Noah prioritizes his wife

It's Olivia, the love of his life.

“Come here!” he barked, rushing to her side.

“Noah, the food!” she protested weakly, but her legs buckled as she tried to move. Without hesitation, he scooped her up, ignoring the sharp, burning heat radiating from the flames.

He kicked the door open, carrying her outside into the fresh air. Rain drizzled faintly, the cold drops cutting through the oppressive heat that clung to his skin. Kneeling beside the rainwater barrel, he plunged her arm under the cool water. Olivia let out a sharp gasp, her body trembling.

“Stay still,” Noah said firmly, his jaw clenched as he held her arm steady. His heart was pounding, adrenaline coursing through him as he checked the extent of her burns. Luckily, it did not seem too bad, the early intervention saving her from more serious burns.

Smoke billowed out of the house, thick and ****, and he could hear the faint pop and crackle of wood inside.

“Wait here,” he told her, rising to his feet.

“Noah, don’t—”

But he was already heading back inside.

The heat hit him like a wall as he pushed through the smoky haze. Flames had reached the pantry, licking hungrily at the shelves. The smell of burnt grains and singed wood filled his nostrils, making his stomach churn. He grabbed a heavy blanket, beating at the fire, but it was too late. The flames had spread too far, consuming much of the food they’d painstakingly collected.

By the time Noah staggered back outside, coughing and drenched in sweat, the pantry was lost. His hands were blackened with soot, his shoulders slumped with defeat, what little he could salvage clutched tightly in his arms.

Olivia looked up at him from her place by the barrel, her eyes glassy with tears. “The food?” she asked weakly.

Noah shook his head, sitting down heavily beside her. “This is all that's left,” he admitted, his voice raw.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

He placed a hand on her good arm, his grip firm but gentle. “It’s not your fault,” he said, his voice steady despite the storm raging inside him. “We’ll find more. We’ll manage.”

From behind them, Greg appeared, his expression unreadable. He crouched beside Olivia, his hands brushing hers as he inspected her arm. "Guess we have to tighten our belts for a while." Greg said, glancing up at Noah. There was a faint challenge in his tone, a subtle jab that made Noah’s teeth clench.

Noah looked away, staring at the house as smoke drifted from the kitchen window. He had saved Olivia, but at what cost? Their food were gone, and with them, their security.

[Food -15, Olivia will remember this]