Dinner was compressed-biscuit porridge with canned beef.
Again.
After eating the same thing for days, Ethan was starting to think his taste buds were preparing a formal complaint.
He dropped his spoon into the bowl and sighed.
"I’m going out tomorrow. I need to find something besides canned food, and we’re running low on diesel. The generator won’t keep running forever."
His gaze shifted to Debbie.
"You stay here. Keep an eye on Nina and make sure nobody gets into the house."
Then he looked at Daisy.
"You’re coming with me. Your Mental Ability will be useful for scouting and warning us if anyone gets close."
Daisy nodded immediately.
The arrangement was simple. Ethan handled combat and supplies. Daisy handled reconnaissance. Debbie stayed behind to protect Nina and keep the villa secure.
After two straight days of running around, Ethan felt disgusting. Sweat clung to his skin, his clothes felt stiff, and he desperately needed a shower.
He headed downstairs to the basement pool.
The moment he stepped through the door, he stopped dead.
The pool lights reflected across the clear water, sending soft ripples of light across the walls and ceiling. Two figures floated near the center.
Debbie and Daisy weren’t in full swimsuits.
They were in simple black and white bras, the thin fabric clinging to wet skin. Their hair was damp and dark against their shoulders. The water lapped gently around them, and every small movement made their full, soft breasts rise and fall, the curves bobbing slightly with the surface. Even in the dim light it was impossible not to notice how round and heavy they looked, the way the fabric strained just enough to make a man’s brain short-circuit for a second.
They had clearly been talking about him.
Debbie’s voice carried first, low and amused.
"I’m telling you, the way he looked at you this morning~"
Daisy cut in, half-laughing, half-embarrassed. "Debbie, stop. He can hear~"
Then they both noticed him standing in the doorway.
Debbie’s eyes lit up with pure mischief. She swam toward the edge, resting her arms on the rim so the water framed her chest. A slow, teasing smile spread across her face.
"Well, well. Look who finally decided to show up."
Daisy covered her mouth, trying not to laugh, but her shoulders were shaking.
Debbie tilted her head. "Is our great hero actually shy? Daisy told me what happened in the basement this morning. You weren’t nearly this shy then."
Daisy’s cheeks turned red. "Debbie!"
"What?" Debbie laughed. "I’m just saying."
Ethan stared at them for a long second.
On the outside he stayed completely calm. On the inside he was already cursing the system with every word he knew.
You absolute piece of shit system. Drop Rate Mechanism. Ninety-nine Purity. Ninety-five Beauty Score. If you weren’t standing between me and this exact scene right now I would already be in that water. Useless fucking cheat code. Blue-balling me in the middle of the apocalypse. I swear to God if I ever find the person who designed you~
He let none of it show on his face.
Instead he leaned against the doorway, crossed his arms, and gave them a crooked grin.
"Shy?"
He pulled his shirt off in one smooth motion and tossed it aside, then deliberately snapped the waistband of his swim trunks with a sharp thwack.
"I’m a grown man. What exactly am I supposed to be afraid of?" He looked them over slowly, openly. "I’m just worried the two of you might start drooling if you look too long."
Daisy immediately turned away, face bright red. Debbie’s cheeks weren’t much better. She glared at him, but there was no real anger in it.
"You really are shameless."
She grabbed a towel from the side of the pool and climbed out, water streaming down her body. Daisy followed quickly, wrapping herself as well. Debbie took her sister’s hand.
"Come on. Let the stinky man take his bath."
"Hey."
Ethan watched them head toward the changing room. As Debbie passed him she suddenly slowed. She leaned in close enough that her warm breath brushed his ear.
"Wait for me tonight. Don’t lock your door. I need your help with something."
Then she was gone, already walking away with Daisy, the two of them laughing softly.
Ethan stood there for a second, the words replaying in his head.
Wait for me tonight.
He stepped into the shower and turned the water on cold. It didn’t help much. His mind was already running wild.
Could she really mean what I think she means?
He leaned against the tiled wall and closed his eyes. Then the system rules flashed through his head again like a cold slap.
Beauty Score 95. Purity 99. If I cross that line the Drop Rate Mechanism is gone forever.
