Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 160: Sleep With Me, Garvin.

Chapter 160: Sleep With Me, Garvin.

Without breaking stride, she stepped forward and phased right through it, vanishing into the dimly lit corridor beyond.

The air was thick with the scent of blood and pungent stench of monster fluids. It was impossible to tell whether the blood belonged to humans who had met a gruesome end or if it had been spilled from some unfortunate creature. The oppressive atmosphere pressed in around her, and in the distance, she could hear the faint, rhythmic echo of soldiers’ boots against the cold tiled floors.

Scarlett’s gaze locked onto Kato’s figure at the far end of the corridor. Without hesitation, she moved, covering the distance between them in an instant.

If I were Kato, the first place I’d go after leaving my quarters would be Garvin’s to brag about the kiss... and how I’m about to make Scarlett my woman.

A wide smirk tugged at her lips at the thought.

She continued to follow him, shadowing his every step, slipping into each room he entered. She watched as he gave orders to the guards, observed the way they nodded in sharp acknowledgment before scattering to carry out his commands.

Eventually, Kato made his way out of the organization’s stronghold. Scarlett followed, keeping to the shadows. He now stood beneath the vast expanse of the night sky, the giant moon casting an eerie silver glow over the landscape.

Despite her composure, her body screamed in protest. The countless deaths she had endured, though undone, still haunted her muscles, leaving behind the ghostly sensation of pain. The memories of her limbs being severed, of acid eating through her flesh, of endless suffering, it all made her skin crawl and her legs feel unsteady. But she pressed on. She could have used her elemental abilities to calm herself, to ease the lingering pain, but the system had only just returned her powers to her. She wasn’t about to waste them now.

She had been right about Kato all along. He had transported Garvin, Jaden, and little Hope away from the organization. She confirmed it with her Echo of the Past ability, watching as glimpses of their departure flickered through her mind like echoes of a story already written.

Scarlett continued trailing Kato through the dense forest. The farther they went, the thicker the trees became. Just when it seemed like they had reached nothing but endless wilderness, Kato abruptly changed direction. He circled the same patch of land multiple times, and then just as before another structure materialized before her eyes.

But this was no opulent fortress of marble and gold like the organization they had just left.

This building was something else entirely.

It was a towering structure of cold, unyielding iron, stretching so high that it seemed to pierce the heavens. The metal reflected the moonlight in jagged slivers, giving it an almost ethereal, otherworldly glow.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Kato stepped inside.

Scarlett followed.

The instant she crossed the threshold, the entire structure rumbled and began its descent, sinking into the earth. Within moments, the building vanished from the surface, hidden from the outside world.

As it descended, Scarlett found herself standing within a vast underground complex. The air was thick with the scent of oil and rust, mingling with something far more foul, the unmistakable stench of blood and decay. Machinery hummed around her, gears clicking and whirring.

She moved forward, her senses on high alert. The deeper they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.

The agonized wails of humans echoed through the corridors, mingling with the guttural growls of monsters.

Scarlett’s expression darkened.

She clenched her fists as the horrifying sight unfolded before her. Humans were being slaughtered by Kato’s soldiers, their bodies thrown mercilessly to the monsters, who devoured them in a single frenzy. The air was thick with the stench of blood and death, and the anguished screams of the dying echoed through the underground facility.

She couldn’t do anything to save them. Not yet.

But soon...

Her jaw tightened, her expression hardening with determination. She forced herself to keep moving, her focus locked on Kato.

There was no doubt in her mind, Garvin, Jaden, and little Hope were destined to meet the same fate. It was only a matter of time. Kato was not the type to set his captives free. He was merely biding his time, waiting for the wedding. Once he had Scarlett where he wanted her, once he had taken her powers through intimacy, he would kill them all. It wasn’t just about dominance. It was about control. He wanted to show her who ruled.

And Scarlett would not let that happen.

They soon arrived at a massive metal door, adorned with intricate locks and complex mechanisms. Kato retrieved a small keycard from his pocket and swiped it through the reader. A green light flashed, and with a loud hiss, the locks disengaged.

The door slid open, revealing a sprawling chamber filled lab equipment with men dressed in white coat mixing different unknown chemicals together.

The guards stationed inside, as well as several men in white lab coats, immediately bowed their heads in deference as Kato strode past them. Scarlett continued to follow him as he didn’t pause, didn’t hesitate, until he reached another iron gate. He scanned his keycard once again, and the gate slid open.

And there he was.

Garvin.

