Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 140: Take This Blindfold Off!!!

Chapter 140: Take This Blindfold Off!!!

Without saying a word, Scorpion and Georgia exchanged a knowing look, their smirks perfectly synchronized. It was clear that without speaking, they had reached a silent agreement about who would be standing watch.

Garvin, laying down on the floor remained oblivious to the exchange. His focus was locked on the rain-soaked cityscape before him, his mind racing with the implications of Scorpion’s plan. Though he didn’t notice the subtle communication between the pair, he could sense the shift in their demeanor, the unspoken confidence radiating from them.

"Alright, let’s move out," Scorpion said finally, his voice low and commanding. He adjusted the strap of his rifle and glanced at Georgia. "Georgia, you’re with me. We’ll hit the food store, see what we can scrounge up."

Georgia nodded, her eyes gleaming with a mix of determination and excitement. "I’m ready when you are."

"I’m ready too," Garvin chimed in, his voice betraying the tension he tried to mask. He swallowed hard, his throat dry despite the heavy rain drenching them all.

Scorpion’s sharp gaze flicked to Garvin, his expression unreadable. "You’re staying here," he said firmly. His tone left no room for debate. "You can’t run with that stomach injury."

Garvin opened his mouth to protest, but Scorpion had already turned away. Before he could voice his concerns, Scorpion and Georgia slipped into the shadows of the chaotic city, moving with the practiced ease of seasoned survivors.

Left alone, Garvin sighed and settled into his position. The rain poured relentlessly, soaking him to the bone. He tightened his grip on his rifle, his eyes scanning the rooftops and dark alleys for any signs of danger.

"Fuck this," Garvin muttered under his breath, frustration lacing his tone. His gaze wandered to the figures of Scorpion and Georgia in the distance. They were already engaging a small herd of monsters, dodging gunfire as they fought their way toward the food store.

Minutes ticked by, the weight of time pressing heavily on Garvin’s shoulders. Scorpion and Georgia had entered the building, but they hadn’t come back out. The unease in Garvin’s chest grew stronger with each passing second.

"What the hell is taking them so long?" he whispered to himself, his body trembling not just from the biting cold rain that had thoroughly soaked him, but also from the persistent sting of his abdominal wound. He pressed a hand against the bandages under his soaked jacket, wincing slightly. Despite the pain, he stayed put, his eyes never leaving the building’s entrance.

"They’re probably waiting for the right moment," he muttered, trying to convince himself. "Those monsters..." His voice trailed off as his gaze darted nervously around the city landscape, his heart pounding in rhythm with the growls and gunfire that filled the air.

Then, a sudden rustling from the nearby bushes sent a jolt of adrenaline through him.

Garvin froze, his hands instinctively tightening around the cock of his gun. His eyes darted toward the sound, his breath hitching as he struggled to pinpoint its source.

"Who’s there?" he called out, his voice low but steady, despite the fear creeping into his gut.

No response. The only answer was the rustling, which grew louder and more deliberate.

Garvin’s sharp eyes locked onto faint movements in the shadows. His heart raced as he adjusted his stance, every muscle in his body tensing. Slowly, the figures began to emerge, their shapes indistinct against the dim light of the stormy sky.

His finger hovered over the trigger, his mind calculating the moment to fire. "Show yourselves," he growled, his voice tinged with warning.

The figures stepped closer, their features still obscured by the rain and darkness. Just as Garvin began to tighten his grip on the trigger, ready to fire if necessary, a sudden motion caught him off guard.

Something heavy was flung over his head, cutting off his vision entirely. Panic surged through him as he tried to raise his weapon, but before he could react, a sharp, crushing blow struck the back of his head.

Pain exploded behind his eyes, and the world around him blurred and darkened. His body crumpled to the ground, his gun slipping from his grasp.

_____________________

In a large, well-lit room, the brightness of the overhead lights illuminated every corner, casting stark shadows along the walls. Seated in the center of the room was a young man, Garvin, bound to a chair. His eyes and mouth were covered with strips of black cloth, leaving him helpless and silenced.

Around him, guards stood motionless, their black attire blending into the room’s dim atmosphere. Each of them held a gun at the ready, their weapons trained on Garvin. Their presence alone was suffocating.

