Be Careful What You Wish For: A Zombie Apocalypse-Chapter 468: Family Matters

Chang Xuefeng opened the door, already on guard for whatever had set Hattie off. Normally, she would race to the door, no matter what any of them said, so for her to insist that one of them open it.

Well, it doesn’t bode well for whoever was on the other side.

The rest of the guys fanned out behind Hattie, their sole focus on the man facing them. If ’dirtbag’ had a look, this would be it. Sure, they were in the middle of an apocalypse, but the amount of grease in the man’s blond hair was enough to deep fry something.

As if completely unaware of the guys’ disgust, the man on the porch gave a crooked smile.

He was in his early 30s, maybe. Still fit, though the kind of fit that came from resentment, not discipline. His eyes swept over Chang Xuefeng, then Tank, and lingered a little too long on Dante’s knife. There was no shame in him—only the smug calculation of someone who thought he’d found the top of the food chain.

"Nice place," the man drawled. "Didn’t think the government types were still operating in homes like this. But then again, you boys look like the real deal."

No one responded.

Tank didn’t blink.

Chang didn’t move.

The man cleared his throat and stepped one boot onto the threshold, ignoring the way the very air around him seemed to resist his entry. "Right. Name’s Marc. I was told this is where wishes get granted. Didn’t believe it at first, but I’ve seen too much weird shit lately to call it crazy."

Hattie stayed hidden behind Tank, her fingers curled into his shirt even as she felt a weight on her chest the moment the stranger spoke his first word. Sure, he lost his O City accent, but his voice... the cadence... he couldn’t change that, no matter how long it had been.

Marc didn’t notice her. Even if his eyes did glance over her, he didn’t look twice. Just kept talking as he took in the guys in the back.

"I figured I’d get ahead of the curve," he continued, grinning as if he were at a poker table instead of the mouth of Hell. "Everyone’s fighting over scraps out there—scrambling like rats. But I’m not stupid. I know power when I see it."

He gave Chang Xuefeng a nod. "You—you’ve got that... stillness. The type that says, ’Don’t fuck with me.’ I respect that. I do."

The stillness in question did not respond.

"And you—" Marc turned to Tank. "Jesus. You ever consider running security? I mean, you’re wasted just standing there like a Pitbull on a leash."

Tank didn’t even twitch.

"I have a wish list," Marc said, reaching into his tattered jean vest with the arms ripped off and pulling out a folded piece of paper. "Figured it’d be easier than wasting everyone’s time going one by one."

He handed it to Chang Xuefeng, who didn’t move to take it. In fact, Chang Xuefeng hadn’t so much as blinked as he watched the snake in front of him. However, the man didn’t seem to understand just how much danger he was in.

He was either really confident in his abilities, or an idiot.

The jury was still out one which one.

When he didn’t get any sort of reaction from Chang Xuefeng, Marc started reading aloud.

"First, I want land. Like real land. Miles of it. Nothing but me and the earth, you know? The way it should be."

Luca’s knuckles cracked behind him.

Marc didn’t notice.

"Second, I want a wife. Actually, better make it at least ten wives. Women die too easily, so it’s always better to have a backup or nine. I want them blonde. Pale-skinned. Young. Obedient. No back talk. None of that mouthy bullshit women are always on about now. And if you can find ones that aren’t all that well read, that would be even better. Society today has put thoughts in women’s heads. Equality and all that bullshit."

Beau’s eyes darkened, the usual grin vanishing from his face.

"Third, I want to be the only authority on my land. No cops. No rules. No government breathing down my neck. Just me and my word."

Salvatore leaned forward slightly, like a wolf catching the scent of rot.

"Fourth—kids. Not mine, obviously. Adopted. Or taken. I don’t care. I want to raise ’em right. Teach ’em what the world’s supposed to be. What women are supposed to be. What we are supposed to be. Not this weak-ass garbage that’s been shoved down our throats. Men need to be men, and that’s final."

Hattie didn’t flinch. She didn’t need to. The temperature in the room dropped six degrees in six seconds.

And still, Marc didn’t stop.

"Fifth—guns. I want a stash of them. A full armory. And the right to use them how I want. Someone crosses my line; they don’t leave breathing. I should be able to handle my own house without asking permission."

"Jesus Christ," Eric muttered under his breath.

"Sixth—freedom from judgment. I don’t want to be told I’m wrong. I’m not wrong. This world’s gone wrong. I just want a place where I can do what I want, when I want, and no one can stop me. Especially not some bitch with a badge."

There it was.

The flash of Hattie’s eyes from behind Tank.

Marc still didn’t see her.

"Seventh—no demons. No monsters. No freaks. I want a clean place. No infected. No degenerates. No weird powers or talking animals. Just humans. Real humans. The way God made us."

There was a beat of silence after that.

Marc smiled like he’d just negotiated a damn good deal. "Think you can swing that?"

Chang Xuefeng looked at him.

Just once.

And said nothing.

Marc chuckled. "You boys sure don’t talk much. I get it. Stoic types. You’re probably used to people begging, right? But I’m not like them. I know what I’m worth. I’ve survived. I’ve led. Hell, if we had more guys like me, the world wouldn’t’ve gone to shit in the first place."

He squinted at Tank.

"You’re military, aren’t you? You get it. The chain of command. Men above women. Strength above weakness. It’s nature. Hell, even animals know it."

That was it.

Tank took one step to the side.

And Hattie stepped forward.

Marc blinked. His smirk faltered.

"...Do I know you?"

Hattie tilted her head to the side, a disturbed smile on her face. "Long time no see, Shit Stain Number 1."