He rubbed his face hard.
Damn it. Daisy is 96 and 100. Rose is 93 and 100. Both still clean. And the one who’s walking into my room tonight is the one that will cost me everything.
Reason and desire wrestled inside his head. For once neither side was willing to back down.
He eventually returned to his room, stood beside the door for several long seconds, then left it unlocked.
The waiting was torture. Every little sound made him glance toward the door. Minutes passed. Then more.
Finally faint footsteps approached. Ethan’s heartbeat jumped. The door opened slowly. Debbie slipped inside and quietly closed it behind her. She didn’t turn on the light. In the darkness he could only make out her silhouette in her pajamas.
"Ethan?"
Her voice was unusually soft.
"Yeah. I’m here."
His voice came out tighter than he wanted.
Debbie walked toward the bed. She stopped beside it and took a deep breath.
"Um... we’ve been eating a lot of canned beef lately."
Ethan’s heart started pounding.
"Too much nutrition, you know..."
She hesitated.
"Can you... can you..."
He clenched his fists under the blanket.
It’s happening. Don’t do it. The system will kill the multiplier. Don’t~
Debbie stepped closer. The faint scent of soap still clung to her skin.
"Can you help me wash Nina’s bottle?"
Ethan stared at her in the dark.
"...What?"
"It’s soaking in the kitchen sink."
For several seconds he didn’t move.
Then he slowly sat up.
In the darkness he could see Debbie’s shoulders shaking as she tried desperately not to laugh.
"You..."
She finally lost control.
"I’m sorry! I couldn’t resist!"
She reached over and lightly flicked his forehead.
"Moron."
Then she backed toward the door, still laughing.
"You should’ve seen your face!"
The door clicked shut behind her. A second later laughter drifted in from the bedroom next door. Daisy was laughing too.
Ethan sat there in silence.
Then he started laughing~quiet at first, then harder.
He hadn’t realized how badly he needed that.
For the first time since the apocalypse began, he wasn’t thinking about zombies, supplies, mutant beasts, or whether someone was waiting outside the walls.
He was just laughing.
He shook his head.
"Unbelievable."
He pulled the blanket over himself and lay back down. His nerves finally relaxed. Sleep took him quickly.
...
In an abandoned auto repair shop beneath the darkness of the night, Jack had made his stronghold.
Inside the main building several emergency lights cast a weak glow across the filthy concrete floor. Jack lounged in a worn chair while Morgana knelt beside him, massaging his shoulders. A skinny man stood in front of him, back slightly bent as he delivered his report.
"Jack, that kid ran."
Jack didn’t open his eyes.
The skinny man continued. "Just like you ordered, I took some men back to Apex Residential Complex to ’borrow’ more supplies. But the place was already empty. Nobody was there."
Jack finally snorted. "Ran?" His eyes remained closed. "In this part of the suburbs, I’m the one people run from." He waved dismissively. "Where could he possibly go?"
The skinny guy immediately nodded. "Exactly, Jack."
Jack leaned back. "His secret isn’t complicated. That kid probably got lucky and consumed a crystal core. That’s how he awakened a Ability." A grin slowly spread across his face. "I’ve got one too."
He raised his right hand. A small orange flame appeared at his fingertip, the flickering fire illuminating his face.
"See? He’s not the only one with an Ability."
Jack’s attention shifted toward Morgana. He frowned. "Hey. Use a little more strength."
"Yes, Jack."
The skinny guy quickly bowed. "You’re right. I’ll have everyone keep their eyes open. We’ll hunt more Mutant Beasts and search for crystal cores. And that kid definitely took a lot of good supplies with him. We’ll find him even if we have to tear the whole area apart."
"Good." Jack waved him away.
The skinny guy hurried out.
Jack closed his eyes again, settling back into his chair as Morgana continued massaging his shoulders. A few seconds passed. Then he casually raised one finger toward her.
Whoosh.
A burst of flame flashed across the room. The thin fabric of Morgana’s clothing caught fire instantly and burned away. She cried out in surprise and hurriedly covered herself with her arms.
Jack let out a low laugh.
"Much better."