The real project
/Revolution (Ping! System notification: Task: Construct a watchtower before the expiration of nine days.
Rewards: Potential discovery. Penalty: Lose 1000 experience points.]
“This is getting serious by the day.”
At this point, Damien knew that procrastination wasn’t a thing anymore. He had to start the real project
at once. If he was to construct a watchtower, he must start and complete the real project first.
He walked briskly through the fence door towards the safehouse. He was returning from hunting three
fat bunnies which they would eat that morning. He didn’t tell them yet that he had grains of rice. He had
no idea why he felt like keeping it away. “Gather around.” He called at the girls. They did. The last
person to join the group was… Ayisha, not Claire. “Since you’ve made up your mind to stay with me. It
doesn’t come without a price. You can’t get shelter and food for free. You must pay for it, one way or
the other. This time around, what is needed is collective responsibility.”
He wasn’t sure whether or not the ladies understood what he was saying. He decided to speak in plain
words. “I’m about to start a project. As we see, this safehouse is too small for us. We could actually go
to live in a cave or something, but there’s no guarantee of life and safety. Building something for
ourselves would be the only chance at survival.”
He realized that he was talking too much. “Lisa and Evelyn, the both of you should prepare one of
these bunnies and dry the rest. Before we start starving, food should be ready.”
He looked away from Lisa and Evelyn who were standing side by side. To the rest of the girls he said,
“The rest, come with me. We have much to do today.” He paused for a short while.
“Does any of you have any objections?”
The girls didn’t say a thing but looked from one person to the other.
“I’ll take that as a no.”
He turned away from them,
“Follow me.”
The six girls followed him to where there were many planks and logs. He had cut them one of the few
past days. He had been ready for it. He would had even been done with the construction if there were
no cannibals or troublesome beauties.
But he didn’t need to be reminded that having both the bevy of ladies and having to hunt down the
cannibals both had advantages. While being with the ladies reasonably was an answer to his lust,
killing the cannibals earned him points and balls of red gold. He still had no idea how valuable the red
gold would be. He wouldn’t know until he’d left this place.
Work started, and he started to lay a foundation. The ladies worked tirelessly, putting aside their
differences. While he nailed the planks together, creating a format which had longed live in his head,
the girls supplied him the planks. Going to and fro to bring the needed. Damien was very impressed
when he saw Claire and Jada working together. The pair, working and chatting was way more efficient
that the remaining pairs around there. He wished that they would continue to get along. He wished!
They had worked for over two hours before the cooks brought the meal by. “Break time.”
Lisa called at them. Damien made them stop and they all went to eat. Though the meat was finished
with complaints and gloomy face because it was tasteless, the girls decided to get back to work.
“I promise y’all a surprise at the end of the project. It’ll be a grand celebration.” They got back to work
again. They did it more passionately and determinedly. It was very refreshing to see them cooperate.
He hoped that it would last long. If it did, he wouldn’t have to worry about them anymore. He would
think about exploring the island to its end, staking an undaunted claim to the cannibals, and then at the
end of the quest, escape the Island to figure out what really happened.
But for that moment, all he could do was work. Worry about the present moment and leave the future to
greet him with a smile.
After three strenuous days of working and resting briefly at night, the project was beginning to come to
life. There were ten portable sized rooms and big palor, three restrooms and a large kitchen. Those
areas of the apartment were the obvious ones at that moment.
Damien was sure to spare a large space at the back of the apartment for farming. It would be a great
thing to have food next to him. He wouldn’t have to bother walking miles if he craved rice.
He was distracted by one of the girls who dropped on her butts. The girls were beginning to look like
ghosts. He felt pity for them. But also, he wanted them to have a sense of responsibility. He wanted
them to sweat before enjoying a package, so that they would be able to cherish it.
Some of their faces were pale. Some necks were getting thinner. But he had plans for them. If they
were able to complete the project in two days’ time, before the following week, they would be back to
their fresh and robust selves. He would see to that. He was actually surprised that none of the ladies
complained yet. A part of him felt like they were acting like a flock of sheeps led against their own wills,
but which had no choice.
“This is bullshit!!!”
Claire suddenly dropped a log in her hand, walking briskly towards Damien. In no time, the girls had
gathered around.
4
“Are we your slave or something? Why do we get to do this shitty work when we can find a cave
somewhere!!! Do you really plan to live on this shitty Island for the rest of your lives? Shouldn’t we be
more concerned with getting the rescue team? Don’t tell me that you already feel home amongst flesh
eating monsters, and a shady youth who suddenly jumped from being a sore loser to a genius.” She
turned around, looking each of the girls in the eyes. “Let’s say that our phones are useless now. No
signal, nothing!!! But are we going to give up on the real world and build a virtual one which wouldn’t
last long? I can’t believe that classy and powerful girls who turn the world upside down with their
specialties are running errands here, lifting planks and shit.” “Look at yourselves. Don’t you feel pity for
yourselves? Jada, you now look like a weightlifting turtle. Ill shaped!!! Much to speak on the rest of
you.” She sighed. “I don’t think y’all understand me. What’s the point of talking?” She turned and made
to leave. “Wait, I’ll come with you.” Laurette started. In no time, the rest joined in. “I’m in too.” a
Damien’s jaw dropped when Ayisha spoke up. He had prepared himself for the worst, yet he didn’t
expect this. He wasn’t really mad when Jada joined in, Jada was someone who would do anything to
survive. He couldn’t blame her. But Ayisha. “Since all of us agree to leave. We can’t leave Allison here.”
Damien jumped off the edge of the erected pole he had been seated on all along the revolution speech.
“Go in and carry her.”
He said, but with the squinted eyes and tough jaws, the girls could tell that he meant opposite.
“That’s right.”
He nodded slowly as he watched them leave one after the other, walking out of the premises.
“I wish you luck in being rescued.”
He called at them. He wanted to add,
IF IT GOES WRONG, AND YOU THINK OF COMING BACK, THE PRICE OF LIVING WILL BE
SQUARED
But he refrained from it. Ayisha the last person closed the gate. She gazed at her. He gawked.
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