The sun filtered through the slits of the reinforced windows. I woke up with the same relief as the night before. The security of abundance was the best sleeping pill.
First, the illusion. I couldn't risk Jessy suspecting my inventory. So, before my morning protocol, I used my infinite resources to simulate normalcy.
—Pull 12 bottles of water (cold) into the refrigerator.
—Pull several boxes of canned food and noodles onto the kitchen shelves.
Now, the apartment looked like the well-looted refuge of a smart survivor.
I got up and followed my protocol. I showered with my infinite soap and shampoo, and then got dressed. The only layer of protection I had was my clothes, which reminded me of my skin's vulnerability. A bulletproof vest... that's something they can't buy. I'll have to find it myself.
Then, I went to the kitchen and pulled a bowl of noodles with egg and a cup of instant coffee already prepared from my inventory. The bowl of noodles was lightly steaming, and the coffee was perfectly hot, just like when I stored it. Apparently, my inventory not only stopped deterioration but also froze the time and temperature of items.
My first task of the morning was the final physical security. I took a thick piece of metal from my inventory (courtesy of a stored supermarket shelf from Day 1) and my hammer. With minimal noise, I managed to completely seal the peephole gap with a sliding cover. Now my door was a solid block, with no weak points. The fortress was sealed.
I checked the map on my cell phone. Shit. It only had 15% battery left, even though I had been turning it off at night. I had been so focused on food and fortification that I forgot the most basic detail of remote communication. If the phone died, my trade network with Irene and contact with Jessy would be ruined. It wouldn't last long, even with the power saving.
Just as I was putting the phone away, it vibrated. It was 11:30 a.m.. It was Irene.
"Mr. Olsen. My men have good news for you. They found a Sealed Specialized Medical Kit, a box of rechargeable AA/AAA batteries, and a package of universal chargers with multiple inputs (USB-C, micro-USB). The cost was six noodles, five waters, and two chocolates, as medicines are highly coveted. The carrier, Lucas, is on his way now. He will call you soon."
Universal chargers. I mentally slapped my forehead. Irene and her team had thought of the detail I had overlooked. This gave me some breathing room!
A Specialized Medical Kit, batteries, and chargers. This was excellent. My first aid kits were limited; the Medical Kit meant infinite healing. The batteries and chargers were crucial for maintaining my link to the outside world. The surge of power was overwhelming. The trade system was an unstoppable resource engine.
Minutes later, Lucas called. I executed the transaction with the precision of the previous day: I opened the door just enough, he left the bag, I left the payment. Lucas grabbed the items with the same mixture of speed and respect.
I slammed the door shut, and I felt the adrenaline. I approached the bag. I opened the sealed medical kit, the rechargeable batteries, and the charger pack. Logical resources, vital resources.
—Store Sealed Specialized Medical Kit. —BEEP.
—Store Box of Rechargeable Batteries. —BEEP.
—Store Universal Chargers (Multi-Input). —BEEP.
The Hardware Store with generators was only six blocks away. It was almost 1:00 p.m.. I had the afternoon to get the job done. The base was almost perfect, only lacking the generator and real protection.
I put on my backpack, grabbed my steel bat, and took the extra can of gasoline. The mission could not wait any longer.
I unlocked my door, making sure every CLANG was an oath that I would return. I left my fortress, locked the building's exterior door, and headed towards the Hardware Store.
The street was surprisingly quiet. The afternoon sun cast long shadows. I moved fast, sticking to the walls, alert for any growl. The infected were slow. My speed and stealth were my best defense.
I reached the Hardware Store. The large windows were broken, and the metal door had been forced. A looting. I stuck to the wall next to the shattered frame, the bat ready.
The smell was intense: an acrid mix of metal, dust, and something sweet, metallic. Blood. I crawled through the gap in the doorway.
The interior was devastated. Overturned shelves, tools on the floor. What stopped me was the body. Near the cash register, a man lay face down, his neck shattered. Not an infected. It was the bloated corpse of a looter who hadn't been lucky. A visual reminder of the price of ambition.
I ignored the body and moved cautiously, scanning the place. People had taken knives, portable power tools, and boxes of nails. No one wanted to carry the heavy stuff.
I headed to the supply area.
First, I found an Emergency Fire Extinguisher near an empty wall mount. It was an improvised weapon and a safety tool.
—Store Emergency Fire Extinguisher. —BEEP.
Then, I saw a pile of long, hollow Steel Pipes, ideal for reinforcement or making weapons.
