Chapter 6: What the Hell Are You Doing?!

“Evander?!” Poppy's eyes widened in shock when she realised that the person who had hit the wall was someone she knew.

Without thinking twice, Poppy immediately ran into the small alley she had passed and hurriedly approached Evander, who had fallen to the ground after hitting the wall very hard.

Poppy almost slipped when she stopped in front of Evander, remembering that the road was very slippery due to the cold air. Poppy rushed to help Evander, but she didn't realise that Evander wasn't alone there until she finally heard someone's voice from behind her.

"Well, well. Look who's here? I heard you brought someone with you when you returned to base. So this is the person?" A woman's haughty voice began to be heard.

Poppy immediately turned her head back and found six other people there wearing thick winter clothes.

“She has nothing to do with you, so you better not bother her, Samantha.” Evander shot a sharp glance at the woman, who turned out to be named Samantha.

Samantha raised her chin high and glanced cynically at Poppy and Evander below, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

“Come on, Evander. I mean no harm to our newcomer. Our group is about to go out, so having a new person is a good thing,” Samantha replied calmly.

“We don't mind taking you back, considering you brought a new person here.”

“Ahh! That's not a bad idea!”

The other five people there responded to Samantha's words. Poppy glanced at them and realised there were four men and two women, including Samantha, in the group.

However, Poppy felt a strange premonition when she saw their behaviour. All this time, she had been silent, observing them, and the more she observed them, the stranger she felt.

Without Poppy realising it, Samantha walked closer to her and crouched beside her, whispering, “How sweet, are you interested in joining us?” Samantha's hand reached out to touch the side of Poppy's face.

Poppy looked up in surprise when she realised how close Samantha was to her at that moment. However, Poppy was even more surprised when she screamed as she felt Evander react quite violently to Samantha's actions.

Evander pulled Poppy's arm behind her back, not allowing Samantha to touch her.

“Back off! I know how cunning you and your friends are, I won't fall into your trap a second time!” Evander's voice was cold and sharp, his shoulders rising and falling with pent-up emotion.

In fact, Poppy could feel Evander's grip on her arm tightening. Poppy couldn't help but stare at Evander, who was trying to protect her.

“You've become even more annoying since we last met,” Samantha replied with an unhappy smirk after hearing Evander's words.

Samantha raised her hand and made a gesture. Poppy, who saw this, quietly furrowed her brow in confusion, and a moment later, two men with dangerous smirks on their faces began to approach Poppy and Evander.

“Looks like you need to be reminded of the consequences of offending me, Evander.” Samantha stood up from her position and nodded her head towards Poppy and Evander.

Realising that something dangerous was about to happen, Poppy helped Evander to his feet. Poppy did not expect Samantha to react so aggressively. It turned out that life in a post-apocalyptic world was indeed very dangerous.

Poppy had just intended to enjoy her life in this new world, but now she was faced with a danger that could threaten her life.

Although Poppy wasn't sure, she suspected that these people were the ones who had betrayed her and left her in the snowy forest back then.

“What should we do now?” Poppy whispered to Evander as the corner of her eye caught the two men getting closer.

“There's no other choice, we have to face them!” Evander gritted his teeth while enduring the pain in his ribs.

Realising that if Evander pushed himself, he could be thrown against the wall again, Poppy quickly thought of a way to save themselves from this difficult situation.

Poppy's heart nearly stopped when she saw the two men pull out daggers and start running toward Evander and herself.

Poppy was certain that if she made a wrong move, they could both die here.

She decided that letting go of a little of her pride wasn't a problem if it could save her and Evander's lives.

“I'll join your group, Samantha!” Poppy shouted loudly, making sure Samantha heard her.

In an instant, Evander turned to Poppy, his eyes staring at her in surprise, not expecting Poppy to say that.

“So please don't hurt Evander. We'll join you as you wish,” Poppy continued quickly to persuade Samantha, while refraining from turning her head and looking at Evander.

“Looks like you're pretty smart.” Samantha laughed happily, then snapped her fingers, and the two men stopped attacking Evander. “I like your courage. I hope you can survive here for a long time,” Samantha continued, patting Poppy's cheek quite hard.

Samantha turned and walked away, “This way, I don't have to waste my time. I need you guys to do something.”

“You want them to do that job, Samantha?” One of the men, named Kevin, spoke up.

“Yes. Since they've reunited, take them to that place,” Samantha replied, waving her hand gently.

Evander, who still couldn't accept Poppy's decision, immediately shot her a sharp glance. Poppy could only grimace and walk closer to Evander.

"I did it to save you. Do you think you could have survived them without getting hurt? You and I could have died if we hadn't obeyed the witch's words," whispered Poppy, tiptoeing towards Evander because she was only as tall as his shoulder.

“You don't know how cruel they are to the people at the base.” Evander hissed softly, making sure that only Poppy could hear him.

Just as Poppy was about to reply to Evander, she stopped when she heard Kevin's voice, which surprised her. Poppy didn't expect Kevin to still be there and not have left with Samantha.

“Stop whispering like that! Follow me! Hurry!” Kevin glared when Poppy and Evander didn't move to follow him.

Not wanting to make Kevin angry and turn on her, Poppy reluctantly followed his orders. Evander, who was still upset, was dragged away by Poppy.

At first, Poppy didn't really think about what she had to do for Samantha's group. However, she immediately regretted her decision when she arrived at the place where the woodpile was.

“You know what you have to do, right? Explain it to the new kid,” Kevin said lazily. He yawned and then turned to leave them.

Poppy nudged Evander's shoulder. “Tell me what this is all about,” Poppy asked, frowning in confusion.

“They want us to cut these frozen logs into firewood and take them to their tents,” Evander said, trying to keep himself from growling in anger.

Poppy's eyes widened in disbelief. These logs were covered in snow, making it very difficult for them to turn them into firewood.

“Isn't this impossible?!” Poppy's pupils trembled as she realised the problem she had brought upon herself.