Chapter 24: Breastfeeding is Done
"So... listen up, I will only say it once."
Jacob’s voice echoed clearly around the basement as Max scoffed softly and nodded, as if he was agreeing to Jacob’s words.
After all, Max preferred the harder approach as well.
As for the rest of the crowd, they behaved as one would expect the mob to behave.
When one was kicked down brutally, everyone understood the message and stopped retaliating.
"I personally do not believe in the Ohio base or if it is even real, but after today I have realized that maybe heading there would be better than getting stuck here with all you retards." Jacob said without pulling any punches.
The reactions were ugly, but he couldn’t care less as he continued.
"My new awakener friends aren’t as benevolent as me and maybe that’s for the better as at least they don’t have to deal with..." He glared at the man who dared to grab his collars, "This."
Utter silence answered him while some were standing with clenched teeth and fists. They didn’t dare to retort.
"So I will be clear, you are not welcome in the group." Jacob said bluntly, looking at the same man, making him open his mouth for arguments but closing it shut when he saw the murderous look in Jacob’s eyes.
Maybe it was better not to rile up the cowboy hat wearing man right now.
"And the rest of you, you guys have a chance." Jacob shrugged, "It all depends on your skills and if you’re worth taking care of. The breastfeeding is done. Cry about it."
Fredrinn nearly chuckled at Jacob’s speech, making Andrea eye him weirdly.
What was so funny about it?
Rhea was silently hanging out near Andrea behind Fredrinn, not having anywhere else to go.
Currently this was the safest and easiest way to join the group for her.
After all, although she had decent knowledge about culinary, she didn’t want to be tested or struggle to grab a spot when the man in front of her could allow her to be welcomed in the group with open arms.
Who wouldn’t want such a freebie?
Hell, it wasn’t just her thinking that, the others did as well. Especially the girls.
They were glancing at Fredrinn while listening to Jacob’s speech, listing their skills in their minds and realizing that they might not qualify for the final group.
When it was put that way, the easier way became quite obvious...
However while the others were only thinking, only one woman had the guts to actually implement it.
She had long, silky black hair and slim proportions. And more than that, she had a deeper connection with the awakener.
Of course, it was none other than Naomi.
She made her way towards Fredrinn, tearing off from the crowd, appearing even more haggard than she used to.
The tears in her clothes had widened slightly, while Fredrinn could notice the smudge of mascara under her eyes which wasn’t there earlier.
And yet, she didn’t appear weak or pitiful.
No, she had an angry look on her face.
"This is all happening because of you." She accused him outright.
"Me?" Fredrinn smiled slightly as he pointed at himself casually.
She might be looking mad in her own mind, but to him, she appeared like an angry kitten that was mad at him for not patting her or something.
"Yes, you." Naomi’s voice got raised slightly before she brought it down, "You caused everything! If you hadn’t lied and tricked me, it might’ve been Richard who came here and I would’ve been safe!"
Fredrinn coughed. He wanted to laugh but his instincts told him not to, so all that came out was a cough.
"That’s... bullshit?" He blinked slowly and tried to sound casual, but everyone could see he was struggling to hold back his laugh.
After all, her accusations were so outlandish that they were funny.
Naomi’s cheeks puffed up and her gaze sharpened, her gorgeous black eyes focusing into his as she made it clear she wasn’t joking.
"Richard or any other man for that matter, wasn’t even there when I found this phone. In fact, I picked it up from a zombie’s corpse whose face I don’t even remember." Fredrinn shrugged as he said, "Your accusations have no base to it. There would’ve been no Richard in my place and you would still be calling everyone you know desperately to find an awakener."
Her lips twitched hearing his reasoning.
It made sense, but she didn’t come all the way here just to get her delusions answered.
"I don’t care." She scoffed and shook her head before pointing a finger at Fredrinn accusatorily, "You ruthlessly took advantage of my kindness and played with my feelings, and you still haven’t even apologized yet."
"He did though..." Rhea spoke in a slow voice but Naomi glared at her with such an intensity that made the poor introvert shut her mouth right back.
"He didn’t apologize to ME. The apology he gave was public, just an excuse to protect his image and in his mind, he doesn’t even feel sorry for giving me false hopes." Naomi still answered Rhea’s heckling.
Then she turned to gaze at Fredrinn once again.
"In addition, what did you say on the call?" Naomi stepped closer, grabbing Fredrinn’s collar that surprised everyone inside the hall.
Just moments earlier a man had grabbed an awakener’s collar and was kicked brutally for that, but now Naomi was doing the same?
And that too with a person that was even stronger than Jacob?
"You love me?" Naomi hissed, making Fredrinn’s amusement vanish as he looked down in her eyes genuinely for the first time.
Till now he was taking her lightly, as if she was simply joking, but after hearing the slight crack in her voice, he was no longer so sure.
"You know, Richard wasn’t actually my boyfriend. He was my friend and I simply liked him, and in that moment of vulnerability, my feelings ended up coming out, and you casually said ’I love you too’?" Naomi questioned as she pulled his collar further.
Her strength wasn’t enough to pull him down, but the emotions were apparent.
"So do you?!"
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A/N: Drop your power stones, golden tickets and gifts. Now. It’s an order.
