Frozen Betrayal And The S Class Spark That Burned Them All

The apocalypse didn't turn my fake sister into a survivor, but it certainly turned her into a leech, clinging to me for every dangerous supply run. She was useless, a burden, but my parentsRobert and Joyce Sinclairloved her so blindly they insisted she accompany the most powerful operative in the sector: me, Delilah Sinclair.

I froze mid-step, my grocery basket clattering against a derelict checkout counter. My fianc, Garrett Caldwell, and the leech, Dahlia Parrish, were gone.

Dahlia is just so much softer, so much more delicate than that savage woman.

The voice, Garretts voice, hit my mind like a low-frequency hum. I pressed my lips together, a razor-sharp edge of shock slicing through the bitter familiarity of his betrayal.

Why is she walking toward us? Did she spot me?

Good thing I managed to yank Dahlia into the industrial freezer right away.

My eyes fixed on the massive, double-door freezer unit near the back wall, a knot of pure, cold rage tightening in my chest.

If they thought they could humiliate me and get away with it, they were wrong. If they wanted to play house, I would make sure their love nest became their tomb.

I walked over to a damaged leather sofa near the main entrance, brushed off the dust, and sank onto it, announcing to the team, "We're setting up camp here for the night."

Dont worry. They would get to savor every minute of their last night alive.

The silence that followed was heavy, punctuated only by the distant, wind-whipped groan of the ruined supermarket. Every eye turned to me in disbelief.

Mitch Doherty, one of Garretts loyal subordinates, was the first to object.

"Dee! Are you serious? You know thats suicide!" he barked, his face red with panic. "Camping out in the open is insane! The infected are getting more aggressive. We cant gamble with everyones lives!"

Garretts mental voice spiked with panic and fury.

What the hell is this idiot doing? Setting up camp? Has a zombie taken a bite out of her brain? Get your people and leave, you psycho!

Damn it, she cant hear me screaming at her. This is driving me insane! Dahlia is going to suffocate in here!

The more he cursed, the deeper the smile settled on my face.

Before the fall, I was the Sinclair family's long-lost true daughter, found and brought home, only to be treated like an unwelcome guest, a glorified housemaid. Everyone in the Sinclair compoundmy parents, my supposed fiancadored the fragile, doe-eyed Dahlia.

Then the apocalypse hit. I woke up with the rarest of gifts: S-class electrical power. I became the strongest asset in the Sector, the lightning in the storm. Yet, my parents and Garrett still only had eyes for Dahlia, the fragile woman with no power at all.

If they wanted to prioritize her life over the safety of the entire camp, then I wouldn't bother with mercy anymore.

Ignoring Mitch, I flashed a grin at my team. "We've been on our feet all day, and there are enough supplies here to outfit an entire small base. We cant move it all tonight. We might as well use some of it up, rest up, and hit it hard again tomorrow."

It was a perfectly rational plan for a sane world, and my loyal team members immediately nodded in weary agreement.

"No! We absolutely cannot stay here!" Mitch persisted, his face a mask of frantic desperation. He was practically roaring. "We'll draw every infected within five miles! Captain Sinclair, you are throwing our lives away for a whim!"

Garretts thought was a wave of approval. Well said! Mitch, keep pushing! Get this maniac out of here before Cora freezes over!

The smile finally dropped from my face. My eyes turned to granite.

"Mitch Doherty." My voice was deceptively low, but the authority in it was absolute. "Who the hell do you think you are, questioning my command?"

Snap!

A cluster of silver-blue electrical energy sparked at my fingertip, letting out a sharp, tiny crackle. The air in the store seemed to grow instantly taut and charged.

Mitch recoiled, his face pale and eyes wide with terror. He wisely backed down, not uttering another word.

I turned away from the coward and walked straight to the supermarkets main electrical panel. I pressed my palm against the dust-caked metal.

