Surviving the Apocalypse with my Multiplier System - Chapter 61

Chapter 61: Re-Introductions
Three days later, Rayne slowly drifted back to consciousness. Her body felt as though it had been crushed beneath a heavy weight, each muscle aching and sore. She was also burning with a high fever, making it difficult to breathe.

“Oh, you’re finally awake,” a woman with a long black ponytail greeted her.

“Where am I?” Rayne asked with difficulty.

Anna wasn’t sure if she was the right person to reveal the base, so she just said, “You’re in a small medical ward. You’re safe now. We found you outside in the hurricane; you lost a lot of blood.”

Rayne hummed in reply. She looked around the room quietly, glancing at the familiar medical equipment. She remembered the strong gusts of wind that shook her camper, but nothing after she fell asleep.

Anna came over and adjusted the IV drip. “Rest and recover. I’ll let the boss know you’re awake,” she said before walking out of the room.

Rayne felt awful; every part of her body was in pain. She closed her eyes and laid on the bed for a few minutes until she heard a few hurried footsteps.

“Rayne! You’re awake! How are you feeling?” a familiar voice asked, full of concern.

“Julian?” she asked quietly, tears welling up in her eyes.

Julian walked over to the side of the bed and sat down on the stool beside it. He looked at her pale face and bruised arms.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t come sooner,” he said quietly, his voice thick with guilt.

Rayne tried shaking her head to disagree, but it was too painful. “It’s not your fault… unless you can control the weather,” she said slowly, smiling slightly.

Julian felt a lump in his throat. He was so happy to see her awake. He had started to get worried when she hadn’t woken up in three days. Anna had to repeatedly remind him that Rayne was okay, she just needed time to recover.

As much as he wanted to sit and chat with Rayne, he knew that she needed to rest now. After saying a few more words, he got up to leave, leaving her to rest.

“Get some sleep. You’re safe now, I promise,” he said with a slight smile.

“Mmhm,” she replied, smiling back.

Anna witnessed this scene and raised an eyebrow. This was the first time she’d seen her boss so friendly with another woman. He even seemed to barely tolerate his own sister.

She gave Rayne another look, nodding in approval. She felt that, if anything, Rayne was definitely beautiful. I’ll have to tell Jess to let go of her fantasies about the boss…

After finishing a few more check-ups, she left to go back to the female communal room, where the women of Alpha Team resided. While Alpha Team was made up mostly of men, there were a handful of women on the team.

“Hi, Anna! How’s the patient?” Jess asked, probing. When word got out that there was a rescued person in the med ward, everyone was curious about who it could be. This bunker was a top-secret location, and everyone felt that whoever was rescued had to be of high status.

Anna looked at Jess with a knowing look. While most of the women on the team had a crush on their boss at one point or another, they had all gotten over it—except Jess.

“She’s fine. She finally woke up today… Jess, let me give you advice as your senior sister: give up on your fantasy. I think the boss has someone he cares for, if you get what I mean,” said Anna.

Jess’s eyes widened, but she quickly adjusted her expression.

“Ah, Anna, you know I’m over that… but are you implying the patient girl is someone the boss is interested in?” she asked curiously.

Anna saw through her excuses but didn’t say anything. “I’m not implying anything. I’m just reminding you that the boss is a ruthless person… don’t get on his bad side.”

Jess frowned. Just because the boss never showed you any special attention, don’t cut my chances.

After Anna said her piece, she walked over to her bed to rest, while Jess continued to sit on her bed, lost in thought. She found it hard to believe that the boss, who had never shown any kind of interest in women, would start caring for one now.

She looked over at Anna. Maybe she’s just using this patient as an excuse to lecture me. She knows I’m the most likely one to get close to the boss. Jealous bitch.

—

Rayne spent another week in the medical ward.

Julian made time every day to visit her to chat and see how she was feeling. Rayne was grateful for his visits because, as she began to feel better, she started feeling bored just lying in bed all day.

“How’s the weather been recently?” she asked.

“Same, if not worse. I’ve heard many people died this time around. The government has opened up underground shelters, but they acted a little late,” replied Julian.

Rayne frowned. She never expected a hurricane, especially one that lasted this long. The reality of the apocalypse finally set in, causing her to feel worried.

She had stocked up on countless supplies, feeling prepared for the apocalypse, but just a few weeks in, she came dangerously close to losing her life.

Noticing the troubled look on her face, Julian leaned closer, his brow furrowing with concern. “What’s wrong? Are you in pain?” he asked, his voice soft yet full of care.

“Oh no, I’m okay. I’m just thinking about what I could’ve done differently to have been okay in that situation,” she said quietly.

“There’s no way anyone could have predicted a hurricane on this scale. Don’t beat yourself up over it. You’re safe now, and that’s what matters,” he said, trying to cheer her up.

Rayne met his gaze, her lips curling into a small, grateful smile. “Yes, you’re right,” she agreed, though the lingering worry in her eyes didn’t entirely fade. “But now that I’m feeling better, I’ve been meaning to ask… where exactly am I, Julian?”

He looked at her and fiddled with his hands. “Well, I guess I should reintroduce myself. My name is Julian Barclay, I’m 28 years old, and I am the CEO of REN Corporation. You are currently in the underground bunker you designed for me.”

Rayne’s eyes widened in shock, “What?!”