Chapter 6- Water Tax

As the food entered her mouth, a few tears slid from the corner of her eyes. 'Ten good years with no food...finally' she thought internally as she chewed down on the oily spicy meat.

They both saw her intense reaction and subconsciously slowed down their eating pace, allowing her to eat most of the food.

Julian watched her eat fast, taking big bites and her cheeks full on both sides with her lips stained with oil.

His fingers itched to poke her cheeks; her cuteness was melting his cold heart, and he couldn't help but think about how to feed her until she fattened up.

He paused, feeling that his thoughts were strange. 'why do I care about a total stranger?' He shook his head thinking because she saved him, that is why he treats her differently.

He turned his eyes in time to see Ethan push the other platter of meat closer to her with sneaky actions.

Ethan felt Julian's gaze on him and he ignored it, turning back to his food, but his hands were tightened on his utensils. His heart filled with confusion- why was he acting this way, over a woman he barely knew?

Eva was completely unaware of their state of mind, her mind was focused on the flavor of roasted meat on her tongue.

While Eva was enjoying herself, Selina barely made it out of the dungeon before the ejection time. If she was caught in it she would be sent to the surface and decay immediately from the poisoned air.

She shivered at that thought, breaking out in cold sweat at how close she was to missing the warp gate.

Her fingers tighten around the ring, her eyes staring at the 'Oasis City' warp gate, this is the city of these two men.

Her gaze flicked towards City F's warp gate, but with a deep breath, she made a decisive turn toward the Oasis City warp gate instead. She must get the life she desires- power and a wealthy one.

Her hands tightened on the ring and went through the gate.

****

The next morning, the city was bathed in bright light, but when you look up, there was no sun- only glowing crystals humming softly overhead.

Eva woke up, her hair cascading on her shoulders as she blinked into focus, her mind was muddled when she saw the cave walls before she realized she was in a book and not in her world.

Her eyes darted around the room, spotting the two men, both already awake. Julian scrolled through his artificial solar-powered phone, while Ethan did some pushups on the ground.

"Good morning." They heard her voice, and both turned to her, their breath catching in their throats. The light shone a halo on her petite form.

Her eyes were moist with sleep, her hair streaming down her bare shoulders as the handle of her clothes pulled downwards, showing the top of her breasts.

They removed their eyes immediately, Julian focused on his phone but he couldn't read a drop of words in the text his people sent him.

Ethan closed his eyes and started the push-up afresh, having lost count of how many he had done.

Their hearts were shaken for the first time in their lives and the culprit was taking her time to get down from the bed, back to her slow pace.

She moved to the bathroom slowly, taking her toiletries and clothes with her. The black curtains separated her from the room.

As she pulled off her clothes, her eyes caught sight of the teardrop tattoo on her finger. It seemed darker than before, but she shrugged it off, thinking it was just her imagination.

Removing her gaze, she didn't notice it grew darker. She stood under the shower the water cascaded on her body, hitting the ground with rhythm sounds as she washed thoroughly, enjoying the feel of the water on her skin.

Her green hair turned darker from the wetness and something flashed in her mind, and she nearly screamed.

She bathed quickly and turned off the water, her eye went for the reading meter and patted herself in relief she didn't waste too much water or her water tax would increase.

She was broke, and couldn't access this body's bank account. The author didn't write that down in the book either.

A depressed sigh left her lips and she realized if she wanted to live comfortably she had to get stronger. She can't picture herself not bathing every day or eating.

She dried her hair and got dressed before stepping out.

"You can...use the bathroom...don't use too much...water." Eva's tone was serious. The scare she got this morning made her realize that food wasn't her only problem- money was, too.

Seeing them nod albeit helplessly, she moved to pack her clothes. She found a small suitcase under the bed and she brought it out, opening it up she saw a few pieces of clothes lying inside.

She brought the suitcase out around for other clothes, putting the ones she saw into the suitcase and zipping it closed.

She went to the mini fridge not figuring out how to carry it with her before she noticed a small wall opening besides, she put her fingers inside and touched a metal surface, curious she brought it out and was surprised to see a phone.

Something so valuable, it might have cost a lot for this body to buy it. Maybe the expense to maintain the phone and her stop using it.

She turned it on and scrolled to see nothing except for the basic phone app. She switched it off, knowing if she left it on the phone would read the amount of sun she used to check it out, she was not ready to pay for it.

Ethan watched all this quietly, his eyes accessing her to see what was different about her, instead, he watched her drag the fridge and look longingly at the bed.

Her face was expressionless but he noticed the pain flashing in her green eyes.

"I can take them both in my space bag." Ethan couldn't help but suggest, immediately he saw Eva's eyes lit up, and she looked at him like he was some Buddha.

Ethan felt a flush of embarrassment on his face and nodded awkwardly before looking away from her.