Ch 13: Good Bye to a sad end- Part 4

Selene's mind was sharp with purpose.

The inventory system had changed everything.

It had turned an already solid escape plan into an unstoppable one and now she was confident she could make it through the initial stages of the Apocalypse.

And the first step to executing it?

Money.

Money would soon become worthless once new resources took over. People would fight over food, clean water, medicine, and weapons. Currency would collapse, and the world would shift into a brutal game of survival until a new source to stabilize the world was found.

But right now, money still had power and it would continue to have it for the first few weeks of the apocalypse.

And she had access to it.

Her family had more wealth than they could ever need. And while she had been a mere afterthought in the grand scheme of things, she had one advantage:

There was a security fund in her name.

It had never been meant for her to use freely. In her past life, she had never dared to touch it. She had been too timid to handle money on her own because she was afraid of her parents.

But this time?

She would take what was hers. If the money was going to lose its value, then it needed to be used asap.

Selene moved swiftly, making a mental list of priorities.

She needed to gather resources that would soon become impossible to find. The most important things were:

Secure land. A place where she could build a base and remain hidden.

Rations. Long-lasting food, water purifiers, and medical supplies.

Technology. A high-tech computer and surveillance drones. Information was just as valuable as weapons.

It might not seem like much, especially the last part. But one's system and awakened powers were not always beneficial. 

Since Selene still had no idea what she could do, replying to tech to keep an outlook would become a powerful tool.

Especially on the off-chance that her family decided to go after her.

Everything she needed was expensive—but she had the means to get it right now.

Selene inhaled deeply and stepped toward the door. She needed to get to the bank. 

Noah had once bragged to her how he managed to get a portion of money from his bank just

She reached for the handle, but just as she pulled the door open—

She froze.

Two figures stood in the hallway, staring at her.

Noah and Nora.

Her breath caught in her throat.

They looked so young and innocent in her eyes that it felt hard for her to be able to speak anything at first.

Noah's sharp red eyes were not yet cold. His features were still soft, uncertain.

Nora, always the smarter of the two, tilted her head, studying her curiously. She wasn't suspicious yet, but Selene knew that wouldn't last long.

For a moment, a strange nostalgia wrapped around Selene's heart, squeezing tight.

Fourteen-year-old Noah and Nora.

This was before everything had changed.

Before the weight of expectations had twisted their love into something cruel.

Before she had become nothing more than a stain on their perfect existence.

And yet, even knowing what was to come, Selene felt a pang of guilt.

These were still the siblings who once cared for her.

She could see it in their eyes.

Noah shifted, his gaze flickering with hesitation before he finally spoke.

"Where are you going?"

His voice lacked its usual sharp edge.

It wasn't demanding. It wasn't commanding.

It was the voice of a boy who still wanted to understand her.

Selene gritted her teeth, steadying her heart.

This was the most dangerous part.

If she let herself hesitate, if she let herself soften, she might start making excuses.

She might start thinking she owed them something.

But she didn't.

Not anymore.

Selene tightened her grip on the doorknob, her knuckles turning white.

She couldn't afford to be sentimental.

She had already decided.

She would leave.

She would be free.

And that meant not getting swayed by the past.

So she did the only thing she could.

She said nothing.

Noah's eyebrows furrowed. She saw the way he struggled—how he wanted to be mean, to push her away.

But at this age, he still hadn't fully learned how.

A part of him still wanted her to care.

For a split second, Selene felt something tighten in her chest.

What would have happened if she had left back then?

Would things have been different? Would Noah and Nora have grown up to be people who didn't resent her?

Would she have ever felt free?

The answer didn't matter.

Because this time, she would not hesitate.

This time, she would not let them drag her back.

She could already see the future.

Noah would grow into the family's perfect son, ruthless and strong.

Nora would become their pride, brilliant and cunning.

And Selene—Selene had never fit.

She was a crack in their perfect reflection.

And no matter how hard she had tried to love them, she had never been enough.

So what was the point of staying?

Selene's grip on the doorknob tightened before she finally let it go.

Instead of answering, she walked past them.

She felt Noah stiffen beside her, as if he wanted to say something. But he didn't.

Nora, however, was different.

She grabbed Selene's sleeve, stopping her.

Selene turned, meeting her little sister's wide, confused gaze.

"Where are you really going? When will you come back? I don't want to be alone in this home. The servants…they scare me with their intense look." 

Nora asked, sharper this time. She was already thinking too much, already analyzing.

Selene pulled her sleeve free, taking a step back.

"You don't need to know."

That was the only thing she said before she turned away.

And this time—

Neither of them stopped her.

The moment she stepped outside, the cold air hit her skin, and for the first time—

She breathed.

She walked toward the main street, leaving everything behind.

No more guilt.

No more hesitation.

No more living for anyone but herself.

She was going to run.

And this time, she would never look back.