Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 68: Are We Really Safe Here?

Chapter 68: Are We Really Safe Here?

As the group continued their journey, the tension between Maya and Larry was palpable. Maya couldn’t help but feel a twinge of irritation at Larry’s sudden outburst earlier, but she reminded herself to keep her emotions in check. They had bigger issues to deal with than personal disagreements.

Meanwhile, Scarlett and Garvin walked side by side, their conversation flowing effortlessly. They discussed everything from their past experiences to their hopes and dreams for the uncertain future that lay ahead. Scarlett found herself drawn to Garvin’s words, his insights surprising her.

As they walked, she couldn’t help but notice the way Garvin occasionally glanced at her. There was a warmth in his gaze, a deep affection that made her feel both seen and understood. She felt a strange flutter in her chest, but she quickly pushed the thought aside, chastising herself silently.

For the first time in forever, I finally notice Garvin to be...handsome. The thought startled her.

Back on Earth, the ladies in their workplace were always swooning over Garvin, and Scarlett could never understand what they saw in him. To her, he had always been rude, a spoiled man-child who got lucky due to his family’s wealth. In her eyes, only her late husband had ever been handsome. But now, something about Garvin seemed... different. His sharp features and quiet strength stood out, and she realized why others had found him attractive.

What am I even thinking? Scarlett scolded herself inwardly, deliberately turning her gaze away from him and focusing on the road ahead. You must be losing your mind, Scarlett.

From behind them, one of the survivors let out a weary sigh. "Are we just going to keep walking forever?" the man asked, panting heavily. His legs wobbled, and he looked as though he might collapse at any moment.

Ethan, walking briskly at the rear, shot the man a stern look. "Keep walking, or we’ll leave you behind," he said bluntly. "Monsters might not be out in full force right now, but they’re hiding, waiting for their morning meal. If you’re tired of walking, Scarlett could lift her invisibility spell, and you’d end up as their breakfast."

The man’s face paled at Ethan’s words, and the rest of the group fell into an uneasy silence.

Seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours, and still, they trudged on. The terrain grew rougher with each step until they found themselves at the base of a towering mountain. The path ahead was narrow and winding, with sheer cliffs that dropped into a mist-covered abyss.

"Don’t tell me we’re...," One of the survivors trailed off, his eyes wide with shock.

"Yes, we are," Scarlett replied calmly, offering him a reassuring smile.

The morning wind howled around them, and the distant growls of monsters echoed faintly through the air.

"We’re going to cross that?" an elderly man asked, his voice trembling with fear as he glanced down. His face went pale as he saw the dizzying height.

"This is suicide!" a woman added, her voice quivering as her hands clutched at her chest.

"Don’t look down," Scarlett warned sharply, her tone leaving no room for argument. "If you look down, you’ll lose your balance and fall. Just focus on walking, one step at a time, like you’re on solid ground."

The group hesitated, their fear evident in their expressions.

"We don’t know if the place we’re headed to is truly safe," Scarlett continued, her voice steady and firm. "But staying here, where Victor’s men can find us, is far more dangerous. We must keep moving forward. Trust me on this."

Maya swallowed hard, her eyes darting nervously between the path and the endless drop below. "I’m really scared of heights, Scarlett," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "One wrong step, and we’re all dead... a horrible death at that."

Scarlett met her gaze with unwavering determination. "You have a choice, Maya," she said. "Follow me, or stay here and face whatever comes. But I’m going." Without another word, Scarlett turned and stepped onto the narrow path, her posture straight and confident.

The group watched in stunned silence as Scarlett began to lead the way. Her confidence was the only reassurance they had, and, reluctantly, they followed. Garvin positioned himself directly behind Scarlett, with Ethan at the rear to ensure no one lagged behind.

"Just focus on the path," Scarlett called back over the howling wind. "Don’t let your fear control you."

Despite her encouragement, the old man stumbled. His foot landed on a loose rock, which crumbled under his weight. With a yelp of terror, he lost his balance.

"Got you!" Garvin shouted, lunging forward and grabbing the man’s arm just in time. The sudden motion dragged Garvin down as well, forcing him to lie flat on the ground, his muscles straining as he held onto the man.

"Hold on!" Scarlett said urgently, turning back. She extended her hand toward the cliff, her expression focused. With a deep breath, she activated her earth element. The rocks beneath the old man shifted, rising to form a stable platform. Slowly but surely, the man regained his footing, and Garvin helped him stand upright.

