Common Sense Hijack System-Chapter 131

The following week passed quietly, the frost-laden world outside maintaining its unforgiving grip. Yet, for Karl, Jane, and Layla, the days seemed less harsh. Inside their small shelter, they found solace in the routine they had built—a fragile semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos.

Karl spent his mornings sorting through the contents of the Uncommon Storage, ensuring their supplies were in order. Jane kept busy by reinforcing their shelter, using scrap materials scavenged from nearby ruins. Layla, ever resourceful, had taken to hunting small animals, bringing back fresh food that supplemented Karl’s canned goods.

That morning, as the pale winter sunlight filtered through the boarded-up windows, Karl sat at the makeshift table, sketching a rough map of the surrounding area. Jane leaned against the wall, her hands idly flipping a dagger Karl had found in storage. Layla was crouched near the fireplace, expertly skinning a rabbit she’d caught earlier.

"You know," Jane began, her tone light but laced with curiosity, "I’ve been thinking about this whole ’superhuman’ thing we’ve got going on. It’s like we’re in some kind of dystopian comic book. Layla with her strength, me with my healing... and you, Karl, with your magical bottomless backpack. We’re basically a team of misfits."

Karl smirked but didn’t look up from his map. "I don’t think ’misfits’ is the right word. Survivors, maybe."

Layla glanced over her shoulder, her hands steady as she worked. "I like the sound of that. Survivors. It feels... empowering."

Jane chuckled. "Sure, but what do we call ourselves? Every good team has a name, right? How about ’The Frozen Avengers’?"

Karl groaned. "We’re not naming ourselves, Jane."

"Why not?" Jane teased, flipping the dagger one last time before tucking it into her belt. "It adds character. Besides, if we’re going to survive this apocalypse, we might as well do it with some flair."

"Flair won’t keep us alive," Karl replied, finally setting down his pencil. He looked at the two women, his expression serious. "What will is sticking to the plan. We stay quiet, avoid drawing attention, and only take what we need."

Layla nodded, her gaze meeting Karl’s. "He’s right. The fewer people who know about us, the safer we are."

Jane sighed dramatically but didn’t argue further. Instead, she pushed off the wall and grabbed her coat. "Fine, fine. I’ll save my creative genius for another day. I’m heading out to check the perimeter. Maybe I’ll find something useful."

Karl stood, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Be careful. The last thing we need is to attract any unwanted attention."

Jane saluted mockingly. "Yes, sir. I’ll be back before you know it."

As she slipped out the door, Karl turned to Layla. "You notice anything unusual lately? Anything that might explain what’s happening to you and Jane?"

Layla paused, her expression thoughtful. "Not really. It just... started. Like my body decided to adapt to all of this without telling me."

Karl frowned, his mind racing. "It has to be connected to something. Maybe the environment, the food... or even the storage."

Layla’s eyes widened slightly. "The storage? You think it could be causing this?"

Karl hesitated, then nodded slowly. "It’s a possibility. Whatever’s powering it isn’t normal. Maybe it’s affecting more than just the items I pull out."

Layla looked uneasy. "Should we stop using it, then?"

Karl shook his head. "Not yet. It’s keeping us alive. But we need to be careful. If this is some kind of side effect, we need to figure out what it means—before it gets out of hand."

Layla nodded, her expression resolute. "Okay. I’ll keep an eye on myself and Jane. If anything changes, you’ll be the first to know."

"Good," Karl said, his voice firm. "Because if something goes wrong, I need to be ready to deal with it."

They spent the rest of the day reinforcing their shelter and cataloging supplies. Jane returned a few hours later with a bundle of firewood and a smug grin. "Found a stash someone left behind. Whoever it was, they must’ve been in a hurry, because they didn’t even try to hide it."

"Or they’re planning to come back for it," Karl said, his tone cautious. "We need to be ready in case someone starts looking for it."

Jane shrugged. "Let them come. Between Layla’s strength, my healing, and your brain, we can handle anything."

Karl didn’t respond immediately, his mind still turning over the possibilities. The thought of a confrontation—of putting Jane and Layla’s newfound abilities to the test—unnerved him. But he couldn’t deny the small part of him that felt reassured by their presence. They were stronger now, more capable. Maybe, just maybe, they had a chance to survive this frozen hell.

That night, as they huddled around the fireplace, the three of them shared a quiet moment of camaraderie. The world outside was as cold and unforgiving as ever, but within their small sanctuary, there was warmth. There was hope.

For now, that was enough.

That night, the atmosphere in the apartment shifted, becoming unnervingly tense. Karl sat by the covered window, using the dim light from the dwindling fire in the hearth to review his hand-drawn map. Jane and Layla were across the room, their quiet conversation punctuated by occasional laughter, a rare moment of levity in their otherwise bleak reality.

