Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 139: This Zone Is Clear.

Chapter 139: This Zone Is Clear.

Garvin couldn’t bring himself to respond. His mind reeled as he struggled to process the bizarre situation he had just woken up to.

A sudden hit to his chest snapped him out of his thoughts. Georgia stood before him, her expression a mix of impatience and concern. "Enough with the zoning out, Garvin. We’re leaving now," she said firmly, her tone undercut by a warm smile.

She moved swiftly, grabbing a T-shirt and slipping it over her toned frame before pulling on a pair of well-worn trousers. Although Georgia was now fully dressed, her nipples pressed faintly against the thin fabric of her shirt, a reminder that she hadn’t bothered with a bra.

Her gaze shifted to Scorpion, who was sitting a few feet away, still preoccupied with his own... activities.

"Hey!" she shouted, her voice sharp and commanding. "Hurry up, or we’ll die here before the monsters even get to us! We can survive a few days without food, but without water? That’s a dead end."

"Fuck it," Scorpion muttered under his breath, his eyes closed as his hand moved faster, stroking his dick.

Garvin flinched as a loud, guttural groan escaped Scorpion’s lips, signaling that he had finished.

Shaking his head in disbelief, his gaze already diverted from him , choosing instead to focus on the water bottle Georgia had handed him earlier. The cool liquid provided a momentary distraction from the chaos around him.

"Give me that," Georgia said abruptly, snatching the bottle from his hands. Her tone was sharp but not unkind, her piercing eyes locking onto his. "I told you to drink some water, not finish it."

Garvin sighed heavily, choosing to remain silent as he watched her pack their belongings into her weathered backpack with quick efficiency.

"Let’s go!" Scorpion announced as he walked toward them, pulling on a pair of trousers to cover himself. His previously erect manhood was now concealed, and he quickly threw on a T-shirt to cover his muscular frame. He grabbed an AK-47 from the tent and tossed it toward Garvin.

"Here. Just hold on to this, at least," Scorpion added with a sly grin.

Garvin caught the weapon with ease, though he shot Scorpion a look of annoyance before muttering under his breath. "Go to hell."

"Let’s go!" Georgia chimed in enthusiastically, her energy seemingly renewed. She leaned in and planted a quick kiss on Scorpion’s lips before turning toward the desert’s endless horizon.

Without another word, the pair began walking.

Garvin let out a scoff as he stood, slinging the rifle over his shoulder. Shaking his head one last time, he followed closely behind them, leaving the tattered tent and their temporary refuge behind.

________

Meanwhile...

After a full day of slaying monsters and taking out organization guards, Scarlett, Kato, Ethan, and Ryder finally settled down to rest. They had found shelter in an abandoned noodle shop, a place that was touched by the chaos, but still it provided them a shelter from the heavy rainfall outside.

The group gathered around a makeshift fire, its warm glow offering a welcome reprieve from the cold rain pounding on the roof above. Opposite them, about ten survivors huddled around another fire, drying their soaked clothes and warming their shivering bodies.

The street outside was eerily quiet, a sign that the monsters in the area had been successfully eliminated. The absence of screams and gunfire further confirmed that most of the survivors had been rescued.

Rain poured relentlessly, accompanied by the occasional crack of thunder. It was as if the heavens themselves were grieving the lives lost that day, the rain washing away the blood of both humans and monsters alike.

"This zone is clear," Kato said, his voice breaking the silence. His arms were crossed over his chest, and his sharp gaze swept over the group. "But there are still plenty of other zones that need clearing."

"Yeah," Ethan agreed, leaning closer to the fire as he warmed his hands with the heat of his own fire element. "The survivors can stay here for now. And just like you instructed, we set up CCTV cameras in every zone we cleared. It’s the best way to monitor the survivors and keep an eye on things."

He paused, glancing up at Kato. "I’m still surprised it worked, though. Phones and other gadgets stopped functioning months ago. But I guess Victor and his organization have kept their tech running. There’s still a network broadcasting signals somewhere...we just tapped into it."

Ryder, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up, his voice calm but edged with fatigue. "It doesn’t matter how it works, as long as it keeps working. Those cameras might be the only warning we get if things go south again."

"We don’t tire out easily like other survivors. If it weren’t for you needing to tend to your baby and for us needing to grab a quick bite, we’d still be out there clearing those monsters," Ryder added, heaving a weary sigh.

