They walked and fought monsters for hours. John had managed to gain 1 point in Energy and 1 in Agility. The sun was beginning to set, and the air was growing cooler. Finally, they reached an abandoned convenience store.
"We can rest here," John said, his voice cold and indifferent.
Dalia’s stomach tightened, her heart racing and her palms sweating. She had to say something, had to tell him how she felt, but the words wouldn’t come out.
She watched as John rummaged through the store, his movements quick and precise. He found some water and a few cans of food, and he handed them to Dalia.
"You need to eat," he said, his tone stern.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely a whisper.
The night was dark and cold, the wind howling through the broken windows. John sat in a corner, his eyes fixed on the door, his mind racing with thoughts.
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Dalia felt her heart sink, her stomach curling in on itself.
She lay on the floor, her eyes closed and her mind wandering. She had never felt so alone, so lost. She wanted to cry, but she couldn’t. Instead, she felt a surge of anger rising within her, a sense of frustration and helplessness.
She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling, her mind clouded with doubt and confusion. She didn’t know what to do, didn’t know how to express her feelings, but she couldn’t take it anymore.
"John, if I leave Julian, will you leave all the women you’re with?"
She had done it. She had asked the question that had been nagging at her, the question that had been burning a hole in her heart.
"What?"
"If I leave Julian, will you leave the women you’re with? You’re the one who makes the rules, after all."
John’s face was expressionless, his eyes empty and unreadable.
"Why would I do that?"
"Because I... I wouldn’t want to share you. If you left all the other women, I’d be happy to have you."
Dalia’s heart pounded in her chest, her breath catching in her throat. She didn’t know what she was doing, didn’t know if it was the right thing.
"I can’t do that," John said, his voice firm and unwavering.
"But why?"
"I just can’t."
Dalia felt a wave of despair wash over her, a feeling of hopelessness and resignation. She couldn’t believe it, couldn’t believe that John didn’t feel the same way.
She lay on the floor, her mind numb and her heart heavy. She had made her choice, and she had nothing to show for it. She had lost her chance with John, and she didn’t know what to do.
As the night passed, John and Dalia’s relationship grew strained and awkward. Dalia felt her heart ache, a feeling of emptiness and despair filling her chest. She wanted to leave, to go back to her boyfriend and forget about John, but she couldn’t.
She loved John, and she couldn’t deny it. She wanted him, and she was willing to do anything to have him.
As the sun began to rise, John and Dalia set out to continue their hunt for monsters.
Dalia knew that if she wanted John, she had to make a choice. She had to decide whether to stay with Julian or risk everything for John.
She felt her heart tighten, her stomach churning with anxiety and doubt. She had to choose, but she couldn’t, not yet.
The day passed, and Dalia felt herself drifting further and further away from John. She watched him, his movements quick and efficient, his face blank and expressionless. She didn’t know what to do, didn’t know how to get through to him.
She had tried to talk to him, had tried to show him how she felt, but he had remained stoic and unresponsive.
She laid on the ground, her heart aching and her mind racing. She couldn’t believe what had happened, couldn’t believe how badly she had screwed up.
She had made her choice, and now she had to live with it. Was this his revenge? Was he punishing her for abandoning him all those years ago? It couldn’t be, John had forgiven her, hadn’t he?
The night passed, and Dalia felt her heartache fading, her sadness giving way to anger and resentment. She was tired of chasing after someone who didn’t want her, tired of fighting for someone who didn’t care.
She got up and left, her footsteps echoing through the empty room. She was done, she had had enough. She would never let herself be used or discarded again, not by John, not by anyone.
She returned to the base and didn’t look back, her heart aching, and her mind numb.
John knew there was nothing he could do. He could tell her about his class and how he needed multiple women to grow stronger, but that might have the opposite effect. Dalia needed to come to terms with the way things were all on her own.
As the days passed, John grew stronger and his skills improved. He had gained a total of 1.5 in Strength, 2 Agility and 1 Energy.
As his skills and stats grew, John’s thoughts wandered to the future. He wanted to reinforce their base. He wanted to gather more survivors and establish a community, a haven for those who were lost and alone. John was no sentimentalist, but he knew there were good people out there who would die without his help.
He returned to the base and despite his growth, he didn’t think he was strong enough to face those monsters, yet. It was time to go back to the hospital. The hospital’s leader still had three other women who were waiting for him to steal them.
He took a deep breath and headed out for the hospital, his mind focused and his energy coursing through his veins. It wouldn’t be long until he became strong enough to defeat those monsters, Theodore and even the invaders. He wouldn’t let anyone stand in his way.