The sheer volume of my lightning power surged from my center, a sleeping dragon awakening. It slammed into the ancient wiring, instantly revitalizing the long-dead system.

"Zzzzt"

The massive, overhead fluorescent lights flickered violently and then blazed to life, bathing the entire store in harsh, artificial white light. Even the dual-compressor motor on the industrial freezer unit Garrett was hiding in whirred to life.

In that dead, silent world, I had single-handedly resurrected the light and life of the pre-apocalypse world.

I turned back, standing in the sudden, blinding light, and gazed at the gleaming stainless-steel freezer. My heart was a frozen block.

They liked hiding in the refrigerator, did they?

Today, I would let them find out what it felt like to be frozen to death.

"Youre insane! You are completely out of your mind!"

Mitch shot up as if Id zapped him, instantly rallying Garrett's men.

"Look around, people! You see this? The Captain has decided to light up the entire store! In the middle of the night! She wants to make us a giant, moving target for every stray infected! She has no right to lead us! Lets get out of here and head back to the Sector!"

The crowd instantly erupted into a panicked murmur.

"Oh God... Mitch is right. That light, the noisewere basically sending up a flare! Everything for miles will swarm us!"

"We're going to be overrun! We're dead!"

"Captain, you can't do this! Turn it off! Please, we don't want to die!"

The loyalty of the men from Garretts team, who had respected me just moments ago, crumbled under the raw fear of death, turning into outright terror and accusation. Even a few of my newer recruits looked uncertain. Fear always stripped away a person's humanity and loyalty in the end.

Delilah Sinclair is a fool. Lighting up the store? She might as well ring a dinner bell for the undead.

Mitch, hurry! Dahlia is barely hanging on. Keep them busy! Garrett's mental voice was now frantic.

But before Mitch could continue his toxic campaign, a roar cut through the noise.

"Shut up, all of you!"

My second-in-command, Justine "Jus" Reyes, a powerful Strength-type, stomped forward. The impact of her heavy boot hitting the floor was enough to shatter the cracked tile into a fine spiderweb pattern.

A ferocious aura of pure power burst from her, instantly silencing the chaotic crowd.

Justine's icy gaze swept over the most vocal of the complainers. Her voice was steady and loud enough to carry through the massive space.

"Since the Fall, how many missions has the Captain led us on?" she demanded.

"Which one wasn't a complete success? Which one didn't leave us better supplied and safer than before? The Sinclair Sector's fatality rate is the lowest in the region, and that's her doing!"

She paused, pointing a finger at my shamed-looking recruits. Her tone grew sharper.

"You've forgotten, haven't you? Who arrived like an avenging angel to save your lives when you were cornered by a horde? Who found the supply caches when you were out of food and ammo?"

"And now, because of a couple of fear-mongering traitors, you question the Captain's judgment? Is your loyalty that cheap?"

Her words were like heavy stones. My own team members quickly looked down in shame.

Mitch, however, was not done. He huddled in the back of the group and muttered under his breath, "Thats different. Were talking about basic survival now! Lighting the place up is a death wish. Its common sense!"

Yes! Thats right! Say it again! This stupid woman doesnt understand the rules of the new world! Garretts thoughts were a mix of desperation and hope.

My eyes narrowed.

In the next instant, a strand of silver-blue electricity condensed in my hand, morphing into a long, crackling whip. I snapped it forward, and it slammed across Mitchs body with terrifying speed and precision.

CRACK!

The crisp explosion was followed by Mitch's pig-like scream. He was hurled backward, smashing into a wall of canned goods. His body convulsed, and the sickening scent of burnt flesh filled the air.

I walked slowly toward him, looking down at his twitching form. My voice was utterly devoid of warmth.

"You are nothing. And let me be perfectly clear: your master, Garrett Caldwell, is equally unqualified to question any decision I make."

The entire supermarket fell utterly silent.

Everyone was paralyzed by the ruthlessness of my power. No one dared to challenge me again.