Garvin brushed the dirt from his hands and looked at Scarlett, his admiration for her growing with every passing moment. "You saved him," he said softly.

"Thank you for saving my life," the old man said, his face a mixture of gratitude and lingering fear. "If you could do that with the rocks, why not just make the ground wider for us to walk on?"

Scarlett gave him a small, patient smile. "This is a cliff," she explained. "The rock here is too unstable. If I tried to expand the path, it could collapse beneath us. Just be careful and don’t fall, please."

After a moment’s thought, Scarlett added, "But there’s another way to prevent anyone else from falling." She pulled a thick rope from her system and began tying it securely around her waist. "Here," she said, passing the rope to the others. "Tie this around yourselves. If anyone slips, the rest of us can pull them back up."

"Damn! Why didn’t we think of this earlier?" Louise said with a chuckle, clearly impressed by Scarlett’s quick thinking. "Guess having people with powers in the group has its perks after all."

"Let’s keep moving," Larry interjected brusquely, clearly eager to get off the dangerous path. The others nodded in agreement and began securing the rope around themselves. With Scarlett leading the way, the group continued their cautious trek across the narrow ledge.

___________

After what felt like hours, the group finally descended into a valley. There, they caught sight of a small, abandoned building with the word PRISON scrawled in faded letters across the crumbling stone wall. The atmosphere was heavy with a sense of foreboding, the growls of distant monsters echoing faintly through the air.

"Is this... is this supposed to be our safe haven?" the old man asked, his voice trembling with both hope and fear.

Scarlett scanned the building, her eyes sharp and calculating. "It just might be," she replied thoughtfully. "But we need to be cautious. We don’t know what dangers could be lurking inside."

Garvin stepped forward, resting a hand on the grip of his gun. "There’s nowhere truly safe anymore," he said, his voice steady. "But if this place has potential, we’ll make it secure for everyone."

The structure loomed before them, a maximum-security prison that had once been a fortress of confinement. Its thick, reinforced walls and rusted steel gates spoke of a time when it had been impenetrable. Now, it stood as a relic of the old world, shrouded in decay.

As Scarlett pushed open the heavy gates, they creaked loudly, the sound echoing through the desolate landscape. The group hesitated, the eerie silence inside the prison pressing down on them like a physical weight.

The interior was a grim labyrinth of narrow corridors and cells, the walls covered in grime and cobwebs. The air was stale, thick with the scent of decay and abandonment.

"This place gives me the creeps," Maya whispered, her voice barely audible over the shuffling footsteps of the group.

"We’ve seen worse," Garvin replied, though his eyes darted around warily. "Stay close and keep your guard up."

The group moved cautiously, their footsteps echoing off the cold, cracked concrete. They soon found themselves in a large, central chamber that appeared to have once been the heart of the prison.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Louise said, his eyes darting nervously to the shadows. "What if we just walked into a trap?"

"Calm down," Garvin said firmly, his tone steady. "Scarlett’s invisibility spell is still active. If there’s anything dangerous in here, it can’t see us. We’ll spot it first."

Scarlett turned to the group. "We need to search the building thoroughly," she said, her tone all business. "Spread out, but stay within earshot. Check every corner. We need to know if this place is safe to stay."

The group nodded, splitting up to examine the prison’s various areas. The cells were stark and barren, each equipped with a metal bed, a small toilet, and a rusted sink. They found a large cafeteria with an industrial-sized kitchen, its equipment covered in dust but still intact. Nearby, a medical facility with operating rooms and patient wards stood eerily empty, devoid of supplies or functioning infrastructure.

In a secure storage area, they found racks that once held firearms and ammunition now completely bare. The elevated guard towers, which provided a commanding view of the surrounding terrain, still stood tall, though the barbed wire that lined the perimeter fence had long since begun to rust.

As they regrouped in the central chamber, Maya voiced the question on everyone’s mind. "Are we really safe here?" she asked, her voice shaky. "Or should we keep looking for somewhere else?"

Scarlett folded her arms, her expression thoughtful. "I don’t sense any immediate danger," she said after a moment. "The monsters outside are distant, and we can deal with them if they get too close. Honestly, this is the most secure place we’ve come across so far."

She glanced around at the worn but sturdy structure, a small smile tugging at her lips. "We can make this place work. Clean it up, fortify it, and make it comfortable. It’s a good temporary haven while we keep searching for a permanent safe haven."

The group exchanged uncertain glances, but Scarlett’s confidence was infectious. They nodded in agreement, and a sense of purpose began to settle over them.