System Of The Undead

Chapter 201: Carl’s Declaration!

Jason had new information and things felt like they were happening randomly, first Mariam came up with this strange rule and now he was finding out that Allison still had contact with the people that she supposedly cut off ties with.

Jason looked at Bella, he could tell she was telling the truth but then again, these people were very good liars.

"Thank you, Bella," Jason said and began to walk away once again.

"What are you going to do?" Bella asked him but Jason didn’t give a verbal response.

If Allison was still in contact with them then the probability that they had a hand to do with this increased.

Jason was confused though, there was something that didn’t make sense and that was the timeline.

Allison couldn’t have had a hand in any of this considering it was something that had been happening long before they came here.

Jason knew he couldn’t confront her about it yet, he had to keep it together or this might spook her. The last thing he needed was to spook her, he wanted the information she had and more so, why she was talking to these people.

[[Are you okay?]] Chronos asked upon noticing the shift in his mental state.

"No, Chronos! I’m afraid someone has managed to fool me once again!" Jason exclaimed bitterly, his brow furrowing.

[[Are you sure she was lying or it is Bella feeding you false information?]] Chronos suggested.

This was something that hadn’t even crossed his mind but now that Chronos had implanted this thought in his head, it was worth considering.

"That is not possible, Bella would never lie to me," Jason had more faith in her considering what she went through to free them.

She would have been abandoned by them even if the girls didn’t go back to get her.

[[Is this not what you thought with Allison?]] Chronos asked.

This was a good question, Jason had to doubt the information he was being told until he could confirm it himself but there was no reason for Bella to tell such a pointless lie.

"What do you suggest?" Jason asked, seeking the opinion of the system that should otherwise be neutral.

[[Do nothing]] Chronos suggested but this was in, itself, a big decision because if the Specters were involved then it would be too late by the time the plan was in motion.

That man, Jason knew he was bad news and if he was involved, it couldn’t be for anything good but props to Allison.

She possessed incredible acting skills if this was true but Chronos’ suggestion was sound.

Jason was going to take this advice and Allison had been promoted to wall commander.

It meant that she held a position that should allow access to the community if they willed it.

A lot had happened in the space of six months and Jason was too caught up in his fantasy life to bother.

-

Mariam was in her office, she had a glass of whiskey right in front of her but she hadn’t touched it. She was lost in thought.

"Mom..." Carl called out and this was enough to snap her back to her senses.

She looked at him with a weak smile.

"Hey Carl," Mariam responded, for the first time in a long time, she didn’t reek of booze.

"Are you okay?" Carl questioned and she nodded.

"I will be, I’m sorry for being such a burden to you," Mariam apologized because she had forced Carl to grow up.

He took a role he wasn’t supposed to but this didn’t bother Carl, his father was gone so it was his job to look after his mother.

"I see you didn’t take a sip..." Carl muttered and Mariam scoffed.

"I couldn’t... I cannot allow myself to grieve any longer," Mariam said.

"I’m glad to hear that, the world will move forward and we need to move with it or we will be left in our grief..." Carl said and this surprised Mariam.

She didn’t know Carl to speak this way but it was a good sight nonetheless.

"But that doesn’t mean we must forget the memories we shared with those lost because, in time, we too will be memories in another person’s story..." Carl concluded.

These words were surprisingly comforting and Mariam realized her little boy had become a man.

"Carl, you have grown so much..." Mariam said but this scared her.

"Mom, I have decided to join the raiders," Carl delivered the news to his mother and Mariam was shocked to hear this.

She knew how dangerous this thing was and she didn’t want to expose Carl to these things.

She knew that it would change him, the trauma that came with it would change anyone.

Mariam was sure she too wouldn’t survive out there so why did her son think he would?

"Carl quit joking around. You know I won’t allow it," Mariam turned him down.

"I wasn’t asking for permission, mother. I was informing you of the path I have decided to take. I can do it with or without your blessing," Carl said sternly but he forgot that Mariam held the power here and if she forbad it, there was nothing that he could do.

But she knew that this would only make him resent her but she would rather have her son resent her and live.

"I know what you’re thinking, you will tell Dimitris to not allow me but I promise you, Mother, it will have consequences because I will find a way outside those walls even if it kills me. You can have people you trust to look after me as I embark on this journey or I can do it alone and die like a dog," Carl proposed. Mariam couldn’t believe how persistent he was but she also knew it wasn’t her place to be the obstacle.

Mariam chuckled out loud as a smile crept up on her face, her eyes softened as she looked at the boy that had become a man right in front of her eyes.

"I guess I have no choice now, do I?" Mariam conceded and with that, Carl no longer had anything standing in his way but will this be a decision she would regret?

That was to be seen.