Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 50: Lose My Powers?

Chapter 50: Lose My Powers?

The next morning, Scarlett’s eyes fluttered open to the warm rays of sunlight casted golden glow across her face. She blinked groggily, her head pounding with a dull ache. As her vision cleared, she realized she was lying on a firm bed, covered with a blanket.

"Good morning," a gentle voice greeted her. It was Maya, sitting close by with a soft smile. "You’re finally awake."

Hearing Maya’s voice, Scarlett turned her head slowly. The motion made her temples throb, but she managed a faint smile in return.

Just then, Garvin moved closer, though the strain on his face made it clear he was still in pain. Despite this, his worried expression spoke louder than words. "I’m glad you’re awake," he said, his voice warm yet weak. "You had us all scared last night."

Scarlett pushed herself up, rubbing her temples to ease the lingering ache. "What happened?"

"You fainted," Ethan explained, his tone serious but tinged with concern. He stood nearby, arms crossed. "You pushed yourself too hard saving Garvin. Your body couldn’t handle it."

Maya helped Garvin sit beside Scarlett, her movements careful to avoid aggravating his injuries. He winced slightly as he settled, but his gratitude was evident. "Thanks to you," he began, his gaze meeting Scarlett’s, "I’m alive."

Scarlett’s expression softened, her eyes filled with relief. "I’m just glad you’re okay," she replied quietly. Her voice wavered slightly as she continued, "But please, Garvin, don’t do something so reckless again. I can heal from wounds, but you..." Her voice broke, and she looked away for a moment before finishing, "If you die... I’ll die too."

Maya raised a teasing eyebrow, her lips curving into a sly grin. "Ooooh, what a line! If you die, I’ll die." She leaned forward, mock whispering, "That’s so romantic, Scarlett!"

Scarlett quickly shot Maya a angry glare. "It’s not what you’re thinking!" she protested. "You wouldn’t understand anyways."

Maya chuckled, undeterred. "Oh, I wouldn’t, huh? All I know is, someone was willing to push herself to the brink of death for someone else. That’s some strong bond right there." She waggled her eyebrows, enjoying Scarlett’s reaction.

Scarlett’s angry glare intensify. "Maya, stop it! You’re just assuming things that aren’t true," she snapped, her tone sharper than she intended.

Maya raised her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I’ll stop. But you can’t blame me for noticing!"

Garvin, who had been silent during the exchange, let out an awkward cough. His cheeks flushed as he glanced away, avoiding everyone’s gaze.

Scarlett turned her attention to him, narrowing her eyes. "What’s wrong with you?" she asked, her voice tinged with exasperation.

Garvin cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably. "Nothing," he murmured, though the redness in his face betrayed him.

Scarlett rolled her eyes and sighed.

Larry chimed into the conversation, his expression serious. "Scarlett, you’re weak right now. You might not be able to use your powers for a while," he began. "Last night, I checked your condition. Your meridians were partially damaged, but I managed to stabilize you. However, you’ll need proper rest before you can attempt to use your abilities again. Otherwise, you could harm yourself permanently."

Ethan nodded in agreement, his tone somber. "Yeah, Larry’s right. Your powers are still underdeveloped. If you keep pushing them like that, you could lose them forever and there’s no coming back from that."

Scarlett frowned, her brow furrowing in concern. "Lose my powers? Is that even possible?"

Larry hesitated, scratching the back of his head. "Uh... well, it’s just a guess."

Scarlett’s eyes widened in disbelief. "A guess?" she repeated, her voice rising slightly. "You both sounded so serious, and now you’re telling me it’s just a guess?"

"Look," Ethan interjected quickly, "we’re just saying to take care of yourself. Powers or not, your body is still human. Don’t push yourself to the point of no return." His gaze flicked toward the horizon. "Now, enough about that. We’re approaching the shore. Get ready."

The group’s attention shifted as they turned to look out at the coastline. The shore stretched wide before them, its barren landscape eerily silent except for the distant cries of unseen creatures.

The boat docked with a soft jolt, and the group disembarked cautiously. Ethan’s sharp gaze scanned their surroundings. "Stay alert," he warned. "We don’t know what we’ll encounter. Danger could be waiting for us, or we might get lucky. Either way, don’t let your guard down."

His elemental power flickered faintly around him as he turned toward Scarlett and Garvin. Without hesitation, he strode over and positioned himself between the two, gently pushing Garvin aside.

"What are you doing?" Garvin asked, wincing as Ethan’s movement caused his wounded arm to sting.

"You’re injured," Ethan said bluntly. "And so is Scarlett. Two injured people can’t stick together. Go team up with Larry and Maya. Scarlett will stay with Louise and me."

"You..."

"Are you all seriously going to start arguing here and alert the monsters?" Larry interrupted, his voice cutting through the tension. "Let’s move. The shore isn’t safe either."

Reluctantly, the group nodded and began their trek inland. The eerie silence of the shoreline gave way to the distant growls of monsters, growing louder with every step they took.

___________

Meanwhile, Golden trudged through the desolate streets, her leather jacket and trousers scuffed and torn. A small gun hung at her side, though she barely knew how to use it. Her body was covered in bruises and scrapes, souvenirs of her harrowing journey through the night.

She crouched behind an abandoned bus, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she tried to catch her breath. Her eyes locked on the supermarket ahead, a potential safe haven, though she couldn’t be sure if it was empty or crawling with monsters.

Her heart pounded, and her hands trembled. The horrific growls of monsters echoed around her, sending icy chills down her spine.

The monsters began to disperse, giving her a brief window of opportunity. Without hesitation, she darted toward the supermarket entrance, her footsteps light but hurried.

Bursting through the door, she slammed it shut behind her, careful not to make too much noise. Inside, the dim lighting and relative silence offered a small sense of relief.

Victor’s voice crackled through the tiny earpiece in her ear. "You’re not resting, are you?" he sneered.

"I’m injured," Golden whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks. "I need to treat my wounds."

"Fine. But don’t forget what’s at stake," Victor replied coldly. "Hurry up, Golden Girl. Good luck."

Golden glanced around the supermarket, her eyes scanning for movement. When she saw no immediate threat, she exhaled shakily and set down her bag. Pulling out medical supplies, she began cleaning her wounds with trembling hands. The sting of the antiseptic made her clench her teeth, but she knew better than to cry out.

Once her injuries were bandaged, she drank a bottle of water, steeling herself for what lay ahead. Taking a deep breath, she reached for the door handle to leave.

Before she could open it, a cold, slimy tendril wrapped around her neck, strangling her. Her eyes widened in horror as the growl of a monster rumbled behind her.