Chef in the Apocalypse

Chapter 46: Stories by the fire

As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting an orange and pink hue across the desolate landscape, the group found themselves settling into the comfort of the abandoned house. The decision had been made to stay put for the night, allowing them to rest and recover before they continued their journey in the morning.

Gathered around a modest fire, their faces illuminated by its flickering light, the party shared an air of companionship that had only grown stronger through their trials. Colin was the first to break the silence, his deep voice rumbling in the night air. “You know, even in the midst of all this chaos, it’s moments like these that remind me of what it means to be alive.”

Jackie, who was perched on a makeshift seat, nodded in agreement. “Yeah, you’re right. Back in the old world, it was easy to take these simple things for granted.”

Jayce, sitting nearby, added with a reflective smile, “And now we’re learning to appreciate them all over again.”

Amber chimed in, her voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. “I used to be so absorbed in my studies and my work. I hardly ever stopped to just enjoy the small moments.”

Lianna, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke up. “It’s funny how life has a way of reshaping our priorities.”

The fire crackled softly, its warmth a comforting embrace against the chill of the night. The group lapsed into a contemplative silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Then, Zane, who had been listening silently, cleared his throat. “So, where were you all before everything changed?”

Colin scratched his chin thoughtfully before answering. “I was a gym instructor. Used to help people get fit, strong. Never thought I’d be using those skills to fight monsters.”

Jayce was a little confused, speaking up, “I thought you ran the club that we were using for a shelter?”

The big man scoffed, “Do I look like the type? Although I have fond memories of that club, I don’t own it.” he sent a wink to Jackie, flashing his trademark grin.

Jackie’s face reddened a little, however she let out a little chuckle before clearing her throat. “I was a receptionist for a government agency, so I have no transferable skills.”

Amber chuckled. “I was studying to be a librarian. Never imagined I’d be flinging fireballs.”

Lianna’s gaze turned distant. “I was in my last year of High School. I wanted to be a doctor when I grew up.” she said absent-mindedly.

Zane leaned back against the wall, a distant look in his eyes. “I was a nature photographer. Always loved capturing the beauty of the world. But now… well, let’s just say my subjects have changed.”

Colin let out a hearty laugh. “Yeah, I never thought I’d be fighting monsters instead of lifting weights, that’s for sure.”

Jackie smirked at him. “But you’re still showing off your muscles, just in a different way.”

Colin flexed his arm dramatically, causing the group to burst into laughter again. Even in the face of danger, they found moments of levity that lifted their spirits.

After the laughter died down, Ben and Paul exchanged glances, as if silently agreeing to share their own tales. Paul cleared his throat, his eyes taking on a distant look.

“You know,” he began, “before all this, I was a musician. Played the guitar in a local band, dreaming of making it big someday.”

Ben raised an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued. “Really? You never mentioned that.”

Paul gave a rueful smile. “Yeah, it feels like a lifetime ago now. We used to play in small gigs, trying to get noticed. But as you can guess, we were just one of those countless bands struggling for recognition.”

Ben leaned back against the wall, nodding. “I get it. Life can be a series of attempts, hoping for that one breakthrough.”

Paul nodded in agreement. “Exactly. Music was my way of expressing myself, my escape. Now, well, I guess I’m finding new ways to survive, new melodies to play.”

Ben’s turn came, and he scratched the back of his head. “I used to be a bookstore clerk. Always loved reading, and being surrounded by books was like heaven for me. I had this dream of opening my own bookstore one day, a place where people could come and lose themselves in stories.”

Amber’s eyes lit up evaluating Ben in a different light.

Lianna chimed in with a smile. “That sounds wonderful. I’ve always loved reading too.”

Ben’s eyes sparkled. “Yeah, it’s like every book is a portal to another world, another life. But now… it’s like we’re all characters in an adventure story, fighting for our survival.”

Zane nodded, absorbing their stories. “It’s strange how we all ended up here, isn’t it? But in a way, I think our pasts have prepared us for this new world.”

Colin raised an eyebrow, grinning. “Yeah, who would’ve thought my time at the gym slinging weights would turn out to be so useful?”

Amid the gentle crackling of the fire, the atmosphere seemed to shift as the group’s attention turned towards Jayce. He cleared his throat, his voice carrying a hint of vulnerability as he began to recount his own journey.

“Well,” he started, his gaze distant, “my story isn’t really the stuff of legends. It’s more… a series of trials, I suppose.” His fingers traced absent patterns in the dirt as he continued. “My mom passed away when I was in middle school, and soon after that, my dad followed. I was left on my own, just a kid trying to make it through each day.”

A heavy silence hung in the air, the weight of his words settling over the group like a shroud. Jayce’s eyes, usually vibrant, carried a distant ache as he remembered those years.

“I had dreams, you know,” he admitted with a wistful smile. “Dreams of becoming a Michelin star chef, of creating exquisite dishes that would transport people. But reality had other plans. High school wasn’t kind to me; I was an easy target for bullies.”

Lianna’s eyes filled with empathy as she leaned closer. “You’ve been through so much, Jayce.”

He gave a half-hearted shrug. “I guess I coped by losing myself in video games, escaping into virtual worlds where things made more sense. When the new VR game came out, I jumped at the chance.”

His words hung in the air for a moment before Colin broke the silence, his voice gruff but sincere. “You’re not that person anymore, Jayce.”

Lianna nodded in agreement. “Yeah, you’ve become our fearless leader. We all look up to you.”

A chorus of agreement echoed around the fire as the group shared reassuring smiles.

Amber chimed in, her eyes twinkling. “And your cooking is better than any Michelin star chef’s. Maybe once this is all over, you can open that restaurant you’ve always dreamed of.”

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