The Turning: System Update: A Post-Apocalyptic LitRPG by Kenny King

Author:Kenny King [King, Kenny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Langley sniffed the air and halted abruptly. Her backpack leash pulled taut and stopped Wallace in his tracks as well. From the construction site, she’d picked up another scent, but she hadn’t sprinted this time. She mostly walked fast, her ears and tail both tucked close to her body defensively. Langley liked being helpful, but she certainly didn’t like the pots of gold she kept finding at the end of the very gross, macabre rainbows.

“There,” she said, her expression dripping with sadness. “On the other side of the basketball court.”

We all turned to look where she’d mentioned, except for Dahlia, who was shoved immediately behind Penny’s legs to shield her from whatever horror scene might be close by.

“Stay here,” I said, meeting Penny’s eyes then shooting them down towards Dahlia with a pointed look. “Watch her.”

“I’ll come,” Simon offered grimly.

Annabelle tightened her grip on her bow. I think it was more for comfort than because she thought there might be an enemy nearby. Whatever evil Langley still smelled was long gone. “I’ll come too.”

“I don’t want to get closer,” Langley said, shrinking into herself a bit. “There’s a lot of blood. No…” she sniffed again. “Was a lot of blood. Someone tried to… they tried to wash it. But I can still smell it.” She made a soft whine. “It’s different from the others.”

“I’ll stay here with her,” Wallace said, then shot Langley a nervous glance. “Humanoid or not, if she gets nervous like this, she’s a flight risk, like any dog.”

“I am not,” she insisted. “That was one time… and I only hid for a little while.”

“It was only a thunderstorm last week,” Wallace countered. “This sounds worse, and you’ve already given me enough cardio chasing after you today.”

“It is worse. I can feel it,” I said, already guessing what I might be walking into.

Langley sighed. “I did okay with the door, right? I was good with the door? And the other place?”

Wallace patted her on the arm kindly. “You… alerted us to the door and to the construction site. You gave me a literal run for my money, but yes… you did good.”

Her tail wagged slowly behind her, momentarily placated by the word good.

Leaving the nervous dog and her sad little wagging behind, those of us who decided to examine closer stepped across the weed-choked basketball court. The wind rattled the bent and hanging chains on the weathered and rusted hoop, reminding me a little of the sounds of handcuffs or leg irons, like we were in Shawshank or something. It only made me feel more weighed down and apprehensive. It didn’t help that I knew what I’d be walking into. Third time's a charm, right?

At first, it looked like a department store mannequin as we approached. I caught sight of something pale and stiff, and though Langley could smell it, she was right– the body had been washed. This one had a smell, but it was barely there, as if the crime were more recent. Upon

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