His jaw tightened. He hugged the packet to his chest. "No. I can't sell it."
The people shouted again, but he forced himself to push past them, ignoring their cries. He hurried down the narrow paths until he reached the small house where his wife was waiting.
He quickly stepped inside and shut the door, locking it.
His wife, a thin woman with tired eyes, looked up in surprise. "Marco? What is it?"
Marco lowered his voice, his expression serious. "I need to tell you sothing important."
Her brow furrowed. "What could it be?"
Marco leaned closer and whispered, "We should leave this place. I found another base."
Her eyes widened. She stared at him as if he had gone crazy. "Leave the military base? Do you know what you are saying?"
Marco nodded quickly. "I know. But listen first. That place… it is safe. They are selling permanent residency for ten gold bars. Once we buy it, we can live there forever. And the base is completely protected."
His wife crossed her arms, frowning deeply. "Protected? By what? Soldiers? Superhumans?"
Marco shook his head firmly.
"No. That is the strange thing. When I was leaving, I looked around carefully. The number of zombies outside was so low I could count them on one hand. And even when the base gates were wide open, no zombies dared to enter. I stood there, and I could feel it… a strange pressure, like an invisible wall. It was as if the zombies were afraid of that place."
His wife's lips parted slightly. She stayed quiet for a long mont. Finally, she said,
"That is… unusual. If what you say is true, then that base is not normal. There must be sothing behind it. So kind of mysterious power. Otherwise, how could zombies just avoid it?"
Marco leaned forward eagerly.
"Exactly. That is what I thought. It might have sothing like a repellent potion spread through the air, or maybe so kind of magnetic waves that push zombies away. Whatever it is, the result is clear. It's safe. Safer than here."
His wife looked down at her hands, biting her lip. Her thoughts were heavy. 'The military gives us food now, but for how long?
Already, the strong take more, while the weak like us are ignored. Superhumans can gather crystals fast, but we can't. Sooner or later, we will be thrown out.'
She sighed. "Marco… I don't like this. But maybe you are right. If that place really is safe, maybe we should take the chance."
Marco's chest tightened with relief. He reached for her hand and squeezed it. "Trust . This could be our only hope."
Her eyes t his, and though worry remained, there was also a spark of sothing new. A tiny spark of hope.
..............
A loud voice rang across the crowded housing area of the military base.
"If you dare to leave here, Annie, I will make sure you sleep with others for food! Or I'll sell you to so crippled old man just to get a month's ration!"
People nearby turned their heads in surprise, but no one stepped in. Everyone had their own troubles.
Annie Bell, the tall and muscular girl who had earlier collided with Ivy, froze. Slowly, she turned her head and looked at the woman who shouted. Her mother.
Her gaze was distant, almost cold. She had always known her mother was selfish. She had always known her mother was cruel. But to hear these words, to see this level of wickedness, made her chest tighten.
'I knew she was bad, but this… this is worse than I ever thought.'
But Annie didn't dare show anger. If she did, her mother would only make things worse. So she forced her face to stay calm. "I won't leave without you," Annie said flatly. Then she turned to walk away.
But her mother wasn't done. Her thick hand shot out and grabbed Annie's arm. "Wait. You forgot sothing."
Annie frowned, already irritated. "What?"
Her mother's lips twisted into a smirk. "You still haven't given today's food."
Annie's frown deepened. "I already gave you five hundred grams of rice. If I'm not wrong, that is enough for at least a day."
Her mother, a woman just as tall but rounder, her muscles hidden under layers of fat, glared back. Her an eyes burned with greed.
"Don't lie to . I know what you're doing. You're trying to save a secret stash. You want to run away one day. But I won't let it happen. If you don't give more food, I'll starve your little brother."
Annie's fists clenched at her sides. Her teeth ground together. Her eyes flashed with murder.
'How is this woman my mother? How could soone like her give birth to ?'
But she forced her voice to stay steady, patient. "Mother, I want to give you more food. But for that, I have to hunt. If I don't leave, I can't bring anything back."
Her mother narrowed her eyes, studying her. "So you really don't have any hidden stash?"
Annie shook her head. "No."
Her mother finally let go of her arm. She leaned back lazily, looking at her nails. "Fine. You can leave then."
Annie breathed out slowly, relief loosening her chest. She turned and started toward the door.
But just as she reached it, her mother spoke again. "Your little brother hasn't eaten yet. Don't expect to feed him. If you want him to eat, make arrangents yourself."
Annie stopped. Her back stiffened. She turned her head slightly, her voice sharp. "I already gave you five hundred grams of rice, and even pickles. How is it possible you didn't give him a single bite?"
Her mother looked at her calmly, her tone careless. "I ate it. It's gone. Nothing left for him."
Annie's fists trembled. Her nails dug into her palms. Hatred filled her chest, hot and heavy. But she didn't say more. She turned back around and walked away quickly, before her rage spilled over.
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