—Store Steel Pipes. —BEEP.
I moved to the back. In the construction section, I found what I was looking for. Dozens of Bags of Cement and rolls of Wire of Different Thicknesses. The looters didn't even bother.
—Store Bag of Cement. —BEEP.
—Store Roll of Wire (Different Thicknesses). —BEEP.
My inventory filled with infinite fortification resources.
Finally, I checked a box of electrical products. I found a Tactical LED Flashlight with batteries. Useful and bright.
—Store Tactical LED Flashlight. —BEEP.
I headed to the heavy machinery area. Bingo! There were two Portable Generators under a pile of fallen cement bags. They were small, about 2000 watts, but perfect for an apartment.
They were heavy. Not infinite.
—Store Portable Generator (2000W). —BEEP.
The second generator disappeared, and the feeling of achievement was the most intense yet. My base now had infinite power.
I stopped for a moment to breathe, the bat gripped. I hadn't made any noise; the bags had muffled everything. I realized that a generator without an extension cord wasn't much use. I quickly checked the electrical products box one more time. Perfect! There was a robust Industrial Extension Cord, right under the spotlights.
—Store Industrial Extension Cord. —BEEP.
I looked at my cell phone. 2:15 p.m. There was not a single message from Link. Good. I still had time before nightfall to return and install everything.
I left the hardware store through the same gap, moving with the satisfaction of a king returning to his kingdom.
When I reached my building door, I unlocked the deadbolt. I went up the stairs. My mission was complete.
Immediately, I pulled the new items from my inventory. The Portable Generator and the Extension Cord appeared on the floor.
First, the quick installation. I had to force the kitchen window open, prying out the ventilation grating, to safely run the exhaust pipe outside. With the cement I now had, I could seal the gaps later.
3:45 p.m. I finished running the cable and starting the generator. The noise was almost inaudible thanks to the location on the small balcony. The light came on in the apartment. The air conditioning worked. My fortress was livable.
4:30 p.m. I sat on my bed, going over the final security details. The light in the apartment was a promise of safety.
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Suddenly, my cell phone vibrated. It was Jessy.
"I'm at the building door. Please open. I'm alone."
I looked at the time. 5:00 p.m. The sun was beginning its final descent, and she had arrived just in time.
I got up from the bed, my posture straight and my face expressionless.
Before going down, the final social preparation. I went to the kitchen, and from my inventory, I pulled out the same pot of noodles with egg, still steaming from the temperature preservation, and left it on the countertop. The aroma was the best bait.
I went down the stairs with the steel bat in hand.
When I unlocked the building's main door, I pushed it open just a few centimeters, enough to see and be seen.
There was Jessy. She was shorter than I remembered from the photos, with cinnamon-colored skin, short, damp brown hair clinging to her forehead. She was haggard and dirty, with large dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep, but still, her figure was unmistakable and much to my liking. She wore a dark sports top and fabric pants that, despite being dirty, accentuated the curve of her hips. Her sneakers were worn out and covered in dry mud. A normal girl in her twenties, but one who fit my tastes perfectly; that was the reason I had dared to contact her.
She looked both relieved and terrified to see me.
—Dan, please... —she whispered, her voice broken by fear.
—Alone? —I said, my voice low and firm, purely business. The bat hung casually at my side, but my eyes inspected her.
—Yes, completely alone. I swear —she said, taking a step forward.
—Stop.
I made her take a step back. It wasn't personal, it was protocol. I made sure to check the alley, the other side of the street, the rooftops. No one had followed her. It was crucial that this was not a trap.
—Give me the backpack. And turn around. Slowly.
She didn't hesitate. She took off the torn backpack and turned around. With the tip of the bat, I swept over her body, brushing against her thighs, stopping at her hips, and moving up her back, searching for hidden weapons. She remained still, without a single gesture of resistance or discomfort, her gaze lost and submissive. She had nothing. She was unarmed and completely vulnerable.
—Get in. And lock the main door with the deadbolt. Throw it hard.
Once inside and the door secured, I led her directly to my apartment.
Upon entering my apartment, the electric light from the generator and the cool air hit her. She blinked. It was a luxury she hadn't seen in weeks.
And then the smell. The rich, greasy aroma of the egg noodles filled the room. Jessy stopped dead, her eyes widened, and her stomach emitted an audible growl.
—Sit down —I instructed, pointing to a kitchen chair, remaining standing with the bat still in my hand.
