I need to make myself a pillar in the group - someone they can rely on. If they trust me, they'll be more likely to listen to me despite my age.
The CDC is a must. Weapons, supplies, and maybe even a doctor. If I can get him on our side, that'd be a huge win - a real doctor could change a lot.
Hershel's next. Another medical mind in the group means more stability. I can't afford to put all our hopes on just one doctor. I need to make sure we meet him - one way or another. I'm not leaving it up to chance.
I should also start training - keep up the exercise. I might've inherited this body's strength when I got reincarnated, but that doesn't mean it'll last forever if I slack off. Can't afford to get careless.
And I need to stop thinking I'm untouchable. That walker got too close. I didn't even have a plan if I ended up on the wrong street... I just rushed to a swarm of them. I've become too overconfident since getting reincarnated.
" Now that I think about it… what happened back there? " - I mutter to myself quietly.
" It was like everything slowed down. I could see every little movement - crystal clear. Could it have been… my red eyes? "
" Wait- " I pause, frowning. " Isn't it weird how Amy didn't even react to them? No flinch, no curiosity, not even a second glance. Like it was the most normal thing in the world. "
I sit up, reach for my sword, and unsheath it just enough to catch my reflection in the blade.
My eyes are black.
" ...What the hell? " - I stare. " Weren't they permanently red? "
" Maybe it's like the Sharingan… maybe I have to activate it somehow? "
I narrow my eyes at the reflection, watching for even the slightest change.
" But then why were they red in the apartment? I hadn't done anything yet - no fighting, no danger. Just woke up, looked in the mirror, and there they were. "
I let out a quiet breath, leaning back slightly.
" And when I was testing all my skills on those walkers… nothing happened. No slow motion. No clarity. Just... normal. "
" So what triggered it during that fight? "
" Maybe it's adrenaline... danger... something in the moment? " - I mumble under my breath.
I focus hard on my reflection. I try narrowing my eyes, tensing my body, replaying the fight in my head - the walker lunging, the swing, the kunai.
Nothing.
" Come on... " - I whisper, trying again. And still nothing.
I exhale, frustrated.
" So I can't control it yet... or maybe it only shows up when I actually need it. "
I glance at the blade again. Black eyes stare back.
I slowly slide the sword fully into its sheath and lie back, eyes on the tent ceiling.
" This can't be a hallucination... there's no way I went crazy in the first few minutes in a new world. "
" And that God did say he'd give me a gift before sending me here... "
" Oh god... I just hope this doesn't work like the Mangekyo Sharingan and ends up turning me blind... "
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( Author's note: Hello everyone! Hope you enjoyed the chapter
Please tell me what you thought about the chapter.
Did Amy's and Itachis conversation seem real and realistic?
And if you find any mistakes, please comment. I will try to fix it on a later date. )