Alternative Universe:, Nick Venom [me reader TXT] 📗

situation, as your teacher, I’ll follow you; to supervise you.” It was a weak excuse, but Braiden wanted to appear powerful and in control. Even though he was being led by the tail by the others.

Nathan nodded, walking away from him. He went to the kitchen, grabbing a bag on his way. He stuffed what supplies he could into the bag, filling it before going for another bag.

Braiden followed Nathan’s lead and helped pack their supplies. Several bags were filled before Nikki’s waterfall stopped. Her sobs ended, leaving the remnants of her tears on Amanda’s shoulder. She jumped up and followed everybody to the door. All of the weapons were packed up and stored in the bags. They equipped their weapons. Amanda sported her trusty hunting rifle, Nathan had an AR, Kiya and Nikki held pistols, and Braiden was given the rusty musket and a pistol.

“Why was I dumped with this junk?” He pointed at the musket. “What will this even do?”

“Can it!” Nathan shouted, grabbing a shotgun and storing it in a bag. He turned on the safety and made sure it was empty. 

Braiden nodded, not speaking another word. He silently followed them out of the house and towards their next destination; their new home. Nick’s ranch would serve as their safe haven.

As they followed the road out of the city and towards Nick’s ranch, Amanda glanced behind at her house. The house that she had stayed in for seventeen years was now in her rearview mirror. She was leaving her home, the one that housed her memories of her completed family.

Even so, she wasn’t entirely sad. Her house did what it could for her, supplying her with many good memories to reflect on. In her mind, Andy was still alive and her parents were by her side, giving her much love. Everything was perfect… In her mind.

 

 

***

“They’re leaving.” A man told Percy, entering the house. The man was dressed in a green tee shirt and a black pair of jeans. He had on blue sneakers; none of his outfit choices matched with each other. “What should we do?”

“Leave them,” Percy responded, lighting up a cigarette. He sat down in his living room, staring at a blank television. “Let her believe she escaped me. She’ll raise her hopes and think everything is fine.” He balled up his fish. “Then we’ll come in and cause chaos. I can’t wait to see her face when everything implodes in front of her. We will snatch up any new friends she makes and put them to use.”

He stood up, turning to the man. “I need you and Teddy to get that generator working. I need to contact a few of my acquaintances to see if they’re alive. If they are, then we’re in business.”

“Yes, sir.” The man bowed his head.

Percy chuckled softly to himself before extinguishing his cigarette on the man’s head. It singed his hair. “Oh, and get me a new cigarette.

***

They trekked five miles to reach the ranch. The scenery changed drastically during their adventure, transitioning from skyscrapers and residential homes by the blocks to dense vegetation and sparse houses. The city life passed them by as they ventured to the countryside. 

Now in unfamiliar territory, the group walked with increased caution. The darkness obscured their vision, but the faint moonlight revealed the zombies on the road. They were nearly masked by the darkness, but the group pointed them out before they could be a threat. They went around them whenever they could and blasted any they couldn’t. However, every bullet fired attracted zombies towards them. Fortunately, the vegetation masked part of the gunfire. 

After nearly two hours of walking---fatigue-ridden and drowsy---they reached the ranch. A large sign hovered the main entrance, reading, “Forrest Ranch”, in bold letters and with a pig in the background. 

“Why a pig?” Braiden questioned. “Couldn’t it have been like an image of farmers or something?”

“Shut it,” Nathan said as they walked past the main entrance and started down a long gravel road. They pass by a few broken cars hiding under a large tree on their right, glistening off the moonlight.

They continued down the road to the only house on the property. Aside from the house was a barn, half of a football field away on their right. The barn was closer to the house than the tree.

The house itself was 200 feet in length and 100 in width; resembling a mansion more than a house. The moonlight lit up small parts of the raspberry-colored building and whitish roofs, but nothing more than that.

Nathan approached the front door, rattling his knuckles on it. He waited for a few seconds before knocking louder. He waited again and received no response. He rattled his knuckles on the door for the third time, hearing a loud crash from inside. He heard somebody’s footsteps dash to the front door but hesitating to open it.

An eye peered from a window to the side of the door, staring at Nathan for a few seconds, before disappearing. A few moments later, the door opened and revealed Nick. He was dressed in a white tee-shirt, loose black joggers, and black sneakers. 

“It’s you guys.” His hand rested on his pocket holster. He kept an M1911 in it.

Nikki approached him. “We need a place to stay. We had to leave our last base.”

“I could see,” Nick remarked, moving to the side. He motioned them inside. They walked inside with nearly everybody thanking Nick. Braiden didn’t mutter a thanks, strolling past him.

“What happened?” Nick asked.

“My abusive ex made me go see him. He told me he wanted my female friends in exchange for my freedom.” She glanced at Amanda and Kiya. Neither knew the true story behind her sobs.

“He wanted me to hand them in, so I could escape him. However-” Her voice began breaking. “I’m not doing that, so we fled. We left as soon as we could.”

