ELENA POV—
FLASHBACK—
I was sitting in my room and reading a book. Getting a book was very much difficult during the apocalypse. Not even Liberators could get a book easily, much less Inepts. Only privileged people could get it. I found this book lying on a heap of trash. Probably someone had thrown this book after reading it or they simply don't value what they are getting, if they don't want this book, then it doesn't if I take it with me. I like books and I will certainly take care of it better than them.
Suddenly, someone barged into my room. I looked up to see that it was Ivan, who entered my room uninvited. Argh, it must be because of Selene, again.
I asked, "Ivan, it's a bad manner to enter someone's room uninvited, you know. Now, tell me what do you want from me?"
Ivan glared at me and said, "Why did you do that?"
"What did I do? I don't understand Ivan?"
"I mean why did you disagree with Selene's idea of blocking the river? Can't you see what's she is doing is for our own benefit? Are you really that blind? Answer me!"
"Stop your yapping, Ivan. Blocking that river would cause serious issues. There are people living around it, Selene's idea would just be destroying their only way of survival. Rivers are still not infected. We don't know when the water would get contaminated just like all other things around us. Can't you see? Her idea would be like sentencing them to death. Listen to—"
"Does it matter?" interrupted Ivan. I looked at him in disbelief. How could he just say something like this? Does the lives of people are insignificant to him?
"How can you even say this? These are living people we are talking about. They are not animals that you could just sacrifice or kill for your own. You—"
"Listen to me, Elena, they will not survive for long. They are living outside the base. This very base we are living is the only way for their survival. They themselves have sentenced them to death. Selene's idea is going to help our base and it's not that she doesn't care about their lives. She gave them the alternative to come to your base, which they refused to."
I glared and said, "Those people are free. They have their freedom and they want to retain it. Unlike them, I don't have any freedom. They want to live their lives in their own way and they certainly don't want to come to this base which you people are ruling according to your own wish. Also, they have the equal right to these resources, the very resources which are given to all living beings by mother nature. You people can't just monopolize them."
"Are you even listening to yourself? This is the end of the world. Only powerful people have right to these resources, not just anybody. So, neither your opinion matters nor theirs. If they want to die, I am very willing to fulfil their wish."
I observed him for sometime and took a deep breath. I said, "You are just blinded by your pathetic affections, aren't you. Your love for Selene is just making you believe that whatever she does is right and you, Ivan Romanford always thinks that she is right. I pity you," I raised my finger and pointed at him, "a man of great calibre is reduced to this. A pathetic lovesick fool."
Hearing my words, he started laughing out loud. I asked, "What are you laughing about?"
He took deep breaths to calm down. He said, "You are jealous of her." He looked cent percent sure of what he said.
"What the hell are talking—"
Ivan interrupted by saying, "You are jealous of her. You are jealous that your own biological parents love her as if she is the real daughter and you are the fake one. Your brothers consider her as their real sister but not you. Selene is the only hope of humanity during this end of the world whereas you are pathetic, powerless and valueless woman. She is everything that you can only dream of. So, obviously you would object her idea."
Ivan's gaze was full of contempt and hatred, he looked as if he would just kill me right here and now. I suppressed my fear and swallowed my saliva. I said, "I don't want to fight with you. You are pathetic. Remember one thing, they are my parents and brothers, not hers. So, you and that bitch can fuck off. You—"
He stopped my words by grabbing my throat and choking it. His murderous intent was on full display on his face and this time he was not trying to hide it. I couldn't breathe. He tightened his hold on my throat.
"Don't ever call her that. Do you understand?" he said harshly. I tried to remove his hands from my throat but he was damn too strong. My vision was getting blurred. Just as I thought I was going to die; he threw me on the floor.
I gasped for breath and clutched my throat to soothe the pain and. "You haven't answered me yet. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" yelled Ivan.
I whispered, "I-I u-u-understand." With much difficulty, I spoke the words that Ivan wanted to hear from me. My throat hurts too much. It may even leave some marks on my throat.
"Loudly!"
"Y-yes, I-Ivan,I-I am sorry and... I-I understand." I stuttered out. I was completely afraid of him. I looked at the floor as I thought he might hurt me again. I am too scared of him. Why did I have to agonize him? I know what type of person he is, then why? It only ended up in me getting hurt.
Satisfied, Ivan walked out of my room. But just before he was getting out of door, he warned, "If you every try to hurt Selene, I will give you most excruciating death ever experienced by a human." Saying this he went out of my room, leaving me to my thoughts.
END OF FLASHBACK
That very man who threatened me to kill, is standing in front of me. I know it very well that it's an act in front of Andrew. Wait a minute, Andrew, his little brother is here in our presence that means he certainly would not dare to do anything extreme in front of him. I can use this to my advantage. He would try to main his façade of a good elder brother in front of me, so why not use it to my advantage. Then again, he wouldn't dare to hurt his and his brother's benefactor. Yes, I should this trump card and get out of this situation safe and sound. I gathered all of my courage and looked at him. Yea, I can do this.