The Lazy Chronicles: Apartment of the Apocalypse-Chapter 77: Bargains and Betrayals

The quiet unease that had settled over the apartment didn’t sit well with anyone. Cara’s sudden appearance had introduced a new variable to their already precarious existence, and it was clear that they were inching closer to something big—something that could either be their salvation or their undoing.

Mallory paced the living room, her arms crossed. "So let me get this straight. This Cara woman, who we don’t know from a hole in the ground, now knows we exist, knows where we’re scrounging for supplies, and has decided we’re her new errand boys?"

"Essentially, yes," Alex said, trying to suppress a smirk.

"Fantastic," Mallory deadpanned. "What’s next? We clean her gutters and mow her lawn?"

Harper snorted, but Greg stepped in before the conversation could devolve further. "Look, we need to be careful, but having a potential ally—or at least someone neutral—could be useful. Cara’s group might have resources we need."

Mallory wasn’t convinced. "Or they might decide we’re better off as a resource. I’ve seen enough zombie movies to know how this plays out."

Ryder, leaning against the wall with his usual scowl, finally spoke up. "She’s not wrong. Trust can get you killed."

"Great. Glad to see we’re all brimming with optimism today," Greg said, rubbing his temples. "Let’s focus on what we know. Cara gave us an opening, but we need to approach this cautiously."

"And by ’cautiously,’ you mean ’Mallory stays back to make sarcastic comments,’ right?" Mallory asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Exactly," Greg said with a straight face, earning a rare chuckle from Ryder.

---

The next morning, the group prepared for another scouting mission. This time, they planned to return to Cara’s territory to see if a trade agreement could be reached. Mallory wasn’t thrilled about the idea but reluctantly agreed to come along—if only to keep an eye on things.

As they walked through the eerily silent streets, Harper broke the tension with her usual humor. "So, Mallory, what’s the over-under on Cara trying to kill us today?"

Mallory smirked. "I’m betting she waits until dessert. Poison is classy."

Greg shook his head. "Can we focus, please? We’re walking into unknown territory."

They arrived at the fire station without incident, but the barricades from the previous day had been partially dismantled, giving the impression that Cara had been expecting them.

"Come on in," Cara’s voice called from the shadows as they approached.

Mallory muttered under her breath, "Well, this isn’t ominous at all."

Inside, Cara sat at a makeshift table surrounded by a few of her group members. The room was dimly lit, with a faint smell of mildew and smoke lingering in the air.

"Back already?" Cara said, her tone neutral but her eyes sharp. "I take it you’ve come to talk business."

Greg stepped forward. "We’re interested in a trade. Supplies for supplies—or information, if you have any."

Cara leaned back, studying them. "You’re bold. I’ll give you that. But bold doesn’t mean smart. Why should I trust you?"

Mallory couldn’t help herself. "Why should we trust you? You’re the one sending people into creepy basements."

Cara’s lips twitched into a faint smirk. "Fair point. Trust is a luxury these days."

---

The negotiation dragged on for what felt like hours. Cara’s terms were steep—too steep, in Mallory’s opinion—but Greg managed to hammer out a tentative agreement: an exchange of medical supplies for ammunition, with a side deal to share intel about other survivor groups in the area.

As they were preparing to leave, a commotion outside the fire station caught everyone’s attention. The sound of raised voices and scuffling feet sent a wave of tension through the room.

Cara grabbed her rifle and gestured for everyone to stay put. "Wait here."

Mallory, of course, ignored her. "Like hell I’m sitting in the dark while you play action hero."

She followed Cara outside, with the others close behind. What they saw stopped them in their tracks.

A group of heavily armed strangers had cornered one of Cara’s people against the wall. The strangers were clearly not interested in negotiations.

"This your turf?" one of them asked, sneering. "We’re just here to collect our share."

Cara’s jaw tightened. "We don’t owe you anything."

The tension escalated quickly. Guns were raised, and voices grew louder. Mallory, standing at the edge of the scene, whispered to Alex, "So, what’s the plan? Charm them to death?"

Before Alex could respond, Harper stepped forward with a wide, disarming grin. "Hey, everyone! How about we all take a deep breath and remember we’re on the same team here? Team ’Don’t Get Eaten by Zombies,’ right?"

The intruders looked at her like she’d grown a second head.

"Who’s this clown?" one of them asked.

Mallory jumped in, unable to resist. "Clown? She’s the team captain. And I’m the water girl. Now, are we going to talk this out, or should I start passing out snacks?"

The absurdity of the moment seemed to throw the intruders off just enough for Cara to make her move. With a quick, precise motion, she disarmed the leader and aimed his own gun at him.

"Now," Cara said coldly, "let’s talk about manners."

---

The standoff ended without bloodshed, though the intruders made it clear they would be back. Cara’s group, visibly shaken, thanked Mallory and the others for their unexpected help.

As they walked back to the apartment, Mallory couldn’t help but reflect on the day’s events.

"Well, that was fun," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Harper grinned. "I think I handled that pretty well. Maybe I should go into hostage negotiation."

"Or stand-up comedy," Mallory said.

Greg sighed. "Let’s just focus on what we’ve learned. Cara’s group isn’t as secure as they seem, and there are bigger threats out there than zombies."

Ryder, who had been unusually quiet, added, "And we’re on their radar now. That’s not good."

Mallory nodded. "Guess we’d better get used to living on edge. Again."

As they approached the apartment, Blinky greeted them with a series of excited chirps, his glowing eyes darting between them.

"At least someone’s happy to see us," Mallory said, scooping up the robotic pet.

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