Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 67: Take Him Away!

Chapter 67: Take Him Away!

Despite Jaden’s face being set in a stubborn expression, Victor could still see the fear lurking behind his eyes. He knew the boy was just a child, and like all children, he could be broken with the right amount of pressure.

Victor knelt down further to Jaden’s height, a calculated smile playing on his lips. "Let’s just say I’m tired of keeping you here. I’m giving you an opportunity to go look for Golden. She doesn’t have to go through the trouble of coming here any longer, you see..."

Jaden blinked, his tear-filled eyes widening slightly at the unexpected words. "Really? But... but there are monsters out there," he replied, his voice trembling. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he sniffled, trying to steady his emotions. "Golden wouldn’t want me to walk in the midst of monsters. I’m not a good runner."

Victor’s smile grew wider, his tone laced with feigned warmth. "Oh, you don’t have to worry about that," he said smoothly. "Golden has made sure to clear all the monsters along your path. That’s just how much she cares about you, her little brother."

Jaden’s eyes widened further in surprise. "She... she did that?" he whispered, his voice filled with equal parts disbelief and hope.

Victor nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving Jaden’s tear-streaked face. "Yes, she loves you more than you know," he continued, his voice now dripping with false sincerity. "And now, you should reunite with the other survivors. She’ll be so proud of you."

Jaden’s gaze shifted hesitantly toward the crying baby in his arms. "But... what about the baby?" he asked, his small voice filled with concern as he gestured toward little Hope, whose wails echoed around the room.

Victor’s expression darkened momentarily, though he quickly masked it with another smirk. "She’ll stay here," he replied casually. "I’ll bring her to you later. Her cries might attract monsters if she comes with you now, and we wouldn’t want that, would we?"

Jaden hesitated, his small frame trembling. He desperately wanted to take Hope with him, but fear of the dangers Victor described made him pause.

After a moment of silence, he shook his head vehemently, his voice rising with renewed defiance. "No! No, no, no! I’ll just wait here for Golden. She said she would come back, and I believe her. She’s my sister, and I always obey her!"

Victor’s smirk faltered, his face twisting with frustration. "Oh, really?" he sneered, his tone growing colder. "Take him away!"

A burly man stepped forward without hesitation, his massive hands closing around Jaden’s small arms like steel clamps. Jaden struggled fiercely, kicking and thrashing, but his strength was no match for the man’s brute force.

"Let go of me!" Jaden screamed, tears streaming down his face as he fought against his captor. "I’ll wait here for my sister, you bad guys! I know what you’re doing, you’re trying to kill me before she comes for me and the baby!"

Victor watched the scene unfold, his cold smile returning. The boy’s words amused him, though they also struck a chord of annoyance. "This boy truly is something," he muttered under his breath.

As Jaden was dragged away, little Hope’s cries grew louder, her voice piercing the room like a haunting melody. Victor turned back to the doctor standing nearby, his sadistic grin widening.

"This boy is truly interesting," Victor remarked, his tone filled with dark amusement. "But I wonder... will he even make it past the base? Or will he die before getting too far?"

The doctor’s impassive face remained unmoved. "If he dies, what shall we do with the infant?" he asked calmly.

Victor’s grin grew sinister as he paced slowly across the room, his boots echoing ominously on the cold floor. "If he dies, inject the baby," he ordered, his voice low and menacing. "Turn her into a monster, and send her to search for Scarlett. Attach the Axe Squad’s location to her body so Scarlett will have no choice but to come here."

The doctor nodded, taking note of the instructions. "Understood, sir. I’ll prepare the necessary tools for the capture."

Victor stopped and turned to the doctor, his eyes glinting with anticipation. "Excellent," he said with a satisfied nod. "Let’s get round two of this game started."

__________

Meanwhile, deep in the forest, Scarlett and her group pressed onward. The thick canopy above cast dappled shadows on the forest floor, while the rustling of leaves and distant calls of birds created a tense soundtrack to their journey. Every step was taken with caution, their senses on high alert for any signs of danger.

