Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 31: What’s Happening Now?

Chapter 31: What’s Happening Now?

Panic gripped the group as they fought to escape, wrestling with doors and windows while water surged in around them. One by one, they managed to pull free, swimming desperately to the surface as the SUV sank deeper into the murky depths.

Gasping for air, they surfaced, spotting the riverbank in the distance. Relief washed over them until a powerful current suddenly seized them, dragging them helplessly toward the edge of a massive waterfall.

"We’re going to die!" Louise shouted, his voice filled with despair as he struggled against the overwhelming force. He clawed at the water, trying to resist, but it was no use, the current was too strong.

The children screamed, their terror reaching a fever pitch. Yet Scarlett remained calm. With a fierce look of concentration, she called upon her water element.

A shimmering, translucent barrier formed around them, slowing the deadly pull of the waterfall and shielding them from the crushing current.

"Everyone, grab onto me!" Scarlett commanded, her voice cutting through the chaos. The group didn’t hesitate, they latched onto her, their faces still pale with fear.

With all her strength, Scarlett extended her hands, and a powerful jet of water erupted from her palms, propelling them upward against the river’s current. They broke through the surface, gasping and coughing as they finally escaped the deadly pull.

"We’re alive!" Rose choked out, her voice shaking as she struggled to catch her breath. Her body shivered uncontrollably from the icy water. "We...we actually made it."

"Yes we did!" Louise managed to say panting heavily as he choked out. His gaze shifted, taking in his surroundings. "I’m still alive."

Scarlett quickly took Hope from Mrs. Anderson, her eyes softening as she noticed how cold the child felt. Wrapping her tightly in her arms, she whispered, "I’m so sorry, darling. Mommy is so sorry." Tears shimmered in her eyes as Hope coughed up a mouthful of water. Scarlett gently warmed her from within, using her fire element to ward off the cold.

Without delay, Scarlett summoned a fresh set of clothes from the system, carefully dressing Hope in a warm, dry outfit. She then wrapped her snugly in a soft shawl, maintaining a gentle heat to keep her comfortable. Once Hope was settled, Scarlett turned to the other children, warming them and providing new clothing. She even conjured a small, temporary changing room for their privacy.

After helping the children, Scarlett quickly dried herself, using her fire element to evaporate the water clinging to her clothes. There was no time to change, so she simply made herself as comfortable as possible. Moving methodically, she then dried each of the adult survivors, ensuring everyone was warm and safe.

"Thanks, Scarlett," Garvin said, smiling as she reached him last, gently drying his soaked hair. Their faces were close, their breaths mingling in the cool air. "Honestly, I don’t know how we’d survive without you. Are you doing okay?"

Scarlett didn’t meet his eyes, focused instead on her task. "I’m fine. You should worry about yourself," she replied. "You always put others first, but you need to look after your own health too. You won’t last long if you keep this up."

Garvin chuckled, a light in his eyes as he studied her face. "You care about me?" he asked, the words slipping out before he could stop himself.

Scarlett looked at him, her expression unreadable, then scoffed. "Don’t flatter yourself. We’re all in this together, and everyone needs to look out for themselves. Consider it more of a warning, you can’t help others if you don’t take care of yourself."

Inwardly, Scarlett fought a surge of old resentments. Care about you? she thought bitterly. Who cares? Sure, you saved me, but that hardly makes up for the years you spent belittling me, ordering me around, making me feel small. After enduring so many insults at home, I’d come to work only to face more from you. So no I really don’t care if you take my advice. If you want to waste yourself, but I’m just forced to care because your life is linked with mine.

But Garvin’s smile only widened. "I’ll take your advice, then," he said quietly, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Scarlett rolled her eyes and moved away.

Meanwhile, Mr. Anderson, who had been silently taking in their surroundings, stood up and stared at the dense forest beyond the riverbank. "Does anyone know where we are?" he asked, his gaze sweeping over the dark trees. "It’s so quiet here. I don’t think there are monsters nearby, if there were, we’d have seen or heard them by now or are we perhaps transported to another planet?"

Rose shook her head, her expression wary. "Don’t be fooled by the quietness, Mr. Anderson. Sometimes the quietest places hide the worst dangers. We need to stay alert, no matter what. She said with a serious expression. "And what new planet? Are you perhaps seeing things or this is due to old age?" She added as she rolled her eyes away.

"She’s right," Garvin agreed, letting out a deep sigh. "We just escaped death, we don’t want to stumble into it again but staying here by the river isn’t an option. We’re still in the same world, with monster apocalypse still going on hence there’s no safe place. We just need to continue exploring. And as Rose said, the most quiet place is the most dangerous."

Scarlett’s eyes suddenly glowed crimson as she summoned her map ability. A three-dimensional map of their surroundings materialized before her, showing green indicators for far safe locations and red markers indicating danger. As her gaze swept over the map, her heart sank, red markers were clustered all around them even beneath and above their current position casting an ominous shadow over their escape.

Her eyes widened in alarm as she realized just how surrounded they were.

Suddenly, the sky turned a deep, ominous crimson, and the ground beneath their feet began to tremble, jagged cracks snaking out and dividing the ground beneath them.

"What’s happening now?" Rose asked, her eyes wide with shock.

The ground quickly turned viscous and muddy, shifting underfoot like it was trying to pull the survivors in. Scarlett sprang into action, channeling her earth element to stabilize the ground, forcing it to hold firm while everyone clung to each other to keep from sinking.

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