It’s been over a year since Nevada was quarantined. No one knows how or why this occurred since the government won’t acknowledge the Nevada Incident. As days turned to weeks and weeks to months, people all over the US grew more concerned. People across the nation were shitting themselves trying to come up with theories and possibilities about why a statewide shutdown occurred. It also raised questions about what happened to the people. And some people… were just outright ignorant. Let’s take it to the ignorant ones.Meanwhile, back in New York, Arlo found Zero sleeping on the courtyard bench for no reason. He was probably skipping his csses, got bored, and then fell asleep. Who the hell sleeps outside in the middle of February? How the fuck did this dumbass get promoted to 7th grade?
Arlo tries to kick Zero awake but trips on the lingering ice from the recent snowstorm. Zero wakes up from Arlo’s blunder, causing him to sit up. “Ice to see you, too.” He seemed amused by his own joke. Arlo grumbled on the ground, sitting up with snow on his head. “Fuck you.” Zero chuckled. As he saw the snow on his head. “I ain’t really the type to make snow an accessory, but you do you, buddy.”
Arlo’s annoyance faded away when he saw Scarlett coming. Even in her bulky winter attire, she looked attractive. He couldn’t help but blush as he watched Scarlett wordlessly pass by him and sat next to Zero. Seriously, how does this guy not realize that Scarlett doesn’t have a thing for him? Arlo stumbled over himself trying to speak. “So, uh, you guys ever had lunch— No, never mind, sorry.” Zero was using his phone, he didn’t even care. And he watched how his words didn’t even register in Scarlett’s head. He tried to speak again; maybe now would be a good time to converse about his thoughts on the whole Nevada conspiracy. “So, uh, what do you guys think about the events of Nevada? They won’t tell us anything, which means it must be big, right? So what really happened to Nevada? Do you guys think the Government found some aliens there or something?” Zero didn’t bother looking up from his phone. “Do you want to befriend them or something? Not sure if they can be bribed with food.”
Scarlett— Jesus Christ, Enkay. What the fuck happened in Chapter 10? What was the significance of it? Like I know Mr. Fisher is kind of an asshole but… whatever. I don’t care. This novel is ridiculous. Just keep me away from that freak NPC, and find a way to delete Nevada narratively, make it like it never happened. NOW.
A couple of students walked by, they were talking about the Nevada news— This… this motherfucker really wrote about Nevada again after what I just said…
A couple of students walked by, they were talking about the Nevada news. It makes sense, after all. The government wasn’t exactly being subtle about it. One prominent voice from the group said. “I heard a bunch of people died in Nevada, and they’re trying to hide the massacre.” And another voice responded. “Oh dude, you guys think it’s some murderer running wild in Nevada?” Arlo’s heart dropped, and his positive mood dropped instantly as he heard the passersbys’ comments. Murder? Massacre? He hadn’t accounted for that… He turned to Zero and Scarlett. “You— You guys think they’re just joking, right…? I mean, they have to be. A massacre in Nevada…? I don’t buy it…”
Zero doesn’t look up from his phone, he remains oddly quiet. His body nguage didn’t give away any emotions. Much less fear of the prospect of such a grand massacre that they had to quarantine an entire state. This made Arlo more frustrated with Zero. He frowned. Why the fuck didn’t he say anything? An entire state possibly got massacred, and this is all he had to show for it? He raised his voice a little. “What’s your problem, dude? You don’t care that a bunch of people possibly died?” Zero curtly responded. “And what are you going to do about it? Resurrect them? It’s called a moment of silence for respect.”
Arlo, who usually backed down from a retort, decided this time maybe he should keep pressing the issue. “Respect? You’ve just been on your phone the entire time.” Arlo quickly responded. Zero spoke up once more. “Then you do it.” Arlo was stunned by the sudden comment. What did he mean? “The hell is that supposed to—” Zero curtly cut Arlo off. “Go raise the dead. Stop the murderer, little hero. You’re so pathetic, you know that? You’re getting mad at me like I’m the one who caused it. There’s nothing I can say or do that will undo whatever happened in Nevada.”
Arlo tried to retort. “But—” He couldn’t, Scarlett cut him off. “Oh god dammit Arlo, just let it go. We don’t know what happened in Nevada.” Spoiler alert: I know. “Why are you making an issue out of this? We don’t even know if it’s a massacre. It’s all in the air.”
Arlo sighed in defeat. “You guys are right. I was just projecting my own insecurities onto you, Zero. I’m sorry.” Zero casually responded while still using his phone. “I don’t really care. But you need to stop vilifying people. You’re lucky you’re dealing with me. Someone else might’ve killed you over this.”
Zero suddenly stood up and stretched a bit. Then, he began to walk toward the campus food cart that was usually open at this time. “Say… if you’re really apologetic, then buy me some food. I mean you’ll have to buy it anyway, considering our deal. But you’ll have to buy it twice today.” Arlo shrunk back at the mere thought of financial horror. “But I won’t—” Zero cut him off. “Should’ve thought of that before deciding to py heroic.” Arlo also gives up because he doesn’t want to look broke in front of Scarlett. “Fine, since you are so poor. I’ll help you out. Zero chuckles. “Thanks, buddy.” Ew. Does this idiot take me for a gold digger? What the fuck is this sheep’s problem? Does he really think I’ll be all over him cause he’s funting some bills in my face? Who does this guy think he is? If Zero wasn’t here, I’d punch him again like I did in chapter 6. I swear to god, these sheep are getting bold nowadays. It ticks me off.
