Chapter 43 You’ve Got to Pay for It


    Having enlisted at the age of sixteen, he had spent a significant amount of time in the military. His outstanding performance eventually earned him a ce in Lucas’ special forces team.


    Although he was personallypetent, he was too young and inexperienced-he had never dealt with a woman as merciless as Theresa. Otherwise, he wouldn’t havee so close to breaking down in anger.


    “If you’re not eating, then what are you doing here?” she demanded.


    “We’re just enjoying the smell! Is that not okay?”


    “Of course not!” Theresa answeredzily. “That smell is from my food. Who gave you the right to sniff it?”


    Her words rendered himpletely speechless.


    “You know, when barbecue is grilling, it releases oil vapor, right? That vapor carries energy and is part of my food. If you’re sniffing it, you’re basically taking it from me! So, what’s your excuse?”


    “We’re leaving, alright?” he muttered.


    “It’s toote now! You’ve got to pay for it!”


    B


    Graham stared at her in disbelief. She was more heartless than Scrooge-no, even Scrooge would’ve been ashamed of her pettiness. He felt the tears threatening to spill once more.


    How are we going to pay her?


    Kyle rose to his feet. “Theresa, I’m the one at fault. If someone has to be punished, let it be me.”


    “Sit down and be quiet!” Theresa snapped, turning back to the others. “Look, I’m not being unreasonable. You’re all trained soldiers-more rational than me, aren’t you? So, tell me, what’s the solution here?”


    The group fell silent, each person unsure of what to say.


    “Worst case, we’ll give you trays of food to make it up to you,” Sebastian, the eldest of the group, suggested.


    “Yeah! We’ll make it up to you!”


    “Really? How are you nning to pull that off?”


    “We’ll go out and get the exact same ingredients! I promise we’ll rece everything you lost!”


    “Ha! You really think you can find food that’s exactly the same? Fine, I want it now-give it back to me!”


    “This is totally unreasonable!”


    “Yeah, you’re just picking on us!”


    “Now you’re trying to act innocent, huh? A bunch of guys stealing my stuff and still arguing over it? You’re bullying me, aren’t you?”


    The men were silent, unable to find a response. After exchanging looks, Sebastian spoke up. “Theresa, how about this-tell us how to make things right, and we’ll do whatever you ask.”


    In full control of the moment, Theresa leaned back in front of her grill. “It’s simple. You stole from me, so now you’ll work for me to make it right. I’ll be generous and ept you all as my workers.”


    “Ah, so that’s your game-you want us to work for you!” Graham caught on quickly. “Well, let me tell you right now-no way that’s happening!”


    “Yeah! We’re going back to our unit!”


    “Theresa, we really have to leave.”


    “Well, it’s up to you. If you won’t agree to my terms, then find a way to make it right. If you can’t, just sit here and wait for the end!”


    Without wasting another moment, she turned and walked away.


    As soon as she left, the group fell into a frenzy.


    “Seriously? I’ve never met anyone like her! We actually have to make up for this?”


    “This is the apocalypse-food is precious. We’re nobody to her. Why would she share any with us?”


    “We haven’t even eaten her barbecue!”


    ‘Let’s not forget, you ate her ribs and used her medicine,” Kyle reminded them softly.


    He turned his gaze back to where Theresa had left, his eyes filled with contemtion. It was obvious-she was aware of everything he did.


    But she never called him out or med him. That proved she wasn’t truly petty. If she were, she wouldn’t have tolerated him this many times.


    This was all kindness-kindness she gave to them through him, though they hadn’t noticed it yet.


    ‘Theresa’s actually a good person. You’vepletely misjudged her.”


    “Kyle, stop defending her!”


    “We can’t stay with her, no matter what. If you want to, that’s up to you-but once Lucas wakes up, we’re leaving.”


    “My mom’s at K1 Camp. I need to go back.”


    “Same here. No matter what, I’m heading back.”


    Inside the camp, Theresa stood before the monitor, watching what was happening outside. She brought the headset to her mouth and spoke into the speaker outside.


    “I’m not interested in what you want or think. If you’re staying, you’re working! All of you are on night


    watch tonight, got it? If you don’t want to-leave!”


    Everyone outside went quiet at that instant.


    After issuing her orders, Theresa headed back to her bed. Take it slow–no need to rush. But one thing’s for sure: if you eat my food, you’ll have to work for me.


    On her way to her bed downstairs, she saw Lucas still lying motionless on the floor. With the Emergency Pill and pain relief gel administered, she was reassured that his life was no longer in danger.