Apocalypse Days: I Rule with Foresight and a Powerful Son
Chapter 103:

Chapter 103: 103:

Winter walked through the base, his fists clenched, his jaw tight, a thoughtful frown pulling at his features.

Zara’s words still echoed in his head.

They just wouldn’t leave him. The base was in danger—she had seen it happen. God that felt weird to think about.

She had seen it happen.

But he had spent enough time traveling with her to know that she had stopped them or tried to stop them from doing certain things.

There were so many powers in this new world, hell he had superhuman strength and instincts!

But that only made his guts twist. She had seen dark things.

Something different was coming, something worse than the usual infected, but how the hell was he supposed to warn anyone without proof?

He had only been here for three days, barely enough time to figure out who was in charge of what, let alone who would actually listen to him.

This was the military—or at least, as military as it could be with the world rotting outside its walls. Everything ran on a system, a chain of command, protocol.

And he was an outsider.

He had to find a way around this. A way to prepare them without mentioning Zara’s ability.

Winter barely noticed how people moved out of his way. Some glanced at him warily before looking away, some turned on their heels and went the other direction entirely. It wasn’t fear, not exactly. More like an unspoken rule—don’t get in his way.

Fuck. How was he going to do it?

Because the second they figured out she was more than just a desperate mother trying to survive, she’d be dragged into some lab and torn apart piece by piece.

A shiver ran down his spine, but before he could think too long on it, that strange itch prickled at the back of his neck.

Someone was behind him.

Winter turned sharply, fist cocked back, ready to swing—

"Whoa, whoa—! Stand down, soldier."

Richard.

His hands were raised in surrender, his usual easy grin in place—until he got a proper look at Winter’s face. His smile faltered. "Shit. What happened? You and Zara fight again?"

Winter blinked. "What?"

Richard smirked, crossing his arms. "You look like someone kicked your damn dog. Or, knowing you, like someone made a pass at Zara. Or you had another argument..."

Before Winter could snap back, his name rang out across the open space.

"Winter Steele."

Both he and Richard turned, only for Winter’s expression to darken further.

A man approached, posture stiff with authority, expression laced with mild annoyance. He held a stack of papers, flipping through them carelessly. The type of man who thought his clipboard was a damn weapon.

Winter immediately didn’t like him.

The official barely spared Richard a glance before focusing on Winter.

"Winter," the official called again, stopping in front of them. "You left your room last night and didn’t return until noon."

Winter frowned. He guessed they were being monitored. But since Zara hadn’t been dragged off in chains yet, it was safe to assume there were no voice-picking cameras in the rooms.

The official didn’t wait for a response before continuing. " You only returned there to take your things and move them to another room."

Richard arched an eyebrow, looking between the two. "Oh?" He drawled, clearly amused. "And why’s that?"

Winter resisted the urge to roll his eyes at whatever conclusion Richard had jumped to.

He needed an excuse. Something that made sense.

Winter exhaled sharply. "We had an argument," he muttered. "I needed space."

Richard blinked before his lips twitched. "You needed space?"

The official scoffed. "This base doesn’t care for lovers’ quarrels. Keep your bedroom matters in your damn room and don’t disrupt the running of this facility."

Winter’s jaw ticked. He took a deep breath and met the official’s gaze coldly and gave a stiff nod. "Understood."

He expected the man to move along.

But he didn’t.

"Oh, and you’ll need to return to your room soon so we can get started."

Winter frowned. "Get started with what?"

The official barely looked up from his papers as he answered, his voice casual, indifferent.

"The government is enforcing population hikes. We need to increase our numbers. Seeing as you and your woman already have a child, you only need two more to meet quota."

Winter froze.

For a moment, his mind refused to process what he’d just heard.

Two more kids? Quota?

His voice was cold when he finally spoke. "You expect people to have children in a world like this?"

The official shrugged. "It’s necessary for survival."

Richard, who had been leaning slightly to the side like he was watching a bad play, stiffened.

The official continued. "We expect people to do their duty."

Winter’s breath came slow and measured, but his mind was racing.

How the hell could anyone bring a child into this? How many nights had Zara stayed awake, cradling Leo in her arms, afraid he’d wake up crying and attract the wrong kind of attention?How much had she sacrificed to keep him safe, to keep him innocent? These people hadn’t seen how terrified she’d been when he fell sick...There was no way in hell he was letting anyone force her into doing what she didn’t want!

He understood then, that his love for her—despite everything, despite their recent falling out—remained unchanged. It burned through him, raging to punch this fool’s face in for daring to think of inconveniencing her in the slightest.

Winter barely had time to process the official’s words before the man smirked, flipping through his papers like this was just another routine briefing.

"Well," he said, tone as casual as if he were discussing the damn weather. "Someone like her should be grateful for the chance."

Winter’s eyes narrowed dangerously. "What?"

The official snorted, amused by his confusion. "I mean, come on. Pretty face aside, she’s just another stray bitch who got lucky, right? Plenty of men here wouldn’t mind helping her meet that quota—hell, might even make it fun for her."

