MLPH C1, P5- "Safe And Sound"

"Safe And Sound" is the final Part of "ML: Patient Hope" 's Chapter I. It was released on 03.05.2020.
== Plot ==
After many struggles and near-death moments, Jared and John finally reach the end of the line- the border between Paris and the rest of the lands outside.
They eagerly drive away from the infested city, talking about what they're going to do next to ease their boredom along the way.
== Story ==
John looks at Jared and sees him lost in thought.
"Is everything alright?"- He asks him.
Jared sighs.
"Ever since I was wounded, I have been thinking that my parents would stay with me a protect me from harm while I'm unconscious. Seeing how the situation has turned out to be has drained all of my hope for that to happen."
John nods.
"I understand."- He says- "But they were probably afraid that they would die if they stayed with you."
"But... they could have taken me with them!"- Jared responds- "They could have saved me! They had all of the chances to do so!"
John sighs.
"And yet they abandoned you. But don't worry. We will find them soon, I'm sure of it."
Jared nods and stares at the blue sky.
"One day. One day, we will. And we will have a lot to talk about."- He says.
The cruiser slowly moves towards the border.
Meanwhile, John decides to ease Jared's boredom by asking him a few questions.
"So, Jared."- He says- "I know that it might be a bit personal, but what is your favorite passtime?"
Jared looks at John.
"Oh, it's nothing personal. I like to share it with everyone!"- He says- "Ever since I was a child, me and my father used to watch the sunset in our free time. He used to tell me stories about legendary heroes who defeated countless foes and saved a lot of lives. He also used to tell me about how the sky has its own mysteries, waiting to be uncovered by a brave and determined adventurer."
"And do you think any of this stuff is true?"- John wonders.
Jared shrugs.
"Who knows? It could be true, for all we know. But there is no way to find that out without some good proof."
"I agree."- John says- "Humanity has uncovered so many amazing secrets. Maybe it can uncover those as well?"
The last words remind Jared of something. He points at the window beside him.
"John, can you stop for a moment? I want to get something from over there."
John nods and stops the cruiser as Jared gets out and goes to a nearby grave.
After watching Jared dig with his fingers for a few minutes, John notices many figures in the distance.
"Jared."- He tells his friend- "Undead are approaching. If you're going to get something from there, get it fast before they're on us!"
Jared nods.
"I will be done soon. Wait there."
John nods and stays in the cruiser as Jared pulls out something long from the ground and goes back in.
John starts the engine and the two of them drive away as the confused undead arrive and look around.
Seeing nothing living in their vicinity, they slowly shamble away to hunt elsewhere.
"That was close."- John says, sighing as he does so- "What was so important for you to risk our lives?"
Jared shows him the item that he pulled out of the grave. It is a white longsword, made of pure white metal. Its handle assembles the look of a pair of angel wings. A small, white gem is attached to the bottom of it.
"Impressive!"- John says- "But... isn't anyone going to berate us for stealing it?"
Jared shrugs.
"We didn't steal it!"- He says- "We just borrowed it! As soon as the apocalypse is over, we will return it. Right?"
John nods.
"We better return it! I don't want to be responsible for anything that happens to us because of it."
Jared smiles.
"Don't worry. Everything will be fine."
John sighs.
"Very well, my friend. I will trust your judgement and decision in this matter."
He looks back of the grave.
"You know? As much as I remember, a legendary warrior known as "The White Knight" was buried there."
He holds the longsword up in the air.
"This weapon used to be his. He has slain lots of unworthy creatures with it, both living and undead. He destroyed them with just a single swing of his blade, crushing them into piles of dust."
"Or, at least that is what the story about him said. But it exists! And this is the best thing about the story."
John nods.
"True."- He says- "But it could just be a fake. The real sword might be somewhere else."
Jared smiles.
"Well, we won't know that until we try it out. But the time to do that is not now. Now, we must get out of this godforsaken city as soon as possible."
"I couldn't agree more."- John says.
After a few hours, the boys are finally out of the city, finally leaving the dangerous place behind them.
"What a relief!"- Jared says- "We are finally out in the countryside!"
John nods.
"And it looks like the way forward is free of undead. For now."
The two of them drive into the night. The cruiser's lights illuminate the darkness with a pretty, white light and reveal whatever is in front of them.
In the middle of the ride, Jared falls asleep and remembers about his family.
He remembers how his mother used to sing him songs when he was little, how his father always gave him good advice and how his sister always cheered him up when he was down.
"I am angry that they left me behind, but... I still miss them. I... I want to see them again."- He says to himself- "I will do anything to make that wish come true. Anything!"
"Even if it means having to fight a thousand undead to do so. I will succeed!"
With those thoughts in mind, he falls asleep.
He wakes up in the morning and sees that the cruiser has stopped. He goes outside to investigate and sees John hiding behind a tree.
"John! What is-- "
"Shh!"- John says- "I think there are people over there, but I'm trying to figure out if they're friendly or not."
He stares at them as they walk around the area.
A closer inspection reveals that they are, in fact, friendly.
Unfortunately for them, a small band of undead catch them by surprise and take one of them down."
"Oh god! No!"- The man screams as the undead slowly maul him to death- "Help me! P-please!"
Jared and John don't waste time to help them out. They enter their cruiser and drive it into the undead, saving one of the men.
However, they did not manage to save the other man. He bleeds to death as soon as the two boys arrive.
"Help us out or stay out of the way!"- One of the men says to them.
Jared shakes his head.
"We are here to help. Let us do so!"
The remaining men nod and fight alongside Jared and John as the two boys shoot at the undead.
"Jared."- John says.
"Yes?"
"I think that, if there is a good time to try out the new sword, I think that it is now!"
Jared looks at the sword in his lap. Without thinking twice, he draws it out and swings it at the undead.
With tremendous force, the sword pierces through the undead and easily kills them, even though it didn't strike them in the head.
Everyone watches as Jared swings it once again, shattering the undead's bodies like large, fragile crystals.
In the end, all of the undead have either turned into dust, shattered into a million pieces or burned to a crisp.
The warriors bow their heads, clearly noticing Jared's power.
"We can see that you are the chosen one."- One of them says- "We welcome you into our home- the woods outside the city of Paris.
Jared nods and bows as well.
"Um, Jared?"- John says- "Isn't it better only for them to bow down?"
Jared sighs.
"It's out of respect, John!"- He says.
"Oh! Well, then... "- John says and bows down as well.
The warriors stand up slowly and smile.
"Yes. We can see that you have respect for everyone around you as well. You are truly a great hero, um... "
Jared stands up as well.
"My name is Jared. Jared Kaos."
The warriors nod.
"Jared Kaos. You are truly brave for someone who is as young as you are."- One of them says.
"But no more talking. Come with us. We will lead you to our village to meet our leader. He will be eager to meet you and talk about this sudden problem that has troubled us for two whole years."
Jared nods.
"Can my friend come as well?"- He asks the warriors.
The men look at John. Then they nod.
"Whoever is a friend of the Chosen One may come as well. If he wants to come, so it be."
"And now... we will take the dead and bury them away. But before that... "
The warrior stabs the dead man in the head.
"Um. Why did you do that?"
The warrior smiles.
"To prevent his reanimation, of course. Almost all of the time, when a human dies, they will reanimate into a certain undead, unless they take some sort of severe brain damage."
"I see."- Jared says- "Well then. Lead the way, brave warriors."
"With pleasure, Chosen One."- The warrior says and joins his allies in going back to the village.
Meanwhile, Jared and John drive the cruiser into the village.
Once they're inside, the warriors welcome them.
"Welcome, o' brave warriors. Welcome... to our home."