Irvin watched the exchange silently, weighing his options. He didn't want to step on any toes and it wasn't like he had any better idea either. These people were already on edge, and he was still the newcomer. Better to let them hash it out and only speak up if absolutely necessary.

The frustration grew, paralyzing the group.

Tom turned to Irvin, the cheerful look in his eyes replaced with worry. "What do you think? Any ideas?"

Irvin shrugged, keeping his expression neutral. "I'm not sure. It seems like most buildings are unstable. Maybe we should look for something closer to the ground?"

The younger woman, whose name Irvin hadn't caught yet, spoke up timidly. "What about a parking garage? The ones underground might be more stable."

Sarah nodded, considering. "That's not a bad idea. But how do we know if it's safe to go underground?"

"We don't," Mike said grimly. "But we're running out of options."

Dave shook his head. "I don't like it. What if we get trapped down there?"

The group continued to argue, their voices growing more heated as the sun dipped lower. Irvin listened carefully, noting who seemed to have the most influence and who was more likely to follow along.

"What about building our own shelter?" someone suggested.

Mike scoffed. "With what? We can barely move any of the wood or stone around us."

The reality of their situation settled over the group like a heavy blanket. They were stuck in a world they couldn't fully interact with, their bodies not yet adapted to the new rules governing their reality.

Irvin watched the group's growing panic with frustration over how to resolve it. He caught Tom's hand and subtly pulled him aside.

"Hey, I've got an idea," Irvin said in a low voice. "But I don't think it'll go over well if I suggest it."

Tom raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

Irvin gestured towards the rubble of collapsed buildings nearby. "We could spend the night there. The rubble's already fallen, so it's not likely to collapse further. Probably safer than risking an unstable building or going underground."

Tom's eyes widened with understanding. "That... actually makes sense. Why don't you tell everyone?"

Irvin shook his head. "They're panicking. Coming from me, the new guy? They'll shoot it down without thinking. But if you suggest it..."

Tom nodded. "Right. Alright, I'll float the idea."

As Tom rejoined the group and carefully introduced the suggestion, Irvin hung back, watching the dynamics shift. The initial skepticism gave way to cautious consideration, and finally, reluctant agreement.

As the group approached the rubble, their initial relief gave way to frustration. The collapsed buildings had created a chaotic jumble of concrete, metal, and debris that seemed impenetrable. Most of the group members struggled to budge even the smallest pieces. Only Mike moving some of the metal and Dave managing to roll over some of the bigger pieces.

Irvin stepped forward, his hands wrapping around a sizable chunk of concrete. To his surprise, it shifted under his grip. He lifted it with effort, but it moved. A memory flashed through his mind - his strength augment. He'd almost forgotten about it in the chaos.

As they kept clearing the space it dawned on Irvin that they likely shared his augment choices.

Slowly but surely, they carved out a space large enough for the group to settle in for the night. The others watched in a mixture of awe and relief as a makeshift shelter took shape among the ruins.

"Good thinking Tom." Mike called as he moved the last pieces. "This might actually work."

As the group settled into their makeshift shelter, Irvin found a spot to rest. The moon cast a faint glow through the dark clouds, providing minimal light. He leaned back against a slab of concrete, his muscles aching from the exertion of clearing the rubble. Feeling strange satisfaction with the work.

His eyes narrowed as he noticed Sarah and another woman distributing food to the group. His food. The supplies he'd hoarded and protected. A cold fury rose in his chest as he watched them hand out his stuff.

What the hell are they doing?

Irvin pushed himself to his feet, his jaw clenched as he approached the women. "What's going on?" he asked, his voice deceptively calm.

Sarah looked up, her expression a mix of surprise and confusion. "Oh, we're just sharing out the supplies. You agreed to pool resources, remember?"

The other woman nodded, oblivious to Irvin's growing anger. "It's only fair, right? We're all in this together."

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

Irvin felt a wave of rage wash over him. He hadn't agreed to any such thing. I agreed I will give you some, not that you would take it bitch.

His mind raced, considering the loss of his food against the potential fallout with the new group. With great effort, he swallowed his anger, forcing his face into a neutral expression.

"Sure." Was all he forced from his lips.

After everyone got their share he took his backpack and stalked off to an empty corner of their cleared space. He sat down heavily, his front to the group, seething in silence as he went over his remaining possessions.

***

Sarah watched from the corner of her eye as Irvin settled into his isolated spot, his face a mask of barely contained anger. A shiver ran down her spine, and she instinctively turned away, busying herself with organizing the remaining supplies.

Her mind drifted back to when Irvin first joined their group. The memory was vivid, etched into her mind by the unease that had gripped her from the moment she laid eyes on him.

It had been another day of chaos and fear, the world around them crumbling and transforming in ways she couldn't comprehend. Their small group of coworkers had been huddled together, trying to make sense of the new reality, when Irvin appeared.

