Chapter 133
The next morning came quietly, the stillness outside broken only by the soft crackling of the fire and the distant sound of snow creaking under its own weight. Inside the shelter, the warmth of their routine brought a sense of normalcy, even as the frostbitten world outside remained relentless.
Karl woke early, as he always did, his internal clock refusing to let him sleep in. He stretched, his back aching slightly from another night on their makeshift mattress. The soft breathing of Jane and Layla filled the room, a comforting reminder that they were safe—at least for now.
He glanced at the small table where they’d left the deck of cards from the night before. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he remembered Layla’s triumphant grin and Jane’s exaggerated protests of cheating. For a brief moment, they had all forgotten the harshness of their reality.
As the others began to stir, Karl quietly prepared breakfast. From their stash in the Uncommon Storage, he pulled out a few items—powdered milk, some dried fruit, and a small bag of oats. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to keep them going. He worked silently, careful not to disturb the fragile peace of the morning.
Jane was the first to join him, her hair tousled and her eyes still half-closed. "Morning," she mumbled, sinking into one of the chairs at the table.
"Morning," Karl replied, setting a steaming cup of tea in front of her. "How’d you sleep?"
"Like a rock," she said with a yawn. "That card game must’ve worn me out. Or maybe it was Layla’s endless gloating."
Layla, who had just emerged from her corner of the room, smirked as she tied her hair back. "Hey, I earned the right to gloat. You’re just mad because I finally beat you."
"Once," Jane shot back, though there was no real malice in her tone. "Don’t get used to it."