“What’s his name?”

“Percy. Percy Katell.”

“I’ll make sure my siblings remember this name. If he chances upon this ranch, I don’t want them giving him the time of day.” He closed the door, leaning against it. “Stay as long as you want, as long as you help pitch in. Here, you work for your food.” He got off the door and approached Nikki. “Welcome to Forrest Ranch, your new home.”

“Thank you… ” The floodgates opened again.

 

TBC…

Episode Nine "Pride"

The night ended without incident. Percy never appeared to claim them, leaving the situation as it is. They, for the moment, were free from his grasp, living at Forrest Ranch alongside the Forrest kids.

However, their life wasn’t going to be easygoing. Especially with Nick at the helm of decisions.

“I will be assigning roles for all.” He announced, standing on a box. He was a few feet higher than the others looking up at him. “I welcomed you all into my parents’ ranch, but you will not disgrace my decision by doing nothing and lazing around. Starting today, you’ll all be working together to fortify and ensure the ranch’s future.” He stepped off the box, landing gracefully. “Firstly, does anybody have experience with milking cows or fixing cars?”

Kiya stepped forward. “I go to the country to meet with my grandparents every summer. I helped them with milking the cows and gathering eggs.”

“Perfect!” He waved her over. “You’ll help with the milking of the cows. I’ll show you around the barn where they’re at, later.” He turned towards the others. “Anybody know how to fix a car?”

Nobody stepped forward.

“Okay, then-” He glanced around, searching for other tasks. “-who is good at repairing fences? The fences here were made crudely, so they’ll need to be repaired or rebuilt.”

Nathan stepped forward. “I’m not good at it, but I did a bit of woodworking. I could help out.”

“Great, you’ll be assisting my sister and me in repairing the fences. Okay,” he turned to Nikki and the others, “I know you were all armed, but I need the best marksmen out of everybody. Every head turned towards Amanda, pointing at her. “Amanda, I’ll help you out. We’ll be hunting in the forest for deer or any other sources of meat.”

“I can help with chores or cooking,” Nikki mentioned.

“Do you think you can beat my sister’s cooking?” Nick asked. 

Alexia glanced at her, whispering, Well do you?

“I’ll do my best too.” She jumped on the challenge. Alexia squinted her eyes before approaching Nikki.

She extended her hand. “Let’s see if you can.” She dragged Nikki to the kitchen for a food-related challenge - who could make the best food.

With them out of earshot, Nick remarked, “well, expect a feast for dinner.” A few chuckles left the still tensed bodies of Nathan, Amanda, Braiden, and Kiya. It had only been a night since they left Amanda’s home and entered the ranch.

“Braiden, you’ll be in charge of farming. I’ll teach you, so-”

“I don’t need a brat like you teaching me anything. I’m older than you.” Braiden said, scoffing at Nick.

Nick squinted his eyes as he approached Braiden. “Is there a problem… Braiden?”

“Yeah, there is.” He nearly spat in Braiden’s face. “I’m a thirty-two-year-old who has seen and knows more than an eighteen-year-old could.”

“Do you know how to fight?”

“Is that a challenge?” Braiden asked.

Nick nodded, discarding his bow. He didn’t want a fight with his weapons, but mano a mano. He brought his fists up, swaying back and forth. He had some type of training.

Braiden took off his suit, which he primarily wore since the start, and threw it on the ground. Under the suit was a black tee shirt. He balled his fingers into a fist, standing taller than Nick. 

Nick lowered himself slightly, submitting to Braiden for a mere moment before dishing out the first punch. “Let's see what you got.” He struck at Braiden’s chest, catching him off-guard. However, this didn’t push him to the ground. He took the attack head-first, grabbing Nick’s arm and bringing his body closer. With his body now at arms' length, he grabbed Nick’s head and guided it to the ground, using the hand holding Nick’s arm to bend it behind his back.

Everybody gasped as Braiden had the advantage over Nick, who was eating dirt. 

“See, I’m in control now,” Braiden whispered into Nick’s ear, lighting a fire under him. Nobody was allowed to claim the land other than his parents.

His arms and head were pushed into the dirt, but his legs were still in the fight. He kicked as hard as he could towards Braiden, hitting him in his back. The sudden attack nearly threw Braiden off Nick and into the ground in front of them, but he caught himself. However, he was soon thrown off after a series of kicks and Nick’s body moving to off-put his balance. With his balance gone, he kicked hard and knocked him off.

Now angered, Nick rose to his feet and stomped towards Braiden, who recovered just as quickly. He rose and held his arms up, protecting himself from Nick’s first blow. Even so, his arms were being torn apart by Nick’s heavy blows. Every ounce of his anger was being transferred from him to his fist to Braiden’s arms; the effect was outstanding.

Braiden kicked blindly at Nick, hitting him in his shin. This small attack didn’t faze him as he doubled down on his attacks. Knowing