They climb the stairs to find Sofia chained up and naked but then...

Michael's (the MC) POV

As you advanced slowly through the building at the front of your group, on the lookout for Carlos or any other danger, you couldn't help but overhear Garcia as she started talking with the nude women they had rescued.

"So, we overheard one of the gang members say that they had captured you four after winning a gang war with some old rivals of them," The Sergeant remarked. "What were you doing with the other gang?"

At that, your eyes suddenly widened, realizing that you had not stopped to consider those implications when you decided to rescue the no longer so helpless women. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Lieutenant Mills stiffened, probably wondering the same things you were now as her sense of potential danger increased.

Soon, however, you heard a scoff. "You can relax," One of them said. "We weren't members of that gang before the dead rose and got hungry. We ran across them during the chaos of the early days when they came into the gun range where we were hiding. Since we were part of a gunsmithing club, they agreed to take us in and protect us in exchange for making them the best quality improvised firearms we could possibly manage."

You raised your eyebrow at that, interested. "You know how to make zip guns by adapting existing materials?" You asked, turning your head back for a moment.

"Yep," The blonde of the group said proudly. "We usually prefer to make those guns as just single shot in use, though, unless we clearly are working with higher quality materials. More than that, and you run the risk of the weapon blowing up in your hand."

You exchanged a glance with Lieutenant Mills, who now looked quite intrigued instead of wary. You knew you were thinking the same thing so you decided to might as well put it out there.

"We have our own stronghold in an apartment complex with a larger group than the one you see before you," You explained. "After we are done here, you can accompany us there to spend the night, and if you decide to stay, you would be more than welcomed, especially if you can make us more weapons like that to increase the size of our arsenal."

The four women glanced at each other before turning back to you. "Are you military?" The tallest among them asked, looking pointedly at the uniformed Mills.

"Some of us are," You replied with a nod as you reached the stairs for the second floor. "Others, not so much, but we are all trying to contribute as best we can to improve our odds of survival and better defend our positions. And we could use more manpower, especially with skills like yours, so if you agree, you would be more than welcome. And yes, we have access to plenty of food and water for the time being.

Another exchange of glances, but this time it was a shorter one before they started nodding. "We are in, Mr Michael," Another said as they started climbing themselves and placed their hands on the iron staircase railing. "Keep us fed, and protected, and we will make you more guns or even repair the ones you have as needed."

You smiled widely as you kept walking. "Excellent. We can discuss more details...later." You added slowly, your voice breaking off as you reached the second floor.

Mainly, because they appeared to have found Sofia...also naked, chained up, and currently getting spilled with water; her right breast being fondled by the gang leader.

Mills stiffened while Laurel cursed loudly.

"Get your hands off my sister, you sick fuck!" She screamed in outrage, her eyes wide with **** written in it.

"Not so fast," Carlos sneered as he grabbed something from his pocket.

Then he threw the pin away before Laurel could shoot him, and you froze in dawning realization.

"If I die you all go with me," He declared, his tone menacing while he pressed on the grenade.

It was now Mills turn to curse, her hand on her trigger but clearly hesitating to use it now.

"What do you want?" You ended up saying.

"Many things," Carlos replied, all but growling in anger. "Your head on a plate for shooting two of my men. My trophies you released on their knees as I enjoy my spoils of war. To feed Laurel and Kira to the rotten walkers for obviously leading you to me while Sofie here watches them scream in agony. Taking my time breaking in your soldier ladies to my will. But for now, I will settle for not being so outnumbered while we negotiate terms."

And with that, the criminal reached to the table directly behind him with his other hand keeping eye contact on you the whole time. Soon, he had what could only be a taser in his hands.

Mills clearly wanted to shoot him right then and there, but the second he dropped the grenade, it was going to come off, and from the look on her face, she did not like the calculations her mind was coming up with. And Laurel had frozen by then, clearly unwilling to do anything that might kill her sister, since she was the closest one to the potential blast.

It was that moment of hesitation that gave Carlos the opening, allowing him to shoot his taser unchallenged. But to your surprise, he did not aim it at Mills, Laurel, or even you...but at the staircase railing to your left.

Your eyes widened as the four nude women your had rescued were electrocuted by the current and collapsed on the stairs, alongside Kira and Amelia, who had been directly behind Laurel but also with their hands on the iron railing. Garcia had jumped just in time to avoid the shock and had joined the rest of your group at the top. A part of your brain whispered reassurances that the voltage couldn't have been big enough to make them pass out for more than a few minutes since you thought from half-remembered lessons that that was not how tasers work, even with iron as a conductor.

But just like that, the gang leader had taken over half your group out of commission with a single shot. And he still had a literal bomb up his sleeve.

"Now," Carlos said with a wide smirk. "Where were we?"