Meanwhile, Scarlett remained silent, her attention focused entirely on little Hope. She worked swiftly but gently, wiping the baby’s bottom with a disinfectant wipe before replacing her diaper. Once done, Scarlett sterilized her hands using her water element, the warmth mixed with a touch of disinfectant to ensure absolute cleanliness.

With that task complete, she moved on to preparing Hope’s formula. In minutes, Scarlett had the bottle ready and carefully removed the oxygen mask from the infant’s face, which had been suppressing her cries.

As soon as the mask was off, the baby’s wails filled the room, piercing through the relative quiet. Scarlett quickly silenced her by placing the bottle in her mouth, and Hope began sucking eagerly.

Letting out a tired sigh, Scarlett watched as her child drank. A small smile played on her lips as she finally looked up at her team.

"Once she’s done eating, it’s only right that we head back out and continue our mission. There’s no rest for us," she said with a warm but determined smile before returning her gaze to Hope, who was nearly finished with the bottle.

"I haven’t eaten, though," Kato murmured under his breath, his frustration evident. "How is it that there’s not a single animal around here to drink from?"

No one in the group responded to his complaint. Instead, they remained silent, either too focused on their tasks or choosing to ignore him entirely.

A few minutes later, Scarlett stood and secured little Hope to her front in a carrier. She carefully attached the oxygen mask back to the baby’s face, ensuring it was snug and secure. Hope let out a small grunt but otherwise remained content.

"Let’s move," Scarlett commanded.

The others nodded in agreement, each one grabbing their gear. Together, Scarlett, Ryder, Ethan, and Kato walked out of the noodle shop, leaving behind the survivors who had chosen the relative safety of the shelter over venturing back into the rain-soaked streets.

Scarlett activated her invisibility spell that cloaked her and her team, the shimmering effect rendering them invisible to the untrained eye. She also ensured Hope was protected from the relentless downpour with an absorbent coat that shielded her from the rain.

The group moved deeper into the desolate streets, the storm masking their movements as they pressed on with their mission.

_____________

Meanwhile...

Garvin, Scorpion, and Georgia finally arrived at the outskirts of the city. The proximity of the desert to the urban landscape surprised Garvin, but he kept his thoughts to himself.

It was clear to him now that Scorpion and Georgia often ventured into the city to scavenge for supplies before returning to the desert. The thick growth of vegetation at the desert’s entrance explained why so many survivors had avoided it. Most who dared venture there likely perished, either from starvation or the futile attempt to return to the city for food, only to meet their demise at the hands of monsters or guards.

"Walk faster," Scorpion ordered, his voice cutting through the sound of the heavy rain. "The rain’s in our favor, it’ll mask our footprints and make it harder for the monsters to sense us. Thunderstorms mess with their senses. But don’t let your guard down; the guards’ bullets don’t give a damn about the rain."

He turned to glance at Georgia and Garvin, his expression serious. "We’ll take the forest path instead of walking through the city. It’s safer."

Garvin silently followed as Scorpion led them through the dense, rain-soaked underbrush. The trio trudged forward, their movements quick and deliberate. The wet ground squelched under their boots, but the noise was drowned out by the relentless storm.

After what felt like an eternity, they stopped and crouched behind a cluster of bushes. From their vantage point, they had a clear view of the city, a chaotic landscape teeming with monsters and scattered survivors desperately fleeing for their lives.

"Alright," Scorpion said, his voice low but firm. "Here’s the deal. Every building is good but the food store etc is the best. People with Powers as well as survivors tend to hole up in those places. That’s where we’ll find what we need."

He lay flat on the ground, his chin resting on his hands as he studied the area. "Remember, we’re not here to save anyone. We’re here to grab what we need and get out. The guns you’re holding are for defending yourselves if things go south. Don’t use them unless absolutely necessary."

"Enough with the lecture," Georgia snapped, her irritation evident. She kept her gaze fixed on the city but directed her words at Scorpion. "Who’s keeping watch? We’re three now, so someone needs to stay behind."

Scorpion turned his attention to her, his lips curling into a smirk. He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he shifted his gaze to Garvin, who was still focused on the city ahead.

Without saying a word, Scorpion and Georgia exchanged a knowing look, both of them smirking in unison. It was clear they had come to a silent agreement about who would be standing watch.