Midnight settled over Century Skyline.
Most of the villa district was swallowed by darkness. Only a few scattered emergency lights still flickered behind the windows, weak and lonely against the black.
In Villa 8, Ethan lay on his bed, turning an earthy-yellow Core between his fingers. From the master bedroom next door came Debbie’s soft humming as she coaxed Nina to finish her nighttime bottle. The quiet domestic sound felt almost unreal against the silence outside.
Ethan glanced at the Core.
Tomorrow, he planned to give it to Rose Lynn.
Wonder what the system will return this time?
He smiled faintly and closed his hand around it. He had no idea that while he was preparing his next investment, others were already preparing to come for everything he had.
Villa 100 stood at the far end of the first row.
Under the weak glow of an emergency lamp, five men sat around a battered wooden table. Empty liquor bottles and cigarette butts were scattered across its greasy surface. The air smelled of smoke, sweat, and stale alcohol.
Mick Kane took a long drag from his cigarette before crushing it against the table.
"Damn it." His scarred face twisted with irritation. "I don’t know how much that bastard has hidden in Villa 8."
He leaned forward.
"I took some men to Villa 18. The basement was loaded, but everything that could be moved was gone."
The skinny man immediately nodded. "Mick’s right. We searched more than a dozen empty villas around there. Safes, basements, storage rooms. Everything valuable had disappeared. Only that guy from Villa 8 has been moving around."
Mick spat onto the floor. "I knew he was suspicious. Reinforcing an entire villa like that isn’t something an ordinary survivor can do. He must have awakened some serious Ability."
A burly man slammed his fist onto the table. "Then let’s just storm the place and take it!"
Mick shot him a cold look. "Are you an idiot?"
The man fell silent.
"You saw the defenses," Mick continued. "The doors and windows are reinforced, and the walls are covered with spikes. One of our guys tried climbing over yesterday and couldn’t even get a foothold. Charging straight in would get us killed."
The burly man reluctantly sat back down.
The skinny man suddenly leaned toward Mick. "I’ve got an idea. The woman in Villa 7."
"What about her?"
"Our people saw her going into Villa 8 almost every day for food." A slow grin spread across his face. "She might know what’s inside. She might even have a key. Take her quietly and make her lead us inside. No need to fight that Ethan at the gate."
Mick stared at him for a moment. Then he laughed.
"Not bad." He slapped the skinny man’s shoulder. "Once we get those supplies, she’s yours."
The five men leaned closer and continued planning in low voices. They didn’t stop until the darkness outside began to fade.
In the basement of Villa 7, Rose sat on the edge of her bed, holding an old photograph.
A young girl smiled brightly in the picture, two shallow dimples showing on her cheeks. Sofia. Her daughter.
Rose stared at the photograph, her fingers tightening around its edges. Tomorrow, Ethan would take her out alone to search for supplies. The thought made her uneasy.
She had only truly loved one man in her forty years of life. He had betrayed her, stealing money from her company before disappearing. Later, her sister gave birth to Sofia and eventually went overseas to study, leaving Rose to raise the girl herself. Then the Apocalypse came. She never heard from her sister again.
Sofia was all she had left.
"Mom?"
Rose looked up. Sofia was sitting on the other bed, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"You didn’t sleep?"
Rose quickly slipped the photograph beneath her pillow. "It’s nothing. I was just thinking about tomorrow."
"You’re really going out with Ethan?"
"Yes."
Sofia frowned before lying back down. She closed her eyes, pretending to sleep. But her thoughts were racing. She had noticed the way Ethan sometimes looked at her mother. She was eighteen. She wasn’t stupid.
I’m going with them tomorrow. If Ethan tries anything, I’ll protect Mom.
Rose watched her daughter quietly. Sofia had always been beautiful. Even before the Apocalypse, there had never been a shortage of boys trying to get close to her. But beauty meant something different now. It could attract the wrong kind of attention. Rose knew exactly what kind of people were out there.
