Apocalypse Rebirth: My Gold-Eating System

it, Jo

grating, cut throug

le. The sound vibrated through her skull, a painful echo

eyes fl

against her ribs, a frantic, trapped bird. It was the feeling of being torn apart by the infected, the memory still fresh, her nerve endings screaming in phantom agony. For a fleeti

not to shield her eyes, but to ward

et soft, velv

ing teeth, the reality of plush fabric-sent

lacquered with a false sweetness that didn't quite cover it

wly lowere

e air smelled of lemon polish and Etha's cloying

ge agreement, its title e

typed neatly below the sign

e her age, the man whose sick pleasures she had been sold to in her past life.

the sleek digital calendar han

ber

mo

ned in chaos and blood. She knew what came after the floods: the insect plagues that would rise from the stagnant waters, the

ut like a physical blow, knocking the air

twenty-t

her lips. "Walter has a penthouse overlooking Central Park, Joanna. A penthouse.

tone. "After all we've done for you, raising you since your parents pass

education, for her future. The one this family had drained dry on designer bags, European vacations, a new Lexus for her

nce snapped. The mask of concern fell away,

ow and venomous. "If you don't sign this, you're out. O

derision. He was scrolling through his phone, bored. He picke

eeloader like you? Only some creep like Walter would pay for that face." He waved th

k a slow,

ds, was a roaring fire in her blood. Ten years in the apocalypse had honed

stinct down. Not

fe, she had cried. She had begged. She had pleaded with

would be

e touched her lips. It

voice surprisingly steady. "

y, you see reason! Here." She snatched a pen from a porcelain holder and

dn't take

, crossing her legs. The movement was fluid, conf

aid calmly. "But I

smile

to me. And half the dowry. Walter's payment won't be a lump sum in your pocket. Half

t! That house is ours! It's the bare minimum you owe us for all the years we fed and clothed

e flat and devoid of emotion. She met her aunt's furious gaze without flinching.

her feet, her finger jabbing the air just inches from Jo

ged forward, swinging the heavy ceramic mug. Hot coffe

med to s

ng claws and teeth, took over. Joanna's body mov

her head t

, splashing across the velvet sofa with

er his miss, before he could

ift, brutal motion, she lunged across the low tabl

isted.

k echoed through

The mug shattered on the floor. He collapsed to his knees, clu

horror. The niece she knew-the quiet, timid, te

r fingers closing around the cold, heavy brass of a lett

ade was pressed against Cody's neck, right o

gle, perfect drop of blood welled

rified whimper. He trembled viol

er aunt's. Her voice was quiet, almost a whispe

ired to my account. And

shaking so badly she could barely ho

ed the sligh

nch deeper. More blood, dark and

erate, gurgling sob. "Mom, ple

broke

fingers and clattered to the floor. She sank onto the expen

ce cracking. "Okay. Anything.