Maisie’s Request

Cole seemed to anticipate the hesitation. He adjusted his glasses and gave a cold, cutting glare. "I'm not going to force anyone. If you don't want to help, that's fine. But don't think you'll get a piece of the supplies we bring back without offering something in return."

"I'll go!"

"Me too!"

Several married men stepped forward, their courage driven by the need to provide for their families. With wives, children, and elderly parents relying on them, they didn't have the luxury of fear.

Two teams were formed, and Cole himself volunteered to lead one. He turned back to the gathered residents. "Everyone else, head back. I'll send an update in the group chat once we return. But for those of you thinking you'll get a free ride, better start thinking about what you can trade."

Nearby, Angela leaned toward her boyfriend, Mick, and whispered, "Mick, we're out of food..."

Mick frowned, clearly annoyed. "Relax. My dad said he's working on sending us something. What do you want me to do? Go out there and get myself killed?"

"No, I didn't mean that—" Angela stammered.

"Then what did you mean, huh?" Mick cut her off with a dark look.

Angela paled, knowing full well what he was implying. She had meant it.

About three hours later, the two scavenging teams returned. The vehicles limped into the garage, their rims sparking against the pavement. They had left with six men and returned with only four.

The waiting families immediately rushed forward, searching for missing husbands and sons. Their cries filled the air.

"Did my husband get caught in the rain?"

"My son… my poor son..."

Cole stepped forward, his voice low and grave. "It wasn't the rain. The world outside has descended into madness. Everyone's fighting over supplies. Your husbands and sons were killed by other people—murdered in cold blood."

The crowd fell silent, exchanging fearful glances. Faces turned pale as the weight of his words sank in. But when they saw the food and water in the vehicles, fear gave way to desperate hunger.

"I need water—give me water!" A gaunt, hollow-eyed man broke from the crowd, sprinting toward the supplies.

Cole didn't hesitate. He grabbed a bloodstained baseball bat and swung it with brutal force. The crack echoed through the garage as the man's jaw shattered, pieces flying through the air.

Cole didn't stop. He raised the bat again, smashing it down onto the man's head with relentless fury until his skull caved in. Blood pooled at his feet as Cole turned to face the crowd, his face smeared with red.

"Anyone else want to try and take what isn't theirs?" he growled.

No one moved. The crowd stood frozen, paralyzed by terror.

"Listen carefully," Cole continued, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "Men who want supplies have to risk their lives outside. Women who want supplies... you'll trade with your bodies."

The stunned silence stretched on as Cole's words sunk in, shattering what little remained of their former moral compass.

But Cole wasn't wrong. These supplies had been earned at the cost of blood and death. In this new world, the rules had changed. Survival wasn't about fairness or kindness anymore. The apocalypse had its own laws.

That night, a soft knock echoed through the apartment. Cassius paused, setting down his half-eaten pizza. He wiped his hands, walking casually to the door, but not without first checking the peephole.

A familiar face stared back at him. His lips curled into a smirk. I was wondering how long you could hold out.

Tonight, Maisie had put some effort into her appearance—dressed in a white summer dress with carefully applied makeup. She almost looked as polished as that flight attendant from the other building.

Cassius unlocked the door, revealing Maisie standing on the threshold. So much for livestreaming. At this point, no one was watching streams anymore. Even if she still had an audience, digital currency was worthless in this world. Rumor had it that another streamer in the building had tried to barter her way into getting supplies. The "non-human treatment" she endured—passed around by several men—had earned her nothing more than a cup of water and a single Oreo.

Now, Maisie was out of options. Guess that's why she's here. She had dressed up, hoping this "loser delivery boy" would spare her some of his stash. She was betting on Cassius having hidden supplies.

As soon as the door opened, Maisie was hit by a tantalizing scent—a smell that had become almost mythical in this hellscape.

Pizza.

Her eyes widened in disbelief as she spotted the steaming pie on Cassius's coffee table. How the hell does he still have pizza?!

"Can I help you?" Cassius asked nonchalantly, twisting open a bottle of mineral water and taking a casual sip.

