Chapter 133 You Don’t Understand the Situation


    Bennie’s face was thundercloud-dark. “We gave you the map.”


    Theresa didn’t budge. She rose slowly to her feet, locking eyes with him, her voice sharp and demanding. “Answer the question. Did Hope Camp kill even one zombie? Just one. Any one. Can you name it?”


    Bennie pressed his lips into a thin line, unable to say a word.


    Of course not. They hadn’t killed a single one. Why would they? Killing zombies was messy and dangerous, and Hope Camp didn’t get their hands dirty.


    Theresa let out a cold, humorlessugh. “That’s what I thought. But hey, you remember what you told me yesterday, right? You said if someone else did the work for you, it didn’t count. No contribution, no reward. But me? I’m nicer than you. I’ll give you another shot.”


    She turned to the crowd and raised her voice. “Anyone here want to speak up and say they killed zombies on behalf of Hope Camp? Anyone want to vouch for their contribution? If someone says they stepped in for them, I’ll count it.”


    It was like watching a public execution-but with words.


    Bennie knew it. Everyone watching knew it. She was paying him back, line for line, for what he had said yesterday.


    She really is “generous,” isn’t she?


    Still, he and the people from Hope Camp nced around, hoping, praying for some shred of support.


    But he wasn’t Theresa. No one stepped forward. Not a hand. Not a nod. Nothing.


    Hope Camp had pissed off every camp here.


    Their smug superiority during the mission hadn’t gone unnoticed. And it sure didn’t help that Bennie’s suggestion earlier had halved the smaller camps’ share of food just to pad Theresa’s.


    He was the one who had turned their already tiny 5 percent cut into an even smaller 2.5 percent.


    Now he wanted their sympathy?


    Please.


    No one in their right mind would stick their neck out for Hope Camp, let alone risk pissing off Theresa to do it. It wasn’t like Bennie was from K1 Camp, with all their muscle and merit. Hope Camp didn’t have that kind of pull.


    Theresa grinned. “See that? Even if I wanted to give you credit, no one else does.”


    Bennie’s fists clenched. “But we brought you here.”


    “Tsk, tsk. Let’s get the facts straight,” Theresa said, wagging a finger. “You brought them here. I wasn’t part of


    your crew, remember? You booted me off your team, said I didn’t qualify for the provision split, didn’t even count me as one of your own. And now you want credit for bringing me here? Get real. You really


    think that makes sense?”


    Bennie’s jaw worked, his fists trembling.


    He didn’t say a word. Just started walking toward her. With each stride, a wave of invisible pressure rippled outward-his psychic field expanding fast, tense with hostile energy.


    He was activating his maniption ability. Trying to force her down.


    But before he could get within arm’s reach-shing-a katana shed through the air andnded right at his


    chest.


    Theresa didn’t flinch. She held the de steady, calm as ake in winter.


    Behind Bennie, the others from Hope Camp moved instantly. In one fluid motion, they all drew weapons and aimed at her.


    In a sh, Graham and the others raised their weapons too, cocking them in sync. They didn’t even wait for Lucas to give the word.


    Their guns locked straight on Hope Camp.


    Theresa didn’t even blink. “Anyone who disarms Hope Camp gets 100 pounds of grain.”


    That was all it took.


    The other four camps surged forward like wolves closing in, weapons drawn, eager for the reward. It didn’t take long. The Hope Camp crew was small, and most of them were just scientists or space-based ability users-not exactly a fighting force.


    Within seconds, their guns were stripped away.


    Bennie’s face turned ashen. “Stand down!” he shouted.


    Theresa chuckled, amused. “Oh, Bennie. I keep telling you, you don’t get it. You’re not the one giving orders here. You can’t tell anyone else to stop. You can only stop yourself.”


    “You’re arrogant, Ms. Hall,” Bennie growled through gritted teeth, fists clenched so tight his knuckles were


    white.


    His psychic field snapped shut.


    And the next second-wham-Theresa kicked him square in the chest.


    He flew backward and hit the ground hard, groaning.


    Theresa stepped forward, towering over him. “You say I’m arrogant? No, Bennie. You are. A weak man pretending he has power. You strutted in here thinking Hope Camp’s reputation would carry you. But guess what? A small country shouldn’t act mighty. Weak hands shouldn’t poke the lion. That’s what


    arrogance looks like.”


    She pressed a foot against his chest, smiling down at him with calm ferocity.


    “You listen to me, Bennie. I saved your lives. I did. The food? I’m the one distributing it. You’re not entitled to a d*mn thing. You don’t get to bargain with me. If anything, Hope Camp owes me for saving your skins. You want to know what it means when I say you don’t understand the situation? It means you don’t even see the game you’re trying to y.”


    Bennie looked up at her.


    For the first time in his life, his heart raced.


    He saw it. The raw, unstoppable strength. Not just in her power-but in her soul.


    It had nothing to do with being a man or a woman, young or old. Real strength didn’t care about those things. It came from within.


    And she had it. In spades.


    He… didn’t.


    She was a force of nature. And he? He had no right to be negotiating anything with her.


    She was right. From the beginning, he hadn’t understood the situation. He thought Hope Camp’s reputation would be enough to keep everyone in line. But the smaller camps hated him, and Kl Camp was siding with Theresa.