Poppy had seen the whole scene and was stunned, running to join Jack at the top of the movie theater.
« Wooow, that was incredible, you were amazing, I'm sorry, I wanted to help you several times but I didn't know how to go about it. »
Yumiel looks at Jack, then at Poppy.
« What's that? Your new pet? »
« Nah, someone I helped. »
Yumiel tilted her head slightly to the side, questioning what Jack had just said.
« Since when do you help others? Anyway, whatever, do what you want. »
Poppy understood that she was Jack's teammate and introduced herself to her.
« Hello, nice to meet you, I'm Poppy. » Holding out her hand to yumiel to help her up.
Yumiel simply looked at her hand before standing up on her own and telling her a simple « cool ».
Yumiel moved closer to the corpses, finally wanting to be able to taste the delicious delicacy contained within people with abilities, with whom she had trained. She was convinced she would grow in power very quickly thanks to this.
Yet Poppy came back toward yumiel, interrupting her fantasy.
« So in the end, what exactly are you? »
« You want to know what I was turned into? What my true nature is, is that it? »
Poppy nodded several times.
« My true nature is: mind your own fucking business. »
Poppy was outraged, turning toward Jack, who raised his hands in a "told you so" gesture.
« No Jack, that's impossible, this person can't be your teammate, you're so kind. »
Suddenly yumiel couldn't hold back her laughter… again.
« Jack? Kind? Pahahahaha, that's one of the funniest things I've heard tonight. »
Jack joined yumiel, walking slowly because of his broken limbs, toward the bodies of the two men. Yumiel ripped out the old man's heart and squeezed it above herself. Ecstasy took hold of her once again, that pleasure and those flavors. For her, she was on cloud nine, drifting, her body trembling slightly. Then suddenly she felt a surge of power equivalent to around 500 humans.
She did the same with the skinny man, feeling the same effects at the same level of power. After that, yumiel drank their blood, recovering from all fatigue.
Impatient to test these new limits, yumiel controlled the blood she had left on the ground, creating five daggers. yumiel knew that one dagger equaled 200 ml. She took blood out of her flask, creating another dagger that she could control without opening her senses, then another one she could also control without opening her senses. However, she could feel her limit approaching.
Yumiel clearly felt her new increase in power, she had just gone from 1 L without opening her senses to 1 L and 400 ml. She estimated that by opening her senses to the maximum she could reach 3 L.
Jack was eating the brains with a calm expression while changing his limbs with those of the skinny man. « Yumiel, information or do I take a skill? »
« As you want. »
« We won these fights together, so if you want me to look for information, you can tell me. »
Yumiel was lying on the ground, happy with her new power.
« Exactly, we won together, and I don't think he has any useful information, so it's up to you, do what you feel like. »
Poppy approached Jack, calmly eating the brains.
« Jack, I've thought about it and… I want to stay with you, like I said, and I'll say it again, for me there's no safer place than being close to you. »
Jack was very surprised by Poppy's reaction. Normally, no sane human asks to be associated with monsters. Yet this was already the second time today, the first was Amélia and Théo, and now Poppy.
Jack looked at yumiel, who was on the ground with her eyes closed, waiting for him to finish so they could leave.
« I'll let you sort that out with my teammate. »
« No but are you kidding me, this woman can't be your teammate? »
Jack said nothing, simply eating.
« JACK! »
Suddenly yumiel stepped into their conversation.
« Would you shut the fuck up? Seriously, what do you think? That because he saved you, you're best friends or some shit like that? I suggest you come back down to earth fast, otherwise the fall's gonna hurt. »
Poppy didn't know what to say, just looking at yumiel, then shifting to Jack, who didn't even bother looking at her.
« Jack, are you done? By the way, where's your SA-80 radio and your Glock? »
« The skinny guy destroyed them, and yeah, I'm done. »
« Then let's get the hell out of here fast. »
They left, leaving Poppy behind, yet surprisingly she didn't give up, running to catch up with yumiel.
« Yumiel, is that it? Please, accept me into the team, I… »
« No! »
Continuing to walk, not paying any attention to Poppy, who tried again.
« Yumiel, I'm begging you, at least let me stay today. I could… »
« Can you cook? »
« Of course. »
« Can you take care of kids? »
Poppy looked puzzled for a few moments.
« Uh… well yes, yes of course. »
Jack, next to them, also asked: « Can you dig? »
« I can do everything, absolutely everything. »
Yumiel pushed it a bit further.
« Even kill your enemy in atrocious suffering after promising them freedom? »
Poppy looked yumiel straight in the eyes and answered: « Everything! »
« Hmph, just for one day then. »
Heading toward the exit, yumiel saw the light passing through some glass panels in the roof.
« Fucking hell. »
Yumiel hid inside a store, taking shelter from the sun.
« Indeed, this might get complicated now. »
Poppy didn't really understand and asked for an explanation.
« Sorry to ask, but can someone explain to me why yumiel is hiding, is there a problem? »
Jack scratched his head.
« Well, how do I put this, yumiel is, let's say, allergic to the sun's UV rays, so she can't go out in broad daylight. »
Poppy looked at Jack, then thought.
« I might have an idea then. »
Poppy grabbed a shopping cart and headed toward the clothing gallery. Jack followed her just in case. She stopped in front of a bedding store and stuffed the cart full of sheets and duvets.
Then she came back to yumiel.
« And there you go, all you have to do is wrap yourself in these duvets and sheets and normally we shouldn't have any problems getting to your place. »
Yumiel looked at the cart with suspicion, hesitating to put her trust in a simple cart stacked with duvets. In the end, she didn't really have a choice, unless she wanted to stay there until sunset.