Garvin’s breathing was uneven beneath the gag, his chest rising and falling as his mind raced. He suddenly felt a firm hand untie the cloth around his mouth, prompting him to cough sharply as the cool air hit his face.

The same hand moved to his eyes, pulling away the blindfold. As his vision adjusted to the harsh light, he blinked rapidly, and then his gaze landed on two familiar figures standing a few feet away.

Scorpion and Georgia.

The sight of them struck him like a blow, a wave of shock and disbelief coursing through his body.

"Hello," Georgia said with a sly smirk, her tone dripping with amusement.

Garvin’s voice cracked as he demanded, "What’s going on? You two... you knew about this?" His confusion and anger were etched into his features.

"Well, there’s a very good reason you’re here," Scorpion replied smoothly as he pulled up a chair and sat directly in front of Garvin. His calm demeanor only deepened Garvin’s unease. "You’ll find out soon enough."

"What the heck is this?!" Garvin cursed under his breath, his gaze darting to the armed guards who surrounded him. Their uniforms bore a distinct red-and-black emblem on the chest, one he didn’t recognize. "Don’t tell me this is another organization. Another psycho group like Victor’s!"

Georgia clapped her hands mockingly, walking closer to Garvin with a condescending smile. She leaned in, her voice almost a whisper. "You’re not as dumb as you look, are you? You’re absolutely right. This is another organization, just like Victor’s."

Garvin clenched his fists against the armrests of the chair, his body trembling with a mixture of anger and fear. "So, the whole thing in the desert? Saving me from the monsters? It was all an act? A setup?"

Georgia’s smirk widened. "Oh, sweetie, it wasn’t just a coincidence. It was all planned. Every single part of it."

"Why? What do you want from me?!" Garvin’s voice rose, his frustration boiling over.

Scorpion leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. "Let’s just say... you’re important to us. Very important." His tone was calm, almost detached, as if Garvin’s anger didn’t faze him in the slightest.

"I want answers!" Garvin snapped, his eyes darting between them. "Who’s the boss of this organization? What does he want from me?"

Scorpion chuckled lightly as he rose to his feet. "Patience, dude. You’ll meet the boss soon enough. Trust me, you won’t have to wait long."

Georgia laughed, stepping back to stand beside Scorpion. "You’ll want to save all your energy for the big reveal. It’s going to be... unforgettable."

Without another word, Scorpion grabbed the black cloth and tied it back over Garvin’s mouth, cutting off his protests. He then covered Garvin’s eyes once more, plunging him into darkness.

"Enough talking for now," Scorpion said, his voice close to Garvin’s ear. "You’ll have plenty of time to talk when the boss gets here. Until then, stay calm."

The sound of their laughter echoed in the room as they walked away, their footsteps gradually fading into the distance.

Left alone with his thoughts, Garvin’s mind spiraled. Anger mixed with dread as he tried to make sense of the betrayal. ’How could they be working for an organization when I thought they’re just survivors?’

The muffled sound of footsteps outside the room broke through his thoughts, growing louder as they approached. The door creaked open, and a figure entered.

"Welcome, Garvin," a voice greeted him. It was smooth, yet mechanical, distorted in a way that made it hard to discern whether the speaker was human.

Garvin tensed, his senses sharpening. He strained to see through the blindfold, but it was useless. The darkness pressed in around him, heightening his vulnerability.

"Who are you?" he mumbled through the cloth over his mouth, his words muffled but sharp with defiance.

The figure chuckled, the sound low and menacing. A moment later, Garvin felt rough hands untying the gag from his mouth.

"Finally," Garvin growled, his voice rising. "Who the fuck are you? Are you the boss of this organization? And what the hell do you want from me?"

The figure stepped closer, a shadow looming over Garvin. "Oh, I’m so glad you’re eager to know," the voice replied, amused. "But I wonder... are you sure you want the answers?"

"Take this blindfold off." Garvin growled, his body tensed up in anger.

The figure chuckled again, clearly enjoying Garvin’s frustration. "As you wish. You’ll see me soon enough. But I wonder, will you regret your demand once you know the truth?"

Turning toward the guards, the figure gave a silent signal. One of them stepped forward and removed the cloth from Garvin’s eyes.

For a moment, Garvin blinked, his vision blurry from the sudden brightness. But as his gaze focused, his breath caught in his throat.

Whatever he had expected, it wasn’t the person standing before him.