Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 46: I’ll Make Them Pay.

Chapter 46: I’ll Make Them Pay.

"What?!" Scarlett’s scream shattered the silence, her voice echoing through the cave like a siren.

Her outburst drew everyone’s attention, Ethan, Louise, Rose, Larry, and Maya who turned to face her with alarm.

"What’s wrong?" Ethan asked, his face etched with worry as he rushed toward her. Kneeling down, he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, his gaze locked on hers.

"It’s nothing," Scarlett replied with tears already rolling down her cheeks, her voice trembling. She reached up to brush Ethan’s hand away, but before she could, Garvin intervened.

"What’s with the touch?" Garvin snapped, swatting Ethan’s hand off her shoulder. His expression was sharp, his annoyance evident. "Can’t you just ask a question without invading her space?"

Ethan straightened, his eyes narrowing as he turned his attention to Garvin. "What did you do to her? Why is she crying?" he demanded, suspicion lacing his tone.

"I said it’s nothing!" Scarlett interjected, her voice rising. She took a deep breath, her fingers trembling as she gestured for Ethan to step back. "Just... go back to the others, Ethan. Please."

Though hesitant, Ethan gave her a lingering look before retreating, his concern still visible as he rejoined the group.

Scarlett turned to Garvin, her voice barely above a whisper, though her words carried the weight of her disbelief. "I really can’t believe my husband, the man I’ve been married to for five years is the reason I can’t have a child. Why would he do something so... monstrous?"

Garvin’s expression darkened, and he let out a heavy sigh. "Honestly? I’m not surprised. Your husband never wanted a child with you. He’s been after your money from the start. And if that wasn’t bad enough, he’s been having an affair with his stepsister, the woman who’s now carrying his child."

Scarlett’s face still contorted in shock, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I knew he had an affair with his stepsister?" she whispered, her voice breaking. "How... how could he?"

Garvin continued, his tone grim. "That’s not all. Do you remember the car accident, the one you thought was caused by brake failure? He was behind that too. He tampered with your car, Scarlett. He wanted you gone so he could take everything you own."

Scarlett’s hands flied to her mouth as Garvin’s words sank in. "No... no! That can’t be true. He... he wouldn’t..."

"He would, Scarlett. And he did," Garvin interrupted firmly, his eyes locked on hers. "You’re not barren. The doctors lied to you under his orders. He made sure you couldn’t conceive because he never wanted to share your wealth with a child. Even your lawyer is in on it."

Scarlett’s felt her world crumbled before her eyes. She only thought he was dating his step sister, she never imagined he could try to kill her. "Why didn’t I see it?" she whispered, her voice raw with anguish. "How could I have been so blind? I trusted him... I loved him!"

Garvin softened, crouching beside her. "You believed in him because you wanted to. You’re not to blame for that." He placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice steady. "But now you know the truth, Scarlett. You have to decide what to do with it."

Scarlett leaned against him, tears flowing freely, the betrayal cutting deeper than she ever thought possible.

Garvin allowed her to rest her head on his shoulder, his voice low and reassuring. "They don’t deserve your tears, Scarlett. They don’t."

"They better just die before I set my eyes on them or I’ll kill them with my own hands. Even if they already turned to monsters, I’ll still be the one to end them." Scarlett declared, with anger etched in her voice.

Exhausted, she finally drifted into a restless sleep.

______

The moonlight bathed the cave in a silvery glow, its soft light highlighting Scarlett’s tear-streaked face.

"It’s time to leave now," Larry announced, breaking the stillness as he adjusted his weapons. Maya stood beside him, heavily armed and vigilant.

Scarlett stirred awake, realizing her head was still resting on Garvin’s shoulder. Embarrassed, she quickly pulled away and stood.

"We need to move quietly," Ethan said, his voice low. "The monsters will be in their hiding places, but if we alert them, it’s going to get ugly fast."

The group nodded in agreement, checking their weapons and supplies.

Ethan glanced at Scarlett, his concern evident. "Are you okay now? You look... sad."

Scarlett forced a small smile. "I’m fine. Thank you for asking, Ethan." She turned to Garvin and whispered, "Thank you... for everything."

Garvin gave her a reassuring smile. "It’s what I should’ve done a long time ago." He grabbed his gun from the cave wall, his expression hardening. "Let’s survive this, Scarlett. Then you can deal with those betrayals however you see fit."

Scarlett nodded, her resolve hardening. "I will. I may be half-monster now since I’m already butten, but when my powers awaken fully, I’ll make them pay."

The group filed out of the cave in single file, their weapons held at the ready. The forest around them was dark and silent, save for the crunch of leaves beneath their careful steps.

When they finally reached the shoreline, Louise exhaled in relief. "We did it," he whispered, his excitement barely contained.

"Told you they wouldn’t be here," Larry replied, smirking. With a wave of his hand, two sleek boats materialized out of thin air, shimmering in the moonlight.

Ding!

{You should leave the shore now host as danger is approaching.}

Scarlett eyes widen open in shock and said sharply. "Let’s move. "The shore isn’t safe for long."

The group split into two boats. Scarlett, Garvin, and Rose climbed into one, while Larry, Ethan, Louise, and Maya boarded the other.

Just as they were about to push off, Rose froze, her eyes wide. "Matthew?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

The others turned to see a figure stumbling toward them, its movements jerky and unnatural.

"Matthew!" Rose cried, leaping from the boat. She ran toward the figure, tears streaming down her face. "I knew you didn’t die! I knew it!"

"Rose, no!" Scarlett yelled, her eyes narrowing as she got a better look. "That’s not Matthew! Get away from it!"

But it was too late. The creature’s head split open, revealing a gaping maw lined with razor-sharp teeth. In one swift motion, it impaled Rose through the stomach with a whip-like appendage, blood spraying across the sand as it began to feed.

"NO!" Scarlett screamed, channelling her fire element to her hand and leaping from the boat. The others followed, their cries of horror blending with the creature’s inhuman growl.