章 6: Julia

As the group ventured deeper into the campus, they were met by stern men in military uniforms. Relief washed over most, but not John - something felt off about these so-called soldiers.

"Stop right there," one barked. "No weapons allowed inside. Hand them over." His intense demeanor seemed forced, like he was desperately playing a part.

John's nose crinkled with unease. Relinquishing his knife already had his instincts screaming no. But the others looked to him expectantly.

"What's the hold up?" Nelson jeered. "Do what they say!"

John wavered. He could abandon them and leave...but his curiosity was piqued. What opportunities awaited inside? There could be women to manipulate, boyfriends and husbands to cuck.

Reluctantly, he surrendered his knife. The men did not seem like real military. But he would play along for now and unravel their deception. That wasn't his only knife after all. With hidden agendas likely lurking inside, John knew he must keep his wits about him.

Stepping past the guards into the shelter, John felt naked without his weapon. But he took comfort knowing that if needed, he could carve his way out again using cunning and ruthlessness. For now, he would bide his time and seize whatever chances arose within these suspicious walls.

The once orderly campus grounds now resembled a ragged shantytown. Makeshift tents and lean-tos crowded the quads and fields between buildings. Groups huddled around fires fuelled by scavenged furniture, seeking warmth and light as dusk fell.

The library and cafeteria had become bustling hub sites. People queued for meagre provisions doled out by frazzled staff. Overflow refugees slept crammed between bookshelves, their idle chatter and complaints echoing through the stacks.

Dorms swarmed with activity as families staked claims to rooms. Laundry lines crisscrossed hallways like spiderwebs. The scent of cooked meals mingled with unwashed bodies and overflowing trash.

Parts of campus stood eerily abandoned. Classrooms and labs sat untouched, awaiting students who would never return. Emptied in a panic, confidential files were strewn across the floors of administrative offices.

Makeshift barricades and checkpoints funnelled movement through certain paths. Armed guards paced around, their harsh gaze monitoring all. Their heavy boots and rifles clashed with the faded campus décor.

The once vibrant university had become a bleak camp of survivors. But it promised a precarious refuge from the chaos beyond its fence-lined borders.

As the group entered the main building, a gentle-faced middle-aged man approached. "Welcome everyone, please follow me," he said warmly. But as he turned to lead them, his eyes fixed on John - and flashed with recognition.

"John? Little John, is that you?"

John's eyes narrowed. Now he placed the man's familiar features - it was Theodore, his late mentor's old research partner. The one who had betrayed and sabotaged the mentor's work years ago, forcing John to drop out of school.

Theodore had stolen lab samples and data, then disappeared to sell them off. It had utterly devastated John's mentor. The research represented his life's passion, his hope of changing the world. After Theodore's betrayal, the mentor fell into despair and gave up.

And now here Theodore was, calmly greeting them as if he were a benevolent savior. John's hands curled into fists, old rage simmering beneath the surface. So this gutless backstabber was the one behind this questionable shelter? It made perfect sense. Only someone with access to the invaders' secrets could have set this up so fast. And who else would have this kind of information if not this backstabber?

Schooling his features, John gave a terse nod. "Theodore. Can't say I ever hoped to see your face again."

Letting his venom leak through a bit, John signalled plainly that Theodore's past had not been forgotten or forgiven.

Theodore gave a dismissive chuckle at John's venomous tone. "Lively as always, little John! Now come along, I'll show you around."

As they followed, Stephanie approached John warily. "I take it you know him?"

"Unfortunately yes," John murmured back. "Let's just say he's proven untrustworthy before. We can't rely on his benevolence."

Stephanie bit her lip. "Should we try and leave then?"

John considered it briefly and shook his head. "I doubt we could just yet. But we won't stay long."

Noticing Stephanie's anxious shift closer to him, John gave a reassuring smile. He gently squeezed her shoulder. "Don't worry. No harm will come to you while I'm here."

[Favourability +5]

As Stephanie smiled at John's reassurance, a notification popped up: her favorability towards him had increased.

John couldn't help but smirk. He likely didn't need full 100% favor to steal her from that coward Nelson. This apocalypse was already proving useful.

As Theodore showed them their assigned lean-to shelter, the group recoiled. The entire campus was chaos - injured and ill refugees overflowing every crude tent. Clearly no real aid was being offered here.

One familiar face caught John's eye - Julia, his old high school teacher. Utterly incompetent, she had ignored all bullying and let students run wild. But every boy had crushed on the raven-haired beauty.

Her long raven hair complimented her dark brown, almost black eyes. She stood beside a handsome man, he had blonde hair, broad shoulders and John guessed he was in his 30s. He presumed the man to be Julia's husband, recalling the heartbreak that had swept through the student body upon learning of her impending marriage.

But here she was and John began to think it hadn't been such a bad idea to come to this shelter, even if it's most likely some sort of trap. Just as the thought crossed his mind, Julia turned around, revealing her curvaceous figure. She wasn't an Instagram model, but her hips seemed to stretch for days and her form boasted the timeless allure of a mature woman - at least that's what John thought.

"John!" Julia's voice rang out, her face beaming as she strolled toward the group. Stephanie couldn't help but cast a furtive glance at Julia, unwittingly measuring herself against the mature woman, her response marked by a dismissive snort.

Nelson and Julian, on the other hand, found themselves entranced by the rhythmic sway of Julia's breasts as they bounced with every step.

'Now how should I steal this woman from the blonde douchebag?' John thought, macabre scenarios playing in his mind, but then a thunderous boom shook the campus grounds. Refugees shrieked in panic, some fleeing blindly while others froze. John's eyes narrowed, his senses heightened and alert.