The moment the villa door opened, Boran took off his shoes.
Without anyone saying a word.
He placed them neatly to the side, then stopped, turned back, and looked at the door.
"Look," he said seriously,
"even if a zombie apocalypse happens here—"
he pointed at the floor,
"—I'd make the zombie wear slippers."
Riven laughed.
"Look at this guy."
Karel closed the door.
"The house is comfy," he said.
"Clearly."
Boran threw himself onto the couch the moment he stepped inside.
"Man," he said,
"when you come here, you don't feel like doing anything."
"You just want to lie down."
Riven looked around.
"That's why we came."
"Not to work."
Karel grinned.
"Don't get me wrong," he said,
"we will work."
"But while lying down."
---
The villa was temporary.
No one said it out loud, but all three of them knew.
This place wasn't for hiding.
It was for gathering.
For resting, laughing, being stupid.
The real work was somewhere else.
---
When they first saw the warehouse, Boran's mouth fell open.
"Man," he said,
"you could fit an airplane in here."
Riven opened the door.
"Good," he said.
"We can fill it without drawing attention."
Karel walked around inside.
Concrete.
Cold.
Empty.
"I like this place," he said.
"It echoes."
"Even our voices sound mysterious."
---
The gathering started slowly.
One day, generators.
Next day, batteries.
Another day, solar panels.
Enough for eight lifetimes.
But always little by little.
One day, a truck driver hesitated, confused.
"Brother," he said,
"what are you guys doing with all these machines?"
Boran answered without thinking.
"Brother," he said,
"we're going on YouTube."
The man froze.
"Huh?"
Riven continued.
"Like MrBeast."
Boran got excited.
"Exactly, bro!"
"Survival videos!"
"24 hours without electricity!"
"We bought 100 generators, let's see if the neighborhood notices!"
The truck driver laughed.
"Respect."
"I'd watch that."
After the truck left, Boran turned to Riven.
"Man," he said,
"the moment we said MrBeast, his eyes lit up."
Karel laughed.
"If it were me," he said,
"I'd believe it too."
He touched the generator.
A moment later…
the generator was gone.
Riven shook his head.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to this."
Karel laughed.
"I did."
"You look at it—"
"it's gone."
---
One day, Boran came into the warehouse carrying boxes.
His face was serious.
"Man," he said,
"we forgot something very important."
Riven tensed up.
"What?"
Boran raised a finger.
"What are we going to do when we get bored?"
Silence.
Then Karel burst out laughing.
"Dude, you're right!"
That day:
Game consoles,
extra controllers,
discs,
everything that could be played offline…
All bought.
Riven laughed.
"So we're playing FIFA during the zombie apocalypse?"
Boran grinned and wagged his finger.
"Loser watches the door."
---
The snacks situation completely spiraled out of control.
One day noodles.
One day chips.
One day chocolate.
Then drinks.
Then wine.
The cashier kept staring at the bags.
"All of this… one receipt?"
Riven nodded.
"One life."
As soon as they walked out, Boran laughed.
"Man," he said,
"we're not preparing for the apocalypse,"
"we're preparing for discount day."
---
One evening, Karel walked into a restaurant.
The chef recognized him.
"Brother, what's up?"
Karel spoke casually.
"Bulk order."
"For how many people?"
Karel thought.
Then looked at Boran.
"How many are we, man?"
Boran grinned.
"Feels like hundreds."
Karel turned to the chef.
"Hundreds."
The chef laughed.
"Wedding?"
"It'll last a long time," Karel said.
That night, tables full of food arrived.
With the plates.
With the tables.
And all of it…
vanished into the void.
Hot.
Fresh.
Same flavor.
Boran spoke with shining eyes.
"Man," he said,
"we're not going to die."
"We're going to gain weight."
---
Days passed like this.
Laughing.
Carrying.
Being stupid.
But the city was changing.
Traffic more tense.
People more aggressive.
The news more vague.
One evening, Riven turned off the TV.
"Something's going to happen."
Boran shrugged.
"If it happens, it happens."
Karel sprawled on the couch.
"Let's finish this game first."
They all laughed.
---
That night, everyone slept in the villa.
Karel stepped out onto the balcony.
The warehouse was full.
The void was full.
And in the distance,
there was a place they hadn't gone yet.
Beylikdüzü.
Marmara Forum.
It wasn't time yet.