When the World Ends, She Begins novel Chapter 50

Natalie froze. What the hell is wrong with her now?

Tiffany tilted her head, grinning at Natalie. Drool dripped from the corner of her mouth.

"Hehehe ... Pretty girl! But you're not prettier than me. I'm the prettiest!"

She giggled and crawled toward Natalie on all fours like some kind of animal.

Natalie wrinkled her nose in disgust and kicked her to the ground. She turned back to Olivia. "What's wrong with her?"

Olivia shook her head. "No idea. When I got here, her brother was smashing the walls like a maniac. And she ... she was just sitting there, blank, like a broken doll."

On the floor, Tiffany kept wriggling closer, her eyes locked on Natalie. Then suddenly, she seemed to remember something.

Her eyes bulged. She shrieked, "You bitch!"

She staggered to her feet and lunged.

Natalie dodged easily, stepping aside. Tiffany missed and faceplanted hard into the floor.

But instead of getting up, Tiffany started laughing again.

"Hahaha! I know you! You're Natalie! You bitch!"

Natalie's temper snapped. She was used to Tiffany's random malice, but hearing it again still made her blood boil.

She grabbed Tiffany by the collar and slapped her hard across the face.

A red handprint bloomed on Tiffany's cheek.

"You tried to drug me, huh?"

She slapped her again on the other side.

"You smashed my walls, huh?"

Another slap.

"You dare insult me?"

Yet another slap.

"You filthy trash with your foul mouth!"

Natalie's arm blurred as she smacked Tiffany over and over.

Olivia's jaw dropped. Natalie's hand moved so fast it was like watching a strobe light.

Within moments, Tiffany's head lolled. Her cheeks were swollen, and she fainted right there on the floor.

Natalie let go, pulled out a wet wipe, and cleaned her hands like she'd just touched garbage.

She glanced down at Tiffany. "There's blood on the back of her head. Must've hit it when she fell. That explains why she's acting brain-dead."

Olivia frowned. "When I came, it was just the two of them. She still managed to get hurt like this? Crazy."

Natalie smirked. "My door's wired with electricity. She probably got zapped, then fell."

Selling her body?

How would Braxton handle his brain-fried sister? Would their so-called "close bond" survive when food ran out? Or would they end up tearing each other apart?

Natalie, are you hurt? Where?

She sniffed her all over, whining nervously.

Natalie scooped her up. "Relax, I'm fine."

The little dog pressed against her, sniffing again. When she realized she really was okay, she finally calmed down, nestling against her chest.

Natalie smiled warmly. "Good boy. Stay here. I need to step out again, but I'll be quick."

Lucky's ears shot up.

What? Out there again?

He clamped his teeth on her sleeve. No way. Too dangerous. You're not leaving me.

Natalie stroked her back, soothing her. "It's okay. No danger this time."

She set her down and pulled food from her stash. Olivia had risked her life tonight and even brought her crackers. For Natalie, that wasn't much—but for Olivia, it was survival.

Natalie thought carefully. What Olivia needed most now was food.

She packed a bag with one sack of oats, two bags of pasta, a box of hardtack crackers, and a few loaves of bread. All filling, but simple stuff.

Then she added a jug of bottled water and several bundles of candles—good for cooking pasta or oatmeal.

At the door, she paused, then went back for a nail gun and several boxes of nails.

Lucky stared at her again. She was heading out. This time, Lucky refused to stay behind. She bit her pant leg, eyes determined. If you're going, I'm going too.