Doomsday Revenge: Payback Time (Josie) novel Chapter 42

She thought it over for a long moment before speaking. “I’m not gonna lie–I’m a coward. I’ve been a scaredy–cat my whole life. Of course I want to ive. But I don’t want to be used like a toy and then… eaten.”

I’ve read enough stories to know that once the food runs out, people will turn into monsters. Once the food runs out, the cannibalism starts.”

Someone like me? I can’t fight, and I’m not great at hiding. I’d be the first one they sacrifice.”

I’ll just be meat to them.”

If I’m going to be eaten anyway, I’d rather it be by the undead than by them.”

She looked at Josie, a spark of hope in her eyes. “Besides… if you think I’m useful enough to keep around, maybe I won’t have to die after all.”

Look, you’re a total badass. You cut through those undead like they were nothing to get here. You’ve got real power.”

I saw how you handled those guys. I’m not trying to threaten you–I’m just relieved. I’m glad you’re strong enough to protect yourself.”

Because if you can protect yourself, you can protect me, too.”

I’ll be good. I’ll do exactly what you say. I’ll be your maid, your shadow–whatever you need. As long as I’m useful, why would I die?”

osie couldn’t help but smirk at the girl’s blunt honesty.

J

nteresting.

t was rare to find someone this self–aware in the middle of an apocalypse.

How old are you?” Josie asked.

Eighteen!‘ the girl blurted out, desperate to introduce herself. “I’m Winnie Lane. my parents divorced ages ago, so I grew up with my mom. She passed way from cancer two years ago.”

My dad has a new family now. His wife wouldn’t let him pay for my college, so I had to take out student loans and work part–time. I was working retail ere during the break.”

I was right here in this mall when the world went to hell. We’ve been trapped ever since.”

That gang showed up later. They took over the whole place instantly, but then they realized the mall was full of clothes and had almost no food.”

They smashed the vending machines and cleaned them out. Grabbed every snack and bottle of water they could find.“.

Those cowards were too scared to go out and scavenge, so they forced us to do it for them.”

We were terrified too. None of us dared to go far.”

Everything nearby has been picked clean. There’s nothing left to find anymore.”

The stash is running low. Once the food is gone… what then? What will they eat?”

Vinnie’s eyes went dark. “I don’t want to just sit here and wait to die,” she whispered. “I want to live.”

osie nodded. ‘I don’t need a sidekick, but you gave me a heads–up twice. For that, I’ll get you out of here.”

I’ll drop you off somewhere safe. After that, you’re on your own.”

And one more thing–lose the bleeding heart. Most people aren’t worth saving.”

The world is full of snakes. You save their lives, and they’ll bite your throat the second you turn your back

Human nature… what a joke,” Josie said with a cold smirk.

In her past life, she’d seen it all. She’d lived through every bit of it.

This time around, she wasn’t looking for a team.

She didn’t trust a single soul.

In her experience, everyone who got close eventually became a blade in her back.

She wasn’t going through that hell again. Not in this lifetime.

1142

< Chapter 42

In her past life, she had survived ten years without a single superpower.

In this life, she had two Triple–S tier abilities. There was no way in hell she’d end up worse off than before.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify