God Abandoned Us

Chapter 5

Eve glanced at Marcus, her mind sharp as she sized up the sly group of survivors before them. The wiry man’s false cheer didn’t fool her; she could see the greed in his eyes. They were all on edge, tension radiating from the mismatched group as they entered the dimly lit room filled with supplies.

“Not bad, huh?” the wiry man said, gesturing to the stash. “We can share if you help us out.”

Eve’s expression remained unreadable, her gaze sweeping the room. She sensed danger, the type that crept in unnoticed until it was too late. Jessica stood beside her, visibly uneasy.

“Do you think we can trust them?” Jessica asked, voice barely above a whisper.

Eve didn’t answer right away. She could feel the weight of the moment. Instead, she studied the room, noting the exits, the layout, the glances exchanged between the other survivors. They were playing a game, and she had no intention of being the pawn.

“Let’s check it out,” she finally said, her tone cool.

Marcus moved in closer to her, his eyes focused. He understood without needing to say a word—caution was paramount. Jessica hesitated, but the sight of supplies drew her in, curiosity winning over fear.

The wiry man stepped closer, his grin widening. “If you’re smart, you’ll want to work with us. It’s dangerous out there.”

Eve’s jaw tightened. She could smell the manipulation in his words. “What do you want?” she asked, her voice low and steady.

The man shrugged, a false nonchalance in his demeanor. “Just a little assurance. You’re not going to run off with our stash, are you?”

Jessica’s expression hardened. “What do you mean by assurance?”

“Loyalty, my dear. We need to know we can count on you.”

Eve’s eyes narrowed. “And what if we decide we can’t trust you?”

The wiry man’s smile faded slightly, his eyes flickering with irritation. “You’re making a mistake. We’re all in this together, right?”

Without warning, Marcus lunged at one of the other survivors, and chaos erupted. Eve moved instinctively, grabbing a nearby pipe and swinging it at the wiry man. The impact sent him reeling back, and the other survivors hesitated, caught off guard.

“Move!” Eve shouted, her heart pounding.

Jessica seized the moment, picking up a metal rod. “Let’s go!”

They fought as a unit, Eve’s strikes precise and ruthless. Marcus took on another attacker, landing blows with efficiency, while Jessica found her rhythm, confidence surging through her. The wiry man scrambled to regain his footing, but Eve didn’t give him the chance.

“Enough!” she snapped, her voice slicing through the chaos. “We’re done playing games.”

The remaining survivors exchanged nervous glances, their bravado evaporating. As they backed away, Eve felt a thrill of power. They had turned the tide, and she relished the victory.

“Get what we can carry,” Eve commanded, her eyes scanning the room for supplies.

Marcus nodded, gathering what he could while Jessica moved to help. The adrenaline coursed through them, heightening their senses as they worked quickly. They couldn’t linger; they needed to disappear before the others regrouped.

Jessica looked up, her expression a mix of exhilaration and disbelief. “We actually fought them off.”

Eve’s lips curved slightly, a hint of satisfaction in her eyes. “And we’ll do it again if we have to. The world’s not going to get easier.”