Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 65: I Don’t Want To Hurt Anyone.

Chapter 65: I Don’t Want To Hurt Anyone.

As the night wore on, the survivors tried to rest, but the sounds of the monsters outside made it difficult. Scarlett, Larry, Ethan, and even Garvin despite not having any powers volunteered to keep watch, taking turns to ensure that everyone got some rest.

Eventually, it was Scarlett and Garvin’s turn to watch over the group after Larry and Ethan had completed their shifts. When Larry shook her gently to wake her, Scarlett stirred but didn’t look surprised. In truth, she hadn’t been sleeping at all. Her thoughts were tangled with worries about Victor and the monsters stalking them in the darkness.

"How many hours did we even sleep?" Garvin mumbled groggily, yawning as he got off the mattress Scarlett had provided from the system. He rubbed his eyes, clearly not ready for his shift.

"You volunteered to keep watch, so no complaining," Larry quipped, his voice muffled as he settled down beside Ethan, who had already sprawled out to sleep.

Scarlett made her way to the cave’s entry, sitting down near a large boulder. The rock provided some cover, concealing her from view. She peered out cautiously. Most of the monsters had retreated to their hiding spots, but a few still roamed the area, their menacing silhouettes occasionally illuminated by the pale light of the moon.

Garvin shuffled over to join her, plopping down on the cold stone beside her. The last remnants of his sleepiness seemed to have faded as he studied her face.

"What’s going on in that mind of yours again?" he asked softly, a warm smile playing on his lips. "Did you even try to get some sleep?"

Scarlett didn’t look at him. Her gaze remained fixed on the star-scattered night sky, the bright moon hanging above them like a silent witness to their plight. "How can I sleep with all this?" she replied quietly. "Victor, the monsters, the constant running... it’s enough to keep anyone awake."

Garvin followed her gaze to the sky. It was a stunning contrast to the horror surrounding them, with its shimmering stars and the occasional streak of red tinting the horizon.

"The sky is beautiful," Scarlett murmured after a pause, her voice soft and reflective. "But even that beauty feels like it’s mocking us... like it’s trying to remind us how close we are to disaster."

Garvin shifted, leaning back against the rock. He could hear the tension in her voice and knew what she was truly worried about. "You’re thinking about Jaden and Hope, aren’t you?" he asked gently. "I’m sure they’re okay, Scarlett. You have to believe that."

Her lips tightened as she finally looked at him, her expression heavy with grief. "I believed that once," she admitted, her voice cracking. "But after Golden... after Victor killed her so easily..." Her voice trailed off, and she shook her head. "I know you’re trying to calm me down, Garvin, but you can’t. My heart feels like it’s bleeding, and nothing you say will change that."

Garvin sighed, the weight of her pain settling on him. "I still don’t understand why Victor is so determined to come after you," he said after a moment, his voice quieter now. "He placed a tracker on Golden to find the other survivors because he knew you’d be with them. But why? Even if he knows you have powers like Ethan, it doesn’t explain this level of obsession. He never went this far when it was just Ethan."

Scarlett turned her gaze back to the sky, her expression unreadable.

"There has to be a reason," Garvin continued, his brows furrowing in thought. "Something bigger than what we know. Something personal."

"I’ve thought about that too, the idea that Victor has a deeper motive but everything remains a mystery. Maybe there’s something about me that I don’t even understand yet." Scarlett said, her tone heavy with concern. "For Victor to send Golden because he knew she would do everything in her power to reach me, it’s terrifying to think of what he might do next. What if he sends Jaden this time? He’s so young. He won’t even be able to survive a monster attack." Her voice wavered as she spoke, her worried expression illuminated faintly by the moonlight.

Garvin frowned, shaking his head in disagreement. "He wouldn’t do that. Just like you said, Jaden is a child. He’s too young to even navigate, let alone survive out here. Victor may be a monster, but I don’t think even he would stoop that low."

"Oh, you can never tell what that beast is capable of," Scarlett replied bluntly, her crimson eyes flashing with frustration. "The more I think about this, the more my heart aches. If Victor wants me, he should let us know the Axe Squad base. I’ll go to him...I’ll surrender myself if it means sparing everyone else."

Garvin hesitated before speaking, his tone thoughtful but grim. "He wouldn’t agree to that. Victor knows you’d try to bring others to take him down and rescue the children. Even if you went alone, there’s no guarantee he wouldn’t kill them anyway. And as for you..." He sighed heavily. "Victor’s after people with powers, but there’s something more to it. I don’t think he’s hunting you just because of your abilities. There has to be another reason he’s so focused on you."

Scarlett’s jaw clenched, her frustration mounting. "Exactly! There’s something he needs from me, something only I can do. But whatever it is, I’ll find out. I’ll locate the Axe Squad base, and when I do, I’ll destroy him and anyone else who stands in my way." Her voice carried an edge of determination, her fists clenching at her sides.

Garvin studied her closely, his gaze softening. "You look so fierce right now," he murmured. "It’s like I don’t even recognize you. You’re not the same person I knew before. But you know what? If you’d been this fierce back on Earth, no one would’ve dared to trample all over you."

Scarlett let out a small chuckle, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "Yeah, that’s what I thought too. I could’ve dealt with those jerks and troublemakers so much more effectively."

"You still can," Garvin said with a warm smile. "I just hope all of this ends soon. I want us all to make it back to Earth, to go home again."

Scarlett met his gaze, their faces only inches apart. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, as if the closeness made her uncomfortable, she broke eye contact and turned her attention back to the sky.

Garvin hesitated before asking, "Are you okay, though? Earlier... when you were stabbed, you didn’t even flinch. And how did you get out of the ground? Did someone help you after Ethan and I left?"

Scarlett’s expression turned somber, her voice low. "Maybe heaven knows the people who don’t deserve to die an unjust death. That’s the only explanation I have for why I keep coming back." She sighed. "I don’t blame you or Ethan for leaving me. At that moment, I was a monster, and monsters deserve to be killed. Isn’t that the rule?"

"You’re not a monster, Scarlett," Garvin said firmly, his voice almost immediate, his gaze unwavering. "You’re still that beautiful soul I knew back on Earth."

"That was Earth," Scarlett replied with a bitter laugh. "This is different. Here, I’m thirsty for blood, always hungry for flesh. I’m just barely holding it back." Her crimson eyes flicked toward the sleeping survivors. Their heartbeats drummed in her ears, and the visible pulse of their veins made her stomach twist. "I’m trying to control it, but it’s hard."

Garvin tilted his head, his voice soft. "What if you... bit me? Would I turn into a monster like you? Or one of those brainless creatures out there? I wouldn’t mind, you know. It could be my punishment for all the terrible things I did to you before."

Scarlett smiled faintly, shaking her head. "You’re crazy. And no, you wouldn’t still be alive if I wanted to punish you for everything you did. But the moment you saved me back on Earth, you cleared all your debts." Her smile faded as she looked back to the sky. "If I feel the thirst, I’ll drink animal blood. If I feel hungry, I’ll eat their flesh. But if I lose control... If I turn back into a monster, don’t try to save me. Run. Get as far away as you can. I don’t want to hurt anyone."