Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 114: Death Doesn’t Discriminate.

Chapter 114: Death Doesn’t Discriminate.

Meanwhile, back at the railway station, Scarlett, Garvin, Louise, Larry, Ethan, and Kato were awake, their exhaustion evident from the sleepless night they had endured. Only Maya, curled up in one of the bus’s bunks, remained fast asleep, blissfully unaware of the early morning activities around her.

Louise and Kato stood in the small kitchen area of the bus, busy preparing breakfast. The enticing aroma of scrambled eggs and freshly toasted bread wafted through the air, a stark contrast to the grim realities outside. Meanwhile, Larry and Ethan focused on cleaning the interior of the bus, sweeping and scrubbing every corner. The recent night had been a whirlwind of emotions as the group had worked tirelessly to console Maya, helping her process and momentarily forget the trauma of her horrific experience. Thankfully, they had succeeded, and Maya had finally found some peace in her slumber.

Outside the bus, Scarlett and Garvin sat on foldable chairs, staring into the distance. Their eyes were fixed on the exit leading out of the abandoned train station, the eerie silence broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves and distant chirps of birds.

Garvin shifted in his seat, breaking the tense silence that hung between them. "We have to be careful once we’re out there slaying monsters," he began, his voice steady but tinged with concern. "We’re a group, Scarlett. We need to stick together and take these things down as a team."

Scarlett turned to him, her lips curling into a faint smile before she let out a soft chuckle. Garvin’s brows furrowed in confusion, his gaze narrowing as he studied her expression.

"What’s so funny?" Garvin asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and mild offense. "Why did you laugh?"

Scarlett shook her head lightly, her laughter fading into a soft sigh. "Would you rather I cry instead, boss?" she teased, a playful glint in her eyes. "It’s just... I’m amazed. You’ve really changed, you know? I never thought I’d see the day."

Garvin leaned back in his chair, his expression shifting to one of curiosity. "Changed? What do you mean?"

Scarlett’s smile widened. "You were the lazy type, always barking orders and throwing your weight around. You didn’t care about anyone else’s well-being. It’s almost surreal seeing you like this, thoughtful, cautious, and actually looking out for everyone."

Garvin chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Come on, Scarlett, why bring that up now? We’ve talked about this before. People change. Sometimes for the worse, sometimes for the better. Luckily, I managed to make the right choice."

Scarlett raised an eyebrow, her tone laced with playful sarcasm. "Oh, so you’ve changed from the worst to the best, huh? Impressive. Let’s just hope you don’t revert once we’re out of this apocalypse."

Garvin laughed, shaking his head. "Fair point. But seriously, Scarlett, people change because they have to. The apocalypse doesn’t leave you with much choice. It either breaks you or makes you stronger."

Scarlett’s expression grew somber, her gaze drifting back toward the station’s exit. "I wonder when all of this will finally end. The constant fighting, running, surviving... It feels endless."

Garvin reached over, giving her shoulder a reassuring pat. "I believe we’ll figure it out soon. For now, the goal is simple: stay alive. That’s all that matters."

He paused, his voice lowering as he added, "You know, I was terrified back there. Austin’s twisted games... We all knew what we were walking into, but we still went ahead with it. I thought for sure that Maya and I, the ones without powers, were doomed. I mean, Ethan and Larry have powers, so I figured they’d be fine. But then we realized even they weren’t safe. Their powers weaken, too, and death doesn’t discriminate."

Scarlett nodded slowly, her voice soft but firm. "You’re right. None of us are invincible, not even those with powers. That’s why we have to stick together and keep fighting. It’s the only way to survive."

A comfortable silence settled between them, the weight of their shared understanding binding them closer.

"I was so worried about you," Garvin began again, breaking the silence, his voice trembling slightly. "Honestly, I’ve come to terms with the idea of dying as it would feel like the punishment I deserve for all my wrongdoings over the years. But you... you don’t deserve to die." He let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping as the weight of his words settled between them.

Scarlett turned to him, her piercing gaze locking onto his. "And why do you think I don’t deserve to die, Garvin?" she asked, her tone calm yet firm. "Death doesn’t discriminate. It’s not a respecter of anyone, regardless of what they’ve done or who they are. I’ve already died three times. Each time, I came back. If I die again and don’t return, I’ll accept that it’s fate, but only after my husband, his step-sister, and my mother-in-law are dead. Until then, I’ll keep coming back to life if they remain breathing. I’ll make sure they pay for what they’ve done to me. Otherwise, I’ll never have peace."

Garvin’s expression turned somber, his eyes filled with an unfamiliar vulnerability. "I don’t want you to die," he said, his voice filled with genuine concern. "You have to keep living, Scarlett even after punishing your husband and his family."

"You should be more concerned about yourself, Garvin. If anyone shouldn’t die, it’s you. Your survival is tied to mine. If you’re gone, I’m gone too." Scarlett said with a warm smile.

"Oh..." Garvin muttered, his cheeks flushing slightly as he glanced away. After a brief pause, he cleared his throat. "Anyway, I’m just glad you’re safe, Scarlett. When all of this is over, we should go back to the real world and make things right."

Scarlett’s lips curled into a warm smile, her gaze softening. "Sure," she replied, her voice gentle yet tinged with curiosity. "Maybe we can even have a few drinks together."

Her thoughts, however, raced. Why is he so worried about me? Why does he care so much?

Before she could dwell on it further, Garvin leaned forward and raised his hand toward her hair. Scarlett instinctively flinched, her body tensing as she pulled back slightly. But Garvin reached out quickly, steadying her by the waist.

"Relax," he said softly, his voice soothing. "It’s just a leaf stuck in your hair." He held up the tiny leaf to show her.

"Thank you," Scarlett murmured, brushing his hand away from her waist as she regained her posture. She glanced at him, her expression shifting to one of contemplation. After a moment, she sighed. "You know who I’m really worried about, though?"

"Who?" Garvin asked, raising an eyebrow. "The children?"

Scarlett nodded, her voice cracking as she replied, "Yes. Golden is gone, but Jaden and Hope... I can’t stop thinking about them. I wonder if they’re safe." Tears began to stream down her cheeks, and before she could react, Garvin reached out, gently brushing them away with his thumb.

Scarlett stiffened slightly at his touch but quickly composed herself, swallowing hard.

Why is he being so touchy this morning? she wondered silently, her emotions a conflicting storm of confusion and warmth.

Garvin offered her a reassuring smile, his voice firm yet kind. "I’m sure they’re alive, Scarlett. Waiting for us. We’ll find them again, I promise."

Before Scarlett could respond, the door of the bus swung open, and the rest of the group stepped outside. Kato, Louise, Larry, and Ethan carried trays of food laden with fresh toast, fried eggs, and glasses of orange juice. The savory aroma filled the air, drawing Scarlett and Garvin’s attention.

"Breakfast is ready!" Louise announced cheerfully, handing trays to Scarlett and Garvin, who accepted them with gratitude.

The group settled into the remaining chairs around the table, each person eagerly digging into their food. Kato, however, remained standing.

"Maya’s still sleeping," Kato said with a small smile, nodding toward the bus. "She’ll eat when she wakes up."

Garvin glanced at Kato, his brow furrowing. "You’re not eating?" he asked, his tone concerned. "Why are there only four trays?"

Kato shook his head, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Oh yeah, I don’t eat this kind of food anymore," he explained. "I’ll go find a stream and catch some fresh fish instead. That’s more my speed." He turned and began walking toward the railway exit without waiting for a reply.