Chapter 292 The Taste of Reality
Eva clenched the peach juice bottle until the stic creaked in her hand.
The first day of the outbreak still burned clearly in her memory. Malik didn’t hesitate. He’d thrown himself straight into the chaos outside, dodging infected just to reach Ridgefall Mall and find her. They found themselves sealed inside together while the world copsed around them.
That <b>was </b>the day <b>she </b>stopped being the old Eva
The
apocalypse didn’t give her a choice. She was lucky–ridiculously lucky–to awaken a water–based ability. Malik got <b>fire</b>. Between her knack for pulling people together and his sheer force in a fight, they turned a crumbling mall into a camp. They fought side by side, patching leaks in the walls and holding back the dead. Somehow, they survived.
No, scratch that. She survived because Malik was <b>there</b>..
Sure, they shed all the time. He was stubborn. She was worse. Still, he backed off every time, even when it was his own brother.
Mario caused enough problems to sink the whole camp, but Malik never took care of it himself. He kept sending Bob instead–a quiet gesture that said he was on her side, even if he didn’t want to be pushed into choosing.
The truth was<b>, </b>every single time, he still chose her.
Eva knew the truth. Without him, Ridgefall Camp wouldn’t havested this long. Even with her powers. she’d never have been able to <b>hold </b>it <b>all </b>together alone.
“Malik’s been there from the start,” Eva admitted. “He’s second only to me.”
Theresa gave a faint nod, like it all made sense now.
With Malik backing her camp, it’s no wonder Eva couldn’t keep him on a leash.
He isn’t just some grunt–he’s the kind of guy who could run a camp <i>by </i>himself if he wanted.
Hell, most men wouldn’t even try to rein in someone like that. No surprise <i>he </i>had the nerve to go toe–to–<b>toe </b>with her earlier.
<b>Eva </b>exhaled through her nose, then forced a thin smile. “Alright. Your turn. Tell me what this zing Sun Alliance really is.”
Theresa didn’t even blink. “Fifty–seven camps from Ansford, Branford, and Crestmont. I lead the whole <b>thing</b>.”
Eva nearly fumbled her drink, staring at Theresa with wide eyes.
Fifty–seven? Seriously? No way. Does she actually im that every camp in the Eastern region falls under <i>her </i>banner? That’s insane,
Theresa tilted her head, smirking. “You don’t have a radio station up there, do <b>you</b><b>?</b>”
15:09 Sat 18 <b>Aug </b>
Chapter 292 The Taste of Reality
Eva gave a slight nad sideways. “No power,”
Theresa didn’t miss a beat. “We’re clearing the infected out of all three cities. If you want in, Til fold your camp under the alliance.”
Every new camp was another wall against the infected. Theresa already had her hands full, bun if she <b>could </b>pull them in <b>one </b>at a time, she would. Every piece mattered.
Eva went <b>quict</b>.
Before she could respond, a voice cut in. “Theresal Dinner’s ready! You corning or what?”
Graham was standing over a massive pot, lifting the lid. Stearn rushed out in a cloud that smelled like heaven.
<b>Eva </b>turned her head and froze.
There it was: <b>white </b>rice, fresh vegetables, eggs<b>, </b><b>and </b>even meat.
Her stomach gave a <b>small</b>, traitorous twist.
Grahamdled out a bowl for Theresa, then another.
As Eva stepped closer, the scent of white rice hit her like a wave. Then she <b>saw </b>it–bright, fresh greens, not the wilted scraps she was used to.
A year and a half, she thought. <i>I </i>haven’t seen food this fresh in a year and a half. How in the world do they even have
this?
“How the hell do you still have this stuff?” she blurted out.
Theresa didn’t even flinch. “We grow it.”
<b>Graham </b>grinned. “Yeah! Theresa grows it all. Fresh every single day.”
Theresa held the bowl out toward her. “Go on. Have <b>some</b>.”
Eva stared at it as if <b>it </b>were a mirage.
Back at Ridgefall Camp, they’d tried over and over to grow vegetables on the <b>mall’s </b>rooftop, but nothing ever took root. The drought never let up, and there was no water to waste. Every bit of her ability went into keeping people <b>alive</b>, not growing food.
Yet here Theresa was, casually holding <b>out </b>a bowl of rice, fresh greens, <b>and </b>meat.
<b>She </b>reflected, Just how strong are these people!
“No,” Eva declined, her voice softer than she expected. “I <b>should </b>go back upstairs
She wasn’t about to eat. Not <b>until </b>she figured out what the hell she was supposed to o next.
Theresa didn’t press. She just nodded once.
Once Eva left, Theresa quietly told <b>Graham </b>and the others to bring 100 pounds of rice and 10 boxes of
C
Chapter 292 The Taste of Reality.
instant noodles following dinner.
<b>63</b>%
<b>Upstairs</b>, Eva sat by the railing, lost in thought.
Down below, Theresa’s peopleughed and passed bowls around as if it were a feast.
Her own camp <b>stayed </b>quiet.
Supplies were so tight they’d cut <b>down </b>to one proper meal a day, then scraps at night. Now the smell of white rice and cooked meat wafted through the mall, making it impossible to ignore.
A group of Ridgefall survivors leaned over, eyes wide.
One voice called out with barely contained excitement. “They’ve got white rice!”
Another followed, “I can smell meat!”
Then, someone gasped, “Wait… are those vegetables? That’s cabbage! Real cabbage!”