Chapter 131
The following week passed quietly, the frost-laden world outside maintaining its unforgiving grip. Yet, for Karl, Jane, and Layla, the days seemed less harsh. Inside their small shelter, they found solace in the routine they had built—a fragile semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos.
Karl spent his mornings sorting through the contents of the Uncommon Storage, ensuring their supplies were in order. Jane kept busy by reinforcing their shelter, using scrap materials scavenged from nearby ruins. Layla, ever resourceful, had taken to hunting small animals, bringing back fresh food that supplemented Karl’s canned goods.
That morning, as the pale winter sunlight filtered through the boarded-up windows, Karl sat at the makeshift table, sketching a rough map of the surrounding area. Jane leaned against the wall, her hands idly flipping a dagger Karl had found in storage. Layla was crouched near the fireplace, expertly skinning a rabbit she’d caught earlier.
"You know," Jane began, her tone light but laced with curiosity, "I’ve been thinking about this whole ’superhuman’ thing we’ve got going on. It’s like we’re in some kind of dystopian comic book. Layla with her strength, me with my healing... and you, Karl, with your magical bottomless backpack. We’re basically a team of misfits."
Karl smirked but didn’t look up from his map. "I don’t think ’misfits’ is the right word. Survivors, maybe."
Layla glanced over her shoulder, her hands steady as she worked. "I like the sound of that. Survivors. It feels... empowering."
Jane chuckled. "Sure, but what do we call ourselves? Every good team has a name, right? How about ’The Frozen Avengers’?"
Karl groaned. "We’re not naming ourselves, Jane."
"Why not?" Jane teased, flipping the dagger one last time before tucking it into her belt. "It adds character. Besides, if we’re going to survive this apocalypse, we might as well do it with some flair."
"Flair won’t keep us alive," Karl replied, finally setting down his pencil. He looked at the two women, his expression serious. "What will is sticking to the plan. We stay quiet, avoid drawing attention, and only take what we need."
Layla nodded, her gaze meeting Karl’s. "He’s right. The fewer people who know about us, the safer we are."