Maisie's gaze locked on the bottle. Despite her makeup, her lips were cracked and dry. Sure, she had a few scraps of food left at home—being an influencer had its perks—but water? That was another story entirely. Instant noodles meant nothing without water. She was already at her breaking point.

"Hi," Maisie said, swallowing her pride in one painful gulp. "Could you spare me some water?"

Her eyes followed the droplet that slipped from Cassius's lips, her desperation so palpable that she looked ready to dive forward and catch it with her mouth.

Cassius's grin widened. "Hmm… I remember you being much more high and mighty. What happened to all that pride? Come on, call me a loser again."

"N-no! You've got it all wrong! I was blind—I didn't recognize your greatness," Maisie stammered, abandoning every ounce of her dignity. Her initial plan—to seduce him—vanished like smoke. Forget seduction. I'll do anything for one sip of water.

Cassius chuckled, drawing out the moment. He lowered the bottle slightly.

Maisie's eyes tracked the movement like a starving animal. As the water began to trickle onto the floor, instinct took over. She dropped to her knees without a second thought, her tongue darting out to lap at the liquid on the ground.

Cassius slowly retreated further into the apartment, pouring just enough to keep her crawling forward. Maisie followed, desperate and unthinking, licking every drop off the floor.

The door closed softly behind her.

"So 'groveling' isn't just a metaphor after all," Cassius mused, capping the bottle of mineral water. He leaned back on the sofa, watching Maisie with a lazy grin.

Maisie slowly lifted her head, eyes fixated on the bottle in Cassius's hand. Her thirst was overwhelming, burning through any remaining shred of dignity.

"Do you still want more?" Cassius asked, giving the bottle a teasing shake.

"Yes, yes!" Maisie nodded eagerly, crawling closer to him. "I need it!"

"Alright, I'll give you a little more."

Maisie instinctively reached for a cup, but Cassius smirked and poured the water straight onto the floor again. Even so, Maisie obediently got down and licked the water without hesitation.

"Damn, you've polished the floor with your tongue," Cassius chuckled. He tossed a slice of pizza onto the ground. "Here, a reward."

Once upon a time, Maisie wouldn't have touched "junk food" like pizza—too many calories, bad for her image. But now? She tore into it like it was a treasure, wolfing it down without a second thought.

"Sigh… look at you. Filthy. Go take a shower," Cassius said, shaking his head in mock pity.

Maisie blinked in surprise. "You… you have enough water to take a shower?"

"Of course. Make sure you clean yourself properly. Use plenty of body wash," Cassius replied casually.

Maisie didn't waste a second. She bolted into the bathroom and found, to her shock, actual running water. Clean water. She didn't even bother closing the door in her excitement, immediately stripping down and washing herself.

For Cassius, it was a free show. No wonder she was a streamer. A woman with those curves was born to turn heads. He watched for a moment before chuckling quietly to himself.

Eventually, Maisie realized the door was still open. She yelped, slamming it shut. After some time, she reappeared fully dressed, her skin flushed and glowing from the shower.

"Um… I think I should head back now. Thanks for the food and water," Maisie muttered awkwardly, clearly hoping to leave without further incident. She didn't want to stick around longer than necessary, especially since Cassius hadn't made any real moves on her. Compared to the other men in the complex, he was practically harmless. The shower and meal were compensation enough in her mind.

Cassius raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Oh? You think you can eat my food and just walk away?"

Maisie huffed, crossing her arms. "I already gave you a show, didn't I? You saw everything."

Her demeanor shifted back to her usual self—confident, a little smug. Cassius found it amusing and refreshing. He smiled as he reached under the sofa and pulled out a sleek, black handgun.

The sight of the weapon made Maisie freeze, but after a moment, she laughed nervously. "Is that supposed to scare me? "

BANG!

The gunshot rang out like thunder, echoing through the building. Motion-sensor lights throughout the complex flickered to life. Residents jolted awake, fear racing through their veins.

"Who the hell fired a gun?!"

"Was that… a real gun?!"

Maisie stood frozen, her face ashen. Her eyes darted to the shattered decorative vase on the floor. The realization hit her like a truck.