Silence.

Winter’s vision tunneled.

His body moved before his brain caught up.

One second, he was standing still. The next, his fingers were curling around the strap of his rifle, ready to swing it straight into the bastard’s skull.

Richard reacted faster.

A firm grip locked onto Winter’s wrist, yanking him backward before his fingers could close around the weapon.

"Alright, nope—"

Richard stepped in, pushing himself between them, one hand planted hard against Winter’s chest, the other clamping around his wrist. "Let’s not commit murder before breakfast."

Winter’s breath was ragged, his muscles coiled tight with fury. His fingers twitched on reflex, aching to tear the bastard apart.

How dare he?!

The official barely reacted, though his smirk thinned. "Tch. Touchy, aren’t you?" He dusted off his uniform, unimpressed."I’d get your temper under control, Steele," he said smoothly. "This base doesn’t tolerate insubordination."

Winter forced himself to breathe.

Richard tried to give the official a lazy salute and dip. "We’re done here, right? Good talk."

But the fool couldn’t read the room and kept running his mouth. "I don’t give a damn who you screw, soldier, just get it done. We need bodies. Healthy ones. Preferably ones that won’t get ripped to shreds before they can pop out a kid or two."

Winter’s hands curled into fists. The only thing stopping him from swinging was Richard’s grip on his arm.

Richard sighed, voice low. "C’mon, let’s go."

Winter didn’t move. His whole body vibrated with rage.

The official only smirked again. "Don’t look at me like that. You want her all to yourself? Then put a baby in her first, claim her before someone else does. Isn’t that how things work these days?"

Winter lunged.

Richard yanked him back, nearly dragging him off his feet.

"Alright, that’s enough." There was a sharp edge to Richard’s tone now, his usual amusement replaced with something cold as he addressed the official. "You keep pushing, and he will kill you."

The official scoffed but took a step back. "Tch. Whatever. Just get your shit together, soldier. You’re running out of time."

Winter said nothing.

Couldn’t say anything.

His pulse roared in his ears, his breathing sharp and ragged as Richard hauled him away, his grip on Winter’s arm.

As they moved, Richard muttered under his breath, "Jesus Christ, you’re gonna get yourself executed at this rate."

Winter barely heard him.

Was this really the right time to be talking about some stupid population quota?

Shouldn’t they be more focused on finding a solution to the problem first?

How was he supposed to reason with the higher ups and warn them about the incoming attack if their minds were occupied with shit like this?

Something was coming.

And if they didn’t act soon, there wouldn’t be anyone left alive to worry about a damn population quota.

Richard didn’t let go of Winter’s arm until they were out of earshot, dragging him behind one of the supply trucks. Only then did he exhale sharply, shaking his head.

"Do you have any self-control?" he muttered.

Winter barely heard him. His jaw was locked so tight it ached. His fists clenched, nails digging into his palms. That bastard.

Richard let out another sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "I get it, alright? You wanna rip his throat out. I support that, honestly. But maybe don’t do it here, in front of witnesses?"

Winter finally turned to face him, eyes still dark with fury. "You heard what he said."

"Yeah, I did," Richard said, voice unusually serious. "And I also know that killing a government official inside their own damn base is a great way to end up executed in a ditch."

Winter’s nostrils flared. "I should’ve put a bullet in his head."

Richard let out a dry laugh. "And I should’ve let you, but I like having a drinking buddy." His smirk faded slightly. "That wasn’t just some asshole running his mouth, though. They’re serious."

Winter’s stomach turned. The whole conversation had been vile, but the meaning behind it was worse. This wasn’t just a passing order. It was a plan.

And if they were planning to enforce a breeding quota, then Zara—did she know about this? Had any bastard spoken to her about—

His hands clenched again.

Richard’s gaze flicked over him, then he sighed. "You’re thinking too hard. Stop it."

Winter shot him a look. "And what do you suggest? Just sit back and let this happen?"

"I suggest," Richard drawled, crossing his arms, "you don’t let your emotions get you killed before you actually dosomething useful."

Winter’s glare didn’t reduce.

Richard’s lips quirked in amusement. "So, what’s the plan? You gonna storm into the command center and give them a strongly worded letter?"

Winter inhaled sharply, shoving his anger down. Richard was right, he needed to think.

He needed to get ahead of this.

Before he could answer, though, Richard’s expression shifted, amusement fading into something sharper. His voice dropped.

"...Also, not to change the subject, but why do you look like you haven’t slept in days? We’ve only been here for two."

Winter stiffened.

Richard eyed him, scrutinizing.

"You didn’t sleep in your room last night. You didn’t come back until noon."

Winter’s mind raced for an excuse.

Richard narrowed his eyes. "I swear, if you tell me you were ’just taking a walk,’ I’m going to punch you myself."

Winter exhaled sharply. "I—"

But before he could get the words out, a loud voice rang out.

"There you are!"