Chapter 8

 LIFE IN AN APOCALYPSE 

Laramie was more than a strategist, she was a fighter and I mean that literally. If this was an ancient time, she would be a commander, and to make it even better, Laramie awakened a relatively powerful special ability as a special anomaly; aura manipulation.

Aura manipulation enabled Laramie to manipulate her aura, infusing emotions into it to affect her surroundings. It might sound pretty weak but know that killing intent isn't real, it's just a feeling. Now imagine if it was real, if it materialized into the real world and you could feel one's intent to kill touching your skin? Now imagine if one could infuse an army with that same intense intent to kill, making them all hate you and much as you hate them. Laramie was one of a kind.

And the reason this was all possible, the reason why she awakened was because of the trauma her father's death caused her.

I didn't immediately notice, and if not for how sad she was and me piecing in the fact that time seemed to be speeding up, I wouldn't have thought of it. And now, seeing her reaction to my words, I knew I was right.

“Who are you?” Laramie asked again but this time, her expression was frosty, her killing intent palpable. Laramie was a trained warrior, even though she had never taken a life, she knew how to make her killing intent seem real.

Sigh, it will be hard to convince her, I'll have to take an unconventional approach to this. I remained silent for a few moments, arranging my thoughts.

“Your father will die, there's nothing you can do.” I stated a matter of factly. I realized that for someone like Laramie, it was better to be as blunt as possible.

“You!....” Laramie raised her hand to hit me but I caught it, which seemed to surprise her. If only she knew she trained me on how to fight, and currently, I was way skilled than her.

“That won't be all, every other person you've ever loved will also die. So be prepared and despair at the fact that you are too weak to do anything for them, at the fact that if you have been stronger, maybe they would have stood a chance.”

“Do you know what it means to come to the governor's home and threaten his family?”

“The dead don't talk.” I twisted Laramies hand, slammed my other hand into her stomach and reversed our positions once she was stunned. Laramie grunted and struggled but it was all futile.

I stared at her, I felt pained that I had to do this to her but I needed her to unlock her abilities. It is a crucial factor in the future  I was planning. So in order to deal the final blow, I leaned in and whispered,

“And when they are all dead, I'll come to claim you.” I got up from Laramie and walked towards the balcony. I looked back, Laramie was just getting up to call the security, tears in her eyes. Sigh.

I jumped off the balcony and stepped into the kaleidoscope.

***

I reappeared in the warehouse.

“Eli! I'm back!” I yelled and a few seconds later, Eli walked out of the pile of stuff with a book in hand and a pen hanging in his ear. From the smile on his face, I could tell he was enjoying himself but I could also tell he was getting tired already.

“So soon?” He asked,

“Things took a turn but don't worry, —”

“You've planted a seed, yeah, I know.” Eli interrupted and we both chuckled. “The workload is too much for me alone. I'm not only taking inventory but also planning at the same time. I've made a list of things you should get but I haven't even been able to contact anyone in order to make them begin acquisition.”

“So, you want me to be the delivery man? And you need an assistant.?” I confirmed.

“Yes. I'm taking charge now, just like you wanted.” Eli smiled and I ruffled his hair.

“Don't worry, you'll have one soon. But whatever we are trying to get will look suspicious.”

“I've thought of that also, I'll need more than assistance. We'll be using the black market to get these things, but we'll need money. I don't think mom and dad's money will be nearly enough.”

“So I need to not find a way to get money? I would have directly stolen it but black market people won't accept cash. We need a hacker….” I muttered. I raised my head to see Eli giving me the look and I shrugged,

“Money will become useless pretty soon. It's funny how something so valuable could lose all forms of worth in half a year. It's better we spend now that we can.”

Eli nodded, I knew he had also thought about this before he brought up the idea. But to find a hacker, and one that is willing to help for that matter is something else. Unless I can give them something they can't refuse.

“You have that evil smirk on your face, I don't even want to know what you are thinking.” Eli chuckled. He turned the page of the book in his hand and tore it out.

“Get a laptop and place an order for all these on the black market. Make the orders premium, we need to secure them as soon as possible.” I reached out and received the sheet from Eli. I read through the list, my brows raised,

“water, sand, soil, filters, seeds…” the list was extremely long. Without even a need to ask, I already had an idea of what Eli was planning. I was once again amazed by his intuitiveness and his brilliance.

I stared at him, this time, I'm sure I had the same look he had whatever I used my space related abilities. He blushed when he saw my expression,

"What? You wanted to build a haven, didn’t you? Well, first we’ll have to create life... in the middle of an apocalypse."