The morning after Mallory discovered her upgraded pantry, she woke up to the soothing hum of her apartnt's systems running in the background. Stretching lazily, she grabbed the tablet from her bedside table to check on any updates.
A new notification blinked at the top of the screen:
Daily Report: Upgrades in Progress
Defense chanisms: Advanced AI Targeting (60% complete)
Energy Systems: Unlimited Energy Source (45% complete)
Water Purification: Nano-Filtration Activated
Mallory squinted at the last line. "Nano-filtration? What does that even an?"
She set the tablet aside and shuffled into the kitchen, yawning as she opened the fridge. To her delight, it was stocked with fresh items she hadn't seen in years: ripe avocados, fresh bread, a block of imported cheese, and a neatly labeled container of organic eggs.
"Alright, apartnt," she muttered, cracking an egg into a frying pan. "You've officially outdone yourself."
As the eggs sizzled, she turned to peek out the window. The street below was still in shambles, the sa group of survivors she'd seen the day before now huddled near a burnt-out car. They seed to be arguing, their gestures frantic and voices barely audible through the glass.
Mallory sighed, guilt creeping in again. She had everything she could ever need, while they were struggling just to survive. But what could she do? Let them in? Share her resources?
Her apartnt chid softly, pulling her out of her thoughts.
External Threat Level: Low
Internal Systems Secured
Mallory smirked. "Good to know."
She plated her breakfast and returned to the couch, determined to ignore the outside world. The apocalypse wasn't her responsibility, after all.
---
Mallory's peaceful morning was interrupted by an alert flashing on the tablet:
Proximity Alert: Human Detected
Frowning, she set down her plate and pulled up the security cara feed. Sure enough, soone was standing just outside her apartnt door.
It wasn't Jerry this ti, though. This person was different—tall and lean, with short-cropped hair and a rifle slung over their shoulder. Their clothes were tattered but functional, a mix of tactical gear and scavenged materials.
The figure hesitated for a mont before knocking firmly on the door.
"Hello?" a deep voice called out. "I know soone's in there. I saw the lights."
Mallory groaned, setting the tablet down. "Why can't people just leave alone?"
The knocking continued. "I'm not here to cause trouble. I just need sowhere safe for the night."
"Safe for the night?" Mallory muttered under her breath. "How does everyone think this is so kind of hotel?"
She returned to the peephole, studying the stranger carefully. Unlike Jerry, this person didn't look desperate or clueless. They were calm, focused, and clearly experienced in dealing with the dangers of the outside world.
Mallory hesitated. Letting soone like this inside could be dangerous—they might decide her cozy setup was worth taking by force. But leaving them out there wasn't exactly a great option, either.
Her apartnt chid again, offering a suggestion on the tablet:
Visitor Interaction Protocols Available:
Grant Limited Access
Activate Deterrent asures
Engage Communication Only
Mallory tapped the third option, activating the intercom system.
"Who are you, and what do you want?" she asked, her voice sharp.
The stranger glanced around, startled. "My na's Alex," they said, stepping closer to the door. "I'm just passing through. I don't need much—just a safe place to rest for a few hours."
Mallory raised an eyebrow. "And why should I believe you?"
Alex hesitated. "Because if I wanted to break in, I would've already tried."
"Not exactly reassuring," Mallory muttered.
"Look," Alex continued, their tone softening, "I've been out here for weeks. I'm not looking for a fight. Just... a little bit of safety."
Mallory sighed, leaning against the door. Her gut told her to say no, but sothing about Alex's calm deanor gave her pause.
She tapped the tablet again, opening the access nu. Selecting Grant Limited Access, she activated a shielded entryway, allowing Alex to step into the small, reinforced vestibule just outside the main door.
"Step inside," she instructed through the intercom. "And don't touch anything."
Alex complied, entering the vestibule with careful, deliberate movents. Once the outer door sealed shut, Mallory activated the scanner built into the walls.
A soft voice echoed in the vestibule: Scanning for Contaminants... No Threats Detected.
Satisfied, Mallory opened the main door just enough to see Alex's face. "Alright, you've got five minutes to convince not to kick you back out."
---
Alex leaned against the doorfra, their expression guarded. "I get it. You don't trust . If I were in your position, I wouldn't trust either."
"Good start," Mallory said dryly. "Now get to the point."
"I've been out there a long ti," Alex said, gesturing vaguely toward the hallway. "I've seen things go from bad to worse. Most places aren't like this. They're crawling with zombies, or worse, people who've lost their humanity."
Mallory raised an eyebrow. "Worse than zombies?"
Alex nodded grimly. "You'd be surprised what people are capable of when they're desperate."
"Well, thanks for the pep talk," Mallory said, crossing her arms. "But that still doesn't explain why I should let you in."
Alex hesitated, then sighed. "Look, I don't have anything to offer you. No food, no supplies. But I'm good at keeping watch. If you let stay, I can help keep this place safe."
Mallory frowned, studying Alex carefully. They didn't seem like the type to beg, but their exhaustion was clear. Letting them stay could be risky, but it might also be beneficial to have soone who knew how to handle themselves in a crisis.
"Fine," she said finally. "But there are rules."
"Of course," Alex said, straightening up.
"Rule number one: Stay out of my way. Rule number two: Don't touch my stuff. Rule number three: If you bring any trouble to my door, you're out. Got it?"
Alex smirked faintly. "Got it."
Mallory stepped aside, letting them into the apartnt. As the door sealed shut behind them, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease.
For better or worse, her quiet, lazy life had just gotten a little more complicated.
---
To Be Continued...
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