Chapter 4The Post-Apocalyptic BBQ Joint

When Leo woke up, he found himself in a bed.

He froze.

Since the apocalypse began, he had rarely slept in a bed.

Zombies were like a plague. Once one person was infected, the whole area fell.

So they slept on the ground, sometimes out in the open. Sleeping sitting up was a luxury. Usually, he'd wake up every hour or two.

He hadn't slept this well in a long time.

Leo moved slightly, feeling the warmth of the down comforter.

It smelled faintly of body wash. It was pumping heat into his body, cold from blood loss.

As he looked up, a girl smiled and handed him two white pills. "Awake?"

"You have a fever." The girl was pale, with great skin. She didn't look like she belonged in the apocalypse.

Her eyes curved when she smiled, voice crisp. "Take some antibiotics."

Leo looked at her pale palm.

Two white pills lay there.

His pupils contracted.

After the apocalypse, medicine prices skyrocketed. Pharmaceutical factories shut down. Drugs were scarce.

Three years in, even a box of expired antibiotics cost several Level 3 crystals.

And now, this girl was casually offering them like candy.

Leo felt dazed. Was it poison?

But his silly brother Kyle was urging him excitedly:

"Bro, eat it quick!"

If she wanted to kill him, she could have done it while he was out. No need for tricks.

Leo paused, then took the pills and swallowed them with the warm water she offered.

"Thank you," he whispered. He fished a few red crystals from his pocket.

"These are Level 3 crystals. For the medicine."

The girl didn't hesitate, grabbing them all.

"You're not well, so you should eat light. But unfortunately, I only have BBQ here. How about some pork belly and squid? Mild spicy?"

Leo didn't process what she meant, but his idiot brother jumped up.

"You have squid now?! Boss, give me 10 skewers! I brought enough money this time!"

The girl rolled her eyes and gestured a size about the length of her forearm.

"My squid is this big. Ten will kill you. I'll grill 4, and 50 pork belly skewers. Beer?"

Kyle nodded furiously. "Yes! Large mugs!"

Leo rarely felt this helpless. Since the apocalypse, he became strong quickly. He could solo Level 4 zombies.

But right now, he felt like an idiot. He didn't understand a word they were saying.

Pork belly? Squid? Beer?

Are these code names for new ration bars?

How could BBQ and beer exist in the apocalypse?

But he watched as the girl put on an apron and struggled to pull a huge bundle of skewers from a freezer.

The frozen squid was multicolored and covered in ice crystals.

It really was as big as she said.

Leo was lost.

This really is a BBQ joint.

When they were ambushed and he got hurt, Kyle dragged him here, saying there was a shop with a nice owner who could save him. He thought Kyle was hallucinating.

Until they actually saw that tiny light in the cold night, and he passed out.

So Kyle wasn't crazy. There really was a shop?!

Leo picked up the towel. It was still hot. He wiped his face, feeling sensation slowly return to his body.

Over there, the girl had started the fire. Squid on one side, pork belly on the other. Sizzling.

The fat from the pork dripped onto the charcoal, popping and crackling.

The girl brushed oil onto the whitening squid, its edges curling. She pressed it down with a metal plate. Sizzle. Then she brushed on a thick layer of sweet and spicy sauce.

The unique aroma of teppanyaki squid filled the room.

"Mild spicy, right?" Her technique was pro. Fifty skewers of pork belly turned from red to golden brown, mesmerizing to watch.

Kyle wiped his mouth, staring at the grill unblinkingly, like a dog waiting for scraps.

Leo muttered, dazed:

"...Sure."

The girl grabbed a shaker of chili powder, dusted the meat, and let it roast for two more minutes.

"Order up! Kyle, go pour the beer. Mugs are in the bottom cabinet."

"Yes ma'am!"

Kyle sprang into action, grabbing three glass mugs and opening the tap on the keg.

Golden, clear beer rushed into the mug, topped with thick white foam, smelling of malt.

Even Leo, who faced zombie hordes without flinching, rubbed his eyes and pinched his thigh.

Hiss.

It hurt.

It's real.

Kyle dragged the plastic table and chairs in front of Leo and turned on the overhead light.

The light reflected off the oily sheen of the meat.

"Bro, eat! With your constitution, a little BBQ won't hurt!"

Kyle invited the girl to sit, then downed half his beer in one go. His face scrunched up, then relaxed.

"Awesome!"

"I've been dreaming of this. Saved all these crystals just to binge on skewers!"

He grabbed a hot skewer of pork belly and stuffed it in his mouth—

Explosion of flavor!

"This is life," Kyle said tearfully. "How long has it been since I had a full meal? Eating corn cakes and wild greens every day, my throat has calluses."

The girl clinked her glass against his.

Leo swallowed involuntarily.

"Eat!" the girl urged him. "You paid enough. Don't worry, there's plenty more in the fridge!"

She handed him a squid skewer.

The seafood umami mixed with charcoal and spices hit him like a cavalry charge!

Warm lights, steaming meat, ice-cold beer.

Leo looked at the skewer in his hand. His brain short-circuited.

This was too unreal. Like a dream.

A beautiful dream.

He tentatively lifted the skewer. It was so big it needed two sticks. Thick sauce coated it, smelling sweet, salty, and spicy.

He glanced at the other two, then took a bite.

Thick, bouncy meat with a slight crunch. The unique texture of squid mixed with the sauce filled his mouth.

It was real squid. Not dried tofu or synthetic meat.

His mouth, used to tasteless rations, spasmed in delight.

Leo ate faster and faster. Before he knew it, he was holding two empty sticks. He hadn't even realized he finished the whole thing.

He felt awkward. He was always the protector, saving the best for the elders and kids in his clan.

Now he lost control.

But the other two didn't look at him. Kyle's mouth was stuffed with pork belly, mumbling:

"Bro, try the pork belly. It's insane!"

The girl boasted, "I use the best pork belly. Almost $3 a pound. Didn't overcharge you!"

"Right, right! Great value!" Kyle struggled to swallow.

So Leo picked up a pork belly skewer...

That night, they ate and grilled, grilled and ate. By the time they were full, a mountain of skewers sat on the table.

Leo swallowed the last piece, sighed in satisfaction, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Then he saw the pile of sticks and froze.

They ate so much!

How much was this going to cost?!

The crystals they brought definitely weren't enough. What now?!

Maybe he could leave Kyle here to wash dishes!