CHAPTER 24: CHAPTER 24: SIGNAL

A helpless sigh slipped from Betty’s lips as Lillian dragged her along, she ran hand through her short hairs.

’I can walk, why is she dragging me though?’

From behind, a survivor’s voice drifted to her ears, half-amused.

"Yeah, I thought he was a pervert, but turns out he just wanted muscles. Poor guy, I can see why he wants muscles, just look at his thin body."

Heat spread across Betty’s cheeks, and she buried her face in her jacket collar.

’Ahhh, why did I do that? So embarrassing.’

Her lips, hidden in her jacket, started twitching, then broke into a grin.

’But those were solid muscles, hehe I want to punch his chest to test something’

Lillian stopped abruptly and shot her a sharp look, pointing toward the worn-out mattress like a general giving orders.

’Tch, just look at her behavior, it seems like concerned big sister or something, hmph. The more I see her behavior, the more she feels like a stranger.’

With a reluctant groan, Betty sat down on the mattress, her eyes subtly scanning Lillian’s every move.

Lillian picked up a water bottle from beside the bed and handed it to her.

"You haven’t even drunk water. Look at your lips—they’re chapped."

Betty blinked at the bottle, then at Lillian, suspiciously narrowing her eyes.

"What... drink water? Why are you staring at me like that?"

Reluctantly, she unscrewed the cap and took a cautious sip, her gaze never leaving Lillian’s face.

’I can’t see anything abnormal in her expression... so the drink isn’t drugged, right, it tastes normal?’

"Okay, now rest. I’m going back—make sure you sleep well."

As Lillian walked away, Betty rubbed her temple, feeling the tension drain from her shoulders.

’Damien’s behavior matches what was written in the novel, but Lillian’s... it’s completely opposite. And what about Mr. and Mrs. Thomson? Where are they?’

Her eyes wandered across the hall, scanning the faces of the survivors. Damien and Lillian were sitting near one of the campfires, but there was no sign of the other Thomson family members.

Lying back on the mattress, Betty’s gaze drifted toward the empty audience section to her left. Her fingers tapped against the worn fabric impatiently.

’In the novel, the Thomson family never separated. They even became a key family at one of the bases. So why does everything feel so... off?’

She turned on her side, her body shifting uncomfortably as unease gnawed at her thoughts.

Betty closed her eyes, letting her thoughts drift to the plot of the original novel.

The female lead’s name... was, of course, Betty Thomson.The male lead? Noah James.

The storyline was like many other post-apocalyptic books she had read, but every time she recalled it, frustration welled up inside her.

’The female lead had such powerful abilities, yet she was utterly useless—always hiding behind Noah, always trembling instead of fighting back.’

In the novel, their first meeting was during the early days of the apocalypse. Lillian had driven the original Betty out of the house during a freezing storm. The cold gnawed at her body until she collapsed, half-dead.

That was when Noah appeared, finding her unconscious, saving her life, and becoming her so-called protector.

He was gentle—overly gentle.

The original Betty, who had never felt warmth from anyone after they discovered she wasn’t the real Thomson daughter, quickly developed a crush on him.

Over time, they fell in love. They even promised to marry, Noah, although weaker than Betty claimed to protect her, and the cowardly Betty always hid behind him.

But on the day of their engagement, everything shattered.Noah stood before her and coldly declared that he never loved her—that she was only a substitute for someone else.

Heartbroken, the original Betty left, her world collapsing around her.

Yet fate was cruel. Lillian schemed against her, capturing her in secret. In the darkness, Lillian extracted her ice core—the very source of her powers—because she, a non-awakened, had always coveted awakening more than anything else.

But after Betty’s death, Noah finally realized the truth—he loved her. He searched for her desperately, only to discover she was already gone.

Wracked with regret, he drowned himself in guilt. Yet, in the end, he still married the woman he had loved before Betty.

"Aghhh!"

Betty punched the worn-out mattress, sitting up abruptly. Her face steamed with rage, as if smoke were about to come out of her ears.

’What the heck? She was an ice awakener at the ninth core level, and she just died like that? And then that bastard gets away with everything? No! If that were me, I’d freeze that jerk solid and smash his face until he couldn’t even recognize himself in the mirror!’

She took a deep breath, a mist of white smoke escaping her mouth in the cold air.

Suddenly, a man stood from the corner of the hall, running in circles and shouting at the top of his lungs.

"Everyone! Good news, good news!"

His loud voice startled the survivors, making several jump to their feet.

A middle-aged woman stood up and glared at him, her voice sharp."Shut up, you moron! Do you want to get us all killed?"

The man froze, slapping a hand over his mouth, his face pale with panic.

"S-Sorry, sorry!" he stammered, lowering his voice but still trembling with excitement."But it’s good news! Quickly, follow me—the old 90s radio is receiving a signal!"

Everyone’s eyes lit up with hope, and the once gloomy atmosphere shifted as they hurriedly followed the man toward the source of the sound.

Betty’s heart skipped a beat. She rose to her feet and slipped into the crowd, walking behind them with anticipation.

’Finally, if this is true, I can take Sophia out safely. A government-backed camp means security... for one year at least.’

When they reached the corner where the old device sat, Betty could see an ancient radio, its metal casing rusted but still functional. From its speakers came a faint voice, distorted by heavy static.

[Emergency news: All electronic devices have stopped working, and the world has fallen decades behind. With great difficulty, scientists have ensured this message reaches everyone. The government camp is located in the southern city. Please, all survivors, head there. Do NOT—repeat, do NOT—stop at camps that are not government-backed. Some insane people are attempting to crown themselves as emperors.]