She collapsed into the seat. Tears began to well up in her eyes.
—I've been living in an abandoned basement, Dan. I only have dirty water...
—I know what you've been living through, Jessy. I didn't invite you out of pity. I invited you because I always liked you and because I'm looking for a partner. One who understands the new reality.
I leaned towards her, resting my hands on the bat.
—We are no longer just kids. I give you security, and I give you this food. Everything I just demonstrated by just opening a door and turning on a light is the result of my effort and my risk out there. None of this comes easy, Jessy. Life has a price and I am willing to pay it for the resources that will keep you safe. In exchange, you give me something much more valuable: total obedience.
She nodded quickly, without hesitation, but I wasn't satisfied.
—Do you understand? It's absolute obedience. In everything. What I say, is done. No questions asked. I am your provider now, and my life is on the line in every search.
Jessy swallowed, her eyes fixed on the steaming pot behind me.
—Yes, Dan. I understand and I am willing to obey.
I straightened up. It was the confirmation I needed. I went to the countertop, took a large bowl, and served her a generous portion of egg noodles. I returned and placed it on the table.
—Eat.
Jessy grabbed the spoon with trembling hands and brought the first portion to her mouth. She chewed it with a slowness that revealed desperate gratitude. Tears fell onto the bowl as she ate; it was the first decent meal she had had throughout the apocalypse.
While Jessy ate, I continued to stand. When she finished, she sighed and wiped the remaining tears with the back of her hand.
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—Now, go take a bath —I instructed, pointing to the bathroom door—. You'll find a pot of hot water on the floor. Use it to wash your body. The shower is not safe to use.
Jessy looked at me, confused and cautious.
—Water? Hot? But where did the...?
—Obey —I cut her off, my tone allowing no argument—. It's my water. It's not from this building, and it's not contaminated. You won't get sick.
She blinked at the demonstration of resources (the hot water, which seemed impossible) and at the firmness of the command. She nodded, picked up her dirty clothes, and obediently entered the bathroom.
As the sound of running water filled the silence, I slumped onto the sofa. It was time to plan. I opened the cell phone (now charging with one of Irene's chargers) and checked my maps.
The bat is great. But for groups, or if I miss the first hit, I need something faster and more lethal. The strict gun control meant that police stations and military bases would be the only places with real firearms. I looked for the nearest police station. It was about eight blocks away—not close—and it would be a spot with the highest concentration of infected and/or strong looters. I marked it as a high-risk objective.
My attention was caught by a new message from Irene.
"Mr. Olsen. We have good news. You won't believe it, but my guys found frozen chicken in a supermarket in the industrial zone. It's in perfect condition, frozen at the time of the collapse. It's very valuable."
My heart leaped. Chicken! Fresh meat was the ultimate luxury item, something even my inventory couldn't create from noodles. I responded immediately, breaking my own rule of calm: "Bring it tomorrow, in the morning. Everything you can get. I'll give you double the usual for the protein."
I put the phone away. The chicken was motivation, further proof that my trade system worked and gave me access to things no one else had.
The bathroom door opened. Jessy came out.
—Did you bring other clothes? —I asked.
She shook her head, blushing under the towel that barely covered her.
I got up, went to the next room, and quickly checked the closets. I found a large pajama shirt and a pair of women's sweatpants from a previous tenant. I pulled a pair of new socks from my inventory.
—Get dressed in this.
She changed quickly, the large, soft pajamas contrasting with her cinnamon skin. She looked like a normal girl for the first time.
—Good, Jessy. It's late. And as we've established, I give you security, food, and a place to sleep. Now it's time for you to begin your service.
The tension in her shoulders was palpable. Her eyes fixed on my face, submission mixed with palpable fear, but she asked no questions. She just nodded slightly.
I set the bat aside and gently took her arm, leading her toward the bedroom.
Jessy sat on the edge of the bed, watching my figure. I approached her, the domination a torrent I had been suppressing since I first saw her. I had dreamed of this exact moment: an attractive woman, under my complete control. I always wanted to try her, and I imagined what it would be like. There she was, obeying anything.
I leaned over her, my hands sweeping over her torso, gently stroking her warm skin beneath the pajama fabric. She didn't move, only allowed the contact. My mouth found hers, a kiss that was more possession than affection. I forced her to lie back, my weight on her, feeling the curve of her hips that I liked so much. She had no choice but to obey.
It will be a very long night for her.