Scarlett’s breath hitched at the sight.

He was bound to a chair, his head slumped forward, his body battered and bruised beyond recognition. Blood stained his torn clothes, his face was swollen with deep, ugly bruises, and his wrists and ankles were bound so tightly with chains that the skin beneath was raw and bleeding. His eyes, ears, and mouth had been forcibly gagged, rendering him blind, deaf, and mute to the horrors around him.

Scarlett’s heart twisted painfully in her chest.

She fought back the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. Not now. She couldn’t break now. She had to be strong.

Just wait, Garvin. As soon as Kato leaves, I’ll set you free.

Kato took a seat before Garvin, a wicked smirk curling his lips. The guards moved in, removing the cloth from Garvin’s eyes and ears.

"Your woman is here," Kato announced smugly, his voice dripping with amusement.

Garvin’s bloodshot eyes snapped open, and despite his injuries, they burned with fury. He struggled against the restraints, his muscles tensing as he fought to break free, but it was futile. The chains held firm.

"Actually, she’ll become my woman very soon," Kato continued, relishing Garvin’s reaction.

Garvin spat on the ground, his rage barely contained. "You’re delusional." His voice was hoarse, raw with pain.

Kato chuckled darkly. "Oh, but you should have seen how she kissed me. How she let me touch her..." He leaned forward, lowering his voice mockingly. "Her soft skin beneath my hands, the way she melted into my embrace. She’s mine now, Garvin. And tonight, after the wedding, she’ll belong to me completely."

Garvin’s jaw clenched so tightly it looked as if his teeth might shatter. "Wedding?" His voice was barely above a whisper, but the sheer venom in his tone was unmistakable.

Kato leaned back, arms resting lazily on the chair. "Oh yeah. She wanted a big wedding, and I’m giving it to her."

Kato let out a loud, mocking laugh.

"Scarlett wouldn’t do such a thing," Garvin hissed, his body shaking with rage. "She would rather die than give herself to you."

Kato grinned, his eyes glinting with sadistic pleasure. "Oh, but she is doing it, Garvin. She chose me. And after tonight? You’ll be dead. Poor Scarlett... She actually believes I’ll let you live after our wedding. But the truth is..." He leaned in, his smirk widening. "I never let my captives go."

Garvin let out a furious roar, straining against his restraints, his entire body seething with helpless rage. He wanted to kill Kato, wanted to rip him apart but the chains held firm.

Kato rose from his seat, letting out another laugh as he turned to leave. "Enjoy your last few hours, Garvin."

The guards stepped forward, forcing the cloth back over Garvin’s eyes and mouth, silencing him once more. Then, they too exited the room, locking the heavy door behind them.

And just like that, Scarlett and Garvin were alone.

Scarlett exhaled slowly, her patience reaching its breaking point. "That motherfucker," she cursed under her breath.

Without wasting another second, she activated her Time Manipulation spell.

The entire world slowed to a crawl.

Everything outside of this moment, outside of them froze in place. Even time itself bent to her will.

Scarlett let out a shuddering breath, willing away the anger surging through her veins. Then, she deactivated her invisibility spell, stepping into full view before Garvin.

Garvin’s body tensed immediately. Even in the frozen time, he could feel someone near him.

"Who’s there?" His voice was muffled, but tinged with suspicion.

Scarlett didn’t answer right away. Instead, she moved toward him, removing the cloth from his mouth, then his eyes.

Slowly, Garvin blinked, adjusting to the dim lighting. The moment his gaze fell on Scarlett, his breath hitched. His eyes widened in shock and utter disbelief.

"Scarlett..." he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper. His lips parted slightly as if he were afraid to believe what he was seeing. "How...? Is this real? Am I hallucinating?"

Scarlett gave a small, determined nod. "You’re not hallucinating. It’s me, Garvin." She moved to untie the restraints around his wrists and ankles. "We don’t have much time. Right now, we’re under time freeze, which means no one can see or hear us. Kato isn’t watching you, he’s watching me but I needed time to do what I came here to do."

Garvin frowned, his expression still filled with confusion. "What exactly do you want to do? How did you even get in here? Kato just..."

Scarlett placed a hand on his shoulder, silencing him.

Then, she met his gaze, her expression unreadable, her voice unwavering.

"Sleep with me, Garvin."

The words hung heavy in the air.

Garvin stiffened, his breath catching in his throat. He stared at her, utterly caught off guard. His mind reeled at her words, struggling to grasp what she truly meant.