Suddenly, the faint hum of the electricity that powered the few remaining lights in the building stopped. The room was plunged into a deeper darkness, the firelight now the only source of illumination. The silence that followed was thick and suffocating, broken only by the soft crackle of burning wood.

"What just happened?" Jane asked, her voice sharp as she instinctively reached for the dagger she always kept at her side.

Karl stood up, his movements cautious. "Power’s out. Could be nothing... or it could mean trouble."

Layla looked around nervously, clutching the edges of her coat tighter. "The entire building? Or just us?"

Karl walked to the door, pressing his ear against it. The hallway outside was eerily quiet, void of the usual faint sounds of other survivors moving about. He stepped back, his expression grim. "Doesn’t matter. Either way, we need to stay alert."

The fire in the hearth flickered weakly, casting long, distorted shadows across the walls. Jane frowned, her usual bravado replaced by unease. "It’s too quiet. I don’t like this."

Karl nodded. "I don’t either. Check the windows, make sure they’re sealed tight. Layla, stay near the fire. We can’t let it go out."

As Jane moved to the nearest window, she stopped abruptly. "Karl," she called out, her voice low but tense. "Something’s outside."

Karl rushed to her side, carefully peeling back the edge of the fabric covering the glass. The world beyond was a frozen wasteland, but something about the way the darkness loomed felt unnatural, almost alive. In the faint moonlight, he could just make out a figure standing motionless in the street below.

It didn’t move, didn’t seem affected by the bone-chilling wind or the snow piling around it. It simply stood there, staring up at the building.

Layla’s voice broke the tense silence. "What is it? What do you see?"

"Someone," Karl said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Or something."

Jane leaned closer, her breath fogging the glass. "That’s not normal. No one would just stand out there in this cold."

Karl nodded, his mind racing. "We need to stay quiet. If it’s human, they might just move on. If it’s not... we don’t want to draw its attention."

Layla shivered, despite the fire’s warmth. "What if they know we’re here?"

"They don’t," Karl said firmly, though he wasn’t sure if he believed his own words. "But we can’t take any chances. Jane, keep an eye on the window. Layla, help me reinforce the door."

The three of them moved quickly but silently, their unease growing with each passing minute. Karl dragged a heavy shelf in front of the door while Layla wedged furniture against it to create a makeshift barricade. Jane kept her gaze fixed on the figure below, her hand gripping her dagger tightly.

Minutes turned into an hour, and the figure outside didn’t budge. The fire began to dwindle, its light and warmth fading. Karl added the last of their firewood, but it wouldn’t last much longer.

"Still there," Jane whispered, her voice barely audible. "It’s like it’s waiting."

"For what?" Layla asked, her voice trembling.

Karl shook his head, his jaw tightening. "I don’t know. But we’re not going to find out."

The air in the room seemed to grow colder, the oppressive silence almost deafening. The shadows cast by the firelight seemed to stretch and twist unnaturally, and for the first time, Karl felt truly powerless.

Then came the sound—a faint, almost imperceptible scratching at the door. It was slow, deliberate, as if whatever was on the other side was testing their defenses.

Layla gasped, clutching Karl’s arm. "It’s here."

Jane moved closer to the door, her dagger drawn. "Whatever it is, it’s not getting in. Not without a fight."

"Stay back," Karl ordered, his voice low but commanding. He reached into the Uncommon Storage, pulling out a sturdy crowbar. "We don’t know what we’re dealing with."

The scratching grew louder, more insistent. And then, it stopped.

The silence that followed was even more unnerving than the noise. The three of them stood frozen, their breaths shallow and ragged, straining to hear anything that might indicate the figure’s next move.

A sudden, loud bang against the door made them all jump. The sound reverberated through the room, shaking the barricade but not breaking it. Karl tightened his grip on the crowbar, his heart pounding in his chest.

"We can’t stay here," Layla whispered, her voice barely audible. "What if it gets in?"

"We don’t have a choice," Karl replied, his eyes fixed on the door. "If we run, we’re vulnerable. Here, at least, we have some protection."

Another bang, louder this time, followed by a low, guttural sound that sent chills down their spines. Whatever was outside wasn’t human—or if it had been, it wasn’t anymore.

Karl took a deep breath, steadying himself. "We hold the line. No matter what happens, we stick together."

Jane smirked despite the tension. "You’re not getting rid of me that easily, boss."

Layla nodded, her fear giving way to determination. "We’ll make it through this. We have to."

As the next bang echoed through the room, Karl braced himself, his knuckles white around the crowbar. Whatever was coming, they would face it together.