Battle Alpha • LT&NH

Prologue || The Keeper

"They're back."

Niall Horan rubbed his tired eyes. It had been a long day. Actually, it was always a long day at The Fort, especially when you were running the place. After Zayn Malik and his wife, Jasper had left, it had not been easy to put the leader hat on and act like you knew what you were doing. At times, he would find himself staring at the sky, wishing that they didn't join ONE to help save the world. They were such a vital part of the community, it was hard not to feel the effects of their sudden departure. Out of habit, Niall reached for the little object in his pocket.

Serum A.

Zayn and Jasper had entrusted one of their special vials before they joined ONE. "When ONE runs out of these... I'll always have this one thing to come back to," his brother told him then.

At first, Niall had held onto the vial for Zayn. But recently, whenever he was nervous, he would find himself clutching the little emergency syringe and remember that Zayn wanted him to be strong. His brother might not be around anymore, but Serum A was proof that everything was happening for a reason. It was Zayn's blood, the sacrifices they've made -- everything was for a bigger cause. Gone were the days when it was only just them. Zayn and Louis and the rest of the band -- they've gone to become more than the names they've made for themselves. They've decided to truly change the world.

There were moments when Niall wished he could do the same thing. Was he even that brave? He didn't think he was physically able for the job. He was asthmatic and he couldn't count how many times he fractured his bones in the past. He may have had a heart of a lion, but at times he felt as frail as a scarecrow.

"They're back and they stole our supplies."

Liam Payne, his hot-headed brother, was no doubt trying to get a reaction from him. He had been on edge since the whole zombie apocalypse broke out, and if it weren't for the amount of respect he had left of the man, Niall would've lost his temper too. Or maybe that's what Liam wanted -- for Niall to blow a gasket, storm to the raider hideout and demand they return what they've stolen from them.

It was inevitable that the only other threat in the woods had figured out that Zayn -- basically The Fort's main weapon against all physical threats, was MIA. The raiders wasted no time resuming their dastardly ways; they sabotaged Liam's supply run the other day. It bothered Niall to think that the raiders have been spying on them; how else would they have found out that Zayn had left?

"What are you suggesting, mate?" Niall asked patiently, just because Liam wanted him to. Truthfully, what can they do? Scare tactics wouldn't work; they weren't exactly superhuman like Zayn. He glanced at Harry Styles, the other (supposedly) reasonable head in the room, but he looked far too interested in what Liam was about to say.

"We attack by nightfall."

"But what if we're outnumbered?"

"We'll be outnumbered, for sure," Liam said plainly. "That's why we do it behind their backs."

Niall shook his head, not seeing the logic in this plan. "I dunno, mate. Don't you think they're expecting us?"

"They're not," Liam said confidently. "They know Zayn left. They're going to assume that we're a bunch of weaklings that can't do shit for themselves." He glanced at Harry. "I'm sure Harry's up for the challenge, aren't ya, bud?"

Niall tried his best not to sigh out loud when Harry just shrugged. Why were they even asking for his opinion when it seemed like Liam's mind was made up? Ever since Harry lost his arm, he'd been a 'yes man', constantly out to prove that there wasn't anything he can't do. But this was different. Fighting off zombies was one thing, fighting real, armed (pun not intended) people was another. "I'm not 100% sold on this, Liam. And to fight in the dark, too?"