What does it feel like to dismember your own husband and consume him for survival?
Miles stared indifferently out the window, unwilling to ponder such a question, let alone find the answer.
In the apocalypse, humanity's moral compass had long dissolved. When pushed to the brink of starvation, some people unearthed an astonishing will to survive, like the large woman outside.
She chose to devour her husband rather than succumb to death.
Others, unable to reconcile their actions with their conscience, opted to end their own lives instead.
"How terrifying... How could she do something like that?" Lisa shuddered, shaking her head as if to expel the gruesome scene from her memory.
Miles responded calmly, "Who's to say? The destructive force of the universe is beyond human resistance. We're insignificant—mere specks of dust in the cosmos."
"Thank goodness we're still alive and haven't fallen to such depravity…"
As they exchanged thoughts, the walkie-talkie crackled to life.
"Uh, Miles… I need a favor," Ryan's hesitant voice came through.
Miles paused, slightly taken aback.
"Go on…"
Since the onset of the apocalypse, Miles had maintained a deep wariness of those around him. The people he truly trusted could be counted on one hand.
There was Lisa, of course, and Ryan.
As for Isaac and the newly recruited Nathan, they were simply tools to be used. If the situation ever turned, Miles wouldn't hesitate to cut them loose.
In all the time they had known each other, Ryan had never asked Miles for anything. He was the kind of man who followed orders without question, executing them with precision and without complaint. Yet today, he broke his silence.
"I ran into an old friend," Ryan began, his voice faltering. "Her husband's starved to death, and her daughter… she's barely hanging on."
His words grew softer, tinged with embarrassment.
"I know Lisa's a skilled physician… Could you ask her to help the child?"
In this unforgiving world, illness was tantamount to a death sentence, especially for a child.
Miles instinctively glanced at Lisa.
"Are you sure about this? You know as well as I do, people out there aren't much better than beasts now. We can't afford to take risks."
It was an honest statement.
If Ryan himself were sick, Miles wouldn't think twice before enlisting Lisa's help.
But for a complete stranger? Charity wasn't part of his survival plan, and the possibility of ulterior motives loomed large.
When someone clawed their way from hell to heaven, their first instinct would be to secure a foothold by any means necessary.
"I…" Ryan hesitated, the weight of Miles' caution evident. Yet, after a brief struggle, he confessed, "She was my first love. I never thought I'd see her again after twenty years. Please, Miles… I want to save her."
His voice trembled, vulnerable like a chastised child.
First love?
Miles couldn't help but smirk internally.
Twenty years apart, and fate chose now to reunite them—one well-fed bachelor and one widowed mother clinging to survival.
It was a post-apocalyptic love story waiting to be told.
But Ryan's first love must have been extraordinary to have survived so long, and with a two-year-old child no less.
She couldn't be a frail, ordinary woman; otherwise, both mother and daughter would have perished long ago.
Miles' tone softened as he chuckled.
"First love reunited in the apocalypse? That's quite the story! Don't be shy—bring them back here. Lisa can take a look at the kid."
"Huh?" Ryan sounded stunned by the sudden shift in tone.
After all, Miles had been ruthless when dealing with Zeki, showing no mercy or sentimentality.
Miles' grin widened.
"Huh what? Hurry up and get them here. A child's body is fragile—we don't have time to waste."
"Thank you… Miles, thank you!" Ryan's voice cracked with emotion, his gratitude spilling over in repeated thanks.
"Enough with that," Miles said dismissively. "We're brothers, aren't we? No need for all this formality."
"Got it. I'll be back soon!"
As the call ended, Miles' smile faded instantly.
Lisa, having overheard their conversation, had been preparing her medical supplies. But when she caught sight of Miles' expression, she stopped cold.
"You don't actually want to save that mother and daughter, do you?" she asked softly.
Miles feigned a playful glare.
"Too clever for your own good, aren't you?"
"Why not? Ryan's been nothing but loyal to you. Don't you trust him?" Lisa's voice held a hint of sorrow.
She understood Miles wasn't one to offer his emotions freely, but Ryan had followed him faithfully even before the apocalypse. If Miles couldn't trust Ryan, then… what about her?
Beyond her medical skills and her body, what else did she have to offer?
Lisa had thought their time together had at least fostered some connection. Yet Miles' reaction to Ryan's request cast a shadow of doubt over her heart.
Seeing her forlorn expression, Miles sighed.
"It's not Ryan I don't trust—it's that woman."
Lisa blinked, her confusion giving way to realization.
"A woman who's survived under such extreme conditions… Do you really think she's just a naïve, sweet soul?" Miles asked, his gaze dark.
He continued, "Once she steps into this villa and sees what we have here, what do you think she'll do? She'll do whatever it takes to stay. And Ryan…"
"You're worried she'll influence him," Lisa said, catching on quickly.
"Exactly," Miles replied coldly.
"Ryan is trustworthy, but people change. A woman like her, who's lived through the apocalypse, might let her greed take over. If she starts whispering in his ear, things could spiral out of control."
Lisa nodded slowly, her brow furrowed in thought.
"It's obvious Ryan cares deeply for her. He's never asked you for anything before."
"Which is why he's not thinking clearly," Miles said, his expression frosty.
"He's already blinded by love. If she manipulates him, we'll have a serious problem on our hands."