She took a slow breath. Tomorrow, she would talk to Ethan. If necessary, she would offer herself in exchange for protection. She would do whatever it took to get Sofia safely into Villa 8. But Ethan had to promise one thing.
He couldn’t touch her daughter.
At an abandoned auto shop on the eastern side of Silvermont City, Jack sat on a torn sofa, turning an orange-red Core between his fingers. Small flames occasionally danced across his fingertips, casting flickering light across his face.
A bald young man stood nervously in front of him.
"What did you say?" Jack asked impatiently.
"There’s a fat target in the villa district." The bald man swallowed. "A guy in Villa 8 has a mountain of supplies. Food, water, even a diesel generator."
Jack’s eyes narrowed.
"The defenses are strong," the man quickly added. "That’s why we want to cooperate with you."
"What’s my cut?"
"Thirty percent."
Jack sneered. "Thirty? Do I look like a beggar?"
"Fifty!"
The flames around Jack’s fingers suddenly grew brighter. "Deal."
The bald man quickly nodded. "The night after tomorrow. I’ll bring my men."
"Good."
The bald man hurried out.
Jack’s attention shifted to the corner. Morgana Sykes sat curled against the wall. Her clothes were torn, and bruises covered her face. Her once-bright eyes were now dull and exhausted. She had stolen a Core from Jack and hidden it somewhere. No matter how much he threatened her, she refused to tell him where it was.
Jack clicked his tongue. "Damn it." He waved toward one of his men. "Take her downstairs."
Morgana’s body tensed.
Jack looked at his men. "Don’t kill her." His expression turned cruel. "Whoever gets her to reveal where that Core is can have her."
Morgana lowered her head. She barely had the strength to resist as the men dragged her away.
In downtown Silvermont City, the luxurious villa of Chairman Elon was still lit. A crystal chandelier hung above the living room, its light weaker than it had been before the Apocalypse.
Max Cole stood in front of Chairman Elon with his head lowered. The older man sat comfortably on the sofa in silk pajamas, an expensive ring gleaming on his finger. At the beginning of the Apocalypse, he had awakened Petrification. Anything he touched could be hardened into stone.
"My son is in Century Skyline," Chairman Elon said calmly. "I haven’t heard from him." He took a sip of tea. "Take ten men and find him."
"Yes, Chairman."
"Bring him back." Chairman Elon lowered his cup. "If you can’t find him, don’t bother coming back."
Max’s expression remained respectful. Inside, he sneered.
The old bastard doesn’t want to risk his own life.
His Petrification Ability was still too weak. He needed more Zombie Essence to strengthen it. Five of his former subordinates had already died helping him hunt zombies. That was exactly why he’d attached himself to Chairman Elon. The man had people, weapons, and resources. Max intended to use all of them to become stronger.
"One more thing."
Max stopped at the door.
Chairman Elon looked at him. "Find Bella Rowan while you’re there." His voice carried a faint smile. "She’s supposed to be living in Century Skyline too."
Max’s eyes lit up. Bella Rowan. One of the most famous actresses in the Eagle Kingdom. He had wanted her long before the Apocalypse. Now the world had changed.
"Don’t worry, Chairman." A grin appeared on Max’s face. "I’ll find her."
As he walked out, he passed one of Chairman Elon’s bodyguards dragging a struggling maid toward the basement. Max glanced at them, then smiled.
The Apocalypse hadn’t created monsters.
It had simply removed the chains that had been holding them back.
The night slowly faded into dawn.
In Villa 8, Ethan turned over in his sleep. His hand rested beside the Core. Somewhere in his dream, he heard a strange sound.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Like gears turning in the darkness.
He frowned but didn’t wake.
He didn’t know what the sound meant.
He didn’t know that Kane was targeting Rose.
Jack was preparing to attack his villa.
And Max was on his way to Century Skyline.
Three different threats.
Three different motives.
All moving toward the same place.
Villa 8.
And Ethan was still asleep.