There was something... off about him, Sarah thought, her brow furrowing. The way he looked at us, like we were pieces to use.

She remembered how he had approached them, his voice calm and measured despite the pandemonium surrounding them. While the others had been visibly shaken, Irvin's demeanor despite his age was cold, calculating. As if he wasn't almost decade younger then her.

It was like he was weighing his options, Sarah mused, suppressing another shiver.

From that moment, Sarah had made a conscious effort to keep her distance. She avoided making eye contact with him, limiting their interactions to the bare minimum required for group cohesion. Even now, as they all shared this makeshift shelter, she found herself gravitating towards the others, seeking safety in numbers.

But is anyone really safe? she wondered, her gaze flickering briefly to Irvin's hunched form. He's only here because it benefits him. The moment that changes...

She saw Irvin's eyes leave her as he stared at each of them in turn. Sarah let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She glanced around at the rest of the group, wondering if they shared her misgivings.

Tom and Mike were deep in conversation, while others were settling in for the night, seemingly oblivious to the predator in their midst.

Am I the only one who sees it? Sarah questioned, a wave of isolation washing over her. Or am I just being paranoid?

She shook her head, trying to clear the doubts. No, her instincts had served her well in her career in HR, helping her navigate office politics and identify potential troublemakers. This was no different, just with much higher stakes.

***

Irvin sat in his corner, his back against the cold concrete as he chewed on a piece of cheese and bread. His eyes darted from person to person, assessing his new allies.

Tom, he thought, recalling the man who'd helped implement his shelter idea. Useful, but maybe too eager to please. His gaze shifted to Sarah, who was still chatting with others. Naive. Or she is too good at this, dangerous.

Mike's hulking form caught his attention next. He is trouble, wants to be in charge too much. Then there was Dave, or was it Dan? Irvin frowned, realizing he'd already forgotten some of them. The rest blurred together, faceless pawns in this new game.

Did I make a mistake joining them? Irvin wondered, swallowing the last of his meager meal. Safety in numbers, sure, but at what cost? His fingers tightened around his backpack strap. My supplies, my leverage just got take away.

As the night deepened, exhaustion finally overtook them. Irvin leaned against his backpack, using it as a makeshift pillow. His eyes fluttered closed.

A sudden shift jolted Irvin awake. His backpack slipped from behind him, and he whirled around, fist flying. Instead of an attacker, his knuckles met unyielding stone. Pain shot through his hand.

"What the hell now?" he hissed, eyes darting around the makeshift shelter. Nothing seemed amiss. Most of the group slept soundly, with a couple engaged in hushed conversation across the cleared space.

Irvin's heart raced as he pulled his backpack close, wrapping his arms around it protectively. Just paranoia, he told himself, settling back down. Sleep reclaimed him, but it was fitful and light.

The next time Irvin woke, it was to an entirely different kind of chaos. Sunlight streamed into their shelter, illuminating a scene of utter confusion. Irvin blinked, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing.

His clothes lay in tatters around him, reduced to little more than scraps and loose threads. A quick glance confirmed it wasn't just him – everyone's clothing had suffered the same fate. The finer fabrics had disintegrated completely, leaving nothing but dust.

Panic erupted among the group, especially the women who found themselves suddenly naked to the glances of the men around. Shrieks and curses filled the air waking the rest of the group as people scrambled for anything to cover themselves without much success.

Irvin's mind raced. What the fuck is happening now? He grabbed his backpack, only to find the strap loose, spilling its contents on the floor.

Irvin stared in disbelief at the contents of his backpack. Where once there had been carefully wrapped sandwiches and protein bars, now lay a mess of black, plastic goo. The sight made his stomach turn. He poked at the substance with a finger, finding it sticky and repulsive.

"Shit," he muttered, rummaging through the disaster. Most of his food was ruined, rendered completely inedible by whatever force had destroyed their clothes. He managed to salvage a few pieces of fruit that had been spared the worst of it, but it was a pitiful amount compared to what he'd had before.

Around him, the chaos continued. The women of the group, in various states of mortification, were attempting to cover themselves with their hands and whatever scraps of fabric they could find.

"All of you, out!" Sarah's voice cut through the commotion, directed at the men. "We need some privacy. Now!"

There was a moment of hesitation before Mike nodded, ushering the other men towards the exit of their cleared space. "Come on, guys. Let's give them some space."

Irvin lingered, his mind still on his ruined supplies. He caught Sarah's glare and realized she was including him in the order. With a scowl, he gathered what little he could salvage and joined the exodus of men.

As they huddled outside the shelter, Irvin noticed the varying degrees of discomfort among his male companions. Some seemed more bothered by their nudity than others, while a few appeared almost indifferent to their state of undress.

I can forget about the stuff in that building then, its all lost like this. He felt conflicted about trying the apple he was holding, ultimately deciding to stop any idea of eating it.