Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 69: We Make A Good Team.

Chapter 69: We Make A Good Team.

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.

As they set to work cleaning and fortifying the prison, the group’s morale began to lift. Despite the grim circumstances, they found solace in each other’s company, sharing stories and laughter as they transformed the bleak, abandoned building into a warm and welcoming refuge.

Maya and Louise worked side by side in the kitchen, scrubbing down the grimy walls and counters. They chatted animatedly about their favorite foods, reminiscing about home-cooked meals and restaurant dishes they once took for granted.

"Nothing beats my mom’s lasagna," Maya said, her eyes lighting up as she rinsed a cloth in soapy water. "She had this secret ingredient, never told me what it was, though."

Louise chuckled. "I’d kill for a proper French croissant. The ones from the bakeries in Paris, where the air smells like butter and sugar... God, I miss that."

In the yard, Ethan and Larry worked together to secure the perimeter fence. They tested the barbed wire meticulously, inspecting every weak spot and patching gaps where they could all while watching out for monsters.

"Think this will hold against them?" Ethan asked, his voice gruff as he hammered a section of the fence back into place. "Those motherfuckers!"

"It has to," Larry replied, his tone serious. "At least long enough to give us a warning." He wiped the sweat from his brow and straightened up. "This place is far from perfect, but it’s better than nothing."

Inside the building, Scarlett and Garvin focused on cleaning out the cells, transforming them into cozy bedrooms. Scarlett, with her unique system abilities, provided everything the rooms needed, comfortable bedding, warm lighting, and even small personal touches like curtains and rugs.

"These rooms almost feel like home," Garvin said, his voice tinged with amazement as he arranged a set of pillows on one of the bunks. "It’s hard to believe this was a prison not too long ago."

Scarlett smiled softly. "Sometimes, a little effort can make the worst places feel safe. At least for a while. Anyways let us burry so that we’ll be done in time."

By the time everyone was done, the kitchen was fully stocked with cooking utensils and food supplies, thanks to Scarlett, Ethan, and Larry, who used their systems to provide everything necessary. The medical room had been outfitted with essential equipment, ensuring they could handle minor injuries or illnesses.

As the sun began to set, the group gathered in the central chamber, their exhaustion evident but overshadowed by a sense of pride. Scarlett surveyed the transformed space and, satisfied with their progress, lifted the invisibility spell that had kept them hidden.

"We make a good team," she said warmly, her eyes shining as she looked around at the others. "I think we can finally get some good rest tonight."

"Rest, yes," Larry interjected, his tone serious as he crossed his arms. "But we can’t let our guard down entirely. We still need to be cautious of danger. Scarlett, Ethan, and I are the ones with powers, so I think the three of us should take shifts guarding the place."

The other survivors nodded in agreement, their smiles weary but grateful. For the first time in what felt like forever, they had a glimmer of hope, a sense that they might just survive this apocalypse after all with the chosen members among them.

"You all can go and relax," Garvin said, addressing the non-powered survivors with a calm but firm tone. The group murmured their thanks before dispersing, leaving Scarlett, Larry, Ethan, and Garvin alone. Once the others had left, Garvin turned his gaze toward Scarlett and the others.

"Let’s discuss this further over there," he said, gesturing toward the makeshift supermarket they had set up earlier.

The group nodded and followed him to the small room, which was stocked with snacks, drinks, and other supplies. They settled into chairs around a simple table, the atmosphere growing more serious as they faced each other.

Ethan was the first to break the silence, his deep voice filling the room. "This is a temporary safe haven. We can’t get too comfortable here."

"We know that already," Larry replied with a sigh, running a hand through his hair. "But even if it’s temporary, these people need a chance to rest. Look at them." He gestured toward the survivors they had just left behind, now laughing and chatting as they enjoyed a rare moment of peace. "They’re happy, if only for a little while. That’s important too."

Larry’s expression hardened as he continued. "I hope you all haven’t that we need to find others like us, people with powers. If we’re going to survive long-term, we need allies. That means we can’t stay in one place. We’ll have to keep moving, exploring new areas, and building alliances."

Scarlett nodded slowly, her mind drifting back to her presence that seemed to attract monsters and the constant threat of Victor’s men searching for her.

"Exactly! We can’t expect the other people with powers to come meet us here. We can’t stay in hiding forever, we just have to keep moving," Ethan said with a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping under the weight of their reality.

"I know all this already," Scarlett replied, her voice tinged with frustration. "We’ll have to keep slaying monsters while searching for others with powers. It’s the only way forward."

"Then I guess we’ll eventually have to leave the people here to fend for themselves," Maya said, her tone firm and practical. "After all, we’ve provided them with everything they need for now, food, shelter, weapons. As long as they stay within the premises, they should be relatively safe."

"I don’t even have any coins left to buy anything new," Ethan admitted, leaning back in his chair with a deep sigh. "I really have to slay monsters to get coins."

"Same here," Larry chimed in. "I used up everything I had to get the resources to set this place up. But the five of us, Scarlett, Ethan, Maya, Garvin, and I, we’re monster slayers. We’ll just have to keep hunting, earning more coins, and buying what we need as we go."

Larry’s expression grew more intense as he continued, "And don’t forget the cemetery. We need to visit it soon to store the available building materials there. After that, we can focus on gathering more coins and expanding our resources."

Maya nodded, her gaze steady as she addressed the group. "Regardless of what we’ve done here, our mission is clear. We’ve created a temporary safe haven for these people, but as monster slayers, we can’t stay. Our journey is long, and we haven’t even truly begun."

"Agreed," Garvin said, his tone decisive. "We leave tomorrow then. Let the people know our plans so they can prepare to stay here. Meanwhile, let’s get some rest tonight. We’ll need our strength for what’s to come."

With that, Garvin rose from his chair, signaling the end of the conversation. The others followed his lead, filing out of the building in silence.