His Doomsday Cage of Ten Years Regret Chapter 05

His Doomsday Cage of Ten Years Regret Chapter 05

When I woke up again, the compound was full of unfamiliar faces.

These people, who claimed to be Peyton’s friends, bombarded me with questions: what was my relationship with him, how had I ended up at his estate, and why had I been sound asleep while Peyton had collapsed beside a roadside green belt a full mile away.

I couldn’t answer a single one.

I huddled in a corner and watched basin after basin of bloody water being carried out of Peyton’s bedroom.

After what felt like an eternity, I heard Peyton call my name.

He smiled and told me he was fine, that I shouldn’t be afraid.

Then he chided his friends half-playfully for spooking the person he loved.

It was then that I learned the truth: Peyton had slipped away after I fell asleep. He had run out of stamina and blacked out halfway, and these friends who had come looking for him had rescued him.

The girl named Winnie Bennett possessed a healing ability. She had sacrificed massive amounts of her own blood to save Peyton’s life.

The group then began discussing zombies, superpowers, and safe zones—things I knew nothing about.

I nestled in Peyton’s arms and listened without saying a word.

When the conversation eventually circled back to me, I curled a finger around Peyton’s, keeping my gaze fixed on the floor.

“Peyton is the person I have feelings for.”

The whole room’s chatter cut off on a dime.

Everyone’s gaze drifted toward Winnie, who had just woken up from her faint behind me, and they fell quiet.

I had no idea what had caused the tension, but the awkwardness made me instinctively pull my hand away.

Peyton grabbed it back and interlaced our fingers and locked them tight.

“Winnie, this is my girlfriend, Dawn.”

All the color drained from Winnie’s already pale face.

Shane Lawson stepped in to break the tension.

“Peyton, considering how long you and Winnie have known each other, and the fact that she saved your life today—you owe her a proper thank you.”

“Forget any romantic repayment—that’d be ingratitude. Stick to tangible favors instead.”

Peyton rested his chin on my shoulder, grinning even through the teasing.

“I will grant Winnie anything within my power to ask for.”

“I’ll give her anything and everything, except Dawn.”

Winnie shot me a faint, cold glance and didn’t respond.

Instead, she asked about everyone’s plans and herded the group into frantic preparations.

In the early days of the apocalypse, the most dangerous thing wasn’t the zombies. No one saw a zombie and let their guard down. Human duplicity is what unraveled civilization from the inside out.

Peyton and his friends took turns heading out on supply runs, agreeing to wait until things outside stabilized before making their move.

I was left behind at the compound for days. I finally realized that every single one of them had awakened some kind of supernatural ability on the day the apocalypse began.

I alone remained completely useless.

The only asset I’d ever had—my looks—meant nothing in a world where everyone was fighting for their lives.

Still, I wasn’t entirely worthless. At least Peyton still wanted me.

So one night after my shower, I wrapped myself in a bathrobe and knocked on his bedroom door.

He pulled me inside.

“Dawn, what are you doing?”

I stared at the floor.

“Exactly what you’re guessing I’m here for.”

The next morning, I got up early to make breakfast for everyone.

Peyton was in the bathroom washing up, his torso covered in fresh scratch marks.

Shane, who had also risen early, cornered me in the kitchen.

“You did that on purpose.”

I burned one pancake on the griddle.

I flipped it over with feigned composure.

I didn’t deny his accusation, only stating a fact.

“Peyton is my boyfriend.”

Shane stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as if he were looking at something filthy.

“What makes you think you’re even good enough for him?”