Chapter 119
As the night deepened, the building grew quieter. The occasional creak of the walls and the faint hum of the electricity were the only sounds breaking the stillness. Karl sat on his bed, scrolling aimlessly through the group chat for the building’s residents. It was mostly mundane—a mix of complaints about rationing, someone looking for a lost pair of socks, and a heated debate about whether the generator should run all night.
Yet, Karl’s mind was elsewhere. His thoughts kept drifting back to Evelyn. The way her sharp eyes had scrutinized everything, her bold words in the meeting—they lingered in his memory. She had a commanding presence that was hard to ignore, and despite her bluntness, there was something oddly magnetic about her.
Karl shook his head, trying to dispel the thoughts. Focus, Karl. She’s just another resident. Nothing more.
But the harder he tried to push her out of his mind, the clearer her image became. Her stern expression softened into something more alluring in his imagination, and before he knew it, his body began to respond. He groaned in frustration, tossing his phone onto the bed.
"Get a grip, Karl," he muttered under his breath. "This is not the time for this."
In an attempt to distract himself, he glanced toward the living room, where Jane and Layla were fast asleep on the couch. Jane had curled up under one of Layla’s oversized blankets, her breathing steady and calm. Layla, on the other hand, was sprawled out, her arm hanging off the edge of the couch. They looked so peaceful, completely unaware of the chaotic storm brewing in Karl’s mind.
But instead of calming him, the sight only made things worse. His gaze lingered on Jane’s figure longer than it should have, his thoughts taking a dangerous turn. Her casual confidence and sharp wit had always made her stand out, but now, in the dim light, she seemed... different. Softer, almost vulnerable.
Karl clenched his fists, trying to suppress the wave of inappropriate thoughts flooding his mind. No, absolutely not. This is wrong.
He stood abruptly, pacing the small room. The last thing he needed was for his own mind to betray him like this. Yet, no matter how much he tried to focus on something—anything—else, the images wouldn’t go away. It was as if some part of him was determined to pull him deeper into his fantasies.
"Maybe some fresh air will help," he muttered, grabbing his jacket and heading toward the balcony. The cool night breeze hit his face as he stepped outside, and for a moment, he felt a sense of relief. The city lights in the distance flickered like tiny stars, and the noise of the world seemed far away.
But even the night couldn’t fully quiet his thoughts. Karl leaned against the railing, staring blankly into the distance. Why can’t I just shut this off? he wondered. Why do I have to make everything complicated?