The assertion of my authority was complete. Now, for the final setup.

I retracted the lightning whip and spoke to the group in a softer, more reassuring tone.

"No one needs to panic. I wouldn't have done this without backup."

I let the words hang in the air for a moment before continuing.

"Ive recently awakened a secondary power. I can mask our presence from the infected for a substantial radius."

"It covers the entire store. So, rest easy, eat your fill, and enjoy the light."

A cheer erupted around me.

"Really? That's amazing!"

"I knew the Captain had a plan!"

What? Did Delilah actually awaken some kind of broken stealth ability? Why didnt I know about this?!

Why is Dahlia so hot? I almost forgot she's a baseline human, her immune system is shot. Her lips are blue... Shes shaking so badly.

The forced pity in Garretts internal voice only made the cruel smile in my heart deepen.

This was just the appetizer. The main course was still ahead.

Garretts thoughts continued to trickle, weak and frantic, into my mind.

Its so cold Why is this stupid box so cold

Dahlia, stop shaking. Put my coat back on.

That damn Delilah. When I get out of here, when I marry her and take over the Sector, I will strip her of everything and make her pay for this.

The final part was drowned out by a suppressed sound of chattering teeth and ragged breathing. I could picture the scene: the tiny, confined space, the temperature dropping rapidly.

Dahlia was just a baseline. My overly-doting parents had sheltered her her entire life, making her even weaker than the average survivor. Garrett, though an elemental, had a combat-focused power that did little for his own physical endurance.

The situation inside the freezer was rapidly deteriorating.

Stop itdont wrap your limbs around me! Cant you keep your arms and legs to yourself?

This is annoying! Youre freezing! Stop clinging to me!

S-stop touching me!

It seemed Dahlia was desperately seeking warmth from her lover.

The cold smirk on my face grew wider.

There it was. The true nature of a man. When the romance faded, when the danger got too close, the lover became a burden, a repulsive dead weight.

This was merely the introduction.

I set down my glass of scavenged wine and rose to my feet.

The noisy crowd immediately quieted, their attention snapping to me.

"Justine." I addressed my second-in-command.

"Yes, Captain." Justine stepped forward instantly.

"Take two men and drive back to the Caldwell compound immediately," I instructed.

"Tell them that Delilah Sinclair has located an immense cache of supplies and is willing to share it with them. Ask Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell to send their heavy retrieval teams to help us move it."

I leaned in slightly, my voice dropping just enough to convey the gravity of the request. "And make sure you emphasize that I would like them to come personally to oversee the split."

Alistair and Camille Caldwell. Garretts parents. The true power players in their Sector.

The muddier the water, the easier it was for me to fish.

What?! That stupid Delilah is calling my parents here? Garretts thoughts were pure terror.

No! They cant come! If they see me and Dahlia everything is over! My engagement, the merger, everything!

Mitch, sensing the true danger to his leader, started thrashing against his restraints, letting out muffled, desperate sounds, his eyes pleading with Garretts remaining team.

This time, however, Garrett's men turned on their own.

The man who seemed to be their new leader kicked Mitch in the ribs. "What the hell is your problem?" he snarled.

"Captain Sinclair is showing unprecedented generosity, sharing a major haul with our Sector! And you keep trying to mess things up? What are you, some kind of spy trying to steal it all?"

"Yeah! Gag him! Don't let him cause any more trouble!"

"Captain, please ignore him. We'll follow your lead."

I gave them a small, satisfied nod before turning to Justine. "Speed is key. Get back here before dawn."

"Yes, Captain." Justine acknowledged the order, gathered her two men, and sped off into the night in an armored SUV.

I settled back onto the sofa, closing my eyes, pretending to rest while focusing every ounce of my attention on the freezer unit.

Garrett was spiraling into full-blown panic.

What do I do, what do I do? My parents will be here any minute!

