Survival on Time

Ava's hands moved on instinct, adrenaline surging through her veins as the system's glowing interface flickered faster, feeding her information.

[SELECT BLUEPRINT: IMPROVISED ELECTRIC TRAP]

[RESOURCES DETECTED: METAL SCRAP – CABLE – POWER SOURCE…]

[BUILD TIME: 90 SECONDS.]

Ninety seconds? She didn't have ninety seconds.

The creature snarled above her, claws digging into the dirt as it prepared to leap.

"Come on, come on…" Ava whispered through gritted teeth, yanking a rusted pipe free from the rubble. Her hands scrambled for the cable, fingers raw and bleeding. She twisted the wires together, sparks flaring as the system's guidance flashed before her eyes.

[STEP 2: CONNECT POWER SOURCE.]

Ava's fingers found an old battery half-buried in the dirt. She ripped it free, sparks flying as she forced the wires onto the corroded terminals. A faint hum crackled to life.

The creature roared.

It jumped.

Ava lunged forward, slamming the pipe into place just as the beast landed in the pit.

The trap activated.

Electricity surged through the metal, a blinding flash illuminating the pit as the creature howled in agony, its body convulsing violently.

Ava stumbled back, breathless, watching the beast collapse, smoke rising from its twitching form.

Her chest heaved.

She was alive.

For now.

Ava's legs felt like lead as she staggered through the ruined streets, arms cradling the bundle of tools and scrap parts she had scavenged from the pit. Every muscle in her body screamed for rest, but she forced herself forward, teeth clenched tight against the pain.

The creature's smoking body had been left behind, but its snarls still echoed in her head.

She hadn't just survived.

She had won.

The bunker's heavy steel doors loomed ahead, the faint glow of lights barely visible through the narrow slits. Ava swallowed hard, exhaustion dragging at her limbs. She knew what waited on the other side—Vanessa's smirk, Daniel's mockery, Jessica's sweet poison—but she didn't care.

She had made it out. Alone.

Her fingers tightened around the scrap in her arms. Pieces of broken tech, rusted wires, and tools she knew no one else had dared to salvage. Her ticket in.

Ava slammed her fist against the door, the sound echoing through the empty ruins.

For a moment, nothing.

Then the hiss of hydraulics.

The door cracked open, and two soldiers stood waiting, their expressions bored—until they saw her.

One raised an eyebrow. "You're alone?"

Ava nodded, too breathless to answer.

Their eyes flicked to the bundle in her arms, then to the streaks of dried blood on her clothes. Without a word, they stepped aside, letting her pass.

As the door sealed shut behind her, Ava exhaled shakily.

She was back.

And this time, she wasn't useless.

Ava's footsteps echoed down the narrow corridor, each step heavier than the last. She could still feel Vanessa's mocking gaze, Daniel's scoff, Jessica's fake smile burned into her memory, but none of that mattered now.

She had made it back. Alone.

And that changed everything.

A soldier stopped her at the hallway's intersection, holding up a clipboard. "Name?"

"Ava."

His eyes flicked over her bloodstained clothes and the bundle of tools clutched tightly in her arms. "New assignment. You're being moved."

"Moved?" Ava's voice cracked from exhaustion. "Where?"

"New quarters. You've earned it."

Before she could ask more, the soldier jerked his head toward another corridor. "End of the hall. Room 23."

Ava's brows furrowed, confusion mixing with exhaustion, but she didn't question it. She dragged herself forward, each step echoing in the dimly lit hallway. A new room? She didn't dare hope, but... a part of her couldn't stop wondering.

When she reached the door marked 23, her hand hovered over the handle. What if this was another test? Another trap?

But there was no turning back now.

She pushed the door open.

Inside, a single dim light flickered above a cramped but cleaner space than she had ever seen. A patched-up sofa, a rickety table, and in the far corner—two small beds.

A woman with tired eyes and a kind face turned from where she was folding blankets. She froze, eyes widening as she saw Ava.

Two young boys peeked out from behind her, both clutching worn blankets, eyes wide with curiosity and fear.

Ava blinked, surprised.

A family.

The woman's voice was soft but wary. "You must be Ava."

Ava swallowed, suddenly unsure. "Yeah... I guess I'm your new roommate."

The woman studied her for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "I'm Mei. These are my sons, Kai and Jun."

The boys stared silently, and Ava offered a faint, tired smile.

Mei's gaze softened. "Come in. You look like you need rest."

Ava stepped inside, closing the door behind her. For the first time in months, the weight on her shoulders felt just a little lighter.

A room. A bed. A family.

Maybe survival wasn't the only thing worth fighting for after all.

Ava sat on the edge of the worn sofa, her fingers still wrapped tightly around the bundle of scrap she had carried back. The dim light overhead flickered, casting long shadows across the room. She could feel the family's eyes on her—the cautious gaze of Mei, the wide-eyed curiosity of the two boys.

Her heart was still racing from the outside world, from nearly dying, from surviving when no one thought she would.

She needed to know who she was sharing this space with.

Quietly, she let her system hum to life.

[SCANNING...]

A faint glow flickered at the edge of her vision as the system swept over the room.

[SUBJECT: MEI LIU]

Normal. Resourceful. Limited combat skills. High survival instinct. Role: Caregiver.

Ava's eyes flicked to the woman folding blankets with precise, steady hands. Resourceful. Mei didn't seem fragile—she seemed like someone who had kept her family alive through sheer willpower.

The scan shifted to the two boys huddled together near the corner.

[SUBJECT: KAI LIU]

Age: 10. Normal. Quick learner. Observant.

[SUBJECT: JUN LIU]

Age: 8. Normal. Fragile health. Strong emotional bonds.

Ava's breath hitched slightly.

A fragile kid... in a place like this?

She forced herself to keep scanning. There had to be more. Something hidden.

The system flickered again.

[UNKNOWN DATA DETECTED – SUBJECT: MEI LIU]

Encrypted. Access denied.

Ava's brows furrowed.

Encrypted? For a Normal? That didn't make sense.

She blinked, letting the scan fade, but the question lingered.

Mei caught her staring. "Something wrong?"

Ava shook her head quickly. "No, just... tired."

Mei nodded slowly, but there was a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. "Get some rest. You'll need it."

Ava leaned back, but her mind kept racing.

Who are you, Mei?

Ava lay on the thin mattress in the corner of the room, every muscle in her body aching from the night's ordeal. The soft breathing of Mei and the boys filled the silence, a strange comfort in the otherwise unforgiving bunker.

Her eyes stared up at the cracked ceiling, mind spinning.

She had survived tonight. Barely.

But survival wasn't enough anymore.

Her system's faint glow still lingered behind her eyelids every time she blinked, the memory of the scan tugging at her thoughts. Encrypted data. That meant secrets. And secrets in the bunker were dangerous.

Her fingers traced the edge of the worn blanket Mei had given her. Warmth. Shelter. A bed. It was more than she'd had in months.

But none of it would last if she stayed stagnant.

Her system was powerful. It had saved her life once. It could do more—if she let it.

Tomorrow.

She'd go out again tomorrow.

Not as bait. Not as a pawn.

But on her own terms.

Ava closed her eyes, exhaustion finally dragging her under.

Tomorrow, she would find what she needed.

And no one would stop her.