Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 126: This Is Who I Am Now.

Chapter 126: This Is Who I Am Now.

The room fell silent, the tension thick and palpable as the survivors stared at Scarlett, Maya, and Kato, their eyes searching for an explanation. The air was heavy with unease, every breath feeling like a weight pressing down on them.

Suddenly, a sharp metallic chime echoed in Scarlett’s mind, an intrusive sound that carried with it a shocking revelation.

{That was because Maya was raped by two chosen members, Austin and Jones.}

Scarlett’s body stiffened, and her voice burst out before she could stop herself. "What?!"

Her sudden exclamation startled everyone. The survivors exchanged worried glances, their concern growing as Scarlett’s face turned pale.

"What’s wrong?" Kato asked, his brow furrowing in worry as he leaned closer.

Scarlett remained silent, her mind spinning with the weight of the revelation.

{Fine, Austin and Jones are chosen members ranked S. Therefore, Maya, by default, is also S-ranked. But because of the grief and hatred festering in her heart, she has awakened an SS-ranked power. Her pain and anger have turned her into something far more dangerous, a hybrid of monster and human. Her goal is clear: to kill all males in this apocalypse, whether normal humans or chosen members.}

Scarlett’s heart ached as she absorbed the information. Damn it, she cursed inwardly. Her eyes reddened with unshed tears as she looked at Maya, whose pain was now clear as day. She’s still so deeply hurt... What did I expect? No one could ever move on from something like that so easily.

Her mind raced with fragments of information and memories. That explains why Louise is injured, Scarlett thought grimly. But Maya can’t go on a rampage, killing all men. The ones who wronged her are already gone, dealt with. I need to help her see the difference between right and wrong before it’s too late.

Scarlett’s gaze never left Maya. The anger simmering just beneath Maya’s surface was matched only by the deep grief etched into every line of her face. Scarlett felt a wave of sadness wash over her. She wanted to reach out and pull Maya from the darkness threatening to consume her.

Ethan’s voice broke the heavy silence, his tone gentle yet concerned. "Scarlett, what’s going on? You’re starting to scare us."

Scarlett swallowed hard, forcing herself to appear calm. She couldn’t reveal the truth yet. They wouldn’t understand, and it would only paint a target on Maya’s back.

"It’s nothing," Scarlett replied finally, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "I just need to talk to Maya for a minute."

The survivors exchanged uneasy glances but nodded. None of them looked convinced, but they refrained from pressing further.

"Alright, but be careful," Kato said, his voice softer now, though his eyes were full of caution. "We don’t know what’s going on with her."

Scarlett gave him a brief nod, her gaze flickering back to Maya. She could see the turmoil in her friend’s eyes, the pain, the rage, the overwhelming grief and she knew this conversation would require every ounce of patience and compassion she had.

Does Kato suspect anything? Scarlett wondered.

A soft chime echoed in her mind once more.

{No, host. Kato’s only suspicion is that Maya hurt Louise, which makes him think she’s a monster but not that of a chosen member. He doesn’t know she’s a chosen member or about her transformation into a hybrid.}

{Only you, as an SSS-ranked chosen member, know this secret. Many male chosen members are searching for you, hoping to steal your power. They understand the transfer of power through chosen member bonds, but none of them realize it can happen with non-chosen members too.}

Scarlett felt a chill run down her spine. So, any non-chosen member who has sex with a chosen member gains their powers?

{Yes. However, your powers are different. Male chosen members cannot gain your abilities unless you willingly grant them permission. For others, consent is irrelevant. The transfer happens regardless.}

Scarlett clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. The implications of this were terrifying.

Taking a steadying breath, she turned to Maya. "Maya, can I talk to you for a minute?" Her voice was soft but firm, her expression imploring rather than demanding.

Maya’s eyes flashed with anger, but she nodded curtly. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Let’s talk outside," Scarlett said, her tone gentle yet insistent.

Maya hesitated for a moment before nodding again. Her face was a mask of unreadable emotions as she rose to her feet. Scarlett stood as well, her heart heavy with the weight of what she needed to say.