Dahlia! This is all your fault! If you hadnt found that skimpy lace lingerie and insisted on wearing it to seduce me, I never would have lost control!

Wait, Dahlia is really fading fast Her breathing is shallow. Hot and cold. Shes babbling nonsense!

Damn it, shes trying to push the freezer door open!

A dull thud echoed faintly through the store.

Shes lost it! The womans completely lost her mind! Shes trying to open the door! Thank God I reacted fast enough!

I snapped her hand! I had to! If shed gotten that door open and Delilah had seen us, my engagement and the Caldwell merger would have been ruined forever!

I clenched my fists until my nails dug into my palms, completely ignoring the pain.

My engagement to Garrett was initially a political maneuver to solidify my position against my parents. But when Garrett first saw me, he claimed it was love at first sight. He brought me a flower every daya clumsy gesture, but in an apocalypse, where life was fragile, a flower was the most precious thing in the world.

I, the girl raised in the foster system, the orphan, wanted nothing more than a real family. I let down my guard. I let him in.

And what did I get in return? An illicit affair with Dahlia and a vile plan to murder me after the wedding so he could take over the Sinclair Sector completely.

No. Exposing them and ruining their reputation wouldn't be enough.

I wanted them dead. All of them.

Shes dying her breathing is so faint her hand is broken, so shes kicking the door instead

Garretts mental voice became a strangled whine.

Thump thump-thump

The subtle banging came from the freezer.

"Hey, did anyone else hear that noise?" a recruit asked nervously.

Everyone stopped eating and tilted their heads, listening.

Garretts mind-voice was a scream in my head. NO! They heard it! That bitch Delilah definitely heard it too!

I met the teams gaze, my expression perfectly neutral. I spoke calmly.

"Its an abandoned supermarket, guys. Its been derelict for three years. Old wiring, shifting rebar. Youre going to hear strange noises."

I swept my gaze over them, giving them a reassuring nod. "Don't worry. Im here. Youre safe."

My words, backed by the reality of the blazing lights and my S-class power, were the perfect sedative. The team instantly relaxed and went back to their meal.

But Garrett's fear had hit its peak.

Dahlias desperate survival instinct was kicking in. Near death, she found a final surge of strength.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

The banging grew louder, more frantic, and the freezer door began to visibly vibrate.

That miserable whore! Shes trying to kill me! If you want to die, dont drag me with you!

Im sorry, Dahlia but blame that witch Delilah! If she hadnt insisted on camping here, you wouldnt be dying right now!

Don't worry, I'll get my revenge for you! When you become a ghost, go after her! She's the one who killed us both!

A cold, murderous intent, far more terrifying than the fear, settled in Garrett's mind.

Just then, the roar of multiple SUV engines filled the air outside the supermarket.

Justine was back.

She had brought Alistair and Camille Caldwell. But behind them, I saw another familiar pair step out of a second armored vehicle: Robert and Joyce Sinclair.

Perfect.

A family reunion, I whispered to myself, a true smile finally touching my lips. Its time to bring everyone together.

"Delilah Sinclair, what in God's name is going on? Why did you drag us out here in the middle of the night for supplies?" My mother, Joyce, immediately started her typical scolding.

"Youre always so inconsiderate, unlike your sister. If you had half of Dahlias common sense, I wouldnt have to"

Her words were cut off. I lifted my hand sharply. A thin, silver-blue current of electricity zipped from my finger, transforming into an electric serpent. It shot across the room and expertly wrapped around the freezers door handle.

Click-Clack.

The magnetic door lock shattered under the force.

The freezer door swung open, revealing the scene inside.

My mother's "sensible" daughter, Dahlia, was dressed in a scandalous purple lace negligee, her eyes wide and staring blankly, slumped in the arms of Garrett Caldwell.

Garrett's hands were still clamped around Dahlias pale neck.

The pupils of every person present snapped to a terrifying, pinpoint focus.