Chapter 40 Theresa’s Standard


    “What kind of medicine did that devil woman give us? It feels amazing.”


    “You’re still calling her a devil woman?” Kyle yanked the bandage tight around Dave’s arm.


    “Ah!” Dave winced and immediately fell in line. “Okay, okay, my bad! I meant-Theresa!”


    Kyle loosened the wrap slightly and finished dressing the wound. He nced at the bit of medicine left and called out to the others. “There’s still some left. You guys should use it too.”


    He carefully applied the remaining medicine to the most serious injuries on each of them.


    As soon as it touched their skin, their eyes lit up.


    Sebastian let out a whistle. “D*mn, this feels amazing!”


    Malcolm’s face lit up. “The pain’s practically gone!”


    Victor nodded, clearly impressed. “I’ve never tried anything that worked this well.”


    Graham nced back at the bunker and muttered, “Theresa might be a pain, but she’s got quality gear.”


    Graham!” Kyle’s expression turned icy in an instant.


    It’s true!” Graham protested. He was the young soldier, almost driven to tears by Theresa earlier. “All of us egged her, and she still refused to help. If that’s not cold-blooded, I don’t know what is.”


    Theresa saved Lucas; she let it slide when I used her medicine on you all.”


    Hmph. That’s because you traded yourself for it.”


    No. I volunteered to follow her,” Kyle said seriously, making sure they all heard it loud and clear.


    heresa stood by the bunker door, the corner of her mouth curling up-Kyle was still the same.


    Kyle! Don’t say things like that!”


    I thought you said she’s not that bad anymore? Once she recovers, we’ll slip away together!”


    Yeah! If we sneak off, she won’t even notice.”


    And even if she does–so what? There are so many of us. We’re not gonna be scared of some girl.”


    Exactly! We’re not afraid of her!”


    Theresa walked out holding a massive pot of food. “You’re not afraid of who, now?”


    The


    group


    that had just been plotting with fiery enthusiasmi instantly scattered their gazes. Some stared at he sky, while some studied the dirt. Not a single one dared to look her in the eye.


    173


    Theresa swept a nce over the lot of them, these loudmouths who were all talking. “Kyle, food’s ready, help yourself.”


    As soon as she called out, Kyle rose and made his way over without question.


    The other four lunged to stop him, but none dared speak in front of Theresa, left only to sigh in unison as they watched Kyle walk up to her.


    Sigh… Their dearrade. Their brave brother in arms… had given up too much. Kyle, your sacrifice won’t be forgotten.


    Just then, the savory aroma of pork ribs drifted over.


    Theresa removed the lid from her pot, revealing a heaping pile of braised ribs.


    The ribs were seared to lock in the vor, then slow-cooked until fall-off-the-bone tender, their caramelized ze glinting a rich golden-red. The scent alone could make a starving man weep. Each bite was melt-in-your-mouth tender, bursting with rich, savory vor that practically demanded a side of pasta to soak it all up.


    On top of the ribs, she’d fried five eggs andid out a full serving of stir-fried greens. The crispy, fragrant eggs and the vibrant green veggies made the whole meal look like something straight out of a dream.


    And for these soldiers, who hadn’t had a proper hot meal in days?


    Holy sh*t, that’s what they’re eating?


    Kyle froze when he saw the mountain of ribs-and the two full bowls of pasta with rich sauce still steaming n the pressure cookers beside them.


    He waspletely overwhelmed.


    Theresa… you didn’t have to go this far. I could’ve just eaten whatever you normally eat.”


    He knew how scarce supplies these days were. Forget ribs-there were people out there who couldn’t even get a full bowl of pasta with rich sauce.


    This meal? It was a wee feast and way too over the top.


    Theresa grabbed a pressure cooker and sat down under the grapevine canopy. “This is what I normally


    eat.”


    Kyle was amazed. “Wow!”


    The others behind himmented, “Whoa!”


    She dered firmly, “From now on, whatever I eat, you eat. As long as you’re with me, this is the standard you’ll live by.”


    The five men behind him stared wide-eyed.


    No way. This was the standard? This was the apocalypse! Back at the base, they’d be lucky to get any meat


    at all.


    But Theresa was offering Kyle meals like this every day? This didn’t fit the tragic, suffering, near-ve image they’d imagined for him. Following Theresa… maybe it wasn’t such a bad deal after all.