Scarlett’s invisibility skill had proven valuable, allowing the group to move undetected through the dense underbrush.

She, Ethan, and Garvin maintained their positions at the front of the group, ever watchful for threats. Behind them, the rest of the survivors clustered in the middle, their expressions a mixture of fear and determination. Larry, Maya, and Louise took up the rear, their eyes constantly scanning the trail for any approaching danger.

After hours of trudging through the forest, the group stumbled upon a narrow stream. Its crystal-clear waters sparkled under shafts of sunlight breaking through the canopy, providing a momentary sense of peace. Scarlett raised a hand, signaling for the group to halt. She gestured for them to follow her along the stream’s edge.

As the group began to move again, Garvin slowed his pace, allowing the others to pass him until he was walking alongside Scarlett. His sharp eyes flicked between the path ahead and the trees on either side. After a few moments of silence, he glanced at her. "I’ve got to say, I’m impressed with this new skill of yours," he said, his tone light but curious. "How did you get it? Is it... because you came back from the dead? Again?"

Scarlett’s lips twitched into a faint smile, though her eyes never left the path ahead. "You could say that," she replied evenly. "It’s... complicated. But let’s just focus on the fact that it’s giving us a solid advantage. If we stay together and keep quiet, we should be able to avoid detection for a while."

Garvin nodded, his expression thoughtful. "You’ve given these people something to believe in, Scarlett. The rest of us, those without powers, we depend on people like you. You’re the reason we’ve got hope to keep going," he said sincerely, his voice dropping slightly as though confessing something.

Scarlett turned her head briefly, offering him a warm smile and a nod. "It’s not just me," she said. "Everyone here has a role to play, Garvin. It’s not about powers, it’s about surviving together."

As the two continued their quiet conversation, the tension at the back of the group was growing.

Maya leaned slightly toward Louise, her gaze fixed intently on Scarlett and Garvin. Her voice was a low murmur. "Those two," she began, her tone laced with curiosity. "Are you sure there’s really nothing going on between them? I mean, look at them. They’re so close."

Louise arched an eyebrow and smirked. "Seriously, Maya? You’ve asked this before, and Scarlett told you no. Why do you keep bringing it up? Or..." She leaned in slightly closer. "Do you have a thing for Garvin? I mean, let’s be real, he’s every girl’s type."

Maya’s cheeks flushed slightly, but she shook her head emphatically. "No, it’s not like that," she insisted, though her tone betrayed her defensiveness. "I’m just curious, that’s all. They act like they’ve known each other forever. You can’t tell me they don’t seem like husband and wife sometimes.

"And remember when we had to keep an eye on Garvin after Scarlett..." Her voice faltered momentarily, lowering even further. "When we thought she was dead? The pain in his eyes was undeniable. There’s something deeper between them, I just know it."

Louise rolled her eyes playfully but before she could respond, Larry’s voice cut through their hushed conversation.

"Would you two stop whispering about other people’s business and focus on the mission?" Larry snapped, his tone tinged with annoyance. He cast a sharp glance over his shoulder. "Our priority is getting to the next safe haven, not gossiping like on irrelevant stuffs. There are monsters out there, in case you’ve forgotten."

With that, he moved between Maya and Louise, deliberately separating them as he pushed ahead toward the middle of the group.

Maya’s brows furrowed in irritation, and she crossed her arms tightly over her chest. "What’s his problem?" she muttered under her breath, her tone simmering with frustration.

Louise shrugged, her tone casual as she fell into step behind Larry. "How am I supposed to know?" she replied, smirking slightly. "Maybe he’s just tired of your nosy questions."

Maya stared after them, momentarily speechless. She let out a soft huff of indignation but quickly reminded herself to stay calm. Raising her voice or starting a fight wasn’t worth the risk of attracting unwanted attention.

As Larry and Louise moved ahead, Maya hung back slightly, her mind still turning over her observations. Whatever the nature of Scarlett and Garvin’s relationship, she couldn’t shake the feeling that it was more significant than either of them let on.