Together, they walked toward the cave’s entrance, the air thick with unspoken words as the survivors watched them leave in tense silence.

As the two women stepped out of the cave and into the glaring sunlight. The brightness was almost blinding after the shadowed interior, but neither paused to take in the view. Scarlett led Maya farther away, ensuring no one could overhear them. They moved silently, the tension between them palpable as they made their way to a quiet spot by the river. The sound of rushing water provided a soothing backdrop, but it did little to ease the turmoil within Scarlett.

Scarlett stopped and turned to face Maya. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the difficult conversation ahead.

"Maya, I know what happened to you," Scarlett began softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know what Austin and Jones did to you, how much they hurt you. And I’m so sorry."

Maya’s eyes narrowed, flashing with a mix of anger and pain. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest, her entire posture defensive. "You don’t know anything," she spat, her voice trembling with rage. "You don’t know what it’s like to be used and discarded like trash."

Scarlett’s heart ached at Maya’s words. She wanted to tell her she understood, but the truth was, she didn’t. She couldn’t.

"You’re right, Maya," Scarlett admitted gently. "I don’t know what it’s like. I can’t begin to imagine what you’ve been through, but I do know that you’re not alone. I’m here for you. Kato, Ethan, Larry, Garvin, and even Louise, we’re all here for you. We care about you."

Maya’s expression twisted in a bitter snarl. "Care about me? Do you think that fixes anything? None of you can undo what they did to me!" Her voice cracked, the rage in her tone undercut by the raw vulnerability beneath. "You don’t know what I’ve become, Scarlett. You don’t understand what I am now."

Scarlett’s gaze never wavered. "I know you’re hurt, Maya. I know you’re angry. And you have every right to feel that way. But you can’t let your anger and pain define you. You can’t let it turn you into something you’re not."

Maya’s lip curled, her eyes glinting with defiance. "You don’t know who I am. You don’t know what I’ve become. I don’t need your help, Scarlett. I don’t need anyone’s help. I’ll take care of myself."

Scarlett took a step closer, her voice firm but full of compassion. "And by taking care of yourself, you mean what? Killing every man you see? Maya, you’re not just hurting them, you’re destroying yourself in the process."

Maya raised an eyebrow, her confusion flickering across her face. "How do you know that?"

Scarlett gave her a faint smirk. "I’m the Queen of Monsters, remember? I can sense what’s happening to you. You have so much guilt and rage in your heart that instead of staying an S-ranked chosen member after Austin and Jones... violated you, you were elevated to SS rank. That transformation made you half-human and half-monster."

Maya’s lips twitched into a smirk of her own. "You really do know a lot. And yes, you’re right. I do enjoy killing men now. So what? Is that a problem?"

Scarlett’s stomach churned at the coldness in Maya’s voice, but she held her ground. "Maya, you’re better than this. You’re stronger than this. Louise didn’t deserve what happened to him, and neither does anyone else."

Maya scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Louise was just the first. A test. If not for your ridiculous formation protecting the others, I would’ve already dealt with the men in the forest."

Scarlett’s heart sank. "Maya, please. Don’t do this to yourself. This isn’t who you are. You’re letting your pain control you, and it’s turning you into something you’re not."

Maya’s expression hardened, her eyes burning with resolve. She shrugged Scarlett’s hand off her shoulder and took a step back. "This is who I am now, Scarlett. This is what I’ve become. I’m a chosen member, and every chosen member has the right to choose their path. My path is clear. My goal is simple: to wipe out every man in this apocalypse. I’ll make sure no man ever has the chance to use his body to hurt a woman again."

Her words were laced with venom, and Scarlett felt the weight of them like a punch to the chest. "Maya, don’t let this hatred consume you. There has to be another way. Please, don’t do this."

Maya’s eyes glittered with finality. "Don’t try to stop me, Scarlett. If you really care about me like you’ve said, then you won’t stop me."

Without another word, Maya turned and walked away from the river, her figure growing smaller as she moved toward the forest. Scarlett stood frozen, watching her go, her mind racing with the enormity of what had just transpired.