Chapter 134
The evening’s peace shattered with a sudden, sharp knock at the door. It wasn’t a casual, neighborly tap—it was demanding, impatient, and slightly unnerving. Karl froze mid-motion, his hand still holding the metal rod he’d been using to stoke the fire. Layla and Jane exchanged quick, uneasy glances, their relaxed postures stiffening instantly.
The three of them moved in sync, their silence instinctive. Jane reached for the knife she always kept nearby, her fingers tightening around its hilt. Layla, on the other hand, shifted closer to Karl, her expression questioning but cautious.
Another knock. Louder this time. Followed by an irritated voice.
"I know you’re in there, Karl," came a woman’s sharp tone from the other side. "Open the door."
Karl’s stomach sank. He recognized that voice. Evelyn. The self-righteous, sharp-tongued widow from down the hall. In another timeline—a timeline he had erased with the app—she had been one of the many people he’d manipulated, someone whose boundaries he’d crossed with an arrogance born of power. In this timeline, however, Evelyn was just a cynical neighbor, though her disdain for him seemed almost instinctual.
With a resigned sigh, Karl rose and approached the door, motioning for Jane and Layla to stay back. He glanced through the peephole, confirming it was indeed Evelyn, wrapped in a heavy coat with a scarf loosely draped around her neck. Her expression was as severe as ever, her lips pressed into a thin line, her piercing eyes scanning the door as though willing it to open.
Karl unlocked the door but left the chain on, cracking it open just enough to meet her glare. "Evelyn," he said, feigning surprise. "What brings you here?"
Evelyn’s eyes narrowed, and her tone was cold, edged with suspicion. "Don’t play dumb, Karl. People in the building are starving, and yet, somehow, you and your little... entourage seem perfectly fine. Better than fine, actually." Her gaze flickered past him, trying to catch a glimpse inside. "I’m not stupid. You’re hoarding supplies, aren’t you?"
Karl kept his expression neutral, though his mind raced. "We’re just resourceful," he replied evenly. "We plan ahead. It’s not a crime to be prepared."